$10,000 to $12,000...what do you do?
$10,000 to $12,000...what do you do?
Here's the deal, between the 31st of Dec. and the 15th of Jan., I get about $30K of your tax money. 
It's true and I think it's a pretty fair trade (even though I'd still do my job for you dudes without your money).
Anyway, I plan on crushing some debt (approx. $18-$20K : paying off my Xterra & some nit-noid BS), then dropping the rest on my 04 5AT. Knowing what you know now and if you were in my shoes, how would you spend that cash on your Z? Give me some ideas, I'm totally stock as of now. I'm trying to figure this out so I can do some shopping and I'm positive your suggestions will help out. Thanks in advance.
RLTW & De Opresso Liber
It's true and I think it's a pretty fair trade (even though I'd still do my job for you dudes without your money).Anyway, I plan on crushing some debt (approx. $18-$20K : paying off my Xterra & some nit-noid BS), then dropping the rest on my 04 5AT. Knowing what you know now and if you were in my shoes, how would you spend that cash on your Z? Give me some ideas, I'm totally stock as of now. I'm trying to figure this out so I can do some shopping and I'm positive your suggestions will help out. Thanks in advance.
RLTW & De Opresso Liber
well you can go FI and 10-12k would probably cover everything you'd need for it, gauges, kit, install, tuning.
or you can upgrade all aspects of the car, handling, wheels/tires, some lighter weight parts, some bolt on power parts, etc
i have no idea what you want
or you can upgrade all aspects of the car, handling, wheels/tires, some lighter weight parts, some bolt on power parts, etc
i have no idea what you want
Turbonetics kit, cp racing tune, aam fuel return, cams, full 3 in exhaust back, good headers, Emanage Ultimate.. Should put you at 10000 with install and all. You can be anyfrom 400-450 rwhp with this setup or even more!
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 376
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From: tennessee
Go for handling/braking.
Tires and wheels: $3000
Big Brake Kit: $3000
Springs, Shocks, and Sways: $2000
$8000 should get you both good high-quality parts and installation. You'll have $2000 leftover for gas...
Tires and wheels: $3000
Big Brake Kit: $3000
Springs, Shocks, and Sways: $2000
$8000 should get you both good high-quality parts and installation. You'll have $2000 leftover for gas...
Originally Posted by bullseye
Go for handling/braking.
Tires and wheels: $3000
Big Brake Kit: $3000
Springs, Shocks, and Sways: $2000
$8000 should get you both good high-quality parts and installation. You'll have $2000 leftover for gas...
Tires and wheels: $3000
Big Brake Kit: $3000
Springs, Shocks, and Sways: $2000
$8000 should get you both good high-quality parts and installation. You'll have $2000 leftover for gas...
I say F/I (though I am partial
), but I will tell you, the power is addicting and you might not be willing to stop at 10-12k
I might be the only one saying this if people had 10-12K to spend. I would do a nice HKS Supercharger set up. Get some HRE wheels 19's. nismo exhaust. As far as the body i would leave it go. I think the body looks good as it is. With all that you should be right around 12-14K little bit more but you would have a very nice set up. one of cleanest around.
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I guess I should clarify. I like everyone's ideas so far, I definately want to go FI and I also would like to increase the handling capabilities. I'm afraid that I amy find out that 10-12K isn't enough for that. I don't know, that's why appreciate everyone's ideas so much. Except for RVM, he seems bitter. Keep them coming though.
D350Z10, I'm picking up what you're putting down, but what you suggest seems like it might go over my budget. I don't mean to sound negative, but is your advice realistic. Either way, your suggestion will be a good baseline to start researching from.
The same goes for bullseye, I definately want to upgrade suspension and brakes, but I'm thinking I'll have to find a way to meet the FI price in the middle somewhere. That might be hard to do.
So far, with 7 replies to this thread, it's wierd how I notice that I'd like to do a combination of everyone's suggestions. Something clean, leave the body alone, some good wheels and tires, upgrade the suspension and go FI. The biggest problem, and it's obvious, is finding a way to get all of that and pay for the install. Looks like it's going to be difficult. Thanks.
