Hey guys. I'm new here and have spent hours going over the forum looking for suggestions on how to upgrade the system on my 2002. Problem is I'm more confused then when I started.

I've got a small budget, $250. The stock system is the standard cd w/eq, tweeters, 5.25 door and 6x9 deck speakers. The only thing I've done so far is add an aux jack so I an use an Ipod.
Depending on the Aux jack u use ull lose SQ and bass and the stock headunit wont put out great sq but its okay. For a while i ran a fm transmitter but it put out a tiny amount of bass compared to a CD

I'd like better sound with more solid bass. Is it a mistake to keep the factory head? Initial thought is that I need to to keep the budget low but then I see something like this Clarion-CZ200-CZ-200 which will take a steering wheel adapter kit(later) but does give me preamp outputs now so I wouldn't need o buy a converter.
Good headunit for the money, but it your trying to save cash, for my first bass setup on my GP i ran the scosche line output converter walmart sells, it only ran me twenty bucks. I installed it just by tapping into my rear 6x9's wiring. When i upgraded headunits i just cut off the wires and taped em up. It made plenty of bass, or atleast as much as you can on a boss 600.2 and an RE REX10 D4 sub. So if your strapped for cash you can do it, just make sure your amp has a remote bass knob otherwise ull have to turn the bass down at the HU and that will also lower your midbass levels since the stock HU only has bass and treble. Unless you for some reason have the 5 band equilizer from factory, if you do im sure you could last a while without upgrading.

The only thing I'm positive of is I'm going with 6.5 components in the doors. The reviews look pretty good on the Hifonics-Zeus-ZXi-6.5C.
Agreed there not bad for the money, but there are much better speakers, ide keep researching em if i were you. Im not sure about value for money on many other companies.

I'm thinking a single 8 inch sub and building my own box, looking at an RE-Audio-SRI10D2. Would this be a good choice for an amp MTX-Audio-Terminator-TN250-1
I actually own the RE SR sub since the SRi is discontinued, its the same sub, its RE audio's SQ woofer ull get alot of bass out of it but what i like about it is it reaches the higher highs and the deeper lows which alot of off the shelf ones at places like bestbuy cant do. and if you get the D2 version (i already figured you meant 10 inch since the only RE 8 inch is the REx) the MTX Monoblocks have two speaker outputs already to make install easier so all you have to do is run a power and ground wire from each coil to the amp and ull be running 200 rms which should be perfect for that sub, but it can handle alot more if you choose.

Rear speakers? 6x9s are the obvious "not to use". Many seem to suggest no rears. Shouldn't I have something back there so friends in the cheap seats don't hear all bass?
I like my 6x9's, they can put out bass close to a sub if you do it right, but its really a preference. If you remove the 6x9's ide say do one of three things. Leave em empty but ull lose the mid fill from the back, replace em with 6.5's theres a larger selection of well made 6.5's, or replace em with 5.25 just for filler.

I'm open to any suggestions, thanks.

Im not the most experienced guy on here but i hope atleast some of this helps