What's the best mod to improve handling ?

[Mean Green]

Wow! I am a very lucky guy. My wife understands that my car is MY CAR and the mods I do to my car are what I want. She understands it's my toy, my hobby, whatever you want to call it. I had lowered the '01 with Eibachs when I had it and when she took it over she talked about wanting the stock springs reinstalled. Well after a week of it being her car she told me no way because she loved the way the car handled in the curves. She now swears by the lowering springs and the strut bar. My '03 has Eibachs and a strut bar and she rides in it all of the time. She understands that though the ride is a little bit stiffer, that both PT's handling is safer now. With the performance mods the only compromise we make is that I won't snap her head back and forth by going through the gears hard. [?]

[Kirby]

I'll jump in. I'm with Mean Green:

Springs (Your choice of mfgr).

At least, have the dealer put back the factory rear sway bar that was omitted at the factory!

Get a free flow cat back exhaust (Mileage & Power).

From there take your pick,
it all works, and the beauty of having your own personalized PT is your ability to make individual choices on what you like best.[8)]

[Wingdale Dave]

Me again. The one that started this. Thanks to all of you for the input. I've printed out this whole thread for future use. HOWEVER, due to a (rather constant) pressure from my better half my immediate plans are to buy a strut bar and the OEM rear sway bar, and lay low for a year or so until things start to "wear out". (if you get my drift) I'll also be setting aside a little spending cash for springs, shocks, struts, cat back, and new wheels/tires. We'll see how that goes over. Reminds me of Johnny Cash's song "One piece at a time" Thanks

[Kirby]

OK !
Here's your strategy:

Cat Back Exhaust - At $3.00 per gallon it will pay for itself in less than a year, from then on it's all profit.

Sway Bar - load up the rear of the car and have her do some freeway driving. SHE will demand the rear sway bar!

Springs - Think about the guy that deep sixes his barbeque to get a new one.... One day you wake up and amazingly the stock springs are just gone, no one knows where!

Once she realizes she has taken three giant steps, you have the momentum to take her to a PT function....the rest will be history![8)]

[Wingdale Dave]

Kirby, I'm laughing... and... taking notes !!

[ptgtcb]

Bar, Bars, Bars! Sway bars! If you were to only add the stock rear bar you would be impressed! I would recommend a larger front and rear bar, for the money invested in just the rear bar I feel you would be better off getting a larger aftermarket set. I used eibach.
I started with springs and I would recommend you start with Sway bars!!!