$4k as additional down -- or mods? If so which mods? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Van · 08-24-2009, 05:47 PM

So I'll have $24k to put as a down payment on the Camaro. I've been comtemplating as to whether or not to put only $20k down and use the 4k for other things....

I know eventually I'd like to do a big HP mod on the car...probably using the single turbo setup, but just not sure because that's going to be 3-5 years down the line. If I did any engine stuff now...it'd probably be a cat-back for the time being to eliminate any compatibility issues with the "big mod" later on and to make sure I won't have any drivetrain warranty issues for the time being.
I'd like to get painted-on stripes
I'd like to get wheels (not sure on width or brand or anything yet). Thinking of doing something with all four wheels being the same width to allow for rotation.
I'm a big handling/suspension nut, and would like to get the Pedder Xa coilovers w/ a rear sway...basically do a suspension upgrade. Though I'm not sure how bad the car is stock yet to decide what precisely needs to be done.
Or I can say fugg it and go ahead and just put all 24k on the car and pay the thing off early (I plan on financing for 60 mts and paying off in 24-30 mts)

Obviously, 4k isn't going to allow for all of it to be done at once; so what would you all choose to do with the 4k for first mods?

Scrappy Doo · 08-24-2009, 05:50 PM

Sounds like that you want to do a lot to it. Will this be your Daily Driver?

Van · 08-24-2009, 05:57 PM

Yea its a daily...or perhaps 40% Camaro and 60% my truck.

Indpowr · 08-24-2009, 06:01 PM

Your going to need A LOT more than 4k to do those mods..you have expensive taste.

XA run around 1800 dollars.
Nice wheels around 3k (depending on what you go with) Cast will be cheaper
Big HP always means BIG DOLLARS. Single turbo 6995 which right now is pretty good. Most TT kits run around 10k. Assuming you do not break anything.

Van · 08-24-2009, 06:05 PM

I know this...that's why I'm trying to figure out of the list, which to do first. I'll go back and rephrase the original post because it seems apparent that I didn't make that clear.

I can do the wheels alone pretty much...possibly wheels and suspension if I can find a good deal. Or I can do the catback and the stripes and some lighter suspension mods...

etc

etc

etc

Indpowr · 08-24-2009, 06:11 PM

Well we sell custom 3 piece wheels that retail for 5580 for 4200. To give you an idea. I can sell suspension parts but not coilovers yet.

Van · 08-24-2009, 06:15 PM

I'll be looking for a 2 piece or monoblock more than likely...but again...not sure yet. Hoping folks on here can give some opinions and rationale.

Scrappy Doo · 08-24-2009, 06:19 PM

You do have a cool list of things that you are planning. I would keep 4 to 5gs and do some mods right away. the turbo or s/c will wait till warranty is over im assuming. 4gs should get your stripes, a catback, headers, and be well on your way to that set of wheels you want.

TripleB · 08-24-2009, 06:20 PM

It's up to you ultimately, but if it were me I'd put the 20k down..get the painted stripes and exhaust. Next I'd start working on the suspension and sway bars.

zq8colorado04 · 08-24-2009, 06:46 PM

Put the 24K towards the car...the car by itself should be fun for a long time...after it's not as much fun anymore you'll have it paid off and the new mods will make it fun again...

fsuredneck · 08-24-2009, 08:03 PM

There will always be mods. 4K down is 4K less to worry about.

*The_Blur* · 08-24-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fsuredneck

There will always be mods. 4K down is 4K less to worry about.

I'd be more interested in getting the car covered before you start investing in it. I'm sure that you want to enjoy it stock for a bit before you put some expensive pieces of work into it. When the beauty of your new Camaro fades a little, rejuvenate it with some high-quality custom improvements.

