Versa Upgrade question for a Noobie

[monkeybear]

Hello Nico members,

First off I am glad to have found this forum, a great place to learn. I have a couple of questions.

I am thinking of getting an AEM CAI and a STILLEN Exhaust System for my Versa. I can get both for about $500ish and I can get someone to install them both for me for free. Realistically, what will I notice when I add these? What will change? I have driven my fiance's Suburu Forester Sport with the turbo charger and the STI everthing all over it and while I notice the difference between the two I don't feel terribly slow in the Versa. I ride about 2 hours a day at about 25-40 miles an hour in no to light traffic. Should I just save my money? Basically just tell me how this will affect my daily drive.

Everything below is just backstory and details. I am a new owner of a Versa! Its the 2008 Sedan S w/ ABS, Splash Guards, Floor Mats and 4 Speed AT. I decided after doing much research that it was the best car by far I could own for under 14,000 which was the budget I set for myself on a car. I got it out the door for 14,600.

Its my first new car. I have had it for 7 days and I have been driving cars for all of 10 days. I am 24 but have previously owned and ridden a motorcycle for transportation.

I really have a lot of love for my Versa and I am itchin to spend some money on it. I was debating whether to spend money on some speakers, some rims or some performance. After a lot of looking around I decided that motorcycling has ruined me and its all about the ride. Music is a distraction and rims are just for looks. I still want both, but the if for the same money I can get a performance boost I would rather do that.

Thanks for any input you guys and gals may have, I'm looking forward to reading your opinions and advice.

[Ever Victorious]

First off, Welcome to NICO!

You pose some very good questions there, and I'd like to point one thing out first...

Rims are not "just for looks". Your S has steel rims, which are heavier than hell (20+ pounds each). Even the most basic 15" alloys are going to be much lighter. And all of that weight lost is rotational mass, which has a greater effect on speed, handling, and fuel economy than any other weight you can lose from the car, since it's tied almost directly to the engine (via the transmission).

Lighter weight rims will have a similar effect to a lightweight flywheel. They can also have the added bonus of increasing your fuel economy a little. You can do anything from a reasonable 15" basic set of rims from your local tire place for $60 or so each (they will weigh about 17 pounds each) to going nuts and getting a set of Rota Auto-X rims (IIRC, 12 lbs each for 15 inchers?)

Now... for the other questions you posed. The AEM is possibly the biggest bang CAI you can get. But a Stillen exhaust, which is only an axle-back system will do absolutely nothing but change your exhaust note.

Exhaust systems only work well if you have other mods that pair well with it, and even then only if they are full cat-back, mandrel bent exhausts. AEM makes (or is just about to release, I forget which) a full cat-back exhaust, the only one on the market. But noone makes headers for the V yet, so you can't yet squeeze the full potential out of this product.

You may want to invest that money in a front strut tower brace at this point, as that will help the handling quite a bit.

Again, welcome to NICO, hope you have fun with us nuts!

[monkeybear]

Hmm, interesting about the rims. I hadn't thought about it like that.

So for your money would the AEM CAI and the Front Carbon Strut http://shop.versaspeed.com/pro...Id=15 found on Versa Speed be the best use of my money or just the strut? Also, what can I do that won't void the warranty? I have the $2,000 extended warranty that the family member who bought the car for me choose to add on so I would especially hate to void it.

I will likely get some rims but at the moment the rims with the tires are a bit outside of my budget especially since the tires I have on will last me at least a year, as I hear the last longer than motorcycle tires. Also I can get the rims one at a time, as my budget allows. I was thinking about keeping any eye out for anyone looking to unload their SL series rims in order to upgrade to more expensive ones.

[monkeybear]

It seems that the strut works by reducing the amount the car body flexes when you turn. Are there any reasons why someone would not want to do this? If its so simple and adds to the steering why don't manufactures do this at the factories? Just wondering if there are any downsides.

Thanks

[Ever Victorious]

First, please don't shorten "strut tower brace" to just "strut". It can cause confusion, because people might actually think you are referring to the strut itself (the vertical piece on which the spring is mounted that resists the vertical movement of the wheels).

Second, the strut tower brace does help flatten out body roll and help the car maneuver. more and more cars are coming with it standard these days. those cars that do NOT have it standard are for one of two reasons:

1) Increased cost ($100 or so per vehicle) and2) SLIGHT degradation of ride quality. For most people, though, the amount is imperceptible.

Side note: it is not a good idea to buy the rims piecemeal as you get the money. What happens if the manufacturer decides to discontinue the rim and you can't find another one? You'll be stuck with a partial set. It would be more responsible to set aside the money for a rim as you get it, then when you have enough for a full set, go ahead and buy them.

[monkeybear]

Sorry, the one at a time rim comment was meant to be a joke.

Also would you consider the CAI a noticeable improvement in the acceleration of the car? Not that it would accelerate faster but differently. I guess I am asking if the CAI would affect the acceleration curve.

Thanks!

So I am sold on the Strut Tower Brace, just need to figure out what else has noticeable improvements. Didn't mean to use just strut, I just figured that the bar itself was the strut. Got a lot to learn it seems.

[lain]

*Strut* Tower Brace aka *Strut* Bar helps with body roll. In other words when you take thoughs turn hard and one side of the body tilts...well it helps it not tilt. Best way to get rid of body roll is coilovers but *strut* bars do help too.

Also not to bring down versaspeed but i wouldnt buy the *strut* bar from there because you can go ahead and buy one off of ebay and it will preform the same. **UNLESS** you are doing some hardcore drifting with the Versa (which is impossible) and puting the car under alot of strain, any *strut* bar will do. If you wanted you can also get some old golf club and weld it to your *strut*...it will work just as well as any other *strut* bar in the market.

But if you want to be cool and have that Brand Name *strut* bar then by all means get the DC one. If you want you can look at some JDM cars and most of them come stock with strut bars. Alot of the Acura's here come stock with *strut* bars as well.

[Rockhound]

Struct Tower Brace aka Struct Bar...

Say it with me now...Strut.

[lain]

ROFLFL out of the 7 times i used the word "strut" I spelled it wrong 6 times. I'm still on my first cup of coffee so let me be between the hours of 8am-12pm PST (because at 12 i take my lunch break and before that i'm still waking up).

[Rockhound]

I'm still on my first cup of coffee so let me be between the hours of 8am-12pm PST (because at 12 i take my lunch break and before that i'm still waking up).

Scary isn't it? I'm the same way.

[monkeybear]

Thanks for all the advice on the Strut Bar, I think I will look around for a cheapie.

Now about that CAI, I seem to get mixed opinions about whether or not they are worth the money. Is there a noticeable difference in the way the car drives? How is it different?

[Ever Victorious]

That depends on how noticeable noticeable is.

(Yes, I know you English professors will have fun with THAT one...)

It will increase your power curve. Possibly 4-8hp at the peak, depending on the CAI and the engine. That is about 3-7% of the car's total power. It;s there. If you pay attention you will notice it. It will probably be more subtle than it seems, but it will be there.

It's not going to turn your V into a mustang, though. You'll need a LOT mroe modification for THAT to happen.

[monkeybear]

Noticeable to me means that I say to myself, "hmmm, so thats where my money went". I don't want it to magically turn to a powerhouse but maybe pick up a little bit faster after a red. Just let me know that I did actually get some return for my money. The car was bought for me and I guess I won't really feel like its mine until I spend some scratch on it. Hopefully I can get something for that scratch.