I acquired my frost silver 2001 ATX ZX2 in November of last year. After having an Escort sedan for more than 2 years and nearly driving it into the ground, I decided to move to the sportier and better looking ZX2. I had taken my sedan to the LVMS legal street races for sh*ts and giggles earlier that year and had found that I had had a good time even though I had gotten 22-23 second 1/4 mile times.

So, after getting my ZX2, I went about researching the net for cheap upgrades that someone not so car savvy such as me could do. I found a few things that did help and added some others for looks.

•Originally, I Kemanized it (which at the time I did not know it was called that) and did the cold air induction mod shown on this site. I wasn't too sure how well it worked but I thought that it was better than stock. When it was pulled out of the car it looked like this

But I removed the CAI to try to improve on it's design and on the way to the hardware store, I discovered that it had better throttle response without it. So, I removed it and shortly after I purchased an Iceman from a fellow employee at work who used to own a 2000 ZX2 S/R.

After about five months or so, I had fallen in love with a different intake. So I traded it to a local tuner.

My intake and $100 got me this: The ZXTuner 3" Intake.

Here is the throttle body coupler. It can be used with the stock TB or with the 65mm Focus Central TB. Possibly a future mod.

This is where it clamps the the battery tray

And this is the HKS universal filter that came with it.

•Then, being the sound system lover I am, I had an Alpine deck installed and had my 12" Type-R Subwoofer, which is powered by a Power Acoustik 980-watt amp, taken out of my sedan (which no long belongs to me) and moved to its new home in my coupe's trunk.

•I also purchased a 7 color LED underlighting kit, which I was afraid would be only worth the $130 I paid for it at Pep Boys, but turned out to be a good investment. With it I put a blue 15" neon, which can be on solid or bump with music, in the trunk.

•I placed the control switch panel for the underlighting kit in the trunk where the jack is and wired it to my parking lights. I also placed a switch to turn it off independently from the parking lights near the fuel cut-off switch.

•Then, I made some custom vinyls for my front and rear windshields and the 3rd brake light with my dad's vinyl cutting machine. The front windshield is adorned with the name I have dubbed for my car (Bos Engel or Evil Angel in German) centered at the top and is enshrouded by a set of wings. (I've redone the front windshield several times but the wings are always there.) The rear simply states "powered by ZETEC" in a reverse cut vinyl rectangle. I also have a pair that say "VTEC THIS!" over a blue ZX2 logo in the quarter panel windows.

•Next, I was offered a 54" double bladed wing for $50 from a fellow ricer employee at work. (He owns a Scion xA and I don't really follow his taste in cars but whatever, back to my point) I mounted it on my trunk and painted the blades silver to match the car and the rest black. I made an overall ricer appearance of my car but I soon learned better.

•Last, I purchased a 2.25" cat-back exhaust with Magnaflow muffler from TruBendz and had a friend help me install it. An OBX 4-2-1 Header is in the mail and should be installed after my next emissions check in November.

•Other modifications I do not have pictures of include:

•Powder's UDP (40% Underdrive)
•ZXTuner Alternator ODP (15% Overdrive)
•Ractive Strut Tower Bar
•21mm Rear Sway Bar from a '92 Protege LX
•DiabloSport Delta Chip
•Alpine SPS-57C2 Rear Deck Speakers
•Alpine SPS-17C2 Door Speakers
•205/50 R15 Kuhmo ECSTA AST Tires
•Ford Racing Spark Plug Wires (Blue)
•35% Tint on Door Windows
•15% Tint on Rear Windows

This car was traded in on November 29, 2006. I bought a 2007 Ford Focus ZX3. It can be seen here.