Our Favorite Car Modifications and Brands For Beginner Enthusiasts
With a new year means a new chance for you to get your car built right and ready for the track. For car enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies like us, tax season is one of the best times of the year, because it means that there's plenty of new money in your pocket to work with as you're trying to upgrade your car, no matter what you drive.
But where do you even start? There are so many great options for you to pick from that it can be hard to nail down your build, and that's where we come in. We have years of industry experience building and delivering record-breaking speed to automotive platforms across the spectrum, so we know first hand what will give you the best return on your investment. Join us below as we show you our favorite car mods for you to invest in this year - your build will thank you.
Exhaust Systems (Downpipes, Headers and More)
Why They’re Popular: Exhaust upgrades improve airflow, increase horsepower, and produce a sportier sound. Downpipes and headers specifically reduce back pressure, optimizing engine performance.
What They Do Best: Enhance engine efficiency and sound while unlocking power gains. They’re also a great starting point for performance enthusiasts who want their cars to sound meaner and more optimal fuel usage.
Cost Range: Quality exhaust systems range from $500-$2,000, depending on material and brand.
Our Favorite Exhaust Brands: MAPerformance, Tomei, AWE, and Remark are some of the biggest brands in the aftermarket car exhaust game, all of which manufacture high-quality parts for popular, leading car models.
Read More: Everything You Need To Know About Downpipes
Coilovers and Lowering Springs
Why They’re Popular: These upgrades improve handling and allow for a custom stance depending on how you want your car to look - from extreme camber to a clean, flush look, these suspension options are better than most at helping you dial in your vehicle's appearance. Coilovers offer adjustability for both height and damping, while lowering springs give a more budget-friendly fixed drop.
What They Do Best: Improve cornering, reduce body roll, and enhance your car’s look with a lower profile. Generally, coilovers are the first mods enthusiasts turn to when they want their cars to get better handling and athleticism, a must for the track.
Cost Range: Expect $300-$1,500 for lowering springs or coilovers, depending on adjustability and build quality.
Our Favorite Coilover Brands: Evolved Autosport, Fortune Auto, BC Racing and Ohlins lead the pack here.
Engine Intercooler Kits
Why They’re Popular: Intercoolers reduce intake air temperature, increasing engine efficiency and preventing heat soak because the engine has cooler, denser air to work with. The combination of increased performance and more optimal fuel combustion makes intercoolers a must-have mod for turbocharged or supercharged setups.
What They Do Best: Maintain consistent power output by cooling compressed air, especially during high-performance driving.
Cost Range: Typically $300-$1,000 for a high-quality intercooler kit.
Our Favorite Intercooler Brands: MAPerformance, ETS, PRL, and Grimmspeed make the best intercoolers on the market.
Exterior Hoods, Spoilers, and Body Kits
Why They’re Popular: Exterior mods enhance aerodynamics and add a custom aesthetic to your build. Carbon fiber hoods and spoilers also reduce weight and drag, respectively. Plus, they just look cool, and we've seen quite a few car builds that have transformed entirely with a new widebody kit installed.
What They Do Best: Combine performance and style, improving airflow and downforce while giving your car a show-ready look.
Cost Range: $500-$3,000 for quality aftermarket body pieces, depending on material and brand.
Our Favorite Exterior Car Accessory Brands: Seibon, APR Performance, and Streetfighter LA are the most trusted brands in our community by far for all accessories.
Turbochargers
Why They’re Popular: Turbos force more air into the engine, drastically increasing horsepower and torque output especially when paired up with other mods utilized throughout the car's engine. Turbos are most popular among tuners and track users looking for serious power gains.
What They Do Best: Provide exponential performance increases with a properly tuned setup - emphasis on "properly tuned." While turbos can promise high rewards, the risk is also great, so make sure that the part you get is what best fits with your build.
Cost Range: A quality turbo kit costs $2,000-$5,000+, with installation and supporting mods adding to the budget.
Our Favorite Turbo Brands: Forced Performance, Garrett, and Precision have long been our go-to turbo manufacturers that we recommend to new and experienced enthusiasts alike.
Read More: Our Favorite Turbo Brands of 2025
Shop New Performance Mods For Your Car at MAPerformance
As we get closer and closer to racing season with better weather across the country, it's time to start thinking about what you want your dream build to look like. And know that MAPerformance can help get you there - check out our store today and pick out the performance mods that best fit the build you want for the car you drive.
We offer world-class customer service, fast shipping on all in-stock parts, and expertly-crafted accessories built in our Wrightstown, Wisconsin-based warehouse if you go with our in-house MAPerformance or Evolved Autosport brands. Let's get your car built right today!
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