What Should I Start With...?

[MindlessBabble05]

Okay, I've really done nothing to my car (just the inside, car seats, lights etc). I haven't even got to fix the side mirror on my car when some ass hole tried to park in a tiny space beside me at school and broke it off (waa my little dragon is a gimp!) (but of course I'm gonna get it fixed asap*sometime after my grad in Jan) - but anyway. what did you guys start out with when ya'll started customizing and...stuff? -.- Should I start out with the wheels? orwith the windows? or where ever? and just so I can estimate, how much did you guys put into your cars?

Nikki....

Random-ness-es-es:
omg, a smilie with popcorn. My job is as a concessonist at a movie theatre...popcorn is evil. :popcorn:

[mike2002]

if you put wheels on...like 17's or 18's it will look like crap. the stock wheel gap is horrible, with bigger rims, it will look worse

do a drop (spring tech or eibach) i used spring tech because they're not as stiff, and a little more drop.

then do tint

ive got a dk blue sedan, i also tinted my taillights and think it looks MUCH better. but i think this mod only looks good on the darker cars, i dont like it one white/light colors.

then clear the corners on your headlights, do a search to see how to do the last 2, they only cost about $30 total, and with the drop, my car looks MUCH better. i really need tint though.

[misslindseysue]

It doesn't look that bad to have wheels and not lowered. Geez. I live in Detroit, there's no way I'd get to work in a lowered car, but my 17's still look good.
Tint is cheap, if you want to start with something like that. Well, not cheap, but compartively so when you're thinking about wheels+tires that could run well over $1,000.
A lot of people put GA mirrors on their Alero. I personally don't like the look, but it's an option, espeically if you already have a busted one. Try checking for them at a junkyard, they're expensive from GM.

So far on mar car, for things that were optional, I spent (well, my boyfriend spent most of it, but it's been spent on the car):
Wheels/tires: $1,000
Tint: $170
Hitch: $130
Seat Covers: $70
XM Radio: $100+$10/mo
Sub/Box/Amp: $300
Tips+Sticker: $15
Splash Guards+paint: $100

[bnight04]

any rims look better then stock, gap or no gap....

but if you dont wanna spend that much, i would clear the corners and tint to start... then lower and go from there

but it all really depends on your taste! :thumbsup:

[doubleN0alero]

If you're going to do anything, I would definately start with the wheels...they tend to be the most expensive... if you put those off, there will always be something else popping up to prevent you from buying the wheels. At least with tint, its fairly easy to come up with 200-250 and not have it affect too much...
So, IMO...wheels... hey, there's a wheel gap...big deal, you'll have it whether you're sporting 15's or 18's. If you can lower it, i would say put that high on the priority list, but if you're like me and live in an area where a lowered car is a receipe for disaster, don't worry about it.

[jackal2000]

Originally posted by bnight04@Nov 16 2004, 11:45 AM
any rims look better then stock, gap or no gap....
that is sooo not true. there are tons of rim styles out there that look like ass on our cars.


the first thing i did to my car was upgrade the stereo and put a car alarm on. that cost upwards of $1700. next i did tint, which ran me like $200. then i went on to rims and tires which cost $2000. oh and eibach springs which were like $200 as well. i got my headlights from skiboarder311 for $75, they came with clear corners and painted bezel.

really it all depends on what you can afford.

[cutelilcntrygrl]

I started out with tint.. check around and ask people to see if they know anyone that can hook you up before you pay out the butt to get it done. Chances are, you might get lucky and someone will know someone that can do it for you for a reasonable amount of money. Everyone has already mentioned the rims, lowering, stereo, and clear corners. You don't necessarily HAVE to get it lowered before you get rims. I've got 17's without the springs and it doesn't look all that bad. But like Lindsey, I wouldn't get to work in the winter time if it were lowered. Heck, I wouldn't even get out of my drive way... lol. Another thing you could do is get new gauges. I got mine off ebay.. just do a search for reverse halo gauges and you'll find them. Or if you want to spend a little more, you can get em from speedhut.com. I paid under 40 for mine and that's including shipping. They are pretty nice if I must say so myself.. That's a pretty easy mod to do but you just gotta be patient. A cheaper and easier alternative to tinting your taillights is doing pinstripe. Check out the how to section for a thread on that. Very simple, cheap and looks really good. Hope this helps. :)

