Need advice: Should I ditch the car I have now and go German (M3)?

[steveox]

Originally posted by: RyanSengara

Originally posted by: steveox
I was in the same boat as you and opted to go through the process of turbo'ing my matrix. Project isn't completed yet but I would say maybe another month. I've had regrets along the way but as it's nearing completion.. I think it was definitely worth the fun and experience and is definitely more unique than just buying a more powerful car in the first place

Having a bunch of HP on a FWD car makes no sense to me anymore, and yeah it might be unique, but with uniqueness comes unique problems that no one in my city is really qualified to help me fix or diagnose.

I'll be 1 of 2 boosted RSXs in the entire city, and most of my parts will be imported from far away places which will make it a pain in the ass to fix.

Meh.

I understand completely, which is why I opted to do all of the work myself (with the exception of the transmission work). I'll know how everything works and be able to troubleshoot most of the smaller stuff myself. I have good friends / family that are all very car knowledgeable who can help with the other stuff.

As far as the high HP / FWD argument... although it is valid I feel that many people blow it out of proportion. MS3's and SRT-4's are coming with 270+hp stock and nobody complains about them...

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: Truenofan

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: drnickriviera

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Wait....

I thought that you already had a turbocharged RSX? Does that mean that AdamK47 was right?

duh, he uninstalled everything, sold it all. Then missed the power, so he's going to do it all over again.

But he's just pushing for 280hp...320 was just too much for him.

Jeeze, my brothers neon has more power than that.

thing is, its still a neon. end of story.

but... you got beat by a neon.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: steveox

Originally posted by: RyanSengara

Originally posted by: steveox
I was in the same boat as you and opted to go through the process of turbo'ing my matrix. Project isn't completed yet but I would say maybe another month. I've had regrets along the way but as it's nearing completion.. I think it was definitely worth the fun and experience and is definitely more unique than just buying a more powerful car in the first place

Having a bunch of HP on a FWD car makes no sense to me anymore, and yeah it might be unique, but with uniqueness comes unique problems that no one in my city is really qualified to help me fix or diagnose.

I'll be 1 of 2 boosted RSXs in the entire city, and most of my parts will be imported from far away places which will make it a pain in the ass to fix.

Meh.

I understand completely, which is why I opted to do all of the work myself (with the exception of the transmission work). I'll know how everything works and be able to troubleshoot most of the smaller stuff myself. I have good friends / family that are all very car knowledgeable who can help with the other stuff.

As far as the high HP / FWD argument... although it is valid I feel that many people blow it out of proportion. MS3's and SRT-4's are coming with 270+hp stock and nobody complains about them...

Every review I've read mentions torquesteer for both, ESPECIALLY the Caliber since it doesn't limit power in the first 2 gears like the MS3...

 

[exdeath]

Always better to get a car made for power in the first place. Research the car based not on what it has from the factory, but what it's POTENTIAL is.

Would you rather spend say $6,000 on an engine swap to get 50 more HP and still run 14s in the quarter or would you rather have a car that already has 400 HP that can have 500 HP with $600 in parts?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Aharami
you live up in Canada. How much snow/ice do you get? Id rather get a AWD car over a RWD one if I lived in long winter areas.

Snow tires would be a better investment than going out to find an AWD car just because you live in an area where it snows. Jesus, I grew up driving in upstate NY and NEVER owned an AWD/4WD vehicle.

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: steveox

Originally posted by: RyanSengara

Originally posted by: steveox
I was in the same boat as you and opted to go through the process of turbo'ing my matrix. Project isn't completed yet but I would say maybe another month. I've had regrets along the way but as it's nearing completion.. I think it was definitely worth the fun and experience and is definitely more unique than just buying a more powerful car in the first place

Having a bunch of HP on a FWD car makes no sense to me anymore, and yeah it might be unique, but with uniqueness comes unique problems that no one in my city is really qualified to help me fix or diagnose.

I'll be 1 of 2 boosted RSXs in the entire city, and most of my parts will be imported from far away places which will make it a pain in the ass to fix.

Meh.

I understand completely, which is why I opted to do all of the work myself (with the exception of the transmission work). I'll know how everything works and be able to troubleshoot most of the smaller stuff myself. I have good friends / family that are all very car knowledgeable who can help with the other stuff.

As far as the high HP / FWD argument... although it is valid I feel that many people blow it out of proportion. MS3's and SRT-4's are coming with 270+hp stock and nobody complains about them...

Every review I've read mentions torquesteer for both, ESPECIALLY the Caliber since it doesn't limit power in the first 2 gears like the MS3...

I've read this as well.

My other concern is this, when the water falls on the turbo, it might keep flowing.

Right now I have about 6k set aside for the turbo, or thereabouts. If something goes wrong there is no warranty, if I blow my engine, it's gone. If I crack a manifold, it's doneskies.

I'll just end up throwing more money at this and more and more and more which is another big concern.

 

[steveox]

On a good tune you don't have to worry about that stuff. I definitely have seen all of your concerns, but the way I look at it - if you do it right the first time, you don't have those problems.

I'm probably into my project roughly 9k or so and I estimate another 1k for the welding costs, thermal coating, and dyno time. My friend is an experienced tuner (well over 10 years with hondas, acuras, toyotas, vw's etc) so I'm saving a good chunk with that - but even if for some reason we're unable to do that.. it's only another 3-500. So yeah, it's a lot of money dropping 10k into an economy car.. and it doesn't make a lot of sense to some people - but I honestly am loving every second of doing the work.

Also, I've driven an MS3 and you feel the torque steer but it is not that bad IMO