Next mod/mods, cant decide
12-13-2011, 02:21 PM
#1
4th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,792
Next mod/mods, cant decide
My car is a 2003 gt with 103k miles on it. Its a daily driver and it runs great and overall very good shape. Only mods are flowmasters, cobra clutch pack in differential, a valeo king cobra clutch i just put in and love, and I also have a pioneer headunit. It has 17x8 bullitts with nitto 555's with 4/32 tread left on all 4. Its parked outside 24/7.
Im considering a few things
1. Retrofitted HID projector kit (my headlights are getting a big foggy and brittle rubber) for like 600$. Could probably remove and sell seperately if i ever sold my car.
2. New bullitt rims (either just 2 rear 17x10.5's with sumitomo hrtz) or all 4 new (could also probably remove and sell seperately if i sold my car) 500-1000$
3. New speakers/subs all rewired etc, for approx 800$
4. lower control arms in the rear and possibly subframe connectors or other suspension components? (front seems to make a bit of creaking at turning)
5. Buy nothing and save toward 03 04 cobra or 05-07 cts-v (was considering a supercharger but decided not to since install will be a bich and id probably blow my engine, and a cobra has the beefed up components like t56, engine internals, etc.)
what do you guys think?
Im considering a few things
1. Retrofitted HID projector kit (my headlights are getting a big foggy and brittle rubber) for like 600$. Could probably remove and sell seperately if i ever sold my car.
2. New bullitt rims (either just 2 rear 17x10.5's with sumitomo hrtz) or all 4 new (could also probably remove and sell seperately if i sold my car) 500-1000$
3. New speakers/subs all rewired etc, for approx 800$
4. lower control arms in the rear and possibly subframe connectors or other suspension components? (front seems to make a bit of creaking at turning)
5. Buy nothing and save toward 03 04 cobra or 05-07 cts-v (was considering a supercharger but decided not to since install will be a bich and id probably blow my engine, and a cobra has the beefed up components like t56, engine internals, etc.)
what do you guys think?
Last edited by Andy13186; 12-13-2011 at 02:27 PM.
12-13-2011, 03:03 PM
#2
1.)I'd love to see you retrofit some projectors personally.
2.)I wouldn't buy sumitomos.
3.)If you drive the car daily, new speakers might be something worth investing if you plan on keeping the car. If you're looking at getting another car/newer car, I'd stay away from putting any more money into it though.
4.)Coil overs and new bushings?
5.)I'm in love with the CTS-Vs right now... might be a good call to save up for a year or so and buy one of them (or a G8) if you're worried about the life of your 103k mile mustang.
2.)I wouldn't buy sumitomos.
3.)If you drive the car daily, new speakers might be something worth investing if you plan on keeping the car. If you're looking at getting another car/newer car, I'd stay away from putting any more money into it though.
4.)Coil overs and new bushings?
5.)I'm in love with the CTS-Vs right now... might be a good call to save up for a year or so and buy one of them (or a G8) if you're worried about the life of your 103k mile mustang.
12-13-2011, 03:18 PM
#3
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: TX
Posts: 413
1) HIDs are gay
2) ^agreed
3) $800 is a little pricey for me for a non-performance part, but it's justified
4) Definitely. My next couple mods are looking like they are going to be handling
5) Wouldnt be a bad idea at all. Itd be fun to supercharge, but just not that economical or smart on a 100k mile car. Id find a slick cobra...that being said, those cts-vs are pretty cool
2) ^agreed
3) $800 is a little pricey for me for a non-performance part, but it's justified
4) Definitely. My next couple mods are looking like they are going to be handling
5) Wouldnt be a bad idea at all. Itd be fun to supercharge, but just not that economical or smart on a 100k mile car. Id find a slick cobra...that being said, those cts-vs are pretty cool
12-13-2011, 06:05 PM
#4
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 268
Spend about a grand on the mods you really want, to keep you from not getting "tired" of your mustang while you save for a new car. Then, when you do finally save up, put the stock parts back on your car and sell the aftermarket ones. I'd get an 03-04 Cobra because you can easily make power for cheap. Obviously with the CTS, you get more of a luxury aspect. I say if you're a young guy, get the Cobra.
12-13-2011, 08:49 PM
#5
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: NC
Posts: 1,481
I'd have to ask too many personal questions to make a comment on the Cobra or CTS-V.
Suspension has always been a good place to upgrade a DD car. You realize the benefits of that every time you drive the car. Wheels can be a nice upgrade if you care about how others view your car. Stereo is a nice upgrade for your own enjoyment.
If you really want to feel like you are driving a faster car, get a set of gears for it. There is no better bang for the buck than gears (my opinion).
Suspension has always been a good place to upgrade a DD car. You realize the benefits of that every time you drive the car. Wheels can be a nice upgrade if you care about how others view your car. Stereo is a nice upgrade for your own enjoyment.
If you really want to feel like you are driving a faster car, get a set of gears for it. There is no better bang for the buck than gears (my opinion).
12-14-2011, 08:40 AM
#8
4th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,792
I dont want gears, i had the option to put some in when i had the differential rebuilt but 1st gear already seems short enough to me. I dont think i want drag radials, i dont like the handling feel of tires with soft sidewalls.
Also , the back left of my car seems to sit like an inch lower than the right, not sure why or what would fix that.
Any amount more straight line grip than these old nittos , but with hard sidewalls, would be fine with me.
Also , the back left of my car seems to sit like an inch lower than the right, not sure why or what would fix that.
Any amount more straight line grip than these old nittos , but with hard sidewalls, would be fine with me.
Last edited by Andy13186; 12-14-2011 at 08:43 AM.
12-14-2011, 08:43 AM
#9
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: San Jose, California
Posts: 966
Drag Radials don't necessarily have a soft sidewall. I ran 305/40/18 Nittos on my 07 GT I had and with the suspension setup on there I was pulling some serious corners, it depends on which tire you get. If you are using stock gears and 1st gear feels short to you then gears probably aren't for you lol, I have 4.30's and love them, true every gear is short, but it's fun when it's go fast time.
As far as your question on tires, any offbrand tire is gonna be soso, i.e. Sumis, Kumhos ( although some Kumhos are okay ) Nexen etc, all hit or miss. If you're worried about grip stick with BFG, Falken, the big names, and do your research on the specific model of tire, they vary on how they perform. Tirerack.com is a good place to check out reviews.
As far as your question on tires, any offbrand tire is gonna be soso, i.e. Sumis, Kumhos ( although some Kumhos are okay ) Nexen etc, all hit or miss. If you're worried about grip stick with BFG, Falken, the big names, and do your research on the specific model of tire, they vary on how they perform. Tirerack.com is a good place to check out reviews.
12-14-2011, 09:29 AM
#10
Stiff sideswalls come from radial construction tires, i 315 35 17 drag radial will have no softer sidewall than a regular tire of the same size. Bias ply slicks and tires are the ones with soft sidewalls.