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How Does It Fair In The Long Run?
#1
So I'm wondering why "mod" stock cars aside from
1) performance improvements
2) to show off
3) to customize and feel unique
4) to have fun
5) cuz u got money growing out of ur rear end
and so on and so forth....

the biggest question for me is: is it healthy for the car in the long run? What I mean is will you inadvertently shorten the lifespan of your car and its parts than if you just left it all stock?

OR does all this modding actually improve and lengthen the quality and system of your car and its lifespan??

It's like athletes going on roids. They get the short-term benefit and gain but long-term loss and die prematurely. Is this a fair analysis ORRRRRRR

is it more like we are actually whipping our lazy stock cars into shape and getting them fit to last longer than they were built to last?

(all variables aside....ie like how u drive and if u get into an accident etc)


Be the change you want to see in this world.
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#2
the way i see it... the mods you do have no negative effect on your car .. it all depends on how you drive your car and how well you maintain it.
Below Average Car Club
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#3
I agree with the post above, but when you do your mods you have to have them done right or you will be running in to problems in the future.
I was the only member on this board with a Yellow Focus Sedan, and a 2002+ Euro Facelift on a sedan.
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#4
Have all mods professionally installed, and pay the money for the best quality. Modding your car shouldn't be something you cheap out on.
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#5
IMO, if you reduce pressures on the system (air intake, TB, exhaust), I think this would increase the life of your engine somewhat (although keeping your driving habits the same and performing regular maintenance).

However, when you go to stuff like cams, turbos, nitrous, that would seriously affect your engine's life.
Sold:2001 SE 2.0L SPI w/60mm TB, Steeda Shorty Intake.

Active: 2007 SES Hatch, Motegi MR7 Rims with 215/45ZR17 Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires, debadged, black painted calipers and drums, RS Knob, CFM Short Throw, Billet E-Brake, CFM Focus pedals, MBRP Exhaust, XCal2, FS Front and Rear Strut Tower Bars, Diamond Plate Floor Mats and Sills, Alpine MP3 Deck, Alpine V-Power 300w Amp, Pioneer IMPP Sub, AlpineType-S door speakers, VF Engineering Rear Motor Mount, F2 RS Spoiler, Tokico D-spec shocks, HTP Cross Brace, EBC Rotors, Hawk HPS Pads, Russell SS Brake Lines, RS Wheel, SVT Blue Seats, Vibrant 2.5" Race Highflow Cat, CFM UDP. Rear SVT bumper to come.

Active: 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited TJ [LJ], Volant CAI, 32" BFG Mud Terrains, and a whole bunch of goodies. Big Grin
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#6
Oscar The Grouch,Oct 24 2005, 09:06 AM Wrote:However, when you go to stuff like cams, turbos, nitrous, that would seriously affect your engine's life.
[right][snapback]151086[/snapback][/right]

I dont htink this is true at all provided that you have the tuning taken care of.

Of course if the tuning isnt done properly, then your s**t out of luck!! :lol:



[Image: ncclogo.jpg]
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#7
If we're doing it for pure performance, we're driving the wrong car.

With that said, I think most of us are out to personalize a good fuel-efficient car and make it a bit more fun to drive. A lot of us seem to succeed in that respect. I know I have :)

If you've got lots of cash to blow, don't blow it on a Focus. If you're smart and know what upgrades to do to maximize the cash spent, then by all means have fun.

Some people like bling (2001ZTS, our resident pimp for instance). Some people like boom (Scooba's impressive non-rolling boombox). Some of us like performance (Flo's Silvah Supah Snail Focus and others). And some of us like all of the above in varying degrees (me, Oscar, countless others).

So, it's all about you. What do YOU want your Focus to do / be?
Daily driver 1: 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport "S"

33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.

Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT

COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.
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#8
NOS2Go4Me,Oct 25 2005, 01:58 PM Wrote:do / be?
[right][snapback]151366[/snapback][/right]
doobie?
Silver '05 Saabaru 9-2X Aero
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#9
Aka,Oct 25 2005, 03:32 PM Wrote:doobie?
[right][snapback]151420[/snapback][/right]

I'm in! B)
Sold:2001 SE 2.0L SPI w/60mm TB, Steeda Shorty Intake.