Rounki · 08-24-2009, 08:22 PM

I'd put the money down towards the car. Mods are fun and a "must" in my book, but your financing an extra 4 grand for the car. Although it won't be much, you'll be paying extra just to have your car modded a couple months earlier.

glambert1 · 08-24-2009, 08:31 PM

Thats easy on one hand you pay more upfront for less than the car you want , on the other hand you pay less and get the mods you want right away , 24,000 is a lot of money to put down on a car , heck you only put a few thousand on a house sometimes

DarricSS · 08-24-2009, 09:00 PM

How high a monthly payment you willing to have?

If i had that much cash on hand, i would put 7K down have payments of $595 a month and then use the 17K for all the mods you want to do.

Turbo
Headers
Exhaust
CAI
Tune
Wheels
Suspension

All that would probably be around 15K

*Camaro_Corvette* · 08-24-2009, 09:03 PM

Additional down,. IMO, get the car paid off asap. THen you will be able to take your future savings and dump it all on the car.

Mr_Draco · 08-24-2009, 09:22 PM

I would put the $4k on the down payment. The faster it is paid off the more of your paycheck you can save for mods, and the faster you can get rid of all the unnecessary bills you have to pay because it is financed.

Van · 08-24-2009, 09:31 PM

Thanks for all the replies thus far!

I'm leaning towards putting it all on the car...but its hard to not indulge when the money's just....there. I know that coming from the EVO the handling straight away might be something I may not be able to swallow given all the understeer talk.

Perhaps I will put 22k on the car, save 2g's for the pedders. If the car's handling ends up being intolerable, than I'll put it towards some suspension bits. If I can swallow it, than I'll just put the 2k towards the principle.

Mr_Draco · 08-24-2009, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van

Thanks for all the replies thus far!

I'm leaning towards putting it all on the car...but its hard to not indulge when the money's just....there. I know that coming from the EVO the handling straight away might be something I may not be able to swallow given all the understeer talk.

Perhaps I will put 22k on the car, save 2g's for the pedders. If the car's handling ends up being intolerable, than I'll put it towards some suspension bits. If I can swallow it, than I'll just put the 2k towards the principle.

If you are just driving the car around town or back and forth to work you won't really notice the understeer. The only people I've seen comment on it was those who actually put the car on a road course.

DarricSS · 08-24-2009, 09:44 PM

I have not noticed the understeer at all. Most of the articles written are from "pro" drivers that know what the car should feel like. I am not a pro and just drive it and to me feels like it handles pretty dang good.

To me anyways it's a Muscle car that is suppose to go in a straight line, if i wanted autocross performace would have gotten something made for that.

Kilo-9 · 08-24-2009, 09:51 PM

Put it all towards the car...don't give the bank any more interest money than necessary.

franknbeans · 08-24-2009, 09:52 PM

put the 4k down and pay it off quicker.

jeSSe · 09-06-2010, 08:23 AM

its a tough one. ill be in the same situation soon...decent amount of cash and wondering if i should throw it all at the car or save some for some nice rims..ill prob keep the stock tires..plus im figuring to spen 5k or so on my 97firebird formula...any thoughts??

INTIMIDAT3R · 09-06-2010, 08:24 AM

Use it the $4K as an additional down payment. For every grand you put down, your payment drops about $20.

Worry about the mods AFTER the factory warranty expires.

klatterblast · 09-06-2010, 09:29 AM

CAI, headers and tune is the best way to go, 50 more hp with incredible noise.

