New car?, want more performance or Looks? Come here and ask!

Death Ranger · Post by **Death Ranger** » 06 Oct 2004, 20:51

i have a question to you folks too, i have a 2000 citroen xsara with a 1.8L engine, 12 valves i think and about a 110 horses, how can i mode her without shelling out loads of cash (considering i'm a 17 yearold boy, still in school without to much money on my hands and that here in israhell everithing cost about 3 of 4 times as much)

Grez~Supra_RZ-S · Post by **Grez~Supra_RZ-S** » 06 Oct 2004, 21:00

For performance or looks?

Death Ranger · Post by **Death Ranger** » 06 Oct 2004, 21:04

perfomance, looks will come later

Grez~Supra_RZ-S · Post by **Grez~Supra_RZ-S** » 06 Oct 2004, 21:40

The only thing I can suggest if your not wanting to spend a lot is the headers/intake/exhaust route. For the exhaust, get a custom pipe made (shouldnt be expensive, no point in getting a mandrel bent 3" pipe for a car that only displaces 1.8 litres, so a simple one should do the job, and be cheap). Then get an aftermarket muffler from a shop.

Post by **TheStig** » 07 Oct 2004, 01:18

PSZeTa wrote:It's legal I think, since the E-Class Avantgarde comes with LED taillights stock. At least in The Netherlands.. The Elegance and Classic version have normal lamps.

that does not mean It is legal to add it to YOUR car... It has to have a EU label. same goes for the Lexus look lights... most of them are not officially legal cause they where not tested. but the lexus IS series and some toyota's drive... but that does not make em legal for all cars

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 07 Oct 2004, 01:23

TheStig wrote:
PSZeTa wrote:It's legal I think, since the E-Class Avantgarde comes with LED taillights stock. At least in The Netherlands.. The Elegance and Classic version have normal lamps.
that does not mean It is legal to add it to YOUR car... It has to have a EU label. same goes for the Lexus look lights... most of them are not officially legal cause they where not tested. but the lexus IS series and some toyota's drive... but that does not make em legal for all cars

Hehe, oops..

Still, my brother has them in the taillights of his 323F.

Death Ranger · Post by **Death Ranger** » 07 Oct 2004, 02:35

thx 4 the edvice grez, but i was thinking more in the direction of fine tuning and twiking, anythink you know on that? well of course you do but anything that would help me?

UrQuattro · Post by **UrQuattro** » 07 Oct 2004, 03:36

I looked into the issue and yes, they do seem to be legal - rear LEDs. But it's the FRONTs that are still in question as they are not considered powerful enough. I love the rear LED lights - and BMWs 3series have them now that I think of it. Bunch of little lights blinking looks rather nice. And I guess they have a very long life too.

Grez~Supra_RZ-S · Post by **Grez~Supra_RZ-S** » 07 Oct 2004, 13:43

Tuning and tweaking? Yes I can give you advice, but before you do any of that, you need to sort out the cars breathing.

M_S · Post by **M_S** » 07 Oct 2004, 13:55

hehe goold old k&n filter would be best for first mod.

Post by **TheStig** » 10 Oct 2004, 21:51

I already told Grez but I got some more questions.

and maybe others can help also...

As most of you might know I was planning to buy a New type Celica in the beginning of 2005 but when I was looking at my local Toyota dealer I saw a MR2 from 2000 and it has some advantages over the Celica. it was cheaper... almost 5000 euro, it's cheaper in tax and also in insurance.
downside: less power 140 BHP and the Celica T-Sport has 191 BHP
and no space in the car itself.. almost no space..

I already found some bodystuff etc. from APR

but one of the questions is... wich t choose... I personally like the fact that the MR2 is a convertible... something else.

a other thing is modding.. and I think I have to ask Grez in specific.
cause I read that Apexi made turbokits for the MR2 (ZZW30) but could not really get much wiser... so can you find some info on that... prices andso on... if it is for sale in the UK or like that.

I have to check if it is legal to add a turbo (small one that is... cause I seen a article of a new MR2 that had 338 RWHP but he thats abit to much for me...

)

so for the rest what do you think... got ideas.. for parts...styling etc

Grez~Supra_RZ-S · Post by **Grez~Supra_RZ-S** » 10 Oct 2004, 22:28

I cant see it being illegal to turbocharge your car, but Ill have a look into the apexi kit for you.

Ill also have a look at superchargers if youre interested?

Post by **TheStig** » 10 Oct 2004, 22:32

sure cause 140 doesn't cut it eh?

but we got some weird laws here..

so everything you can find is possitive

tnx grez

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 10 Oct 2004, 22:33

Indeed, really stupid.

Some say there is nothing wrong with maxing out the performance, but then the other says you can't tune your car..

