Stylish Visual Upgrades: Bring a New Look to an Older Subaru

As we have mentioned, it can prove to be impossible to select a grouping of older vehicles to feature without hitting everyone's favorites since this brand has had so many impactful models and pivotable moments which serious enthusiasts could authenticate as the only reasons to categorize the best. But, since we are not attempting to write or start a discussion about the complete history of Subaru, but only help the owners of a few well-known platforms make informed decisions, we will start from a reasonable spot and move forward. Of course, moving into this outline and looking down the timeline of Subaru history, we first thought of the Impreza, the popular platform that didn't jump in front of the line and grab a gold medal for street credibility immediately. We all know that it took years of ups and downs to become a favorite within the realm. Many enthusiasts can look to the older models as great modification candidates with expressive creativity and a reasonable budget under their belts since this platform in earlier years can give a true gear head a great reward if they are the type who wants more in the performance category. As history confirms, the second generation of the Impreza WRX , filled with rally-injected DNA and personality, was the first of this platform type unleashed to the U.S. consumer marketplace before its cousin, the standalone WRX model was later released and began to live and breathe on its own. Many of the faithful believe that Impreza models within the 2002-2007 timeframe, namely the 2004 Impreza WRX should be dubbed the most cherished and revered champion since their turbocharged, 2.0-liter EJ20 engine delivered a nice spark of possibilities for the right driver. We saw the earlier “bug-eye” models between 2002 and 2003 that battled with transmission struggles, but the “blob-eye” facelift in 2004 came with the needed tweaks to make it a darling within the tribe. The releases within the 2005 through 2007 seasons are other popular platforms, so our choice to include this consistently highly-reviewed favorite was a logical pick.

Finally, the next choice was easy due to its unique, and already memorable style, which stands alone in this automaker's timeline. The Subaru BRZ has definitely become a head turner from off the showroom floor, and, some may argue, is completely fine as a visual specimen without need for either minor or major stylish modification. Seeing one in the wild with some stunning enhancements will seduce any car lover, so we could not exclude it from our list. At the start of its first generation in 2013, like the Legacy, the curvy BRZ also experienced its share of inaugural blues as any new design or concept might feel. Subaru dealt with some engine cooling issues, head gasket and valve spring cracking, and sensor problems that affected the engine's combustion during that first year which was worked out successfully between the end of 2014 and early 2015. At the beginning of its second generation in 2018 and later in 2019, the BRZ saw some fuel delivery system difficulties arise which became problematic for its owners, but surprisingly did not completely mark its reputation while keeping most negative criticism to a minimum. Between 2015 and 2020, with its most major issues within that timeline put aside, the Subaru BRZ has remained a favorite of the faithful - and simply, has evolved into a uniquely stylish and overall good car that has retained the the highest degree of potential in the hearts of enthusiasts for upgrades, modification, and overall customization remaining a reliable platform within the true sport car class. This cherished successor within a dynasty of Subaru vehicles that was born with the release of the Impreza was a natural platform for us to include. Now let's break down some available modification options from our vast catalog for the owners of each model and timeline that may be looking for ways to illuminate their favorite cars.

Those drivers who have fortunately landed an older Subaru Impreza either to be used for show, performance, or both, will be more than satisfied when finding a number of modification offerings to assist in giving their favorite platform's personality a little more lift. Maybe this driver decided to focus on the mechanical side of their modification project by investing first in components that will boost the vehicle's performance, amplify its voice, or give it a more aggressive stance while leaving the overall visual profile for a future date. If all the other boxes have been checked and the budget is in place, they can now concentrate on investigating some of their wanted enhancements which could illuminate the car's individual personality, and bring it to an impressive visual level. Several manufactures including Seibon, APR, XKGlow, Killer B Motorsport, Bride, and Husky provide a wide range of products that cover many levels of exterior and interior modification at a price range between $40.00 and $3,200.00 all depending on the driver's budget, their vision for the car, and what they need to accomplish. Drivers of the 2002 to 2007 Subaru Impreza can start out small at $42.00 by choosing one of the products offered by Killer B Motorsport, specifically their Teardrop Shift Knob in Black for models with a 5 Speed transmission. If the driver wants to give some robust protection to their Impreza's interior floor while boosting style, they could invest a little more on Husky 's Classic Style Front Floor Liners priced at $86.88. For the driver wanting extreme comfort, stability, and security while amplifying their vision for the Impreza's interior and creating an elegant performance cockpit in one step, Bride offers some amazing seating solutions including their stunning STRADIA III Low Max Reclinable Seat in Black Carbon with Red Fabric and Low Cushion for $3,150.00. Concentrating on the exterior of the car should lead the most creative enthusiast to the products from APR, namely their GTC Drag Carbon Fiber Spoiler for $906.30, and their Formula 3 Carbon Fiber Mirrors for $239.40. A bit of toughness and intimidating spirit can also be gifted to your Impreza's front end through Seibon's RC-Style Carbon Fiber Hood, which, for an investment of $1,518.00 will quickly move your favorite platform from average to extraordinary with a few turns of the wrench. Impreza enthusiasts should also remember that giving admirers something to envy during the day is just one step towards a unique modification, but turning heads at night is a completely different impression. XKGlow's App-controlled, Adjustable LED Ring Lights for 15-18" Wheels are priced at $429.99 and promise to create visual memories on any nighttime cruise.

