I've been driving my 2000 acura T.L. for about 6 months now... and I really want to start investing in my cars performance but not sure where to start? Is there a priorty of things i should replace first.

 

For engine performance, headers are a good start. For the intake, you can remove the resonator and put a K&N or go with an aftermarket intake (short ram or cold air setup). Some change out the mufflers but the stock ones are pretty free flowing anyway.

For handling performance, you can go to 225/55-16 tires on your stock rims or upgrade to 17"s or 18"s. If you Plus-1 or Plus-2, please invest in a set of lowering springs or coil overs otherwise the car will look jacked up. Then sway bars and then struts.

This is what most people do as these are pretty much the kinds of mods that are available for the 2G TL, there really isn't a whole lot more out there for them.

 

Thank you for replying...i see alot of people talking about...cai, and there ice box, would that be something as well that would increase my performance

 

Yeah, cai stands for Cold Air Intake and injen and AEM make them for TLs. The Icebox is made by Comptech and it looks like a stock intake box but inside I think it uses a high flow cone filter and it takes in air where a cai does in the fender in front of the driver's side wheel.

Any of these aftermarket intakes are supposed to give hp gains, I think as much as 8-10 if I'm not mistaken, depending on the design. I have an AEM V2 cai in my '00 3.2TL and I like how my car runs with it.

 

here is a copy of my reply before this thread was moved.

get headers first that is the most restrictive part on our cars(comptech, alphawerks, stones, megan and obx) next would be CAI(comptech, Injen and AEM), then crank pulley(unorthodox racing is the only one you should even bother getting, don't consider cheap imitations) exhaust is you want sound, there isn't much power to be gained from a catback and nothing to be gained from an axleback exhaust. other than that you can get outlaw engineering thermblok spacers to reduce heat soak into your intake manifold and throttlebody which reduces performace after prolonged driving. Then there are other things like the Big 3 wire upgrade, suspension components, lightweight rims, supercharger(4-5k, comptech only, 50whp gain though). Do some searches and you will find a plethora of info. Good luck remember headers are always first because a CAI or pulley won't help much without highflow tubular headers.

 

Thanks sbuswell, I had forgotten to mention the other things like pulleys and spacers, etc.

 

Others have responded with good ideas. Just a comment...

You wont be investing in your cars performance, you will be spending.

 

investing i believe would be correct. making something better than it was before i would say is an investment. may not pay divedends in your pocket, but will when you step the on gas. that's my idea of a car investment unless you get into classics that will appreciate, but any car will depreciate unless they are rare, classics or antiques.

 

No, it's not.

Invest - To commit (money or capital) in order to gain a financial return.

Unless a mod increases the value of the car, or makes you money in some other way (more money than the mod cost), it's an expense. You're kidding yourself if you believe anything else.

 

hahahahaha, i love it. to me it;s a personal investment to gain capital enjoyment. It doesn't matter either way you're loosing money that's a fact. I just see things a little differently.

 

You cannot use "investment" towards your TL unless it is completely stock, mint condition (original transmission?), and becomes a collector's item.

In the case, you cannot say the glass is half-full vs. the glass is half-empty.


It seems the MOD-bug has you good, and that's a good thing.