08-24-2009, 05:47 PM	#1
Van Drives: 2006 EVO MR - 390 @ wheels Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Antonio Posts: 384	$4k as additional down -- or mods? If so which mods? So I'll have $24k to put as a down payment on the Camaro. I've been comtemplating as to whether or not to put only $20k down and use the 4k for other things.... I know eventually I'd like to do a big HP mod on the car...probably using the single turbo setup, but just not sure because that's going to be 3-5 years down the line. If I did any engine stuff now...it'd probably be a cat-back for the time being to eliminate any compatibility issues with the "big mod" later on and to make sure I won't have any drivetrain warranty issues for the time being. I'd like to get painted-on stripes I'd like to get wheels (not sure on width or brand or anything yet). Thinking of doing something with all four wheels being the same width to allow for rotation. I'm a big handling/suspension nut, and would like to get the Pedder Xa coilovers w/ a rear sway...basically do a suspension upgrade. Though I'm not sure how bad the car is stock yet to decide what precisely needs to be done. Or I can say fugg it and go ahead and just put all 24k on the car and pay the thing off early (I plan on financing for 60 mts and paying off in 24-30 mts) Obviously, 4k isn't going to allow for all of it to be done at once; so what would you all choose to do with the 4k for first mods? __________________ 2010 2SS/RS 6spd manual -- Victory Red / Black Leather 1100, Preliminary order accepted 7/27/09 2000, Order accepted by GM 8/13/09 3000, Order accepted by production control 8/18/2009 TPW 9/07/2009 3300, Order scheduled for production 8/24/2009 3400, Order broadcast 9/1/2009 3800, Order produced 9/11/2009 4200, Shipped 9/11/2009 5000, Delivered to the dealer Last edited by Van; 08-24-2009 at 06:46 PM.

08-24-2009, 05:57 PM	#3
Van Drives: 2006 EVO MR - 390 @ wheels Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Antonio Posts: 384	Yea its a daily...or perhaps 40% Camaro and 60% my truck. __________________ 2010 2SS/RS 6spd manual -- Victory Red / Black Leather 1100, Preliminary order accepted 7/27/09 2000, Order accepted by GM 8/13/09 3000, Order accepted by production control 8/18/2009 TPW 9/07/2009 3300, Order scheduled for production 8/24/2009 3400, Order broadcast 9/1/2009 3800, Order produced 9/11/2009 4200, Shipped 9/11/2009 5000, Delivered to the dealer

08-24-2009, 06:05 PM	#5
Van Drives: 2006 EVO MR - 390 @ wheels Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Antonio Posts: 384	I know this...that's why I'm trying to figure out of the list, which to do first. I'll go back and rephrase the original post because it seems apparent that I didn't make that clear. I can do the wheels alone pretty much...possibly wheels and suspension if I can find a good deal. Or I can do the catback and the stripes and some lighter suspension mods... etc etc etc __________________ 2010 2SS/RS 6spd manual -- Victory Red / Black Leather 1100, Preliminary order accepted 7/27/09 2000, Order accepted by GM 8/13/09 3000, Order accepted by production control 8/18/2009 TPW 9/07/2009 3300, Order scheduled for production 8/24/2009 3400, Order broadcast 9/1/2009 3800, Order produced 9/11/2009 4200, Shipped 9/11/2009 5000, Delivered to the dealer

08-24-2009, 06:15 PM	#7
Van Drives: 2006 EVO MR - 390 @ wheels Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Antonio Posts: 384	I'll be looking for a 2 piece or monoblock more than likely...but again...not sure yet. Hoping folks on here can give some opinions and rationale. __________________ 2010 2SS/RS 6spd manual -- Victory Red / Black Leather 1100, Preliminary order accepted 7/27/09 2000, Order accepted by GM 8/13/09 3000, Order accepted by production control 8/18/2009 TPW 9/07/2009 3300, Order scheduled for production 8/24/2009 3400, Order broadcast 9/1/2009 3800, Order produced 9/11/2009 4200, Shipped 9/11/2009 5000, Delivered to the dealer

08-24-2009, 06:20 PM	#9
TripleB SoCal Mayhem Drives: 2010 2SS/RS ABM Camaro A6 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hawthorne, California Posts: 5,397 View My Garage	It's up to you ultimately, but if it were me I'd put the 20k down..get the painted stripes and exhaust. Next I'd start working on the suspension and sway bars. __________________

08-24-2009, 05:50 PM	#2
Scrappy Doo Drives: Taylor Made R11 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: W8n 4 Snow, Minnesota Posts: 4,507	Sounds like that you want to do a lot to it. Will this be your Daily Driver?

