The 2024 Christmas season is here, and it seems like it was a few months ago when we listened to all of Kat William’s prophecies in the beginning of last January. But here we are with another year flying by. Most of all, we hope that you had a wonderful car season whether if you spent your weekends at local autocross or track events, or weekly meets at your local hangouts, and we hope you had a safe season while cruising. As we enter holiday season with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other pending sales from other manufactures, we also know that with racing, modifying race cars, or customizing show cars isn’t exactly the most affordable hobby. With other obligations, and gift shopping, we completely understand that budgets will certainly vary. And because of those reasons, we are going to make another holiday gift guide for those of you who are shopping for loved ones who are car enthusiasts this season. And this will also help those of you who set aside a little budget to treat yourself this Christmas. And with that, let’s look at some decent ideas to accommodate your budget whether it be small or grand.

 

BEST GIFTS UNDER $100

 

Eikosha Squash Air Freshener $9.99

By far the best $10 you can spend. This air freshener is very popular among enthusiasts and can’t be bought at your local auto parts store. The scent is long-lasting and has a distinctive citrous scent that smells so much better than the black ice air freshener that can be found in 99% of cars that still have French fries stuck under the seat. The Eikosha unit is compact, and can fit in cup holders, and makes for one of the best interior mods you can perform.

 

COBB Delrin Shift Knob $90

A great gift for those with a Subaru WRX/STI, or any manually shifted Subaru. This shift knob is made using Delrin which is comfortable to grip in all weather conditions from prime summertime, to in the winter. And it looks pretty neat as the cueball-like profile has a cool contrast with the overall theme of older to newer Subarus.

 

Chemical Guys-The Best Detailing Kit $99.99

This is perfect if you’re shopping for someone, if you got a gift card and want to get yourself something. Keeping your car clean is one thing, but keeping it clean with proper quality products makes detailing a fun activity. Chemical Guys includes the essentials to clean the interior and exterior of your vehicle when you need to get it cleaned up before the next car meet.

 

 

BEST GIFTS BELOW $250

 

SHORT SHIFTERS

We carry several options below this price point, and these reduce the shifter throws for faster shifts during competition driving events, and a more enjoyable driving experience for daily use. Many options will also include new bushings which will also renew the shifter feel in terms of eliminating shifter slop that will come with old bushings.

 

OLM CS Style Carbon Fiber Front Lip 2015-2017 Subaru WRX/STI $185.68

There are actually a few great front lip options for many Subaru makes and models, as well as for other models such as the A90 Supra. An upgraded front lip is one of the more favorable exterior mods because they offer aggressive looks, with a little more aerodynamic refinement.

 

OLM Carbon Fiber Low Profile Trunk Spoiler 2022-2024 WRX $246.75

The VB WRX is the latest WRX model on the markets that means there are many of you who bought these fresh from your local dealer. One of the best exterior mods that gives a sleek look is a proper trunk spoiler. OLM has a carbon fiber unit for just under $250.

 

LUG NUTS

Lug nuts a great way to secure your OEM or expensive aftermarket wheels. And with aftermarket wheels, there are many designs that will need a narrow profile, and narrow lug nuts will come with their own special lug socket. You can choose from many different styles, colors, open-ended to closed lugs. And you can get lug nuts that have their own locking nut and separate socket to help prevent theft.

 

MUD FLAPS

Subaru enthusiast’s favorite exterior mod that really elaborates the rally-inspired theme. Mud flaps will protect the paint on your rocker panels, doors, and rear bumper from getting sand blasted from rocks, salt pebbles, and more importantly it protects the windshields from people driving behind you especially if you have a wider tire that will pick up more rocks. Available in different colors and brought to you by the most trusted brands in the Subaru industry.

 

AUXILIARY BRAKE LIGHTING

This is going to include your rear third brake lights, and we have several options and styles to choose from. Many of which are F1-inspired meaning that in Formula One, all cars are required to have a brake light that is compact, yet bright enough to grab the attention of the driver behind you. Best of all most of these will be multi-functional to be a parking light, brake light, as well as a reverse light.

 

 

BEST GIFTS BELOW $500

Now the shopping selection is getting a little more expensive, and the selection is going to get pretty broad. There are several things you can get in a $500 budget whether if you want to get one thing or spread it out and make a package. So here are some items that we’d like to highlight to provide you with some ideas.

 

AXLE BACK EXHAUST SYSTEMS

Now we’re starting to get to the loud stuff. We all know that cat-back exhaust systems are the most popular upgrade to any Subaru because they amplify that Subaru rumble, and there are performance gains to be had. Yet cat-back systems are expensive. Like over $1k for the most part. But if you just want the sound, while keeping your Subi relatively stock, then just go with an axle-back system. The axle-back will simply be a replacement for your factory heavy muffler. So, you get the weight savings with the sound. And if you know how to wrench and safely support your car on jacks, you can install an axle-back yourself.

 

SWAY BARS

Aside from coilovers, sway bars are the best suspension mod you can perform on any car. Sway bars reduce body roll which makes the chassis sharper while turning. The driver feedback is much better, and they are a must-have for the track, while making your car more fun on the street as any Subi driver enjoys the occasional spirited canyon drive. But pay attention because sway bars on an individual basis are below $500, as a pair they are going to be a little more. But totally worth the investment.

 

STEERING WHEELS

Oh yeah baby. For older Subaru models, this is a great way to refreshen the life in your interior while improving the feel with a thicker grip. Yes, we carry aftermarket units, but the money is on the steering wheel upgrades where you switch over your OEM buttons and airbag. Your OEM steering wheel will naturally have wear and tear since it’s the most touched item in your interior, but what if you had suede and carbon fiber to make it feel like you’re driving a race car? You already know the answer.

