Hey guys and gals,
just to start off, this is not a which mod is bestest and cheapest i don't know what to do thread, this is for fun and while it may happen to coincide with my current situation (lol), I'm just curious what you guys would do.

You have:

• black Z with exhaust (otherwise completely stock)
• ~$400

what do you do?

 

save it. Not going to get much for 400.

 

You know what I would do if I had a 400 dollars? I would invest half of it in low risk mutual funds and then take the other half over to my friend Asadulah who works in securities...

 

Id buy two fifths of a volk

 

Get that trashed paint compounded and buffed and wrap (tastefully) or fix those worn a$$ interior pieces. Car looks like a bucket. Why mod it when in that condition?

 

Spring mount mod = free
Duplicolor black trim paint for your center console = $8
Decent brand clay bar and wax kit = $50
Antenna = less than $20
Wheels spacers = $100-$250 depending on brand
K&N air filter = $50
Synthetic oil change and tune-up = varies

IMO, I would put my money into the car running well and keeping that paint shiny and swirl free. The Z is already a good looking car stock.

 

Save towards a set of wheels or get a double din cd player. That looks horrid

 

She looks due for a nice wash + wax...scrub down those tires too. I'd tear apart the interior and repaint. Put the 400 towards bigger mods...really depends what your goals are with the car, gl

 

You can actually do quite a bit with $400 on an 03-05 model Z. Here are some of your options:
-Plenum spacer ($200 at most)
-Test pipes ($150-400)
-shift **** ($40-150)
-Intake ($100-350)
-front lip ($100-just over 400)
-used parts (exhaust, intake, y pipe, etc.)
-hydrodip interior (roughly $300-400)
-Engine bay hoses ($100-200)
-carbon fiber B pillar overlays ($30-100)
-carbon fiber door handle overlays ($65)
-carbon fiber mirror overlays ($90-150)
-painted door handles ($30-50)
-JDM white side markers ($70)
-headunit (at least $300)
-y pipe ($150-400)
-cheap ebay exhaust ($300-400)
-window tint ($200-300)
-shorty antenna ($25)

 

Just fyi, I went to the dodge dealership here and ordered an 08 Dodge Avenger antenna. The base matches perfect, it's way shorter, perfect reception still, and it was around 8.50 with them having to order it even.

 

Plenum Spacer

 

Wait are you telling me I can get a shorty antenna for 9bux? You got a pic of it on your car or a thread with it?

edit: found on google. lol you put "08 Dodge Avenger antenna" in google search you get 350z pics with the antenna lol

 

Window tint
Paint or wrap interior
Paint or wrap door handles

 

This ^^^^^ x10. I'd be embarrassed driving around in a car so filthy.

 

Here's a shorty from an ACURA MDX. Cost <$10, base matches exactly:

 

Plenum spacer
K&N intake
Lowering springs.

If you find the right price, you can do the above for $400.

 

wow I didn't expect so many responses so quick!


LOL i expected a few of these, I didn't say "what performance modification would you make?" so these are definitely valid answers! (especially Phenom's lol)

Exactly what I had in mind. I bought this 04 model in 2012 with 32k miles and it seems that it sat outside the whole time it wasn't being driven. the paint is terrible and the interior is worse. You think a compound rub and buff would help the paint much? also by wrap do you mean vinyl wrap? I'm sorry I know almost nothing about paint/body.
very interested in what else you have to say ^^^

Edit: i made this text big and blue because it answers this threads general opinion of my car lol^^^

I'm going to do some searching on here about that spring mount mod... don't know anything about that.

Thinking about vinyl wrapping the interior pieces. I've painted interior plastics before and its never been as smooth to the touch as oem... always almost sticky even with clear. Maybe I just suck lol

the antenna is a huge eyesore and I've read that everyone is going s2k oem on that one but I haven't really looked into replacing it yet. That's an awesome suggestion!

wheel spacers scare me especially on 8 year old lugs. opinions on safety?
I'd definitely consider some 1/4-1/2" rear spacers.

i shouldn't have said otherwise stock, I just consider the k&n filter a given lol, any car I buy gets one on the way home.

and I just changed the oil and plugs about 500 miles ago but for anyone in a similar boat reading this, i agree that a good synthetic oil & tune up can really cheer these cars up!

Thanks for the good ideas!

horrid? really? what's wrong with the single din? it does everything I need it to, auto sync to android - pandora over bluetooth and has a cool screen I thought. Is it just my install that's bad or the unit itself in your opinion?
if its the cubby hole underneath I agree that its awful, not sure how to fill the space with anything less horrendous though. Suggestions?



this is a neat reference list if the prices are accurate. some seem a bit low compared to my research but still neat.
Plenum spacer is a must, I think. Just not sure if I want to put more into marginal performance gains right no or focus on appearance (ie paint/restoration as well as a front lip, shorty antenna, etc.)
I don't really wanna mess with test pipes simply because of emissions and I feel like the gain wouldn't be worth that potential sad face come renewal time or the effort of swapping the cats back in & out every april.
intake is high on my list but like the test pipes, not sure if thats the route I want to go at the moment the appearance stuff is cool and the tint is the other thing I had in mind myself while I was posting this thread.


WHAAAAT 9 bucks? I gotta look into that thanks for the tip!

 

+1 - maintenance before mods

 

holy crap my black 08 with 75,000 miles DD that lives out side all year round snow rain sun pollen dust ect is in better condition

 

Made a stock shorty antenna thread on here.

I went with the RDX one.

Bought it for $8 shipped new and ended up selling my stock one for $5.

RDX $8 - Stock $5 = $3. lol.

^ Cheapest mod for ya.