@@Smeedia It's so important to ask your installer 'how will this affect driving at night'; saved me a couple $$$ going with a less dark tint than I thought I wanted.
6 Mods That Are A Waste Of Money For A Daily Driver 6. quick release steering wheel 0:43 5. fixed back seat/race harness 2:56 4. high flow panel air filters 5:19 3. turbo timers (on watercooled turbos) 6:36 2. useless aero 8:24 1. fake vents/shrouds 10:34
Wanted to correct myself, I do retract what I said about the drop in filters. I totally spaced that they are resuable and cleanable. Although power numbers are still inflated 🤷♂️
Jacob Ingram They also aren’t designed for use without a helmet and neck brace deal. They don’t stretch in an accident (as commercial 3 points do which is why you are supposed to replace them after a bad accident) so you can really mess up/snap your neck.
quick release steering isn't so bad for daily cars tho. whenever you park the car you can just pop it off and bring it with you into the house/workplace or just hide it in the trunk to deter any car thieves
What if a car theif brings his own steering wheel? 👀 Its more or less the safety aspect or removing air bags and driving around public roads with them off.
@@sammylam1649 I used to take the steering, tires and engine with me into work, but one day my idea was foiled by a steering wheel, tire, engine carrying thief. They're becoming smart my man!
I agree with you about the seat. Those seats looks cool, but is so uncomfortable especially on look trips. And it’s hard to get head while driving on those seats.
@@Smeedia I don't doubt it. I added some additional cushions and the thing cradles you nicely. I will say, when i do go to the store or drive it around town, it's not the most graceful getting out..... but #racecar.
When I needed a new panel filter I was recommended an HKS super hybrid. Totally worth the price being washable and it even fit the airbox better than the OEM filter. It's probably saved me money in the long run instead of buying new oems every 6 months.
I totally spaced on thr cleaning and reusabiliry aspect of panel filters, retract my statements about them with the exception of manufacturers inflating their numbers 🔥
the only issue I have with them is that I hear since they are "higher flow" most people don't understand that also means they do less filtering and more debris can get into your engine. I understand most people using them clean them regularly and probably don't mind but for daily drivers I still think it might be a bit of a waste.
@@supercattelephone just because they flow more doesn't mean they do less filtering. A filter can be made with better materials and design and flow more while still being an effective and efficient filter.
As someone who removed an airbag from a car, it's not worth it. I put an aftermarket Corbeau plaid racing seat in my MK7 GTI... then I needed the seat airbag. I ended up with 3 broken vertebrae and a broken tailbone. I'm ok now, but trust me when I say it's not worth it.
Right up there with removing the air bag is people that run harnesses and a harness bar (with out a cage) on the street. It makes a side impact that you would normally walk away from potentially deadly ☠️
Great list! I was so guilty of the air filters when I was ricing out Hondas. I so believed it added 5-10 HP to my NA 140 HP Integra. 🤣🤣 I actually watched your splitter mounting videos after bring up aero. You did that install soooooo professional. Usually any "car specific" pre drilled body panel is no where near right and needs a ton of work. I did get a kick out of the Neon having just about all of these. 🤫
Haha the poor neon 😅 it needs a some attention to get it proper again. And I'm all for aero mods just as long as they're mounted properly l. And we've all been guilty of some of these mods 😅
Tanner, what about big stock location turbos (FP Black etc)? To each his own (I remember your yellow STI with the FP Black), but having an anemic power-band below 5k RPM is not great for daily traffic. Yes, I think about a bigger turbo but think I'll regret it if I do. Any thoughts?
It may be different for the FA series engines but if you have an EJ stay clear of any intake mods other than a drop in filter. On an EJ an intake will actually hurt performance if you don't also get a tune and even then don't expect much, if anything, unless you are also putting on a bigger turbo.
That can be said for any EJ or FA car, a tune is always going to be needed whenever you change airflow or fuel. I'd still suggest an intake to someone though as long as they have an AP. The stock intake will create a bottle neck
As a frs owner. The drop in air filter has been proven to be true. 1. For the K&N drop in filter dyno results do show a +5 peak hp gain. But 2. Dyno sheets do show that CAI do less or just as much as a drop in filter. So you're wasting more money for something that makes as much as a high flow filter. And 3. You save money by not having to change the filter, just wash it and you're good to go.
The street vs track car idea is partially why I’m happy staying at Stage 2. There’s no point dumping thousands of dollars more into my STI before getting used to the current power on a track.
I disagree with the high flow air filter. They’re reusable! Spend the $35 and have it for years. I’ve had mine for 4 years now and I clean it every 12k miles. I’ve saved over $120. Of course, that’s just my opinion. I’m cheap! Haha!
Marcus Antonius Dry filters are very practical but from my experience with them, K&N’s oiled filters seem to provide more power gain than dry ones. I own an IS250 and my brother has an IS200t and I’ve researched into filter kits for both cars and from these two, K&N seems to put out the most gains on the dyno opposed to AEM’s dry filter. Now for my NA V6, air filter doesn’t make much of a difference but my brother’s turbo does see a substantial peak increase of 32...? horsepower. Which is pretty damn impressive. Just don’t over-oil it and they are the best investment you can make on your car 👍🏼
i totally agree with everything you said for most cars.. on that note most use harnesses to hold them in the seat in order to retain a normal/stock seat. and us old schooler's dont have air bags and the steering wheels are not in the optimal position if your taller than your average jdm driver same applies to the seat. and life isnt alwayys comfortable..lol love the vids my guy
Jokes on you my car never had airbags, especially in the steering wheel. my seat belts only retain with the door open. It's N/A (wtf is a turbo timer). Cars a square block (aero who?) And fake anything is just rice.
Personally I think cold air kits are a noise maker and nothing else. They cost $300+ and then the cost of a tune or retune. The factory air box is rated for up to 400 hp.
