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I just got my 95 850 turbo wagon, its my first car (im 16) and i have 300 bucks to spend on some accesories, i was looking at a k and n intake, or a ipd mesh grill, or a rear deck spoiler. I want to do something, i just cant decide what, I was looking for any suggestions you might have. maybe something one of you have done you felt was a really good choice, worth the mula.
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EvilWally says buy a pillow and a air matress and a hooker and go to town... Break the wagon in right. Its the best 300 dollar you'll ever spend.
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make sure your has recently been changed if not within last (50-70k miles) DO it right away or plan on spending much more than $300 for an new engine.
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How about some INTERIOR neon lights? They cannot be on when driving (dumb cops) but would look cool at the local hangout. I wouldn't add a spoiler, it just makes the cops take notice and turn on their radar guns. For $10 and some elbow grease, wax the car and let it shine, especially the wheels. Girls like clean.
BTW, winding it out in first gear is the best way to shorten the life span of your new car. NEVER go in reverse and into drive with the pedal floored.
Find a driving school in your area (Road Atlanta?) which will teach skid control and cornering skills. Tell your Dad it will make you a safer driver, true.
Klaus
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95 854T, 88 780, 88 245
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NIce first car to have. Mine was a (shared) Chevy Citation: I hope you get more action thereby than I did.
This will sound a bit patronizing, but you asked for advice. Since you are 16, I'd recommend skipping over cosmetic improvements. Has the car been thoroughly checked out? What I'm thinking is maybe it passed a pre-purchase inspection, but what are the brakes (for instance) really like? How tight is the steering? What is the suspension like? Has the timing belt been changed? Those sorts of things are either investments in the car or your safety, maybe both.
But, besides saving your money until a repair or service comes due, you might be best off investing in some driving lessons.
Have fun, enjoy the ride, and don't drive like Steve McQueen.
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ditto, save it for maintenance and repairs. congrats and good luck.
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I am glad you got a sensible car. Too much horse power for a 16 year old, which is why my 16 year old daughter got a 780. I would much rather have a dash mounted CD player than a new air filter which may add 5 more HP. Talk to a dealer or junk yard about trading up radios - about $200.
Get your rear windows tinted in a color you like, keep out the hot sun.
Keep the tranny in sport mode, but remember... speeding tickets and 16 year olds are like magnets. Today was our last day of school and what did I see, a %#%^$^& cop with a radar gun 500 feet from the high school! What a bummer.
Remember, YOU know your car is fast but don't show everyone else how fast it is.
Klaus
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95 854T, 88 780, 88 245
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I'd hold off on spending the $300 on accessories, and spend the money to pay for repairs and service. Things like timing belt service, transmission fluid, and others, for example, especially if you don't have records for your car.
Once the mechanical systems have been verified to be in good condition, I'd then consider spending some money on accessories. It's all up to you though, what your tastes are and how you want to personalize your vehicle.
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'95 854GLT 165k miles
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"I'd hold off on spending the $300 on accessories, and spend the money to pay for repairs and service."
Spoil sport! :-)
Klaus
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95 854T, 88 780, 88 245
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I know I'm a spoil sport...but there's no sense in ignoring the costliness of maintenance and parts... Between $130 blower motors, integrated control arm/balljoints, seat heaters that work only when the phase of the moon is correct, $300 is just a dent in the repairs we've come to enjoy doing.
I guess that's why we have Brickboard--to take on the labor costs ourselves. The whole do-it-yourself mindset becomes a problem in 9 months of winter in Minnesota when I've found myself garage-less in January.
sperryrand
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i already have set aside money for repairs and all that, and i do all my own work so its not as expensive as it is for some. i was just looking for some ideas ON accesories, (not trying to be rude) i would appreciate any ideas.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Stormin Norman
on
Fri Jun 11 02:14 CST 2004 [ RELATED]
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I would do IPD sway bars in a heartbeat, presuming all your maintenance is up to date. Huge improvement in cornering and handling. I would leave the cosmetic stuff alone, I like the 'sleeper' status of Volvos, cuz with the size of my right foot, I don't need anymore attention.
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Gotta agree with Norman. I've had a lot of way fast cars, but I always seemed to prescribe to the adage of putting the money where it counts the most. I've had cars that looked like basket cases but could turn low 12's or high 11's in the quarter. Didn't always help with getting the ladies (they don't like primer gray to much) but I always had a smile on my face when I turned the key.
As to the volves, I would agree that a K&N is a good start, sway bars, a brake kit, etc.. as long as all the base systems of the car are in good order and repair. Although I do think that mesh grill is cool looking, what you spend for that you can get a really good set of brake pads. Plus, being your car is a wagon, you could put together a real sleeper with it and crush those other kids in their tricked out all show and no go Hondas before they even knew what hit them, plus still have all that space in the back for hanging out with your girl.
Oh yeah, and do be careful. The suggestions above about going for a formal performance driving course are right on. Most people think those courses only teach you to drive faster, but they are designed to teach you to drive faster on a course, with other drivers who are also going really fast. If you can do that, you can handle just about anything our highways can throw at you. They teach situational awareness and how to react under certain conditions, not just how to do 4 wheel drifts through turns, heel & toe downshifts, etc.. I was fortunate when I was your age, my father was pretty close to being a professional driver, so he taught me alot. If I didn't have him though, I would have taken a course. You can still have fun with your car without being a menace to the streets, just be smart about it. The people who are doing slaloms through rush hour traffic on the highway at 90+ are the ones that need to be removed from the roads, not the kids running 1/8 mile drags at 3am on deserted backroads.
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