I know this isn't a particularly popular subject in the Mustachioed world as I'm one of those people with a red nose and comically large shoes.
I'm wondering how any other car guys or gals balance being frugal and not spending money with buying auto parts/upgrades/track days etc?
I'm on my second car in my life (first was a gift when I was 19; a Toyota Matrix that I adored. Did some modding; all the wrenching was done by me.) and I'd like to start modding again, I think.
I drive a '13 WRX. No mods. In fact, it's entirely stock. Short-throw shifter came on it when I purchased it and I debadged. Other than that I mostly just wash and wax/polish semi-regularly to keep the abuse to the paint down from the road and surf boards dripping salt water on her.
The turbo'd motor has SO much potential and I would like to let that beast out of it's detuned cage a bit but frugality is (for good reason) fighting me on this! GF also has some practical input, "It's a new car and runs fine, why spend any money on it?" and "you're saying it will be LESS environmentally friendly?!" Well, yea, I know, but tuning, modding, wrenching! Labor of love!
I will have had her for a year, this month, and have really been wanting to buy a Cobb Accessport. Not cheap. $585 on sale, not cheap! This will allow basic tunes (presets) or professional tunes (electronic or dyno). Or, I have thought about getting a tactrix cable and opensource tuning it myself. I don't know much about electronic engine management. I've read about half of one text book on it because while reading it I found MMM. That was around the first of the year and now I've got the mod bug again.
Guess I'm also looking for mustachian support in NOT spending on something like a car! Or any input in general.
EDIT: I feel pretty confident I can tune it myself. I've never done EEM but I work tracking and analyzing data in constant-stream situations under pressure, stress and extreme circumstances so I don't think a motor can be much more difficult. But that's why I lean towards the Cobb AP. $150-$200 for DIY vs $650 (retail) for preset/tested.
EDIT2: Just having written this I feel much less inclined towards the AP/modding in general and feel more directed about where that money could go.