The comments about improving the driver are not meant to tease you, that is the real starting point, go and run some autocrosses.
Second, by a long way is get some good tires.
Third, go fast parts.
Seriously, enjoy some time at the wheel and do one improvement at a time.
Time is on your side
Yes I'm glad I have that time all I need is a job to supply me with the money I need haha
GM is hiring. How do you like Missouri? 
You should just assume now, we will later suggest you buy a Miata.
+1 on the tires, maybe some wheels too if you want to get really fancy
Lol thanks guys for your helpful info
Yea I wanna make it be noticed lol
I have the prior gen (99) car with a stick, first 1ZZ equipped model. Its far more entertaining than a FWD Toyota commuter box should be on ok summer tires and decent struts.
That engine with a different tune(gains like 10hp over the standard VVT motor IIRC) was the base engine in the euro market Lotus Elise for years, revvy little thing by Toyota standards.
Really I didn't know that
Wait. Where is Pinchvalve? I think he wants to tell you about his Kia Rondo...
FifthGear2014 wrote:
Yep.. The Toyota zz family is a bunch of buzzy little bastards. I have a 99 as well... But got saddled the slushbox. Can't complain for 150 bucks.
When I first got my car, these are the first things I put into it:
I really regret not taking better care of my car when I first got it. Routine maintenance? I'll get around to it. Here is what I wish I did:
Keeping your car happy is a pretty amazing feeling. It's the difference between "I don't like that sound... time to turn up the radio!" and "Wheel bearing, $50; no biggie."
I don't know much about Toyotas, but I know how to find cheap parts.
Do not buy cheap Ebay coil-overs to slam your car to the ground. Doing that will most likely make it handle worse. See what other factory parts are an upgrade to your car and look there.
A good place to start may be a Corolla S. If the Corolla S has better a suspension, see if you can find one in a junkyard, then pull the complete suspension (mounts, swaybars, shocks, springs, etc.) from it. If you are lucky, the rims may still be there, too, and they will probably plus size you for $100 or so.
Tires are going to make the most difference. If you are on a limited budget, get the best tires you can, don't worry about R-comps or something like that, yet. Decent all-seasons are fine for daily driving in Florida. If you score a second set of rims like I mentioned above, get sticky tires mounted on those and use them only when you're not on public roads to get as much out of them as you can.
Scour Craigslist and the enthusiast forums. Don't be afraid to drive a bit if there is a good deal a little while away, but combine it with another trip (possibly to a junkyard) if you can. The model specific enthusiast forums will also have a wealth of information about your car. Just lurk, read and learn a bit there to see who seems to know what they are talking about vs. people who just want to make themselves heard. Double check any modification before you do it.
As was said earlier, do the routine maintenance on your car and document it. It isn't sexy and it won't make your car faster, but it will keep it from becoming lawn art and it will help you sell the car if you decide later on that is what you want to do. The best suspension, wheels and tires don't matter for diddly if your engine spins a bearing, right? If you don't know how to change your oil, rotate your tires, do the brakes and a tuneup, beg somebody to teach you those things, because it will save you thousands of dollars over many cars through your life.
Enjoy your car, treat it well, and welcome to the board.
My first car had FAR more miles, so be happy you don't already need a clutch like I did. I also needed tires, snow tires, a new exhaust (old one rusted off) and a lot of minor repairs as things succumbed to salt and/or cold. I basically had a day or 2 every spring dedicated to patching rusty areas before they became rusty holes. I made it all the way to resale without a single rust hole.
I'm currently a bit jealous you live in florida 
Yea I'm planning on taking really good care of it before i trade it in on something sportier
Nitrous. Two big bottles.
Haha idk how to install this stuff im new to this kind of stuff
I would suggest autox before anything else. You will learn more about yourself as a driver and your car then anywhere else. Particularly if your local autocross group offers a driving school.
What Civic says is perfect. Drive what you have. When something goes, you can upgrade. When I started playing with the cars, I didn't know how to a damn thing. When its time to do the actual work and you have the tools in your hand, you research and ask questions. Then you learn while you do it.
Don't get frustrated with things you aren't working on yet.
FifthGear2014 wrote: Yea I'm planning on taking really good care of it before i trade it in on something sportier
No, no, no, keep the sleeper you won't get pulled over. RED Miatas however ....
FifthGear2014 wrote: Yea I wanna make it be noticed lol
I know that at your age this sounds like terrible advice … but eventually you'll find that quite often it's better to NOT be noticed … when things go sideways (and they do) it's pretty good NOT to be the first one that get noticed
wbjones wrote:FifthGear2014 wrote: Yea I wanna make it be noticed lolI know that at your age this sounds like terrible advice … but eventually you'll find that quite often it's better to NOT be noticed … when things go sideways (and they do) it's pretty good NOT to be the first one that get noticed
When I first went racing I was all excited to put my name on the car. When I went thru race tech the steward looked at the rookie X on the car, the name and shook his head. "A bit of advice... if you make a mistake out there you want it to take a little time for them to figure out who it was. To cool off. This isn't helping."
It still makes me laugh.
wbjones wrote:FifthGear2014 wrote: Yea I wanna make it be noticed lolI know that at your age this sounds like terrible advice … but eventually you'll find that quite often it's better to NOT be noticed … when things go sideways (and they do) it's pretty good NOT to be the first one that get noticed
when everyone scatters from a party, cops notice loud cars/jacked up beater trucks/sports cars but will assume the 4 door toyota just got caught in the traffic
I agree 100% with the sleeper. I used to street race all the time in Austin. Not that I condone it now, but whatever. I had a white 5 series BMW with nice wheels and slightly lowered. When all the Mustangs, Camaros, Ricers, etc. would go hauling ass, I'd just put-put along and pick up the people who got left and the cops would never hastle me as they were tearing ass after everyone else.
wbjones wrote:FifthGear2014 wrote: Yea I wanna make it be noticed lolI know that at your age this sounds like terrible advice … but eventually you'll find that quite often it's better to NOT be noticed … when things go sideways (and they do) it's pretty good NOT to be the first one that get noticed
Very good advice. My first car was a black Monte SS, and it attracted the attention of every cop in the area. Each time I left Burger King with too much enthusiasm it was treated like the second coming of the Duke boys while my friend could drive his powder blue Escort through a crowded playground unnoticed.
Keep the Corolla for the sleeper factor. Don't rush into "bitchin mods" that may actually do more harm than good. Listen to the lunatics here and you'll end up running faster while keeping more cash in your wallet.
Check out NASA, they have a pretty neat program for learning how to drive on a real track: http://www.drivenasafl.com/
Check out the SCCA Starting Line program as well: http://sccastartingline.com/
Yes those both cost money but it is WELL worth the expense. I didn't know what I was missing until I had a real instructor work with me on a track. Just. Wow. What a difference in how I thought about racing lines and driving technique.
You'll need to log in to post.
