I Drove 1000 Project Cars: Here Were the Worst Mistakes 

What's your favorite thing when you build a car?

2:30 100% well said...just 5-10 years ago, you had 500-700 HP, you were king on the road. Absolute legends had 900 maybe 1000. Nowadays, 1200 is a passing memory. It's insane. To be fair, tuning culture grew rapidly cause of the internet and the ability to share knowledge/learn from other's mistakes.

I'm surprised David never mentioned this. Surely, the most important thing to consider with ANY project car, would be is the car already good to begin with? If you are starting with an absolute junkyard shed of a car, then is it even worth investing all that time and money on it? Don't try to polish a turd guys. Enhance a car that's already in decent or good condition. How many people have spent thousands and thousands yet the car still doesn't run or work how it should do? Trying to run before you can walk is never a good idea.

It’s a good video here are some other things I would add: Make sure the car your planning to modify has an aftermarket support, unless you can fabricate your own parts Take the time to clean the garage also invest in a space heater If you have any OEM parts or parts that are slightly used give them to someone who needs them Buy something that runs and gives, unless your doing an engine swap But most importantly take care of any maintenance your car needs before modifying

I always loved stronger motor mounts and chasis bracing. Cheap and really changes the feel of the car

Tires are the only safety feature of your car that actually touch the road. I used to be just like most people and always chasing more power until one day the woah didn't match the go and I barely escaped a pretty serious accident, so tires, suspension and brakes are now at the top of the mod list on any new project before power.

David. I'm 36, and I've been modifying cars since I was 15. You are 100% correct! Wheels/tires, suspension are the first things I do!!! I made the mistake of going with a cheap set of coil overs...5 weeks later the driver side separated on braking! Needless to say. Now I am on h&r springs and sway bars with poly mounts. Factory struts/shocks(looking at a kyb or something adjustable). Very few companies make coil overs for my chassis. 07 focus...going against the one thing u said. And that's power. Looking at building, and swapping in a 2.5, 4cyl from the fusion/escape! Gain 50/60hp for a couple hundred dollars. Love the content! Keep up the good work.

EVERY young person coming into the hobby needs to hear the power part over and over again on repeat! You hit it spot on the head there. So many kids are numb due to the internet and all these huge power builds that it makes them think that they need a 1000hp car and anything less is lame. From experience I've had way more fun in something like a 200hp mini on the street then I have had trying to tame a 700hp+ monster.

I agree with one of your points David. Get maintenance and actual needs done first. Like replacing the bushings and tie rod ends

I had a full bolt-on 2004 Mustang GT witht the 5 speed. It was super fun. I loved that car. Not the fastest out there but just a blast to drive. I did almost everything but a power adder. My absolute favorite mods were the short throw shifter and the struts, shocks, and springs. The suspension mods made my 10 year old car feel better than brand new.

Fully enjoying my 210, maybe 215 HP at the crank RSX Type S. Very well kept, just hit 89k miles. Adding full restomod to the suspension (durometer bushings), a 23mm sway bar and a limited slip. Some Vibratecnics mounts and a few other bits to tighten things up and she's just fun. Slow, but fun. Swapped out for 17x8 Traklites and a better tire and working on getting the brakes up to speed.

Great video and I 100%agree on your point about tires. I live in Nürburg and drive on the ring several times a week in the season and you won't believe how many guys how up with shitty tires. The difference from normal street tires to semi slicks or even UHP tires, not only regarding laptimes but also safety is immense. The problem is, most people go for suspension ( often cheap) or power first, because they think that they need 200+ hp to have fun.

I absolutely agree with how much of a difference better tires can make. In fact my first modifications to my first car are going to be grippy tires, along with the good brakes and good coilovers. Engine modifications like intake or exhaust are on my second plan since I think stock 220hp being delivered to the rear wheels with aftermarket LSD is a good start. Amazing video, keep it up!

I’m so glad David has made it so big. He’s such a great dude.

