So I take it that Rex is going to be your last car? Why are you modding if it will never be a STi? You're never going to get rid of that Rex huh? I can say I probly spent more money than him and around the same amount you have on my Lancer. Am I miffed? Nope! Will I be miffed when I go to buy my Evo and I'm looking at the bottom line and think "Hey! If I'da saved that little $7K on that Lancer I had my payments would have been $70-90 cheaper" Nope! If I have to worry about a little 5K here or there from years ago I shouldnt be buying that car. He could sell it private and recoup more. He's traveling the world. I'm sure he can find someone out there who at least knows someone who could want a turboed lancer or at least a Lancer lightly modded in good shape. But he is not modding to hold him over. From the way he talked he has around a good 3-5 years left before his next car unless an unbeatable deal comes along. So instead of giving him negative feedback on his platform of choice give him more suggestions like the ones that were just squeezed out of you...

 

Here's the biggest difference, I spent 1000$ on a TBE and 100$ on a tune and I'm suddenly at STI power. I get a lot of bang for the buck with my current car and it's enough to keep me happy. How many people are going to be happy about spending thousands on bolt-ons to gain 5 HP? The single biggest mod I've done to my car is actually the driver's mod (race school) because it had the most dramatic effect on my driving and my enjoyment of the car. I have no plans on dumping thousands into my car, I'm doing small mods since I actually race my car.
I'm not giving him negative feedback, I'm giving him an honest opinion. I was flat out pissed when I realized I had spent thousands to gain 5 HP. I liked some of the mods I did (which is why I still recommend them) but overall bolt-ons were an absolute waste of time. A turbo kit is a good option but at the same time, a good turbo kit isn't cheap and it opens up an entirely new can of worms. If you don't drive the car everyday, it just seems silly to spend thousands upgrading the performance. If he drove it everyday, it'd be different.

 

I'd say sit on the money for a while and just enjoy the car. If you must upsize the wheels, I'd advise you to go 17 with a 215/40 tire. Please, not the 205's, the car will scream DROP ME! Oh, and consider a Progress sway bar. (cheap and fun) I used to want to turbo my 03, but now I crave a beat up old 240, or a just a stock Evo. I know, you aren't me, but time has a way of changing people's minds. Take it slow and you won't end up too deep and broke. I've put a lot of time and money into my Lancer and I kind of miss the excitement of the build-up process. Anyways, good luck.

 

Do you guys really care about this stranger? I say f... it. Let him spend his cash and see how this kick *** Lancer turns out with every ones help. Yeah!! lol

 

get some rims , they will make you happy. get a ralliart grill, it will make you happy.Get some springs or coilovers, they will make you happy.

I got rims, short shifter, coilovers and the oem ralliart lip kit for under $2000 cause I was patient and I scoured these forums, with the exception of the ralliart lip kit whicih isnt installed yet I have done everything myself. Working on my car makes me happy PERIOD I love my lancer its a great car do not let certain negative types discourage you from getting rims or whatever the hell you want I have never regreted buying anything for my lancer.

BTW its 2008 if you are planning on keeping your lancer for another 2 years at least than go nuts

 

save up and buy an evo

 

my 2cents

this was my goal to do also.. i saved up about half the cost of a used 03 evo.(10k) plus i still had my car i could sell...

started looking around, and most used evos have problems or will have problems because of mileage..

so i would still owe a little.. (not a big deal)
but insurance for me(or any guy under 25) is outragous,

im in college still.. i work full time, and take 15 hours of class. if something broke on the car, i would be screwed.
i would be tight on money every month just because of insurance and gas, and other general mantinence just to get it running right...

even with all that money saved, it wont really help you out to much unless you can afford the insurance and mantence to keep it on the street, plus theres the mod bug also to feed... just not worth it for me yet..

my lancer is paid off, insurance isnt bad, and i have plenty of money to live off of, might as well have fun with what i have untill i want to upgrade and still be able to do the same stuff to the new one... (i would rather have a built up lancer to have fun in, rather then a stock evo i cant afford to do anything with)


thats my 2cents

 

a turbo lancer is a good daily driver..its not the fastest thing out their i know. if you can pass cars or merge freely in the highway id be happy enough.

insurance+gas+maintenance about the same as a n/a lancer. other than than the octane level.

 

+1 i wouldn't even survive paying a evo at 20 years old yet i still love modding my lancer that i can afford easily

 

This is why if you come onto money you shoul dnever post it on here and ask everyones opinion. You're going to get biased in everry direction. The best thing to do, look all over the threads, find the little things you like and work on your car from there. Do what appeals to you, and don't worry about anyone else.

 

Yeah, I'm 20 also, insurance would be a insane. Too all the ppl saying go the evo route, heres my methodology, Michelangelo didnt wake up one morning and paint the Sistine Chapel, it took the man time. Sure I could slap all my eggs down, and produce a bird, but this is the first step. Ive waited this long to do anything, gotta get my feet wet and have some fun. Lets not kid ourselves, I know what I'm doing and know the limitations; The shadow might scream evo, but the fwd says no. But in the end this bird will purrr

 

Nice way of putting it. MOD the hell out of your Lancer and don't look back.
That's what I'm doing anyway

 

id say 15-16" its a lancer!

 

i agree.

 

Me too...
Something light weight and nice. Don't get low profile tires though. Go as thick as you can without compromising weight.