The stylish lines and innovative shapes that came from the introduction of the stand alone Subaru WRX platform is a creative enthusiasts dream, especially when it comes to enhancing the exterior of this vehicle. Whether the driver wants daily transportation that is going to roll proudly down the highway with an aggressively unique injection of aerodynamic improvement that will make them dream of track life, or they have a fully committed motorsports performer who needs to blow past the competition while keeping some design sensibility created by quality craftsmen, the Subimods inventory will contain several combinations of upgrades and additions that will pull up the vision that has been in mind since the car was purchased. Again, we have a collection of premiere manufacturers who have been providing many of our customers, including lovers of high performance street and track culture, with the answers they need to satisfy their dreams. Products from Molded Innovations, JNA Performance, and Seibon will provide the passionate WRX driver with all the right components for their upcoming modification. The profile of the WRX will only blossom with the addition of new lighting and aerodynamic components to advance its overall safety and stability while on the street or track. Two lighting systems for both front and the back of the vehicle are available from Molded Innovations, including their EVO+ Style Sequential LED Tail Lights, which include Clear Lens, Black Base, and Red Bar for $582.21, while their upgrade to the Odyssey Series Sequential LED Headlights with Clear Reflector is affordable priced at $868.21. When exterior body components are needed, Molded Innovations also provides several items including their Carbon Fiber Single Point Duckbill Trunk Spoiler for $439.21, their Type 1 Carbon Fiber Roof Spoiler priced at $306.42, and the JDM Style Gloss Black Front Grill for $204.28, three items that add performance, style and functionality. JNA Performance can add one more point of flair with the addition of their M Style Polyurethane Front Lip for the 2015-2017 WRX, but if the enthusiast would like to bring quality and provide heightened assistance to ensure durability and style is given to the face of their car, the designers at Seibon bring the CW-Style Carbon Fiber Hood for the 2015 to 2021 WRX to the table which will not only amplify the overall look of the car, but will splash on some race-ready technology within a few hours of labor time. Again, this is a platform that was designed with both performance and creative personality in mind. The addition of a few aftermarket components to raise the temperature of envy on all that walk or drive by can be nothing but good. The true Subaru enthusiast and owner of the earlier WRX will surely feel an amazing reward as the begin to add some flavor to their favorite ride.

We've recently outlined the popularity and longevity of the Subaru Legacy and discussed how this platform's storied evolution has been the launching pad for so many variants that it has an appeal that attracts the average daily driver through to the most rabid modifiers in the Subaru community. Something not rare within the Subie village is both creativity and ingenuity which stand as two personality traits very close to what existed in the heart of this vehicle's designer. Because of this platform's multifaceted story of reinvention and agility over the years, it comes front and center to be a perfect candidate for unique and inventive modification visions for many innovative enthusiasts over the history of Subaru. If you were to take some time and discover how individuals have modified this platform over the decades, you would find that it is seamlessly a bottomless pit of possibilities. Whether the driver is a motorsports enthusiast and wants to give their vehicle a bit more vim and vigor to take on the challenges of the weekend track, or if they want to take their cherished chariot into the off-road space, hit the dusty trail, or use it as a tool for outdoor adventure, the Legacy will continue to deliver large portion of happiness for their faithful drivers. Again, to help make their dreams come true, another group of manufacturers have created products that can provide both subtle additions to enhance exterior style and functionality, or make big statements to deliver the chosen Legacy to the finish line with pride and a boosted level of its historic perseverance. We see that, once again, providers including APR, XKGlow , and some other quality innovators such as Morimoto have created some products to help expand the profile of the Legacy model. In the area of creative lighting systems, the folks at XKGlow allow the Legacy driver to express themselves with stylish illumination with products that include their LED RGBW Wheel Ring Light Kit for $549.99, their stunning App-controlled, Under-glow, Interior and Wheel LED Accent Light Kit for $369.99, and another App-controlled enhanced lighting system, the XKGlow LED Fiber Optic Kit with 6 piece LED Heads and a 2 piece 6 ft Fiber Optic Roll of lights for $149.99. For the Legacy driver who may be concentrating on conquering the trail system under challenging conditions both in the day and at night, they may be focused on a quality fog light configuration that will be both clear, sharply bright, and dependable. Morimoto offers their Type X XB LED Fog Light Kit for the 2008 and 2009 Legacy GT for $222.60, an affordable investment that can make any adventure just a little bit safer. Lastly, for the performance seeker who wants to bring both aerodynamic stability and a serious statement of no nonsense to their Legacy, APR has built their GTC-200 SCCA Spec Universal Wing for the platform to give the driver a quality solution from a brand who delivers durable products to not only Subaru drivers who love speed and performance, but to modifiers of all brands from all corners of the automotive world. 

