At a crossroads, Do I spend the money?

[defury]

Alright ill try and keep this short.

Bought the car with 150,000km for $6100, car is completely stock and fully loaded. I used to be really interested in cars up until the point when I was about 20 and then I really just stopped caring mainly because I had no money and was in college.

Now that I have bough this car the mod bug has bit me again but I feel myself stepping back and asking do I REALLY want to spend this money on the car? I mean I enjoy having a nice car and really like when people give me the looks and I also kind of enjoy building things.

My current mod list is as planned.

Timing belt
Water pump
Transmission/diff/tcase fluid change
Balance belt
Timing belt tensioner
Boost gauge
A Pillar pods
Intake
Tinting windows
Boost leak tester
Fixing whatever boost leaks
1g BOV
UIP
Paint job (***this is where I start to think is it worth it)
Carbon fiber hood
Rims
1.5'' drop
Bigger turbo with fuel mods and tuning tools
FMIC
other bigger mods at this end.

I really only plan to run a 16g and keep it streetable, might even stick with a 14b.

Anyway as I look at this list I think damn, this is the work needed to get it running/looking the same as a stock 08+ WRX and the 08+ WRX would still be under warranty and will last much longer and hold its modded value much better (2000$ in mods in a wrx and you are set)

Obviously the talon will stand out more and look a lot meaner which also is a big thing because I absolutely love showing off cars, this is the only reason I drive them, to make guys go damn how fast is that and to make girls go wow nice car can I get a ride .

So what do you think? mod or no mod?

gangsta - some pics DSMtuners Gallery

That is the final look I am modeling it after but different rims and a different color.

*edit* I have no intention of ever going to the drag strip. MAYBE once when all mods are done and tuned just to get the time but I honestly could care less how fast it actually is in a straight line, only about how much I enjoy driving it on a daily basis.

 

[TSimage]

I wouldn't classify anything you listed as a legitimate mod...

It takes a couple hundred dollars in a DSM to hand a WRX its ass.. That is no challenge at all..

If you do a little, well no, sounds like you need to do a lot more research, you'll see there are many paths one can take. It all depends on your end hp goals..

 

[defury]

Following

RRE 2nd Generation Eclipse Upgrade Path

Bone stock a 2009 WRX runs 13.1s @104. This is before intake/exhaust/mbc etc.

Not saying DSM's aren't an amazing platform but for the money a WRX starts off pretty damn fast and is reliable to boot. Don't take this the wrong way, I am by no means a WRX fan boy, just stating the facts couple hundred dollars WILL NOT safely take a DSM into the low 13's.

*edit* these too

http://www.dsmtuners.com/2g_dsm_300hp_mods.html
http://www.dsmtuners.com/sub.php?page=2gtstage2power

 

[97 Talon Esi]

my advice to you would to do what will make you happy, not what other people think. I have seen some really nice WRX's i have even had the pleasure of test driving one at work an they are a sweet ride,but personally i just love having my dsm its unique. You see alot of wrx's around but not many dsm's. I just like being different from everyone else.

 

[97Bstd420]

have fun

 

[defury]

Well I am not really sure what would make me happy that's why I ask, I really love DSM's and their looks and enjoy the 4g63 but I am questioning if I am better off overall by getting a newer car that will last me 15+ years vs a DSM with maybe 7-8 years left in it.

Either way I need to spend roughly 30k it comes down to whether I spend 20k on mods + maint on a dsm or save my money and buy a 2008 WRX in a couple years down the road.

I would rather mod the DSM but I also have the responsible side of me nagging me.

Since the paint needs to be done and it needs other non performance related things I could instead put that money in a savings account and further down the road pick up a WRX and be running 13's with stock reliability and warranty and room for 6.

I am coming into a large sum of money currently due to a very well paying contract job however its not going to last forever and I will have to find a new job soon, and while I have no bills to pay currently due to being fresh out of college that will change and monthly payments may be a better choice when I get off the contract and onto an actual salary.

I don't know there are pros and cons to each side and I really can't decide.

 

[boostNmetal]

DSM all the way!

 

[CHAR-FT]

I would rather mod the DSM but I also have the responsible side of me nagging me.

QUOTE]

I say, wait till your contract is over, then see where your at.

Just cause you have it now, does not mean you will have it then, be wise my friend, trust your responsible side, you can never go wrong with that. They are fun and wild, but do you really want to spend that amount on something that will not give you anything in return? I would much rather put that money into a lower value house, 30K in a 60K home as long as the location is nice would be a better move! But thats just my 2 cents!
Goodluck!

 

[MJBean420]

Wideband O2, downpipe and exhaust are crucial.

go with an Evo3 16g turbo or a Forced Performance turbo.

Check out Punishment Racing for your UIP and FMIC. they make a good inexpensive kit that includes a respectable BOV too.

I think you can smoke a modded Subie with a 2k effort. Just research mods and keep an eye on the classifieds, ebay, and craigslist. You can always find the parts you will need; just not when you need them. So plan ahead so when you see something your going to need, you can get it cheap from a fellow DSMer.