Nailed a lot of points about car modifications. I'm doing a twin turbo LS swap on my 370z (finally done... but is it?) and had to change EVERYTHING about the car to support 1000+hp, basically everything you mentioned rolled into my build. I've attempted to make everything "bullet proof" (which isn’t really a thing). Everything about the engine has been upgraded so it's only LS by name. Transmission had to be changed to a 4L80e and completely gone through. Rear diff, changed over to a Winters Quick Change 10" to avoid a peg leg, chunky explosions, and correct gear ratios. Suspension, drive shaft, ECU, axels, wheels, tires, fuel system, hand-built parts to make it work, ETC... all changed. All this pain is necessary to be able to achieve some of my goals. Is it logical doing all this "stuff", not really. I will say that I have learned a lot going though all these battles. Each modification has been a battle in its own way. I will say this in addition, I have my build posted online with complete transparency and have found some amazing friendships through common struggles and interests. Those bonds are well worth the price of admission.

Something not mentioned is the first mod I have done to EVERY car I have owned, a decent sound system. I'm not talking anything crazy, just a head unit, some good speakers, and a small sub. It makes driving so much more enjoyable. I also wonder is why so many people go for cheap coilovers instead of a decent set of lowering springs and new shocks/struts if they are due? The combo is going to last a lot longer than cheap coilovers and won't give you a punishing ride. I put H&R springs on my project car last year (first time ever lowering a car) and I'm more than happy with the results.

This was a great video! I try to encourage people set their chassis up first, suspension, brakes, etc and then get used to it and dial it in and add power if you would like. You have to find the right balance as well for your style of driving as well I feel like. 😁

I agree completely! It took me a long time to learn that last one, but I finally bought decent tires to drift on last year, and it was like I was driving a completely different car!

Tires is a great first thing to start with for modification, personally i started with suspension, then jumped into a good wheel and tire package. It served both a visual upgrade and performance upgrade. Would have liked to hear wheels in the mix as well because a light weight and strong wheel serves a good purpose to both street and track driving. Rotational mass can severely affect lap times and a strong wheel can save you on rough streets and you dont have to spend a fortune to get quality wheels in an era where the technology is so advanced that your not paying for first in the game parts. I do believe in this “Buy nice or Buy twice” motto and power is definately a rabbit hole for any chassis you start with.

@3:14 Yes, that is why you don't use stock internals in order to add some reliability ... but if you start on a budget you don't want to ruin your engine with a half-assed tune.

Wish he would do a worst cars review list

Quality wheels also. Unsprung mass has a HUGE impact on performance. I've seen so many people splurge for top of the line tires but put them on cheap knockoff wheels that are heavier than the stock ones. Not to mention usually bigger with no sidewall. You want some sidewall compliance on the road.

Personally, I would place brakes alongside the tires. They can genuinely make you faster, more confident in your car, and will make driving even safer in case of an emergency

Honestly, I think you nailed it. My first project car was a 1974 VW superbeetle. My father, who did most of the work, was an old musclecar guy. He helped me build up a phenomenal 2.0 Type 4 engine and stuff in the back. And that was all we did. I learned a lot about brake fade and oversteer on that car as it continually tried to kill me. Other than that beetle, I have never done more than bolt ons to an engine since. Exhaust, intake, and cams. That is it. It has always been suspension and brakes for me. I followed that murderous beetle with a Fiat X1/9. With a fully worked suspension, brakes, and wider wheels, even on an almost totally stock engine, nothing could touch that mid-engined pocket exotic in the corners. Even now, I have a Fiat 500 Abarth. The engine is totally stock, same with the suspension, but I have some lovely sticky tyres on the rims and I could not be happier. As a bonus, I never have to worry about what is going to break.

Great advice. One thing to add, do the reliability mods FIRST. Oil coolers, radiators, thermostats, clutch, halfshafts etc. Set the car up in advance for the power you are eventually looking to make. If you go into the power side first, chances are you will put off the reliability mods long enough to hurt something. Primarily your wallet.

I've turned into a tire snob myself. I don't even know how many hours I've spent comparing tire specs... 😅 But I agree with the moral of the story. Make sure the foundation is strong (suspension/tires/brakes) before focusing on big power.

100 agree. I've done alot with cars overs the decade. Seat, suspension and tires will make you love the car like it is new. A tune will only put a grin on your face as it's short lived. Follow the first order that loving long time.

