[01Lightning]

It's the holiday times, and I finally got some money to spend on my Mustang

I have a total of $350 to spend (I have to spend $150 on seats and stuff)

I have a 2001 V6 Mustang, automatic, completely stock engine and stuff.

What should I get?

I've looked in to CAI (I'd get the $75 one from AM)
I've looked into True Dual Exhaust ($300 for Flowmasters, installed)
I've looked into a chip (the $270 one from AM)

Are any of those three worth it? Which ones should I get first? Any other suggestions.
My goal is to make my car sound better, and be faster, hp would be nice, but that's just a number. I want it to sound louder (good though), and be quicker and more powerful.

Any suggestions? I've just seen so many contradicting opinions, and I want some opinions before I dish out a few hundred dollars.

[thomasdale2144]

if you want sound, then what you have is good, if you want to have a noticeable gain in performance, i would get 4.11 gears

[01Lightning]

So you're saying the CAI and dual exhaust will make it sound good, but not improve the performance, right? How much hp/power can I expect from the CAI and exhaust? Is 10-15 a reasonable estimate?

What about the chip? I've read that the chip with the CAI will get a stock V6 a 20-25hp increase, is that too good to be true?

More important than some hp numbers to me is the sound and how it drives.
Will the intake and exhaust make any different in speed,power, acceleration, etc?

I'll look into gears too, thanks.

[thomasdale2144]

i would say maybe 10hp with the CIA and exhaust, and maybe 15hp more from the Chip. And it will sound A LOT better, and since yours is an auto the shifts will be a lot firmer and quicker. And just intake and exhaust won't make the car feel much different.

[thomasdale2144]

Oh and with the gears you will get a lot more performance, but you will lose a couple MPG's

[01Lightning]

OK, I did read the chip helps more for automatics (with shifts).
Is the chip worth the $250 or so it costs?

Is this a good order to go:
1.)CAI (this weekend)
2.)Dual Exhaust (Christmas)
3.)Chip (January)
4.) don't know yet...

Hopefully my web-logo design business takes off so I can really start on my car.

[ESG-642T]

Sit and ask yourself...

"self, what do I really want from this car"

Return with the answer.

[01Lightning]

ESG...

I thought about your question. After much deep contemplation, and skipping some stones across a pond to help me think, I have searched my soul for an answer.Lol

Here's my answer:
I want it too look nice (inside and outside)
I want it to sound nice, powerful and loud-ish, but not anywhere near rice.
Lastly is the power, faster, quicker, etc. I decided I'll do that last, since it is the most expensive.

[ONLYaUNCfan]

I'm looking into getting : CAI, Mac LTs, Flow 40s, GT bumper, and a new paint job.

From what I've read on here the chip is a night and day difference although I have heard that from shops that the chip does not do anything.

As far as looks you should get new wheels as they really change the way your car looks. I'm wanting to get tinted windows and side window louvers.

It helps to really think hard on what you want and then how much both parts and installation costs. Also while it is cheaper to do it yourself, if you're not sure on something then it is much better to pay to have it done right than to have it done free and it looks bad or destroys your car.

[6BangEr]

Chips are for eating

If you want a tuner, get just that, an actual tuner. Buy the SCT. Plus it is something you will need for the life of the car if you plan on modding (gears etc). Gears and Tuner will give you the most bang for your buck

[6ER THEN I 8ER!]

start with your exhaust....get the sound you want...don't waste you money on a CAI or a chip...if you do decide to add a tune save for a handheld...you'll enjoy is since you have an auto, and it'll be nice to be able to change your cars tunes on the fly for new mods....

honestly since you don't want power till last (which is what most v6 owners go for unless they are hardcore and boost it)...after the exhaust i'd look into some new visual things....

mach one lip from Late Model Restoration
mach grill deleted from either AM or LMR
HIDs from DDMtuning.com
cut the stock antenna down to 8"
lower the passenger side wiper arm down to be even (if you haven't already)
black out panel on silver looks sick (ask me about black on silver lol)
paint side mirrors

these little things add up to a sweet v6

here's my last stang...it was a silver GT with the black/silver theme

[JStang00]

I want some opinions before I dish out a few hundred dollars.

