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I've owned a lot of cars and motorcycles over the years, and as a die hard gear head I'll give you some sage advice.
1) If you buy a vehicle, then have to make a bunch of changes to it, you bought the wrong car.
Take a stock 86/BRZ/FRS you pay $26k for. Start adding exhaust, tune, wheels, tires, superchargers, lights, etc....and you're going to ring up a big tab that could have been used to buy a much more upmarket car in the first place.
2) Only address things YOU see as problems
Spend a lot of time behind the wheel and less time on internet forums. This will keep you from falling into the trap of "perceived problems". You'll see people talk about poor performance, big torque dips, noises, handling issues, bad tires, etc. Best thing to do is form your own opinion and address the shortcomings YOU feel.
3) Function over form
Why do you drive? Do you do it so you can cruise the boulevard and have everyone look at you? Do you crave the rush of a well executed turn on a twisty road? Do you love the interaction between man and machine? If you are just an attention seeker, skip this section...you won't get it. If, however, you are a real gear head that knows it's more important for your car to perform than it is to look good, you know that spending money on flashy bits gets you nothing. If it doesn't make it handle better, stop faster, or go faster....don't buy it.
4) Save money for maintenance
A poorly maintained vehicle won't perform as well as one in top shape. Suspension bits, tires, brakes, fluids, etc....all wear over time. Be careful replacing things with aftermarket parts. As strange as it seems, often times aftermarket bits don't really increase performance as much as you think and in some cases may actually make it worse.
5) Keep it clean and protected
Dirt is harmful to the paint and accumulated dirt on your engine can make it run hotter too. Invest in a good car cover, even if you have a garage. Wash your care BEFORE you go for a drive and touch it up after. You don't want to put a car away immediately after washing it as you'll end up with water sitting in crevices.
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