Eaglerulez

So I recently came across $1200 thanks to a check that one of my old employers sent me (long story).

Anyways, since I wasn't really expecting this I figured I would set it aside for some mods.

Right now all my car has are Z51 sway bars and C6 Z06 shocks. It is an otherwise stock 2004 A4 coupe in CA (read no long tube headers).

My long term goal is to have the car hit around 400rwhp N/A but I figure at $1200 I might as well invest in some of the supporting mods to help achieve that goal.

Some of my thoughts are: NXT Step Exhaust, Hailtech Venom, Ported Throttlebody, and ECS mail order tune.

Or a set of billyboat shorty headers.

Or a fast intake and maybe a C5 Z06 exhaust.

Or a NXT Step Exhaust and some Corbeau FX-1 Pro seats.

I know some mods might not add cleanly up to $1200 but I don't mind going a few hundred dollars over budget if necessary.

Any thoughts?

Mr.Bill

Here are my thoughts if it were me doing it.


TI Exhaust, 3.42 rear end and a CoW tune. Money well spent.
Best bang for the buck.

Vetteman Jack

Put some better rear gears in the car. However, the $1200 may not cover all that expense - doing the work yourself would help.

Black 02

Since you are in CA, keep saving for a supercharger. Without the ability to do long tubes, and with all mods needing a carb number, it seems senseless to go NA in your state.

cpeezy

I too have a 04 A4 coupe. I've got 3.42 differential out of a six speed car. Part was 400 plus 300 labor. It was the most noticeable upgrade I've done so far. Even rips a second gear scratch with 20 inch wheels! Also have CAI, borla cat back, ported/polished throttle body, granatelli mass air sensor, and a diablo sport tune. Have a transgo shift kit I'm about to get installed then a stall converter. Car runs like a scalded ape. Hope I helped to give you some ideas. Good luck!

JR-01

Save it for a rainy day.

dbgoodwin

Use it to fund your move to a different state.

Really though, I would go with LS7 manifolds and a carb legal intake along with a z06 Ti exhaust. Give you a good base for future mods and you still might have enough for a tune after.

TXGS507

This....

corvettezman

3.73 gears and a higher stall converter.

ZF Six

This was going to be my suggestion but I was beat to it. Gears and a converter (just don't go too crazy) are going to give you the biggest performance gain.

Maybe a tune if you have some cash left over.

robert miller

Save it are spend it on a wild woman. Get your moneys worth.

Clancy209

I second that

Crosis

Buy new seat covers for my vette

Crosis

I know we aren't supposed to give a crap about fuel economy but I do (within reason). So how much of a decrease in MPG should we expect in an A4 going from stock gearing to 3.42 or 3.73 gears?

road pilot

I agree.
Or... save up to $3000 and up grade to 400 hp.

dankhts

and I have a spare 2800 Vig I'd probably sell you... adds up pretty close...

strand rider

Road trip, buy yourself some memories.

I enjoyed that others had a high enough skill level that they could actually make sound mechanical suggestions .

From reading various post around here, it seems the smog checks have been running so long that the state is now comfortable with tighter enforcement, some posters are crying they can't skirt the law as before , so I would be very careful with any engine related mods.

yanmar

want more???????? call Edward Jones........

Choreo

You are doing better than me. My CPA said this week that he saved me about $1200 in taxes, then handed me his bill for $1300.

Just got another letter from Blue Cross and Blue Shield today - just increased my health insurance rates another 30%! Just increased it 27% a few months ago and I have never had a claim. So if I found an extra $1200 it would either go to tax or insurance increases!

torchredmadness

I suggest a cat back system and be done with it until you save up a lot more money.