I actually agree with all your points and especially agree with you on tires. For me when modifying a car the question is always will this modification make the car better than the original part did? If it’s not going to be significantly better there is no point in making modifications just for the sake of modifying.🤷‍♂️

Definitely agree with the tires, the only "mod" my car has is tires and it makes a huge difference when I first got my car it had horrible budget tires on it and I swapped them for the tires that it would've had when new from factory (Potenza RE040) and it was soooo much better. much more grip, better steering feel etc Currently it rides on Toyo TR1 since those Bridgestones are aged now

The Dude in Blue is right! Tires and suspension are the best things to do to a car first. My uncle was a old school scca nerd with a clipboard and learned it from him after he kicked my but on a drive home from the shop. Stock Miata on nice Yokohama tires and I had twice the HP on all seasons. But I would say that a well set up racing suspension on snow tires is a lot of fun too, lower speeds and fine control makes the game enjoyable as well. New tires are also better than old tires, even cheaper new tires of the same size have way more grip.

David did a great job with this video. Mostly agree with one caveat. The mechanics of a car are a system in harmony. We love to have lists and prioritize things, and for the most part we need to because of time and money. It’s hard to throw down the cash for tires and suspension and brakes all at once. So when I pick modifications for my cars, I try and keep the system in mind and how they will work together and avoid making changes that won’t suit the overall goal or won’t work harmoniously. Thank you David.

This guy looks like the car guy version of Mr. Beast

I usually go with an intake first because they’re generally pretty cheap and makes a bit of noise then of course an exhaust, I feel like being able to hear your car helps you connect with it in a way.

Suspension, Brakes, Wheels, and Tires are the FIRST thing I have done with ALL of my cars. Other than that, magically lost another front lip this winter here in MN. Every 3 years I seem to lose one lol on my Evo Swapped Lancer Wagon. The FUN part for me is, searching for another front lip and choosing a different route each time.

Im so glad you put tyres at #1. Some of my friends always cheap out on tyres and it frustrates me to no avail. I tried to educate them but I’ve almost given up

The worst mistake is getting more than one project car... Best way to never finish a project car. Ask me how I know. ;) We did get Rotaru the rotary swapped BRZ tuned and ripping though!

I agree completely! Tires are a game-changer. They literally are the only thing on your car that connects you to the road! I upgraded my tires on my 2018 accord sport 2.0T from stock to Continental Extreme Contact DWS06+ all season ultra high performance and couldn't be happier! Much better cornering stability wet/dry traction, etc. They are awesome!

I currently drive a 2.5 mazda 3 and they make like 170hp on a good day. I have so much fun ripping back roads or even just shifting through the gears. I have coilovers and a short shifter and thats about it. Everytime I take a corner fast it puts the biggest smile on my face, I have myself giggling like a little kid whenever im on a nice curvy road. I built my car pretty cheap but I did buy bc's and a corksport shifter as you don't want to cheap out on those parts.

For an automatic vehicle or a manual car with drive-by-wire, my favorite mod is a tune. Even without touching the ignition timing or fuel trims, you can make the car feel a lot more powerful and responsive, even if the WOT performance is unchanged.

Man I really like your channel for content like this. I stopped chasing big power years ago and I'm still having a blast. Great advice.

Great Video, totally agree. One thing to include though, fix the things on the car that are broken/failing before upgrades. I hate seeing guys spending big money on parts, especially performance parts, and the car has a massive oil leak, or bad suspension bushings, etc. Fix it before you try and upgrade it!

As a retired auto body mechanic and shop owner, of course one of the top things on my short list to do, is make sure the body and paint look it's best. Fancy wheels with nice tires on a ratty car is strictly not cool.I realize there are a miriad of choices pertaining to what vehicle is to be upgraded, modified, personalized or simply restored. My professional advice is to start with a solid, reliable vehicle that you don't need to go into debt for years after it's purchase in order to complete it. Try to come up with a realistic plan time wise and money wise. Have fun with it and don't compromise safety and ride quality just to take turns or an of/on ramp at over twice the speed limit. A jaring ride will get old quick especially if the car is used as a daily driver.

