Nick Gales | 36 | Irvine, CA
@nickg.fl5
Back in 2023, I was in the market to finally purchase my 1st new vehicle. At the time I started looking, the Toyota Corolla GR and Honda Civic Type R were gaining popularity. Both were very appealing to me, but the overall appearance of the Type R got to me; the comfortable yet well-bolstered seats, red interior accents, factory rear spoiler, and triple tip exhaust just sold it for me. The only downside of the car was the price - this was back when dealers were asking for a considerable amount over MSRP - and it had me second guessing if I wanted to trade in my 2016 Audi S3.
Going to car meets and meeting more people with the same car was one of the biggest motivators to start modifying it. Keeping the car stock was very short lived, and the 1st modifications were put on within 2 weeks of owning it. The car is a blast to drive when stock and even more so now that it is modified. It handles exceptionally well, has a respectable amount of power, and is aesthetically pleasing - I am not sure what else could be asked for from factory.
Modifications
PRL High Volume Intake
PRL Billet Front Mount Intercooler
TSP High Efficiency Downpipe
AWE Tuning Track Edition Exhaust
Acuity Instruments Super Cooler, Reverse Flow Silicone Radiator Hoses
27WON Coolant Reservoir Expansion Tank
27WON Rear Motor Mount (90A)
Swift Spec-R Lowering Springs
SPC Performance Adjustable Rear Camber Arms
Hondata FlashPro
Hondata CANFlex Flex Fuel Kit
RV6 Adjustable Rear Sway Bar
Hybrid Racing Short Shifter Assembly
Hybrid Racing Competition Shift Rod
APR Carbon Fiber Front Air Dam/Lip
APR GT-250 Carbon Fiber Rear Spoiler
MDR Industries Oil Cooler
Singular Motorsports End Plates
Recaro Pole Position, Red Velour
Apex Wheels ML-10RT, 18x9.5 +35
Falken Azenis RT660 275/35/18
Rally Armor Mud Flaps, Grey
EVS Tuning 4-Point Roll Bar
EVS Tuning Front/Rear Tow Hook
Chasing J’s Boot Titanium Delete Plate
Synth Carbon Mugen Style Mirror Caps
EVS Tuning Front Offset Camber Joints
Racebred Components FL5 CTR Splitter Kit (Prototype)
Most of the modifications I installed myself. For the ones I lacked the tools to do, I had them professionally installed. My favorite modification is my Hybrid Racing Short Shifter / Hybrid Racing Competition Shift Rod combo. The throw is very short, making shifts effortless and quick. The Competition Shift Rod closes the distance between the steering wheel and the shift knob and makes it a much better experience while driving both on the street and the track. The next modification I plan to do is the S3 Coilovers with 12KG (front) / 14KG (rear) spring rates. I recently attended a Doghouse Garage track event at Streets of Willow and won $500 off their suspension. So, I figured I might as well use it!
My favorite memory with the car is the day I purchased it from the dealer. I was in awe watching it get puled of the showroom floor and taken outside. The keys were handed to me, and I have the biggest smile on my face. My least favorite memory is from my last track event at the Streets of Willow with Doghouse Garage. It was my very first time running the (prototype) Racebred Components FL5 CTR Splitter Kit and I went off track going into Turn 1 (CW configuration). It cracked the splitter from front to back on the driver side. Luckily for me, it remained intact regardless of the crack. The biggest setback with the car was when I installed my oil cooler. I was somewhat rushing and didn’t double check where the oil lines were running. Long story short one line touched the belt while driving and oil went everywhere. The car was inoperable until I picked up a new oil line a few days later.
#twostepperformance, #tsp_tuned