[kwhauck]

i think this is the order i took

1. cleared the corners........................................... .free
2. aftermarket muffler..........................................f ree partial sponsorship
3. tint/stero............................................. ............$140
4. window decals (not really a mod IMO)................free partial sponsorship
5. 18" konig tantrum wheels..................................$900 shipped
6. bodykit........................................... ..................$837 shipped
7. custom molding and z3 fenders..........................$1200
8. custom full 2.5" mandrel bent catback exhaust.....$250 total installed
9. coilovers......................................... .................$300 shipped
10. new paint job.........................................let's just say i got the hook up

FUTURE. who knows.......(turbo/supercharger, shaved door handles, airride/hydraulics, custom interior, the sky is the limits.......or the ground once i get slammed..... :pimp: )

[Cyber Knight]

Window tint is definitely the most dramatic change for the money, inside and out. Some people live and die for rims, they'd even put rims on their toaster (thanks Chris Rock "Dey spinnin', dey spinnin'!!!"). Anyhow, rims are one of the last things I notice on a car, so they are low on my wish list. Whenever a car catches your eye in a good way, ask yourself what made it stand out to you, and chances are that's what you'd like to see on your car too.

I'd start cheap and work your way up to the pricier mods...altho, double0alero makes a good point: start with the wheels...they tend to be the most expensive... if you put those off, there will always be something else popping up to prevent you from buying the wheels.

[bnight04]

Originally posted by jackal2000@Nov 16 2004, 12:09 PM
that is sooo not true. there are tons of rim styles out there that look like ass on our cars.

Just makin a point that our stock wheels look like ass, and gap or no gap 17, 18 wheels will look a WHOLE lot better....

[kwhauck]

Originally posted by Cyber Knight@Nov 16 2004, 11:18 AM
Window tint is definitely the most dramatic change for the money, inside and out. Some people live and die for rims, they'd even put rims on their toaster (thanks Chris Rock "Dey spinnin', dey spinnin'!!!"). Anyhow, rims are one of the last things I notice on a car, so they are low on my wish list. Whenever a car catches your eye in a good way, ask yourself what made it stand out to you, and chances are that's what you'd like to see on your car too.

I'd start cheap and work your way up to the pricier mods...altho, double0alero makes a good point: start with the wheels...they tend to be the most expensive... if you put those off, there will always be something else popping up to prevent you from buying the wheels.
i would have to totally disagree with you, wheels are what make or break a car IMO, you can could take a totally hooked up car and get two completely different styles/attitudes by looking at the car....ie (tuner car with racing wheels, or a show car with chrome wheels) it can completely change the whole car.....

[mike2002]

Originally posted by bnight04+Nov 16 2004, 12:29 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (bnight04 @ Nov 16 2004, 12:29 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-jackal2000@Nov 16 2004, 12:09 PM
that is sooo not true. there are tons of rim styles out there that look like ass on our cars.

Just makin a point that our stock wheels look like ass, and gap or no gap 17, 18 wheels will look a WHOLE lot better.... [/b][/quote]
my stock 16's aren't great, but look better than alot of the crap i see on cardomain for aftermarket. alot of the aftermarket rims look like ass, dont flow with the car at all, but people want the stupid bling bling factor. of course your wheel gap is the same with 16's as 18's, but with 18's it looks like its on skates...

btw, i have the polished 16" "premium" wheels, which look alright on a dropped car.

[smokinAMD]

Here's how I went.

Tint: $240
Suspension upgrades (Intrax springs, KYB GR-2 struts, Speedbuilt STB's): $750 installed with putting new mounting hardware on.
CAI: $125 for a used Dr. Speed
Badass sound setup: $2500
Grand Am GT mirrors: $65
Alarm with remote start: $400 installed
Clear corners: $5 and a few hours of my time.
Wheels: $400 (Used 17's with 3 good, altho wrong sized, tires) Later sold for diaper money.
SLP Exhaust: under $400.
Razzi Ground effects with spoiler: about a $1000 after shipping
Getting entire car repainted, Razzi installed, and lots of drivers side damage repaired (I hit a deer and then some trees): Insurance paid $3300 for this.

And as for the future? New wheels for sure. A fiberglass hood from crazy. HID's with projectors, custom tails. And that'll probably do me until I get the big daddy supercharger.

[doubleN0alero]

Originally posted by smokinAMD@Nov 16 2004, 06:33 PM
Wheels: $400 (Used 17's with 3 good, altho wrong sized, tires) Later sold for diaper money.

I feel you on the diaper money man... thats where my 18's went... good lord, they should just come out of the hole potty trained...that would make life simplier and less expensive

[smokinAMD]

Ha, you said "come out of the hole".

