Most transformative mod you've done on your car, for better or worse?
Posted by mymomisyourfather@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 214 comments
Curious; for those who've done mods to their current car or modded their past cars;
which mods did truly transform your car? can be in a positive or negative way For me;
Positive mod: A transmission mount insert in the B9 Audi platform has zero downsides but made the shifting and downshifts especially so much smoother. For me it transformed the car for such a small sum.
Negative mod: On an old Alfa I changed the engine mounts to polyurethane believing it to be an upgrade over stock. Rattled my fillings loose and made the car unbearable. When I changed it back to OEM a year later it was like owning a different car again
kingkalukan@reddit
It’s always tires and tune
FSCK_Fascists@reddit
C4 brakes on all 4 wheels on my Fiero. A world of difference. The engine swap from 2.8 to 3.4 was also a huge difference, but it really showed how weak those brakes are.
joshjcc@reddit
Wheels and tires with more sidewall than whatever came on the car. I’ve done this to the last few cars I bought and it made a phenomenal difference on all of them. (In the last couple years, my C6Z, G-Wagon, and Tesla Model S. All 3 I bought used, and they had barely any sidewall. Replaced wheels and tires on them all. Even just at least an inch or two of a smaller wheel makes a HUGE difference in ride quality, ability to handle road imperfections, curb resistance, and unsprung weight.)
HangoverGrenade@reddit
Coilovers
geoffs3310@reddit
Billet dog bone mount on skoda Octavia vrs. Completely eliminated the horrific axle tramp that the mqb platform suffered from
jasonmoyer@reddit
Tires
Pinecone@reddit
I had Michelin pilot sport as3+ and liked those. Now I use the conti dws03+ and like these even more.
jasonmoyer@reddit
I put PS AS4 on my car after I bought it, but they were pretty worn out after 10 to 11 thousand miles so I put DWS06+ on them a few thousand miles ago and they're decent so far. 15% better fuel economy and similar grip but they feel kind of soft and squishy compared to the AS4 which were pretty close to a summer performance tire feel-wise. Looking forward to seeing what they're like after they break in some more and to see what the treadwear is like.
Pinecone@reddit
The Michelins have a significantly stiffer sidewall than the conti for sure. Mine also wore out a lot faster than I wanted. They have excellent grip but it's a lot closer to a pure summer tire than all season. The Contis seem to have a little bit less grip but they're a lot more comfortable and a lot quieter while also being less expensive. Tire testing reviews show they have very similar performance on the track too.
WeeniePops@reddit
My BMW came with Conti run flats, which are actually decent as a performance tire, but I had some General GMAX RS lying around from an old car, so I put those on. Not only did I get more grip, but WOW did it increase comfort. Now I know why all the BMW forums say to ditch your run flats. Those things are rock hard. The Generals make it feel like I did a suspension swap.
Bonerchill@reddit
A set of Michelins usually transforms an Eighties through modern street car. They can somehow be quieter, better-riding, and more athletic at the same time.
A set of tires meant for vintage cars usually transforms a vintage car running modern CUV or budget tires. Swapping a set of modern 195/60s for a set of Pirelli CN36s in 185VR15 changes an early 911 for the better.
sicilian504@reddit
I just took off a set of Pirelli P Zero runflats and put on a set of some Michelin CrossClimate 2s on my 22 BMW G12. So much better. Although that usually goes without saying when you go from runflat to traditional.
plooobster@reddit
Not just brand but size as another person said. Going from 17s to 16s made an incredibly noticeable change in ride quality on my Fiesta.
fiah84@reddit
I hate that regular people who don't really care about cars think that bigger wheels are better. I mean, I understand people like the look but so many people just have no idea what the downsides are
korko@reddit
Easiest, least risk involved and honestly not that expensive at the end of the day. I put Pilots on my bone stick Ford Focus and it actually made it really fun.
Same_Lack_1775@reddit
This is the correct answer.
maneola@reddit
71 Chevelle. True duel exhaust. Much more horsepower.
UXyes@reddit
Dual exhaust?
Outrageous_Arm8116@reddit
Stock exhausts in 60's-70's cars were notoriously restrictive. (Maybe they made those V-8s quieter?) A free flowing exhaust, including headers, was the biggest performance bang for your buck back then. Headers and a 4 barrel Holley carb transformed my 400 ci 72 Catalina.
DashJackson@reddit
The exhaust tip is an ornate flintlock pistol.
withsexyresults@reddit
More hp is great but tires will help you go faster turn faster and stop faster
RitzyIsHere@reddit
I put on an 18 inch oem on my Crosstrek and added 1 more inch of AT trail tires and damn the ride quality improved by a mile. Was 19 stock.
Thomas_633_Mk2@reddit
I have to ask, why do you own at least 3 compact SUV's
RitzyIsHere@reddit
I keep my XV in the province (8 hours away). I travel with either the pickup or LC then use that for nearby drives around the area.
The Atto is for everyday city since it's an EV and I have a solar setup.
The Lexus I rarely use. I do use it for events and when I travel alone to the north (where I live, north of the city has developed roads and highways whereas south where my province is have very shitty roads hence the need for a bigger SUV or truck like theres a 20km stretch that feels like driving on the moon).
Fantastic_Mr-Fox_@reddit
To stay compact, duh
dcux@reddit
I put slightly wider wheels and tires on my Tercel and it made it so much more fun. That was my first car, and my first mod, and got me hooked.
