Recommendation for second modification?
 

Hey everyone! Hope you all have been having a great weekend.

I've got the "mod" bug again, and I'm looking to perform another modification to my BRZ. The first mod was the Perrin non-resonated catback exhaust, which I was able to install myself with minimal supervision by a friend of mine.

What would you all recommend as a second modification for the car? I was originally thinking of going the intake route, but I was trying to avoid any additional modifications that would require tuning my ECU. I know the newest Perrin intake doesn't require a tune, but I'm not super keen on removing my bumper every time I need to clean / change the filter.

My "working on cars" skill level is fairly low, but I would be willing to take my car to a pro shop if it was something I couldn't figure out with some supervision.

Thanks!

wheels

A tune!

Headers

my advice would be to drive until you know what you want to change. then change it. other than that, the first thing you should do is an alignment. then maybe tires if you are really trying to improve the performance of your car

Tinted windows, especially in Mesa.

Could it be several smaller things or one big thing? I agree with tires IF you have had enough fun from the stock ones. Where I drive mine, drifting sideways is a lot easier on the Prius tires. I'd say overall satisfied with all the little stuff on my signature.

If you don't want a full intake, then you can always do the Perrin inlet tube and a drop in filter. My favorite mod at this point is just a heftier shift knob if you've got a MT. The shifting feel is just so much better with it.

Add lightness? Faster acceleration, shorter braking, more responsive handling. Depending on how much you weigh, you could start there to shave off an easy 40 pounds! :D

Depending on how much you weigh, you could start there to shave off an easy 40 pounds!

What about the car?

This made me lol. For the record, I only way 140lbs :).

I've already got tinted windows on the car from the factory, so that's that one covered.

Is anyone aware of whether going the Perrin inlet tube is safe on the factory tune?

Also, I've been considering some suspension work i.e. lowering, but I am too unfamiliar with camber and toe angles, and I do not have sufficient tools to perform this work. I'll have to read up on whether any of the local perf shops would be willing to do this work and help dial everything in

140?! Sorry, I misspoke. You could easily drop 50 pounds, you heffer! :D. J/k - I could drop 40 pounds and still outweigh you, so I can't exactly talk... Heck, my target weight goal is heavier than you! But maybe you could wear track pants and a running shirt instead of jeans and a t-shirt. Probably save a pound or two there. ;)

Have you done a $70 drop in filter yet? I've read these work well in our cars. I've used a K&N in my last 3 cars, though I haven't touched the BRZ yet with any mods.

Wheels & tires will be coming in the next 12 months or so - though I will miss sliding the back end around at will.

brakes,rotors, and stainless steel lines.

Our PERRIN inlet tube is safe to run on the factory tune.

AEM intake

/thread.

Driving skill... & no, I'm not trolling here. It'll improves the car 2x faster

Intake is usually a safe bet but given the gains over the stock system, I really can't recommend it unless you want sound more than performance. For performance, a drop-in filter would be better bang for buck.

If you wanted to continue on your exhaust path, you could tackle the midpipe/overpipe next unless you'd rather stay factory stock on emissions.

A highly visible yet functional mod would be to change your wheels and/or suspension. Wheels should be no problem for you, suspension work probably best left for the pros at this time (or at least someone with more experience than you).

Some other easy mods: Shift Knob, Lightweight Pulley, Cosmetic things like Antenna, front splitters, side skirts, rear spats, LED bulb swaps.

If you're into electronics, then headunit/speakers, rearview camera, hardwired front camera and/or radar detector.

If you want the most performance without going FI, then consider an ECU Tune (I know you said you wanted to avoid that for now).

Finally, balls to the walls performance? You're looking at a Turbo/Supercharger Kit, and get some bigger brakes to stop all that power when need be (assuming you already got the tires to put the power down in the first place).

There are a lot of other options depending on what your priority is.

Driving School!

Perrin Inlet tube
Perrin Drop in Filter
Perrin Pulley

Ecutek Tune

Cusco Type OS front strut bar with built in brake master cylinder brace
Cusco rear strut bar

Better tires
Better rims

Fixed

Wow, so many responses! We even have one from an official Perrin rep!

Based on my research, as well as suggestions from everyone on here, I will be purchasing the Perrin inlet tube, as well as the Perrin drop-filter for my seconds modification.

For anybody that has experience with wet air filters, what is the best cleaner for the filter? Also, how oil / spray does one typically apply to the filter? I know too much oil could end up hurting the MAF if some cakes onto the sensor.

get an intake, then get a tune in the future. intake will only run u around 2-300 ish. and ull be ready for a tune after that.

I'm telling you, you will go faster if you invest in a good driving school.

Well you're already halfway there. All you need to do is lose a leg or two. :thumbup::thumbup:

I was under the impression that all intakes installed on our cars would require a tune, with the exception of the new Perrin CAI they engineered specifically to not require a tune. If it wasn't for the filter location on their intake, I would have already bought one

What that guy said.


Here is what nobody wants to hear but a few cranky people will level and tell you:

Most of these mods you see, don't have a dyno run that shows gains appreciable over margin of error.

Outside of forced induction, you might be pissing your money away on tuning mods (other than maybe a chip tune). Cosmetic mods are nice though.

Over at the NASIOC forums, there is a nice gif people post sometimes showing the efficacy of tuning mods, and it's pretty much true.

If you are a racing team, spending 1k here and there for maybe 1-2HP gains over margin of error is a necessity since you know all those tiny gains add up and you need every edge. But a racing team will have the money for forced induction as well (or an engine swap).

Joe Driver would be better off taking a performance driving class.

Clear side markers :3

It's the first thing I'm doing to mine!

I would personally (if you are a beginner) perfect your driving skills by either a class or whatever. Understand the car THEN make modifications and gradually adjust your skill.

Goku doesn't go to SSJ3 day one. He moves up from increase in power, then new moves, more power, then more moves, THEN MORE POWER!!!!!

Wider wheels and tires.