Pretty much agree on everything except on air filters. Having a washable air filter saved me a lot of money in the long run by having to just wash it every 5-10kms or so. I got a stainless steel mesh air filter so I wouldn't need to oil it. Just water and light soap would do. This is much better than always buying a new one twice or thrice a year.
Push a car by rotating the tires rather than pushing the whole car. It’s easier. Don’t remember where I learned that, but it’ll save your legs, arm, and back a lot of aches.
@@Smeedia Also, for the brz/86 specifically, Bob from Drift Office says that a high flow drop in filter is all you need up to a certain WHP since it's designed well from factory. I pretty much only did headers, K&N filter, and a tune from bob when I had an 86 to get rid of the torque dip and a tiny bit more power.
*bought my car for $3000* *Spend $65 aftermarket shift knob* *$70 DC 5 floor mats* *$15 double din kit* *$10 wiring harness* *$150 cleaning detailing products the car still has scratches and looks crappy :' ( wasted the most money on that* *Invested almost $400 already : (*
The air filter one is good in my opinion, K&N are highflow. They don’t need to be replaced like normal filters, which can save you money, because you don’t need to keep replacing your airfilter, buy a K&N for €50 and clean it every 40k miles for like €5 per clean, or get a new one every 10k for 10-15, after 50k miles, you are cheaper off with a K&N and it basically has free better airflow
Im really happy that in this video you acknowledged that its ok to do things to do YOUR car just for looks. Too much shaming going on from both the aesthetic and performance sides of the car scene a lot of the time.
Oh yes by all means, your car your moneh do what you wish, some people do some of the mods for the looks and there is nothing wrong with that at all 🔥 just trying to help people avoid buying the cheaper variant to only buy the functional one later on so they're not double spending on the same part. I've done it before and have wasted enough money that I hope I can helo someone avoid the same pitfall 😅
Smeedia I’m not sure what exact intake model it is but I guess it is, I never had it but a guy I work with did and said the dyno showed a reduction and I’m assuming he was properly tuned
Since you have a carbon fiber wing, I want to ask you from your personal experience...does it fade when in sunlight excessively? My buddies told me carbon fiber fades in sunlight, do you protect yours, or just don’t let your car chill in the sun unnecessarily?
After the engine is shut off the turbo will continue to run through the turbo. Bro...turbo timers are life savers. Turbos utilizing coolant haven’t been around as long as the oil cooled turbos. The reason oil is such an issue is because of carbon buildup in lines, etc. you beat the shit out of your turbo car and shut it down it still has hot oil in those lines. When it cools, depending on oil quality, will lead to coking of the oil lines leading to starvation of oil. I’d say the biggest waste of money on the old ej’s would be a bov. Unless you were running over 25psi the aftermarket bov is a weak point and will leak over time. Not applicable to this video, but some info for yah from IAG.
I can't agree more on the quick release wheel. I cringe every time I see a 02-05 WRX with the factory Momo wheel swapped out for some crappy NRG without air bag or cruise control
yeah, i agree. if you can easily get into and out of your car you dont need it imo. i was asking my friend why he got a qd steering wheel for his miata that he doesnt track and he told me it was a theft deterrent along with some hidden kill switches. someone tried to steal his car twice.
Interesting list and perspective on ineffective mods for a daily driver. By and large I agree 👍 with you and especially agree on steering wheels and keeping the “life saving” airbag. Regarding seats if premium brands don’t use hard as a rock 🧱 racing seats for daily drivers there is probably a dam good reason or reasons. With regards to high flow drop in air filters in the OEM box I somewhat agree where you are talking one time use. Save your $$$. A reusable high flow “dry” filter from a manufacturer like Grimmspeed (“Dry Con”) I think is a different cat, especially when you consider the testing protocol they used, no smoke and mirrors.
My biggest pet peeve is spoilers on cars that never drive over 120mph....... also, if anybody sees this with a red wrx in las vegas, i'm trying to trade my spoiler and trunk off my sti.
@@Smeedia I decided to leave the stock wheel in my street legal track miata because I wasn't able to run a harness bar and didn't feel like risking my life. People don't understand that and there should really be a big emphasis on safety in the car modification world.
Hold up, you have a SRT4? I went from a CSRT4 to a Scat pack and am looking to get back to the WRX for the manual option. Is it comparable? I loved my Caliber so much, it was so much fun and am looking to get that back with a car that has more of a part availability.
what about swapping the heat shield for a turbo blanket and wrapping the downpipe on the fa20dit stock turbo? question is coming from Texas, btw, ambient is typical 90's for half the year, oil temp for freeway is about 205, wondering if it'd make a noticeable enough drop in engine bay heat and increase air density enough to justify spending and prolonging saving for stage tuning
I agree on everything but the panel filters. It has been shown through multiple different unbiased third party tests that a high quality K&N filter will add power and help acceleration to a measurable and consistent degree. In addition the fact they are washable and reusable means that they work out cheaper if you plan on keeping the car for longer than 3 years. An aftermarket intake will likely make a larger difference but also means more nvh, cost and potential for complications. Also the car should really be retuned, which dramatically adds to the cost involved if you want to retain good reliability.
Hey man great video! I was wondering how it is to daily a car with aftermarket hood vents? Is it impossible to keep the engine bay clean and dry or not that bad? Would love some feedback. Thanks!
I mean call me crazy but if you just chill out for say the last 5-10 min of your drive turbo timers have mostly always been obsolete..... just don’t drive her hard and put her away wet
Let's be realistic here. People will do whatever they want to their car, no matter who warns them. Let them suffer the concequences and leave them in the dust while driving your slow daily driver. Besides, people need to work on their driving skills more than modifying their car.
Good video content, even if totally opinion based. I would love to have seen examples of the things you were talking about like the racing seats, quick release hub, useless vents, etc. It would drive home your point and add production value to your videos. Spending some time editing would make it look less like you're just filming these on a tripod in your garage.
