Top 7 Mods for a Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86

The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 share a platform and powertrain, giving us two of the most fun and active sportscars in the market with lots of mod options.

Fast, fun, and affordable, the BRZ and 86 are two of the most engaging road-going cars you can buy for less than $35,000. These cars have a 2+2 fastback coupe style, lightweight build, and engaging turbocharged engines. Anyone driving either sports car is likely to add some cool elements to make them unique.

Here are seven of the top mods for the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86.

Several wheel options are available

The stock wheels for these two sports cars are 17” x 7” models, which is a pretty common size, making it easy to find some great wheels to improve the look of the car. You can go up to 18-inch wheels as long as you add some space for upgraded brake calipers. Adding wheels that help fill the small gap in the arch provides a sportier look and allows owners to customize their cars with one easy change.

Add better brakes for more control

Some sports car owners will add increased power before better brakes, which can be a serious mistake. In the conversation of which came first, the brakes should come first. You’ll love the variety of great options when shopping on Brembo’s website for the best brake kits. This is one of the most important mods for the Subaru BRZ or Toyota 86. In addition to excellent stopping power, you can buy a set of brake calipers in any color you want, which gives your sports car a little more flair.

Add suspension improvements for better handling

Unless you only want to drive your sports car in a straight line, you’ll want to improve its performance with some suspension upgrades. The right suspension can be the difference you need through the corners, and it can be tuned for the type of racing you have planned for your sports car. Of course, if you don’t intend to race and only way to improve the overall feel of the car, suspension upgrades are great for this as well.

Add more power with better headers

The headers attached to the engine of your Subaru BRZ or Toyota 86 direct the exhaust gas away from the cylinder head and can improve the performance of your sports car. There are two types of headers: equal and unequal. Equal headers will increase power throughout the rev-range giving you more power and speed where you need it. This is one of the easiest engine upgrades you can make to your sports car, giving you the edge when you’re racing against your friends.

Another power upgrade; a better exhaust

These two sports cars come with standard cat-back exhaust systems with two exhaust tips. When you want to increase the power of your car, you’ll want straighter and wider pipes to pump out more exhaust. This modification can increase power and the noise coming from your sports car. Improving the exhaust looks great and can be a relatively quick and easy installation, giving you a little more power from the boxer engine while still providing the forced induction desired in this car.

Reprogram the ECU for more power

Modern cars use an Engine Control Unit, which is essentially a computer that’s programmed to control the fuel and air mixture in the car. This computer ignites different cylinders and limits the power your engine can produce. The factory ECU in the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 are programmed for daily driving, but if you’re looking for more juice, you’ll want to reprogram the system. Don’t skimp on this modification; you want the right ECU upgrade for your car to ensure the remapped system works flawlessly.

Yes, you can add a turbo

The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 do not come with turbocharged engines. That doesn’t prevent someone with a little know-how, or the money to pay a mechanic from adding a turbo to the mix. Adding a turbo kit to one of these cars can improve the power significantly. If you’re serious about racing your sports car, a full-blown kit can support more than 700 horsepower, but achieving this figure requires additional modifications to your car. Still, adding a turbocharger will put your small sports car in a new class of driving.

How will you modify your Subaru BRZ or Toyota 86? These are only seven ideas that could give you a better look, more power, and improved performance.