View Full Version : Anyone Else Got a Tight Budget?


ScionRI
02-24-2004, 01:59 AM
Okay, so im poor... so what! I still want to mod my xB! Only problem? I don't have so much of that thing you love to call cash..... so, this thread, in my opinion, should be dedicated to finding the best, most cost effective, most bang for your buck mods you can do to your xB! (...and yes, i'm half jewish!)

showpaojoe
02-24-2004, 02:03 AM
scionfx strut bar- $30 on ebay
ground wire kit- under $40
axleback exhaust- $50 for labor and pipe bending, $30 for muffler
clear your own headlights-free
bluebatmobile tinted taillights-$25

ScionRI
02-24-2004, 02:10 AM
Okay, thats a start. I know about bat's stuff, im only hesitant to buy because i don't want to mess up the backing lights.... keep the ideas rolling in, we need to have an inventory of places and parts to make an xB tight with a tight budget.

>RI repp'in

hnefrdo
02-24-2004, 04:39 AM
im on a pretty tight budget too. im an 18 year old college student. what helps me the most is shopping around for the lowest prices. yu can ebay for a lot of cheap parts. don't settle for imitations thou. look for low prices offered for quality products.

HotBox
02-24-2004, 04:45 AM
i think the best well prolly one of the best that can be done for free is debadging the car

TheRedBox
02-24-2004, 04:32 PM
Debadging the car - Free
Clearing headlights - Free
Red out/Smoke tails - $6-9
Remove taillights, mask what you want original color, sand, paint then clearcoat.
Making your own intake - $50
Cut your stock intake after the MAF sensor, add 2.5 exhaust piping to behind
headlight then add a cone filter.
Open exhaust from axel back - Free
Ground wires DIY - $20
Interior painting -$ depends on how much you want to paint

The list goes on and on. It just depends on how much money you want to spend on what, and how ghetto you want to be. :wink:

Pablo_xB
02-24-2004, 04:35 PM
:cry: I don't even have an xB yet.... so don't feel too bad.

JDMxB
02-25-2004, 08:05 PM
I'm a poor guy too--just save your money and do things right the first time, that way you won't regret things and have to do them all over again down the road.!

Sgt_Scion
02-25-2004, 08:50 PM
I think you should change the color of your Gauge cluster. If you have different color sharpies on hand then it is free. Good mod In my opinion. look at the tech section on this to find out how. check out my web site to see what I did with mine. If you like the interior light go with the randode racing cold cathode lights. 100 is way cheaper than the dealers. also debadge thats free. next thing that I am going to do is smoke my tail lights. I am also on a tight budget. Right now I going for the cheap things to do that look good. those are some good options.

sithscripter
02-25-2004, 09:12 PM
Aluminum diamond plate to cover up the bare spots in your Scion floor mats: $9.99 at Pep Boys.

Replace cheap-a** front dash speakers: Maybe $25.

Chrome valve caps: $1.98

Opr8r
02-25-2004, 10:25 PM
Smooth/Glossy interior panels in the color of your choice.

Cost: Patience, and appx $30 bucks in materials (This includes flexable primer, paint, adhesion promoter, and sandpaper).


Peace,
m@

hnefrdo
02-25-2004, 10:52 PM
don't settle for less just because of your budget. save up and buy wut yu really want. there's no rush. :D i kno. i kno. easy to say, but difficult to do. the wait is better than being seen with a ghetto box, thou. :D

ScionRI
02-26-2004, 02:23 AM
cool thanks everyone, keep posting this isn't a call for no more replies, but currently im on the audio track.... my reasoning? well... its a box... its not fast, never really will be all that fast... it can, however, sound better than every other persons car if i do it right. That and the fact that it kicks ___ to start with should be enough to hold me over until i have more money.. thanks again everyone and keep posting this is muy importante!

showpaojoe
02-26-2004, 02:34 AM
I recommend against that path but that's just me. Yes, I did my audio first and did a damn good job with making it sound better than other cars on the road but you better be sure that that's what you really want. My reasoning, people don't see the inside of your car when your driving. There are so many mods out there that I could do to make everyone ____ themselves when they see my box roll by but I jumped on the gun and did a nice system that I got bored with really quickly. I bumped it for like 2 weeks and realized that having everyone outside hear it great and me going deaf was not worth it. It's your car but there are plenty of things to do. Take your time and go with what you like.

hnefrdo
02-26-2004, 05:11 AM
it's true that this car will never be that fast, but yu can do a lot about the handling of the car. that's where the real fun is, anyway.

