[kev604]

Well Kev, decided to go against everything I have been saying and Im going with an axleback first.
Reasoning... first, tires have about a year of life left still. Id like to get the use out of them before they go in storage.
Secondly, funds aren't there and I don't see myself saving up very quickly with my.. habits. haha
Wheels and everything needed would come out to about $1500 which Im not even half way to yet.
Axleback being only $300 plus some extended hangers will be less than what I already have set aside and I may even be able to put some money towards getting this ink finished.

Wheels will come with next years tax return. I will be making more money and have a much better idea what I want by then. As well I'll have more done performance-wise and feel better splurging with cosmetics.

I hear ya. Just take it easy, I see alot of guys here going crazy mods within 1-2 months of getting the car. I recently added a Injen axleback to my Si too, you'll like the axleback it will look much nicer than stock and alot meaner especially once you open up the throttle and maybe 5-6HP gain isn't bad. Which axleback you plan on getting? When I got my rims I really wanted new tires badly but the stocks were still really meaty and couldn't bare throwing them away so I used them on my new rims. Post up pics once you have the stuff on.

 

[usdmjon]

Sadly I wont be able to use my stock tires going up in wheel size. So Ill just use them for now and upgrade at the end of the year.
I've owned the ilx for a year now. Personally I feel I am going really slow here. hahaha Im used to builds that start months before a show and finish with hours to spare so having gone a year I feel like my build is so stagnant.

Exhaust wise I was looking at the Takeda axleback. The group buy on here was a no-brainer at the price I was initially given. A couple weeks later when I was ready to buy the price increased 50 bucks so that now has me looking at the Borla axleback. Not as aggressive but still much deeper. The fact though that the muffler is a much narrower design will allow for about an inch and a half or so more clearance. Since I will be using extended hangers to let the tip sit below my ILX bumper, Ill need all the clearance I can get. As well, the tip being slightly smaller on the Borla will serve for a more stock look which I want.

Was totally down for the initial price of the Takeda, but the increase in price from when I first showed interest makes it a very similar price so I might as well go with the one thatll give more clearance.

 

[kev604]

Sadly I wont be able to use my stock tires going up in wheel size. So Ill just use them for now and upgrade at the end of the year.
I've owned the ilx for a year now. Personally I feel I am going really slow here. hahaha Im used to builds that start months before a show and finish with hours to spare so having gone a year I feel like my build is so stagnant.

Exhaust wise I was looking at the Takeda axleback. The group buy on here was a no-brainer at the price I was initially given. A couple weeks later when I was ready to buy the price increased 50 bucks so that now has me looking at the Borla axleback. Not as aggressive but still much deeper. The fact though that the muffler is a much narrower design will allow for about an inch and a half or so more clearance. Since I will be using extended hangers to let the tip sit below my ILX bumper, Ill need all the clearance I can get. As well, the tip being slightly smaller on the Borla will serve for a more stock look which I want.

Was totally down for the initial price of the Takeda, but the increase in price from when I first showed interest makes it a very similar price so I might as well go with the one thatll give more clearance.

I've had my Si since May so almost a year for me. I'm just gradually doing my mods, I'm at the point where I'm pretty happy with what I got so far. I'm at crossroads as to where I want to go at this point so I'm going to take a step back before I take another step forward.
I think you can't go wrong with either the Takeda or Borla. The extra clearance is a good idea cause the tip gets pretty damn hot. My Injen axleback only has 1inch clearance from the diffuser, I'm kinda worried about the heat but people are telling me an inch should be okay.

 

[usdmjon]

Id think an inch is fine. When I said clearance I was actually speaking muffler to ground clearance. lol
I figure my tip will have about an inch gap... maybe slightly less. Im PMM though so Im not too worried about the paint being darkened around the exhaust.

But since I will be using extended exhaust hangers the muffler itself will be hanging lower. The Borla as is looks to sit an inch higher because the muffler canister isnt as big as the takeda. Same width but flatter.

I know right now before I will be happy I need to finish my exhaust, so axleback and mid piping... cat delete since I dont need to get my cart smogged for a few years.
I need coilovers to replace the springs. Rear sway. Front lower and upper bracing. Wheels, camber kits. I have plans to play with the lighting a little more as well as I want some cosmetic changes like a gloss black roof, vinyl wrap my window spoiler to match the roof.

