I know this seems to be a bit of a long post, but please read. I need all the input I can get.

First things first: 2005 SRT-4 with K&N Intake and Mopar BOV Conversion Plate. I don't have huge goals for this car...sub 300HP with mid 13's in the 1/4 would make me happy. Just enough to give me the advantage over the WRX's and EVO's around here.

A couple of months ago I set out to save enough money to buy the Mopar Stage 2 with Toys. As of right now, I've got $1400 and can probably come up with another $100 or so needed for the purchase. However, I'm starting to have second thoughts on my choice of parts so I've come up with some other options that may be more benificial.

OPTION 1: Save a few more bucks and buy the Mopar Stage 2 with Toys. Cost from Modern Performance would be $1475 plus shipping.

OPTION 2: Buy Mopar Stage 2 without Toys and use the money saved to buy a Mopar Exhaust and a Mopar STS with Booger Bushings (or maybe a manual boost controller instead). Cost from Modern Performance would be around $1420 plus shipping.

OPTION 3: Buy Mopar Stage 2 without Toys and use the money saved to purchase AGP Dog Bone Motor Mount Kit, MPx Under Drive Pulley, Turbo XS Standard Boost Controller, and a Mopar STS with Booger Bushings. Total cost from Modern Performance would be $1355 plus shipping.

OPTION 4: Same as OPTION 2, but replace AGP Dog Bone Motor Mount Kit with Prothane Motor Mount Inserts and then buy a set of tail lights with the difference. Total Cost from Modern Performance would be $1404 plus shipping.

Here are some comments and questions:
Dial-a-boost, HOM, and the intercooler sprayer would be nice, but I'm afraid that I'd never use HOM. I could see myself using the other two features of the Toys, but is the extra $500 worth it or would that money be better spent (would I get more gains)on some of the other parts that I mentioned? I don't want to spend the extra cash on the Toys and regret it because they never get used, but on the other hand I don't want to NOT buy the Toys and not be able to do anything about it.

My concern with OPTION 2 is the Mopar Exhaust. I would prefere a 3" exhaust, but I think the 2.5 will be fine for what I have planned. Like I said, I don't see myself doing to much more to the car beyond what I've mentioned...I don't plan on keeping the car more than another year or so at most (I just don't keep cars very long) and I've got student loans that I have to start paying for and don't see alot extra money in my future.

I'm open to all these options (and others) but right now I'm mainly trying to decide between 1 and 2. Will I see more performance gains from Stage 2 with Toys and stock exhaust or Stage 2 without Toys and larger exhaust?

Thanks for reading and please help me out. This friggin money is burning a hole in my sock drawer.

 

i dunno, its really a personal decision on your part, but if you do get S2 w/o toys you can not later upgrade if you wanted the toys down the road. so i would say for now get the s2 w/ toys. then start saving up again for more stuff like your exhaust ans STS.

 

here's another option.....

buy a used s2. you can get a ecu for around $250 and then get the toys box from n2mb. it's the same thing as the mopar toys just without the pretty housing. the sensors can be had from any dealer for a few hundred. you can piece together a s2 kit w/toys for probably around $800. the toys do make a big difference, i highly suggest that you do get them. with the right mix, you can hold HOM with just w/i so it can definetly be worth it. then use the extra money for mounts (you'll really need them), exhaust, and a wga.

 

Yeah, I know I can't upgrade to the toys later. That's why I'm having such a hard time deciding what to do.

Thanks for the info on the used kit. I just found out about this option as well, and now I'm trying to find the stuff that I need. Can someone please provide some links that I might be able to use to find this stuff. Also, what is "w/i"? Lastly, what about the injectors (are they okay if they are used) and where is the best place to have the computer re-flashed?

 

used injectors are fine, or you can get a set of new 650cc injectors from just about anywhere.

to find most of this stuff just post up a WTB thread on srtforums, you'll probably be able to get most of it there. also search to see who has what for sale.

to get a ecu reflashed just send it directly to flightsystems. check the moparsupercenter vendor section on srtforums, all the information is there.

w/i is water injection.

 

i wouldnt spend the $ on the exhaust....you could have one made for around 300$ (3") from the turbo back.....now if you could peice together the s2, save money and invest in the other stiff, for sure do that! from what i understand they're not hard to come up with the stuff to peice them together, but when you find this info please let me know cause im considering the same thing. as far as the toys go...not a ? for me cause i really dont understand how that works anyway, but i do know they look nice ...i hear motor mounts are a for sure way to go, and i would love to have a STS myself. everything you mentioned would be a good way to go...except the tailights IMO. i know you want to know which of these set-up will give you the best bang for your buck, so hopefully someone with more knowledge will answer that for you....GOOD LUCK!!

 

How much is the toys box from N2MB? I looked on the website and couldn't get to their store. I guess I need to just send them an email

About this water injection...is it hard to install, tough on the car, anything I need to know.

 

One more thing...does this toys box come with the dial-a-boost and intercooler sprayer also?

 

well really if you think about it, why spend the money on a car you're not going to keep for much longer. especially if you have student loans to pay for. that money would be better spent on getting out of debt instead of creating more since you're more than likely not going to get back all the money you put in to it when you sell it. don't just waste money to waste it.

but if you have to spend it now, S2 isn't bad. i wish i had saved for S3. mopar suggests getting the exhaust to get full benefits from S2 but any exhaust will do, as long as it's better than stock. the toys are cool, but seldom used. the sprayers suck and i wish i could return that part of it. listen to psi chick for money saving ways to do it right.

but if it was me, i'd spend that money on something different or save it for bills. a car that wasn't modified too much sells a lot quicker than one that was.

 

I would get s2 with toys... then save up and get a 3" turbo back exhaust... after that grab a water injection kit so you don't have to run high test gas for the HOM.