MS6: Money to spend, what to get?

[Otacon_X]

Alright gentlemen, I have a budget of 3k to spend on upgrades for my MS6. I am currently at about 20k miles on the car, which is my only car and daily driver. I enjoy spirited driving but I do not autoX the car and it does not see a track. Power upgrades are not something that I am focused on, as I do enjoy my warranty, while I still have it. At the moment I have only a Cobb SRI on the car, and nothing more. I am getting close to the time for new tires, so I am debating whether to buy new wheels as well, or just a new set of tires. If you have any tire suggestions, please let me know. Wheels would be great for a change but I am not sure that its worth the extra coin. I am also interested in upgrading the suspension to lower the car and tighten the handling and responsiveness. I am not keen on just doing springs, so I was thinking of picking up some new shocks/struts. Here is the list of parts I was looking at. Please feel free to suggest or change things. My goal is to best use the 3k. I know the little things below don't do anything other than aesthetics, but I like a little of that now and then.

-- new Tires (need suggestions)
-- springs and shocks/struts (thinking HR springs and bilstein shocks)
-- Corksport exhaust (only "power" mod, want a deeper sound, etc)
-- upgraded rear sway bar
-- Shark Fin Antenna
-- front strut brace
-- rear motor mount (any other mounts? don't want too much increased
vibration)
-- Autoexe interior goodies (buckskin wheel cover/shift knob)
-- Brake upgrades (new rotors, pads, brake lines, etc)

Anything else I should think about?

I am also going to take the car in to have the stock clutch looked at due to the TSB. Thanks for any suggestions.

(Mods feel free to move this thread if necessary)

 

[lil_red_wagon]

I am currently at about 20k miles on the car, which is my only car and daily driver.

this is the portion that kind of gets me. you really need to consider mods that are going to be effective, reliable, mild, and streetable. i can't recommend any serious modification to you knowing that this is your only lifeline, so to speak. if you don't want serious mods, that is a really good thing. if you do want serious mods, spend that 3k on a little beater to get you around when you have the ms6 down. i am not trying to preach, i just know what it is like to modify your only car. i have always tried to keep 2-3 cars just to never have to worry. (sometimes the extra only got me from point a to point b, but i still got there)

 

[lil_red_wagon]

also, i would recommend that you get the rear motor mount as the one mod that would be more reliable than stock.

 

[kendon]

personally, i would mod the car as it's needed as far as mechanics go. hole in the exhuast? if you have the EXTRA money budgeted for that then get a new aftermarket one. springs need replacing? h&r it then. if you're needing your brakes done, then hey, why not get bigger rotors?

the tire issue i'm not sure on, but i can tell you don't waste your money on coopers. not sure how khumos fair on the speeds, but on the p5 it was money well spent. also, if you have the money budgeted for rims i would go cheap and hit up the rx8club house or something rather and find a good used set of stock rx8 rims and powder coat. that's what my plans are for rims anyway.

front strut tower brace may be a bit of a waste since it's located so close to the firewall thus any extra support would not be greatly noticed. i've read that side of the story on here and it makes sense. i'd go w/ some extra support in the rear.

motor mounts i'm not sure on.

shark fin is clean on any vehicle, even daewoos!

forge bpv and cobb accessport. (cough cough)

tint if you haven't already done that as well.

following the advice of lil redwagon would be good too. then you could go absolutely ape s* on modding!

also, i did not read the first freaking line of you post so, sorry. if you have 3k budgeted then i would do the bpv, cobb accessport, find a great muffler shop and have then make an exhaust, eibach or h&r, short throw, and the rx8 rim idea and tint. all of that provided it adds up to 3k. well. get your brakes done and do away w/ the exhaust and springs.

hope the advice helps.

 

[Myriad]

Sounds like you have a very reasonable approach figured out. I don't really see any harm in considering a test pipe since it is such an easily reversible upgrade and would compliment the new exhaust nicely (I am partial to the sound of the corksport exhaust). Only other thing I can think of would be to swap all of your fluids to synthetic and throw in a set of solid shifter base bushings. As for tires, it all depends on your area and normal driving routes.

