what do YOU think?

[pric65]

which should come first:1.Body/interiour mods?2.Engine/handling mods?

I have seen many guys who have these great body kits and racing seats and steering wheels and etc. but their engine and suspension is totally stock(well at least Estonia is filled with these guys). I have always thought that first comes the engine/handling and then exteror mods. (for example if i got a front mount intercooler, a front bumper with a 'big mouth' is a must and etc.) It really pisses me off if car looks like a real 'hardcore racer' but is running 90Kw stock engine with no mods. I don't see any point of souping up the exterior without doing any power mods.

[98TURBOKA]

If you make your car look fast your going to get a lot of attn. then people are gonna wanna run you and your going to get your azz kicked. Make your car fast and keep the out side stock and you'll make someone else look a fool when your stock looking car walks on their fast looking car. Just my thoughts, its your car do what you want.

[Repo Man]

Sleepers rule.

[rousie13]

I was definately going to go for the sleeper look until my dad hit a deer with my car. They offered to have the damage fixed and the car painted, so I bought a modest kit for my car to put on since it was getting painted and such. Now onto the suspension, then motor when I get more money.

[pric65]

I think there's nothing wrong with the 'racer' look, as long as the car has some power mods done.

btw. what i wanted to know was if I am the only one who doesn't like cars w/ big exterior mods and no engine mods.

And i deffinetly agree with 98turboka, that its better to own a "wolf in the sheep's skin" than "sheep in a wolf's skin".

[stickgoat]

I am more concerned with performance and handling than I am with looking good.

Thus...my primary exterior "mods" are just restoring the factory pieces and making sure I keep my paint in as good condition as I can.

Getting noticed is easy. Getting respected takes work.

[Zaxx84]

Take it from me, I've had good looking cars with nothing done to them before....all your going to do is get into embarassing situations....everyone will want to race, and you will almost always lose...do at least some motor work first, then go for looks, you'll be happy once you're on the road.

[lessthanjakejohn]

Looks, and in some cases they are all thats needed. The ownder of the car may only want a cool looking car that will keep stock reliabilty. Not everyone wants to go out of their time to go racing. Driving to work may be enough.

If you want serious speed, I would never do more than some touch up work to your car body. It attracts attention from cops and you enjoy going faster more, right? Splitting it 50/50 is never a good idea IMO. 5/95 or 95/5 is better

I don't care to get noticed or be respected the most, The things I do are all for self enjoyment (wahtever they are), someone saying "hey nice car" can only be a bonus

[Anand]

I would say engine first unless you get in a wreck like me and come up on a deal that you can't pass up on a body kit...

[creophus]

Engine first man...always!

[Ceptos]

suspension and handling mods first, then engine, then looks.

i figured i should be able to handle the power, before i create it.

[Aries]

<-- sleeper king

[240marcuSX]

It would be a crime against the car to not do suspension/engine work first. unless you find a really really good deal on interior or aero kit stuff.

[pric65]

looks like everyone agree with me:)

[lessthanjakejohn]

not me

[Eklectrick]

you say someone would mod their exterior with no engine mods and would get his a$$ handed to him in a race. well a lot of those types of people wouldn't race in the first place. those who do, don't realy know their cars and think it is fast to begin with anyways, and they are just idiots. A friend of mine had a pretty nice looking car that was simply dropped on some nice rims, body kit, and it had an exhaust. it was all show. if you asked him, he would say yeah, it's slow, but I get a lot of complements on how it looks so I like it. some people just want the attention, not the respect. As for me, I would go for performance first, but my car has body damage so that changes my priorites and I'll get a paintjob first, then do the motor. You can't just look at what everyone does and say why does everyone do it that way cuz each of those people might have a slightly different reason for choosing the path they did.

[WingsNThangs]

Realistically, performance isnt first and foremost for most 240SX drivers. I mean seriously, how many of you go to the track to really utilize the performance mods and how often? Although there are some who are serious about track and autocross, most of you are not. Be honest with yourself.

I'm not a competitive driver. Therefore I do not prioritize performance as #1. As a daily driving enthusiast student who does not have a whole lot of money to spend on parts i will never utuilize to full potential, my order of priorities are comfort, appearance, suspension, then engine. Why?

Comfort - The car is a daily driver. I wouldnt want to be driving on stiff race springs, making an harsh ride for my passenger and I.

Appearance - This goes hand-in-hand with comfort sometimes as I take comfort in coming to a clean and nice-looking interior and exterior. I take pride in the cleanliness of my car. The only downside to body mods are the high prices of parts and paint. But I would honestly turn my car into a showy stockperformance car before a performing beater-looking ride. Also, the appearance condition of a car is what is valued. It costs less to replace a blown engine than replace a oxidized, smashed, and beat up body. Thus, I value the car's body much more.

Suspension - I value car control over speed. I see the 240SX as a handling car over a muscle car. Therefore, I'd choose to enhance the already well-handling chassis of the 240SX. Plus, the results of suspension mods are a lot more rewarding per dollar. Suspension mods are more also useful in everyday driving, as it is about car control.

Engine - You can spend hundreds of dollars on engine mods and really get no more than 15hp dynoed. Horsepower aint easy to gain. Unless you go forced induction, which is a costly and illegal option, hp is too expensive and not worth it. Also, how often do you get to utilize this gained hp? Where can you maximize its potential other than the track?

Sure you may be buying performance mods, but chances are, they act as show parts. The parts exist in your car not for your car to perform better, but for you to post a list of mods for fellow enthusiasts to wow at. I'm not against performance parts at all, because it means youre a serious enthusiast dedicated to invest in his car. But too often do people really think that the performance parts' realistic function is for performance in the way they use them in their driving.

