Modder's Remorse
 

Well, yesterday I went in to take my 11 Evo in for a oil change and walked out with a 13 :D . Still WW, GSR, Nav, SS, but now I also have the leather and Sunroof. Super nice. I am just debating wether or not I want to mod this one. Every time I seem to mod it, I start thinking about trading it in again. Either the part didn't fit right and I had to tweak here or there. Also I start to think that now that I have desturbed the paint or bumper or whatever part I removed I may have done something to it, scratched the paint underneath, etc. anyone ever get this way or is it just me. I didn't seem to be this way when I was younger.

I went through the same thing so I decided with my '11 GSR that I would keep all mods simple and effective and only the highest quality parts. So far just a test pipe, cat back, AP, GT worx springs and whiteline rear sway bar. Oh, and a shifter too. All mods are easily removed. All mods made a significant gain in performance. All mods have made significant gains to the fun factor without hurting drive easiness. I believe im done modding this car for now. Maybe that AMS down pipe and a set of wheels, but that's it. It's hard to stop, but if you stop before the car suffers drive ability issues then you wil have a fun and fast EVO that won't break.

I know exactly what you mean! With every car in my past it seems like I modded it too far where it became not very fun to drive on the streets. I promised myself I wouldn't do that with the X when I got it and so far so good! If I've ever not been 100% satisfied with a part I've installed I've removed/replaced it with someone I am happier with.

Honestly, if you're afraid of doing anything...then don't! These cars are plenty of fun even stock, and if you grow tired of it stock then mod is very slowly, and very carefully fully researching everything you do one part at a time.

Thanks Guys. I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way. It just seems that even the Upper end performance companies are make parts that just don't fit right. On my 11 for instance I did a TBE quite verson from ETS, I really wanted to go with the AMS downpipe, but decided to go all ETS mainly because I heard of the muffler hitting the rear valance with the AMS downpipe. Install all ETS and guess what? The rear muffler was still touching the rear valance. Had to trim. Remorse!!
On my 08 I installed all AMS intercooling piping. Lower pipe just did not line up right with the intercooler. All AMS, Remorse. The only Time I can truly say I was happy with fitment on the Evo last was when I did the AMS 3076R turbo kit on my 06 9MR. Perfect fit! It just seems that even the best of companies are slacking. I should just start taking pictures of the install and send it back to them if it doesn't fit right. The one thing that is hard to read with reviews in general is that what item may not bother on person, would bother another.

Follow my build and parts list, if it's on my car you can be assured it fits and functions perfectly. You sound just as anal as I am...for example, I tried five different testpipes on my car before settling on the perfect one, three different catbacks, two turbo inlet pipes, pruchased two different turbos, two different sets of fuel injectors, three exhaust manifolds, two short-shifters...shall I continue? :lol:

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/al...er-gheyer.html

i feel the same
 

I feel the same way, after i sell the evo i have now i plan to buy a sti and leave it stock to i dont have to worry about fixing my car when it breaks.

You're definitely not alone. I've been remorseful after a few purchases that just didn't go well. Before I buy any part for the car now I research a ton. I find myself lying in bed at night thinking about the mods I want to purchase next and the long term goals for the car in general. The big Evo sites are a wealth of knowledge and many times I find other relevant information I wasn't even looking for. I'd say when it stops being fun for you and adds stress to your life then it's time to part ways with the car. Until then though happy modding!

I owned an 08 evo x with full bolt ons and Fp Red. When it got totaled and I bought another 08, stock seemed so slow. No remorse here for doing mods!

If you buy a part and it doesnt fit right, or you dont like how the car behaves after you install it... take it off. You are allowed to do that.

in my case,
I've come from 3 diffrent modded cars.
From as low 500whp to 1000 whp.

What did I learn?

pretty much never touch your daily :)
It can become a pain in the ass. Plus keeping your warranty sometimes helps in the long run.

Personally, so far I haven't touched my Evo at all , except for a short throw shifter , LED DRL's and had my friend (tuner) play with the tactrix cable giving me maybe 1-2 lbs more of boost with a very conservative 2 degrees of timing change here and there.

The only other mod I am contemplating on is a full tune and maybe coilovers/rims ,

Point being is that if its your Daily , just do simple bolt ons.

the moment you go beyond simple bolts , be prepared to have a unreliable car. No matter how many people swear the car is reliable with major mods if done right.

I been there done that and I have the T-shirt.

if you want to mod the hell out of your car , make sure its not your daily , and your car is paid off :)

I'm just doing bolt ons installed and tuned by a reputable performance shop (Moore Auto in VA). Just going to get the AMS intercooler, LICP, and Cobb BOV installed soon and stopping till the car is paid off and not needed for daily driving. May do new rims and tires, but that's it.

Current:
AMS dp
ETS catback
Mil.Spec HFC
AMS UICP
AMS intake