Appreciate the feedback, but using what I have to get clips the the only ones I did not have examples of were the quick release hub and fake aero/shrouds. And that's the point of the small B roll shots trying to break up the tripod usage. But filming everyone as a 1 person crew i don't have much of a choice outside of a tripod
@@junglemassive10 appreciate the feedback and always try to work on what i can from everyone. Any other production style things that you come up with frel free to shoot them over! Appreciate the support as well! 🔥
I once installed a high flow filter and let me tell you my car was happier than ever!!! ....... Maybe it had something to do with the fact the oem filter was never replaced by the first owner, and it was full of crap?... yeah, most likely that...
This came up on my suggestions page. Just found the channel and definitely subscribed. Super high quality video! I also agree with you on every account. For example, I run cheap paper panel filters on my car. High pleat count and preferably with a metal mesh. My K&N filter was very disappointing and got my intake oily. People say they are over oiled from factory, but either way I don't think they are worth the cost at all. Plus the paper filters I just blow out with compressed air! Spot on with the steering wheel and seat too. Lots of discomfort and reduced safety. Just get some OEM upgrades from a later car, especially with Subaru.
Appreciate the support and the feedback! 😁🔥 I'm just not a huge fan or removong some of the saftet aspects of the car if someone will be constantly driving them on the street 😅
Honestly I think motor mounts are probably the worst mod for a daily driver. It completely ruins the feel of the car most of the time. Yeah sure you can feel the power much better but bruh. come on.
Arguably anything cosmetic is a waste of money for a daily. As a matter of fact most mods are a waste of money for a daily UNLESS they improve drivability of a particular car. And with the WRX/STi there’s many mods that do improve the drivability.
Smeedia - indeed. I also think lower springs/coils are a waste. I tell all my car buddies who daily their baby’s to keep stock height. Especially here in NYC. One pothole and it’s over. Goodbye S209 lip :P
ha ha coilovers and big wheels = the best excuse to drive slower then usual on the same shitty road you drive on every day . if it mounts to your pathetic excuse of a car using 3M tape . it s not allowed for use on public roads in countries that have road safety standards .then it s not a mod but rather a piece of garbage that will land on a car as it rips off of yours . if you put pokish chrome wheels on your time attack build , no one can help you
Turbo dont have water flowing through if the turbo isn't moving but timer is silly. Your car is hot and needs to cool anyways. And some places it is so cold it cools so fast. It is just a car.
I guess it depends on the car, my STi has an upper turbo reservoir, as pressure decreases in the system it flows from the upper reservoir down through the turbo
And we wonder why i am waiting on any cosmetics for the car. If it doesn't add to what I am doing to her now then I am not wasting my money on useless items.
Of all the things you talked about i expected the spoiler to #1 & you didnt even talk about it. Isnt a high wing spoiler or most spoiler only functional at like 120-150+ mph?? Them high wing spoilers are not only ugly as sin theyre easily the biggest waste of money when most of the worth having ones are thousands of dollars. Theyre ment for 100% track cars not your daily. Youd need like 3 hrs in a windtunnel to dial in a high mount properly & thats like $700. Or do a coastdown test to adjust the drag yourself... but even properly installed you might get better fuel economy but on a car like the sti i doubt its even 4 extra mpg
I debated adding it in, but lumped it all into bad aero, the STI will be put on the track now that they're opening back up but yes for daily drivers they don't serve a purpose or use other than for looks
Any aero on a Daliy driver street car is a waste of time if u are not going to the track to get up to speed for it to actually work u are not going to get any effect from it on the street
Good info about the turbo timer! I have a friend that keeps trying to push that for me. Now I can tell him what you said because it makes sense!!!! Whoooooo
My car has a factory turbo timer, I can set the switch to either 1 minute or 3 minutes but the turbo timer will only activate if it's at a certain temperature.
With a turbo car u need to let the oil recirculate out of the turbo when its really hot. If u get the turbo really hot and park it the oil sits and sluges everything up. Its more to prolong the life of ur turbo. Can u get by without 1 sure. If u have one ur turbo will last way longer so its not pointless.
The point of the "performance filter" is that its cleanable and lasts a lifetime. Yes its expensive at first but it will pay for itself in the long term since it wont need replacing.
I think the whole trend of “tiktok” quick release stuff with those cheap NRG wheels is dumb but I honestly hate most stock wheels (especially cars from the 90s) and highly prefer the feel and look of Nardi wheels. I understand the airbag part but that’s something I have to get over.
engineering explained did a video on drop in filters and was able to get 4hp increase from performance filters. Obviously this is variable to the car iirc the car used in testing was a forester.
No worries! I checked it out and some pretty interesting results, I also think it had to depend on the car that the filter is being swapped out in that had thr largest impact as well
tbh theres a bunch of better things you could have talked about being terrible/wasteful to add to a daily driver. coilovers being a great example where a lowered spring might be a better choice for a daily driven car. instead of just flat out saying fixed back seats are shit, you maybe could have touched on the fact there are heaaappps of awesome recliners that are comfy and still offer some support for track use or when you want to play around on a twisty road. crazy loud exhausts are another really good point, ever tried to do a 4hr trip with an exhaust that would wake the dead? yeah i'd want to kill myself after that too.
Never said that theyre shit, but thwyre not ideal for a daily driven car IMO, most that people buy are also not DOT approved so in the event of an accident you risk snapping your seat in half. But agree with the exhaust aspect, shit is awful 😂
Isn't any aero mod, whether it's functional or not, objectively pointless for a daily driver aside from aesthetics? Professionally calibrated aero can shave tenths on the track at the limit but on the street they are just shiny objects people buy to break necks. Not hating on it, just disagreeing about them ever being a good mod for a daily regardless of quality.