IS-2-OP@reddit
My 2019 5.0. Crappy stick pirellis to PS4S. Amazing difference. Still couldn’t hook up from a dog tho haha.
iFoldMySocks@reddit
smaller steering wheel in my prelude did a lot and it looked better & any interior mod that you see or touch everyday is so worth it bc of how often you interact vs exterior mods you dont see while driving
shoethemaker@reddit
I used to have a 1997 Impreza outback sport (2.2l). The armrest was a factory option that the original owner didn't get. They were really hard to find, but I found one at the junkyard one day. Best mod ever.
Porencephaly@reddit
JQ Werks magnetic shift paddles in any PDK-equipped Porsche (at least for people who drive in a sporty fashion). Basically mimics the shifter feel from the 992 GT3RS and results in a much crisper shifting feel (both tactile and aural). Plus they are adjustable for both distance from column and distance from steering wheel so you can make them sit "just so" for your own hands.
toomuchhp@reddit
Swapped in a pioneer CarPlay radio with new speakers and a sub into a 98 Cherokee. Feels like a new car now
plural_of_nemesis@reddit
Stupid LPT: If you crank your stereo loud enough, it'll cover up all the rattling and wind noise, and then wear a cheap pair of foam earplugs to bring the sound down a manageable level. And boom, excellent sounding vehicle.
Shoopin@reddit
I put lowered ridetech suspension on a regular cab short bed v8 F150 because I wanted a grand tourer with a bed
sendme_your_cats@reddit
E85 sensor that automatically tunes my car based on the content. Can go full 93 to full e85 and anything in-between. E40 being the sweet spot for power.
No more having to guess ratios and change maps. 0 timing corrections, too. Absolute perfection
ThePretzul@reddit
You can go full e85 without the fuel pump failing to keep up with demand under full load?
sendme_your_cats@reddit
Yes the TU hpfp can manage full e85 but you'll be low on power compared to a mix. You'd need a custom tune to go full e85 and at that point you might as well get a full frame or a bigger hybrid turbo
Ran4@reddit
E85 is really low most go 95 or 98
ThePretzul@reddit
Yes, you can do that with an upgraded fuel pump.
Even the TU1 update for the B58 (the Supra engine) didn’t have a fuel pump capable of keeping up with demanded fueling for standard E85 tunes without it being upgraded. You could run up to E30/E40 just fine, but anything on E85 was generally either cutting power because of fueling limitations or running dangerously lean.
WorkerAmbitious2072@reddit
Wide open exhaust of long tube headers, no cats, X pipe duals with bullet mufflers, under axle turndowns. With the giant cam and 4k stall speed converter it remains the loudest actually regularly driven street car I have ever heard in my life and was my daily driver year round for years
LS1 F body
liftwaffles@reddit
Putting a wavetrac in my 09 c63.
They all should have come with a limited slip diff imo, woke up the car more than the tune in my eyes
mymomisyourfather@reddit (OP)
A limited slip on a RWD car is a must indeed! Its nuts that the C63 does not have one stock.
DryGoldFish@reddit
On a FWD it's a must too imo.
velociraptorfarmer@reddit
On an AWD car it's a cheat code
8N-QTTRO@reddit
Front and rear LSDs are one of my dream mods for my TT
velociraptorfarmer@reddit
I put a rear one in my G35xS. 305hp NA, 7600rpm redline, stupidly short gearing, and AWD with a limited slip rear end made that thing pull hard over 3000rpm.
mopar39426ml@reddit
Anyone who hasn't experienced a limited slip in a RWD car needs to.
Even without a gearing change it's a world of difference that you wouldn't expect.
Two_Wheel_Jockey@reddit
I gotta do this to my truck. Can hardly even get going in the wet without spinning the tires.
dcux@reddit
My only rwd car came with limited slip. I guess I don't know how bad it can be without.
wtcnbrwndo4u@reddit
I swapped in a E63S diff into my E550. It's pretty fucking sweet.
Yak_Budget@reddit
Covers
No-Number-5938@reddit
Strut tower brace on my mustang
LSXS10@reddit
My ZL1 is fairly heavily modded but I will say that my favorite mod that I've done recently was adding a sound induction tube from the intake to the cabin so I can actually hear the supercharger whine (LSA cars don't exactly have a loud supercharger and I'm a fan of loud superchargers). I smile and laugh like a child every time I barely tip the gas in now. Absolutely worth it, to me.
fullyintegratedrobot@reddit
Added 2.2l of additional displacement, an extra pedal, and another gear all at the same time.
WeeniePops@reddit
Can you expand on this lol? A full drivetrain swap in what vehicle? I'd like to know the details.
I_dont_exist_yet@reddit
4.8 to 6.0LS that went from a 4L80 to a T6 is my final answer.
butterball85@reddit
You put a 4L judd v8 mated to a manual trans in a miata???
DrZedex@reddit
I did turbo, pedal, and gear once. Probably pretty similar overall outcome. Was great, totally recommend.
V48runner@reddit
Putting a Magnaflow 11255 muffler on my first gen Toyota Tacoma. I really didn't think a muffler would make that big of a difference, but it's been pretty incredible.
The OEM muffler was clogged and very restrictive by nature, which I again didn't realize until I welded the new one in. My mpg went up from 14 on the highway to 16-17 if I'm going below 75, which I normally do. Throttle tip-in is much more responsive and I'd say the butt dyno tells me at least 2-5 hp?
It's a bit raspy, but not loud by any means. There's no real way to make a V6 sound good, which wasn't my intent, as I just needed to replace the stocker with something better. Much better.
