that70machine
Member
- :
- 2002 Mazda Protege5
Hey everyone!
So I was on my daily one-hour commute to work, thinking of all the improvements I want to do to my P5; suspension, turbo, new paint, etc. But being on a very tight budget for the next year or so, I got to thinking that maybe there are small, cheap improvements that can make our cars more well-rounded and pleasant to live with. It's all in the details, after all. For example:
- LED lighting, inside and out. Less voltage, brighter lights, makes the car look more modern.
- Tribute mist nozzles. Better windshield cleaning, simple as that.
- HID Lights. Better road visibility.
- Aftermarket stereo and speakers. Not that cheap but a huge improvement. This would be on the higher end of the "cheap" spectrum.
- Extra insulation. Some door panel/headliner/carpet sound-deadening would quiet things up a bit (at the cost of weight, of course).
- Tinted windows. Practically a necessity here in Florida; keeps cabin much cooler.
- Spare tire removal. Less weight hanging out at the back. Just make sure you have AAA.
- ECU reflash. Smoother power curve and a few more horses for relatively little money. Makes for a nicer drive.
I can't think of anything else at the moment but that's the idea. Some of these items are over $100 (not exactly penny-pinching, I know) but I'm sure there are plenty of bits that can be improved in our Mazdas for cheaper, or even free. Hell, I'm thinking of doing my gray headliner and trim pieces in black to go with the rest of the interior. It's cheap and it'll give the interior a more refined look. That's an improvement in my book.
Anyway, feel free to share your penny-pinching mods!
So I was on my daily one-hour commute to work, thinking of all the improvements I want to do to my P5; suspension, turbo, new paint, etc. But being on a very tight budget for the next year or so, I got to thinking that maybe there are small, cheap improvements that can make our cars more well-rounded and pleasant to live with. It's all in the details, after all. For example:
- LED lighting, inside and out. Less voltage, brighter lights, makes the car look more modern.
- Tribute mist nozzles. Better windshield cleaning, simple as that.
- HID Lights. Better road visibility.
- Aftermarket stereo and speakers. Not that cheap but a huge improvement. This would be on the higher end of the "cheap" spectrum.
- Extra insulation. Some door panel/headliner/carpet sound-deadening would quiet things up a bit (at the cost of weight, of course).
- Tinted windows. Practically a necessity here in Florida; keeps cabin much cooler.
- Spare tire removal. Less weight hanging out at the back. Just make sure you have AAA.
- ECU reflash. Smoother power curve and a few more horses for relatively little money. Makes for a nicer drive.
I can't think of anything else at the moment but that's the idea. Some of these items are over $100 (not exactly penny-pinching, I know) but I'm sure there are plenty of bits that can be improved in our Mazdas for cheaper, or even free. Hell, I'm thinking of doing my gray headliner and trim pieces in black to go with the rest of the interior. It's cheap and it'll give the interior a more refined look. That's an improvement in my book.
Anyway, feel free to share your penny-pinching mods!