For those who aspire to take their daily out to the track on the weekends or turn them into street cars or track cars functional aero is a better place to spend the money rather than a bolt on splitter that only attaches to the pump using self tapping screws. Functional aero for a sole designed driver yes inwould agree but for those who want to build the car over time, spending thr money on real aero is a better purchase imo
Subaru should have kept the engine shroud/vents on the hood. This could have been a saving grace to help heat soak. I’m not saying it will cure that issue but it will help the heat escape. Just another way for them to make everyone have to buy more blocks smh.
He's wrong on the airbox. There is another channel where a guy dyno tested vehicles with various airboxes, and the k&n did add 6hp vs. the stock filter. Not a huge gain, but much more than the .5 hp this guy claims.
I retracted what I said about the gains in a few other comments I also overlooked the fact that they can be cleaned a number if times and reused, i firmly beilive manufacturers inglate their numbers for market claims though.
The people downvoting this video are the types to buy an Autozone hood scoop and stick it to their roof. 🤣🤣🤣
I hope no one falls that deep into the wrongful mods 😅
@@Smeedia please help
Whats up 👀
I bought a scoop at Autozone and clued it onto the Roof... whats wrong with that? Its may money and I spend it how I want...
@@NapFloridian help me with food
Engineering explained did a video on filters for his Crosstrek and made almost 5hp more than oem filter.
I'll have to check that one out 🔥
Was going to bring this up; upvoted.
This is true. Tested a BMC filter on a bone stock GTI and it averaged 8hp increase on a MAHA Dyno.
What oil filter do you recommend? 😳
5 HP is not worth a fight with your Subaru dealer if something goes wrong.
Favorite Mods for my Daily:
-Custom Reupholstery (seats, floorliner, headliner)
-Upgraded Sub+Speakers
-Wheels/Tires
-Window Tint
-Piggyback Tuner (1 map for MPG, 1 map for racing, 1 map for friends/family)
Tint is a good one to add, no one likes driving in a fishbowl
@@Smeedia It's so important to ask your installer 'how will this affect driving at night'; saved me a couple $$$ going with a less dark tint than I thought I wanted.
@@scottymonochrome3795 Look into light sensitive tint that can change opacity depending on light ( darker in sun )
@@Smeedia I love super clear windows!
6 Mods That Are A Waste Of Money For A Daily Driver
6. quick release steering wheel 0:43
5. fixed back seat/race harness 2:56
4. high flow panel air filters 5:19
3. turbo timers (on watercooled turbos) 6:36
2. useless aero 8:24
1. fake vents/shrouds 10:34
🔥🔥🔥
You the real MVP
clutch
yes but think about how cool all of those make your car look
All the hot boi points
Wanted to correct myself, I do retract what I said about the drop in filters. I totally spaced that they are resuable and cleanable. Although power numbers are still inflated 🤷♂️
Point of getting them is cost effective. $80 for 10 years is a plus rather than change a disposable one every year for $25
shame about the power not being as advertised. i kinda like the idea of keeping the stock airbox.
Was looking for thus comment
When your daily is so old the steering wheel doesn’t have a steering wheel air bag 😈
🔥🔥🔥
drive like an old lady. be safe.
frfr it's good you mentioned the safety with quick disconnect steering, bucket seats etc.
Theyre not meant for street applications and can be mkre dangerous than they are in a real world accident. Wouldn't want to see anyone get hurt!
@@seemlesslies yes good points
Jacob Ingram
They also aren’t designed for use without a helmet and neck brace deal. They don’t stretch in an accident (as commercial 3 points do which is why you are supposed to replace them after a bad accident) so you can really mess up/snap your neck.
That “DOHC i V-TECH” sticker will make your ‘95 d15 Civic so fast!
+32 WHP
Instead of speed I would focus on comfort on the daily driver.
Me: feeling attacked as I watch this on lunch in my 02 wrx that has fixed back bucket seats and a quick release...
Also Me: Hes not wrong tho....
Theyre not bad mods to have, just not the best for a daily or street car 😅
Also whats for lunch? 👀
quick release steering isn't so bad for daily cars tho. whenever you park the car you can just pop it off and bring it with you into the house/workplace or just hide it in the trunk to deter any car thieves
What if a car theif brings his own steering wheel? 👀
Its more or less the safety aspect or removing air bags and driving around public roads with them off.
@@Smeedia what are the chances of that happening? i doubt car thieves will be that "professional", especially in my country. idk about the us tho
@@sammylam1649 I used to take the steering, tires and engine with me into work, but one day my idea was foiled by a steering wheel, tire, engine carrying thief. They're becoming smart my man!
I agree with you about the seat. Those seats looks cool, but is so uncomfortable especially on look trips. And it’s hard to get head while driving on those seats.
Not gonna lie, just drove 2.5 hours back from the track today and my Sparco QRT Evo seat is wayyyyy comfier than my stock STI seat.
Some aftermarket seats are not too bad, some that ive had are awful. I use to have the Sparco sprints a few years back and they wrecked me 😂
@@Smeedia I don't doubt it. I added some additional cushions and the thing cradles you nicely. I will say, when i do go to the store or drive it around town, it's not the most graceful getting out..... but #racecar.
Those Shoe laces being so long is a pointless converse mod😂😂. I’m always doing double knots to keep em short 😭
I need to cut them but everytime I do they turn into like 40 shoe laces because they fall apart 😅
@@Smeedia use a lighter/open flame and itll melt the ends shut. your welcome
Ohhhhh you right 🔥
When I needed a new panel filter I was recommended an HKS super hybrid. Totally worth the price being washable and it even fit the airbox better than the OEM filter. It's probably saved me money in the long run instead of buying new oems every 6 months.
I totally spaced on thr cleaning and reusabiliry aspect of panel filters, retract my statements about them with the exception of manufacturers inflating their numbers 🔥
the only issue I have with them is that I hear since they are "higher flow" most people don't understand that also means they do less filtering and more debris can get into your engine. I understand most people using them clean them regularly and probably don't mind but for daily drivers I still think it might be a bit of a waste.