FreeGums@reddit
Headers and turn on the gen.1 BRZ/FRS. smoothed out the power band and got rid of that funky torque dip. The car is a hell of a lot more responsive
The 2nd was putting on really light weight wheels at 17lb per with a wider offset as well with stickier and wider tires. That gave me a lot more confidence steering wise
WeeniePops@reddit
Wow, are you me? I did all the same things plus E85. Now THAT made difference. I think it was around 20hp just from the new fuel? Also, I was shocked at how much I noticed the lightweight wheels. I'm sure on a heavier car with duller steering it wouldn't be as noticeable, but it really made a difference on my BRZ.
RuinedGrave@reddit
I put JDL UEL headers with an OFT tune on my 2018 86, and it really woke up that car. Definitely agree on that one.
ATL-East-Guy@reddit
Rear sway bar for my 9th gen accord sedan. Tightened up the handling and body roll. No downside on ride comfort or quality at all.
Made the car more comfortable (tighter) and fun.
Hostificus@reddit
Delete aftertreatment & tune.
Pvault14@reddit
Flash tune made a pretty huge difference in 10 mins
ThePretzul@reddit
This is the answer for most turbocharged vehicles with headroom. Anything BMW with an N54 or B58 especially, on those engines you can get 100+ additional horsepower without any physical parts being replaced.
Cars-and-Coffee@reddit
The S5 gains 119 hp and 205 ft-lbs with just a tune. It’s kind of insane.
Pvault14@reddit
I agree, did have to replace charge pipes on a stage 1 n55, blew em apart on the first pull. From research this seems to be normal though. No issues after replacing with aluminum
ThePretzul@reddit
N55 the biggest limitation is just the single turbo running out of air at the top end.
You can build plenty of boost in the low end still though, so by the seat dyno it still feels good since you get a similar boost in peak torque as on N54/B58 it just falls flat at the top end because it can’t push enough air to keep that increased boost level at high RPM.
Pvault14@reddit
Yes it didn’t have much to give after the basic flash tune unless we did fueling, but wasn’t worth it. Didn’t need much more power though, we just appreciated that motor for the sound and how smooth it was with the zf8
ThePretzul@reddit
For sure!
The ZF8 is by far the best automatic transmission I’ve ever used, and to be perfectly honest I was actually a little bit underwhelmed compared to expectations when I finally picked up my current car with the DCT.
I had an M240i that was ZHP tuned for the transmission and was getting shift times in the ~120ms timeframe. The DCT in the C8 does shift faster, but not so much so as to be noteworthy (past a certain point they all feel “instant”) with the biggest perceived difference just being that it still puts down power during the shift in launch mode (and that it’s much less smooth at low speeds, particularly in reverse).
Pvault14@reddit
Haven’t got the chance to try the c8 transmission, though I do have a DCT in my current GTI. Probably more fun with a v8 in front of it
ThePretzul@reddit
Oh don’t get me wrong, I do love the DCT. I just think I had them built up in my head as so much more that no real transmission could match those expectations.
It does a great job in terms of the usual DCT pain points (shift prediction logic) to where it feels seamless when driving. It just feels more like a manual transmission at low speeds (crawling in traffic or parking lots) and the reverse gear in particular is super touchy because it will tend to drop itself back into neutral too easily instead of idling in gear when you release the throttle pedal.
wewdepiew@reddit
Just recently got an F82 M4 and that's exactly how I'd describe it
Hegulator@reddit
I'm only sad I waited as long as I did to put a tune on mine. Tuned it for premium and my crappy 1.8l TSI probably gained 40HP. Been running it for probably 20k miles now no issues.
funnyfarm299@reddit
The EA888 is such a great engine for tuning.
Pvault14@reddit
Yes very easy with a couple oem turbo swap options
MangoAtrocity@reddit
It’s crazy, right? $500 gets you 80hp and 100ftlbs on pump gas on my platform. Factory turbo de-tuning is wild.
not_a_gay_stereotype@reddit
On my srt4 caliber I went from 285 to 350whp/350tq that thing was wild
punksnotdeadtupacis@reddit
I got an extra 50kw from mine
skatefrenzy@reddit
Best Cheap Mod. I have a 2013 370z. The rear of the car always felt...floaty and non-communicative to me. A relatively CHEAP fix that transformed the driving experience for me.
Z1 Rear Subframe bushing collars Z1 Diff Brace Poly diff bushing
The parts themselves are all pretty cheap and the rear of the car is far more communicative. It feels plants and itching the be pushed. Vs the washy feeling of the floaty rear end before. I'm not sure why it didn't come this way from the factory as there was no negative trade off. The diff bushing even increase shifter feel and feedback.
OhJeezer@reddit
good:
On my old automatic 95 maxima, did a $2 mod that removes the drop resistor from the circuit while at WOT. Basically a shift kit that only engages while flooring it. Awesome mod that totally transformed the car and made it much faster.
On my Mustang, good coilovers. I heard SO MANY bad things about putting coilovers on pre-IRS mustangs. It made the car 100% predictable, handle better, rides well, and looks better.
Negative:
Rain visors. Absolutely hate them. They hardly ever work like they should, add tons of turbulence and wind noise, add huge A-pillar blind spots, and they just don't look amazing. I have never had a set that I liked, yet I still try them out on every new car I have just in case they aren't bad any more.. They always are bad.
