Favorite/Best Mod under $100
10-27-2006, 11:56 AM
#1
Favorite/Best Mod under $100
You guys all know how expensive it can be to buy a car. For those of us either just starting out or recently purchased or even want some ideas, what is your favorite or best mod under $100?
Quality is a factor. Don't tell me a set of 4 coilovers for $100 or some junk like that. Nor should it be a convoluted DIY mod.
Quality is a factor. Don't tell me a set of 4 coilovers for $100 or some junk like that. Nor should it be a convoluted DIY mod.
10-27-2006, 12:36 PM
#6
Originally Posted by GigEmAgs07
hey n3985... do you still have the vid of your exhaust minus the b-pipe that you posted way back when? can you post it again or send me a link to it? tia
On a cold day start up, the sound is pretty loud and the initial start up sound from the exhaust sounds just like a G35.
10-27-2006, 12:44 PM
#9
Originally Posted by 707SE
Under Drive Pulley? What does that do and what would a mod to it do?
10-27-2006, 12:57 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 194
I'm curious to see if anyone has ever done a REAL Dyno (not a butt dyno) on most of the mods which people do.
I have always been against doing almost any performance mods to any of my cars for the simple reason that essentially.... they don't do anything for the amount of money you are spending. The only ones I could see doing are NOS, Turbo or a blower.. Of course--if you are doing any of those three, you now have to spend more money upgrading intake, fuel, exhaust, etc,... to really appreciate it. now you are running into the thousands.
Intakes, pulleys, cat backs/headers---IMO generally arent worth it to me. I/H/E are what, $400-500? another $100 or two for several other thigns and you have spent close to a grand for what, 15-20hp? Just not worth it. If I wanted tons of power, I wouldnt have purchased a maxima to begin with!!
All that being said, I do enjoy looking and reading about what others do to their cars. I would just rather have a real clean, stock Max--
I have always been against doing almost any performance mods to any of my cars for the simple reason that essentially.... they don't do anything for the amount of money you are spending. The only ones I could see doing are NOS, Turbo or a blower.. Of course--if you are doing any of those three, you now have to spend more money upgrading intake, fuel, exhaust, etc,... to really appreciate it. now you are running into the thousands.
Intakes, pulleys, cat backs/headers---IMO generally arent worth it to me. I/H/E are what, $400-500? another $100 or two for several other thigns and you have spent close to a grand for what, 15-20hp? Just not worth it. If I wanted tons of power, I wouldnt have purchased a maxima to begin with!!
All that being said, I do enjoy looking and reading about what others do to their cars. I would just rather have a real clean, stock Max--
10-27-2006, 01:07 PM
#13
Originally Posted by Bones45
I'm curious to see if anyone has ever done a REAL Dyno (not a butt dyno) on most of the mods which people do.
I have always been against doing almost any performance mods to any of my cars for the simple reason that essentially.... they don't do anything for the amount of money you are spending. The only ones I could see doing are NOS, Turbo or a blower.. Of course--if you are doing any of those three, you now have to spend more money upgrading intake, fuel, exhaust, etc,... to really appreciate it. now you are running into the thousands.
Intakes, pulleys, cat backs/headers---IMO generally arent worth it to me. I/H/E are what, $400-500? another $100 or two for several other thigns and you have spent close to a grand for what, 15-20hp? Just not worth it. If I wanted tons of power, I wouldnt have purchased a maxima to begin with!!
All that being said, I do enjoy looking and reading about what others do to their cars. I would just rather have a real clean, stock Max--
I have always been against doing almost any performance mods to any of my cars for the simple reason that essentially.... they don't do anything for the amount of money you are spending. The only ones I could see doing are NOS, Turbo or a blower.. Of course--if you are doing any of those three, you now have to spend more money upgrading intake, fuel, exhaust, etc,... to really appreciate it. now you are running into the thousands.
Intakes, pulleys, cat backs/headers---IMO generally arent worth it to me. I/H/E are what, $400-500? another $100 or two for several other thigns and you have spent close to a grand for what, 15-20hp? Just not worth it. If I wanted tons of power, I wouldnt have purchased a maxima to begin with!!
All that being said, I do enjoy looking and reading about what others do to their cars. I would just rather have a real clean, stock Max--
I think with a nice amount of bolt ons you can gain more like 40-50 hp IMO it is worth every penny
10-27-2006, 01:07 PM
#14
Mass_Media™
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,812
Originally Posted by Bones45
I have always been against doing almost any performance mods to any of my cars for the simple reason that essentially.... they don't do anything for the amount of money you are spending. The only ones I could see doing are NOS, Turbo or a blower.. Of course--if you are doing any of those three, you now have to spend more money upgrading intake, fuel, exhaust, etc,... to really appreciate it. now you are running into the thousands.
