HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2024

Now that we are full-on Holiday sale mode, Black Friday was just a few days ago and Cyber Monday is today. This means that for many of you, you have either completed your shopping, or you are trying to get it done. We understand that life is busy with full-time jobs, family, kids, pets, errands, and such. This time of year can feel chaotic, and time management can be a little challenging. When it’s time to wind down for the night, many of us will also shop on our mobile devices while in bed just to knock some items out for the season. But in the midst of the said Christmas shopping chaos, our minds can be convoluted with what to get yourself, but especially for those of you who may not be car people but want to get something for the friend or loved one who is a car enthusiast in your life.

This is a gift guide to help navigate you to our most popular sellers depending on the budget. We have best sellers under $100, and beyond. More importantly before shopping as mentioned in the Black Friday blog, before anything else, make sure you enter in the correct year, make, and model of the vehicle because the majority of the mods, upgrades, and fun stuff we have on the site will be model-specific. At the top of the website, you can choose the right model, and for many of the product pages, there should be a confirmed fitment list of cars that the product should fit.

With that out of the way, let’s get to the fun stuff. We will feature some of the more affordable items, then we will link you to the pages that feature our more popular items that you can choose from.

 

 

BEST GIFTS UNDER $100

 

AIR FRESHENERS

These are awesome because we don’t carry just your regular tree fresheners that lose their scent after 3 days. We carry the likes of the Japanese Eikosha air fresheners that leave a very pleasant yet distinctive citrous-like scent. Great for stocking stuffers and makes for once of the best gifts in the most affordable category.

 

CLEANING KITS

Also, a thoughtful gift for the car person in your life. Chemical Guys makes some of the best detailing products in an attainable budget that will clean your car thoroughly. You’ve got to be careful with some local car washes or especially dish soaps that can strip away any waxes and even come ceramic treatments. Chemical Guys do a great job methodically putting together a package that will clean the interior and exterior of your vehicle.

 

HOODIES

For the Subaru lover who won’t invest in a proper outdoor coat because you’ve invested all your money into go-fast parts. Comfortable when lounging around the house or as a casual wear when out and about.

 

 

BEST GIFTS UNDER $250

 

SHORT SHIFTERS

Many examples are available for under $250. These will reduce the shifter throws between gears and makes for a more enjoyable driving experience. Many examples will also include new bushings to help reduce the amount of inherent shifter slop that comes with worn bushings. Got a little extra money to spend? Combine the short shifter with a proper SHIFT KNOB to complete the setup.

 

STRUT TOWER BARS

Many are under the $250 budget and make for an excellent suspension mod. Strut tower bars bridge the strut towers together to reinforce than strengthen the chassis especially during cornering as lateral forces shift to one side of the vehicle. Strut tower bars will sharpen the steering response for better driver feedback, with better grip to the tires.

 

AUXILIARY BRAKE LIGHTS

These are an awesome addition to the exterior lighting because they have an F1-inspired look. More importantly, they raise drive awareness behind you while braking with a bright LED light. Most of these units will be multi-functional as well aside from the braking option with a bright parking light, as well as a reverse light function.

 

 

BEST GIFTS UNDER $500

 

FRONT LIPS

One of the more popular exterior mods as it gives your Subaru that race-inspired look by making the front bumper closer to the ground. Looks aside, these have a high aerodynamic function by strengthening downforce at higher speeds to give the chassis more stability. Now pricewise, these are all over the place. Some are very affordable, while others get a tad expensive. You can’t go wrong with either choice.

 

COLD AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS

One of the very first mods and one of the most popular right next to a cat-back system. Cold air intakes allow your engine or turbo to breathe in a higher volume of air to reduce spool time, while improving the throttle response. This adds more power and torque. Some may require a tune so just make sure that you’ve got an Accessport.

 

AXLE-BACK EXHAUST SYSTEMS

There are many examples under the $500 mark. Axle-back exhaust systems are perfect for those of you who want to keep your vehicle relatively stock, but desire that aggressive exhaust note. Axle back systems are direct replacements for your heavy OEM muffler(s), and if you’re mechanically inclined enough then the installation is simple. Enjoy the aggressive sounds with muffler delete options, as well as the weight savings.

 

AIR-OIL SEPARATORS

Every Subaru needs one of these especially with the boxer engine design. Subaru’s positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system is okay if you’re stock. But once you start adding more power and boost where oil pressure is increased, then you need to take extra precautions because this is a very problematic issue with Subarus. The stock PCV system allows oil mist to enter your intake valves which will coat your piston tops. This lowers your gas octane rating which will cause detonation issues. It also coats your intake valves with carbon buildup as well. Basically, it’s a slow death of your engine. A proper air/oil separator separates the harmful oil and vapors from getting sucked into your intake system, and traps them back into the oil pan, or in a catch can.

 

STEERING WHEELS

We have upgraded versions of OEM steering wheels that feature exotic materials such as carbon fiber, suede, and leather with the GT3-like center strip. These also feature a thicker grip to make your driving experience a little nicer especially in high-performance driving conditions. You would have to transfer the OEM buttons and airbag over. And for those with a dedicated race car, we have full aftermarket replacements as well.

 

 

BEST GIFTS UNDER $1000

 

PLUG AND PLAY ENGINE MANAGEMENT

Above anything else, this will be the most important mod you must do to your WRX, STI, or other turbocharged Subaru models such as the LGT or OXT. We’ve discussed the importance of a tune several times, but like most performance vehicles, you cannot install an intake or a downpipe and call it a day. Your factory ECU’s parameters are programmed to work with the OEM components of your engine. Mods such as a cold air intake, cat-back exhaust, and especially a downpipe will free up a substantial amount of horsepower. Around 50+. The MAF in your intake won’t recognize the higher volume of air. A downpipe will free up a mass restriction from your OEM downpipe, and with a cat-back your turbo can be free to naturally make more boost. The problem is that your injectors, boost control solenoid are programmed from the factory to stay within certain tables. Mods will surpass those tables, and without a tune, your Subaru will not run right.