110% agree on tires. I ran Firehawk Indy 500 tires on all of my cars for years and thought I was happy until I switched to Pilot Sport 4s. Night and day difference. The saying “you get what you pay for” couldn’t be more true in this particular context.

I think you’re onto something here. On my first vehicle I replaced the tires for aesthetics. It completely changed the characteristics, all of them for the better. I have been doing the same thing on my daily and projects always. And on motorcycles, it’s even more critical to find the best rubber.

100% about power. My 2012 Speed3 was build to handle 5++hp internals and tolerance. I tune it to 320hp/450nm on pump gas and it's been 3 years and many smiles for miles with zero issues.

I’m sure all of us have seen that “Supra from hell” video at least once in our lifetime LOL when you said that David, that def brought me back to my childhood

3:56 I’d say that’s not the only one way ticket into a tree, getting into the passenger seat of a porche with a race car driver is also a one way ticket into a tree RIP Paul Walker

My project car is a '15 Subaru BRZ Limited that I bought new. I had seen what other RU-vidrs had done and I had my mods planned before I bought the car: a catted UEL header, a catback, an Open Flash Tune, Enkei RPF1 wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport tires mounted. I had all this stuff bookmarked and on "favorites" lists at online vendors. I bought the car and paid off the loan while it was still under warranty. I live where it snows so the first "upgrade" was a set set of cheap Enkei M52's with performance Winter tires, Continental WinterContact's. I started my mods just as the 3 year warranty period was about over. I'll admit it - I did it all backward from the advice in the video: I bought the RPF1's and Pilot Sport tires almost last and the increase in grip was a mind-blowing shocking order of magnitude over the Prius tires they replaced. I did the OFT first because it was an easy fix to the FA-20 torque dip and I'll admit it worked. Then a few months later I installed the header, re-tuned, and I had a little more power plus a flat torque curve. Now my FA-20 is far more drive-able than stock. And only then did I upgrade the tires. I put the cat-back on last. All it did was make the car rumble louder and accentuate the Subie Burble. But TDiB is correct: even though my tune and exhaust mods added power, the Summer Pilot Sport tires were the biggest improvement. By seat of the pants feel the tires were 2-3 times the value of the exhaust and tune altogether.

100% agreed. The quest for tons of power that overdoes it for a given platform is a bit silly to me. Good vid!

💯 Agree! I usually grab a set of wheels around the same time and always make sure my alignment is where it needs to be!

Your absolutely right when it comes to tires being last or outright waited till the last minute. The amount of times I've seen, driven, or ride in cars whose tires are either poor or just sketchy makes it priority when upgrading a vehicle.

Your exactly right. That's why I love sn95 mustangs so much. They don't make a ton of power without boost but, you can literally JUST do suspension good quality (maximum motorsports, qa1) and tires and have a blast. You should always build from the ground up anyway. There is something fun about a quick shit box too though for sure lol

you nailed it. I hope people new to this hobby take this to heart. Or they can just learn the hard expensive way like many of us have.

One thing I learned as I get older, what's the point of having 5 to 600 HP if you can barely enjoy it. At first all I wanted to do was turbo my car, now all I really want to do no is keep it n/a and do some little work to the head and swap piston all I want to do is get a lil bit more torque to have fun driving a slow car fast.

🤙🏻🍕 You've come a long way, big dog. An inspiration for sure! 🤙🏻🍕

Yea man with your vast knowledge of builds this is really good info to know appreciate the content 💯

The tires part was good advice. Took me a long few years to learn but I preach it now. Tires alone can make or break any vehicle.

My Top Car Mods that made my driving "expereinced" more awesome was: - Blue Tinted Convex Side Mirrors - Seats & Steering Wheel - Upgraded Suspension - Upgraded Brakes & Tires - Upgraded Motor Mounts

to me exhaust and suspension are the most important. How your car sounds and feels is why i like projects cars in the first place. looks is next and power last

Awesome content brother , I am 46 and I have a 93 eg hatch and I love the regular b18c nothing like it not worrying about heat soak and other components

Anything that makes you see and stop should always be money well spent. Also I just bought some continental tires yesterday for my 11 b8 s5 v8 and didn't know they offered that. Looks like I have something to do when I get home from work onFriday. .

