NeoAngelo

Hey, it's me again, with more odd questions. I've got $1000 initial budget I've set myself for the car. If I don't set one, I'll buy my self out of house and home. :P Annnyway, I was thinking about getting the COBB Acessport and the Racing Beat intake. In staying withing that 1k, I can't get the intake duct. Do you think that combination will increase my throttle response and overall feel of the car? Or can someone suggest a different combination of parts for around 1k? Is the intake going to suffer without the duct?
Thanks again.
Jon

simplyphp

The duct isn't going to make it suffer, nor will it even be worth your money. The Cobb AccessPort is nice to have, but I only bought mine because I am going FI - I would probably say to get it, but then again $700 is a lot of money and I can't say my car feels much different (other than me wanting to believe its different since I bought a $700 gadget, plugged it into my car, flashed the ECU, and put it back in the box).

If you really WANT to spend all of your $1000, I would say get a cold air intake & a Borla exhaust for your $1k. This will allow more cold air into your engine & the Borla exhaust is less restrictive than stock. Otherwise just get the Racing Beat intake.

NeoAngelo

I plan on going FI later on, I guess I should wait until then to get the AccessPort until then, if there's no real difference. The intake duct doesn't make much difference? I would imagine it would, but then again, I really wouldn't know, this car is such a different beast. :P I was thinking the RB Intake and the RB Exhaust, since I want less restriction but not a tone of noise, just a nice tone. Can anyone else back up the duct piece for the intake? If it's really not worth it, I'd be glad to save my 150 bucks.

simplyphp

Stock air intake is fine, once you go CAI or even upgrade it to RB intake, there's not anything else you can do. I wish I had an analogy but you get the picture. $150 will not be with the unnoticeable claimed gain. But $150 will buy you 3 tanks of gas.

NeoAngelo

Sounds good, thanks.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

jon,

get the car first.

simple.

beers

laythor

the MM AP also has the benefit of upping the oil metering unit, more oil = happy rotary. Fans come on sooner, map is tuned to your car, etc etc. If you have the 700 it isnt the worst first thing to buy.

NeoAngelo

lol I know, I know. But since all I do nowadays is research and look up cars, I need something to take my mind off it. I get fidgety and antsy when I find one and then my mind wanders for days at a time thinking about it. I don't generally get obsessive over a car, but when I sat it in and drove it, it screamed me. Don't ask, I'm weird. Thanks though.

NeoAngelo

Thanks laythor.

JTtheDude

I would say get the Cobb or maybe a lightweight flywheel.

Nemesis8

iTrader: (3)

Maybe (6) one barrel Webers with velocity stacks would do the trick.

atl8

iTrader: (1)

ACT prolite flywheel, and depending on how much you have to pay for the install you'll have money leftover for the Agency Power crank pulley.

NeoAngelo

Nemesis, what do you think of your accessport? A flywheel would def do the trick, in my old car I couldn't believe the difference when I got one. Thanks for the ideas.

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

I heard from mysql that vacuuming the carpet will increase throttle response ....

NeoAngelo

lol Inside joke, I assume? :P And I found a great way to increase throttle response, check this out. Every APC sticker you put on your car gains you 10 HP and increases response!! You can put like 10 stickers on your car and gain 100 horses!! I'm headin to Autozone ya'll!!

sleep deprivation...

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

yeh - it's just that people come on here all the time claiming the mod they did increased throttle response . It's quite amusing when you see it all the time

Socket7

Short shifter and a set of Falken RT615's in a 245/40/18 will make a huge difference in the overall feel of the car. The 615's make the 8 feel SO much more confident in the corners over the stock 225/45 potenzas

Never underestimate the power of a good set of tires. They're the only part of your car that touches the road after all.

Also, **** throttle response. It's fine just the way it is.

rotary.enthusiast

I don't disagree, but I think you're about to be lynched by half of the forum members

I was a skeptic on the short shifter for a long time, but I recently got one and it is fantastic. Highly recommended... all the other recommendations in this thread are also reasonable low cost (relatively) upgrades.

Socket7

Dropping a grand on an intake and exhaust to increase throttle response is a waste of money. There may come a time when a lightweight flywheel or something will be a good investment, but short shifter and new rubber should absolutely come first. What good is throttle response when you have long throws between each gear and you cant keep keep your car from breaking loose and (body) rolling because you have craptastic tires with weak sidewalls?

05rex8

iTrader: (7)

When I first got my 8, I was just like you Jon. Couldn't wait to mod it. Not that it really needed it, but because of all the reading I was doing on this forum. It really influences you....hence the reason why I bought a turbo kit.

Seriously though....I bought a K&N intake first. I didn't notice any difference except an annoying loud, ricey noise coming from under the hood. I quickly sold it. Then I bought full exhaust. Again, didn't notice any difference at all. Just sound. I did keep the exhaust because it helps when going FI and it sounds awesome.

As far as the AP, I would get it from MazdaManiac if you do decide to get it. I think it is a worthwhile mod. Pricey? Yes. But you will get your money's worth def if you do get a turbo in the future. Plus you will make the most out of your mods, like if you do get an intake and full exhaust, by using the AP.

BHR ignition coil upgrade seems like a good idea as well as the OEM coils are very weak and need to be replaced every 30k. Contact Charles R. Hill for info.

AFE short shifter is a must like mentioned before. You will feel like you are truly driving a sports car if you get it. It's fantastic.

You could also change out all the interior lighting to LEDs. Easy inexpensive mod that really enhances the interior IMO.

Exterior lighting you could do as well along with clear corner markers. From the factory all the lights in the front are not the same color and to me looks stupid. I got all super white LEDS in the side markers and parking lights and switched the HIDs to 6000K. Now they all match pretty well.

So those are some of my ideas for beginner mods. Hope this helps. Have fun and buy an 8 already!

NeoAngelo

Craptastic, I love it. :P Tires are a big deal to me, you're only as good as your rubber, right? Annnyway, Tires are a given, sorry I didn't mention that, but other then tires is my personal topic. Is the AFE short throw working well for you?

NeoAngelo

I am, I'm now just looking for one in a decent price range and someone who will finance me. You'd think putting 3k down would influence them, but I'm self employed and that scares them. ><

Nemesis8

iTrader: (3)

If you are going to change the flow characteristics of the engine, meaning high flow intake and high flow exhaust, then you need to tune out the richness the stock flash had. The Access Port is the answer for that.

I have the Mazdaspped flywheel in, and at first I could tell the throttle response was better, but you get used to that feeling pretty quick. The biggest jump was going to the dual resonated catless midpipe I run on the track leaving town.

NeoAngelo

Alright, sounds good to me. Thanks.

NeoAngelo

And it's not that there's anything wrong with the car, I just can't leave things alone. :P