I didn’t see this posted anywhere, so here's handy place to collect ideas …

Since I haven’t even ordered mine yet, nothing to add other than the proverbial “K & N” filter, but I know there’s some clever stuff out there certainly, so fire away!

 

Forget the K&N filter, regardless if you mean the drop-in or their stand-alone CAI. The only power gains to be had with a change to intake air volume can be accomplished with a custom tune. The K&N CAI will work ok but it's not the best (but were only talking a few RWHP difference between CAI's; 2-3 if that).

The CAI & custom tune is your biggest bang short of FI. After that, there are no mods other than LT's and cams (together) to provide any major gains. All else are single didgit gains and still cost some cash. The only thing "free" is to drop some weight such as rear seat delete, lose the spare, etc.

 

I was at the airport and a Mustang mag dyno'd the new V6 with a C&L (?) CAI and it came in at 10 HP and I believe 9 twisters. No tune. That's a $300 piece, though to your point. They also did a tune and added more, can't recall the amount. $30 buck per HP ain't bad.

Not just talkin' power mods here ... thread open for clever fixes, tweeks etc.

 

Weight reduction is always free lol

 

free mod= keep your car clean as hell, and look cool as hell at every stop light. dont race from stop lights... people will think your car is fast as hell...dont race and prove them wrong.

 

I saved a dumb bell's worth on my GTI going to a Miata battery, worked in Winter even. I could feel the difference in quick side-to-side maneuvering, honest.

Anyone running a particular battery for weight reduction .. that's a good hunk of weight on the nose of the car.

 

For 2005's, the heated throttle bypass is a free mod.

Otherwise, as mentioned, your best gains will be CAI **WITH** a custom tune.

Get a GT or other muffler for cheap or free and that'd be a good cheap mod for a few HP.

 

That's highly debatable. I'm not sure the you could see the difference in RWHP between normal dyno variation and the actual gain, IF any.

 

Stickers aren't that expensive. Each sticker is like 3-4 dollars and depending on where you stick them on your car, you can get like 10-20 hp from each.

 

Paint your calipers, window tint, tint your tail lights (niteshade), stripes (if you don't already have them, blackout your emblems/wheels...there are a lot of DIY mods at least for appearance and everything I mentioned here is from $20-200.