SensitiveVariety@reddit
034 stage 1 tune on the B9 SQ5 (rest in peace) was great.
airfryerfuntime@reddit
I had an old Gen 1 Neon that had worn out shifter bushings. I found some urethane 'booger bushings' for it and installed them. It was like driving an entirely different car. It shifted so crisply.
killshelter@reddit
Drivetrain swap
kon---@reddit
Driver mod
kaihong@reddit
This. I don't get why guys at car meets are always like "I'm better than you" to your face but they've never tracked their car. And when they do, their lap time is slower than most of the season Miata/BRZ drivers and they like spit on your windshield and flip you off.
sl0ppy_steaks@reddit
Those kinds of people think that drag racing is where racing begins and ends.
reidlos1624@reddit
To far down the list. Knowing how to exactly drive your car, and going somewhere you can legally, is tremendous improvement to enjoying it
AmNoSuperSand52@reddit
Well tbf it’s far down the list because it’s not an actual car mod so people didn’t really think to mention it
withsexyresults@reddit
Most fun mod
golfzerodelta@reddit
Deleting my TDI :)
Otherwise, I find that the QoL upgrades are the most impactful on my daily driving - CarPlay head unit, speakers, interior improvements, etc.
raetme@reddit
When done correctly, lowering a car has the biggest positive visual impact, in my opinion, and also has a drastic improvement to spirited driving through the twisties.
FalloutRip@reddit
Unironically, a head unit with Carplay. It's such a big QOL upgrade from a simple radio with just bluetooth and a phone mounted on the dash for nav.
It changed me from really considering a new car to pretty much not caring any more. Unless something catastrophic happens or my monthly repair budget starts to match a payment I'm gonna keep my current car going as long as possible.
Performance-wise, best bang for the buck is always tires and suspension parts.
DudeWhereIsMyDuduk@reddit
A winch opened up many more opportunities for solo travel in places I'd feel uncomfortable to do so otherwise.
ottrocity@reddit
Euro-spec projector headlights on my North American Fiesta ST.
NetworkStatic@reddit
Carbon fiber bucket seats. They were a factory option. Immensely different driving experience from adding them.
Minutes2Midnight@reddit
Probably the supercharger which doubled the horsepower output from 250 to 500 on my 328i. Quaife with a shorter gear ratio would be a close second.
Kawaii_Neko_Girl@reddit
I replaced the stock radio headunit on my Jetta with an aftermarket unit capable of Android Auto. It was the best $600 I've ever spent on it and improved my QoL in that car immensely.
niofalpha@reddit
Upgraded the infotainment center from stock to a modern one with CarPlay support.
Being able to see where my maps are taking me and not having the dogshit Toyota UI makes doing anything so much easier
olkjas@reddit
Same on my Civic. I was shocked at how much all the factory integration boxes and harnesses added onto the cost but it is super nice having everything just work, including the MID screen and the passenger side lane camera when the right turn signal goes on. Only thing I miss is the articulated guidelines on the backup camera
p90rushb@reddit
Alloy wheels, soundproofing, and amplified audio. I just want lighter wheels that are easy to rotate and for my car to sing to me.
TT99C5@reddit
Positive - Twin Turbo setup on my C5 Corvette. Was a clean kit, and the car has been a favorite by anyone familiar due to its understated quiet nature and refinement (as much as you can get out of 90's era GM at least) and the heck of a punch it packs. Still own this one and haven't moved to anything modern for a reason.
Negative - A full stroker and turbo build on a 93 Trans Am. Tons of power but was temperamental and just overall not enjoyable. Ended up parting that car out.
Vindadu13@reddit
Forced induction. Added a procharger to my old 2006 mustang gt. Car was fast for its time. Now have a 22 mach 1 and probably won't waBolton. And money with boltons.
8N-QTTRO@reddit
Going from 20-year-old stock suspension to brand new coilovers changed pretty much every aspect of my car for the better
Nerd-Vol@reddit
Ohlins coilovers on my Honda.
Allowed me to make the car more comfortable than stock when I want it and far more aggressive when I demand it.
mymomisyourfather@reddit (OP)
I've been looking into a set of R&Ts as well. Are they really that good? The price vs benefit makes me doubt it since I've never driven a car with Ohlins to really experience it.
Nerd-Vol@reddit
In my situation, yes.
I was not 100% certain that my OEM shocks were completely worn out. Factory units were about $1,200. I didn’t want to spend that sort of money unless I could guarantee an improvement. After doing my research I found the Ohlins were the best fit for my usage(street/touge).
Schrepp@reddit
Upgrading the radio and adding Apple car play.
zinklesmesh@reddit
Lighter wheels! Going from 25 lbs a corner to 8 lbs a corner on my '90 Prelude (steelies to RPF1s) made for a massive improvement in ride quality and responsiveness
tablesheep@reddit
Rear Sway Bar!
stoned-autistic-dude@reddit
Man, there are a ton but probably my bucket seats. I love bucket seats so much and they make driving the car way more fun. Even driving to work feels like being in a race car.
Second place is probably interior mods like shifter bushing and springs, shift knob, and steering wheel. Made the car feel completely new and more enjoyable.
Du_Kich_Long_Trang@reddit
A new steering wheel, not a fan of the one borrowed from a cobalt
The_Duke2331@reddit
A good dose of LSD!
aceogorion1@reddit
Adding a turbo and 12 pounds of boost. Alongside coil on plug and a standalone it made an okay car fairly fun to try to pedal.
MysticMarbles@reddit
Positive/required mod: trans mount, pitch stop, crossmember bushings, solid shift bushing, shifter stop, differential void fillers on the new WRX. Under $300, took under an hour for all combined, made the shifter what it should have been to begin with.
The intake on my Micra made it sound amazing. The oversized tires and lift on my Micra made it look amazing. Holding 4500rpm and WOT to get up hills was the single worst part of that car. Deafening intake noise, struggling vehicle. While it sounded great when wheeling, the drone from the intake combined with additional rpm and throttle from the tires turned it into an absolute nightmare to roadtrip with.
