What to blow some money on?
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I would go for the programer!
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I would recomend going with the exhaust sytem before anything, you'll notice a power gain and a nice sounding fusion. Its a bit pricey but it makes it stand out a lil more.
You didn't list an option for stereo upgrades. That was my first (and so far only) upgrade. Of the choices, I'd probably do the tune or magnaflow. I've heard good things about the tune, and a cool exhaust is tough to beat. Oh just do all of them and then you'll really be happy. Surely you've got a couple grand laying around 
I got the Audiophile sound system and I have to say it's pretty damn good for a stock stereo.
I went throught the insane car audio phase when I was in my late teen's and early 20's and got quite a few amplified audio tickets and dont want to go though that again.
Its bad enough I like to floor it everytime I take off and take turns as fast as conditions allow.
To be honest the stereo hits pretty hard for not having a sub.
Maybe when I finally blow a speaker or 2 I will throw in a whole new set.
Im kinda bummed, I just read the 2007 fusion will have a auxillary audio input and have Sirius option (although XM is better).
Hopefully I can pick one up on ebay a few months after they come out...
I do have a few thousand $$ extra right now and could afford to do all the upgrades all at once, the only thing stopping me is that Im getting married in a few months and need to put some away for that...
I went throught the insane car audio phase when I was in my late teen's and early 20's and got quite a few amplified audio tickets and dont want to go though that again.
Its bad enough I like to floor it everytime I take off and take turns as fast as conditions allow.
To be honest the stereo hits pretty hard for not having a sub.
Maybe when I finally blow a speaker or 2 I will throw in a whole new set.
Im kinda bummed, I just read the 2007 fusion will have a auxillary audio input and have Sirius option (although XM is better).
Hopefully I can pick one up on ebay a few months after they come out...
I do have a few thousand $$ extra right now and could afford to do all the upgrades all at once, the only thing stopping me is that Im getting married in a few months and need to put some away for that...
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440 Posts
honestly, the tuner will be the best bang for your buck. The exhuast will give you better sound, and maybe a little performance, but, with stock tuning, it will only make as much power as the stock programming was made for. I would start with a tuner, then move to the exhaust.
I didn't go through that "insance car audio" stage when I was younger. Now that I'm in my mid-late 30's, I've got the bug. My system isn't wild, just a 12" sub with amp, with upgraded door speakers- but it's a vast improvement over the premium 6 speaker system. Based on your driving style, I'd follow Bob's advise and do the tune, and then add the exhaust. Congrats on getting married- I've been married almost 12 years- the best years of my life
The two things I would consider seriously are the tuner, and springs.
The tuner will really wake the car up, and be the easiest install. It's also something that you'll appreciate anytime you drive the car.
If you think about going with the springs, budget for shocks at the same time. I've got a few miles on mine with just springs, and the stock shocks just can't keep up. On bumpy pavement it feels kinda "bouncy", as the stock shocks just aren't valved to handle the increased spring rate.
The tuner will really wake the car up, and be the easiest install. It's also something that you'll appreciate anytime you drive the car.
If you think about going with the springs, budget for shocks at the same time. I've got a few miles on mine with just springs, and the stock shocks just can't keep up. On bumpy pavement it feels kinda "bouncy", as the stock shocks just aren't valved to handle the increased spring rate.
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I would also vote for the "tuner" as the best performance bang for the buck! It isn't something that you have to convince yourself is working, it makes a very noticable difference in all modes of driving.
I am in a holding pattern right now till get my car over to K&N for the CAI development.
They want it completely stock.
Plus I wouldn't want to add the exhaust or tune at the same time as getting the CAI, so I can see what kind of a difference the CAI makes.
Bob Jusnes has a smoking deal on the cat-back exhaust for $529 shipped; I found it for $516, through a hook-up, but they want $80 for shipping.
Everything else, the prices won't change alot.
Are there any other shocks available, besides the tokico?
I wanted to do the shocks when I did the springs, its just pretty much a $1000 upgrade to do both.
They want it completely stock.
Plus I wouldn't want to add the exhaust or tune at the same time as getting the CAI, so I can see what kind of a difference the CAI makes.
Bob Jusnes has a smoking deal on the cat-back exhaust for $529 shipped; I found it for $516, through a hook-up, but they want $80 for shipping.
