My friend says mods are a waste! :(

DEpointfive0

I really agree and I don't understand this $5000 estimate too...
(Oh, and I'm not going to argue what $5000 buys you if you have an STi or Evo, or even a domestic car)


(Oil cooler is a necessity, or if you have a '12+, maybe you don't)

Lets say you get a FI exhaust (12" and shipping to the Midwest), FI HFCs (+shipping), and a Stillen G3 intake (assume $30 shipping) and lets say you NEED a tune...
AND
Let's assume you SUCK at finding a good deal, and youre buying eveything at MSRP... $1340+$530+$555+$700=$3125...
That's not $5000... It's almost $2000 away from $5000 actually... Even if you buy a Motordyne or a DEpointfive0 custom manifold for $525 or $450 respectively...
You're still at $3575... Still a bit more that $1400 away from $5000...

$3575 for a $35000+ car is 10%~, you gain a CONSERVATIVE 10% gain, probably much more (assume 280WHP to 310)
Mathematically your mods are worth it. (Side fact $119.17/WHP added)
Side fact 2: (I made 321WHP, and no tune... So assuming I had 280HP and ended with 321WHP without my own manifold I had a 14.64% gain... $57.74/WHP added... And I got my parts for a crapload cheaper, I did that with $160 Megan resonated TPs, LOL)

Yeah, a TT kit will probably net you a BIT more bang for the buck... If you have the buck to begin with
(Breaking it down, a bog standard GTM TT tuner kit is $6800, $2091 for the 3" GTM exhaust, a 34 row oil cooler (with thermostatic plate, assume $30 shipping) $628, CSF radiator (assume $30 shipping) $628, a tune $900 (assume $200 more because it will probably take longer to tune), and god help you if you are auto and want your car to last, and god help you if you don't want to burn the clutch too easily, god help you if you're paying someone else to install it, and you've not got to worry about 50 other things... That brings your total to...
$11047, and that's if you install it yourself, and you don't upgrade anything else, and your car runs fine without anything breaking, and without shipping for the GTM kit...

Assuming you go from 280WHP to 470WHP (using the Forced Induction thread), you have a gain of 190WHP... You're at $58.14/WHP added.
Yes IT IS a better return... But you do sacrifice other things, and that isn't with any other mods you would normally choose/should do...




Again... Tell your friend to run off a cliff because god forbid he drives...

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wdkwang

your friend is a fool.
in terms of just straight line performance, stock for stock the z will walk an sti/evo, much less a wrx. i can attest to this. it wasn't until my friend with an evo x got full bolt-ons and a tune making 357awhp could he pass me, and i was running him in his favor at 40-50mph rolls. his power gear is 3rd, and after that i start reeling him back.

have your friend run you, and you'll see what i mean when you're laughing away while your friend is yelling "Monicaaaaaaa!" if u do run, just keep your windows up (the drag from wind is huge), and power shift.

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Powerhouse Amuse | K&N Typhoon Intakes | MotorDyne ART Pipes | Borla Catback Exhaust | B&M Short Shifter | Intake Ducts | Ichiba 25mm F/R Spacers | Carbon Fiber Interior Vinyl Wrap | Tints | 10000k HIDs | Vtak, yo!

wdkwang

here's a link to back up my statement. the wrx in the link has more mods than what you listed your friend having and it makes a bit less hp but noticeably more torque than a stock z due to it being boosted. it's all the same in the end because the stock turbo is small and is going to lose it's breath after 3rd gear and these rally cars are built for mid-range power, while we are top end.

Five Steps to Making More Power in Your Subaru WRX – Feature – Car and Driver

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Powerhouse Amuse | K&N Typhoon Intakes | MotorDyne ART Pipes | Borla Catback Exhaust | B&M Short Shifter | Intake Ducts | Ichiba 25mm F/R Spacers | Carbon Fiber Interior Vinyl Wrap | Tints | 10000k HIDs | Vtak, yo!

danegrey

you only live once, so do what makes you feel happy and have fun, but always drive it hard

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the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

Streetlife

I agree, which is why when i created a mod plan for my babygirl Vanity (my 370z) i looked at where i felt the exec's at Nissan held the engineers back because of a budget only (Chief engineer of the 370Z is Shinjiro Yukawa), and i took care of the most important things first, the best clearbra (did all these things the first week after waiting 5 1/2 months for my girl to be delivered after pre ordering), then the best tint (same shop was used took a whole day), GT-R button, Tanabe exhaust, K&N air filters (always have used one in previous vehicles), and silicone hose set from Z1, couldn't be happier. To each his own on how far you want to mod, your the one that has to be happy with your Z.

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Tanabe Medalion Exhaust + Tanabe Y-Pipe, Baker Tuning, K&N Drop-Ins, Z1 Post MAF Tubes, GT-R Button, Nismo Magnetic Oil Drain Plug, CeramiKool Tint 35%, Solar Gard Clearshield Clearbra

Amuse370z

Money isn't even an issue, a 370z in Canada here costs close to $50,000 otd.

I'm gonna be running Volks which will cost about 6-7k with tires.

Z-Girl 12

Your friend is right...

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MR.nismo

Dear OP, I would like to inform (just in case you were unaware) your vehicle is rather an expression from your inner soul. You should become one with it and the vehicle will couple to you as something never seen before. A rather content driver will make a decision based on many traits, virtues and valuables ONLY to him/herself. When that moment arises, the intimacy is only experienced and exclusive to the ones partaking on that journey. Only at that moment........the universe comes to a halt.


In plain ol' english: Buy, modify, replace, remove, upgrade (just to mention a few) whatever you like. Do not worry about what others will say. You pay for it, it is yours to do as you like and as far as I know, you do not live in a communist country. Besides, your Z is faster than the WRX, If you modify it your friend will be mad at you.

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ubs234

LOL!!!! Im gonna do the mods and the tune! after reading all this and making MY OWN decision!

SmallermouseZ

Your friend does not drive a 370Z. Period.

MR.nismo

That's the spirit!!!!!!!! Now you will be way faster than your so called "friend". A true friend would have motivated you to do the mods from the very first time, instead of hay hay hay hay blah blah blah muu muu muu.
Now don't forget about us "your true friends" to post pics and keep us informed on the progress of mods. Good luck!

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DEpointfive0

And look at this guy's signature, it's AWESOME

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ubs234

Just got carbon fiber rear diffuser! spoiler! tint! and White LED'S everywhere aas well as a carbo fiber license plate and glossy black powdercoated rims! Pics coming in soon!

Amuse370z

Just look at how excited you are! Thats all that matters, you being happy with your mods, who cares what your friend thinks.

ubs234

True!! Yeah i love these mods on my car