What parts to choose next? Options

[CAMAricer]

Hi guys,

So I'm getting a bit tired of pouring money into my ST (just dropped $1.5k on a sound system, and still not satisfied). After all the $$$ that I've put into her, I realize that I still need probably another 20K to make her "perfect". The list just goes on and on...damn, so many choices! What to do!?!

Blah, enough of my whining. Anyways, on to the point of this thread.

So what do guys think I should do next? I'm only going to spend another $3000 max on my car (I say that now, but...). So of the following choices, which do you think should me the "final" upgrade on my Cecilia?

1) Engine swap (yeah, I know it'll end up costing me more than 3K... )
2) Redo my exterior (new paint, carbon hatch, fix all dings/dents/rust, neons lights)
3) Redo my interior (sparco seats, racing steering wheel, car computer)
4) Performance upgrades: lowering springs, strut bars, rear brake conv, big brake kit, projectors, and exhaust system...also going to be >3K

Damn...she's gonna end up costing me more than a freakin' Supra!

This post has been edited by CAMAricer: Feb 7, 2008 - 10:34 PM

[jason]

well, your exterior looks good as it is. figure $500 for lowering springs and probably new shocks as well (or tein ss 1200 & ST sway bars 200)

then, interior, get some celica stock leather seats, look good enough imo. swap to a 7th gen steering wheel (the two there should run you like 700-800)

jdm projectors (700) jdm tail lights (300) so thats like 2500 so far

i would leave the engine alone. maybe freshen it up, new seals/gaskets etc, dress it up some.

then i wouldn't complain about it

think about what you want from the car. race car performance handling you can get under 2000. race car acceloration your looking $10k plus

jdm projectors make a world of difference. make the car look like its a new '09 model that noone's seen yet. plus make a HUGE improvement with night driving, esp if you add true hid

[lagos]

Your car has the looks part down. Now it needs some power to back it up.

[stetsonaw]

how could you spend $1500 on a system and not be satisfied? i put $300 on a head unit, car came with 4 kenwood speakers, added 2 free 10's (prolly ran about $110 new each), and an amp ($60 on ebay), and i love it. it's not the price you pay, cuz with stereos it's not "you get what you pay for", research until you're crazy.

one cheap idea would be to clear your corners. i did that on mine and it makes a BIG difference in appearance, ebay for clear sidemarkers. my 2 cents.

[azian_advanced]

option 4 before 3: no need for racing wheel and seats without proper suspension and brakes.
option 4 before 1: would be nice to handle the extra power with good suspension and brakes.
option 2 before all: fix what needs to be fixed, that should be your top priority, before you mod.

just my opinion...

[playr158]

a) wow you wasted a LOT of money on a heavy sound system...making you slower and handle worse

b) wheels/tires/coilovers/sway bars/strut bars

c) slotted rotors + good pads, SS brake lines, Motul fluid

[D-Man]

i do agree with azian_advanced, you should fix problems before you mod. Personaly; it would seem that your exterior is fine. I say you rev it up a bit; but your the only person who knows what you need; and want, most.

But if you got drum breaks .... i think that's concerted a problem.... lol!!

This post has been edited by D-Man: Feb 6, 2008 - 9:28 AM

[CelicaST_CALI]

1500$ sound system and ur not satisfield,plz pm with what the **** u got from that much $...

[CAMAricer]

1500$ sound system and ur not satisfield,plz pm with what the **** u got from that much $...

I got it listed on my profile.

I got two sets of Infinity Kappa perfects ($175 each, so $350). I'm using a Alpine PDX amp to power it ($250). For subs, I have three JL 10W0s in an enclosure (from a guy for $200). I'm using a JL amp for that ($400). Then I have a JVC head unit ($300). Lastly, wires/cables and cap were ~$150. So...add that all up and you got >$1,500. Damn, and thats with half of the installation done by myself.

So you know how this all started? I bought a freaking $10 sub from BigLots...then it kind of snowballed from there....before I knew it, I had wasted a whole LOT of money.

[thespacepanda]

So you know how this all started? I bought a freaking $10 sub from BigLots...then it kind of snowballed from there....before I knew it, I had wasted a whole LOT of money.

If you truly love your car then no amount of money spent on it is a waste.

[yarik83]

a car car will cost you about 15 grand in upgrades. Once you start doing A thing.. it will end up being MANY things. When we say that there are not enough custom parts for our celicas we mean than in comparison to 7th generation there are far less upgrades for the 6th gen.

[Insanity-74]

Celicas are expensive cars to upgrade...and to even keep on the road as they are getting old.....probably spent over $45,000 buying it, keeping it going and modding it to date.....thats more than my house cost.

[Rusty]

ohh this thread doesn't live up to its name, I was thinking, it would show heaps of parts etc

[easternpiro1]

ohh this thread doesn't live up to its name, I was thinking, it would show heaps of parts etc

X2 i feel bamboozled lol

[playr158]

Celicas are expensive cars to upgrade...and to even keep on the road as they are getting old.....probably spent over $45,000 buying it, keeping it going and modding it to date.....thats more than my house cost.

celicas are cheap to mod...haha not to mention easy.
and wow you have a tiny house if you spent less than $45,000
thats like um....umm...well we don't have houses that cheap any where in existence where i am...umm i think you can buy a shoe box? even then its a cheap one.

[CAMAricer]

Okay, I think I'm going to "fix" the minor dings/dents and stuff like that on my car and go with the projectors and a rear-disc conversion. This way, at least my exterior will look unblemished (damn drums are annoying to look at!).

So besides waiting for someone to part out their GT (for the brakes), how else could I do this? Is it worth it to get the parts from a dealer? Or should I search for (and buy) a donor car instead? I figure buying a GT will last me a lifetime in spare parts for my ST. LOL, just realized how stupid that sounded

[bccentaur3]

Dude, think twice about the dealer. You will just get rammed in the one way exit. Search around on ebay, forums, junkyard. Best site ever car-part.com. Good luck.

[Insanity-74]

wow you have a tiny house if you spent less than $45,000

Compared to the houses I have seen in the States...Yes its very small, I have seen bigger appartments, but I bought it years ago when there was a slump in the housing market...and I was a student at the time so didnt have alot of money....Its probably worth about £70,000 ($140,000) now, but even that isnt alot of money these days...You have to make do with what you can afford, I didnt fancy having loads of unmanagable debt...the next house will be bigger (I hope)...and if I`m lucky it will even have a garage

[laff09]

Who needs a house when ya got a 4 anyway! haha

[playr158]

wow you have a tiny house if you spent less than $45,000

Compared to the houses I have seen in the States...Yes its very small, I have seen bigger appartments, but I bought it years ago when there was a slump in the housing market...and I was a student at the time so didnt have alot of money....Its probably worth about £70,000 ($140,000) now, but even that isnt alot of money these days...You have to make do with what you can afford, I didnt fancy having loads of unmanagable debt...the next house will be bigger (I hope)...and if I`m lucky it will even have a garage

I totally understand that POV. Coming from being a student there isn't much you can afford.
but man $45k......wow....even $140k....I wish things where that cheap here