In many years of trying to get better performance out of my cars, a few things have consistently worked well. I will start with the less costly.

A high flow air filter and cold air inlet can almost always improve airflow to the engine.  These are usually relatively easy to install and quite affordable.

However, better airflow to your engine will be more beneficial if the exhaust gases can leave freely. A low-pressure exhaust system should take care of that and will also have a good sound.

Next, fuel flow should be looked at. Sometimes bigger injectors will do the trick. Be careful to match the size of the injectors to the optimal fuel needs of the engine. Getting the biggest injectors possible can actually reduce your power. At this point, you may start looking at an engine performance chip. Be careful! Unless the chip is from a very experienced tuner, the independent reviews have shown inconsistent results. Check it out before you spend your money.

Now would be a good time to upgrade the wheels and tires.

If you are looking for still more power, then either turbo charging or supercharging may be the ticket. This gets EXPENSIVE in a hurry.  The temptation is to go for high boost and horsepower. This puts big strains on engine components that were generally not designed to withstand them. That means BIG repair bills. Check with experts to see how much boost to run. It also means that airflow, exhaust and fuel demands must be matched to the forced induction system.  Also be aware that, with the large horsepower increase, other components like the transmission and differential will probably need beefing up for longevity.

If you have come this far, then brakes and suspension upgrades are going to be required. Bigger rotors, perhaps cross drilled and vented, along with calipers with more pistons than stock, and braided brake lines will make stopping easier.  Suspension upgrades could start with performance shock absorbers, bigger roll bars and performance springs. These upgrades should be done at the same time and purchased as a package from a professional tuner or car manufacturer if they are available.

Again, these engine, brake and suspension upgrades will do little if your car has the wrong tires and wheels. So with brake and suspension upgrades, tires and wider wheels will allow you to extract the most from your car modifications.

My recommendation is that, if you improve airflow in, fuel quantity in and exhaust flow out and you have better tires and wheels, you will have reached the point at which the law of diminishing returns kicks into play and increasingly larger amounts of money will need to be spent to further increase performance significantly. If you are still not happy with your car’s performance at this stage, save your money and buy a car that has the performance you want.

Many people have poured thousands of dollars into mods, were unable to get the performance they wanted, yet also did not see a dime back of the money they had spent on the modifications when they sold the vehicle.  If you still intend on modifying your car with all of this in mind, make sure to shop around for the best price as local shops often have huge markups over the same parts online.
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