VulpesIncendium@reddit
I owned a '17 WRX for a while. Straight from the factory, the shifter is simply awful. Installing the solid shifter bushings, shift stop, aftermarket knob, and short-throw shifter plate completely transformed that car. It went from being one of the worst shifting experiences to one of the best.
GlizzyGobbler2023@reddit
I had a 20 STI for a couple years, and doing a short throw shifter in that really made daily driving so much better. Completely got rid of the shifter slop and just made shifting so much more fun. Loved it.
MysticMarbles@reddit
Yeah, I like a bit of a more purposeful throw, and coming from an unending stream of economy cars this feels short enough for me. For now. Haha.
bw1235@reddit
I still can’t believe how much the differential bushing inserts did to my GR STI. Great list.
RiftHunter4@reddit
Android Auto/ CarPlay head unit with a backup cam. I kid you not, it's better than brand new OEM systems.
GeneralCommand4459@reddit
Replaced piano black centre console and dash with wood veneer. Small but good mod.
Mbinguni@reddit
How did you do this?
mymomisyourfather@reddit (OP)
Depending on the car; order replacement trim pieces from the dealer or eBay.
mqora@reddit
If it's anything like my RAV4 they just make a little AliExpress piece that tapes over it
redsnowman45@reddit
Having the windows tinted with ceramic tint. I burn in the sun easily so it was a big relief to not being sunburned driving. Plus the car stays cooler.
DoJu318@reddit
Tuned suspension, fiddling with coilovers while not knowing jack shit about suspension geometry really made my ride rough while cornering was so so, looked good slammed but it was not worth it. I purchased a kit where the springs are designed to work with the shocks from instead of mix and match and now it handles like a dream without being too rough.
Burntarchitect@reddit
MX-5: depowered steering rack.
Completely changed how much confidence I had in the car on road and track, and allowed me to much more with the handling when I could feel what the car was doing.
SumoSizeIt@reddit
Negative: aftermarket exhaust
I got the Flowmaster Outlaw after falling in lust with the gritty sound.
But what I learned was that these videos rarely have a good recording of cruising RPMs, and usually sound best with high RPMs under acceleration.
The cabin drone was so loud cruising at ~1800-2500 that I put the stock one back on. I also lost low end torque and had to increase cruising RPMs from 2k to 2.5k. Every time I saw police I worried how loud I was and would try to creep by in a higher gear and low RPMs.
But damn if it didn't sound amazing under free-spirited driving.
zeno0771@reddit
Blacked out the chrome trim on my 2008 H3. Not the fully murdered out black primer look, just replaced the fake chrome grille, door handles, and side-view mirrors with black. I also stripped and painted the bumper-mounted D-rings red, and swapped LEDs for taillights and halo headlights (not the gaudy multicolor crap, just regular headlights and taillights). Filled in the "HUMMER" recessed logo with red to match the D-rings.
I continued the idea inside with the same strategy: Blacked out the brushed-aluminum gauge bezel and center-stack, and replaced the dash, HVAC, and door-switch bulbs with blue LEDs. It was all detail work; if you'd never seen the inside of an H3 before, you wouldn't suspect anything had changed.
They were all very small details on a daily-driver with 166k miles, but they added up to making the truck look like a 2018 instead of a 2008. Next is the engine so it will perform like one as well, but that's for next year.
wave_action@reddit
Short shift kit on a 91 Integra LS.
Paumanok@reddit
Put a split exhaust on a 2.3l foxbody and it could suddenly chirp tires on occasion.
Brazen-Badger@reddit
Exocet kit for my Miata. Still in progress. Hopefully it’s for the better!
PhatPhupa@reddit
I swapped the side view mirrors for wider angle ones. Made a huge difference since I look at them all the time, plus they are anti glare coated so its a win win.
justcuckmyshitupfam2@reddit
Wheels, tires, coilovers. Now my car dances a little better.
seneeb@reddit
1997 crown Vic. Swapped the 2.72 open diff for a 3.55 limited slip unit, instantly huge difference. Also needed a pcm program to eliminate the top speed limiter
JustACarNut77@reddit
Sniper EFI on my CJ 7 Jeep. Not cheap but man what a difference even more so with the ethanol in the fuel.
daxelkurtz@reddit
Hood dampers. Since I put them in my S2K, I have not once said "oh FUCK that nearly gave me a second circumcision."
The way I figure it: when you drive, you wear a seat belt. When you track, you wear a helmet. When you spend an hour fucking up something in your engine bay and then 10 hours over 3 non-consecutive Sundays unfucking it, you put in hood dampers.
spyker1324@reddit
Steering wheel spacer. I'm tall. My arms no longer are stretched straight out.
bigloser42@reddit
Urethane bushings & control arms with solid outer bushings for my e46’s rear subframe. Significantly increased how planted the rear end felt out on track with virtually no downside aside from a bit more noise on the street.
nipnaps@reddit
I did poly bushing all around on my e30. Miserably noisy and harsh so decided to go back to rubber.
bigloser42@reddit
I left the inner control arm bushings as the stock rubber. You need to have some compliance in there somewhere for a DD street car. On my E30 I did urethane on the rear control arms to the trailing arm mount, but I think I did either rubber or a lower durometer urethane on the rear axle carrier.
my e46 also had M3 trailing arm bushings with limiters on them.
Caqtus95@reddit
Adding forced induction to an N/A car.
The better: More power is fun and it makes cool noises.
The worse: The car is now a perpetual project and there's always another kink to work out. You'll never really trust it enough to drive it much.
Dismal_Estate9829@reddit
Old muscle cars NEED tubular control arms that increase caster to around 6 degrees positive. Add afx spindles that accommodate c5 corvette brakes and hubs and it greatly improves handling and tracks much straighter on the freeway.