@@supercattelephone just because they flow more doesn't mean they do less filtering. A filter can be made with better materials and design and flow more while still being an effective and efficient filter.
7:05 It's not common, but there are examples of turbos flowing into turbos. Usually it's a small turbo paired with a larger one to try and offset lag.
One thing people dont realize is if you're not running a cage, harnesses are deadly compared to a regular 3 point.
Subaru’s in general usually come with shit speakers so that was the first thing I did. I should be getting a head unit pretty soon 🤙
Very vsry true! The OE ones are garbage
As someone who removed an airbag from a car, it's not worth it. I put an aftermarket Corbeau plaid racing seat in my MK7 GTI... then I needed the seat airbag. I ended up with 3 broken vertebrae and a broken tailbone.
I'm ok now, but trust me when I say it's not worth it.
Right up there with removing the air bag is people that run harnesses and a harness bar (with out a cage) on the street. It makes a side impact that you would normally walk away from potentially deadly ☠️
Yesssss, or bolting the harness to the back of the seat, neither of which are good options to do
Great list! I was so guilty of the air filters when I was ricing out Hondas. I so believed it added 5-10 HP to my NA 140 HP Integra. 🤣🤣
I actually watched your splitter mounting videos after bring up aero. You did that install soooooo professional. Usually any "car specific" pre drilled body panel is no where near right and needs a ton of work.
I did get a kick out of the Neon having just about all of these. 🤫
Haha the poor neon 😅 it needs a some attention to get it proper again. And I'm all for aero mods just as long as they're mounted properly l. And we've all been guilty of some of these mods 😅
Tanner, what about big stock location turbos (FP Black etc)? To each his own (I remember your yellow STI with the FP Black), but having an anemic power-band below 5k RPM is not great for daily traffic. Yes, I think about a bigger turbo but think I'll regret it if I do. Any thoughts?
Honestly the black was a far better dd turbo than my rotated set up. Was actually usable power. Even an FP Green or red would be a great choice
@@Smeedia cool. Good to know. Thanks man. Always appreciate your feedback.
It may be different for the FA series engines but if you have an EJ stay clear of any intake mods other than a drop in filter.
On an EJ an intake will actually hurt performance if you don't also get a tune and even then don't expect much, if anything, unless you are also putting on a bigger turbo.
That can be said for any EJ or FA car, a tune is always going to be needed whenever you change airflow or fuel. I'd still suggest an intake to someone though as long as they have an AP. The stock intake will create a bottle neck
Best mods:
Neon lights
Carbon fibre hood
Big obnoxious spoiler
Rocket bunny kit
*Lamborghini doors
@@Smeedia oh i forgot
On the seats and harnesses thing. Harnesses are actually dangerous unless you wanna wear a HANS device and helmet while daily driving.
Glad I haven’t wasted my money on any of those thanks for the reassurance haha
😁😁😁😁
As a frs owner.
The drop in air filter has been proven to be true.
1. For the K&N drop in filter dyno results do show a +5 peak hp gain.
But 2.
Dyno sheets do show that CAI do less or just as much as a drop in filter. So you're wasting more money for something that makes as much as a high flow filter.
And 3.
You save money by not having to change the filter, just wash it and you're good to go.
A tow truck , best mod for a Dodge Neon
Well, you might as well call any engine mods for more power a complete waste of money for a non-track car, given what the legal speed-limits are.
The street vs track car idea is partially why I’m happy staying at Stage 2. There’s no point dumping thousands of dollars more into my STI before getting used to the current power on a track.
Agreexd, fond the weak points of the car and go from there 🔥
I disagree with the high flow air filter. They’re reusable! Spend the $35 and have it for years. I’ve had mine for 4 years now and I clean it every 12k miles. I’ve saved over $120. Of course, that’s just my opinion. I’m cheap! Haha!
I did not even think about the cleaning aspect and re usability of them! Good info to add into it though! 🔥
Dry flow filters are the best. You don’t have to worry about over oiling the filter after you clean them.
Marcus Antonius Dry filters are very practical but from my experience with them, K&N’s oiled filters seem to provide more power gain than dry ones.
I own an IS250 and my brother has an IS200t and I’ve researched into filter kits for both cars and from these two, K&N seems to put out the most gains on the dyno opposed to AEM’s dry filter.
Now for my NA V6, air filter doesn’t make much of a difference but my brother’s turbo does see a substantial peak increase of 32...? horsepower. Which is pretty damn impressive.
Just don’t over-oil it and they are the best investment you can make on your car 👍🏼
i totally agree with everything you said for most cars.. on that note most use harnesses to hold them in the seat in order to retain a normal/stock seat. and us old schooler's dont have air bags and the steering wheels are not in the optimal position if your taller than your average jdm driver same applies to the seat. and life isnt alwayys comfortable..lol love the vids my guy
You got me with the older car aspect, if theyre not there then by all means I day go for it. 😅 appreciate the support 🙏
Best mods for a daily
Rims
Stereo system
Tints
Keep it clean
The only reason you should have a quick release steering wheel is if you have a roll cage with racing seats and a harness.
Agreed 🙏
Truth. I loved all of your comments and I wish more people would listen to this logic. Thank you!
Apprefiate the support snd trying to help out where I can 🙌
Jokes on you my car never had airbags, especially in the steering wheel. my seat belts only retain with the door open. It's N/A (wtf is a turbo timer). Cars a square block (aero who?) And fake anything is just rice.
#7 A Subaru! Soft just like the cars.
Personally I think cold air kits are a noise maker and nothing else. They cost $300+ and then the cost of a tune or retune. The factory air box is rated for up to 400 hp.
I knew I shouldnt have bought harnesses, fixed seat, and a quick release wheel for my geo metro 🤣😂🤣😂🤣
Best Geo on the block 🔥🔥🔥
Low key like geos....