Everything else, the prices won't change alot.
Are there any other shocks available, besides the tokico?
I wanted to do the shocks when I did the springs, its just pretty much a $1000 upgrade to do both.
[quote author=WiKDMoNKY link=topic=55484.msg925568#msg925568 date=1157077414]
I am in a holding pattern right now till get my car over to K&N for the CAI development.
They want it completely stock.
Plus I wouldn't want to add the exhaust or tune at the same time as getting the CAI, so I can see what kind of a difference the CAI makes.
Bob Jusnes has a smoking deal on the cat-back exhaust for $529 shipped; I found it for $516, through a hook-up, but they want $80 for shipping.
Everything else, the prices won't change alot.
Are there any other shocks available, besides the tokico?
I wanted to do the shocks when I did the springs, its just pretty much a $1000 upgrade to do both.
[/quote]
Koni shocks are the way to go. Yes, they are more expensive, but they are also adjustable and much higher quality than the Tokicos. Tokicos are basically a slightly higher valved replacement of the stock shocks, not necessarily a better quality one.
I am in a holding pattern right now till get my car over to K&N for the CAI development.
They want it completely stock.
Plus I wouldn't want to add the exhaust or tune at the same time as getting the CAI, so I can see what kind of a difference the CAI makes.
Bob Jusnes has a smoking deal on the cat-back exhaust for $529 shipped; I found it for $516, through a hook-up, but they want $80 for shipping.
Everything else, the prices won't change alot.
Are there any other shocks available, besides the tokico?
I wanted to do the shocks when I did the springs, its just pretty much a $1000 upgrade to do both.
[/quote]
Koni shocks are the way to go. Yes, they are more expensive, but they are also adjustable and much higher quality than the Tokicos. Tokicos are basically a slightly higher valved replacement of the stock shocks, not necessarily a better quality one.
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440 Posts
wildmonkey, you can always set your car back to stock with the tuner to take it into K&N!!
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37 Posts
Personally I did tint, springs, wheels, HIDs and swapped out the fog and HI beam bulbs for yellow ones within two months. Then K&N, magna flow, and smoked the side markers and tail lights. Now I just need a tune and to install the NX kit I've had sitting in the garage for the past 4 months. Who makes the cross drilled rotors? I know Draxas has a WillWood conversion but that's like $1,500.
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64 Posts
[quote author=Bob Jusnes link=topic=55484.msg921010#msg921010 date=1156941785]
honestly, the tuner will be the best bang for your buck. The exhuast will give you better sound, and maybe a little performance, but, with stock tuning, it will only make as much power as the stock programming was made for. I would start with a tuner, then move to the exhaust.
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I dont see how a catback exhaust wouldnt help seeing as that everthing is bigger and pushes out so much more air then a stock system, and i mean if you pulled the stock system out and you look at it, you would definitely know why the catback system makes a difference. But mayb im wrong, but there is definitely a performance gain and great sound gain.
I do realize that a chip is definitely the best performance gainer, but a chip would help so much more with supporting mods. I want the chip yes but i would rather see an intake before i got the chip to see more power after the chip.
honestly, the tuner will be the best bang for your buck. The exhuast will give you better sound, and maybe a little performance, but, with stock tuning, it will only make as much power as the stock programming was made for. I would start with a tuner, then move to the exhaust.
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I dont see how a catback exhaust wouldnt help seeing as that everthing is bigger and pushes out so much more air then a stock system, and i mean if you pulled the stock system out and you look at it, you would definitely know why the catback system makes a difference. But mayb im wrong, but there is definitely a performance gain and great sound gain.
I do realize that a chip is definitely the best performance gainer, but a chip would help so much more with supporting mods. I want the chip yes but i would rather see an intake before i got the chip to see more power after the chip.
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Very true, but I still believe that the chip would give more power than the exhaust. You could use dual 4 inch pipes, to flow MUCH more, it doesnt mean youll get more power. The chip can adapt to most future mods without tweaking, such as exhaust and an intake, but you must remember that your Drive by wire system actually TELLS your engine how much power to make. Without adjusting those parameters, it wont ever make much more power than that, and will detune it self to drop down to the levels the factory calls for.
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