Opinons on what to mod on my car? *PICTURES*

[AC/DC]

So I got this real nice Jetta (I paid $1800 for it!), its a 1996 Jetta GLS, has lots of miles, but I joined a street racing crew with my friends, and I see a lot of potential in it...

Any advice on what I should get? I already threw some new speakers in there, and going to get 2 12" subwoofers/amp/box for a good deal at a local shop.

The car has 155,381 miles thus far, and needs a grille and a new starter. ENGINE IS STOCK. Clutch doesn't catch too well at high RPMs in 1st gear. Other than that, I love the car!

Here are some pictures:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/HangTen3000/MY CAR/Dashboard.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/HangTen3000/MY CAR/engine.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/HangTen3000/MY CAR/Interior1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/HangTen3000/MY CAR/Exteriorleftsideangle.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/HangTen3000/MY CAR/Exteriorleftside.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/HangTen3000/MY CAR/Exteriorfrontside.jpg


THANKS!

 

[Luveno]

My advice is to start a delivery business using that car, and make enough money to buy a real sports car like a corvette. Then race it and blow away all the other fast n furious wannabees.

 

[Vincent]

Originally posted by Luveno
My advice is to start a delivery business using that car, and make enough money to buy a real sports car like a corvette. Then race it and blow away all the other fast n furious wannabees.

There are so many things wrong with this comment.

 

[Laney]

I've got an idea...

Put that steering wheel on the proper side! The other one!

Haha, sorry. Couldn't resist!

 

[Paintballguy]

Just remember that horsepower doesnt come cheap and/or easy. Its gonna take a lot of cash to make a big difference in power especially if you cant do the work yourself. And, bolt-on's are not the answer.

 

[Vincent]

Originally posted by Paintballguy
Just remember that horsepower doesnt come cheap and/or easy. Its gonna take a lot of cash to make a big difference in power especially if you cant do the work yourself. And, bolt-on's are not the answer.

He's well aware of that, I talked to him about it. Sadly he plans of krauting it out

 

[-HPNOTIQ-]

www.vwvortex.com

Check that website out for mods/upgrades on your car.

Honestly bro....save your money. Upgrades on those Euros aren't worth the money you put in it (I own an Audi myself). ALL Euro cars are expensive to maintain.

*sigh** the first thing you want to buy are a pair of speakers/subs/amp when you already know the clutch isn't strong, the starter is kinda jacked...its alright though..I was the same way at 17...but, when you get older..you get wiser..and here's some advice from an older fella.

1. When owning your first car..you're going to need a pretty good amount saved in the bank to cover unexpected maintenance...worn brakes, hoses, fluids, and the rest come up unexpectedly..but THEY ALWAYS COME. For your car...at least put away $500 as rainy day funds for the car alone.

2. Do your standard oil changes and tune ups. DONT SKIP THESE....it will save you in the long run.

3. Get out of your RACING CREW. For real bro...I think its a waste of money if you are in High School wanting to supe up a Jetta when you have no back up funds. Yes, it is tempting because your boys all have pimped out rides...but honestly, save your ends. Speeding tickets and rising insurance costs aren't fun. Save the money for taking the women out.

4. Think function before beauty. I work in the dental field and have patients always asking about bleaching...when I look at their mouth, they've got tons of cavities, oral disease, and they smoke....but all they want are WHITE TEETH!!!

My point...what the heck is a pimped out LOOKING ride if the engine is shot and you're pissed because the starter only works half the time?

I hope you heed these words of advice. I TOTALLY understand you bro. You want a pimp ride to pick up the ladies in. Honestly, in highschool...as long as you have a decent ride..the ladies will come...HELL...even in college...if its decent..its cool with them..

And looking at your pictures, the ride asthetically looks solid and isn't anything I'd be embarrassed to ride in bro. Sure, upgrade the cd player, get a new grill...but...get that engine strong, starter working, and clutch solid...those fixes alone could come up to nearly $800 with shop labor....if you can do it yourself..even better.

But...save the $3000 lowenhart 19 inch rims when you have the money to buy a Porsche..

 

[splinterkb]

Maybe you should mod a car that isn't gonna sh*t out on you in 10,000 miles. A new VW motor is probably quite expensive, and im sure the tranny is next.

 

[Vincent]

Originally posted by splinterkb
Maybe you should mod a car that isn't gonna sh*t out on you in 10,000 miles. A new VW motor is probably quite expensive, and im sure the tranny is next.

That engines probably gonna last another 100,000 miles. Only domestics sh*t out at about 100-150k

 

[ShizamDaMan]

Get your hands on a VR6, then come back to us with suggestions

 

[LordBrian]

Low budget pimping your car!

1. Cone Air filter ~$50
2. Electic upgrade (spark plugs, wires, distributor cap) i dont remember how much this costs, but prolly around $40
3. exhaust 300-500 at a shop, 200-350 if you install yourself. I recommend about 2.25" pipe diameter... 2.5 might steal your low end... and 3 will hurt more than help you.
4. fuel injection cleaner $5
5. car wash and wax! free?



Easiest would be to get a new air filter. Preferably a cone filter... K&N makes good oil ones... Should run about 50 dollars, and boosts overall performance.


Dont get subs. The added weight is really not worth it. Not only that, but the money is better spent waiting for a possible break... 500+ that you spend on the subs box and amp isnt gonna help you when you you are on the side of the road and it will add a strain to your electrical system.

