Christmas 2023: A Subaru Holiday Gift Guide

    9 NOV 2023 - Jeff Willis

    THOUGHTFUL GIFT IDEAS FOR THE SUBARU ENTHUSIAST IN YOUR LIFE THIS HOLIDAY

    Welcome to RallySport Direct’s website. You must be here because it’s the holidays, and you see all these shiny mechanical things all over the website and you have no idea what they do or what they don’t do. It could be like the car person in your life walking into an Ulta, Sephora, or a Bass Pro Shops for that matter with bombarding sensory overload of all these things that leave us lost. So, we will try to help guide you into making a purchase for that Subaru owner or car enthusiast in your life with something sensible or grandiose to work with different budgets.

    Now car enthusiasts can be some of the most difficult to shop for because some of the items we carry are universal, but most of the parts we sell are particular for the vehicle’s specific make, model, and year. Just like when you walk into your local auto parts store to buy windshield wipers, the first words to come out of the employee’s mouth are “year make and model please?” You must do your detective work by asking friends or family members what they drive. Because more than likely here, it will be Subaru WRX and not the Ford Challenger Cobra 392 or the Ferrambo Buganni – which makes for a great band name BTW.

    Above anything else this guide will help you try to narrow down what you can purchase to make this Christmas extra special and thoughtful for the Subaru enthusiast in your life.

     

    IF THEY DRIVE A SUBARU WRX/STI, THEY PROBABLY HAVE THESE MODS ALREADY:

    If the person for whom you are shopping for drives a Subaru WRX/STI from 2002-current, chances are that they have common Subaru engine modifications such as a cold air intake, a cat-back exhaust system, and a COBB Tuning V3 Accessport. For the rest of the vehicle, they could have suspension upgrades such as coilovers and sway bars. And for the exterior they may have aftermarket wheels and a front lip. You get the idea. If all these terms seem like a foreign language, that’s okay, this is a guide that will help provide you with ideas that cover the most popular areas where enthusiasts like to upgrade on their Subarus, or enthusiast vehicles. Thankfully there are many ideas and examples to help you along the way, and all are great ideas that will add more performance and style to their vehicle.  

     

    NOTE:

     

    The items listed are for the most part, going to be model-specific. They are more of a reference guide. Do your detective work and figure out what vehicle you are shopping for, and enter the year, make, and model on the website to see if we have that example available for that vehicle. 

     

    KEVIN MCALLISTER’S MOTHER NEEDS TO GET BACK HOME IN A MODIFIED SUBARU. HERE ARE HER RECOMMENDED ENGINE MODS FOR THE WRX/STI:

    • COBB TUNING V3 ACCESSPORT – 2015+ SUBARU WRX/STI – This is a main ingredient in all turbocharged and modified Subarus. It is a handheld tuning device with downloadable off-the-shelf MAPS available through cobbtuning.com that will support both current and future modifications and has a myriad of other features.
    • INVIDIA R400 CAT-BACK EXHAUST SYSTEM – 2015+ SUBARU WRX/STI - Any cat-back system available through RSD’s site will be highly effective. Invidia has a large catalog of cat-back exhaust systems available for most Subaru models to free up any inherent restrictions associated with the OEM exhaust system. The result is more rumbles, more faster, and more race car.
    • GRIMMSPEED COLD AIR INTAKE – 2008-2014 SUBARU WRX/STI – A proper cold air intake system allows the turbocharger of any Subaru to breathe in a larger volume of air without any turbulence. When paired with a proper tune from the COBB Accessport, this will allow the lungs of the Subaru engine to produce more power with a faster engine response.
    • PROCESS WEST TOP MOUNT INTERCOOLER – 2002-2007 SUBARU WRX/STI – This unit will provide cooler intake charge temperatures to avoid heat-soaking issues associated with the OEM intercooler.
    • GRIMMSPEED BOOST CONTROL SOLENDOID – 2015+ SUBARU WRX: This goes together with the above upgrades to provide a faster boost response than the OEM unit. Whether it be GrimmSpeed, COBB Tuning, or other quality brands we carry, a proper boost control solenoid is a must-have and a mandatory modification you must perform to your Subaru.