GTE_Engineering@reddit
I’m 6’2 and I put a Momo steering wheel in with a slightly longer offset so my knees can fit underneath it and so I can get in and out easier and it made a world of difference. It’s also positioned perfectly now. Huge improvement in ergonomics.
C4Dave@reddit
2002 Expedition progressive wound rear coil springs and mono-tube shocks all around. Rides so much better now.
BTTWchungus@reddit
Why progressive springs arent standard instead of static blows my fucking my mind
newcarguy2019@reddit
Manual swap from auto. Manual steering a close second.
BigBlueTruck18@reddit
Changed the rear ratio from 3.08 to 3.73 on ‘96 Impala SS. Best mod I have ever done on any car.
lique_madique@reddit
RS3: tune
GT350R: test pipes
Civic Type R: resonator delete
M3: monoball kit
Ariel Atom: Tires and suspension tuning changes
four_leaf_tayback419@reddit
Watts link
cjdubais@reddit
I just put MeisterR ZetaSport Coilovers on my '07 Lexus SC430.
Holy moly.
Instead of being a floaty, rough riding beast, she's now a tight, supple kitten.
Handling is drastically improved, no more lift/squat under acceleration, much more compliant under road irregularities, even my wife noticed.
Combine that with a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4, and it's a whole new car.
NJ_casanova@reddit
Good tires.🔥
Brno_Mrmi@reddit
The most common mod here in Argentina is adding a liquid gas tank. GNC is so much cheaper than regular gasoline and has more range too, everything is positive about adding one of those.
ThePhenex@reddit
Honestly: A chip tune. 30% more power with no extra weight is just amazing.
ThePhenex@reddit
Honestly: A chip tune. 30% more power with no extra weight is just amazing.
MangoAtrocity@reddit
$35 Romanian Apple CarPlay activation. I’m not paying $300 for features that are already in my car, BMW.
On a more serious note, swapping the OEM Continental runflats for Pirellis has been a massive improvement in both grip and comfort.
PRSArchon@reddit
Upgraded the master brake cilinder on my 987 to the larger 997 GT3 version, completely changed the brake pedal feel.
Also changed the stock sloppy plastic shifter mechanism to an aftermarket machined aluminium one with bearings.
Both mods cant be seen from the outside and they wont improve the cars performance but they just make the driving feel so much better.
ghostofChrist@reddit
Best: ohlins coilovers on my daily. Grip is unreal, and the ohlins are surprisingly compliant.
Worst: ohlins coilovers. Despite they're compliance, they're still too stiff even in softest setting with minimum ride height drop. Maybe its just me getting old, but in my opinion don't do coilovers on your daily folks. Or mod your daily at all for that matter.
Other notable mods
Clutch upgrade: considerably heavier than stock in spite of using oem vw/audi components. Used clutch and pressure plate from ttrs on gti. Too heavy for day to day traffic. Worth it for the tune though
Tune: excellent upgrade on the mk7. No reliability issues in 80k miles tuned. Stage 1 only however
Alcantara steering cover: good and bad. This is one of those wheel covers that you physically stitch onto the steering wheel, so no real safety concerns. I got it to protect the leather on my steering wheel, and it's done so excellently. Downside, Alcantara is a terrible choice for a steering wheel. Never again, only leather.
Brakes and tires: did some flavor of ebc pads and some stop tech rotors, excellent bite, no noise. Pretty dusty, but no worse than oem. Solid brake feel, would do again. Tires I've always run pilot sport 4s on my daily (live in Texas, warm enough year round save about 3 or 4 days of cold) and no plans to change this. They last long enough, grip is decent but traction loss is predictable and no issues in weather personally.
Polyurethane bushings: was nervous to do these on my control arms due to nvh, but honestly the difference was negligible compared to stock. The car felt completely transformed though. No more stutters/shakes over bumps, car felt much more planted. Probably the single best bang for buck mod I've ever done. Debating if the m5 gets these or not.
Transmission tune on my 1 series dct: meh, not much different than stock, but maybe I'm not pushing enough power to take advantage of it. More testing needed
Internally_Combusted@reddit
For the better: Tires or good expensive coilovers (which one is better really depends on the car).
For the worse: An exhaust that is too loud or has a drone. Nothing will ruin a nice street car faster than an obnoxious exhaust.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
AutoModerator@reddit
Rule 3: "No memes, trolling, copypasta, or low-quality joke posts or comments."
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
RuinedGrave@reddit
When I ditched the weird-ass 275/60R18 Linglong tires with stock wheels on my LX470 for a set of Methods and 33” Falken Wildpeaks, it turned it from feeling like I was driving a minivan into driving a truck. That was the only thing I did on that one, and it felt much better to drive and did great off-road.
Due_Percentage_1929@reddit
Whoever put linglongs on a lexus is 😅
RuinedGrave@reddit
My thoughts too. I’m guessing they threw what’s cheap on before trading it in, because they had plenty of tread on them still.
randeus@reddit
My car is pretty modded, but the most impactful overall was lowering springs with more performance oriented shocks. It massively improved handling, but funny enough, also improved overall ride quality.
FloZev8698@reddit
Put a twin turbo in my honda element and lowered it
olov244@reddit
bigger turbo. way more fun
2011Mercury@reddit
Positive mod: Backup camera and Android Auto.
Meh mod: Flowmaster. It really makes it sound throaty but I spent money and honestly it is just a hack. I should have saved up and done headers and a true dual with high flow cats.
SeriouslyItsOsman@reddit
Installing a Whoosh Motorsports intake on my Fiesta ST was a fun learning experience on car modding, and it also taught me how little I actually value modding a car out of class or chasing horsepower. I'm perfectly content with a fun, stock car that makes loud choo-choo noises.
