I second the choice of Yokohama AVS ES100 tires. They have got to be one of the best low-cost performance tires out there for less then $100/tire (www.tirerack.com) They don't last very long if you drive them hard and they ARE NOT, repeat, NOT all-season tires, so you'd better have another set of tires for those folks who see snow and/ or cold (blo 50 degrees) with rain.

But the few shortcomings they have are made up for dry performance. My stock Focus ZX3 with factory 16 inch wheels felt like a different car with these tires on it and no other mods. The handling tightened up, the grip was so much better, the response was incredible. You won't be disappointed with these tires. They aren't Michelin Pilots, but at half the price, they offer excellent performance.

 

Also there is now the NEX full coilovers. They don't cost as much as the Tein's and from what I have read, they are pretty good.
RennenMotors
NEX Coilovers

 

Good article. You ever see those magazines that focus primarily on the looks? Not my type. I had aftermarket taillights and ditched them.

I know you life FI but honestly, some people can't afford it. Even intake, intake manifold, throttle body, header, exhaust, cam wouldn't be too bad and would make it scoot.

Double on the suspension notion...you never realize how much of a difference it makes when yours blows out.

 

thanks

 

Hmm i never noticed thise thread before....this is SUCH a good thread. And it is so true about suspension mods and this car....they make the thing so much more sexy. IMO the 02-03 lancer looks best stock...with tints, nice rims and maybe the RMR lip....but thats it. Most of my money is going for performance.
Good thread

 

kensuke i completely agree with you if i could the only extra thing i would add onto my lancer when i had it would be a turbo kit. the "body kit" i got was the rmr lip 1 and i had tein coilovers on and that is enuff of a drop for me u dont even need a body kit anymore. like you said the coilovers are amazing on the lancer that car handled amazingly on the roads i loved it. everything you said its a reciepe for a clean looking lancer.

 

lots of good info, but as for me and my lancer, I figure why waste the money on trying to make it a performance car? I would like to squeeze a bit more out of it but still, $9k for the mods you said, I'd rather put that money into an Evo fund and just save a bit more and try looking for a good deal on one. But like you said, thats IMHO
so I just mod my car for looks, sound, etc. Although that is probably cause there is no tracks around here and I am already halfway to a suspended license :P so more power = revoked license sooner haha

 

This is an excellent post!!!
I never noticed it before but it does give a lot of explanation and I find that sometimes that's what's lacking... people makes comments about what you should and shouldn't do, but this one actually gives reasons supporting those decisions - Great job

That said, always remember that it's your car and you have to love what you do to it. There are many people who don't like what I've done, but I love it and I enjoy driving it, so that's most important.

 

love the thread and completely agree

 

thanks for the article kensuke will try to read the whole thing later today.

 

The common practice of changing the Intercooler is a massive waste of time unless you have at least 390-400hp at the wheels. Upgrading the piping though is a must.

Same with turbo 'upgrades'. This should be one of the last things you do. There is a list of the supposed hp limits of the Factory turbo's floating around the internet, it is so wrong. I know of plenty of cars that have gone way beyond what that list suggests, myself I am getting an easy 340 hp at the wheels @ only 21.75 psi with the original 15G turbo and standard engine lol.

There is a lot of power to be had from the factory turbos if the engine is modded and tuned properly.
People need to remember that these engines are designed to make a lot of low~mid range torque and power, and that should be taken advantage of, not fought against.

 

sorry to burst your bubble, but you ain't getting 180 HP at the wheels without forced induction on this engine.