 

[GhostMercury]

nvm edit my post

 

[amp]

agree with previous posts...
mod only as needed considering its your only mode of transportation..

 

[OJ Bartley]

I'd second the TWM short shifter and bushings. I have the Stage 2 waiting to go on my car now, and that, along with the rear motor mount are supposed to make it feel a lot nicer to drive.

 

[Otacon_X]

Ok, so look to add modifications that would not put my reliability at risk.

Rear motor mount will decrease engine movement, increase responsiveness, as well as vibration.

The STS and bushings will improve shifting action, which makes sense to me.

Brakes make sense as I will need brakes.

I appreciate the suggestions.

 

[amp]

boost gauge...

 

[Otacon_X]

Turbo Timer? Are people using these?

Any other gauges worth picking up? Is there a preferred gauge pod?

 

[coyfish]

Unless you plan on taking your car to the track, paying 1200 bucks for coilover suspension just isn't worth it. My advice would be to get sway bars and springs. Save a lot of coin. Also turbo timers are pointless unless you want an extra $100 shiny light in your car.

Wheels / tires are expensive and so is a catback exhaust. Catback exhaust does nothing (maybe 1 whp) for performance. It is purely sound. Buying either is your call.

Safe bolt ons (can be removed easily for warranty purposes) that every speed 6 should have (approx 1000$$):

1) Test pipe (very easy install, cheap, 6-8 whp, sounds a bit deeper)
2) Bypass valve (cool sound and car feels crisper)
3) Motor mount (cheap, easy install, shifting much easier)
4) shortshifter / bushings (expensive for what it is but feels nice) ( least important mod of this group imo.) Bushings make most of the diff.
5) intake
6) Springs
7) boost gauge (good to have after a couple power mods)

Start with the basics. After you get those, you can think about more expensive endeuvors. If you want more power, get a new intercooler. If you want sound, get the catback. If you want looks, get the wheels. If you want handling, think about coilovers.

Lastly gauges can get pretty expensive. If you want something for functionality get an all in one dashhawk, thats all you really need. For your purposes you dont really need anything more than a boost gauge.

Do whatever makes you happy . Just please dont be like that honda civic ricer I saw today with no paint job, steelie rims, and 3 defi shiny gauges. I wonder if he even had a turbo. What a waste of 1000 bucks.


You mentioned you want to keep your warranty but you do understand that suspension mods can jeapodize your warranty as well right ? Coilovers are a pain to install just FYI. Springs are easy.

 

[kendon]

so is the cobb accessport not the end all be all as far as modding?

 

[Otacon_X]

I wasn't looking at coilovers but a simple spring and shock/strut combo.

I have also thought about the Cobb AP but I am wayyyy to concerned with any warranty issues that may arise from that.

 

[coyfish]

Cobb AP wont hurt your warranty unless for some reason mazda scans your ECU history (VERY unlikely). You can return your ECU back to stock in minutes. People get in trouble with the COBB when they run maps not suited for their mods (cobb doesnt have too many maps yet).

If your still scared about the cobb ap, than just hold off on it. You still have plenty of mods you can bolt on. A top mount intercooler is a 20 minute install that adds good power.

 

[Otacon_X]

I was curious about that Top Mount. It really is worth it? How does it increase power? That much colder air?

 

[Myriad]

Basically, an upgraded TMIC flows more efficiently. There is a decent bump in power, but the biggest gains I have experienced (on a friends ms6, still haven't changed my TMIC yet) is a much smoother powerband and improved throttle response. This mod is more about consistency than huge HP gains.

 

[coyfish]

You will gain around 10-15 whp from an up'd TMIC. Upgraded intercooler is a must for anyone who wants some power in their speed 6. Its also nice because of how easy it is to install.

I however am getting a front mount !

 

[Flightmedic]

so is the cobb accessport not the end all be all as far as modding?

I uninstalled my cobb ap because it made my car run like crap and cobb never responds when you look for help.