Favorite Mods For Show Cars

We discuss many of the performance benefits here with mods to your engine, drivetrain, suspension, and aero. All of these components serve a purpose for those of you who want better handling, want to make more power, and who want the chassis to be planted to the ground during higher speeds at sanctioned events.

Yet when it comes to the everyday enthusiast, we are not competing in sanctioned weekend events. Or at the least not on a regular basis. Now to be fair, we all want to be racecar drivers, but there is a large demographic that use their cars as daily drivers, and more importantly they look forward to weekend car meets. This is where owners like to display their aesthetic mods that make their vehicles unique to them, and in many ways can be interpreted as an artful expression to a degree. After all, we like looking and appreciating vehicles of all makes and models.

Obviously, the reason why fellow Subaru owners as well as other car lovers alike frequent weekend car meets and shows, is to absorb the sensory overload of carbon fiber, polished components, wide wheels, and slammed suspension. Show cars often never show any remaining semblance of an OEM exterior, only because racecar. Because of these reasons, let’s discuss favorite mods for show cars in no particular order.

 

AIR SUSPENSION

 

Probably the most versatile setup in terms of suspension height adjustment. In previous blogs, we talk about why coilovers are one of the most popular suspension mods because unlike lowering springs that have one height setting.  Coilovers allow you to lower the ride height by loosening the spring perches while twisting the strut body lower into the bottom mount. Plus with coilovers, there is labor involved by properly jacking and supporting your vehicle, removing your wheels, and using the supplied spanner wrenches to achieve your preferred ride height.

But with air suspension, you do it in the car, on the fly, either by a press of a button or through an app on your phone. Now labor wise when compared to coilovers or lowering springs, air suspension will be the most difficult to install, and should only be performed by a trusted mechanic who actually knows what they’re doing, and not some young dealership mechanic who follows prompts on a computer (no offense). Installing air suspension can involve drilling to run air lines from the chassis to the air tank, and you must install the electrical connections to the controller of the air tank compressor.

 

 

 

Air Lift Performance Front and Rear Kit 2015-2021 WRX/STI

Now air suspension is a one-time installation unless repairs are made to the air lines or when the struts become worn as struts do over time and mileage. But the results are unmatched when compared to coilovers on a ride height level. Adjustability is regulated by air pressure produced by the compressor, which means you can have a safe and comfortable ride height setting on the way to the car meet, while dropping the chassis to the frame once parked.

 

Air Ride Suspension 3P Kit – Universal

 

 

WHEELS

As far as being one of the first mods enthusiasts do to their Subaru, wheels will always be at the top right next to a cat-back exhaust and a COBB Accessport. Wheels can change the entire personality of a vehicle. But for a rally-inspired all-wheel-drive platform like the STI, wheels can also be used for traction purposes as they can host a wider tire. Now with show cars especially on ride height suspension, enthusiasts will get 3-piece wheels and have custom offsets built to their specs as well as the widths. However, as custom as the look is, a clean set of Volks for example on a clean car defines what a clean aesthetic is.

 

Volk ZE40 Gold 18x9.5 +45mm 5x114.3

 

Volk TE37 SL Hyper Blue 18x9.5 +40 5x114.3

 

 

FRONT LIPS

For aggressive looks, a proper front lip is the way to go. For purpose-built race cars, front lips add more downforce while reducing drag to the front nose of your vehicle at higher speeds. This also reduces the chances of air getting under the vehicle. Now for show cars, you get the popular race-inspired looks. A front lip makes the front bumper, and the front profile of the vehicle appear lower just because when it’s installed, it makes the front bumper look like it’s hanging lower. Now you have front lips, but then there are front wind splitters. Front wind splitters are a flat piece of really sturdy carbon fiber typically made by APR. These are designed to mount to the chassis and can support a substantial amount of weight and downforce. But for the show car, a front lip will do just fine. We have many examples in carbon fiber and ABS plastic that will help you achieve the look.

 

OLM JDM Style Carbon Fiber Front Lip 2018-2021 WRX/STI

 

 

Maxton Design V1 Front Lip 2015-2021 WRX/STI

 

 

 

GIANT REAR WING, AND NOT SO GIANT WINGS

Because we all want a race car. And what grabs the most attention on a show car is how ridiculous the rear wing is. In fact, it doesn’t make sense when you see a Subaru with air ride suspension, wheels tucked and tilted with unsafe camber settings, and a giant rear wing to add more downforce when you can only go so fast lol. Kidding aside, not all show cars are tilted, and giant rear wings do serve a purpose in case you feel adventurous and go to a weekend track day, as they generate hundreds of pounds of downforce at higher speeds. Designed to be functional, aesthetically grabs more points at weekend meets.

 

APR Performance 67-Inch GTC300 Adjustable Giant Rear Wing 2015-2021 WRX/STI

 

APR Performance 61-Inch GTC-300 Adjustable Wing 2015-2021 WRX/STI

 

And it’s not always about giant rear wings. Sleek is the new loud. Trunk spoilers have been quickly becoming a staple because they flow well with the natural contours of the body. Especially for models like the new BRZ or GR86 where the rear trunk slightly resembles a duckbill spoiler by its natural shape. And trunk spoilers look great on any generation Subaru that you might drive.

 

OLM Single Point Duckbill Trunk Spoiler 2015-2021 WRX/STI

 

OLM Low Profile Carbon Fiber Trunk Spoiler 2022-2024 WRX

 

 

 

TOW HOOKS

Lastly, this is an affordable mod that show car guys love. You get that race car aesthetic, and some cars are so low that they need to be pulled from dips. But nonetheless, it’s an affordable aesthetic touch that will be common on most show cars.

 

PERRIN Front Tow Hook Red 2018-2021 WRX/STI

 

PERRIN Front Tow Hook Neon Yellow 2018-2021 WRX/STI

 

In closing, these are some of the chosen components that you will see at your weekend car show or car meet. Aside from vinyl wraps, we carry a large variety of interior and exterior options to suit your personal show car. You can remain fast, or low and slow. All of which will make your Subaru unique and will make your overall ownership experience more fun and satisfying.