I agree with the tires 100%. I was testing the limits of my stock tires as my aftermarket wheels and tires were shipping and of course i had my first crash because i understeered. It wasnt totaled but i was heart broken that i had messed up the car a couple weeks before my new wheels and tires. Its all repaired and fixed and the new tires feel so reassuring.

This is great advice, my car (2015 Civic Si Coupe) only has two major mods. The one performance mod is Enkei wheels (8lbs lighter than stock per wheel) with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. The cosmetic mod one is an aftermarket Pioneer head unit with a capacitive touch screen & modern smartphone integration.

Right on, David. Shame it doesn't hit us earlier, but sometimes you need to have that "been there, done that" experience to really appreciate the facts.

Suspension updates/repairs/upgrades are always the first thing I do. I don't do fast cars anymore--I'm old--but on my project Minivan (Yes, Minivan), I did my struts, shocks and bushings first thing and the difference in how it rode was absolutely incredible. After that, replacing the worn out steering components was another big change. My project Jeep was the same. Power is last on my list for the exact reasons listed. In fact, I'm currently rebuilding the 5.2L in my Jeep and I needed a new cam (the old one was chewed to hell) and I could not, for the life of me, find a stock cam replacement. I had to eventually go with a hotter cam, but did heaps of research and asked many questions of the manufacturer to ensure that this cam wasn't going to cause my transmission to take a dump. Power is nice, but if everything around it is breaking or you can't put it down, what's the point? Not to mention, you can't actually use it during regular street driving and most people would prefer you didn't...

Its funny that in bicycle community, tires upgrade is the 1st thing to recommend for a newcomer. Every summer there are posts like "should I get a new derailleur to switch speeds faster? Or may be new suspension fork?" Basic answer is - think of where you ride, what you do and get a proper high quality tires specialized for the task.

Making sure the motor is running correctly via distributor cap an rotor plug an plug wires etc was a huge thrill when I was in high-school 👍

The horse power rant it’s the reason why in the last few years I have gravitated so hard towards old cars. They don’t have a lot of power but it really doesn’t matter, now I’m looking more for the experience of driving.. especially now days with electric cars that can probably smoke you build car and they will do it in complete silence.

This video cracks me up, it's very similar to my own findings. I've only ever had 1 project car, and still have it, but it's been a journey. I have no "culture" I hang out with, just build it for myself. Bout someone's project, and almost everything was done not how I would do it now. Lowering springs and power was what I bought. 3 transmissions, kw coilovers, and all of the bushings, sway bars later, I've learned you have to have a good base. I now stay on the road with good tires (for my region + driving experience), I have good brakes and better handling and I've fixed all the cooling and power problems. I personally don't care about looks, only performance. But it really is a ground up process....tires, suspension, power if needed. And tires are so underrated, they're the shoes of the car!

Yup. Realizing you can rarely use all that power, but you’re taking the reliability hit is what makes me want to keep my GTI at a simple stage 1 tune with the stock little IS20 turbo. 300hp is plenty for the street in a 3,000lb car. I’m not racing for cash or pinks, so I don’t care if I’m not the fastest. And the slow little egg passes my look back test. I’ve never had a vehicle that makes me look back literally every time I get out. Hell, sometimes I just look out the window in the morning to see my car. Rotiform RSE’s look great on a GTI. Now I just need tint and a front lip. Also, tires are really a huge game changer. With my wider Rotiforms, I got Michelin Pilot Super Sports. They made the thing feel like it was on rails. Crazy. And now that it’s winter, I have Bridgestone Blizzak WS90’s. Also a game changer in the snow and slush. I was doing better with FWD than some AWD and 4WD vehicles.

I know the tires part is partiality there because of Continental, but it's very true.

That's my experience too, even with gokarts! I bought on old Rupp kart back on the late 1970's with the old faction hard rubber tube wheels and I though they were great . I could no longer get tyres for it so I was force to go with the newer tubeles wider ones and I was sceptical at first as the rubber is very thin but when I tried them the kart performed far better . More comforteble, accelarate quicker, hold the road better, clime hills better and still hold air when pouchered in most cases . The only disadvantage was the fact that they burst if forced against a sharp curve.etc. I live in Old Harbour Jamaica.

