HOW TO START MODIFYING A SUBARU WRX/STI

The Subaru WRX/STI

Since its introduction to North America, enthusiasts have been modifying the Subaru WRX/STI to fit their needs. After the split from Impreza for the 2015 model year, the WRX has been as popular as ever! Now that you have one, you need to know how to start modifying a Subaru WRX/STI?

There are essentially two ways to take the WRX/STI. The first is to customize for power. This method gives little to the look of the vehicle but rather what’s under the hood. Or you could go the second route and customize for looks and leave the power untouched! There are, of course, unlimited ways to customize the car!

Take a look at three mods you can do if you are an everyday driver, a power seeker, or looking to be the star of the show!

Modifications for Everyone

Even if you have your eye on one specific way of customizing your WRX, there are a few mods that everyone should think about getting! Additionally, these few pieces are great for those who are not wanting massive modifications.

1. Cobb Accessport 

This one gets covered a lot, but only because it is vital. The Accessport gives you ECU access, letting you know any trouble codes, in addition to giving you custom map tuning for your engine! Pick one up at the Cobb Store. 

The wonderful thing about the Accessport is the ease of install. Right out of the box, you have everything you need to get this mod in your car. It really is as simple as plug-and-play. Applying a map to your engine helps rid rev hang and provide real-time feedback from your engine. 

Once you decide to get into additional mods, the Accessport will allow you to tune your engine further, thus unlocking even more power and efficiency! 

2. Tires

It should be a given, but tires grip the road for power and handling. Poor tires can leave you missing out on even the most standard of performance. Remember, Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive requires tires to be changed out together!

The best performance comes from matching the tire to the season. Those who don’t have that kind of money or patience should look into an all-season tire. Do yourself a favor and invest in a decent brand—a good brand, such as Michelin or Bridgestone. 

3. Short Throw Shifter 

Anyone who has a WRX/STI will tell you that the shifter leaves much to be desired. A short-throw shifter is an easy way to improve the shifting feel and reduce or remove shifter slack!

A short-throw shifter is also more fun to drive. The standard shifter feels like a rowboat, but the racing feel is alive with a short-throw! Compared with other manual shifters, the WRX feels like a vast area of opportunity. Thankfully there is a way to fix that!

A popular model is the Boomba Racing short-throw shifter. To self-install requires a fair amount of skill, so if you’re like me, you’ll want someone to install for you!

Feel the Power!

A few easy modifications or part swaps can unlock the power you didn’t know your engine had! The first two power modifications operate best with the Cobb Accessport. The custom mapping helps to tune the engine properly. Keep in mind,there are countless brands and even countless ways to unlock the power from your engine!

1. Cat-Back Exhaust System 

The Cat-Back system is part of the exhaust that extends from the catalytic converter back to the exhaust tips. While some argue that simply installing the cat-back system won’t unlock the car’s full potential, evidence suggests otherwise. 

The improved airflow allows the engine to work less to push out exhaust air, improving fuel economy and horsepower. Even if the power unlocked isn’t significant (less than 10%), the cat-back will open the door for additional modifications, such as a larger turbo. 

Finally, the cat-back exploits the unequal length headers, which means you can amplify that iconic “Subie rumble.” The sound isn’t about power but rather sounding mean as you cruise through town. 

2. Front Mounted Intercooler Kit 

The hood scoop that comes standard on the WRX functions as it is supposed to, while stock that is. Unlocking more power, though, requires a front-mounted intercooler system. This is because of heat—the hotter the temperatures, the less power you can achieve. By relocating the intercooler to the car’s front, you can unlock additional power you otherwise wouldn’t have. 

As you add more to your WRX, the heat will continue to rise. Kept unchecked, and that rise can cause significant damage to your engine or other components under the hood! It also prevents your car from getting damaged from all that heat.

We talked about power, but the hood scoop is still pretty cool. Good thing you don’t have to get rid of that when you make the swap!

3. Coil Overs 

The standard suspension on the WRX is fine for daily driving. If you want an improved ride, however, coil-overs are the way to go! Coil Overs give you precision in your suspension. Many kits allow you to raise or lower the car’s stance, giving you both performance and show attributes.

Additionally, Coil Overs provide more excellent handling. This handling can be tuned in several directions, with the street being by far the most popular. The improved handling will give you the confidence to tear through the streets, regardless of conditions!

Best in Show

Performance is excellent and all, but when you live in the city like I do, getting to unlock all that power is impossible. That’s where standing out can make the difference. Just as with performance modifications, there are seemingly unlimited numbers of ways you can customize the WRX. If you don’t believe me, just check out Travis Pastrana’s Gymkhana!

It can be overwhelming deciding what to do first when it comes to modifying your car for show. Luckily, there are several ways you can justify those show upgrades. Several of these visual changes provide additional benefits as well, so go ahead and start customizing!

1. Body Kits and Styling

The WRX platform looks like an angry pitbull off the line. There are body kits galore to turn that mad puppy into a pissed-off monster. Not limiting itself to just simply wraps and paint changes, there are copious numbers of body kits and styling changes you can make!

The STI comes with an iconic spoiler. However, there are spoilers in every style imaginable. Additionally, there are bumper kits, custom fenders, side splitters, skirt splitters, roof racks, and every manner of carbon fiber winglet you could want.

Finally, a shrink wrap can add a level of customization you can control. A guy living in my complex has one wrapped in anime! Anything you can think of is possible on the WRX!

2. Headlights 

The WRX has some ok headlights. For my WRX, the stock was incandescent bulbs, which are nothing to write home about. It doesn’t always have to be that way, though. Simple lightbulb swaps can add LEDs to any WRX year! Headlights or lamps can be a practical mod as well. 

Bulb swapping can only get you so far, though. To take your WRX to the next level, you’re going to want to change out the entire headlamp altogether. You’re in luck, though again, as the WRX has designs and functions that meet any needs. There are blacked-out lamps, halo-style lamps, and everything in between. These styles give the WRX the style you want it to have, but be sure to have a professional install or be prepared for a lengthy install!

If street style isn’t your thing, the WRX has plenty of off-road and rally options as well! Attaching a rally light frame and a couple of rally lights is an easier install than a headlamp replacement, and you get the classic rally look! A light bar can blast tails with piercing bright light! 

3. Wheels 

We talked about tires earlier and how the right tire can keep you from having a bad time! If you’re in it for looks, get rid of those standard rims and upgrade to something that matches your theme! The traditional 17″ or 18″ comes in various styles and colors to suit your image.

Moreover, suppose you are looking to raise or lower your car. In that case, there are a variety of options available, ranging from 16″ to 20″ as the most common options for wheel size. These, as well, come in several colors and styles!

What good is full-body customization if the wheels are standard?

Cool Cars Are for Everyone

Customizing your car should be a fun experience. It doesn’t take much to make it feel like yours, so remember to have some fun with it and make it your own!

You can add several cheap modifications to your WRX to make it feel like it stands out. Dome lights come in several colors and cost typically less than $10 a bulb. Bumper stickers often come free, or this pack of 200 for $9. Don’t forget the license plate cover. Everyone has to have a plate, but that doesn’t mean yours has to be boring.

Subaru also offers ownership badges for free. Just head over to their website and request one! You get to customize the badge, and they send it out in just a few weeks. Installation is simple, and you get to rep your ride!

Now that you have an idea of where to get started head out to the garage and start customizing!

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