I have just started upgrading my 2002 coupe. I put a K&n Air filter on. Does anyone have an opinion of what upgrades i should do first? You know what would give me the most bang for the buck? Thanks for any insight. Also any recommended manufactors

 

Generally intake and cat back exhaust systems are the first mods.
Borla and GHL make great sounding systems. I did the Blackwing intake and GHL magnums on my 2002 A4 coupe and loved them.

Best bang for the buck in the performance dept is usually changing gears. Then you can go headers, head/cam .....blowers.....there are lots of ways to spend mod money on horsepower.

 

Is your coupe a 6 speed or auto? what rear do you have in it?

 

I have done the following mods - Vararam with smooth coupler, 3.42 rear, 160 degree thermostat & ZO6 titanium exhaust.
I would put the Vararam/smooth coupler as a first choice as it produced a lower ET & higher MPH at the track than previously recorded.
2nd choice would be the 3.42 gears & the 160 thermostat. This made the car quicker in general but was the most expensive to do. I started with 2.73 gears, so by doing the 3.42s & the thermostat at the same time I was able to have both items reprogramed at the same time (with no codes thrown).
Lastly the ZO6 Ti exhaust is lighter than the stock exhaust and sounds better under acceleration. I didn't want anything too loud.
The order of these options is what I would suggest, even though I did them in the reverse order.
I race on stock run flats & my first times/mph were 13.7/103+, I worked that done to 13.3/105+, but when the Vararam was installed my first run was 12.96/107.5. So, I feel I received the most bang for the buck out of the Vararam cold air intake. I would recommend that you install the ZO6 front screens, they not only look nice but they prevent the ingestion of debris & especially small leaves in the Fall.
It would help if you let members known if your car is a 6 speed or automatic & what gears.

 

Soory about that its a 6 speed w/2.73

 

I have to agree with the last reply, the Vararam intake is by far the best bang for your buck! I wasted money on a different intake similar to the dual cone K&N I assume you are referring to. Vararam is the way to go, I have Magnaflow cat back, it is very mellow at idle and sounds good under throttle but not real aggressive, so if you want loud muscle car sound there are better choices. High flow air bridge and coupler are a must with aftermarket intake. I'm scheduled to go to E.C.S. in Jersey tommorow to have them install Kooks headers and a dyno tune. Hopefully the snow holds out!

 

LGM headers and a cam

 

You may be little better off than you think... I thought the MN6 had the 3.42 rear?

 

Mine does, and that is why I'm putting in 4.10s in two weeks!

 

I would add the Z06 sway bars to your list. Inexpensive way to improve the handling of your car.

 

All six speed C5's come with 3.42 gears.
Some Free mods = gut cats, remove mass air sensor screen, throttle body bypass.

160 stat good set mufflers.