Leased 2006 AWD Vibe

[trueimage]

Hey I just began leasing my Vibe after much research, I chose the Vibe, it seems like a great choice and I am satisfied so far.I am just wondering, what - if any - mods are available to me that will not void my lease agreement in case I don't want to buy it out at the end.i.e. cold air intake, exhaust, chip, header, mostly performance related. I may consider wheels next summer, I know those won't void anything. Also, what about lowering the car with springs, I thought I read somewhere it would shorten the life of the struts.Thanks for any and all help, this looks like a great community.Josh

[northvibe]

Welcome!!I think a short ram intake would not void the warranty, either would cai. A bolt on exhaust wouldnt either, but if you have to cut the pipe they might freak out..., header you can do also as long as you either buy a performance one or get a second stock one P&P'd so you have the stock one to put back on incase you dont buy back. springs are a great upgrade, but they can lower the life of the strut if you drive over bumps a ton...like where i live in Duluth, MN!

[trueimage]

Thanks. I am basically looking for a little extra power, since passing sucks and I just moved to a fairly remote location - its a 1:1 "highway" back to civilization, 4.5 hours away. We don't drive except on weekends, and not much except for trips.Any additional horsepower would help.About the header, I was thinking 3rd party, so yeah I would have the original for sure to put back on.What is a short ram vs cold air intake. Which is better and which is cheaper Can I install them myself?

[CAN-AWD-VIBE]

Hi and welcome... Rig guy I bet!!! Fort Mac is WAAYYYY up there I think you might give Mav and LGT a run for most Northern member!!!Unless we have a territory member I have not seen yet.***Upon further review, I was wrong**** but it is still WAAYYYY up there in this province.Anyway back to topic.Hotchkis springs are the way to go with AWD... see previous posts.No header or pre fabricated exhaust is made for us... custom only.CAI by Cosmo, Injen or TRD, short ram avail as well. CAI has better gains, short ram is cheaper and neither will "VOID" the warranty. Yes you can install it yourself with some patience and basic tools.After that go ECU upgrade and if you wanna go crazy get the supercharger from TRDhave fun... search these topics out as I asked before when I joined not long ago and also see http://www.matrixowners.com for more info as the Matrix is the same car.Again Welcome and enjoy!!!

[trueimage]

Thanks again for some good info.I just moved from Calgary recently (company moved me), and yes I work for an Oil co, but in the office. If I was a "rig pig" I'd be driving a Ford F350 super diesel, like 90% of the people here. The rest are desperate housewives driving strech suburbans etc hahaSo what should I expect to pay for a CAI / Short Ram Intake, and what sort of gains should I expect? Same question for a header.Thanks

[CAN-AWD-VIBE]

i should have said "patch guy" then. Those boys paid my mortgage when I worked at Maclin... constant source of income from their personal trucks to the fleet, I love em.But I think short ram maybe 3-5 and CAI 8-9chime in if im way off on that people.there is no header avail for the awd, i wish and so do a few others, im sure.

[Merzbow]

Sounds about right on the power gains for the CAI CAN-AWD, though for the short ram I thought it was less than that because it is essentially taking warm air in from the engine compartment.I've had the Tein S-Tech (2.3-2.5 inch drop) for about a year and a half now. My struts are still working wonderfully. I don't think you'd have to wory about wearing them out unless you are bottoming them out or coming close to all the time. I was concerned about the warentee with my coils. They told me that as long as they could fit the lift forks under the car, then it wouldn't void the warentee so I'm asuming the same is true for a lease.

[CAN-AWD-VIBE]

oh ya- short ram cheap = >$150CAI about 200-300 depend on which one.I have been warned about the use of Tein S techs on AWD's they sag too low in the rear because of the low spring rate.I have an extra set just sitting here cause Im not brave enought (see stupid) to install them. I also have a box of Hotchkis springs want install on wed. spring rate is almost double the Teins or any other manufacturer of lowering springs for our car.I do however think the Teins are the best bet for 2wd

[Merzbow]

Yeah the Teins look the best. You can even get away with stock rims with the Teins I forgot about the AWDs setup though...you guys are freaks j/k lol.