Me, with a bone stock 90s econobox with a slipping clutch, leaking oil pan, and bad shift linkage: * puts big subwoofa in da back *

Yo thank you for this! Younger me definitely wanted more hrspwrs, but I found out the hard way lol. Now I just do cosmetics to my daily.

The only people who are "numb to horsepower" are the kids who only experience it through a screen. IRL a 200 horsepower 90s honda civic with a proper intake, exhaust and ecu tune will make you smile constantly. Its about the sound/feel/smell not a stupid number.

I agree on suspension. That’s the first thing I did in my 14 coyote and man what a difference. Second most important thing for these cars, tires. I didn’t want to become another meme.

S/o Continental DWS 06 Plus: Solid enough dry weather tire, great in the rain, and tolerable in light snow as long as the “S” marking still shows in the tread.

the most advertised video of all advertisements but i like it like it so much!

This is all good advice. Thanks for making the video. Best mods are the ones that make you happy. Chasing spec sheet numbers or doing something just for the clout won’t make you happy. Do you!

Tires were one of the first mods I did to my GT500 when I got it. It was intake, pulley, and E85 tune, then immediately got new tires because the stock Michellin Pilot SS don't handle 800whp very well. It's amazing how big of a difference there was switching to R888Rs

My car is only modified for cornering. Only "power mod" is a pair of afe drop in air filters (does make a noticeable difference in a g37 6spd). High quality coilovers, wider/lighter wheels, performance tires, upgraded bushings, sway bars, drilled/slotted rotors, upgraded brake pads & large calipers etc... makes for a lot safer, reliable, appealing, practical and hella fun ride!

Maybe it is because I used to work at a tire shop, but I can agree tires are one of the first things to do to a car. Also who doesn’t love the look of some phat sticky’s?

Crappy budget coilovers is absolutely essential for cars and coffee! As long as you’re not moving, you’re a god!

In my opinion; yes tires are very important for sport application or touring application. They have to play well well with your suspension or you'll have a wobbly car

Been in the car scene for over 20 years and 100% agree, tires are the most important thing with suspension being 2nd. Tires and suspension can take a boring car and turn it into a total blast to drive and own.

I can't do anything then completely agree with #1. Better quality tires and breaks really do go along way. If you can't stop and handle as fast as you can go then you did something wrong

Mistakes I’ve made. Usually center around putting aggressive track oriented parts on a mainly street driven car. Yeah those race buckets and 5 point harness work great at the three track days a year you attend, but for the rest of the year, it’s no fun taking three minutes to get your harness on, when it’s a 5 minute drive. And the blinking seatbelt light on the dash is the icing on the cake.

I just turned 53. I did my first brake job at age 5. So... been there, done that in the hobby. This list is spot on. Also, regarding the video sponsor-- I just got my first ever set of Continental tires. And I don't think I'll ever run anything else again. Nearly five decades in the hobby and this is the first time I've ever noticed a difference from a set of tires. I don't mean a subtle, confirmation bias "yeah, feels better than the old ones". I mean an absolute paradigm shift in the way the car handles and rides. Completely caught me off guard. Massively under-rated brand.

I have a 09' Forester X lowered 3" on coilovers. 25mm rear sway bar, adjustable rear lower control arms and lateral bars. Front and rear end links and 18x9.5 wheels with 245/40 Falken Azenis RT615K+ tires. Corners so hard I had to install a Sparco seat to hold me in place. It still makes the stock 170hp for now but the look on peoples faces when I speed away from them on our circular Michigan on ramps is priceless. This summer I plan to do a STi 6speed and R180 swap. The lsd's will take it to the next level.

Absolute awesome information 👍

I think you were spot on with the tires. A good set of tires literally improves all the other mods you talked about. Braking, suspension, and even power in a way because it helps with traction overall. Great points

Nice video, couldn't be more true! In motorsports, we say the most important part of the car is the nut holding the steering wheel! When I first bought my Mustang, I made sure to not go overboard with the mods so that I could get as much seat time as possible on closed courses. All I had for the past 4 years are sticky tires, a rear sway bar, Koni yellows, and a Tomei exhaust. Took lots of time and learned to drive in SCCA Street Class. I went from the bottom 10 of a 200 car local autocross to within top 50-60 every event. Plus two class championships, and competitive finishes at National Tours. Now that I've maximized my skill in street class, I've finally bumped up a few classes. Trying out more power and suspension!

