New Owner Questions

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by VoltsFRS2013

Welcome and congrats on your graduation, I'm only in my freshman year of college so im working towards that as well

Like a few other members mentioned, asking us for mods is extremely bias. I will say that in my opinion one of the most attitude changing mods you can get into doing is your exhaust. Plenty of awesome Axle back and catback systems on the market that will completely change the attitude and identity of your ride while not messing with the reliability or anything at all. That would be MY first mod (it was my first mod)

Congrats again on the awesome car.

Edit: Some maintenance advice, change oil pretty frequently. I change mine every 4,000. These cars need attention. Give them what they need and they'll be bulletproof for the most part. I drive the auto with the paddles so this didn't apply to me but sometime take your skid plate off and check general areas for oil leaks as these cars are known for them (cam plate is a huge one if you drive manual, many people replace them off the bat)

I'd also recommend a magnetic drain plug for your car. When you do your first oil change and realize how ignorant and small the OEM drain plug is you'll remember reading this.

What? No.

[PacManTheRS1.0]

Thanks for all the input guys. I'll probably put some synthetic oil in it as soon as I get the chance just to make sure I start off on the right foot. I will also look into the magnetic drain plug

[el-guapin]

Congrats and Welcome!!

[PetrolioBenzina]

Originally Posted by PacManTheRS1.0

I really enjoyed the Mustang and its straight line speed (4.8-4.9) 0-60 with my light mods and some quick shifts, but over time I found myself not really using the speed so much and just wishing I had a fun car to drive that got better gas mileage (22 on the highway )

There's one of those where I park, the yellow is nice.

"I found myself not really using the speed so much and just wishing I had a fun car to drive" is a one-sentence description of the whole idea behind the car, something many find hard to understand. You bought the right car!

[MuseChaser]

Originally Posted by PacManTheRS1.0

Thanks for all the input guys. I'll probably put some synthetic oil in it as soon as I get the chance just to make sure I start off on the right foot. I will also look into the magnetic drain plug

Synthetic is the only oil you should use in the car; that's a factory requirement, not an "enthusiast" recommendation.

Re/ another poster's recommendation to add to the car's "identity and attitude,"... to each his/her own. My personal identity is more tied to skills and what I have to offer than to what I look like and what my exhaust sounds like. Same for my car.

Some things I've done to improve performance..

1. I add a cup of sugar to every gas tank. Sugar has a LOT of caloric energy and that's released when it burns. A great way to improve power and efficiency.

2. Even a lightly rubbing brake pad (and they all rub slightly) can reduce efficiency and speed. I coat my rotors with silicone spray before every drive.

3. Do NOT forget to change your headlight fluid at least monthly.

4. You'll notice that the stock seats don't let you slide much, making the car a bit difficult to get into. This also tends to wear out the stitching on the driver's side seat bolster. A great, easy mod is to work a bunch of wheel grease (synthetic if you like red, or regular dark brown/grey is fine) into the seat... gob it on. You'll slide right in.

5. For a sports car, this car has surprisingly good visibility which can ruin the sports car experience. Try putting a bunch of opaque stickers on all of your windows where you'd like to have the expected blind spots.

6. A great attitude/identity mod - place a wireless mic inside the resonator tube, then pipe it through the car's sounds system. You won't BELIEVE the increase in attitude!

7. The air filter really restricts airflow. Remove it.

8. For track days, when you need extra cooling for the engine, add a tray or two of ice cubes to the coolant reservoir. If you make them out of Gatorade, the color matches best.

9. Over time, the car does tend to develop some rattles and buzzes in the dash. I've found that playing the stereo very loudly seems to quiet them. Not really a mod, but surpringly it works; I have no idea why.

10. One last one, for safety. This car is pretty low, height-wise, and you'll find yourself being cut off frequently by SUVs and trucks who don't look down far enough to see you. I put a big advertisement board on top of my roof, like you see on many taxis. Not only did it increase my visibility to other traffic, but I gained another, but admittedly small, income stream. The efficiency hit caused by the induced drag is more than made up for by the addition of sugar and silicone-coated rotors in the first two tips.