Please keep posting ideas if you haven't already.
D350Z10, I'm picking up what you're putting down, but what you suggest seems like it might go over my budget. I don't mean to sound negative, but is your advice realistic. Either way, your suggestion will be a good baseline to start researching from.
The same goes for bullseye, I definately want to upgrade suspension and brakes, but I'm thinking I'll have to find a way to meet the FI price in the middle somewhere. That might be hard to do.
So far, with 7 replies to this thread, it's wierd how I notice that I'd like to do a combination of everyone's suggestions. Something clean, leave the body alone, some good wheels and tires, upgrade the suspension and go FI. The biggest problem, and it's obvious, is finding a way to get all of that and pay for the install. Looks like it's going to be difficult. Thanks.
Please keep posting ideas if you haven't already.
man -- i need to go E/WO and get those bonuses 
with $12k you have quite a few options -- you can go all out in one category (engine, handling, looks, etc...) or you can spread it around a bit.
If I hadn't just spent that much on a built engine, i'd spread it around (makes waiting for the next installment much easier).
For the engine, you need to decide if you want FI, or whether you just want really snappy NA. If the former, i'd go single turbo (turbonetics installed/tuned for ~8k); if the later, get some big cams & springs (i love my tomei 268's), and the crawford pack (probably ~5.5k installed)
Handingling wise, i'd look at a set of coilovers, anti-sway bars, rotor/pad/line upgrades, or new tires. If you want to go all out on coilovers, the Zeals are the place to look, but they cost a ton of money. Maybe Tein Basics are more in the realm of reality? Brakes, if you want to go cheap, you can get a set of big slotted rotors, stainless steel lines, and hawk hps (or hp+) pads for about $1k -- or you can get the Willwood BBK for $3.75k. You can get a new set of good tires for about $1k (if you want to get rid of the stockers).
Looks-wise -- rims are always an option... they can run you anywhere from $1k to $5k and more depending on your tastes/preferences -- a full tint job is only a couple hundred. Body kits can be from mild to wild depending on how much you want to spend and what you're looking for.
A good $12k all-around package in my mind would be a Turbonetics ST, Tein basics, Cusco Anti-Sways, Cusco RS LSD, Crawford cats / plenum / strut bar -- all installed and tuned.
with $12k you have quite a few options -- you can go all out in one category (engine, handling, looks, etc...) or you can spread it around a bit.
If I hadn't just spent that much on a built engine, i'd spread it around (makes waiting for the next installment much easier).
For the engine, you need to decide if you want FI, or whether you just want really snappy NA. If the former, i'd go single turbo (turbonetics installed/tuned for ~8k); if the later, get some big cams & springs (i love my tomei 268's), and the crawford pack (probably ~5.5k installed)
Handingling wise, i'd look at a set of coilovers, anti-sway bars, rotor/pad/line upgrades, or new tires. If you want to go all out on coilovers, the Zeals are the place to look, but they cost a ton of money. Maybe Tein Basics are more in the realm of reality? Brakes, if you want to go cheap, you can get a set of big slotted rotors, stainless steel lines, and hawk hps (or hp+) pads for about $1k -- or you can get the Willwood BBK for $3.75k. You can get a new set of good tires for about $1k (if you want to get rid of the stockers).
Looks-wise -- rims are always an option... they can run you anywhere from $1k to $5k and more depending on your tastes/preferences -- a full tint job is only a couple hundred. Body kits can be from mild to wild depending on how much you want to spend and what you're looking for.
A good $12k all-around package in my mind would be a Turbonetics ST, Tein basics, Cusco Anti-Sways, Cusco RS LSD, Crawford cats / plenum / strut bar -- all installed and tuned.
Originally Posted by Machupo
man -- i need to go E/WO and get those bonuses
with $12k you have quite a few options -- you can go all out in one category (engine, handling, looks, etc...) or you can spread it around a bit.
