My advice.
Don't trust what anyone says: including shops, forum members, dealers, santa claus, or the guy next door with a faster car.
Do your own research. Learn how these things work and what modifying them actually does. If someone tells you something back it up from another source and learn how and why they are right or wrong. Rely on yourself to determine fact from fiction and just plain BS. Learn the correct terminology and use it. Avoid car movies like the plague.
If you have very little automotive experience, it's going to take a long time and lots of reading and research but in the end the results will be worth it. Most of this stuff isn't really complicated, it just takes time and effort to educate yourself and make smart decisions based on your needs and what you KNOW to be true.
Follow the money when considering shop's claims and package results.
If you do your homework, it will be very easy to decide what you want/need for your own vehicle and can compare this with your finances and mechanical skill sets. This is also very helpful if you decide to use a mechanic for installs because when talking with different people you can determine for yourself if they have a clue or not.
Forums can be a great tool but understand that the responses you get about questions are opinion and usually all talk with little actual facts or experience. Most people on these forums have zero idea what they are talking about but seem to know it all. I have noticed this especially on forums based on cars and platforms that cost more to own and modify. They seem to throw money around and forget to do the homework and then get screwed by shops selling snake oil and magic electric superchargers and hp chips.
Determine which members on the forums and the contacts you meet along the way know what they are talking about and share the same goals as you without the BS. Be-friend these people and learn from them and be respectful.
Sometimes the truth hurts and the right direction is rarely the cheapest option.
Nobody knows everything and the majority know nothing.
Get a baseline dyno of your car as close to stock as possible before starting any modifications and weigh the effectiveness of your future mods against this baseline using the same dyno.
Keep things simple and clean and always keep on eye on the vehicle as it ages and the weather changes.
Invest in quality engine monitoring tools such as a wideband AFR, EGT, scanner, etc. This is not optional and not a place to save money.
Warranties and high HP don't mix and quality maintenance is key.
Learn how to drive the vehicle correctly based on your needs, goals and uses and invest in the Driver Mod. After all, these things can't drive themselves. Yet...
Enjoy yourself and your hobby and do everything because you want to and not because someone else did.
