Should I first mod for power or handling?
 

I have a completely stock FR-S and have only recently been given permission as I’m taking it to college to mod and upgrade it and so I’ve saved up roughly $5000 for the purpose. My only issue is I’m not sure where to start. My friend is adamant that I put in a turbo. My reservations are that I’m not sure that it would be worth it for me to put a turbo on a completely stock car while I will add all that the engine needs such as fuel injectors I’m a little worried about how the rest of the stock car will keep up. Secondly that will be all my money in one thing. And so I was thinking that instead I could go for better wheels, a brake kit, and coil overs kit. But that will leave me with no money for the time being to put into power. I also don’t really wanna split it and get coilovers and like a UEL Header as I’m pretty sure i wanna go forced induction down the road and don’t wanna go through the pain of selling the parts. Although if it is the best option for my money i might consider it. I’m just really looking for advice on what you guys think the best course of action is.

Put that money towards college. That, or driver's education.

You're going to get a lot of answers, and some questions. As someone who has gone pretty far with modifying one of these cars I'd suggest coilovers, better brake pads, and some 17X9 wheels with better tires to start. Adding a turbo, or any forced induction should be further down your list IMO.

Unless you’ll be on the track just nice wheels and tires and some lowering springs and call it a day. Once you get past that it’s a personal call.

You start going FI and you’ll be spending a lot more than 5k

^This


Aesthetics. Make it your own. You don't need power mods to enjoy the car.

If you've only got $5k don't fiddle with FI. Have a bank expecting the transmission or engine to blow if you're going to play with FI.

Toss in a reusable performance filter, get an Open Flash Tablet or EcuTek, toss on better tires (if you haven't already), toss on better brake pads, and do your maintenance (engine oil, transmission oil, LSD oil, brake fluids, coolants).

If you're adament about burning the money, toss in a header and exhaust - which will go really well with tunes.

Toss money into coilovers/cosmetics as you see fit.

I strongly recommend upgrading the headlights - I'd argue the halogen bulbs are actually dangerous because they don't show you far enough down the road, nor wide enough.

I actually strongly recommend getting thermal resistant tints on your car. Helps retain heat in the car on cold days, and keeps heat out on hot days - not to mention our AC is crap.
I'm seriously debating getting the 70% thermal tints for the front windshield - it's almost not possible to notice it without taking an extremely close look at it, and even then others won't know unless you told them. This should also help protect the dash years down the road.

I also think getting the Forester/WRX oil cooler is a good mod for NA set up.

I've also found replacing the reverse tail light with high lux LED's to be very helpful. I can see when I put my car into reverse through my 5% rear window tint.

I installed a backup camera with my Seicane headunit as well, loving it.

Do this.

Take the $5k and put it in a ROTH IRA in an index fund that follows the market. Start adding to it when you graduate, get a job and learn more about investing and compound interest. Get as rich as you can as quick as you can, learn to live with less and retire as young as possible.

Buy $5k of ammo when stock is back and prices have relaxed once again and wait til everybody panics yet again and unload it all for a minimum of 3x and up to 8x what you paid for it.
Do that several times for every election cycle even at the 3x and by the time you are 40, have a nice $1m retirement egg.

Don't add a turbo until you're out of college. I love turbo so much, but trust me, the cost of the kit is not the cost of having it run reliably.

Get wheels, tires, and coilovers.

Don't bother with a big brake kit. Just get new blank rotors, upgrade the pad just a little

I'd spend like 2k of that making the car something that makes you smile (if it doesn't already), and then do what scuzzy said with the rest. Owning and modding fun toys is a lot more fun later in life when you actually have the money for it, vs. when you're young and scratching for it.

Signed,

A recovering motorcycle track day addict

modding cars is fun. but being able to live is funner. my car is still mostly stock because i decided i'd rather buy a house than live with my parents for the next 15 years. i've had my parts list picked out since 2015. at any point, i could dump $20k into the car and make it exactly what i want.

the concept is that by the time you go off to college, you'll be making adult decisions for the rest of your life.

adult decisions are boring, but they require that you have reliable transportation for the entire time you're away at college. modding the mechanicals of your car won't be reliable. tuning/modding the mechanicals is a never-ending chase. it exposes weak points, things break, temperatures change and require adjustments.

a turbo isn't 'just $5k'. it's $5k at first. than it's $2k in tires. then the drive shaft has issues. then this. then that.

This is the order I'd follow.
Most important to least.

1. If you have E85 around get a flexfuel kit and a tune from Delicious.
If you don't, I would still recommended a tune, but you would not need the flexfulel kit.
Replace the stock air filter with something better. (Do not replace the intake, JUST the filter.)

2. RCE Yellows and B6's for suspension.
Remember to get a proper alignment done.

3. New tires.

4. New wheels if you want to look different than stock.
Go no larger than 17x8.

5. Exhaust - Headers if you want a little more power than just a tune, but if so this should be done at the same time as the tune.
Catback is 99% noise. If you want more noise save money and get an axleback.

6. Ignore the brakes unless they need to be replaced or upgraded for track use.
If so, new rotors and pads. (If the stocks are worn out this is #1)

7. Cosmetic mods.
Before you even ask or think about it. Do not widebody.

If I was going to spend all the money I'd do 1-4. If E85 wasn't available I'd add 5 to that also.

IMHO Save/invest the money.

plus a nicer exhaust isn’t a bad addition either

Tires. 800
Wheels. 1000
Springs. 400
Exhaust 800

3,000 total

Put the other 2k in savings. Never not have something in savings