BigCountry1087@reddit
Honestly best mods I do are remove side steps level the front and throw some 33s
Ecstatic_Account_744@reddit
KillerB Motorsports equal length twin scroll header on my 2015 WRX. On the stock turbo, it made an amazing noise that scared the shit out of pedestrians and made me love hammering on the car. I miss that car.
blacksantron@reddit
Coilovers
p3dal@reddit
Smaller, lighter wheels. Not everything needs 20s. Even stepping down to 19s was a noticeable improvement in ride quality.
simeddit@reddit
Exhaust, every single time. Always improved my happiness with each car I’ve owned.
After that it comes down to which car.
Some have had shit stock tires and benefitted from no-compromise rubber.
Some needed shifter swaps.
Some benefited from ECU tunes more than anything else.
TomcatLongbridge@reddit
I had lowering springs on my 2nd gen Subaru Legacy 2.5GT. Transformed it a ton! Well, I don't know if it transformed the handling at all, because I purchased the car with the springs on it, but I've seen other BD Legacys, and lowered, it definitely looked way better. But it also made me feel older than I was, because just getting in the car was a chore if you're sore. I also scraped the exhaust on my driveway, usually twice a day, if not more. That resulted in the exhaust eventually coming into contact with a power steering line, and before I knew it, that started leaking at an alarming rate. So I switched the belt to a non-power steering belt and there I was...dope looking, lowered, dark green Legacy GT on Impreza RS wheels, but no power steering.
I put the stock springs back on with new KYB struts. It looks okay now. My arms are still sore, but it's better this way.
pfthr0w@reddit
Weistec tune on my S550, the car rips with it adding 272lb of torque and 111hp.
german-car-guy@reddit
Louder exhaust on new 2024 Lexus IS 350. It was pretty expensive but the whole car sounded like shit (Lexus is not about sports unfortunately). Took it off after couple month, tried selling but after a while I sold it to the local metal scrap yard for $40. Not even talking about installation cost.
Diogenes256@reddit
1985 Volvo 760 GLE. Modded from broken turbo diesel to 5.0 Mustang V8. Big difference.
ThePurpleBall@reddit
Added euro mode to paddle shifter logic. Hold both paddles for neutral and right paddle to go back to drive. Gives me back a lot of what I missed with a manual car
wlonkly@reddit
I got a little red usb LED to light up the storage area at the front of the center console. Much easier to find my charging cable when it's dark now.
VTEC168@reddit
Driver mod by far. It's also the most fun part to "upgrade" in the form of track days, HPDE and autocross events. Even sim racing and go karting helps
A distant second is super 200 treadwear tires. On any track with turns, the amount of grip is like a cheat code. On corners you can very easily close in on way more powerful sports cars if they're still on some OEM performance tires, which are usually 300 treadwear like a Pilot Sport 4S
Darth_Firebolt@reddit
Not really a mod, but putting Redline transmission fluid in our Corolla XSE. Night and day difference.
In my Miata, bracing the brake master cylinder was the single biggest improvement I ever made to that car. Everyone raves about braided stainless steel lines, so I ordered a set. Then I was looking at aftermarket strut tower braces for other cars and I saw one with a brake brace and did some reading and lots of people were super impressed with that mod. I went out and looked at the mount for the factory strut tower brace, and it was perfectly lined up. I drilled a hole, installed a bolt and two nuts, and completely changed the braking power of that car. My Miata was a 2000 model and my mom drove a 2005 so I could do some easy comparisons. Even compared to a car with larger rotors and stickier tires on 17" wheels vs my 15" wheels, my car was way more responsive to ANY pressure on the brake pedal, without feeling over boosted like modern commuter cars. I never even bothered with the stainless lines.
TheDirtDude117@reddit
Positive S2000 Subframe Collars & Engine Torque Dampener: The subframe collars do a lot to stop your subframes from shifting at all by taking up the slack around the bolts. I didn't believe how much more of the suspension I felt working & how rigid the car felt after over rougher road transitions or damaged pavement it felt like I had a Target shopping cart now when before it was a Walmart one.
The ETD was basically an upper engine mount. It's on the passenger side strut tower that mounted to the front of the block & the shifter no longer wiggled during sweepers or tighter technical stuff at Autocross. It didn't give the NVH of stiffer engine mounts, it actually felt like my engine was much smoother! I did have a Fluidampr installed as well though.
Negative: Coilovers on the C5Z06 Previous owner had some LG GT2 coilovers he installed poorly and had the heights wrong for the wrong size wheels+tires. Once I corrected the tires I got the ride height, preload, bumps tops, and all set correctly. It rode significantly better but not good.
Ended up warranty-ing the coilovers and they didn't test well so they were replaced. I did everything again (had measurements already so easier) and wasn't happy AGAIN. So I put the leaf springs back on and Koni Yellow Shocks. Much better.
InternMan@reddit
A friend in highschool chipped his 08 Mustang GT and put the throttle response super high. Made damn near impossible to drive in first gear and a chore to drive in any other gear. He never did put it back to a more reasonable setting. Last time I saw him he had just bought a used (and high mile) VW Phaeton W12, sometimes I wonder about that guy.
mymomisyourfather@reddit (OP)
A Phaeton W12 is a bold move....
Whiskeypants17@reddit
Small turbo. The noises and extra oomph puts a smile on every time.
I've done brakes, suspension, tires, driver mods, but a lot of these things make street driving worse even if it will corner like its on rails.