Always here to help!

AND.. just in case anyone here is brand new to the planet, it's all jokes.. do NOT put sugar in your gas tank or coat your rotors with silicone. Gatorade ice cubes are a bad idea too, and removing the air filter ain't a good longevity choice either. All the other stuff, if it sounds good, go for it. The headlight fluid is for real.

I was NOT kidding about the synthetic oil.

Congrats on the car. Based on your reasons for buying it, you're going to LOVE it. As a few others have said, routine basic maintenance, drive it for a while to decide what you want to change.. or even if you want to change anything. I put in Sard seat covers, a WeatherTec trunk liner, and 3dMAX floor mats, and that's it on mine. All three were very worthwhile to me.

Best to you!

[VoltsFRS2013]

Originally Posted by Spuds

What? No.

No.. what? lol

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

...........
Some things I've done to improve performance..

........you put waaaaaay too much thought into that .....


humfrz

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

Synthetic is the only oil you should use in the car; that's a factory requirement, not an "enthusiast" recommendation.

Re/ another poster's recommendation to add to the car's "identity and attitude,"... to each his/her own. My personal identity is more tied to skills and what I have to offer than to what I look like and what my exhaust sounds like. Same for my car.

Some things I've done to improve performance..

1. I add a cup of sugar to every gas tank. Sugar has a LOT of caloric energy and that's released when it burns. A great way to improve power and efficiency.

2. Even a lightly rubbing brake pad (and they all rub slightly) can reduce efficiency and speed. I coat my rotors with silicone spray before every drive.

3. Do NOT forget to change your headlight fluid at least monthly.

4. You'll notice that the stock seats don't let you slide much, making the car a bit difficult to get into. This also tends to wear out the stitching on the driver's side seat bolster. A great, easy mod is to work a bunch of wheel grease (synthetic if you like red, or regular dark brown/grey is fine) into the seat... gob it on. You'll slide right in.

5. For a sports car, this car has surprisingly good visibility which can ruin the sports car experience. Try putting a bunch of opaque stickers on all of your windows where you'd like to have the expected blind spots.

6. A great attitude/identity mod - place a wireless mic inside the resonator tube, then pipe it through the car's sounds system. You won't BELIEVE the increase in attitude!

7. The air filter really restricts airflow. Remove it.

8. For track days, when you need extra cooling for the engine, add a tray or two of ice cubes to the coolant reservoir. If you make them out of Gatorade, the color matches best.

9. Over time, the car does tend to develop some rattles and buzzes in the dash. I've found that playing the stereo very loudly seems to quiet them. Not really a mod, but surpringly it works; I have no idea why.

10. One last one, for safety. This car is pretty low, height-wise, and you'll find yourself being cut off frequently by SUVs and trucks who don't look down far enough to see you. I put a big advertisement board on top of my roof, like you see on many taxis. Not only did it increase my visibility to other traffic, but I gained another, but admittedly small, income stream. The efficiency hit caused by the induced drag is more than made up for by the addition of sugar and silicone-coated rotors in the first two tips.

Always here to help!

AND.. just in case anyone here is brand new to the planet, it's all jokes.. do NOT put sugar in your gas tank or coat your rotors with silicone. Gatorade ice cubes are a bad idea too, and removing the air filter ain't a good longevity choice either. All the other stuff, if it sounds good, go for it. The headlight fluid is for real.

I was NOT kidding about the synthetic oil.

Congrats on the car. Based on your reasons for buying it, you're going to LOVE it. As a few others have said, routine basic maintenance, drive it for a while to decide what you want to change.. or even if you want to change anything. I put in Sard seat covers, a WeatherTec trunk liner, and 3dMAX floor mats, and that's it on mine. All three were very worthwhile to me.

Best to you!

Taking irony to a whole new level!

[PacManTheRS1.0]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

Some things I've done to improve performance..

