The flywheel does have more benefit than the pulley. But, the pulley costs about $100 and takes like an hour to install at most, and you can even do it yourself if you have to. A flywheel is at least $400 for a good one, and requires pulling the engine and/or transmission to change. Quite a difference. For the relative benefit a flywheel gives vs. its cost and difficulty to install, I wouldn't recommend it as an early mod.

 

Well, as several of us learned on Mosquito Ridge yesterday, spending a couple hundred bucks on brakes is NEVER a bad idea! Getting braided steel lines, good pads and good fluid isn't too much and is definitely wrth the added safety.

Once you get past those basic mods you listed, things start getting more expensive. Headers and a high-flow cat work well with an EJ25. You can get up over 190 hp at the crank with just bolt-ons, and adding cams will put you over 200. Before you get there though, you should invest the time toreally learn how your car handles, and decide what characteristics you like and what you want to change. For most people, this means a larger rear sway bar, solid endlinks, struts and springs, steering rack bushings, maybe strut tops. Camber kits are popular too. Just remember, the basic rule of thumb is, it's a very good idea to spend equally on brakes, suspension, and engine mods.

 

Absolutely! Driver skill can make up for a less than perfect car, a perfect car can't make up for lack of skill.

 

I also drive a 2.5RS and have both intake and Eibach Pro-Kit springs....I just got them on today and I'm really happy with them. I have 17's and my wheel gap was HUGE, even after i got rid of the low profile tires and went back to stock 55's on 17's. It made it look a whole lot better and reduced body roll. It's raining today so i couldn't really feel them out to much but so far so good. As for the intake i have a no name brand and I HATE it. It's all noise no power. I'm ordering a COBB intake soon and if you've got the money i would highly recomend them. But as for which to get, my personal prefrance would be the intake. Our cars. lets face it, aren't that fast stock. A good intake will help a lot and i think its a more necessary mod for 2.5's.The car handles great stock and in my opinion dropping it could wait.
Fix what needs fixin first.

 

Springs are performance. I'd do a rear swaybar first, I recommend 18mm w/ endlinks. I'm all about handling. A 2.5RS won't be fast in a straight line without a significant amount of money, but it can handle real well for pretty cheap. I'd do swaybar, short throw, strut bars, and springs first. Then do intake/exhaust. The extra kick in a straight line is fun but there is nothing like the look on a passenger's face when you don't have to brake for a tight turn. I've got an 18mm FHI, Cusco Strut bars, Prodrive P1s, Cobb intake, and Greddy exhaust if you have any questions.

 

I think the Greddy and N1 would be similar for performance, piping size would affect it more than anything else. The other two are just subjective.