Redoing my tint, the front windows a tad lighter because Im on tint ticket #2 already -_-

Theeeeeen I still want to put in some insulation to improve my sound quality inside and reduce road noise. Pulling out my intake resonator and fabing up some custom inlets and ducting for the intake. I want to paint my brakes black, possibly even upgrade them to some stoptech or tsx/tl calipers.

Leets seeee....
wrap some interior pieces, maybe wood grain for a more RL feel. I want to add in another sub. Lots of interior pieces to head in the VIP route... i.e. glove box tray. Couple cushions.. nothing crazy. I want to do something with my B pillars, I love the plastic quilted look some VIP cars are rocking.


This is all planned before my lease is up. hahaha I have a lease to own with every intention to purchase the car. So the above plans I have are for the next 2 years.
After that my plans are to start saving for a air set up, tune, and a turbo or supercharger. Id much rather a supercharger but one probably wont go into circulation for the auto r18/20... turbo would be much more feasible so I may be taking that route. In the end I want a quick all around VIP car. I think Im on the right path. haha

 

[kev604]

Good plans but lots to do hahaha.

 

[usdmjon]

 

[usdmjon]

Cleaned the car Sunday. Took the picture in front of my warehouse yesterday. Im enjoying more and more how the car sits. I keep hearing from people how much they like the stock wheels with the mild drop. Im going to tear off the white plastidip soon as well as the black on the rear emblems. Take it back to a cleaner look with how it sits I think will looks great.

Going to purchase some 20mm spacers from GarageLine in a minute. Ill throw them on the rear for now. Might do it this weekend and take the plastidip off as well.
Ill give that some time to decide if I want to throw those up front and get 25mm for the rear or just buy another set of 20mm to sit even at all corners.

Then a megan catless header and a rear sway bar, either progress or eibach and Ill be done so I can focus on moving out ALONE. :/

 

[kev604]

IMO the stock ILX wheels work well with that car, I'd be interested to see how they would look on a Si.

 

[usdmjon]

I agree. I may see how much a local shop would charge to go SBC with these wheels. I think that would look great.

 

[usdmjon]

Above shot shows how the rear sits with 20mm spacers installed.
Going to be purchasing 25mm spacers soon for the rear then swapping the 20mms out and throwing them upfront.

For now the 20mm in the rear and stock upfront looks good. In my opinion the rear wheels on fwd cars always look less aggressive than the front... make sense, but I never liked it. Right now the rear is a bit much for the front but the 25mm rear with 20mm front will be perfect. I really want to get some coils now to dial in the height with the oem wheels in white. I think that will look great for another year or so.

 

[xnel12x]

Arrogant bastard good oaky beer

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

[jkeis862]

Looking good! I do agree with the stock wheels looking fine IMO

 

[usdmjon]

Arrogant bastard good oaky beer

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

Honestly Im not a HUGE stone fan. I love the Gargoyle though hahaha.
From Stone I can never get enough of their Vanilla Bean Smoked Porter. Amazing.
As well, I loved both Vertical Epics I picked up. Both being over 11.5% and tasted great. Both were aged 2+ years. I still have a bottle of the 1/1/11 in my cabinet waiting for my birthday come January.

I gravitate towards anything Coffee, Espresso, Vanilla, Toffee, Caramel, and Chocolate in the 8% or higher area.
Some of my favorite to name a few are...
Evil Twin Brewing... Lil B, Even More Jesus, and Yin and great!
Great Divide... Espresso Yeti
Ballast Point Brewing... Victory at Sea
Hitachino Nest... Espresso Stout

Keep in mind I am not a beer guy or much of a drinking. I dab a lot.
But when it comes to beer is must be as dark as motor oil and similarly as thick.

 

[usdmjon]

Need front spacers -_-

 

[usdmjon]

Tell me what you guys think..
I felt the rear end of the ILX was a little boring so I popped the rear reflectors out and applied some chrome trim supplied by my buddy.

Something I normally would consider rice but I gave it a try because it looked like the TLX and RLX reflectors. I kind of like it.

 

[Erkon]

I like it. Its not ricey just because its not to flashy. It is subtle. One would even think its factory

 

[SICoupe]

^ looks good

 

[kev604]

Subtle. Looks fine and if you like it keep it.

 

[jkeis862]

It's a nice touch

 

[usdmjon]

Thanks guys. I believe I am going to keep it for a while.

I think with a chrome plate frame... preferably from the dealer I got the car from, it will look even better and more refined with the small chrome touches.