Pure genius hahah, thanks for the laughs

[DandoX]

Originally Posted by VoltsFRS2013

Welcome and congrats on your graduation, I'm only in my freshman year of college so im working towards that as well

Like a few other members mentioned, asking us for mods is extremely bias. I will say that in my opinion one of the most attitude changing mods you can get into doing is your exhaust. Plenty of awesome Axle back and catback systems on the market that will completely change the attitude and identity of your ride while not messing with the reliability or anything at all. That would be MY first mod (it was my first mod)

Congrats again on the awesome car.

Edit: Some maintenance advice, change oil pretty frequently. I change mine every 4,000. These cars need attention. Give them what they need and they'll be bulletproof for the most part. I drive the auto with the paddles so this didn't apply to me but sometime take your skid plate off and check general areas for oil leaks as these cars are known for them (cam plate is a huge one if you drive manual, many people replace them off the bat)

I'd also recommend a magnetic drain plug for your car. When you do your first oil change and realize how ignorant and small the OEM drain plug is you'll remember reading this.

Magnetic oil drain plug is useless since nearly everything is aluminum. Better off just buying a new plug every 5 or 6 oil changes.

I agree change the oil around 4k and always get a new crush washer, research your oil needs for your driving style and area. Don't mod the car except for tires and maybe a catback. I would avoid everything else. Also be conservative with cosmetic mods, that's how you stay classy. Also EVERY time you wash it give her a quick coat of spray wax, it is well worth that extra effort.

Most important is drive carefully since it's a special car and your in a special version so proper respect for the vehicle is key. Enjoy the hell out of it because it is bad ass.

[VoltsFRS2013]

Originally Posted by DandoX

Magnetic oil drain plug is useless since nearly everything is aluminum. Better off just buying a new plug every 5 or 6 oil changes.

I agree change the oil around 4k and always get a new crush washer, research your oil needs for your driving style and area. Don't mod the car except for tires and maybe a catback. I would avoid everything else. Also be conservative with cosmetic mods, that's how you stay classy. Also EVERY time you wash it give her a quick coat of spray wax, it is well worth that extra effort.

Most important is drive carefully since it's a special car and your in a special version so proper respect for the vehicle is key. Enjoy the hell out of it because it is bad ass.

Magnetic drainplug = getting that metal thats in your motor out of it as it shreds itself. Also, the washer design of most magnetic drain plugs (I know the greddy one at least) is so much better. Not a crush washer, less leaking.

[DandoX]

Originally Posted by VoltsFRS2013

Magnetic drainplug = getting that metal thats in your motor out of it as it shreds itself. Also, the washer design of most magnetic drain plugs (I know the greddy one at least) is so much better. Not a crush washer, less leaking.

Yeah thanks I know what a magnetic drain plug is. They are a waste of money on engines that are nearly all aluminum, I've talked with folks who got them and they don't really do anything on these cars.

If you use a new crush washer which cost hardly anything you won't get any leaks. If you change your oil alot and really want to buy some sort of fancy drain plug might as well go with a fumoto valve. I'm too paranoid of leaks or anything hitting it and causing oil to drain out personally. A simple oem drain plug and new crush washer are tried and true and cheap.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by VoltsFRS2013

No.. what? lol

This isn't a Ferrari, it's a Toyota/Subaru, and mostly the latter. It needs just as much attention as any other car. You CAN change oil every 4k, but you don't really need to under normal street circumstances. And changing the oil regularly does not mean a lot of attention. Brake pads last damn near forever, coolant is a 100k fill, and plugs go to 60k or 100k depending on the literature you read. Really a pretty easy car to maintain.

And magnetic drain plug for engine oil??? That's what the filter is for. You only need one when there is no filter.

[PacManTheRS1.0]

So I'm guessing this is the magnetic drain plug yall are talking about https://www.amazon.com/GReddy-139013.../dp/B009QKEU7E

So if we were to take a vote is this just super precautionary and uneeded/how many of you actually have one?

Also as of right now the only two "Mods" if you can even call them that I have planned are red brake calipers, and a black decal to fill in the yellow TRD on the rear bumper