Another big point, it's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slowly.

Great points but I think this warrants a flowchart. Diverging from video and comment consensus, I don't recommend premium tires until suspension/bushings are all sorted out, and seat time is earned if you will track/autocross. Engine Swap?? -> YES-> Engine/Trans/Diff -> Wheels -> Fix Everything -> Brakes -> Bushings/Arms -> Coilovers -> Seats -> Tires -> Cosmetics -> More Pawr (takeaway is don't buy too much extra stuff until you get the swap working) \/ NO \/ High Mileage/Age?? -> YES -> Wheels -> Fix Everything -> Bushings/Arms -> Coilovers -> Seats -> Tires -> Brakes -> More Pawr -> Cosmetics \/ NO \/ More Pawr -> Brakes -> Wheels and Tires -> Coilovers -> Seats -> Cosmetics

Me and my friend were just talking about this, I emphasize doing things in order. You can do small engine mods like intakes, ported manifolds, exhaust, and even a tune but before you do something like a turbo, nitrous, or a supercharger. You need to do everything else FIRST. All the power in the world is useless without good tires. First thing I did when I got my G37 was tires. The old tires were super low on tread and stock power was enough to make the rear get squirrely in a bad way. I used to work at a firestone, saved a ton on some new firehawk v2s. Not the best tires in the world, but I have to say, they are definitely an improvement on the old firehawk design and I can say because I've installed so many sets of firehawks when I worked there. The old ones were trash, these are actually decent. Not as good as the Potenzas I'm putting on this summer, but definitely good. Second thing I did, start addressing the suspension. I noticed it had a pull to the right. Common on G37s and G35s is the front subframe crossmember tends to rust out in a really bad way, and the lower control arms bolt to that. Mine was nearly rusted through entirely. A bad pothole would do it. In newer cars, like the Q50 and the 2013 and up G37 they had a revised design that instead of a metalframe, the crossmember was a thick plate of metal. Less likely to rust through entirely. Indeed, the one I picked off a wrecked G37, had over 130,000 miles and it was from Chicago. Had barely any rust. Can't say the same for those bolts, but luckily my car had decent bolts to reuse. After that, it snowed a ton, took it in for both lower control arms in the front and an alignment. Difference was night and day. I'm currently debating buying cold air intakes or just building my own using silicone piping and cone air filters. Plans for the summer are, have Cold air intakes, new wheels, potenzas, and an akebono brake kit. Once that's done, it's time for tuning

I'm watching this out of curiosity, because I'm wanting to get more into cars. I'll hopefully be buying my first car soon. I'm not gonna worry about upgrading my first car too much. But in the future, it would be a nice hobby to get into, and a hobby I'd like to get into.

While I understand David's point on power, cars like the brz/frs are amazing handlers out of the factory. But they lack a decent amount of power. I tend to buy cars that I like the factory suspension with anemic engines. I find it costs me less in the long run and I get to do the thing I love the most. Engine work. Also I never go above double the factory horsepower.

I still own my first car since 2019- my 2001 Subaru Legacy GT limited. I put on a K&N filter for fun, and it actually sounds a bit different and louder from that! I just got fresh Nokian One tires, alignment, fluids, brakes, and added led running lights. I love that thing. Black leather and faux wood grain inside. I detail for hobby so the wheels look new, and the paint still sparkles with its 'Titanium Pearl' oem paint. My advice- get a car that does what you need and make it yours! Dont overthink it too much :)

My #1 is get your car to “an car status” don’t matter how pretty your car is or how theoretically fast it is. Make it safe and reliable first before trying to go crazy, a running project is more fun then a sitting one.

I think the most important thing is to start with a good platform that can easily handle more power, have it basically over-built in the sense where it can easily handle more power, add more power, then give it some uprated tires to finish it off.