I realise this is a VERY loaded question... but whats the best value route to increased performance?
I know there'll be lots of differing opinions but is there a concensus of opinion as to what gives the 'biggest bang for your buck?'
I don't fancy having to change anything back at MOT time and don't want anything too load or 'Max power' (I'm 43 for gods sake!)
Don't mind a modest hike in insurance.
I've owned my MY98 from new it is bog standard and has done 40k .
Prepared to spend up to about £500
thanks in anticipation

Sneaks

 

The biggest improvement will be a downpipe (£100-150 secondhand £200-250 new), although that will mean you have to remove the main cat from the car.

Keep the centre cat in place so you can still pass MOT's (Assuming it's in good working order and you warm it up before the MOT) and get a backbox for some noise.

If you get the downpipe and backbox from the 'For Sale' forum here, you should be able get it and then have it all fitted for less than your budget!

 

thanks andy
Does a back box do much beyond make more noise?
Does an induction kit make much difference and if so what make's best?

 

If you are concerned about noise then an induction kit will create alot of new noises combined with the decat downpipe. An uprated panel filter may be a better option if cabin noise is a concern.

Changing the backbox on its own may release 5 bhp if you're lucky. Again it all depends on how much noise you want.

BHP per buck I would get a downpipe, uprated filter and a Dawes device - a boost gauge is reccommended to go with that too. That should give you the most for £500 if you don't intend going much further or louder.

On the flipside, theres no BHP gains but you can get performance and enjoyment by uprating the suspension (solid front and rear droplinks and bumpsteer removal = less than £200)

And with all that you should consider your brakes, especially if you have the 2pots.

Justin

 

You don't need £500 to make your engine go bang! Run it on cooking fat or buy a second hand dawes and max it out and you've blown it up for about a tenner


Was that not the advice you were looking for?


No?


I'll get me coat

 

at risk of soundin' dumb...what's a 'dawes'

and why won't adding a decat front pipe, panel filter etc give any more BHP... what the f@ks the point?

 

whoops...just re read Justins post..forget the last bit of the above

 

A dawes is a manual boost controller and gives better boost control than the stock 2 port solenoid and allows you to crank it up a bit if you want. If I had a stock car and £500 to spend I'd get a full decat exhaust (2nd hand from scooby net) a dawes (about £35) and a knocklink to keep a check on things - these mods alone will improve the car considerably

 

Thanks saxo

What kind of bhp increase could I expect with the above?
Would it be a lot less if I kept the secondary cat (I really dont want to have to mess about at MOT time!
So does the boost controller just have a **** in the car that you just wind up or down depending on your mood/driving conditions?
Is it a big job to fit the downpipe? ...Sorry to ask so many dumb questions

 

Just go for a full decat, a system should cost you around 500 quid, at mot time your local garage should be able to replace the centre decat section with your cat, but that said..... if your car is running right you should pass the emmissions tests anyway or find a friendly non cat mot station

Tony

 

semtex

 

Friendly MOT stations are the way to go. The dawes is a little brass device that you adjust under the hood so you can't adjust it as you drive so to speak. A decat and dawes would probably take you to about 240-50bhp depending on the boost you can go to what rolling road you use, etc

 

If your cars like mine, I assume its fitted with 2 pot brakes. These things do not inspire confidence. Your best bet, before you start fizzing your car up is to get a set of 2nd hand 4 pots with decent disks and pads. I spoke to TSL and they said that a decent set of brakes is worth upto 30 - 40bhp on the road. If you can get a 2nd hand set if AP's even better. You will be able to go much quicker like this and be able to stop.
BEWARE I started off saying to myself, my budget is no more than £500. 9 months later, Induction kit, scoobysport downpipe, tsl decat system, lightened flywheel, AP clutch, WRX gearbox & diff, AP 330mm brake kit etc, etc, etc. I have ended up spending £503 so over budget, damn!!!!

 

Whats a hood?

 

Black guy who hangs with his posse










Or a bonnet

Mikey

 

Or a distroyer sunk by Bismark

 

Surely the hood is where the posse hang out?