Damn I'm sorry bro. You must be really unlucky, what with your friend's getting M3s and 335s and you're stuck with an R. Malibu problems
It's easy to afford a car when you have no mortgage or real bills to pay for. I bought my mk4 r32 new when I was 20. I made 1200 a month and was a student so $500 a month car payment was no biggie. 10 years later on my second home, 3 kids, multiple cars and bikes I would never want a car payment that high again.
Been there, done that.
Way back when..... before most of the people here were born.... I was 17 and had a brand new 1988 Mustang GT Convertible. Payment was $309/mo and insurance was $360ish/mo.
I paid for it all myself with my "part time" job. All that and I still had beer money, but not much else. Still was able to scrape together money for mods, but it was slow at the start.
My friends and I had some awesome times in that car but I used to get the "did your dad buy that car for you?" all the time.
so .. the OP isn't going to comment at all?
my advice: do it once and do it right.
1) HPFP $329 shipped
2) SPM track downpipe $450 (estimated) shipped
3) installation (under $200 for both items)
4) APR Stage 2+ tune $599 on sale
you are now 360 hp and 370 ft lbs. $1579 / 104 hp gains = $15.20 per horsepower.
So ... what are you waiting for? If you don't get HPFP, you're saving $380 including install ... and u get 335 hp ... $1250 / 80 hp = $15.65 per horsepower.
it's less bang for the buck if you think of it that way.
OP being on your side, i was 17 when i got my mk5 GTI and i went balls out on it with every penny I worked. I'm now 23 and i have my mk6 Golf R. I know how it feels to be strapped on budget so trust me when it comes to best bang for the buck modding.
having said that i am a big believer of do it once and do it right.
Yeah sorry about that. I've been busy with school and what not. Thank you for your advice and standing up for me. Much appreciated.