Your first car mod?

[the Teuton]

Assuming you just bought a car, new or not, what would be the first thing you'd modify?  Some people seem to have a routine with each new car such as throwing some Ds on the bitch, and others make it up as they go along...

I chose wheels and tires because that's the first thing I bought for my car when I got it, stuff-wise, my WRX wheels (which are still at home in a garage right now  )

[The Pirate]

Depends on the car, but most likely the brakes.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I seem to like cutting holes in airfilter boxes. I just can't afford to do anything else. 

[2o6]

Transmission/Clutch/Flywheel, I want to be able to utalize the power the car currently has.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Transmission/Clutch/Flywheel, I want to be able to utalize the power the car currently has.

What are you talking about?   

[the Teuton]

I seem to like cutting holes in airfilter boxes. I just can't afford to do anything else. 

Besides making a whooshing noise, does it really accomplish anything?

[Eye of the Tiger]

Besides making a whooshing noise, does it really accomplish anything?

No.

[The Pirate]

Besides making a whooshing noise, does it really accomplish anything?

Hey, that whooshing noise is an accomplishment in it's own right! 

[CALL_911]

Depends, but most likely the engine. Power=awesome. 

And maybe a week after that, I would tinker with the suspension and tires.

[Soup DeVille]

Transmission/Clutch/Flywheel, I want to be able to utalize the power the car currently has.

I've never heard of a new car being sold with a slipping clutch or a smoked transmission. Lighter flywheel? Sure, some cars could use one, but I'm not about to rip apart the drivetrain on a brand new car for such a minor performance increase.

First thing I want to do to a new car when I buy it usually involves changing the ECU program somehow. It's relatively cheap, easy to do and undo, and pretty effective on most cars.

Its a useless waste of time on an S2000 though.

Unless of course the car was sold with horribly inappropriate tires (like my Civic was), in that case I might make a call to Tirerack on the way home from the dealer.

[Soup DeVille]

Oh, I failed to se this also included used cars.

In that case, new tires would likely be my first stop. I've never found a used car that wasn't been sold with either worn down/mismatched good tires or cheap off-brand sausage casings.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Oh, I failed to se this also included used cars.

In that case, new tires would likely be my first stop. I've never found a used car that wasn't been sold with either worn down/mismatched good tires or cheap off-brand sausage casings.

Tires seem to be the second thing I usually do, after cutting a hole somewhere in the intake tract.

[Soup DeVille]

Tires seem to be the second thing I usually do, after cutting a hole somewhere in the intake tract.

Holes in the exhaust system are more effective noisemakers.

[MX793]

Oops, I should have read the first post before voting.  I thought the intent was what the first car mod we've ever performed was, not a "what if" question.  As such, I voted stereo (the first mod I did on a car).

If I just bought a car, the first mod would likely be wheels/tires, unless it already had some awesome performance tires on it.

[sandertheshark]

Better tires.

[sandertheshark]

Transmission/Clutch/Flywheel, I want to be able to utalize the power the car currently has.

I dare you to make less sense.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Holes in the exhaust system are more effective noisemakers.

people will hate me, cops will pull me over and it won't pass inspection
if it wasn't for other people, i'd run straight pipes on everything, because i like it

[Laconian]

Uhhh, the first mod was an intake, but my next "mod" will surely be a complete re-do of the stereo. The speakers and the headunit are all shite and need to be replaced. I am not exaggerating, the right door speaker is actually blown to the point of being completely inaudible.

[2o6]

I dare you to make less sense.

Blinkers. Many cars today are not able to signal with ease or with a fluid motion that K&M's $7,000 upgrade can do.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Blinkers. Many cars today are not able to signal with ease or with a fluid motion that K&M's $7,000 upgrade can do.

You should just change the fluid http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=6

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

New car - Wheels and tires
Used car- Stereo

[Raza]

I chose suspension, but that's only if the car already has plenty of power.

[hotrodalex]

I chose suspension, but that's only if the car already has plenty of power.

Same here. Even if the car has a normal amount of power, I like doing suspension first. That way when I mod the engine, the suspension can handle it and I won't run it off the road.

[sportyaccordy]

I go through the same routine with every car

Suspension (springs/shocks)
Intake/Exhaust
Audio

From there I start to attack specific weaknesses like brakes, engine choke points etc. I cannot leave my cars stock

[NomisR]

Others - Safety Equipment.

Harness and HANS device, and probably a upgraded rear toe brace because they're also prone to failure. 

[ChrisV]

Depends on the car, and the intent of the purchase. Some cars are intended to be DDs, and may not get much of anything. Some cars are meant as performance cars and the mods depend on how they start out. Some cars are meant as race cars, and the mods depend on the racing class. Some cars are meant as show cars, and the mods are dependant on what design criteria I am going with (is it going to be a mild custom or a full custom?).

There is no pattern I ever use for my cars.

[Vinsanity]

I chose wheels/tires because the ones on my car look pathetic. It's like putting on a pair of plain old Chuck Taylor's on a girl who should be wearing Prada's.

To be honest, though, with the weather we're having out here, I should really get the windows tinted before anything else.

I'd also love to see a two-tone paint job on the car with some interior customizations I'm afraid to mention on this board, but that would put me in a position where I should've just bought a CTS-V instead

edit: I'd also like to upgrade to all the cutting-edge entertainment goodies the new CTS has as well, but I'm better off waiting to trade up for a newer one.

[sportyaccordy]

I chose wheels/tires because the ones on my car look pathetic. It's like putting on a pair of plain old Chuck Taylor's on a girl who should be wearing Prada's.

To be honest, though, with the weather we're having out here, I should really get the windows tinted before anything else.

I'd also love to see a two-tone paint job on the car with some interior customizations I'm afraid to mention on this board, but that would put me in a position where I should've just bought a CTS-V instead

Are you from one of those places like Bankhead or Houston...???

[Vinsanity]

Are you from one of those places like Bankhead or Houston...???

LOL nope, SoCal born and raised, but I did spend 3 years living in GA

[MrH]

It wasn't the first mod I did to my car, but one of the first few.

I'd most likely go with a shorter shifter, heavier shift knob, and new shifter bushings.  Hands down one of the cheaper mods I've done, and one of the more noticable ones too.  Everyday, I'm glad I did it.  No more trucker shifts for me.