 

[MetalFortress]

Do something real ballsy: find a way to jam an 8 cylinder engine under the hood. I don't care if it's made by VW, BMW, Ford, Chevy/Cadillac/GM, whoever. Anyone with a V8 Jetta is going to earn some respect from me.

Or another thing to do for fun: mod the interior and turn it into a luxury car. Leather seats, real woodgrain trim, what can go wrong?

Fix the clutch first, though. And whatever else needs fixing.

You would be better off saving all of that extra cash for a better car, though. For sports and racing, save for an F-body with a V8 (especially LS1 powered Camaro SS and Trans Am) or a Mustang, or turboed versions of the Mitsubishi 3000GT or Toyota Supra (possibly Nissan 300ZX TT too, but I havent looked into that). For luxury, save for a Mercedes, Cadillac or Lincoln (used ones range from cheap to midpriced). For a mix, BMW is the way to go, as is the Cadillac Eldorado.

 

[Vincent]

Originally posted by LordBrian
Low budget pimping your car!

1. Cone Air filter ~$50
2. Electic upgrade (spark plugs, wires, distributor cap) i dont remember how much this costs, but prolly around $40
3. exhaust 300-500 at a shop, 200-350 if you install yourself. I recommend about 2.25" pipe diameter... 2.5 might steal your low end... and 3 will hurt more than help you.
4. fuel injection cleaner $5
5. car wash and wax! free?



Easiest would be to get a new air filter. Preferably a cone filter... K&N makes good oil ones... Should run about 50 dollars, and boosts overall performance.

Now your car has 2 more horsepower and is loud and annoying. Great plan

 

[Derek Flint]

Here's a tip: Buy a performance car if you want to go fast instead of buying an economy car and trying to make it fast.

It's always amusing seeing these "ricers" dump a ton of money into their econoboxes trying to make them fast only to fry their motors after a few thousand miles.

Phrases like "Gee, I guess I had my boost turned up too high" or "I was running to much NOS" after their engine parts litter a 100 yard stretch of asphalt.

Bunch of dumbazzes.

Nothing like dumping 10K into a car worth half that to get it to run a 14 second 1/4 mile.

Don't forget the rear wing on the FWD car, the cheap-azz "ground effects" body kit, fart pipe, stickers and all that other clown car stuff.

 

[Derek Flint]

One more thing: "Street racing" is idiotic, and is a Felony in most states.

Also, if the person you are racing hits and kills someone in a car or on foot, you are just as guilty in the eyes of the law and can be convicted of murder.

If you're going to race, save it for the track.

 

[MetalFortress]

I would SO love to buy a Pontiac GTO or a new Mustang, make it look a lil' bit ricey (metal wing and trick paint job or decals (NO stickers though)), but trick out/reinforce the motor and supercharge it and scare the crap out of every ricer in town. Taking the muffler off for added effect/scare factor would make it 10 times better

Or for a cheaper budget, do the same to a Trans Am/Firebird/Camaro or an old Mustang.

I don't care what you say about domestics. Big American V8's can handle psychotic amounts of power like nothing else can.

 

[LordBrian]

Originally posted by Vincent
Now your car has 2 more horsepower and is loud and annoying. Great plan

Nah, will prolly give more in the range of 15-25. But im not worried about peak performance... these mods are to boost the overall performance of his car.

One more thing: "Street racing" is idiotic, and is a Felony in most states.

fun though... (*not that i approve of it)(*or do i? )

You would be better off saving all of that extra cash for a better car, though. For sports and racing, save for an F-body with a V8 (especially LS1 powered Camaro SS and Trans Am) or a Mustang, or turboed versions of the Mitsubishi 3000GT or Toyota Supra (possibly Nissan 300ZX TT too, but I havent looked into that). For luxury, save for a Mercedes, Cadillac or Lincoln (used ones range from cheap to midpriced). For a mix, BMW is the way to go, as is the Cadillac Eldorado.

i agree. saveing up money for a newer car would probably be better... After a few mods to my car, i decided to end it and save up for a miata.

Tiberon, mustang, RSX, impreza RS are all good performance cars around 20k

 

[Derek Flint]

Yet one more thing: Get your clutch repaired first.

Also, these econocars aren't meant to be made fast - you build up the engine, but the transmission/transaxle/rear-axle can't handle the extra HP/Torque and end up failing.

 

[Page]

Originally posted by Derek Flint
Yet one more thing: Get your clutch repaired first.

Also, these econocars aren't meant to be made fast - you build up the engine, but the transmission/transaxle/rear-axle can't handle the extra HP/Torque and end up failing.

True. The only way you will get away with making an econocar fast is to strip out everything and replace every single thing with better parts. Frankly, it isn't worth it.

Also, don't mess with the body, either. I laugh my ass off at all the little geo metros or dodge neons I see on the freeway with spoilers, fat chrome tailpipes, and colorful paint jobs. They're not fooling anyone -- Underneath all that shyt, they still have a car that has no balls.

 

[MetalFortress]

One of my street-racer coworkers traded in his Integra with mods for a GMC Sierra, and put massive 20x10 rims on with 285-wide tires, and is saving for intake, exhaust, and nitrous mods. He hasn't even modded the suspension yet, but apparently he's found the BMW of trucks - smooth smooth ride, yet handles like a sports car.