 

DOWNPIPES

Another integral part to the path of horsepower. The OEM downpipe in your turbocharged Subaru is restrictive because of the small piping size, and many times internal debris will break apart and get trapped in the cat which will further reduce exhaust flow. Aftermarket downpipes open up the exhaust floodgates, and will have 2.5-inch to 3” pipes with smoother bends and integrated high-flow cats. We have many great examples brought to you by the most trusted brands.

 

CUSTOM HEADLIGHTS

Now there are several options that all feature the latest in LED technology. This is great because LED lighting is brighter for better surface coverage and visibility for the driver, while consuming less energy than your standard halogen bulb. Many options will also be designed with custom C-lights, sequential turn signals, as well as daytime running lights. A great way to also bring modern looks to your Subaru.

 

SWAY BAR SETS

The best suspension handling mod you can do especially on an all-wheel-drive platform. Sway bars reduce body roll during cornering which will sharpen the suspension rigidity to provide the driver with better feedback and faster cornering speeds. A must-have if you drive competitively in sanctioned events, yet very fun for weekend canyon drives as well. We sell individual units for those of you who know what specific size you need to suit your driving style, and we carry sets designed to work well together.

 

INTERCOOLERS

The WRX, STI, or even the Outback and Legacy turbo models have one thing in common, they all have a small top mount intercooler that is subjected to heat soak. Subaru methodically placed these on top of the turbo to eliminate intercooler piping for faster spool, while absorbing air through the vented hood scoops. The problem is that the intercooler sits on top of the turbo that generates a ton of heat especially during summertime. The intercooler will become heat soaked which will feed warm air into the intake. When this happens, you are putting a limit on your performance. A larger intercooler core whether it be a top mount or a front mount setup will be big enough to properly cool those intake charge temperatures for better performance.

 

SPOILERS AND WINGS

Now we’ve got several affordable options, and some not so affordable. Honestly the price is all over the place. Have a 2015+ WRX? We highly recommend a sleek trunk spoiler. Have a 2022+ WRX? They have STI-style wings. Have a race car? We’ve got giant rear wings to produce all of the downforce. It’s up to your personal preference, but a really cool gift none the less to receive this Christmas.

 

 

GIFTS OVER $1000

Now this is for those of you who either want to treat yourself well, or if you really want to show the gearhead in your life how much you are sacrificing your wallet for them. Some of these will be absurd, but fun regardless to window shop, or as a buy now cry later option.

 

COILOVERS

The most popular suspension mod done to any performance vehicle especially the Subaru since they are a staple in the car community as a whole. Coilovers allow you to adjust the ride height while the strut assembly is still installed by loosening the lower spring perch and twisting the strut body into the lower mount. We have basic examples that are just ride height adjustable, and we have more advanced units that are damping adjustable, rebound adjustable, and we have many examples that come with camber-adjustable top hats. A great way to perfect the stance to really show off your more aggressive wheels.

 

WHEELS

This is the one exterior mod that every car enthusiast will get into at some point which is wheels. Now these are an investment because you are spending 4 figures for a set alone. The good news is that we have great sets that are affordable from the likes of Enkie, or we have Volk Racing wheels and beyond for those of you who demand the best forged units. Either way, wider wheels can host wider tires. But remember to not go too wide otherwise your Subaru will not be drivable.

 

TURBOCHARGERS

If your OEM turbo is a little tired from an older WRX or STI model, or if you simply want to upgrade then you’re in luck. Just do it responsibly because remember, if your motor is not built with a proper fuel system, tuning, and especially with forged internals, you’re going to break something. We carry several direct bolt-on options that have OEM-like power, and we have options that require an external wastegate and can flow well into 1000+ horsepower. So be reasonable and get the right turbo to suit your realistic needs. Meaning don’t get the biggest turbo you can while keeping the boost low lol.

 

SHORTBLOCKS

Short blocks are the bottom-end of your engine that hosts the main guts such as the pistons, rods, and crankshaft. Subarus are especially not immune from blown-up engines because in stock form, they can only handle so much power which can be said about any engine. We have OEM options for those of you who just want something that you or your mechanic can drop-in and be on your way, or we have forged examples that can handle more power for those of you with larger turbochargers, and a certain power goal in mind.

 

LASTLY, CAT-BACK EXHAUST SYSTEMS

The most fun mod you can do to nay vehicle is a proper cat-back exhaust system. Like downpipes, cat-back exhaust systems increase the horsepower and torque because they are made using larger main piping with limited and smoother bends. This allows the turbo to spool faster, allowing those exhaust gases to escape without turbulence. But the best part of a cat-back upgrade is the sound. Subaru’s have that unmistakable flat-four rumble, and a proper cat-back exhaust really amplifies that rumble. We carry the best examples brought to you by the most recognizable brands in the industry. From stainless steel, to full titanium, we have several options to suit your performance needs.

 

 

Now these are just some of the items we’d like to highlight that will make yourself, or the car person in your life very happy. Yes, the choices are always subjective but it’s Christmas time, it only comes once a year, so it should be something fun in all budgets. For shoppers, we want to remind you to figure out the exact year and model of the Subaru you’re shopping for. Don’t stress about it too much, if all else fails in terms of decision making, you can always purchase a gift card.

 

From all of us to all of you, please have yourself an easy Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays. Take time for yourselves and take the time to decompress from the year.