Going from <200 to 250-300hp is an absolute blast. But the power poisen will eventually get you and you want to try something with 400. Tough but you have to stay humble.
egowritingcheques@reddit
Rear sway bar on the Octavia was all upside.
Too many mods on other cars to have a single one. Maybe ethanol tune on the Skyline? All upside since I live somewhere hot, except the refuelling.
DudeDudenson@reddit
Skyline running ethanol on hot climate? I'm guessing Australia
DudeDudenson@reddit
Taking out the tired 15 year old stock springs and shocks (the shocks weren't probably that old) and putting in sporty lowering springs and OEM quality stock springs. The car became a go kart and so sporty and they came so high from the factory to compensate for south American roads that it still looks factory at it's lowered height
Also just swapped the old set of Fate Ar360 (think one step above chinesium) for a set of Yokohama Es32s. The Yoko's are so silent and the ride comfort went way up
spekt50@reddit
A California duster kept in the driver side door panel. Those things work so well for dusting the dash and console.
5tudent_Loans@reddit
Tires and window tint
BoredOfReposts@reddit
Engine swap.
Good: more power, cool factor
Bad: not that id ever want or personally need to take it to a mechanic, but it would be much more expensive to do so with a highly customized vehicle. Say im far from home and access to tools, or for some reason become physically unable to do the work.
dangerfielder@reddit
Satellite nav in my off-roader. It’s good to have GPS outside of cell range.
5oepstengel@reddit
ZHP shift knob on my E91 BMW. Cheap and easy mod, but made the car so much more enjoyable to drive.
OkBimmer_@reddit
The OEM knob is horrid in comparison
asaboy_01@reddit
Putting some sound deadening in my economy hatchback.
CompetitionFalse3620@reddit
373 rear end in my foxbody Mustang
CompetitionFalse3620@reddit
$50 boost controller on my 2002 WRX wagon dropped my 1/4 mile time to a 13.5 from 14.1
MKVIgti@reddit
Simple stage 1 on a 2017 GTI SE. No other mods needed but I did run a step colder plugs.
93 octane map. 30 minutes and done in my driveway with a Cobb access port. Instant 300hp and around 400tq.
Still maintain your same MPG as well unless constantly stomping on it.
Took that car to 230,000 trouble free miles as it was my daily commuter car. Not a day in the shop except for routine maintenance.
publicsausage@reddit
Custom cam after having a big outdated OTS cam. Before it would buck and surge and stutter under 2500 then light switch pull hard at 3500+. Custom cam made it drive like stock and still does well at higher revs, much more drivable and smooth powerband.
Independent_Pack_391@reddit
The BlueBus audio system in my 2001 BMW. Interfaces directly with OEM equipment, and works perfectly for Bluetooth audio.
OtterCreek_Andrew@reddit
For the worst - I put an aftermarket exhaust with no cats on my Porsche when I had it. It made it miserably loud, drone was so bad, driving the car sucked after that and an hour drive would leave you with a splitting headache that would last for 2 days. I pretty quickly put the factory exhaust back on.
For the better part - putting a camper top and bed slider on my truck. It’s so handy and I love it
1PistnRng2RuleThmAll@reddit
Proper gearing for my tire size. It gave me back a lot of power on the street, and allowed me to go as slow as I wanted off road.
Sneakystrong86@reddit
By far the most wow factor has come from ported heads and cam. I've done it on several vehicles I've owned over the years and it's always been an awesome change.
curly686@reddit
Making it RWD
throwawayainteasy@reddit
Power brakes.
I had an old '68 Mustang with manual steering and manual brakes. As in, no booster to provide extra force to either.
Going from manual steering to power steering was nice, but going from manual brakes to power brakes was a life-altering (and life-saving) improvement.
Tame_Trex@reddit
Short shift kit on my Guilietta, made changing gears an absolute pleasure.
I also did a straight pipe and intake which gave me lovely turbo noises and a raspy exhaust with no drone. I miss that car
Skodakenner@reddit
Best: full on KW suspension Worst: H&R springs
fnkdrspok@reddit
Wider tires and lowering changed the Supra quite a bit. It’s not as squirrelly for the stock power it produces. I’m running 295’s on a stage 2 tune and it’s like riding on rails.
Ikkiuchi@reddit
Seats in my C5Z
aDuckedUpGoose@reddit
I installed a limited slip diff and solid bushings for that diff on my 370. I believe the bushings were more impactful on normal driving, but it's hard to say for sure since I did them at the same time.
I noticed better throttle response and I'm pretty sure that was the bushings. It was a surprisingly big change for everyday driving and made it feel like more of a sports car.
The diff was really cool too, but I only noticed it when I did things I wasn't supposed to do lol.
Not sure which caused this, probably a combo of both, but I noticed a little gear noise around 30-40 mph. It was a high pitched whine so I could at least pretend it was a supercharger.
Overall, both were great additions and I'd definitely do them again if I could go back.
zapb42@reddit
Sportsoft? Whatever Koni called it shocks and Neuspeed springs on my GTI (since sold), totally transformed the way that car drove. Cat-back exhaust for sound I wish I had done years earlier.
For my 330i, adding an MMI module for Android Auto if that counts. Also ditching run-flats and getting Pilot Sport AS4s on her.
AnonymousEngineer_@reddit
A stiffer anti roll bar improved handling but also made the car far more skittish in the wet. I've since reverted back to the stock item.
Tyres aren't really a modification but putting sticky rubber on any car transforms it. That said, I can't find any modern rubber in 205/45 R16 that holds a candle to the original Continental ContiSportContact 2s the car shipped with. Those things were otherworldly in terms of grip and ride comfort, although they didn't last long.
srcorvettez06@reddit
Tires.