     

     

    VERY MERRY SUSPENSION GIFT IDEAS FOR THE SUBARU WRX/STI:

    • KARTBOY FRONT ENDLINKS – 2004-2014 SUBAUR STI SEDAN / 2002-204 SUBARU WRX SEDAN: Navigate the website and search for the front and rear end link options brought to you by Whiteline, PERRIN, Kartboy, and other reputable brands. With older Subaru models, the endlinks are wear and tear items, and will affect the overall performance and function of your sway bars. The large selection of endlink options we carry will all be stronger, with adjustable options to suit your aftermarket sway bar setups.
    • WHITELINE FRONT AND REAR SWAY BAR KIT W/ENDLINKS – 2015+ SUBARU STI: No matter the year or model of your Subaru, one of the best suspension upgrades to perform are a set of upgraded sway bars. Because Subarus are rally-inspired all-wheel drive machines, you may experience excessive understeer or oversteer during high-performance driving conditions. Upgraded sway bars will reduce the body roll of the chassis to keep the Subaru planted during high-speed cornering. The result will be a much more enjoyable driving experience for weekend track days, or spirited canyon runs.
    • FACTIONFAB FL-SPEC COILOVERS – 2015-2021 SUBARU WRX/STI: Coilovers are the most desired suspension upgrade to the chassis of the Subaru WRX/STI on the overall scale by enthusiasts. A lowered Subaru provides race-inspired looks, and there are several benefits. Coilovers and aggressive wheels are common upgrades for sport compact enthusiasts with show cars, and they offer multi-levels of height adjustment and damping adjustment for those with track-dedicated race cars. They are comfortable enough to use on the street, and the biggest benefit is the ability to adjust the height by safely lifting and supporting the vehicle, and after removing the wheels you can twist the strut body into the lower strut mount to achieve the desired height.

     

     

    HOW CLARK GRISWOLD WOULD UPGRADE THE BRAKES ON HIS SUBARU:

    • FACTIONFAB F-SPEC FRONT BRAKE PADS – 2018+ SUBARU STI: These are a high-performance upgrade over OEM brake pads that are streetable but can sustain higher heat levels associated with weekend track days. The general selection of brake pads for all Subarus are fairly affordable and make for an excellent weekend maintenance project.
    • STOPTECH STREET AXLE PACK SLOTTED FRONT – 2008-2017 SUBARU STI: We carry several brake pad and rotor packages that really restore and renew the braking performance on your Subaru. New pads and new rotors are a breath of fresh air after the installation and will also improve the overall safety of your Subaru for daily use.
    • GOODRIDGE G-STOP STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE LINES FONT/REAR – 2002-2007 SUBARU WRX/STI: Your factory rubber brake lines can expand over years, mileage, and heat. This can create a spongy brake pedal but also a safety hazard on the street, and especially on the track. Stainless steel brake lines from all of our respective vendors provide a direct response from the brake pedal straight to the calipers while improving the overall braking performance.
    • MOTIVE PRODUCTS IMPORT POWER BLEEDER KIT: An absolute must-have tool for under $100 that is highly effective for bleeding brakes and clutch master cylinders if you don’t have a second set of hands to help you. You fill the container up with fresh fluid, attach the cap to your brake master cylinder, pump the handle until you reach 15 psi, and go to each caliper and bleed out the old brake fluid while the power bleeder feeds your brake reservoir with fresh fluid. Excellent for those of you who frequently bleed brakes at the track.

     

     

    INTERIOR UPGRADES THAT WILL INSPIRE MARIAH CAREY TO MAKE ANOTHER CHRISTMAS SONG:

    • PERRIN BARREL SHIFT KNOB – SUBARU WRX 2015-2021: Shift knobs are the most sensible gift idea in terms of price, and they add a nice overall touch to the interior. If you go to any car meet that includes Subarus you will notice that many will have the most ridiculous of shift knobs as enthusiasts will use just about any object. But the selection we carry is highly vast, and there are several affordable options you can choose from.
    • AEM ELECTRONICS X-SERIES WIDEBAND AFR GAUGE: Gauges in general are a good idea. You have boost gauges, oil pressure gauges, but the most important gauge to have in your turbocharged or modified vehicle is a wideband gauge. This gauge will save your engine as it provides air/fuel ratio readings. If you are outside of the strike zone of your tune, this is an indication that something mechanical is wrong, and you need to stay off the throttle until you have investigated and solved the problem.
    • WEATHERTECH BLACK FLOOR MATS FRONT – 2015+ SUBARU WRX/STI: If you daily drive your Subaru, these are one of the best ways to protect your front carpet area. These feature super thick rubber construction that will trap literally anything your shoes drag in from the outside. Because they are rubber, they are easy to clean so the next time you’re at your local car wash, you can hang these on the wall or set them on the ground and simply spray them off clean again.
    • FACTION FAB CARBON FIBER/SUEDE STEERING WHEEL – 2015-2020 SUBARU WRX/STI: Super baller interior upgrade, and one that really has a lasting effect on the overall interior aesthetics and driving experience. Nothing feels better to an enthusiast while driving when gripping a thick steering wheel. Carbon fiber and suede just provides the interior with an exotic look and feel as well.