Pretty much agree on everything except on air filters. Having a washable air filter saved me a lot of money in the long run by having to just wash it every 5-10kms or so. I got a stainless steel mesh air filter so I wouldn't need to oil it. Just water and light soap would do. This is much better than always buying a new one twice or thrice a year.
In other comments I retracted what I said on air filters 🙏 I totally forgot that they are washable and can be re used.
@@Smeedia I do agree that they bloat the power numbers though 😅 I never really thought a replacement filter would do that much 😁
A humbling experience, glad RUclips gave me a reality check LMFAO
Push a car by rotating the tires rather than pushing the whole car. It’s easier. Don’t remember where I learned that, but it’ll save your legs, arm, and back a lot of aches.
Started doing this and it's a life saver!
#3 just get a k&n, like $50 but you never have to buy another one
To an extent, you can only clean them so many times. But not a bad option, did not even think of that
@@Smeedia overall it still costs less, supposed to filter better but I could care less oem does plenty good
@@Smeedia Also, for the brz/86 specifically, Bob from Drift Office says that a high flow drop in filter is all you need up to a certain WHP since it's designed well from factory. I pretty much only did headers, K&N filter, and a tune from bob when I had an 86 to get rid of the torque dip and a tiny bit more power.
I went with a K&N, just so I dont have to fight with the stock air box (as much).
Thank you.
Turbo timer isn’t a bad option for some, I had no clue about beating on a turbo car then just shutting it off years ago.
True, it can help and they never hurt. I just think thr money could be spent better elsewhere
*bought my car for $3000*
*Spend $65 aftermarket shift knob*
*$70 DC 5 floor mats*
*$15 double din kit*
*$10 wiring harness*
*$150 cleaning detailing products the car still has scratches and looks crappy :' ( wasted the most money on that*
*Invested almost $400 already : (*
Thats not too bad so far 🙏
@@Smeedia
I was thinking about wasting money on LED lights for the Taillights headlights reverse lights licence plate dome map lights but idk yet
I did just buy a front splitter I don't know if it works but it looks cool. Glad I didn't pay a lot of of money for it 🤷♂️
Mount it up to the chassis and you should be good! 🔥😁
@@Smeedia thanks
Bigger cup holder for your 40 ouncer
I really wish I was taught about cars instead of being self taught... it’s expensive to self teach a lot of “learning the hard way” but I love cars
Ive learned the hard way too many times 😅
I'm in the same boat. Its expensive and very time intensive.
The air filter one is good in my opinion, K&N are highflow. They don’t need to be replaced like normal filters, which can save you money, because you don’t need to keep replacing your airfilter, buy a K&N for €50 and clean it every 40k miles for like €5 per clean, or get a new one every 10k for 10-15, after 50k miles, you are cheaper off with a K&N and it basically has free better airflow
I retracted what i said abkut the drop in filters in a few comments. I overlooked the fact they can be cleaned 😖
My seats are already uncomfortable for 2+ hour road trips
I just watched your things to not do with a boosted car video and im in love with your channel lol
Eyyy thank you Shane!
I think modifying Gauges, Shifter, body parts, is a waste of money. Everything else such as, suspension, spoilers, exhaust, etc, is completely fine.
Gauges and shifter parts are good parts, IMO. Gauges are critical as well to know whats going on with the engine
Was scared to watch this and was hoping my mods weren’t on this list and they weren’t 😂
Made it through 😅🔥
As always, very helpful content
Working on that one, easier said than done but should be out next week 😁
Im really happy that in this video you acknowledged that its ok to do things to do YOUR car just for looks. Too much shaming going on from both the aesthetic and performance sides of the car scene a lot of the time.
Oh yes by all means, your car your moneh do what you wish, some people do some of the mods for the looks and there is nothing wrong with that at all 🔥 just trying to help people avoid buying the cheaper variant to only buy the functional one later on so they're not double spending on the same part. I've done it before and have wasted enough money that I hope I can helo someone avoid the same pitfall 😅
Apparently the injen cold air intake for the FRS actually reduces power
More restrictive?
Smeedia I’m not sure what exact intake model it is but I guess it is, I never had it but a guy I work with did and said the dyno showed a reduction and I’m assuming he was properly tuned
Since you have a carbon fiber wing, I want to ask you from your personal experience...does it fade when in sunlight excessively? My buddies told me carbon fiber fades in sunlight, do you protect yours, or just don’t let your car chill in the sun unnecessarily?
As long as you take care of it, it will last a long time. I ceramic coated mine for extra UV protection 🙏🙏
After the engine is shut off the turbo will continue to run through the turbo. Bro...turbo timers are life savers. Turbos utilizing coolant haven’t been around as long as the oil cooled turbos. The reason oil is such an issue is because of carbon buildup in lines, etc. you beat the shit out of your turbo car and shut it down it still has hot oil in those lines. When it cools, depending on oil quality, will lead to coking of the oil lines leading to starvation of oil. I’d say the biggest waste of money on the old ej’s would be a bov. Unless you were running over 25psi the aftermarket bov is a weak point and will leak over time. Not applicable to this video, but some info for yah from IAG.
There are so many hidden puns in here. I love it.
😉😉😉
I can't agree more on the quick release wheel. I cringe every time I see a 02-05 WRX with the factory Momo wheel swapped out for some crappy NRG without air bag or cruise control
Yesssses, the MoMo wheels are being hard to find and are already great wheels!!!!
yeah, i agree. if you can easily get into and out of your car you dont need it imo. i was asking my friend why he got a qd steering wheel for his miata that he doesnt track and he told me it was a theft deterrent along with some hidden kill switches. someone tried to steal his car twice.
in essence, dont rice out your car
done
Basically don’t be a ricer.