08-24-2009, 06:01 PM	#4
Indpowr Account Suspended Drives: Corvette C6 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 7,039 View My Garage	Your going to need A LOT more than 4k to do those mods..you have expensive taste. XA run around 1800 dollars. Nice wheels around 3k (depending on what you go with) Cast will be cheaper Big HP always means BIG DOLLARS. Single turbo 6995 which right now is pretty good. Most TT kits run around 10k. Assuming you do not break anything.

08-24-2009, 06:11 PM	#6
Indpowr Account Suspended Drives: Corvette C6 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 7,039 View My Garage	Well we sell custom 3 piece wheels that retail for 5580 for 4200. To give you an idea. I can sell suspension parts but not coilovers yet.

08-24-2009, 06:19 PM	#8
Scrappy Doo Drives: Taylor Made R11 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: W8n 4 Snow, Minnesota Posts: 4,507	You do have a cool list of things that you are planning. I would keep 4 to 5gs and do some mods right away. the turbo or s/c will wait till warranty is over im assuming. 4gs should get your stripes, a catback, headers, and be well on your way to that set of wheels you want.

08-24-2009, 06:46 PM	#10
zq8colorado04 Drives: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Panama City Beach, Florida Posts: 262	Put the 24K towards the car...the car by itself should be fun for a long time...after it's not as much fun anymore you'll have it paid off and the new mods will make it fun again... __________________ 1100: 10/13/08 3000: 03/26/09 3300: 05/08/09 3400: 05/12/09 3800: 05/25/09 4200: 05/28/09 5000: 06/9/09 6000: 06/09/09 VIN# A9111943 2SS/RS Black on Black with LS3 and a 6-speed Manual

08-24-2009, 08:03 PM	#11
fsuredneck Drives: 2007 Ford Mustang Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kissimmee, FL Posts: 278 View My Garage	There will always be mods. 4K down is 4K less to worry about.

08-24-2009, 08:22 PM	#13
Rounki Drives: 2010 CGM SS/RS IO Int. Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 271	I'd put the money down towards the car. Mods are fun and a "must" in my book, but your financing an extra 4 grand for the car. Although it won't be much, you'll be paying extra just to have your car modded a couple months earlier. __________________ Ron K. XS Power 1 7/8 LT Headers XS Power 3" Cat Back Vmax TB ADM Street Intake H&R Springs Forgestar F14s Tuned by HPT

08-24-2009, 08:31 PM	#14
glambert1 HOMER Drives: 2010 camaro 2LT RS SIM Join Date: May 2009 Location: New York Posts: 527	Thats easy on one hand you pay more upfront for less than the car you want , on the other hand you pay less and get the mods you want right away , 24,000 is a lot of money to put down on a car , heck you only put a few thousand on a house sometimes __________________ ....do it yourself and be proud when you brag about your mods...

08-24-2009, 09:00 PM	#15
DarricSS Drives: '10 Camaro SS Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Gilbert, Arizona Posts: 1,048	How high a monthly payment you willing to have? If i had that much cash on hand, i would put 7K down have payments of $595 a month and then use the 17K for all the mods you want to do. Turbo Headers Exhaust CAI Tune Wheels Suspension All that would probably be around 15K __________________ 2010, SIM, 2SS/RS, LS3, CGM Stripes

08-24-2009, 09:03 PM	#16
Camaro_Corvette 50.335252,6.947103 Drives: Anything with wheels Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 20,292 View My Garage	Additional down,. IMO, get the car paid off asap. THen you will be able to take your future savings and dump it all on the car. __________________

08-24-2009, 09:22 PM	#17
Mr_Draco Drives: 2SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,177	I would put the $4k on the down payment. The faster it is paid off the more of your paycheck you can save for mods, and the faster you can get rid of all the unnecessary bills you have to pay because it is financed.