[slw240sx]

i utilize my motor swap every day i drive it ! nothing like slaming through gears boosting . what fun is it to be in a done up car thats slow? i dont want a total beater but i want a clean body super fast, and super responsive, i dont give a damn about passenger confort cause if your riding with me you will learn to apreiciate my car, or you might just crap your self when i take a turn at triple the posted limit on the limit of tire coheasion

[gunclap]

imo, handling is first priority, since i live near malibu, ca...my bro and i go to the canyons sometimes and uhhhh...cruise very slowly. then after that it would be the engine...that's all.

what are body/interior mods?

[K1LLA916K]

hmm understand your point o view on what u want to do with your car. and im not a hater of your ideas after all it is your car. but if i was you the first thing i will do is get temporary goodlooking rims. about 17 inches should be perfect and then a cd player with some good 6 x 9s and an amp. after that i would get intake headers exhaust. then i would spend all the money possible on suspension. after that my money would go to accesories like shift knob, steering wheel, pedals, an possiby racing seats. after that i would invest all the money possible on my motor. after about 50% of the work money and tim has been invested in my motor i would get a full stereo system with subwoofers, possibly an add on front kit and sideskirts with a fullkit in the back and then my car would be painted with a possible spoiler and new permanant rim. and finally i would take care of the other half mods needed. however if the car was mine....i wouldnt put a kit on it. the sound of exhaust and the look of a car dropped on racing rims with low profile tires should be the only hint.

[nissanrcer240]

Quote »A friend of mine had a pretty nice looking car that was simply dropped on some nice rims, body kit, and it had an exhaust. it was all show. if you asked him, he would say yeah, it's slow, but I get a lot of complements on how it looks so I like it. [/quote]

lol that sounds exactly like one of my friends, he has a civic with intake, kit, and rims and thats it....."oh i know its slow, but it looks fast":rolleyes , he could care less about racing, he just wants his car to look good

[creophus]

At least these guys don't claim for it to be fast. If you just want looks, that's cool.

[WingsNThangs]

what are body/interior mods?

Appearance mods. Body includes body kit, spoiler etc. Interior includes seats, shift knob, audio system, etc. These things are not directly performance-oriented (aero kits dont function unless you are going significantly fast).

At least these guys don't claim for it to be fast. If you just want looks, that's cool.

But these guys do claim performance. What I'm sayin is that parts don't have performance unless they are used that way. Things must be used I'm pointing out that although many people in this thread claim "engine first" or "performance over appearance", that statement is often flawed in reality. If you pop your hood and have a strut bar, intake, and have $1200 high performance coilovers in the wheel wells, I say that is all for show until you actually utilize them. Performance potential may be there, but chances are you aint using its worth. Therefore it is for show, for bragging rights, for posting a list of mods for fellow forum enthusiasts to see. Be honest with yourself or really use the parts' potential.

Of course my cynical statement does not apply to all of you (i.e. people who go to the track:), attend competitive events:), and drive illegally crazy on public roads:( )

[gunclap]

i was kidding about the "what are body/interior mods?" question.

[slw240sx]

why do you need racing seats in a sport coupe they already have race style buckets, now in a civic i can understand needing racing seats since they have less sporty seats ,.

[Rockenreno]

sport seats grip better and can be more comfortable, especially if you auto-x or something. For daily driving there is really not much benefit...

[Bubba1]

Agree. The stock 240sx seats don't have much lateral support. Comfortable for street use, but I had to use a torso harness to stay in my seat on the track. If you're determined to mod the car, I think you should improve the area that need improving most.ENGINE. Very underpowered. 240sx stock suspensions are excellent, . Good ride with great grip and very predictable. I don't see the need to "mod" it. But if you feel you must "mod" the suspension I'd do that later. Besar in mind, modding the suspension will sacrifice ride quality. Cosmetics should be last. Stealth rules. Good luck

[WingsNThangs]

why do you need racing seats in a sport coupe they already have race style buckets, now in a civic i can understand needing racing seats since they have less sporty seats ,.

I'm gonna go ahead and assume you've never driven a S13 with stock leather seats.

[Eklectrick]

But these guys do claim performance.

He was referring to my post and nissanrcer240's. we both gave examples of people we know who go all show and no go and they will tell you straight up that their car is slow.

Quote »What I'm sayin is that parts don't have performance unless they are used that way. Things must be used I'm pointing out that although many people in this thread claim "engine first" or "performance over appearance", that statement is often flawed in reality. If you pop your hood and have a strut bar, intake, and have $1200 high performance coilovers in the wheel wells, I say that is all for show until you actually utilize them. Performance potential may be there, but chances are you aint using its worth. Therefore it is for show, for bragging rights, for posting a list of mods for fellow forum enthusiasts to see. Be honest with yourself or really use the parts' potential. [/quote]

Your points are somewhat valid, although somewhat extreme and all-inclusive. it is true someone will claim another person is stupid for putting a wing on their car that does nothing, while they themselves have I/H/E on their car that also does nothing because they use it for daily driver. However, that I/H/E, while not fully being used to its ultimate potential, still has just that; potential. the HP gains are there, and they may enjoy a quicker throttle response and maybe a little sportier more enjoyable driving experience on their way to work. that person with a big a$$ spoiler will never reap the benefits of a spoiler because it does nothing and will never do anything. It has no potential at all and just makes the car look (to the driver) sportier, which in most cases is all that matters to the person. this is not to say that I feel one is right and one is wrong, just that . . . umm, what was my point again?

[WingsNThangs]

Yeah I get your drift (no pun intended, must be a RWD-enthusiast thing haha).

My statement does seem all-inclusive, but I don't mean it to be that way. Just pointing out something that i feel is very common among MANY non-competitive commuting 240SX owners. But you made very convincing points I agree with. Props to you for that.