Catching a glimpse of a Subaru BRZ, either on a city street, highway, or the track will widen your eyes and, if not familiar, will cause you to ask yourself, "What was that?". Definitely a stylish beast with smooth lines, defining curves, and a unique sense of individuality, the BRZ was a vehicle designed with the serious car lover in mind. Whether a fan or not, any enthusiast must admit that Subaru's stylish, handsome sibling is, to some, an empty canvas of possibilities where a creative driver and inventive seeker of clever fashion can unleash a number of ideas and visions to make the car a visual masterpiece with a powerful posture. Some may think that Subaru hit the nail on the head and delivered a wonderful, well groomed platform right out of the box. No matter who the enthusiast proves to be, there again are a number of options to take this vehicle on an amazing modification journey to bring an already attractive facade into many realms of color, shape, contour, and style. When looking into exterior modifications for Subaru BRZ models released within the 2013 to 2021 timeframe, some fans of the car may get overwhelmed with the amount of options one has for all four sides of the vehicle's body. Along with their other offerings for the Subaru family, some companies we have previously mentioned, including Molded Innovations and Morimoto , have several solutions for the BRZ platform which can only bring anticipation and a hunger for pride to the fortunate owner. With a price range spanning between $200.00 and a little more than $5200.00, the BRZ owner can acquire products for these two companies, and others, including Streethunter, Greddy , and SMY . To add both safety and brilliant illumination possibilities to the platform, Molded Innovations, Morimoto, and SMY have again provided two more options to fulfill the drivers needs for sharp, clear, and crisp lighting on both the front and rear of the vehicle. The Phantom Series Stepped Style Sequential Gen2 LED Tail Lights with Smoked Lens are available from Molded Innovations for $480.06, while the Morimoto Type S XB LED Fog Light Kit with 3000k Yellow LEDs comes to the table for the affordable price of $221.54. An alternative solution is also available from SMY with their IPF Fog Light Kit that comes with a price tag of $485.00 to give the enthusiast a few quality lighting choices to add to their modification project list. Providing the platform with a significant exterior uplift requires some stylish components that will amplify its aggressive flair while improving its visual stance to the casual passerby. While investigating some starter options, the driver may consider offerings from StreetHunter, which include their StreetHunter Unpainted FRP Rear Bumper Spat Kit for $416.00, or their Unpainted FRP Side Skirt Kit price at $1,150.00. To achieve the ultimate in extended body width and supercar profile, the serious modifier may consider bringing his dreams and visions to reality by increasing his budget and preparing his toolset for a lengthy, but rewarding project. The designers at Greddy have created their Pandem V3 Full Wide-body Aerodynamic Kit, without a Wing for $5,290.32, which is an investment no true BRZ enthusiast will regret after the finished product rolls out to the street.

In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter what platform you choose as your favorite and how you decided to start your modification journey. As we often tell our customers, it is most important for you to express your creativity and passion for the Subaru brand with patience, confidence, and faith in the surrounding community that is brimming with ideas, inspiration, and enthusiasm for the cars that have come into their lives - for one reason or another. You may have been given your first car by your parents, an old bumped and bruised 2007 Impreza that they hoped would just get you through college and maybe home a couple of times a year, which you are now restoring and modifying since you now have a new Forester for your daily driver. You may have memories of your best friend's 2015 WRX and how much fun it was to drive on those weekend road trips, making you think more seriously about looking for a used Subaru to have for yourself. You may have just returned from your 20th fishing trip standing in the driveway washing the mud off the old Legacy that has never let you down drifting in your mind about doing some upgrades. You may be the guy who has been drifting his BRZ every weekend for the past year sitting at his kitchen table reflecting on what a great investment has proven to be each time he takes off his helmet. The common denominator in these equations is the joy that is produced from the effort and time that is spent. Whatever the car of choice, the age, condition, or platform, if it is a Subaru and you have a creative vision you hold the keys to its potential. Give it a chance and it will deliver what is truly important back to you.

Check out the product rotator below to see some of the products we’ve discussed in this article. Hopefully this will give you some options and get you started on a modification journey. 

Whether you are modifying a new or an older Subaru, Subimods is here to provide aftermarket products to take the platform of your choice to new levels and make your modification dreams come true. Hoping for a more thrilling daily drive, a more exhilarating weekend on the track, or a more aggressive adventure overland? Reach out to our team today.

We would be very interested in your thoughts regarding this article and would encourage your feedback and comments regarding your Subaru Impreza, your Subaru WRX, your Subaru Legacy, or your Subaru BRZ.

Write your comments below and continue this conversation. We are always thrilled to hear your opinions. THANK YOU!

For more information regarding aftermarket parts for your Subaru, please visit our website and explore the section dedicated to your platform. We would be happy to serve you!