The best bang-for-the-buck, IMO, is a set of race tires.

 

Driving school at a good road course with an instructor in your car.

 

I second that opinion. It made me able to enjoy a twisty mountain road even though I was only driving a Kia.

 

I would say a new stereo.......My new speakers and head unit made a huge difference!

 

I have added some things to my s2k. I think I would recommend buying Comptech's exhaust first. I think it makes it sound so much deeper. I love the sound it makes. If you don't want to do performace upgrades then I would replace the stereo speakers and add some amplifiers. The stock stereo really sucks.

 

So, Greg, do you have any idea how much you have invested in parts only? How much more in labor (yours or others)? As it sits today, what do you think the car is worth? (Not what you think you'd have to sell it for.)

cal

 

I agree with mmnicu. That is the same thing I did first.

 

Sound modifications inside and out have been the best/first mods to make.

New component speakers sub and amp for surround sound with the top down

Neuspeed catback exhaust for better sound OUTside the car. "Purrs like a tiger instead of a kitten"

 

Calculating the costs for just the hardware, it comes out to over 8000 dollars, but in all fairness, my car acted as the test mule for some of these things and hence, some stuff was free to me.

Labor was not calculated in. King is the only people who work on the car, besides myself. And I'm constantly doing something to it. I haven't seen how much they are charging me...hey, maybe I should! I usually just give them the car and I let them have their way with it. I trust them implicitly...

Also, figuring in the 11 sets of brake pads and now that I'm getting my 4th set of S-02's this week, there are additional costs that aren't reflected in this...but obviously, those things don't add value.

I wonder what my car would sell for. I really hadn't thought about it. That's an interesting question...! I never have looked at it and thought of it that way. I see it as a car that I want to play with, max out and enjoy. The dollars, as far as I am concerned, are gone. I might say that the car is worth about 34-5k? I have almost 30k miles, so that has to have an impact...

Geez, this is one expensive little hobby I have going on here...! (Don't tell my accountant!)

Oh, I forgot to add the HKS HiPer exhaust in that list...

 

Greg

You accountant says that you would never get that much for your car. If you were to sell it, it would be more beneficial for your to return it to as close to stock and sell the parts individually - then maybe $34k.

Gee - that almost sounded like a departed member of the board.

As we all know - modifications do not increase the value of the car dollar for dollar. In fact, it limits who will buy the car because you have to find someone that appreciates the mods. Otherwise, they won't pay the premium.