     

     

    WHAT RALPHIE WOULD ASK SANTA TO PUT ON THE EXTERIOR OF HIS SUBARU THIS CHRISTMAS:

    • SUBISPEED SPECIAL EDITION LED HEADLIGHTS – 2015-2018 SUBARU WRX / 2015-2017 SUBARU STI: LED technology has taken over, and it is now standard equipment on highly-optioned vehicles rolling off the assembly line. LED technology offers more lighting power with less energy consumption and provides the exterior of your Subaru is a more modernized look.
    • OLM EVOLUTION TAIL LIGHTS – 2015-2021 SUBARU WRX/STI:  Just like  the headlights, we carry several taillight options that have LED power. OLM, and other options are available with unique layouts, built-in C-lights, and sequential functions, and with different color options to customize the exterior of your Subaru to your preference.
    • APR CARBON FIBER FRONT WIND SPLITTER – 2004-2005 SUBARU WRX/STI:  Any of the front lips and front air dams provide the front of your Subaru with aggressive looks. Not only do you get improved aerodynamic refinement, but visually it brings the front nose closer to the ground. Ideal for those of you with race cars, show cars, or daily drivers that enjoy weekend track events.
    • OLM CARBON FIBER LOW PROFILE TRUNK SPOILER – 2022+ SUBARU WRX: The trunk on the VB Subaru WRX is contoured to naturally accept a trunk spoiler. We carry several options brought to you by the most established brands in the industry and are available in carbon fiber for those of you who don’t want to opt for a larger rear spoiler.

     

     

    CRISTMAS GIFTS IF YOU RECEIVED A ONE-YEAR MEMBERSHIP TO THE JELLY OF THE MONTH CLUB:

    • PERRIN PULLEY COVER – 2022+ SUBARU WRX: Check out our great selection of engine covers, and alternator covers. These are available in several powder-coated aluminum options, as well as carbon fiber options to improve the overall engine bay looks and protection. A great upgrade that is affordable and are better alternatives for the bland-looking OEM plastic covers.
    • MUTEKI LUG NUTS 12X1.25 OPEN ENDED PURPLE-UNIVERSAL: A great option if you know that your loved one just got some wheels, but they are still using the OEM lug nuts. Muteki has several options below $100 that are available in different color options and lug profiles.
    • EIKOSHA AIR SPENCER SQUASH AIR FRESHENER: The best stocking stuffer ever. These JDM air fresheners create a unique yet refreshing Japanese scent that are available in several different flavors to improve the overall scent inside your Subaru, home, or office.
    • GRIMMSPEED TURBO HEAT SHIELD V2 W/BLACK CERAMIC COATING – SUBARU TURBO MODELS: Check out the great selection of heat shields. There are many examples under $100, and help prevent heat soak to the top mount intercooler as heat shields keep heat in the turbo rather than allowing the engine bay to cook.

     

     

    STOCKING STUFFERS IF YOU STILL NEED IDEAS:

    • CHEMICAL GUYS THE BEST DETAILING KIT: This kit includes many detailing products to properly clean your vehicle just before a car meet. Chemical Guys makes pretty stellar cleaning products that will clean every area of your Subaru or other vehicles in your driveway.
    • ELEMENT E50 PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER: DO NOT SLEEP ON FIRE EXTINGUISHERS! How many videos have we seen of someone’s clean build catching on fire? A failed injector O-ring, a leaking fuel line, oil or a power steering fluid leak on your exhaust can go south quick and destroy your investment. You should always keep some form of fire suppression in your vehicle.
    • DRAGY GPS BASED PERFORMANCE METER: All of these are equipped inside some of the fastest quarter mile and half-mile vehicles. The data that they provide after a pass is highly accurate and is GPS-based to provide viewable data through your Android or iOS device.

     

     

    These are great upgrades that any Subaru enthusiast will appreciate these holidays. Have a Happy Holidays, a Merry Christmas, and a Murry Chrysler these holidays.