HotBox
02-26-2004, 05:13 AM
hnefrdo - true that but speeding and being able to handle it is double the fun like double mint gum

TheScionicMan
02-26-2004, 05:23 AM
I think your on the right track. Did you buy it for you or for "the other people"? People are going to look anyway. I think it's better to start from the inside and work out. I spend more time in it than looking at it. Either way, just think of it as a work in progress.

Check Target or Walmart for lighting. I got a pair of LED tubes for $20 and a $12 set of LEDs that I used to light my cupholders. Also if you have a Fry's or a computer superstore near you, PC lights are 12 volt too and much cheaper.

Try searching the forum for " DIY ". I bet there's a treasure trove here...

ScionRI
02-26-2004, 07:05 PM
yeah i know, i bought this car for me, and i'm not doing the audio to make other cars shake, im doing it to make my car sound incredibly hot..... plus, i use my stereo every time i get in my car.. its not going to be a waste of money i don't think. I'm also not against dressing this thing up like nobody's business, I'm all for it, but with my budget, i can't do anything too incredible (<$1000 at the moment). I will definatly get funky with it in a year or so, but right now... just gotta use what i have, and audio comes first :) thanks people, and keep it posted on great deals for mods.

Cardinal_Fang
02-26-2004, 09:01 PM
The real problem isn't cost---the problem is that car mods are like women's underwear. There is a bewildering variety of choices, but only about 2% are actually attractive. The remaining 98% run the spectrum from ridiculous to pork-butt-ugly.

It's hard to go wrong with the "classic" look, in either underwear or autoware. Keep in mind that the folks who designed your Scion have immeasurable talent, advance design and engineering degrees, and millions of dollars in R&D funds to get it right. If you think you can do better with the resources God gave you....

....well, then you're either braver, more talented (or more something) than I am....

C.F.

hnefrdo
03-03-2004, 10:48 PM
The real problem isn't cost---the problem is that car mods are like women's underwear. There is a bewildering variety of choices, but only about 2% are actually attractive. The remaining 98% run the spectrum from ridiculous to pork-butt-ugly.

It's hard to go wrong with the "classic" look, in either underwear or autoware. Keep in mind that the folks who designed your Scion have immeasurable talent, advance design and engineering degrees, and millions of dollars in R&D funds to get it right. If you think you can do better with the resources God gave you....

....well, then you're either braver, more talented (or more something) than I am....

C.F.

well put. i don't agree with all of it, but still well put.

BoomBox757
03-03-2004, 11:14 PM
Cold cathodes kit- $20
Includes 2 cold cathode lights,inverter, switch, enought wire to reach from the power source in the center dash to under the dash. then all you need is a drill to drill a hole for the switch and some wire connectors to splice the wires into the power source. A kit like this can be found a comp usa, or if you live on the west coast I think there is some place called fry's

xBaladocious
03-05-2004, 12:39 AM
heh, i have the cold cathodes going, im doing 5 sets of blue, im lighting my grill and under my dash and under my seats its really nice all for under $60

BoomBox757
03-05-2004, 01:07 AM
yea I have 10 tubes waiting for my box

hnefrdo
03-05-2004, 02:37 AM
oh, and by the way, don't buy cheap rims just because you're on a tight budget. buying heavy, gravity casted rims is like throwing money down a ____ing drain. they'll bend as soon as yu hit a pothole, and all the money goes to waste.

xBaladocious
03-06-2004, 01:31 AM
i know cheap rims cuck horribly :)

mikochu
03-06-2004, 04:06 AM
My first budget mod was a 16"x16" 3M Filtrete Extra cabin air filter. It was about 11 bucks. It's good for 4 filters :D

Also... my free "mod" was curb rash on my left front wheel cover :( I was going through the drive-thru at my bank...thought I had it, then "voomp! *scrapppp*" :cry: I felt like ____. I'll either just steely it up or sand out the scrape and paint my wheel covers... Anyone have a 5 spoke wheel cover or set of 5 spoke wheel covers for the xA for sale? :D

saken4
03-13-2004, 03:08 AM
I would say just save your money and do things the right way. I would hate scions to turn out like every honda you see rolling around with unpainted body kits and fugly molded crap caked on with bondo all unpainted and cracking. O and maybe get a better job and make more money that will do wonders to your ride.

ScionRI
03-13-2004, 03:15 AM
cold cathodes hit my spot... 40 bucks and the interior is glowin' :) next...... system and led's!

SCI_FIRE
03-13-2004, 12:48 PM
http://www.brandsport.com/scion1.html

http://www.mrtoyotaparts.com/

http://www.toyotapartsworld.com/

http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=15

http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=16