I realize people post up dumb threads all the time. And this is no exception really, but what else is a forum for? I definitely need some help with what to spend my money on. I've searched around but feel that everyone has their own situation so it didn't help much. So here's mine:

I told myself I was only going to spend $2500 on modifications with my deployment money. I have already purchased some Stance coilovers and a few other things. So if you were in my shoes and had a little over $1500 to spend on stuff for the best car ever, what would ya buy??

My current mods
HKS Legamax
RP Supercat
Stance GR+ Coilovers
CF Trunk
Mazdaspeed Rear Strut Bar
Yellow Fogs and LEDs all over

Thanks, Ryan

 

Body kit?

 

Or some light weight wheels

 

black halo ignition coils: $485
black halo mid pipe: $425
mazda maniac tuned access port: $594
total: $1504

 

gotta get some wheels for your car bro first thing ppl look at when they do the double take

 

great start! the legamax exhaust and stance gr+ coilovers are quality parts
like reddozen said the bhr ignition and tuned accessport are good next steps
or some good lightweight wheels, but that can easily run you more than $1500

 

+1
booooyaaaaa

Take the MM AP tuning seminar if you can

 

You need wheels. Like Red Fox said, they're the first things people look at when judging a car. You might even want to save up another $500 or so just to make sure you get exactly what you want. Wheels are usually one of the larger investments that 8 owners around here make and you don't want to jew yourself out with cheap wheels; you'll regret it.

If wheels are absolutely not an option right now, then I'd spend that money on lots of little things instead of larger things, just to get them out of the way. Clear corners, window tint, lowering springs, eyelids, and maybe an aftermarket lip/spoiler to name a few.

 

BHR ignition
AP MM Tune
Sway Bars

 

While I could definitely buy some lightweight wheels with tires for $1500, I think I'd want to wait until I got more money than that to get some real good quality, lightweight wheels. Plus it's not like the 8's wheels are bad... they're lightweight, good looking and already on the car. As an 8 owner, we get tired of seeing them but I still get compliments from a ton of people on them.

What kind of sway bars do you guys recommend? I've done some looking around online and they all seem to be just about the same. The progress are adjustable so those sound like a decent choice. Any opinions?

Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. It's so hard to spend money when there's so many different things to buy

 

Are you after handling or after freeing some power?
Progress tech sway bars are a great option handling wise but may be overkill for you since they're adjustable etc.
As somebody else suggested, if you are after some power increase the bhr ignition\midpipe + accessport combo sounds sweet too

 

AP, Short Shifter

Save the rest for when you want more power....go big or go home. But the AP at this point is basically a requirement.

 

Forgot all about this one. I'm still stock so I have no idea what it's like, but I've read nothing but great things about the AFE short shifter. I've read so many comments that are along the lines of "must have" or "perfect first mod", and "the way the 8 should've felt when stock". It's not very expensive, either. I'd definitely get this.

 

racing beat ecu flash
gauges
keep the oem sways with those stiff coilovers you have
cooling mods--i am partial to a secondary radiator set up and mazmarts water pump/thermostat
racing beats ecu flash turns the fans on earier
performance alignment and corner weighted
mazmarts oil pressure regulator
oil filter relocation kit
replace factory air filter with a better flowing one or the mazdaspeed/aem cai--no other
you will still have money left over?
OD

 

TeamRX8 said the racing beat flash actually made less power than the stock flash.

Cobb AP, BHR Ignition, BHR Midpipe +1

 

You dont like the RB Revi?

 

rb intake is ok for what it is. i dont like it because with the cai option---its expensive and i dont like k&N air filters at all. and even with the cai option--the filter itself will get heat soaked after many short slow drives.
rb flash makes less power than oem?--better check again.
individual tune versus cobb may make a very little bit more--but look at the time and expense in getting there for what --maybe 3-5 more hp? Not worth it in my opion in this type build.
cobb is good, individual tune is good--but thats not what the op is asking for?
rather take the extra money for other stuff like gauges and cooling.

 

why would you replace the RB filter with k&n?

ok, checking... yep, RB flash is still best for early fans and little else

higher OMP output makes it a great addon for any car
and the ability to be retuned for anything else you do to your car later on is another plus.


OP was asking what to spend money on, all these things cost money

To the OP:

For looks alone (lower the car, clear sides markers, body kit, wheels, etc etc etc)

For performance (BHR coil kit, BHR midpipe, MazdaManiac AP, AEM/MS CAI, Lightweight flywheel, mazdaspeed front and rear strut tower bars.)

 

recaro spg bucket with low mounting rails and a 6pt harness, best 1100 i've ever spent

 

Cobb AP and BHR Ignition seem like necessities from what everyone is saying. Definitely putting that on the list of possibles/most likely will buy. As far as a midpipe, I already have the RP Supercat so I don't think I'll be needing that.

I agree. CAI on the 8 I believe is pointless for the gains you get, being the price it is. We basically already have a CAI setup on the stock intake.

Very very true. Stock intake is so efficient as is. I think the only reason I would get another intake is for the sound. There is so little gain of HP from it and to me 2 hp is not worth $300+. There is a mod in the DIY forum that modifies the stock intake for better flow which is about the best you can get. FOR FREE.

Correct. Not too many NA mods can do much, as this whole forum has gone over many times.



Yes, endless power combinations are definitely a big plus. Cobb AP is on the Must Buy list.

Lowered the car; clear corners are way over rated but may pick some up anyway; body kit is probably not something I'm getting anytime soon, I like the clean look of the 8 so maybe just an OEM Aero Kit; wheels are coming after my next deployment next year. Big Money = Nice rims.

Coil kit is on the list; got a midpipe already; AP a definite; CAI no thanks; Lightweight flywheel when the clutch goes; got the strut tower bars, forgot I had them actually.

Sounds like a nice mod but I don't think I'd have a need for that as I don't track my car ever. Just street driving.




Thanks for all the input guys, greatly appreciated. If anyone has any more ideas, definitely post em up!

Ryan

 

do be careful when getting coilovers.. for street driving they're overrated and to run right good ones will require some fine tuning that a lot of guys never bother to do.
Springs/damper combo are an excellent choice over coilovers.

 

k&n makes the filter for the racing beat kit

 

so they do.. mah bad

http://www.racingbeat.com/FRmazda4.htm

 

Definitely know what I want in the long run, just want to double check on all the necessities and things that will help longevity of the car now so I don't have to worry so much down the road.

I will also look into the clutch bracket, does only one company sell it? If not, who has the best/cheapest?

Yeah I realize it's probably over kill but I figure go big or go home. The Stance GR+ seem like a good quality coilover that I won't have to worry about shitting the bed. I currently have Eibach springs on the car with stock shocks and have been running that setup for around 30k miles so I know the shocks are probably just about done. I also do not like the uneven look of the drop from the Eibach springs. So I figured to get the drop I want, I'd need to buy both, different springs and new shocks. For a few hundred more, I got coilovers instead so I can make sure I get the drop I want. I know I'll have different wheel setups down the road so I figure the coilovers will come in handy in case I ever need to adjust.

Thanks again,
Ryan

 

caught me again---!!! I meant to say an individual tune PER cobb unit. I plead old age, bifocals's, distraction of strippers and maybe even gun shots being fired when i posted earlier. All that is now gone as the family reunion is over.
op has his head on straight.
good luck on the build.
Do get gauges though.