So where do I go from here?

First, let me get this out of the way up front... the car is paid for and costs me only registration and insurance fees. I'm not in a hurry to sell it- I've just been bored lately- especially now that we're snowed in and tracks open in Mar/ Apr.

Help me get re-energized!!

The car: 2006 GT, Auto, Premium, Black, 35K miles, high-11s and 440rwhp on 91 oct





Mods done so far:
Saleen Supercharger, 3.4 pulley, 39lb inj, C&L/ JDM intake
Stef's separator
Corsa axlebacks
GT500 Brembos
Saleen Watts Link rear
CHE adj Upper and fixed lowers
3.73 gears
18x9.5 black Kazera KZA w/ 285/40 and 255/45 Goodyear F1 Supercars
Xenon side scoops, MRT rear louvers, CDC chin spoiler, GT500 rear wing, door welts, SHR rear medallion
325/45/17 M&Hs for the track

Wants (in no particular order)...
To move the license plate up between the lights and off the rear bumper-- I believe Saleen Heritage rear to be only option
Line Locks
CHE UCA mount
1-piece driveshaft
Some kind of "upgraded" interior treatment- wrap panels in leather, suede, alcantara etc-- premier trim package wasn't an option for me in '05
Move foglights lower in facia (Saleen Heritage, Steeda Comp or GT/CS with Shelby add on)
Matching grille treatments (upper/ lower billet or honeycomb like Bullit)
Long tube headers and catted mid-pipe (H or X undecided)
Gt500 fuel system & 60lb inj
Higher stall converter (brand undecided)
Saleen SuperShaker (would not do without fuel setup above so maybe that goes on backburner for a year)

Some things I Don't Want
Lowering springs (I live in Boston and have to be able to drive around town)
Uber-adjustable shocks/ coilovers- I'm not the person who can "feel" the difference on each setting. I'd set it and leave it for street/ strip as I try to run the 1/4 once or twice per month.

Knowing that I want to increase reliability, performance and looks, on what should I focus next? With, oh let's say a $1K budget....

I'm stuck at what to do. So should I cross post over in the "Exterior Mods" section to get some differing opinions as I fear those in this section are biased!!

Thanks!

 

Why do you want to add more when you have the car for sale?

 

I'd say go with the line locks.

 

Well its not doing anything in my parking spot, where it sits most of the year. Since I live in the city, I don't drive it much. Like I said above, it's not killing me to keep it but I've been getting bored with it.

Even on good weather days when I decide to drive to work- its a whopping 2.7 miles to work (13 lovely stoplights).

I'm looking to add a little something that spices it up

 

If you are bored with the car, get a manual transmission. I'm not kidding. I don't see how I ever enjoyed the automatic, it seems so boring now when I drive an automatic. I might sound melodramatic, but I'm being honest, I should have got the car with a manual transmission from the get-go. I wasted alot of money, buying the automatic from the start (which costs more) and then the cost of the swap and parts to go manual, but in the end I'm much more happy with the car, honest.

I had the manual transmission put in my 06 about 6-8 months ago, and it's easily many times more enjoyable! And I had never learned to drive a stick before. Now 6 months after the transmission swap, It's still immensely more enjoyable than the auto ever was, even when driving in morning LA traffic. Don't believe people who say a manual sucks in traffic. Maybe if you are 70 years old, but if you don't have a bad knee or something, the manual is just fine in traffic. Heck, I drove from Phoenix to LA after Thanksgiving, had darn near stop & go traffic for 150+ miles once I got near LA, and had no problems (other than wanting to get home quicker, haha!).

 

Looks like your into black but maybe try this. Hows that watts link treating you?

 

Agreed on the manual

And you said you don't want to lower, why not look at Roush rear springs so you lose the 4x4 look without any street issues. I live in Memphis and have Eibach Pro's with no problems, can't imagine our roads much better but that would also be over budget by the time it's said and done.

My votes out of your list are
1)line locks
2)Fuel pump/injectors
3)Stall converter (if funds allowed it)

 

I see you have a Mass plate... where in Mass are you?

 

Line locks and a cheaper route than a manual upgrade would be the new TCI rachet shifter.

 

+2 with the line locks, i need to do mine as well

 

+2 on the manual transmission, especially since you say boredom is your biggest problem now. It's a major expense, but seeing all you've already done, not really that bad. And a lot cheaper than a new, inferior, car.

 

Fellas, thanks for the replies!

I'm located in Boston- actually within the city limits- that's why I'm looking to keep ride height/ clearance intact. Would there be any downside to running stock shocks on aftermarket springs?

The Watts link was a great mod. Not to beat the comparisons to death as there's plenty of reading in this forum... but it feels better than the stock arrangement to my by far. Mostly, there's more confidence when encountering expansion joints in a sweeping turn on the highway. It doesn't want to "wander" as much.

As for the manual tranny debate, its not that I'm pining to shift gears. Although sometimes I do miss rowing the box, the auto treats me well... esp at the track. Its easy for me to look like a hero and get consistent launches. JDMs tune has taken out a lot of the slop in the shifting program that the car came with.

Having purchased a luxury car in the past year, I suppose I'm spoiled with comfort and sound deadening. In this cold weather, the Stang's hard plastics and Fisher Price interior have me wanting to drive it less and less. Always sounding like someone is throwing sand on my quarter panels as I drive down the street is getting old. I'd love to do a full dynamat job and some leather wrapped interior panels.

I'm getting bored with the styling as well, but that might be a grill change, some HIDs and a new rear bumper away.

I do want to do a few more mods before the track opens once again. I want it to be overbuilt (short of doing a built block) so it lasts. The bigger fuel system should meet my needs with ease. I'm pretty set on the line locks as it should be quick to install and pay off at the track visits.


Thanks for reading!

 

A better bet would be to keep the stock springs (which are OK, but just 'OK') if you're not lowering the car and go with aftermarket shocks...

Koni make a great shock...it'll feel like a different car...