Mods that are a waste of money for a daily driver: *all of them*
Interesting list and perspective on ineffective mods for a daily driver. By and large I agree 👍 with you and especially agree on steering wheels and keeping the “life saving” airbag. Regarding seats if premium brands don’t use hard as a rock 🧱 racing seats for daily drivers there is probably a dam good reason or reasons. With regards to high flow drop in air filters in the OEM box I somewhat agree where you are talking one time use. Save your $$$. A reusable high flow “dry” filter from a manufacturer like Grimmspeed (“Dry Con”) I think is a different cat, especially when you consider the testing protocol they used, no smoke and mirrors.
As long as there is some proof into what the panel filters are doing I can justify it if it is also re usable and one that you can clean. 🔥
My biggest pet peeve is spoilers on cars that never drive over 120mph....... also, if anybody sees this with a red wrx in las vegas, i'm trying to trade my spoiler and trunk off my sti.
I agree.. just the quick release I would use for security..my car ain't a daily nor track lol. But still a street car.. good vid
What if a theif brought their own wheel 😉 lol jk but they can be a good security measure too
@@Smeedia nrg sell cover that locks into the quick release so no1 can use another wheel ..
@@Smeedia too many damn car thieves where I'm from.. lol
If they aren't using a hans device with that harness they are asking to break their neck in an accident on the street.
Big facts
Especially with a quick release
@@Smeedia I decided to leave the stock wheel in my street legal track miata because I wasn't able to run a harness bar and didn't feel like risking my life. People don't understand that and there should really be a big emphasis on safety in the car modification world.
Don't buy stickers and give free advertisements unless they are paying you to do so like a sponsorship save that space for those people
Agreed! Haven't really done any of that thus far! 🔥
Hold up, you have a SRT4? I went from a CSRT4 to a Scat pack and am looking to get back to the WRX for the manual option. Is it comparable? I loved my Caliber so much, it was so much fun and am looking to get that back with a car that has more of a part availability.
Ours hasent ran in years but we do have one 🔥 gnarly cars 💪
what about swapping the heat shield for a turbo blanket and wrapping the downpipe on the fa20dit stock turbo? question is coming from Texas, btw, ambient is typical 90's for half the year, oil temp for freeway is about 205, wondering if it'd make a noticeable enough drop in engine bay heat and increase air density enough to justify spending and prolonging saving for stage tuning
I agree on everything but the panel filters. It has been shown through multiple different unbiased third party tests that a high quality K&N filter will add power and help acceleration to a measurable and consistent degree. In addition the fact they are washable and reusable means that they work out cheaper if you plan on keeping the car for longer than 3 years. An aftermarket intake will likely make a larger difference but also means more nvh, cost and potential for complications. Also the car should really be retuned, which dramatically adds to the cost involved if you want to retain good reliability.
WRX owner mod package
Wing Stabilizers
Mudflaps
Hella Horns
Cobb Stickers
I got fixed back seat because I have back issues
They do help with posture
absolutely loving how frequent these vids are! just bought an 08 impreza myself
Thank you! And hatchback or sedan?! 🔥😁
@@Smeedia Gold Hatchback NA Manual, cant wait for smeedia stickers
"not fake aero" *has a trunk mount*
Pretty solid trunk mount wing if i can shake the entire car with it
Hey man great video! I was wondering how it is to daily a car with aftermarket hood vents? Is it impossible to keep the engine bay clean and dry or not that bad? Would love some feedback. Thanks!
Not bad, have the vents placed between the engine and frame rail so water just drains to the ground 🥳
I mean call me crazy but if you just chill out for say the last 5-10 min of your drive turbo timers have mostly always been obsolete..... just don’t drive her hard and put her away wet
Let's be realistic here. People will do whatever they want to their car, no matter who warns them. Let them suffer the concequences and leave them in the dust while driving your slow daily driver. Besides, people need to work on their driving skills more than modifying their car.
How many cars do you have? Isn't that a HUGE waste of money too? Also, please, this isn't a marathon in uttering as many words as possible.
Good video content, even if totally opinion based. I would love to have seen examples of the things you were talking about like the racing seats, quick release hub, useless vents, etc. It would drive home your point and add production value to your videos. Spending some time editing would make it look less like you're just filming these on a tripod in your garage.
Appreciate the feedback, but using what I have to get clips the the only ones I did not have examples of were the quick release hub and fake aero/shrouds. And that's the point of the small B roll shots trying to break up the tripod usage. But filming everyone as a 1 person crew i don't have much of a choice outside of a tripod
@@Smeedia Fair enough. Work with watcha got. I'm still subbed and following so you're doing something right.
@@junglemassive10 appreciate the feedback and always try to work on what i can from everyone. Any other production style things that you come up with frel free to shoot them over! Appreciate the support as well! 🔥
I once installed a high flow filter and let me tell you my car was happier than ever!!! .......
Maybe it had something to do with the fact the oem filter was never replaced by the first owner, and it was full of crap?... yeah, most likely that...
This came up on my suggestions page. Just found the channel and definitely subscribed. Super high quality video! I also agree with you on every account.
For example, I run cheap paper panel filters on my car. High pleat count and preferably with a metal mesh. My K&N filter was very disappointing and got my intake oily.
People say they are over oiled from factory, but either way I don't think they are worth the cost at all. Plus the paper filters I just blow out with compressed air!
Spot on with the steering wheel and seat too. Lots of discomfort and reduced safety. Just get some OEM upgrades from a later car, especially with Subaru.
Appreciate the support and the feedback! 😁🔥 I'm just not a huge fan or removong some of the saftet aspects of the car if someone will be constantly driving them on the street 😅
Honestly I think motor mounts are probably the worst mod for a daily driver. It completely ruins the feel of the car most of the time. Yeah sure you can feel the power much better but bruh. come on.
Arguably anything cosmetic is a waste of money for a daily. As a matter of fact most mods are a waste of money for a daily UNLESS they improve drivability of a particular car. And with the WRX/STi there’s many mods that do improve the drivability.