Active: 2007 SES Hatch, Motegi MR7 Rims with 215/45ZR17 Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires, debadged, black painted calipers and drums, RS Knob, CFM Short Throw, Billet E-Brake, CFM Focus pedals, MBRP Exhaust, XCal2, FS Front and Rear Strut Tower Bars, Diamond Plate Floor Mats and Sills, Alpine MP3 Deck, Alpine V-Power 300w Amp, Pioneer IMPP Sub, AlpineType-S door speakers, VF Engineering Rear Motor Mount, F2 RS Spoiler, Tokico D-spec shocks, HTP Cross Brace, EBC Rotors, Hawk HPS Pads, Russell SS Brake Lines, RS Wheel, SVT Blue Seats, Vibrant 2.5" Race Highflow Cat, CFM UDP. Rear SVT bumper to come.

Active: 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited TJ [LJ], Volant CAI, 32" BFG Mud Terrains, and a whole bunch of goodies. Big Grin
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#10
Im wondering why if all these performance mods can actually improve life and efficiency of the car....then why don't car companies just make good cars from the get-go? Or maybe they know that stock is flawed and they want us to go spend the extra cash to upgrade??

Either that or....there must be a good reason why stock is stock?

It's like deciding one day that God made humans inefficient as we are so therefore we must tinker with genetics to improve ourselves cause God made us crappy from the get-go?

Are we saying that stock cars are really just a company's way of "cutting corners" and making dirt cheap cars for maximum profit or are stock cars really desigend and set up in such a way that it should be at its optimal and finest without much need to tinker with anything.

what do u think?
Be the change you want to see in this world.
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#11
cornflakes,Oct 25 2005, 05:46 PM Wrote:Im wondering why if all these performance mods can actually improve life and efficiency of the car....then why don't car companies just make good cars from the get-go?  Or maybe they know that stock is flawed and they want us to go spend the extra cash to upgrade??

No its because we count for maybe 10% of their sales.

The average person buying a focus is a customer looking for fuel economy with ok performance. Have you asked your friends what they think of you when you tell them your modding a focus? Do they laugh?

Mine do. :angry: :lol:

[Image: ncclogo.jpg]
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#12
I'm leaving to work across Canada for the next two years....my company is paying to put everything in storage for me...including my car.What to do? sell or not to sell? I decided last month that I was going to keep it. I've only done these upgrades within the last month, month and a half...why didn't someone warn me it was so addictive! My suspension just came in yesterday...can't wait to install. She runs great now...sounds awsome and will be sitting a bit nicer by Saturday.
2002 Infra-red ZTS
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#13
Flofocus,Oct 24 2005, 01:58 PM Wrote:
Oscar The Grouch,Oct 24 2005, 09:06 AM Wrote:However, when you go to stuff like cams, turbos, nitrous, that would seriously affect your engine's life.
[right][snapback]151086[/snapback][/right]

I dont htink this is true at all provided that you have the tuning taken care of.

Of course if the tuning isnt done properly, then your s**t out of luck!! :lol:
[right][snapback]151092[/snapback][/right]

I think cams will wear out the valve train faster as they usualy have more lift than stock, more duration so more valve spring stess.

turbo and supercharger will reduce the overall life of the engine because they operate at higher temperature, which in itself, wear out parts faster.

as for nitrous... your lucky if you ever see the end of the life of an engine and not murder it yourself... even tuned guys have accidents... Pop goes the world!


mods is for performance, not reliability or lifespan... even thought they can be rightly tuned and fairly safe, it will never be as reliable as an otherwise stock or mildly modified vehicle.

anyone thinking otherwise is beleiving their own lies.
------------------------------------------------
-1991 Nissan Pulsar GTI-R
-2002 Red SVT focus # 2262 - sold
-2000 silver ZX3 - sold
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#14
Aka,Oct 25 2005, 07:32 PM Wrote:
NOS2Go4Me,Oct 25 2005, 01:58 PM Wrote:do / be?
[right][snapback]151366[/snapback][/right]
doobie?
[right][snapback]151420[/snapback][/right]


don't mind if I do
***want to buy***
MBRP................ check
SCT Xcal2 ........ check
VF mounts
Adj. Dampers ... check
Meford's Mom.... sale pending
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