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My take on the best performance mods, and general costs. IMO, in order of importance.
1. Aspire brake swap: ~$200 at the JY; new rotors/brake pads/rear brakes from McParts, $100
1. higher-quality tires and wheels (tie for first place): almost free--Metro steelies from the JY plus much better 4-season 13" tires like General Altimax RT43. I say almost free because you need to replace tires every so often anyway, since they are a wear item. Or buy some nice wheels, $100 used - $400 new, and get good performance tires ($400+ a set).
3. suspension upgrades: low end, Festiva KYBs to replace stock struts front and rear, $200. Stock front springs in rear, free. Aftermarket heavier front springs, or cheap Rio JY springs (cut 1 to 1.5 coils). Coilover setups, $400+.
4. short shifter: best bang for buck, fun-wise! eBay + assorted washers/bushings; many ways to do this. Or modded stock shifter by Gomez. Call it $20-40. Grab a better shift knob from the JY (early 90s Escort or Protege), $0-$5.
5. After doing all this, then look at putting bux into a motor/tranny. Even a stock B6 or B8 will do much better with mods 1-4.
Honorable mention: studs instead of lug bolts; steering wheel cover; variable intermittent wipers, Escort dome light with LED bulb; more gauges, esp. tach.
Bottom line, you can have a ridiculously better and funner Festy for as little as ~$500, before motor changes.
1. Aspire brake swap: ~$200 at the JY; new rotors/brake pads/rear brakes from McParts, $100
1. higher-quality tires and wheels (tie for first place): almost free--Metro steelies from the JY plus much better 4-season 13" tires like General Altimax RT43. I say almost free because you need to replace tires every so often anyway, since they are a wear item. Or buy some nice wheels, $100 used - $400 new, and get good performance tires ($400+ a set).
3. suspension upgrades: low end, Festiva KYBs to replace stock struts front and rear, $200. Stock front springs in rear, free. Aftermarket heavier front springs, or cheap Rio JY springs (cut 1 to 1.5 coils). Coilover setups, $400+.
4. short shifter: best bang for buck, fun-wise! eBay + assorted washers/bushings; many ways to do this. Or modded stock shifter by Gomez. Call it $20-40. Grab a better shift knob from the JY (early 90s Escort or Protege), $0-$5.
5. After doing all this, then look at putting bux into a motor/tranny. Even a stock B6 or B8 will do much better with mods 1-4.
Honorable mention: studs instead of lug bolts; steering wheel cover; variable intermittent wipers, Escort dome light with LED bulb; more gauges, esp. tach.
Bottom line, you can have a ridiculously better and funner Festy for as little as ~$500, before motor changes.
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