Here goes my really long question. It seems like it could fit into about 4 different groups, so if you're a moderator and want to move it around, go ahead.

To start, here are my mods:
2002 WRX
STi Scoop/Spoiler
VF-34 Turbo
STi Injectors
Walboro Fuel Pump
Perrin Uppipe
Perrin Downpipe
GReddy Evo Exhaust
APS Topmount
AEM CAI
Perrin Lightened Crank Pulley
ECUTEK Reflash
Nitto NeoGen Tires
17" Rota Subzero
OEM Size Drilled/Slotted Rotors

Mods on the way:
Tranny Mount
Perrin Springs
WingsWest Kit
Short-shifter (haven't picked one yet)
APS Splitter
DIY Grounding
and perhaps a DIY Intercooler fan set-up


Okay, so here's my question:
A Zex wet kit and the Wilwood/Perrin front calipers cost basically the same amount of money and I'm not sure what to buy. I'd love your advice.

How much improvement could I expect with the Perrin/Wilwood front brake upgrade? I'd be keeping the same rotors and everything, so, unless I'm missing something, only the calipers would change. I feel like my brakes are already really good, but I guess you can't argue with more stopping power. I guess my question is, would I expect to see 60-0 braking distances improve by like 5 feet or by around 20 feet? Would the $600 I spend be VERY noticeable or just a little noticeable?

As far as the Nitrous goes, that is something that gets noticed. Your butt dyno, regardless of how insensitive it is, cannot miss an instant 50hp upgrade.
I know how helpful and valuable this stuff is at the track, but besides that, I'm not sure how often I'd use it.

I'm no street racer or anything, but I have at times decided that a big-headed Mustang (or even a Porsche) needs to be tought a lesson from a stop on the highway. I'm not even the type to blast all the way to 120mph. I'll take off the line, beat them to 80 and then pull back. I figure that after 80 it isn't a race of the car and driver's ability, but rather a race of how many points each driver has on his/her license.
I'm a bit of a purist. I like knowing that my car can beat a Porsche day in and day out off the line using 'natural' upgrades. Sure, with Nitrous I could beat the car even more, but it seems like its cheating. I mean, at some point the nitrous would run out and the car that I beat with it would start beating me when I no-longer have it.
So, I suppose my question is, do you think its cheating to use Nitrous? If you were racing a car and it used nitrous to beat you, would your response be, "damn, that car is so much better than mine and that driver is awesome" or would it be "that loser had to use NITROUS to beat me?"

I guess the nitrous might actually save me from 'having' to race people sometimes. A quick purge and that ricer in the next lane would back off. However, if I'm interested in avoiding trouble, bigger brakes would help me avoid more trouble than nitrous would.

So, I know that this question is all over the place, but I'd appreciate it if you could tackle any part that you saw fit. As a quick summary, here are my questions.

1) What sort of performance increases could I expect with my set-up and adding the Wilwood/Perrin front brake caliper upgrade?

2) Do you think Nitrous is "cheating?"

3) What would you rather put on your car, assuming you had my upgrades?


Thanks a lot guys/gals,


James

 

I second teiva-boy, if you have 17" wheels why not go with a big brake upgrade instead of just a caliper upgrade? And yeah I think nitrous is cheating, if you can't beat someone with gas and air you need to do more to your engine. If I were you I would just go with a big brake kit of which there are numerous out there.

Stephen

 

As for the nitrous, I am running the Zex wet kit and I really enjoy it quite thoroughly. I am running a 55 shot and although some may see it as cheating it is the easiest way for me to make my car even remotely competitive. I too like the races up to 80 because if I can't win there then I feel that I will not win at all. I have a 2002 2.5RS and because the car weighs a ton with me in it I find going fast a problem. Unfortunately the 165hp does not make up for the horsepower to weight ratio. The zex kit slightly helped this problem and I find my car maybe dipping into somewhere between 14.5-15.0 for a quarter mile. I do love the feeling though of a big brake kit instead of a caliper upgrade. There is nothing quite like hitting the breaks and enjoying the feeling of your entrails practically sitting on the dashboard. But for your list of mods you are generating plenty of power and a clutch would be a very good idea for you in the future if you go with the nitrous. But for your car I woul say the brake upgrade because you already have the power there to go fast, but now you are left with how fast you can stop...