Need advice, plan to get some parts.

[damronjr]

Well, I am planning to get an Injen CAI and front and rear sway bars. I need to know what these cost and if they are easily installed or how much installation might be for these. I have found the Injen CAI in numerous places for around $200. As for the sway bars, I wanted to get the Hotchkis but I am not sure what they cost. I don't know if I will be able to install these myself, but I should be able to do the CAI wiht out too much of a problem. From what I have seen searching through the threads, the rear seems to be fairly easy to install, but the front more of something I need to have professionally done. What do you think that would cost? I'm just trying to budget here and see what I can afford. Any advice would be great. If you have any other recommendations please feel free to throw those out as well.EDIT Well found some of the info myself right now where I should have looked to begin with. I guess the Hotchkis sway bars run about $330 for the set, the Injen CAI is about $200, and the Skunk2 coilovers I was also thinking about replacing my Eibach Pro-kit springs with runs about $280. Still looking for install advice/prices or even other recommendations.

[Devlop]

I bought my sway bars from Monkeywrench for $270. The coilovers I've heard are very hard on your shocks and don't ride very well, but that's only what I've heard.As for getting the sways, there is a lot of discussion on which is the better setup, having both or just the back. My car handles great with both, but I also have the tein ss which I think helps. I suppose if you don't plan on doing a lot of racing, just getting the back one would be sufficient. As for installing, the front took me about an hour, but I did it at work with power tools. If you don't have that kind of access, I would recommend getting it done.

[damronjr]

Do any of these (besides the CAI of course) really have that much of an affect? TBHWY, I just have $$ buring a hole in my pocket and I really want to buy something new for my Vibe. Any suggestions other than this? I already have a GM mid-gate spoiler, HU, speakers, amps, alarm, a sub, 19's, flowmaster resonator-back exhaust, Eibach Pro-kit springs, tinted windows, and a body kit and hood on the way. I don't really NEED anything besides the CAI, but I just want something new.

[Raven]

If I were you, I would stick with your present springs, put on the CAI yourself (it's easy), just put on a rear sway bar (15minute job, simple)and your car will handle great and sound great. You'll have a bunch of coin left over and the satisfaction of having done the work yourself. A Progress rear bar is about $90.00. I put one on my Tein S-Tech equipped Vibe and it made a huge difference in the handling.

[damronjr]

OK, now I'm contemplating an underbody neon kit, CAI, and rear sway bar, but I figure if I'm going to do the sway bars I might as well get the whole kit with the front and back from Hotchkis and probably even their strut tower bar when I do that. Sooo, I guess then that the sway bars and strut tower might have to wait for more $$, but the CAI and neon kit could be done now. I really like the look of the black Injen CAI, but I'm not sure which neon kit provides the best glow. I was looking at the Oznium site and they claim that the Plasmaglow provides much more light than the Streetglow. I want a purple kit, don't need any multicolor kit or anything, but seems like a LED kit would be best. Any advice on this?

[Psychobroker]

Quote, originally posted by damronjr »OK, now I'm contemplating an underbody neon kit, CAI, and rear sway bar, but I figure if I'm going to do the sway bars I might as well get the whole kit with the front and back from Hotchkis and probably even their strut tower bar when I do that. Sooo, I guess then that the sway bars and strut tower might have to wait for more $$, but the CAI and neon kit could be done now. I really like the look of the black Injen CAI, but I'm not sure which neon kit provides the best glow. I was looking at the Oznium site and they claim that the Plasmaglow provides much more light than the Streetglow. I want a purple kit, don't need any multicolor kit or anything, but seems like a LED kit would be best. Any advice on this?I don't know bro, tthe front sway bar is a LOT harder to install...it's not as simple as "well if I'm gonna do one, might as well do the other". Plus, it's a lot more $$ going with the hotchkis kit, albeit with better handling. Although, my GT handles on rails with hotchkis spring + progress RSB. I'm not mentioning the vibrant STB, because Madbill basically proved that an STB would do very little to improve handling since our shock towers are so close to our firewall. I bought my STB because it was blue, not because I thought it would make a difference. I can't justify dropping ~$200 on hotckis' STB...If *I* were you, I'd go CAI (i can't beleive you don't have one yet! ) + progress RSB, and then SAVE the remaining $$ for your body work/paint job for the kit...or did ya forget about that? lolI don't want to sound like your mommy, but...save every penny!

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by Psychobroker »If *I* were you, I'd go CAI (i can't beleive you don't have one yet! ) + progress RSB, and then SAVE the remaining $$ for your body work/paint job for the kit...or did ya forget about that? lolI don't want to sound like your mommy, but...save every penny! But MOM, I want everything for free and now!!! Yeah, I know. I just want the STB for looks as I did read the thread about it's essential uselessness. The front and rear sway bars though, I just thought if you get what you pay for then what do you get when you pay $50 for something as opposed to $200, you know? I'm sure most of it is brand name. You're probably right, but I'm well aware of my spending limits, damnit! Actually, since I don't pay more than my minimum balance most of the time I have about $1600 a month left over to play with, hence the bidding on the SC on ebay! Ok, you're right! I'll just get the Progress rear and the black Injen CAI! I'm thinking of getting an underbody neon kit too, so with what I have left I better start getting $$$ together for the paint/bodywork/install of those kits. Hopefully they come in soon!

[Psychobroker]

Quote, originally posted by damronjr »But MOM, ... Yeah, I know. I just want .... I'm well aware of my spending limits, damnit! ... Ok, you're right! ... Hopefully they come in soon! ... Patience young grasshopper..now, go to your room

[Flip-Side]

$200 is way too much for the hotchkis strut tower bar bro, unless you are using it for camber like it is meant for. There are far cheaper bars that will do the same job on the vibe....Nothing at all but look cool, just like you said.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by Flip-Side »$200 is way too much for the hotchkis strut tower bar bro, unless you are using it for camber like it is meant for. There are far cheaper bars that will do the same job on the vibe....Nothing at all but look cool, just like you said.Yeah, I'll probaby just watch ebay for another cheap one to come up that looks decent and get that just for looks. Most likely for right now I'll just get the Injen CAI and Progress RSB. Save $$ for the hood and bodykit!

[Psychobroker]

Quote, originally posted by damronjr »Yeah, I'll probaby just watch ebay for another cheap one to come up that looks decent and get that just for looks. Most likely for right now I'll just get the Injen CAI and Progress RSB. Save $$ for the hood and bodykit!Oh, the Megan Racing ones on eBay look nice. I'd have bought one b/c I like the look in blue, but there's no sense in wasting $50 when I have one already.