If I hadn't just spent that much on a built engine, i'd spread it around (makes waiting for the next installment much easier).
For the engine, you need to decide if you want FI, or whether you just want really snappy NA. If the former, i'd go single turbo (turbonetics installed/tuned for ~8k); if the later, get some big cams & springs (i love my tomei 268's), and the crawford pack (probably ~5.5k installed)
Handingling wise, i'd look at a set of coilovers, anti-sway bars, rotor/pad/line upgrades, or new tires. If you want to go all out on coilovers, the Zeals are the place to look, but they cost a ton of money. Maybe Tein Basics are more in the realm of reality? Brakes, if you want to go cheap, you can get a set of big slotted rotors, stainless steel lines, and hawk hps (or hp+) pads for about $1k -- or you can get the Willwood BBK for $3.75k. You can get a new set of good tires for about $1k (if you want to get rid of the stockers).
Looks-wise -- rims are always an option... they can run you anywhere from $1k to $5k and more depending on your tastes/preferences -- a full tint job is only a couple hundred. Body kits can be from mild to wild depending on how much you want to spend and what you're looking for.
A good $12k all-around package in my mind would be a Turbonetics ST, Tein basics, Cusco Anti-Sways, Cusco RS LSD, Crawford cats / plenum / strut bar -- all installed and tuned.
with $12k you have quite a few options -- you can go all out in one category (engine, handling, looks, etc...) or you can spread it around a bit.
If I hadn't just spent that much on a built engine, i'd spread it around (makes waiting for the next installment much easier).
For the engine, you need to decide if you want FI, or whether you just want really snappy NA. If the former, i'd go single turbo (turbonetics installed/tuned for ~8k); if the later, get some big cams & springs (i love my tomei 268's), and the crawford pack (probably ~5.5k installed)
Handingling wise, i'd look at a set of coilovers, anti-sway bars, rotor/pad/line upgrades, or new tires. If you want to go all out on coilovers, the Zeals are the place to look, but they cost a ton of money. Maybe Tein Basics are more in the realm of reality? Brakes, if you want to go cheap, you can get a set of big slotted rotors, stainless steel lines, and hawk hps (or hp+) pads for about $1k -- or you can get the Willwood BBK for $3.75k. You can get a new set of good tires for about $1k (if you want to get rid of the stockers).
Looks-wise -- rims are always an option... they can run you anywhere from $1k to $5k and more depending on your tastes/preferences -- a full tint job is only a couple hundred. Body kits can be from mild to wild depending on how much you want to spend and what you're looking for.
A good $12k all-around package in my mind would be a Turbonetics ST, Tein basics, Cusco Anti-Sways, Cusco RS LSD, Crawford cats / plenum / strut bar -- all installed and tuned.
Originally Posted by D350Z10
Turbonetics kit, cp racing tune, aam fuel return, cams, full 3 in exhaust back, good headers, Emanage Ultimate.. Should put you at 10000 with install and all. You can be anyfrom 400-450 rwhp with this setup or even more!
another thing i forgot -- in the brakes realm -- you can get a used set of brembo's for about $2k on this board (rotors/calipers) -- new SS lines and pads and you're set
Originally Posted by Machupo
another thing i forgot -- in the brakes realm -- you can get a used set of brembo's for about $2k on this board (rotors/calipers) -- new SS lines and pads and you're set
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 735
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From: Midwest
The problem with that price range is that you can just do some in each area but some of these mods will require other mods. Like if you go FI your not gunna be happy with stock wheels/tires. Depending on the HP your making you will prolly need a new clutch. Then exhaust/pipes/ect. little bolt ons that will make a significant amount of power increase on a FI motor. Cams also can do wonders for a FI motor. Sway bars are a great way to increase the handling. You could buy some TEIN basics like the last guy said or go all out and get some TEIN Flex coilovers with the EDFC controller. Also, how important is the sound system to you?