 

[Bluefire16]

Really? Do you realize how much it would take to make your car as fast as a WRX? You spent 6100 on the car, how much is a new 09 WRX STI that you are comparing to? Like what 30k you said? So the difference is $23900?

Do you realize what you could do with that much? You could buy like 4 more cars.

First, its not hard to make a dsm fast for cheap. Bigger turbo (16g for $350 used), MBC $40, Injectors $400, Fuel pump $200, Tuning software $400, FMIC $300. Thats only $1700 and thats giving HIGH prices on parts.

Some gauges and wideband and a few misc also, add another $600 or so. Hell we will even add in some new rims/tires, upgraded trans and a paint job, so add on $5000 (considering you get a standard paint job, and just a "regular" set of rims and tires considering how you are taking about using the car)

So now....tell me.... does this make sense? Your saying 20k on mods?! What mods cost 20k? Maybe if you have EVERY SINGLE thing done to the car BRAND NEW and done by a shop. Then sure....but just sell the car if thats your plan.

$2300 (mods) + $5000 ("extra mods/car work") + $6100 (car) = $13400 for a car that is faster then a WRX, looks better (IMO), and reliable (if you do things correctly like maintenance and normal repairs).

So now ask yourself, do you really want to SAVE a lot of money compared to buying a WRX?

Forgot exhaust and manifold and intake, just throw on another $700 haha

 

[defury]

I suppose I never really did do the math

I am including shipping prices

Paintjob - 5000$ (up here they are stupid expensive)
Intake - 100$
MBC - 50$
Exhaust - 700$
Wideband - 200$
Boost gauge - 100$
FMIC - 400$
DSMLink and other tuning stuff - 400$ like you said
Rims/tires - 1000$
Injectors - 400$
Fuel Pump - 400$
Timing belt with balance shaft eliminator and water pump - 400$
Bigger turbo - 500$ (not sure I would want to buy used on a turbo)

Total = $13650
+ Price of car = $19750

Now if I could find a paintjob for a decent price (5k$ for a color change) it might almost be worth it but I am still nearing 2000$ and I still think this will JUST get me into the 13's no?

I feel like I am coming off like a WRX fanboi in this thread which is far from it, I am just being realistic with myself, if someone can show me the light and make me feel less guilty about spending money on a DSM I would be glad to look over their suggestion.

Keep in mind WRX is stock 13's which bothers me since DSM's being as old and tired as they are, are fairly slow comparitively nowadays without serious mods.

Am I overestimating the price? Keep in mind I HAVE to include shipping being in canada. Having recently moved to the worst part of it too

 

[brodeisel]

Stick to dsm over junk everybody owns wrx

 

[EclipseGSX_53o]

I suppose I never really did do the math

I am including shipping prices

Paintjob - 5000$ (up here they are stupid expensive)
Intake - 100$
MBC - 50$
Exhaust - 700$
Wideband - 200$
Boost gauge - 100$
FMIC - 400$
DSMLink and other tuning stuff - 400$ like you said
Rims/tires - 1000$
Injectors - 400$
Fuel Pump - 400$
Timing belt with balance shaft eliminator and water pump - 400$
Bigger turbo - 500$ (not sure I would want to buy used on a turbo)

Total = $13650
+ Price of car = $19750

Now if I could find a paintjob for a decent price (5k$ for a color change) it might almost be worth it but I am still nearing 2000$ and I still think this will JUST get me into the 13's no?

I feel like I am coming off like a WRX fanboi in this thread which is far from it, I am just being realistic with myself, if someone can show me the light and make me feel less guilty about spending money on a DSM I would be glad to look over their suggestion.

Keep in mind WRX is stock 13's which bothers me since DSM's being as old and tired as they are, are fairly slow comparitively nowadays without serious mods.

Am I overestimating the price? Keep in mind I HAVE to include shipping being in canada. Having recently moved to the worst part of it too

wow..... expensive.....

 

[phunny]

Sounds fine for what you want, but WHEN, and I mean WHEN you want more power don't skimp or you'll be buying everything twice. IE 550CC injectors vs 880's.

 

[ziggo0]

How do you spend $400 on a fuel pump?

 

[91taltsiawd]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/1g_dsm_turbo_upgrade_path[/URL]

that link has upgrade paths from stage 0 to stage 3. from there its all about personal preference within that stage of tune

 

[blkgst97]

Did you guys realize this thread is 9 months old!?

 

[50trimgst]

Holeset 500$ leave the wrx behind

 

[andrewschel]

dsm is cheaper and easier to fix. That side mounted boxer engine isn't for every joe schmo to work on. the 4g63 on the other hand...the manifold and turbo are staring you dead in your face as soon you pop the hood, more room to work with, and parts are cheaper if you break something. a lot my friends drive subies and it gets expensive. you are hyper inflating all those prices. my buddy has about 4-5k in his 2g auto, including price of car, and he runs 11's. stick with the DSM (IMO). "dumpster diving" for parts can go a long way, i.e. ebay, craigslist, etc..