100% agree, the astehics of the car are primary just what we like but are arguably a waste as well
Smeedia - indeed. I also think lower springs/coils are a waste. I tell all my car buddies who daily their baby’s to keep stock height. Especially here in NYC. One pothole and it’s over. Goodbye S209 lip :P
Ohhhh good point, up here its not too bad to deal with
ha ha coilovers and big wheels = the best excuse to drive slower then usual on the same shitty road you drive on every day .
if it mounts to your pathetic excuse of a car using 3M tape . it s not allowed for use on public roads in countries that have road safety standards .then it s not a mod but rather a piece of garbage that will land on a car as it rips off of yours .
if you put pokish chrome wheels on your time attack build , no one can help you
3M tape never holds body panels on very well, but 100% agree with that 🙌
How does one properly use the front fog light vents? Are you saying we gotta buy some ductwork and route it into the wheel shrouds or something?
Turbo dont have water flowing through if the turbo isn't moving but timer is silly. Your car is hot and needs to cool anyways. And some places it is so cold it cools so fast. It is just a car.
I guess it depends on the car, my STi has an upper turbo reservoir, as pressure decreases in the system it flows from the upper reservoir down through the turbo
And we wonder why i am waiting on any cosmetics for the car. If it doesn't add to what I am doing to her now then I am not wasting my money on useless items.
Of all the things you talked about i expected the spoiler to #1 & you didnt even talk about it. Isnt a high wing spoiler or most spoiler only functional at like 120-150+ mph?? Them high wing spoilers are not only ugly as sin theyre easily the biggest waste of money when most of the worth having ones are thousands of dollars. Theyre ment for 100% track cars not your daily. Youd need like 3 hrs in a windtunnel to dial in a high mount properly & thats like $700. Or do a coastdown test to adjust the drag yourself... but even properly installed you might get better fuel economy but on a car like the sti i doubt its even 4 extra mpg
I debated adding it in, but lumped it all into bad aero, the STI will be put on the track now that they're opening back up but yes for daily drivers they don't serve a purpose or use other than for looks
if you remove the steering wheel for a quick release you should get a harness and all to kinda of replace the safety you took away
Any aero on a Daliy driver street car is a waste of time if u are not going to the track to get up to speed for it to actually work u are not going to get any effect from it on the street
Good info about the turbo timer! I have a friend that keeps trying to push that for me. Now I can tell him what you said because it makes sense!!!! Whoooooo
Anytime! And they're fairly pointless for most cars. Appreciate the support 🙌
My car has a factory turbo timer, I can set the switch to either 1 minute or 3 minutes but the turbo timer will only activate if it's at a certain temperature.
With a turbo car u need to let the oil recirculate out of the turbo when its really hot. If u get the turbo really hot and park it the oil sits and sluges everything up. Its more to prolong the life of ur turbo. Can u get by without 1 sure. If u have one ur turbo will last way longer so its not pointless.
ITS THE OIL TO THE TUEBO BEARINGS NOT THE COOLANT FLOW . OUL FLOW STOPS AS SOON AS YOU TURN IT OFF.
The point of the "performance filter" is that its cleanable and lasts a lifetime. Yes its expensive at first but it will pay for itself in the long term since it wont need replacing.
I retracted what i said abkut the drop in filters in a few comments. I overlooked the fact they can be cleaned 😖
I think the whole trend of “tiktok” quick release stuff with those cheap NRG wheels is dumb but I honestly hate most stock wheels (especially cars from the 90s) and highly prefer the feel and look of Nardi wheels. I understand the airbag part but that’s something I have to get over.
Thr Nardi wheels and the keys are top teir for aftermarket but totally done blame you
I can only justify the harness cause I do take my baby out to the track at least twice or 3 times a month
engineering explained did a video on drop in filters and was able to get 4hp increase from performance filters.
Obviously this is variable to the car iirc the car used in testing was a forester.
reeee someone else has already made this comment i appologise!
No worries! I checked it out and some pretty interesting results, I also think it had to depend on the car that the filter is being swapped out in that had thr largest impact as well
tbh theres a bunch of better things you could have talked about being terrible/wasteful to add to a daily driver. coilovers being a great example where a lowered spring might be a better choice for a daily driven car. instead of just flat out saying fixed back seats are shit, you maybe could have touched on the fact there are heaaappps of awesome recliners that are comfy and still offer some support for track use or when you want to play around on a twisty road. crazy loud exhausts are another really good point, ever tried to do a 4hr trip with an exhaust that would wake the dead? yeah i'd want to kill myself after that too.
Never said that theyre shit, but thwyre not ideal for a daily driven car IMO, most that people buy are also not DOT approved so in the event of an accident you risk snapping your seat in half. But agree with the exhaust aspect, shit is awful 😂
Isn't any aero mod, whether it's functional or not, objectively pointless for a daily driver aside from aesthetics? Professionally calibrated aero can shave tenths on the track at the limit but on the street they are just shiny objects people buy to break necks. Not hating on it, just disagreeing about them ever being a good mod for a daily regardless of quality.
For those who aspire to take their daily out to the track on the weekends or turn them into street cars or track cars functional aero is a better place to spend the money rather than a bolt on splitter that only attaches to the pump using self tapping screws. Functional aero for a sole designed driver yes inwould agree but for those who want to build the car over time, spending thr money on real aero is a better purchase imo
Subaru should have kept the engine shroud/vents on the hood. This could have been a saving grace to help heat soak. I’m not saying it will cure that issue but it will help the heat escape. Just another way for them to make everyone have to buy more blocks smh.
Reduces hood air pressure
He's wrong on the airbox. There is another channel where a guy dyno tested vehicles with various airboxes, and the k&n did add 6hp vs. the stock filter. Not a huge gain, but much more than the .5 hp this guy claims.
I retracted what I said about the gains in a few other comments I also overlooked the fact that they can be cleaned a number if times and reused, i firmly beilive manufacturers inglate their numbers for market claims though.