slick099

I have around $600 to spend on performance mods. I already have a maxground kit, AEM CAI, and 19 inch RH J8 Wheels with Toyo Proxy T1-S tires. My main goals are a louder deeper exhaust/HP and a lower smoother ride (lower being the main objective). I know not all of these can be accompolished with $700, but suggestions are still welcome for future more expensive mods.

Srivero297

iTrader: (2)

get a nice catback exhaust. They are the main piece soundwise to the exhaust system. $600 prob isnt enough though for one of the better ones. My stillens cost me a little over a grand.

Rickdogg

iTrader: (234)

If lowering your car is your main objective, I would suggest saving up for the Tein Basic coilovers if you do not plan to track your car. If it is GO mods, I would suggest a different intake since the AEM is known to actually rob power, UR crank pulley, and some test pipes (resonated if you don't like loud).

slick099

okay I guess I should focus this a little more: lets just stick with more power and a louder exhaust

Rick: how much are UR crank pulleys? What test pipes? Do test pipes make the exhaust have a rasp?

shinz

iTrader: (3)

test pipes will give you rasp, but i think resonated test pipes are suppose to eliminate that. I get some pretty bad rasp with my high flow cats.

slick099

How bad is the rasp/real annoying/very noticeable? What would you suggest? What is cheapest?

shinz

iTrader: (3)

oh and if you're working with a $600-$700 budget, then you should check the classifieds section and see if you can find yourself a nice used exhaust. Maybe some springs as well, but you can get new tein s-techs for around $150 more or less. Not sure how much of a drop you're looking for though.

Btw how loud of an exhaust are you looking for? a bit louder than stock, or a lot louder?

shinz

iTrader: (3)

I haven't heard test pipes in person so i'm not sure how it sounds. I'd assume it would be worse than my cats and in my opinion, it's pretty annoying. However, different people have different tastes so it may not be so bad for you. It hasnt been bad enough for me to want to take them off. I hear that crawford and kinetix cats don't have that much/any rasp so maybe you'll want to go with those. I believe test pipes are cheaper though.

slick099

thanks for the responses shinz!! so u would say crawford/kinetix cats. What about resonated test pipes?

As far as a drop: I'm not sure whatever would look best with 19's and I don't want to change the camber so much that I go through tires really fast.

axxizzer

id go plenum or cats


kinetix plenum, it saves weight

Z1 Performance

iTrader: (564)

yeah and the whole reason for doing a plenum is weight savings...why do you keep posting this?

For lowering the car, especially give your wheels, I'd choose the RSR Down springs. They offer a modest but "correct looking" drop. and are very easy to live with day to day.

Exhaust wise, it makes zero difference who's you choose. When compared apples to apples (a true dual system ie Injen vs a cat back + y pipe ala Fujitsubo, NISMO, Greddy Evo and others) will net you the same gains. The stock cat back is not a huge restriction but the factory cats and Y pipe are.

We sell and recommend the Ultimate Racing cats, as they fit perfectly, are not raspy, are 50 state legal, and have a 5 year 50k mile warranty.

Also, does the $600 include install or not, or will you be doing it yourself?

Adam

hfm

iTrader: (1)

I agree with Z1 about the RSR downsprings. Nice lowering that improves performance and looks nice with a 6/10" drop.

For deeper and louder, I went with Borla True dual exhaust. At low RPM, she sounds a lot like a V8. Later on you can do some testpipes with resonators that will increase performance and the exhaust will sound even louder.

But, including shipping and installation, you're probably looking at closer to $900.00 to $1,000 with just the exhaust and springs because very good prices for the springs is about $175 and the exhaust is about $625.

If you're limited to $600, I think you need so save a few more schekels and do the exhaust. Happy modding.

Vanos_Villain

Test pipes and a Y-pipe (about $700.00 total). From the Y-Pipe back, the stock exhaust piping seems sufficient as far as I'm concerned.

AParshall04

iTrader: (6)

def get high flow cats. I like really loud exhausts and i had test pipes and it was just too much. You could honestly hear my car from over a mile away! If youre on a budget like me (college student) then use the private classifieds and have a little patience. Grab some used high flow cats and get some cheap springs like the teins or the RS*Rs mentioned above. Plan on spending somewhere around $200-300 on cats and $100-200 on springs. GET RID OF THAT AEM CAI!!! buy a pop charger for $100 and throw that peice in the trash! heh.

only1

iTrader: (1)

So do high flow cats cause your car to be a lot louder? I had planned on getting some headers and high flow cats, but I don't want the sound to be really loud, due to it being a daily driver.

Z1 Performance

iTrader: (564)

a tad louder, but not obtrusive at all.

I LOVE the UR cats I have on my car...the perfect sound IMHO

slick099

I would probably need the install done by a professional considering my limited knowledge, but it would have to be a good price. Otherwise I would learn how to install it with the help of friends.

roneski

iTrader: (3)

Aren't the UR cats notorius for falling apart? Did they revise the design?

sisco534

iTrader: (4)

Why trash AEM like that , agree pop charger maybe better is some aspects easier to clean, but somtimes too much airflow is a bad thing thus causing stalls . AEM is not that bad same as Nismo but different sticker .... Keep the AEM but get K&N filter to go with it much better than the AEM filter I switched and can tell more suction.

TwiZted

iTrader: (1)

In my opinion I would buy test pipes and some sway bars. I just installed my Hotchkis sways and I couldnt believe the difference it made in handling, with both bars set in the neitral position the handling is much more neutral ( she likes to slide in the rain )