System on a Tight Budget

ok...so i need something more than what i have now. i got my amp (kicker kx200.2) and my sub (JL 12w0-8) before i knew anything about car audio. basically, im wanting to start over (unless i can somehow make use of the w0 or the amp). ive got $400 to spend on hand, can save up some more if need be. basically, im looking for reccomendations as to how you'd spend $400 on a system. car is a 1998 eagle talon esi. lets see what you audiophiles can come up with. id be looking for more spl than sq, but dont want it to sound like unbearably terrible. im not looking to enter it into competitions..just somethin to hit hard for when im out cruising. lets hear some suggestions/reccomendations.

With $400 to spend, competitions are the last thing any of us would think of! lol  Not much SPL in that bracket.  SPL = $ because you need POWER.Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.

well...say i wanted to get like 500 rms or so..is that plausable with that little of money to put up?

Do you have a head unit? Where are the speaker locations, what size speakers are they, are they all still stock? How do they sound? You bought the wrong amp and subwoofer combination if you're interested in SPL. But KEEP your amp! You can use that as a decent mid/high amplifier! 1) Look into an after market head unit if you don't have one. 2) Buy new front speakers. Components if you can afford them. Check out value offerings by infinity, they are usually excellent for the price. Use a high pass crossover at 80-100hz. 3) Use your kicker amp to power your front speakers. 4) You are running a 8-ohm svc subwoofer. You're probably only using 1/2 of your amplifiers power because of this. My advice, buy a class D amp around 300w @ 4ohms and buy another 12w0-8. Port the box. Build it to JL specs. If you don't want 2 subs you'll have to replace the one you have. 8-ohms svc is wrong for you. In that case, look for a DVC 4-ohm sub that can handle more power and be prepared to buy a larger amp. New Project: 2003 Pathfinder

yah...right now ive got a jvc head unit (needed something other than the piece of junk stock one which was broken), pioneer 6.5" speakers in the front (which will be upgraded to Infinitys before too long...damn i love accomidations), and factory 6x9's in the rear which i need to replace..but yaeh, i had planned on keeping the kicker amp and using it on the 6.5"s, then was planning on getting something like this Audiobahn 1100rms DVC 4 ohm sub and trying to find an amp that would compliment it nicely...thoughts?

God, please don't go from a high quality brand like JL to a low quality brand like Audiobahn. No offense, but with all the chrome, flames, (lol) wooden box, 2" "PHAT" surrounds, and inflated rating of 99db sensitivity, all for $99, that thing is a freaking joke. Try a Kappa Perfect sub instead. Or Adire, or RE, or MTX. All will give you more for your buck than audiobahn crap. New Project: 2003 Pathfinder

Or you can do what i said! Screw MTX and RE, go Adire! Lol, Brahma or Shiva, or even that Koda is great! Take your pic, and for 125 a piece, that shiva can do you some good!"I don't play games. I play Nakamichi and that for real yo" - Probably some japanese kid said this in the early 80's trying to sell stereo out of his trunk lol.

Only decent RF is HX2, but it's not worth the money, so I recommend avoiding RF unless someone gives them to you.2009 Pontiac G8 in planning stage

HU: ?

Speakers: ?

Amps: ?

Those HX2's are cheap now.  Check out ebay for a good price on them.