UrQuattro · Post by **UrQuattro** » 10 Oct 2004, 22:33

I'd stick to Celica - MR2 shouldn't really be your first and only car.. It's something I'd go track racing. It's tiny, as you noticed. And being a convertable it has its quirks as well... But of course it's a little sports car, and Celica isn't.

So... practical - Celica, for anything else - MR2. It's 140hp is distributed to lower mass, so may be it's not that bad. Personally I don't like the styling of MR2. but that's secondary. It's condidered a VERY reliable car btw. Tough coice for you Stiggy. Get a Beemer.

@ PcZeta - I think it's not stupid - because may be 5% know how to tune a car and prevent it from being a hazard to other people. Sticking a big turbo is one thing, making sure your car has appropriate breaks to stop it - something that many kid racers neglect.

Post by **TheStig** » 10 Oct 2004, 22:37

good one... Urq... but yeah it is a tough choise... and it will be a secondary car... I will still have the drivinglesson car.. for shopping

but then again I still got time

yeah there are certain things you can and can't do... but If I'm not mistaken.... you can do some stuff but you have to be inspected by a official institute... and it pass that is...

Drewb99 · Post by **Drewb99** » 10 Oct 2004, 22:42

MR layout + RWD = better than the Celica by default. Buy 3.

Know your engine.

The open deck (meaning the top of the block is open to the coolant jackets) is a disadvantage for cylinder strength if you are planning on having very high cylinder pressures (e.g., turbocharging). Honda engines are open deck designs as well. (hmmm...) On the bright side, there are successfully turbocharged Honda engines out there.

So, if you were to turbo it you'd probably run into quite a few headaches. The Celica GTS uses the 2ZZ-GE, its slightly better cousin with higher compression and a shorter stroke (any effect the extra power might have is nullified by the FWD though). So, whatever. You can use an MR car as a daily driver, so I'd stick with that.

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 10 Oct 2004, 22:44

I think it's not stupid - because may be 5% know how to tune a car and prevent it from being a hazard to other people. Sticking a big turbo is one thing, making sure your car has appropriate breaks to stop it - something that many kid racers neglect.

I fully agree with you.

But that's not my point.

I actually meant this.. I thought there was nothing in law saying it was illegal to do any adjustments to the engine of your car.

Some think the same as I do, some don't.

It's rather confusion.. Heh.

Post by **TheStig** » 10 Oct 2004, 22:52

and that is why I'm making sure it follows the rules... don't want to be followed by the police every second..

UrQuattro · Post by **UrQuattro** » 10 Oct 2004, 22:57

That's why knowing the law helps.

I Think it often means you can't mod it on your own, but the tuning shops can, because they have a license and use manufacturer approved parts (good shops I guess, not all of them are like that).

For example, AMG recrash all its cars and adjusts passive and active safety acordingly - even the wood that's used in the dash - so that it breaks without letting the splinters out!

That's the main reason for all the regulations. But it depends if it's actually enforced by police - because I think it's illegal to mod a car in most countries, but while for instance in California they can pull you over and check, here in Estonia I've never heard anyone do that - in fact the cops as you what you got and so on - they are drivers themselves after all.

2nd car Stig - GET MR2 than, no doubt. Just hope your winters aren't nasty.

Post by **TheStig** » 10 Oct 2004, 23:03

I know quiet alot about what you can and can't do on the road... but not about what can and can't be done on a car...

so I have to check that all out...I know alot of rules are about safety, inviroment and noise levels.
and then again I'm not planning to run high on BHP. if it's pissible to get it around the 200 I'm happy I think I got a nice track car then...for some fun.
but 140 isn't so bad to start with on a small light car eh?

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 10 Oct 2004, 23:22

You might just go take a test drive..

Take the car you like the most.

But I know FWD cars are real killers when they get the grip...

Post by **TheStig** » 10 Oct 2004, 23:50

already drove em both PSzeta... I worked for a Toyota dealer...

drove all toyota's exept the Supra...

(and some others we don't get ofcourse..)

Grez~Supra_RZ-S · Post by **Grez~Supra_RZ-S** » 11 Oct 2004, 01:37

Im a big fan of the way the new shape celica performs and handles.

Post by **TheStig** » 11 Oct 2004, 05:32

I know... I do like it alot also... that why I'm stuck with this delema...

both cars have somethings I like... I like the styling of the Celica and the handling and performance of the 191 T-Sport but in insurance and tax it is pretty pricy compared to a MR2.
then again you already got a nice amount of HP and with a bit of work and without much cost it can be even abit more.

but with the MR2 you get 140 and it cost more to get it to lets say 200 also. but the MR2 is like 5000 euro (3333 Pound) cheaper, wich isn't a little bit

then we still have the "normal" celica also with 140 bhp.

it is even cheaper availeble.... for 13000 I can have one...

and looking at them... man... makes it even harder...

think I need help...

what do you guys advise....