Ahh, how this brings back memories! I got my stang senior year in highschool. Stock. Here's what I did:

20% Tints $195.23
True Catback Dual Exhaust. 2x pipes from cat back (2.25in) 2x 40series flowmaster Mufflers, 2x Extension pipes $450.00
2x Magnaflow stainless stel tips (2.25 inner diameter, 3out) $70.00
K&N FIPK Cold Air Intake $190.00
LED 7 Color Undercar Light Kit $199.00
RC Mesh (Blk) Rims 18" Stagger & Nitto Tires NT555 Front-245/40/ZR18, back-275/35/ZR18 $1,800.00
Viper 791VX Alarm System w. Remote Start $400.00
JL Audio 10 Sub w. Stealthbox SB-F-MU94+/10W3v3 $600.00
Pioneer Avic N2 In Dash Navigation/DVD Player $1,000.00

And... Here's theghetto video that I made in highschool

In my opinion, you should go with:
1. Dual Exhaust - Adding that shit was a huge improvement
2. Cold Air Intake
3. Tints
4. Rims - stock rims are uglyyyyy

Of course my stang just died last weekend. So remember, CHANGE YOUR OIL!

[6ER THEN I 8ER!]

lol don't waste money on a CAI...if you do buy one OP just get either a cheap Ebay one or the cheap AM one...they all do the same thing which is basically nothing but look shiny...

[JStang00]

Originally Posted by 6ER THEN I 8ER! lol don't waste money on a CAI...if you do buy one OP just get either a cheap Ebay one or the cheap AM one...they all do the same thing which is basically nothing but look shiny...

That's not true. you get better gas mileage. And I would go with K&N. You get cool stickers to put on the side of your car

[6ER THEN I 8ER!]

Originally Posted by JStang00 That's not true. you get better gas mileage. And I would go with K&N. You get cool stickers to put on the side of your car

lol i get the same mpg with removing my air silencer in my current v6 that i did in my old v6 with a k&n filter in it....both were '04 3.9ls....so i'll argue that lol

as for stickers...i'd rather not put any stickers on my car. i'm not jonny ricer

[ESG-642T]

Alright so:

Long tube headers*
No mid pipe*
Flowmaster original 40s*
Decent set of wheels
Lowering springs (wheels before lowering springs please)
Mach chin spoiler
GT rear bumper
SLP tips
Tuner.

That should take care of everything but actually having power. don't waste the 60$ on a cold air intake, just save and figure out if you want to boost the car later or not. If you decide "or not" later you can always add a cold air intake / windstar / nitrous kit.

[01Lightning]

I'm going down to The Drivers Seat to buy some Coverking Neosupreme seat covers (red/black). I'd have bought them online, but no reputable dealer sold them. (AM doesn't have the ones I want)
I'm also getting the white face, reverse glow gauges, the ones that glow blue and red. ($45 on AM)
I'm going over winter break to have Flowmaster true duals installed ($300 or so)
I'm going to forget the cai and chip (those things can come later)

I don't need more tint, my windows are really dark from when I bought the car.
I will get a rocker stripe, but the 2005+ style one, it looks nice on 99-04 model. Does it matter where I buy it? I've found them from $20 to $80.
I'll eventually get the grill delete kit thing.

New rims would be nice, but I'm waiting for a great deal on Craigslist, it'll come, eventually.

[whyxitx]

http://www.whitegauges.net/products/...ce-Gauges.html
i put these in and they've been fine for me as far as white face guages go..

don't bother with stripes, IMO they're fugly on new edges.

with a few exceptions of course..

[mustangmike!]

save money

[eleanorGT]

Originally Posted by JStang00 Ahh, how this brings back memories! I got my stang senior year in highschool. Stock. Here's what I did: 20% Tints $195.23 True Catback Dual Exhaust. 2x pipes from cat back (2.25in) 2x 40series flowmaster Mufflers, 2x Extension pipes $450.00 2x Magnaflow stainless stel tips (2.25 inner diameter, 3out) $70.00 K&N FIPK Cold Air Intake $190.00 LED 7 Color Undercar Light Kit $199.00 RC Mesh (Blk) Rims 18" Stagger & Nitto Tires NT555 Front-245/40/ZR18, back-275/35/ZR18 $1,800.00 Viper 791VX Alarm System w. Remote Start $400.00 JL Audio 10 Sub w. Stealthbox SB-F-MU94+/10W3v3 $600.00 Pioneer Avic N2 In Dash Navigation/DVD Player $1,000.00 And... Here's theghetto video that I made in highschool In my opinion, you should go with: 1. Dual Exhaust - Adding that shit was a huge improvement 2. Cold Air Intake 3. Tints 4. Rims - stock rims are uglyyyyy Of course my stang just died last weekend. So remember, CHANGE YOUR OIL!

Damnnnnnn!!!!!... SSo you need to start doing these things yourself.. I built an extreme sound system in my car for about 600, rebuilt my tranny for about 350, and did a bunch of other stuff for really cheap... My system includes 2 15in subs wired parralell to 2 Ohms, running off of a 2100Watt Amp.. Its nUTTSSSSS.. Makes my steering wheel shack up and down about a half inch.. LMAOO Do things yourself, and its always cheaper.. Im going to rebuld my engine this spring.. well see how it goes.