08-24-2009, 09:31 PM	#18
Van Drives: 2006 EVO MR - 390 @ wheels Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Antonio Posts: 384	Thanks for all the replies thus far! I'm leaning towards putting it all on the car...but its hard to not indulge when the money's just....there. I know that coming from the EVO the handling straight away might be something I may not be able to swallow given all the understeer talk. Perhaps I will put 22k on the car, save 2g's for the pedders. If the car's handling ends up being intolerable, than I'll put it towards some suspension bits. If I can swallow it, than I'll just put the 2k towards the principle. __________________ 2010 2SS/RS 6spd manual -- Victory Red / Black Leather 1100, Preliminary order accepted 7/27/09 2000, Order accepted by GM 8/13/09 3000, Order accepted by production control 8/18/2009 TPW 9/07/2009 3300, Order scheduled for production 8/24/2009 3400, Order broadcast 9/1/2009 3800, Order produced 9/11/2009 4200, Shipped 9/11/2009 5000, Delivered to the dealer

08-24-2009, 09:44 PM	#20
DarricSS Drives: '10 Camaro SS Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Gilbert, Arizona Posts: 1,048	I have not noticed the understeer at all. Most of the articles written are from "pro" drivers that know what the car should feel like. I am not a pro and just drive it and to me feels like it handles pretty dang good. To me anyways it's a Muscle car that is suppose to go in a straight line, if i wanted autocross performace would have gotten something made for that. __________________ 2010, SIM, 2SS/RS, LS3, CGM Stripes

08-24-2009, 09:51 PM	#21
Kilo-9 Dog Is My Copilot Drives: 2011 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,386	Put it all towards the car...don't give the bank any more interest money than necessary. __________________

08-24-2009, 09:52 PM	#22
franknbeans Whipped Drives: 2010 CAMARO Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pittsburgh-ish - PA Posts: 3,695 View My Garage	put the 4k down and pay it off quicker. __________________ Magnaflow Cat back / ROTO-FAB Intake / Whipple Kit / RDP Tune. 580hp - 650Tq

09-06-2010, 08:23 AM	#23
jeSSe my body lie, yet i roam Drives: 07 Tahoe,97 Firebird Formula Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: El Paso Tx Posts: 60	its a tough one. ill be in the same situation soon...decent amount of cash and wondering if i should throw it all at the car or save some for some nice rims..ill prob keep the stock tires..plus im figuring to spen 5k or so on my 97firebird formula...any thoughts?? __________________ ..'i love boobs like jelly loves peanutbutter..:tweetz:

09-06-2010, 08:24 AM	#24
INTIMIDAT3R Account Suspended Drives: '11 2SS/RS L99, '12 2LS LFX Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Malmac A.U.N. Posts: 2,127 View My Garage	Use it the $4K as an additional down payment. For every grand you put down, your payment drops about $20. Worry about the mods AFTER the factory warranty expires.

09-06-2010, 09:29 AM	#25
klatterblast Drives: 2010 camaro 2ssrs blk. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: walker la. Posts: 1,711 View My Garage	CAI, headers and tune is the best way to go, 50 more hp with incredible noise. __________________ T-BONES BLACK 2SSRS TEAM L99 CAI w/ADM scoop,Magnacharged 3.8 pulley,L92 ported heads,ss valves,patriot springs,yella terra rockers,Comp cam,L99 to LS3 conv.ATI super damper,Taylor plug wires,NGK plugs,ARH 1 7/8 lt headers w/Borla stingers,Elite oil catch can,trans cooler,Jannetty built Richmond 4.11 rear end,Spohn trailing arms,front Racing Brake rotors,Hawk hps pads,BMR end links,AACstyle lighting. Thanks to Shane & crew for engine work at Thunder Racing & tuner Jeoff at EPS. 501rwhp-463rwtq ++