 

BLOW-OFF VALVES

You know blow-off valve noises are fun. The engine sneezes, the bird chirps, the whooshes. It’s what makes a turbo car much more fun to drive. Your OEM blow-off valve will have to get upgraded if you are making more boost and power because otherwise it will leak. An aftermarket unit will feature a stiffer spring to keep the internal valve shut when the throttle body is fully open, while quickly lifting the valve to relieve boost when the throttle body closes.  We have direct replacements that are Subaru-flange friendly. And then we have Tial and Turbosmart units that you can weld to your preferred location on your intercooler piping.

 

COLD AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS

The next most favorable mod next to the cat-back exhaust systems. Cold air intake systems add a pretty good amount of horsepower because they allow your turbocharger to breathe a larger amount of unrestricted airflow during boost. This allows the turbocharger to react faster to cut lag time, while greatly improving the throttle response.

 

 

BEST GIFTS BELOW $1000

Now we’re making some real gambles here. The only guarantee that you can count on is that you are going to make yourself, or the car enthusiast in your life pretty stoked. So, let’s continue to keep things on the fun side and not worry about buying a cylinder head lol.

 

PLUG AND PLAY ENGINE MANAGEMENT

Now every modified Subaru is going to have an Accessport it seems. But if yours, or your loved one does not have an Accessport. Now is the time. When modifying a Subaru, you just can slap on certain cold air intake systems, and especially a catted downpipe thinking that you’re going to safely make more horsepower. You must remember that your factory ECU is programmed to have parameters set around the parts that are on the car. This means the ECU is programmed to control the OEM injectors. And you need to upgrade your injectors once a power threshold is surpassed. Anything that increases boost will cause boost and fuel cut. A cold air intake allows the engine to breathe better but in certain designs, your MAF sensor can’t recognize the larger amounts of incoming air. And aftermarket downpipes free up a lot of boost because the OEM unit is so restrictive. An Accessport will smooth out your modifications so that they can work seamlessly together so that you have a smoother powerband, among a myriad of other beneficial features.

 

DOWNPIPES

Now we do have some units available under the $1k range. This is a big power-adder for most turbocharged vehicles and this is because OEM downpipes are very restrictive, and the reason being is that there are many bends, smaller piping, and debris can brake apart internally in the OEM cats that all will contribute to more backpressure, causing premature wear on your turbocharger as it works harder to make boost, while generating excessive heat in the exhaust. A good downpipe will have larger piping, with smoother bends to allow your exhaust gases to quickly escape. When combined with a proper off-the-shelf MAP from your Accessport, or with a proper flash tune, significant horsepower gains will be had.

 

INTERCOOLERS

We are not sleeping on these. If you want to consistently stay in the 350 and above horsepower range, you need an upgraded intercooler. The OEM intercoolers on Subi’s are small and can quickly become heat soaked which will put a ceiling on your mods, and on your performance. A larger intercooler core will keep cooler intake charge temperatures fed into your intake manifold.

 

 

BEST GIFTS ABOVE $1000

Because this is for all the beans. If you earned a great Christmas bonus that is not a Jelly Of The Month Club membersip, there are some gifts available that will make your man cry with tears of joy. Or if you want to give your Subaru the perfect Christmas, here are a few items that we want to highlight to make this holiday one to remember.

 

CAT BACK EXHAUST SYSTEMS

Now there are several quality options below the $1k range. But for those of you whom only demand the best, we won’t let you down. Cat back exhaust upgrades are number one on the list for any Subi owner. This is because Subaru’s have that unmistakable flat-four rumble. With a good cat-back option, your Subaru will have that race-inspired sound to make you feel like Travis Pastrami flying down the tarmac.

 

TURBOCHARGERS

This is the one component behind all of the fun. There are several reasons as to why you might want an upgraded turbocharger. You might have an older Subaru with a tired OEM unit, or you might have a fresh forged motor designed to make more power and boost and you need the right rated turbo to help you reach your goals. Whatever the case may be, we can help you get there. From OEM replacements to turbochargers that can flow 600+HP, you will be pleased with the great selection that we offer for your boosting needs.

 

SHORTBLOCKS

Subarus and rod knock are synonymous. This is because of a lack of maintenance with prolonged oil changes, too much boost without the proper supporting mods, or doing donuts where the oil is shoved to one bank of the engine. Whatever the case may be, now is the time to upgrade if you’ve got those deep Christmas pockets. We carry a great selection of short blocks that feature forged internals to sustain harsher racing conditions that would otherwise surpass the limits of your OEM short block.

 

WHEELS

You know you gonna be getting some rims eventually. But what if you’re ready to graduate from those reps? Not to worry we are here for you. Here with Volk Racing TE-37s, NT01’s, Advans, Work’s and everything in between to suit your budget. But imagine waking up to some TE’s under your tree that would be insane. Most of our wheels will be sold in a pair, or in a set of 4.

 

COILOVERS

The most popular suspension upgrade hands-down. This is because you can adjust the height to accommodate the latest set of aggressive wheels you just purchased, and they improve the overall handling of your Subaru. We carry several sets from super affordable, to very expensive. It just depends on your needs as the basic coilovers are just right height adjustable, while more advanced coilovers are height adjustable, damping adjustable, rebound adjustable, and include top hats that are camber adjustable. Many available sets to satisfy your need to be slammed.

 

 

A MESSAGE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

We want to remind you that it’s not about how much money you plan on spending, it’s about trying to have the best holiday you can have doing what you love the most. If you have the time off, make memories with friends, family, pets, and loved ones. Take time for yourself and count your blessings because at the end of the day we all share the common enthusiasm and passion for the same industry and hobby. Be kind to others this holiday season and be kind to yourself as well.