Totally new to exterior mods
 

Hey everyone. Looking forward to my new Z. I've been drooling over the 350 since its debut and am looking to pull the trigger this year. :)

Total noob here. I like the ideas of mods but have never tried it before. I know little of the process or what to expect and none of my friends are into it. I'm considering at the least lowering and wheels. Maybe a kit as well.

Anyone have any tips? What is the general process? Any specific issues to look out for? Anyone know of good shops in Portland? What should I do to avoid screwing myself over? What brands are good (kits, tires, wheels, coilovers)?

The best thing to do is to contact any of our site sponsors, and talk to them about what you would like to do. They should be able to guide you through any aftermarket goodies you want! :tup:

Cool

I'd be willing to help you out if you want, just PM me or ask me in my profile message board when you have questions.

Tips, there are millions of tips. If I had to give you a few I'd start by saying that you should always do a LOT of research before buying anything. You have to start building a mental database of which Brands are good and which aren't. Remember that expensive doesn't always mean "best", but it can be a good indicator of quality. If something sounds too good to be true then research it before making a decision.

Always compare whatever you are buying with other similar products from different manufacturers. Chances are you will find a happy medium between price and quality.

Don't buy crap. I can't emphasize this enough. Buy things that are well built, hopefully by people who know what they are doing. You don't always have to buy brand names, but you have to make sure YOU know what is right and what is wrong so you can recognize this in the products you buy.

Use the forums and learn to love the search tool. It is your friend and it will save you a lot of hassle from people telling you to use the search tool. Chances are if you are thinking about something, someone else has already done it and started a thread about it somewhere else. Look it up before making a thread asking something...

Some brands you can't go wrong with...
ARC
MCR
APS
Fujitsubo
Amuse
Top Secret
KW
Cusco
HKS
Whiteline
Zele
Mines
RCE
VOLK
ADVAN
APR
INGS +1
AP Racing
Endless
Stoptech
Project Mu
Brembo
Invidia
Cosworth
K&N
Koyo
Nismo
Bride
Recaro
Takata
Hotchkis
Exedy
Tomei
JUN
ARP
SEIBON
APR
Carbign Craft


I'd keep going but this list is plenty long.