first $2000

[6-Shift]

header back exhaust, full intake, pulley kit, new tweeters, strut tower bar, master cylinder brace. that's what I'd do.

[Purdue FR-S]

About that tuning bit ...

How reputable are these "tunes" that people do? Also, won't tuning it void the warranty?

I guess I'm afraid that average Joe comes up with a hot "tune" for the thing and then ends up prematurely destroying the engine/damaging it etc.

[pheoxs]

I just spend my first $2k (almost) and haven't really modded anything yet.

Detail, clear film protection, opti coat, and tint, and then winter tires.

Next on the list is audio upgrade. No performance mods until I've finished the break in period which since I can't drive until the snow melts (May at least) will be quite some time.

[Celica00]

get a tune and spend the rest on all the gas youre gonna be spending w/ the bitchin' tune.

[SkitterSkotter]

for 2k I would do this:

1. Carbon driveshaft - nets about 5-10 more hp at the wheels.
2. perrin drop in filter - 3hp better fuel economy
3. berk muffler delete - 3hp drops 25lbs of weight from the car
4. new springs and roll bars - will improve handling and lower center of gravity.

Do these 4 and your car will feel like a new supercar.

[boredom.is.me]

Originally Posted by SkitterSkotter

for 2k I would do this:

1. Carbon driveshaft - nets about 5-10 more hp at the wheels.
2. perrin drop in filter - 3hp better fuel economy
3. berk muffler delete - 3hp drops 25lbs of weight from the car
4. new springs and roll bars - will improve handling and lower center of gravity.

Do these 4 and your car will feel like a new supercar.

...You get quicker throttle response, not more horsepower. Same goes for pulleys, flywheels, rims, and anything else that rotates.

[SkitterSkotter]

Originally Posted by boredom.is.me

...You get quicker throttle response, not more horsepower. Same goes for pulleys, flywheels, rims, and anything else that rotates.

As far as the dyno is concerned, there is a slight bump in hp to the wheels due to less rotating mass increasing the efficiency of power to the wheels. I agree that while it does not increase engine hp, it makes the power transfer more efficient, thus more power will show up at the wheels.

[jadewbj]

Originally Posted by pr086

The car already handles amazingly. Why throw out all the time and engineering that went into the stock suspension to make it work as well as it does with the tires they chose for it.

My first and possibly only mod would be exhaust. Looks, sound, and performance upgrade.

You realize they fully intended and expected owners to modify the cars, right?

[Mr.Jay]

For 2k and max stat increase I would say tune and tires.

Anything left over can go into power mods the tune or lightweight wheels

[neutron256]

All depends on what you want to get out of the car.

A tune is my #1 suggestion. It will get you a little more power, and more linear power delivery so acceleration/control will be better.

[stealth_fighter]

Sweet, there is a lot of good advice here. Tires are a definate (guess i should have not included that in the $2000). Is anyone running like 200-ish WHP? is much better? Is chassis stiffening really neccessary?

[Ingen]

Originally Posted by stealth_fighter

Sweet, there is a lot of good advice here. Tires are a definate (guess i should have not included that in the $2000). Is anyone running like 200-ish WHP? is much better? Is chassis stiffening really neccessary?

You probably won't hit 200whp NA without E85. That said, you also probably don't want it that much, not right out of the gate anyway.

Do you have tools? If not, take a few hundred and get tools, so you can do your own work. Pays for itself after a while, and it's fun.

Anyway, on to other things. Tires might be nice, but I *personally* wouldn't go with the 18x9 super-sticky stuff people are trying to run. If you wanted a go kart, they are available cheaper than this car. IMO, a little slip is better than infinite grip, and you will learn to be a better driver faster if you occasionally over-power the tires. It will show you where you aren't smooth enough!

So far I have upgraded the headlights with h9 bulbs (in the mail) and I have the master cylinder brace for brake feel. I'm gonna do the clutch adjustment too. Total cost there is like 125 for a lot of good returns, daily-driver wise.

If you just love the paint the way it is and are scared of a little damage, you had better spend the cash for the clear bra on the front bumper. I already have about a dozen chips up there. The paint is ridiculously soft.


Okay, about the winter tires. This is important. I got 16" steelies and continental extremewintercontacts. DON'T DO THIS. It's squirmy and depressing and I wish I could do it over with some lower-profile winter tires. They have good grip but you can feel the damned sidewall flexing over in every decent turn We had a little heat wave here and I took the time to swap wheels just for that. That's how much they suck. Great grip on the snow itself, but TBH I always wonder if the bridgestones my car came with would have done just as well.

I have been considering borla headers just for the sound, either that or a cat-back exhaust. I live in an apartment complex though and I'm the first one to go to work, so my consideration for my neighbors is causing me to hold off.

In short, to hell with it. 4 Star-Spec tires on the stock wheels and spend the rest on track days.

And you don't need to stiffen anything, IMO.

[fatoni]

with that kind of money its hard not to sound like that "get some seat time" guy. thats the way to go. if you want to work on the car though, tires would be a good start (if you want to go fast and arguably not as much fun), brakes (pads, steel lines, fluid), a tune, and see where that gets you. if you want more i would look into sway bars and lowering springs if you dont plan on going to coilovers ever.

[JayNutter]

Have you thought about donating that money to the church and hope for good things through Jesus?

Or

Have you thought about putting that money toward training or education so you can have even more money to spend in cars in the future?

BUT

If you must spend it, I would like to politely ask that you don't do anything tacky and be tasteful. Giant spoilers, and coffee can exhaust tips are not tasteful. Unlike those cheesy Axe bodyspray ads, bitches don't be flockin' to those chumps.