1998 Corolla Modification (Advice please)

[RobertM87]

I want to start off by saying this is my first post on the forums. I did a forum search but wasn't able to find an introduction thread, so this short paragraph should do. I've read the forum rules and I'm looking forward to posting here.

Back to the Corolla. I primarily drive a 1998 Corolla due to it's reliability and fuel consumption. I wash and maintain it every chance I get, and I've been really itching to make some modifications. I'm planning on keeping this thing throughout college, and holding onto it until I have saved up enough for an ideal car, or for a future wife to own and drive.

Here is a little history on the car: It was bought a few years ago from a Used Car Dealership. It had ~60,000 miles and currently has ~70,000. The brakes, serpentine belt, and a handful of other things have been replaced.

This is what I want to modify with the car:
-ABS Brakes: I live in Pennsylvania so we usually have busy winters and enough rain throughout the year. While I drive cautious in weather, ABS would give me more confidence in these conditions and make it safer for any future drivers. How difficult would it be to install an Anti-Lock Brake system to the car, and is it worth the money for an older car?
-Increased MPG: I'm perfectly content with the current efficiency of the car, but wouldn't mind increasing the MPG if it were under $100 to do so for each component or system. I also wouldn't mind spending the money on it if it would pay for itself over the lifetime of the car.
-Decreased Weight: I think this would give it better performance as well as efficiency. I don't want to decrease the resell value or sacrifice comfort. I'm not looking for a carbon fiber hood unless it is inexpensive, reliable, and matches the body color (Dark red). I don't want to rip out carpets. I don't want to rip out the rear seats. I'de like to keep the front seats the same color (tan) if I do replace them with lighter ones. Is there anything left?

What I dont want:
-Something that will significantly reduce reliability and car life
-Obnoxious coffee can exhaust systems
-Prohibitively expensive equipment
-Overly gaudy or awkward looking modifications

I'de really appreciate it if anyone can give me some advice on this. Thanks in advance.

EDIT: I'm not looking for an enormous HP gain, with the car being FWD I don't want to put any unnecessary wear on the front tires that it doesn't already have from braking and acceleration. Thanks.

[SpinnerCee]

You're kind of askin' for somethin for nuthin' lol:

ABS is a very expensive modification because it is a factory only option -- the '98 Corolla's did come with factory ABS so you can maybe find a salvaged one but you'll probably have to import everything about the donor braking sytem -- this may include the hubs/spindles front and rear (I think you need 4-wheel discs for ABS), the hardlines may be different, the master cylinder and booster, etc... all of the electronics, wires and sensors, which may also include the ECM, instrument cluster, and ABS controller, etc.... sure you want to do this?

The Corolla engine is so small (it's fuel efficient already), it's hard to increase mileage significantly. Increasing performance almost always decreases fuel mileage, since engine performance is increased by making modifications (intake/exhaust) that allow the engine to move more air volume which always requires more fuel.

With respect to weight -- decreasing weight increases perfromance and mileage only if you don't "use" the increased performance with your left foot -- if you keep your driving habits the same, you'll realize a mileage increase. Carbon-fiber is not cost effective unless you're racing, but if you can find it, fiberglass is lighter then steel. Stuff in the trunk, like the spare and other hardware will save weight if removed. The Corolla is fairly light anyway due to all of its plastic bodywork and aluminum engine -- To really notice a large reduction in weight is difficult -- Aluminum wheels over the steel ones would also save a few lbs.

[RobertM87]

Thank you very much. I've considered what you wrote, and I've decided not to make any modifications. Cheers

[SpinnerCee]

It's always a compromise -- power or economy -- In the racing world they're mutually exclusive -- RaceCars based on production cars (ie: NASCAR, Speed Touring cars, etc..) maybe get 3-5 MPG but they make 400-700HP and weigh around 2000 lbs -- You car gets around 30 MPG, has around 100-200 HP, and weighs around 4000 lbs. -- totally diferent animals indeed.

From a tuning standpoint, racers look for really tiny gains to get an edge -- consider a race track that's a mile long -- gaining +0.05 MPG with a 20 gallon tank (fuel cell) gets a racer one more lap than the competition -- that kind of gain would only save you less than a cent per tank, but possibly put the racer in the winner's circle.

In 1/4 mile drag racing, something like every 100 lbs you can get rid of will shave -0.1 second and 1-2 Mph off the quarter mile time and finish line trap speed -- that's a lot of weight to lose for an increase that you may not even be able to feel (maybe put wifey on the diet, LOL) -- I think the horsepower gain required to get a tenth is around 10-20 HP(?).

When you think about it -- small gains made for racing are for the short-term benefit -- any small gain you make will be realized long-term -- the big difference is the cost per gain -- it will take you longer to cover the cost of any mods you make.

[RobertM87]

It's a front wheel drive daily driver, so it'll get treated as such. I guess I'll wait until I have the means to afford a high potential RWD before throwing more money into it.