Originally Posted by Bones45
Intakes, pulleys, cat backs/headers---IMO generally arent worth it to me. I/H/E are what, $400-500? another $100 or two for several other thigns and you have spent close to a grand for what, 15-20hp? Just not worth it. If I wanted tons of power, I wouldnt have purchased a maxima to begin with!!
Originally Posted by Bones45
All that being said, I do enjoy looking and reading about what others do to their cars. I would just rather have a real clean, stock Max--
10-27-2006, 04:00 PM
#16
Originally Posted by KabirUTA13
how does this benefit the car if any.. for ex the automatics
10-27-2006, 04:00 PM
#17
Originally Posted by Puppetmaster
Energy Suspension motor mount inserts....
10-27-2006, 04:24 PM
#18
i know you said 100 but for 109 on the group deal get the RSB (rear sway bar if u didnt know),... bolts right on, you can do it yourself, theres write up's around you can find on it, and its the best bang for your buck, I have never heard 1 negative thing about it
My vote is for a RSB off the GD
My vote is for a RSB off the GD
10-27-2006, 09:07 PM
#24
btw, you have to reaim them to make luminics bulbs (or any other halogen yellow fogs) brighter...regular halogen bulbs are still far from irish's lexus HIDtec capsules...but some people don't realize how bright the luminics really are...until you reaim them higher...
10-27-2006, 09:11 PM
#25
707 - I think you should invest in the Cattman/Progress RSB from the groupd deal...at $109, you can't go wrong...the rear end will feel more planted in those high speed turns...you can also pick up an ebay FSTB for $20...and they both complement each other well!
i've had an incident, where the ebay fstb broke, however...but i am one out of a few hundred fstb's that broke!
i've had an incident, where the ebay fstb broke, however...but i am one out of a few hundred fstb's that broke!
10-27-2006, 09:13 PM
#26
Originally Posted by MaxBoost925
Luminics suck... they aren't even that yellow and yes I had a pair of those myself.
10-27-2006, 09:43 PM
#30
Rear sway bar is the best first mod for around $100. It's easy to install and makes a noticeable difference in the handling. The solid motor mounts are nice too but take a little more skill to install.
I've been doing some cheap cosmetic mods recently. I removed the chrome window trim and painted it black, blacked out the headlight housings and cleared the amber turn signal, blacked out the door lock and trunk lock, removed the muffler and painted it flat black with satin black tips and also made a set of custom grill inserts (black of course). All that together can be done for well under $100.
If you want to see the grill inserts they're here. This is before I blacked out the headlights.http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=488890
I've been doing some cheap cosmetic mods recently. I removed the chrome window trim and painted it black, blacked out the headlight housings and cleared the amber turn signal, blacked out the door lock and trunk lock, removed the muffler and painted it flat black with satin black tips and also made a set of custom grill inserts (black of course). All that together can be done for well under $100.
If you want to see the grill inserts they're here. This is before I blacked out the headlights.http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=488890
10-28-2006, 09:07 AM
#31
Originally Posted by chopstix2nrz
Short ram intake, buy an adapter plate to the MAF and a K&N filter. $60-80?
Anything other than the OEM headlight & fog bulbs $20 and up
AE Headlights
Anything other than the OEM headlight & fog bulbs $20 and up
AE Headlights
10-28-2006, 09:18 PM
#37
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 5,432
Originally Posted by NmexMAX
Modding with short change is 
Do it right or go home.
Do it right or go home.example: hotshot vs. cattman headers...both make similar gains but the price difference is substantial
however there are some things where this applies, such as tires...my god do I wish I would have not been so cheap and bought the falkens. They're good at first but now they suck.
10-28-2006, 09:20 PM
#38
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 5,432
Originally Posted by irish44j
anything suspension or handling-related should be your first mod. Springs, struts, tie bar, RSB, poly bushings. Several of those can be had for under $100.
Before, I drove like a grandma because I realized very early on that my old civic handled MUCH better than my maxima. Now I love the way my car feels, although it took me more than just a few hundred dollars to get here.... 
10-29-2006, 06:28 AM
#39
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,362
Originally Posted by NmexMAX
Modding with short change is Do it right or go home.
Do it right or go home.FSTB is inexpensive even for a decent quality one, clear marker lights are also well under $100.
I still have my RSB from my 4th Gen kicking around, I should put it on. A lot of guys in the 4G forum thought the sway bar didn't do much with lowering springs, so I took it off. My 5G is on stock springs though.
10-29-2006, 11:47 AM
#40
Originally Posted by LA02MAX
eh bigger is not always better.
Originally Posted by NmexMAX
I'm not saying to run out and buy the most expensive things. But optimize your set-up and stick with quality.