Oh the irony.

[mixmastercase]

I haven't been able to spend too much on my Alero as I bought it just as I was moving out and I don't have much disposable income right now. But when I was at home I had a 1995 Accord and it went like this:

Tint: 200
Sound system: 1200
altezzas tails: 125
17" wheels and Tires: 1570
shortly after, Eibach Springs: 400
Same time as springs was Projector Headlights: 150
New exhaust: 200
Cold air intake: 80
New Pulleys: 50

All Prices are in Canadian dollars and totals about $4000.00
I did all this in about a month. It was a very expensive month for me. I know it was all show but I don't really care about performance mods too much.

[Redog]

I think tint should be first. Any car looks good tinited.

Rims look good, wheater or not it's lowered

Check out my cardomain link below, maybe you'll get some ideas ;)

[blueyezalero]

Go with tint first....you're in Texas and it gets hot as hell. I'm in Austin, too bad you weren't closer I have a friend who owns a tint/alarm/video place. He redid mine with the platinum tint (mirrored) for 100

[blueyezalero]

Oh yeah someone had told me not to lower my car because I tend to run over curbs alot

[Vtolds]

Originally posted by blueyezalero@Nov 16 2004, 06:19 PM
Oh yeah someone had told me not to lower my car because I tend to run over curbs alot
Just think if you lowered your car you wouldn't beable to run the curbs over any more. :thumbsup:

[Super White Alero]

Depends on your cash flow dood. Not what we think we should go add first. I started with 2 mufflers from Performace R dual tips (145), wekk later slp grand am dual setup(225 shipped), got my CAI installed yesterday(25, made it myself), I got slotted rotor from ebay(195) which will be installed after it snows. I been talking with Byrce about lowing the price on those HID kit and projector, and waiting on Marc to get R done the OSV. Then when I feel I havesome free time I will swap the motor will my hybrid 2.3 im working on. But you gotta remember my cash flow allows me to do this cuz I have almost no expensive any more.

[smlzalero]

If you're like me and have a poopy paycheck, I'd start with tint. Not too expensive, but looks alot better.

I started with tint 5% rear, 35% front (sucks, but it's the law)-$180 then I got rims- 17' Helo Legends and Nanking tires (not as expensive, not as soft-I don't race, I don't need soft)-$1000. I just installed neon underbodies- $118

[mikegett]

Originally posted by jackal2000+Nov 16 2004, 05:09 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (jackal2000 @ Nov 16 2004, 05:09 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-bnight04@Nov 16 2004, 11:45 AM
any rims look better then stock, gap or no gap....
that is sooo not true. there are tons of rim styles out there that look like ass on our cars.


the first thing i did to my car was upgrade the stereo and put a car alarm on. that cost upwards of $1700. next i did tint, which ran me like $200. then i went on to rims and tires which cost $2000. oh and eibach springs which were like $200 as well. i got my headlights from skiboarder311 for $75, they came with clear corners and painted bezel.

really it all depends on what you can afford. [/b][/quote]
I agree 100 percent. There are only two styles of rims that I like more than the stock 03 polished. Both are over 2 grand. In the mean time I have stuck to the radio ( think of how long you are in the car) and tint. I think that the 200 dollar tint was the best choice. A 110 degree car sucks ass to get into after eight hours of work.

[Sno]

this is a really helpful thread... i've got a stock 99 alero gls sedan... the only things i've modded on it so far is a tribal decal on the front windshield and a mesh grille kit on the stock bumper... looking to tint windows, buy some Eibach springs to give it a nice aggressive stance, and i wanna get a nice paint job on it (black), as well as new rims, cuz i bought the car used... the rims have kinda lost their chrome luster... lol

[jackal2000]

Originally posted by Sno@Nov 19 2004, 09:54 AM
as well as new rims, cuz i bought the car used... the rims have kinda lost their chrome luster... lol
aleros never came with stock chrome wheels. you probably have polished aluminum wheels which do kinda look like chrome but dont be deceived.

[Sno]

i said chrome meaning that they do not look like chrome anymore, i know they are aluminum hunks of junk lol... but yeah, does that sound good for starters?

[ptrudel]

i did like most...heres the way i went

stereo.................................$2500
clear corners........................free
masked tails........................$160
lowering springs...................$220
18" American Racing rims.....$3000
custom interior.....................$300 dye/paint, about 4 days labor

i did some other stuff too but i can't remember...all this is CDN prices...geezus...now that i look at this, no wonder i'm broke....