True story, but that's why he feels he's on a high horse. His car responds to mods better than ours, but that's par for the course when you're factory turbo'd.

Your friend is right. What I did first were my brakes. Now i'm working on suspension mods. You can add just as much acceleration time improving your suspension tune as you can intake/exhaust if done right. The difference is, the suspension tune will be useful throughout the range and will really make your car feel better.
Intake and exhaust are great for aesthetics unless you're doing quarter miles. I prefer the MAF hose mod as it helps keep air cooler going into the intake which has more use. In conjunction with HP filters you get 3-8hp throughout the range, instead of 10-15 hp in the last 200rpm. But if you're on the dragstrip? Thats where you will need high rev power.

N/A applications. The most important things are:
Brakes
Suspension
Cooling
weight reduction.

At the end of the day though... It's your money. Use it how you want to. Opinions are like azzholes.

But $4,000 in breathing mods? (intake, headers, test pipe, exhaust) Or $4,500 in a supercharger? I'll take the supercharger. Or spend an extra grand or two on a single turbo kit.:tup:

On the long stretch you will feel power so now he's kinda trying to discourage confidence in your car...
Get quality coils or get Koni yellow/swift combo. Get eibach sway bar and spl titanium suspension parts. Get michelin pss, bridge RE-11 or NT-05's take out your spare tire, mats,etc. Get even lighter wheels and i bet you his mouth will drop at your speed increase.

He's talkin' shyt cuz he has an F.I car and he has a cost to power advantage, plus he has an off the line, from a stop advantage. But it doesn't mean those advantages mean automatic victory. He'll probably blow his weak azz motor halfway down the track anyway. lol:tup:
You will have an advantage on certain types of road courses etc. Get FI yourself and he's toast.

C/S I've had this crazy exhaust idea.
I've had this idea of replicating the Nismo exhaust out of titanium and without the resonator section. Reason: The nismo can give 5 to 7 hp throughout the range. (better than losing 5hp at the bottom to gain 20hp at the top. IMHO The Resonator eats 3hp, So designing it without resonators would both reduce, weight and add power throughout the range. Sound would be throatier and slightly more metallic. Stock cats and replicated Muffler will keep it from droning. We'd be good for 8/10hp throughout the range. Built out of titanium it would be about 20lbs. :)

we're your ONLY friends. don't listen to other ppl

I'm all for doing whatever you want, but my opinion is unless you are going to race the car, I can't see any point in go fast mods. Mods for ascetics is another matter.

Your friend has a good point. All the basic mods really won't be noticeable until you push your car close to its limits. But that doesn't stop people from getting aftermarket parts. Sure, performance is important, but so is individuality. For instance, I personally get exhaust systems for my cars not because of the minimal power gains (that's a plus, of course), but mainly for the sounds that stir the soul. In the end, you install parts not only to improve your car; you install parts that make you want to drive your car just a little more.

Sounds to me like your friend is scarred your car might be better (faster?) than his if you mod and he is threaten by it.
Honestly, most NA cars do not respond that well compared to a factory boosted car. Which for people who have them (factory boost) do not understand the balance of NA power v price v performance. It can be a bit costly for smaller gains, but at the same time it generates a different response in engine performance, sound, car dynamics, etc.

$4,500 for just 30 hp = not that good
$4,500 for 30 hp, looks, and deep exotic sound = 100 hp on the butt dyno = very happy driver

If he was as big a car enthusiast as you claim him to be, why is he rocking fake $#!+?? If he does do his research he would say no to replicas/knockoffs.

Tell me if these gains are "only" sound...

Fast Intentions 370Z Dyno - YouTube

Modding is a hobby, so you do what makes you feel good. Yes, it's a money pit big time.

He is making a good point about forced induction... get it :)

He dirves a 2011 subaru wrx with a bunch of mods him self lol!
He has COBB tune and COBB intake and turbo heat shield and SPT quad exhaust and he has rota gird replica of volk te37 and he has STI sway bars


^^^
With Those Mods your already close to beating him... He is trying to discourage you from buying mods because he knows the extra 30-40rwhp mods you install will put him in your rearview.

As the official guy who has put more mods on this car than anyone here...

...Mods are like hookers... wait.... thats not right... ohhh yeah they are like renting a place you put down an expensive deposit and depending how good you treat the place and the mileage you might be able to get some of your deposit back!

Enjoy the car!

20 whp from an FI exhaust isn't something to just dismiss. What's too much money for most may be just change to some. A mod is worth it if it makes you want to drive and look at your car more, even just a little.

Mods are a waste. I'll give you my address and you can send them to me instead. I'll pay the shipping even. :tup:

Butt dyno is all that really matters in the end.