Welcome to Team Project X. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start talking it up!
Name: Hector Perez
Contact Info: hperez007@msn.com
Vehicle: 2004 Nissan 350Z “Enthusiast” Edition
Current Sponsors: Project X Customs
About Me:
After graduating from the University of Illinois, I bought my first car, a brand new 2000 Dodge Durango R/T. It is the complete OPPOSITE of my current car: domestic vs. import, SUV vs. sports car, 4WD vs. RWD, high vs. low, seating for 8 vs. seating for 2! The only common thread was the R/T package on the Durango featured a more aggressive stance, custom interior, and deeper exhaust note. At the time, it was perfect. Then I went to the 2003 Chicago Auto Show.
I saw the all-new Nissan 350Z for the first time at the Auto Show in 2003. It was love at first sight! I wasn’t into modding, JDM, or anything like that, i just liked the car. Plus, the performance and the price point were unmatched. If it weren’t for the big, hulking Dodge in the parking lot, I might have bought one right there. There wasn’t anything like it performance wise, besides the Mustang and Camaro, which it was completely different from. When gas prices in 2004 hit the unbelievable price of $3 a gallon, I had to get rid of my 10 mpg gas hog. So I traded in the Durango for a brand new 2004 350Z Enthusiast with about 26 miles on it.
When I first got the car, I was completely unaware of the modding scene. Work, travel, and other hobbies dominated my time. Additionally, I spent most of 2006-2008 living in other states while my Z remained in Chicago. When I moved back to IL, the Z and I were reunited permanently and I decided I wanted to change some things up. First up, a cold-air intake. A quick Google search turned up various intake options, but more importantly, it revealed the websites 350zmotoring.com, my350z.com, and most importantly, ChicagoZ.com. The wealth of information I found on these sites, their enthusiasm for the Z, and pictures of modified Z’s changed the way I look at my car forever. After attending my first meet in the fall of 2009 (Fuddruckers), a cold-air intake would not be enough to satisfy the mod bug inside me.
By the time ChicagoZ.com held their first meet of the 2010 season, my car had some major changes. The few people I met at that first meet a few months and one winter ago were surprised by the transformation my car had undergone. My engine bay had some new eye candy, Volk wheels were added, suspension was moderately lowered and a Top Secret front diffuser installed. Throughout the process, I made multiple visits to Project X Customs for install help and advice on future upgrades. Attending meets, participating in shows, and staying active on chicagoz.com, I met a lot of people with similar interests and made some new friends as well. Being asked to be a part of Team Project X fulfilled a personal goal and was a highlight of my 2011 season. Moving forward, I still see many upgrades in my Z’s future. BBK? Custom interior? FI? Only time (and the depth of my wallet) will tell……..
Welcome to Team Project X. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start talking it up!