I bought my first mustang it's a 2014 gt premium. I already put flow master exhaust and it sounds amazing. I am looking for some different mods to start putting on. I am getting my wheels powder coated black. Windows dark tinted back is black. ( car is white ). I am curious on a few engine mods. First thing i was going to do was get a steeda CAI. Is that worth doing for the first? Or is there something else I should worry about first?

Thanks for all feedback. I'm a newb but want to learn!

 

Are you planning to tune the car?? You wont see much if ANY real performance improvements with a CAI unless you get a tune. Most review comparisons say the stock airbox is better than any CAI on the market without a tune. A lot of the modding community think that a CAI makes the engine look better (I agree). You will definitely hear the air being sucked into the intake more audibly at WOT with one. Most CAI's require a tune to be installed on the car (not sure about the Steeda one). Many folks don't like the idea of the tune because it COULD void your warranty if that is a concern. Realistically, the whole warranty voiding, if you even still have one, really depends on how mod friendly your dealership is and if you have some type of failure that can be directly linked to the tune. Some non mod friendly dealerships apparently will try to void your warranty if they find a tune has been installed on the car, although I think it really has to be proven that the tune causes the issue. That would be a fight between you, the dealership and Ford that most people want to avoid. I had a 2013 GT before I traded it in on my RS3 and I had the AIRAID CAI and was happy with it. It comes with an insert called a venture tube that you can use on the car without a tune that I used initially. I eventually got a Diablo InTune, removed that "insert", and went with BAMA for tuning with the AIRAID CAI. A handheld tuner, a tuning vendor, and a CAI together will get you anywhere around 20-35 HP for around $750-$1000. I now have a JLT CAI, SCT Tuner, and VMP provided tune since AIRAID doesn't make a CAI for supercharged 5.0's.

 

What are your goals for the car? Hard to make suggestions without knowing how you plan to use the car.

 

I am going to get a tune yes. Well my goals are looks and sound followed by a lot of power! I'm working on the looks so decided to start getting ideas for power and sound. I've heard that CAI make a nice whine sound and that sounds appealing and it's supposed to give me better mpg and power if j couple it with a tune.

 

cai + tune is a great start then. This means you give up warranty, but that may not be of consequence. If you want big power while staying naturally aspirated also consider headers and mid pidpipes

 

I am running the Steeda CAI, with a Bama 93R V2 tune and couldnt be happier. I also added SLP loudmouth axlebacks and the car sounds great. I am about to add the pypes off road x and remove my cats. mods are never complete.

 

So the steeda are good then. Okay cool. I think I may start with steeda cai and tune. Then possibly cams and headers. Also which steeda did you go with?

 

If it was as simple as a tune to get better performance, better MPG and not compromise the durability of the motor, don't you think Ford would have done it from the factory? I am not saying tunes are bad, but expecting all three of those things isn't realistic.

 

put all your mod money into a supercharger and call it a day. Thank me later.

 

How you plan to use the car will have a major effect on what mods to go with. Mostly just cruising on the street? Lots of drag strip action? Autocross/track days? Many suspension mods are application specific. If keeping your factory power train warranty matters to you, consider getting a track key [ assuming you have a late build manual trans '14 ]. Aftermarket tunes will probably make more power, but can potentially void your power train warranty. Unlike aftermarket tunes the track key is also instantly reversible which may come in handy if you find yourself in a situation where 91 or higher octane fuel is unavailable.

 

You won't be disappointed. When I bought my '13 GT I installed Roush axlebacks first, then shortly after I bought the Steeda induction package which comes with Steeda CAI along with Steeda tune on a X4 tuner.

Good bump in power. Intake sound is sweet, and my fuel economy went up from 16 city to mid 17s city.

 

If you want some more hp and better shift points goto JLT Performance and get one of their CAI and tuner kits, comes with a race tune. That was the first mod I put on my 2011 GT Premium and the difference is really unbelievable from stock.

 

I want fuel economy but still power. I plan on getting steeda CAI and I am not sure what after. I obviously want the impossible. Great gas and great power! Ha so after the CAI I'll do a 91 tune cause we don't have 93 where I live. I'll be using it mostly as a everyday driver and playing around town. Maybe 2x a year go to track. I know I'm being unreasonable. But what can ya do.

 

I bought the Whipple supercharger + 132mm crusher throttle body, borla attack cat back exhaust = Massive amount of fun! 😀

 

I get better has mileage with this tune then I did before and like I started the shift points are just awesome, they make the car car more enjoyable to drive, for instance 1st gear is around out at 7mph. I do really recommend you think twice about the CAI you go with and do some research before buying. I have a 93 tune mainly because 93 octane is more prevalent at has strains than 91 where I live, and went through JLT's site not American Muscle or equivalent, get free tune upgrades for a year, and John answers any and all questions I have within hours, and his tune is proven to give you 20 more hp at the rear wheels something none of the others can boast, also the fact they asked and called to verify my computer code, something others don't even ask says allot in itself.

 

Okay thanks I will defiantly take more time and get the exact one I want. I appreciate it

 

Don't forget about the Track Cal for cars that aren't late build 2014 manuals. Same calibration, you just need to load/unload using the ProCal tool.