Best Bang for the Buck

[paniaguae640]

I have a dilemma, I have $1,000 dollars to spend but I don't know what to get. Basically what i'm asking is what would be the best mods to do on my 03.5 MSP first aka more power. The only mods right now is an AEM CAI, Upgraded Smic, Hot pipe, and Forge BPV. Once again this is not a WTB thread, just need info on which ones to get first.

Here's the list of what I want to get:

Carbon Fiber Hood
Carbon Fiber Trunk
Headlight Retrofit Service
TWM Short Shifter
Shifter Bushing
AWR 95a Motor Mounts
Corksport Downpipe
SSAFC
UEGO
80 MM Corksport Exhaust
Eibach Pro-Kit
JDP front lip
Cold Pipe with HKS BOV and run dual setup
Pulley kit
SteedSpeed Manifold

 

[TurbomanProtege]

i would get the exhaust, split second, tein springs better then the eibach springs, probably 70 dur. motor mounts over the 95dur., and a wideband and I think thats 1000 bucks but if not throw in the short shifter and bushing would be nice

 

[sean22306]

+1 Turboman speaks truth.

I really want the new corksport exhaust.

 

[littlemimus]

in my opinion i would do everything performance oriented first. then move on to body or stuff for looks like the cf hood and trunk.

 

[yudkib]

you should buy anything i sell or keep some aside for anything im working on.

seriously though, i make appearance stuff but as a performance guy myself id do that.
anyways. what are you planning to do with the car? i noticed a couple of weird conflicts, like you want 95a duro mounts with a SMIC (and no plans to upgrade). entirely overkill unless you want to feel like youre driving a race car.

for one grand, in order, id do front and rear mounts (at least inserts in the rear - 70 duro), boost gauge (notedly missing), UEGO, and at least a midpipe before SSAFC. if you can get the full 80mm on your budget you should go for it, but if not a midpipe will suffice. hell, you might be able to do the DP + catless midpipe and still be within budget.

 

[paniaguae640]

Thank you for all your feedback, I'll go with motor mounts first since you guys seem to say to do that first. Correct me if Im wrong but the 80mm exhaust doesn't include the jpipe right? So it would be better to just buy a used vibrant or Perrin

 

[719prottege]

get the corksport downpipe and the exhaust, or at least thats what i would do....
or turbolife fmic i think he still has some left

 

[paniaguae640]

I want a quick dd and still be reliable. The reason why I didn't say I want to upgrade to FMIC is because I don't want to at this moment because my custommsp smic is doing it's job right now so I don't see the need to replace it yet. Once I really need a FMIC I will, just curious too how much psi does the custommsp smic become inneficient?

 

[719prottege]

I want a quick dd and still be reliable. The reason why I didn't say I want to upgrade to FMIC is because I don't want to at this moment because my custommsp smic is doing it's job right now so I don't see the need to replace it yet. Once I really need a FMIC I will, just curious too how much psi does the custommsp smic become inneficient?

i know theres a guy here in CO running a sidemount and he is pushing a lot of power, so idk probably good enough for what you want. i just think a fmic looks sexy, and later on if you want to run more power you wouldnt have to worry about it. but thats just my opinion. i think exhaust would be good, or maybe an intake mani? the one on protegegarage looks like a good deal.

 

[littlemimus]

I want a quick dd and still be reliable. The reason why I didn't say I want to upgrade to FMIC is because I don't want to at this moment because my custommsp smic is doing it's job right now so I don't see the need to replace it yet. Once I really need a FMIC I will, just curious too how much psi does the custommsp smic become inneficient?

idk i think it was at 10 psi it is better to get a fmic. someone correct me if im wrong.

 

[paniaguae640]

i know theres a guy here in CO running a sidemount and he is pushing a lot of power, so idk probably good enough for what you want. i just think a fmic looks sexy, and later on if you want to run more power you wouldnt have to worry about it. but thats just my opinion. i think exhaust would be good, or maybe an intake mani? the one on protegegarage looks like a good deal.

wouldn't the intake manifold from protege garage be the same as just removing your vtcs from your stock one?

 

[yudkib]

i dont yet understand all the subtle differences with the intake manis, but short answer is no. this one is cast single runner, we still have giant metal obstructions such as a second runner in the way.

 

[TurbomanProtege]

if I was you I would just remove the butterflys better then getting the PG intake mani, cuz its only going to give you a few top end HP, which dont do nothing, over the modified stock manifold which you can do for FREE

 

[yudkib]

knowledgeable guys like JDM sam actually recommend deleting the runner dividing the two runners inside the stock mani for best performance gains. too bad that modification takes literally days. you could spend that money much more prudently than on a intake manifold anyways.

 

[paniaguae640]

one more question would I really need motor mounts, if I bought CS exhaust and DP and install them together?

 

[littlemimus]

honestly dude you need motor mounts. i have a freaking horror story cause i waited so long. i was driving and i gassed it to speed up to and i guess the engine torqued to much and broke the weld on the dam pipe from the pre cat to the cat. my exhaust dropped.....double facepalm. cost like 150 to get that s*** fixed. but they also put another hanger in. save urself the trouble and put new mounts in.

 

[yudkib]

corksport doesnt like to sell you exhaust stuff unless you have solid front and rear mounts. they dont want ^that to happen because then youre going to be on the phone with them complaining about it, when really its mazdas fault.

 

[littlemimus]

that pissed me off so much ha

 

[paniaguae640]

that pissed me off so much ha

Were you stock?

 

[Captain KRM P5]

most msps and proteges are seven years old or older now. motor mounts is pretty much a given if they haven't been replaced.