Best cars to modify - our top options for DIY car mods | Auto Express (2024)

Car manufacturers spend millions on research and development of any new vehicle, going through hundreds of hours of tweaking and fine-tuning before it goes on sale – but there will always be people who want to modify a car, putting their own personal stamp on to their motoring pride and joy.

People modify their cars for a variety of different reasons. The intention can be to release more power from the engine or sharpen up the handling. There might be a need to rectify common faults with stronger parts, or the main motivation can simply be altering the way a car looks with cosmetic upgrades to help it stand out from the crowd. Regardless of why you’re thinking of modifying a car, you’ll be interested in our run-down of the best cars to modify.

Countless companies have sprung up to cater to the demand for car modifications, with aftermarket parts available to fit almost every car on the road. You’ll also find communities of like-minded people who’ve modified their cars and, in most cases, will be more than happy to point you in the right direction on your car modding journey.

Some of the best cars to modify can be tinkered with in your garage or on your driveway with a simple set of tools, but some are easier than others. Not every car can handle a big power boost, while certain bits of hardware and software can make it difficult to make wholesale changes to particular models. For example, it can be hard to make a naturally aspirated car much faster than it is standard without resorting to expensive kits.

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Meanwhile, some cars can be tuned to double or triple their original power fairly easily, or you could go to a number of companies for new panels, styling parts and body kits.

The best cars to modify:

Here are some of the best cars to modify and tune that you can buy today, in no particular order…

Mini

Nearly five and a half million classic Minis were built between 1959 and 2000, and there’s a huge community of enthusiasts around the world. Even from the factory, you could choose a wide range of optional extras to make your Mini stand out, while a plethora of other companies would offer everything from tuning kits to cupholders and leather bonnet straps.

As the Mini is such an icon, lots of companies have been set up specifically to offer spares and opportunities to customise the car. And no avenue has been left unexplored. Minis have been lowered, chopped, lengthened and redecorated, while engine swaps aren’t out of the question either. Honda VTEC engine kits are readily available and are said to fit straight into the tiny engine bay while, for something more drastic, there have been modified Minis with V8 engines and suchlike.

If you prefer to keep your Mini stock or as original as possible, there are also plenty of companies who will be able to supply new-old stock or uprated equipment, from indicator stalks to chrome bumpers.

Toyota Supra Mk4

Finding a standard Mk4 Toyota Supra is quite unusual as so many have been modified. The Supra is essentially a blank canvas, because the sleek styling can be enhanced or changed to suit your exact tastes - whether you like outlandish modifications or just subtle tweaks. Companies like Rocket Bunny, Veilside and TRD make whole body kits or individual parts for the car, while most body panels have been recreated in carbon fibre. Given the history of the model line, it’s not surprising that even the new fifth generation Supra is gaining a strong following in the modified car community. At the first SEMA modified car show to take place after the BMW-based Mk5 Supra was revealed, almost a dozen different tuners unveiled their visions for the car, some more tasteful than others.

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Turbocharged Supras are the most sought after Mk4s, as these are the ones that can fairly easily be tuned to four-figure power outputs. Even in standard form, the Supra could beat some of the supercars of its day, and the options for extra performance are almost endless. The car’s popularity partly stems from its appearance in the Fast & Furious movie franchise, which has been modified with a striking orange paint job and a bottle of NOS nitrous oxide, among other things.

Japanese cars are often seen as an excellent base for modification, as they tend to be relatively affordable, reliable and easy to tune, so other cars to modify may include the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Nissan Silvia and Nissan Skyline.

Ford Fiesta ST

If you’re looking for one of the best driver's cars, the Ford Fiesta ST should be on your shortlist as it combines decent handling and a good level of performance from stock. But the Fiesta ST also has the benefit of being one of the only cars which can be modified and still retain its warranty when handed over to Mountune for a factory-approved tuning kit. Adding an extra 40bhp and around 80Nm of torque can be done in one fell swoop, completely transforming the ST’s driving experience for not an awful lot of money.

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In fact, the Ford Fiesta ST is one of the best cheap cars to modify in the UK, as many accessories cost less than £100 and, in some cases, you can pay for bigger items like exhausts on finance. So it’s quite easy to stamp your identity on a Fiesta.

Mazda MX-5

Another cheap tuner car is the Mazda MX-5, as older examples can cost very little money. At the lower end of the market a car may need some TLC and some rust treatment, but there are plenty of parts available for anyone wanting a modified MX-5. These range from body kits to V8 engines, superchargers and upgraded brake and suspension systems. Many MX-5s are also modified for track use with roll cages and other safety aids added, while also being stripped out to reduce weight.

The MX-5 is a popular starting point because it’s rear-wheel drive, has good weight balance and handles well to begin with, but doesn’t have a lot of power and it’s relatively cheap.

Ford Mustang

American muscle cars can be tuned as easily, or perhaps more easily, than Japanese cars. Older ones are relatively simple machines, with a big V8 engine providing a solid base from which to extract more power. The Ford Mustang is probably America’s most iconic car and, like the Mini, companies have been set up specifically to modify Mustangs. Examples from Roush, Steeda and Clive Sutton Mustangs are almost completely new cars, given how extensively they can be modified.

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The American horsepower war means that factory Mustangs and Dodge Challengers can now be ordered with over 700bhp, and yet there are still upgrades to make the Mustang faster on a drag strip or even to go around corners.

Volkswagen Golf

In standard form, the Volkswagen Golf is a dependable car and has a well-built interior, but it isn’t the most exciting vehicle on the road. The opportunities to create a modified VW Golf are endless, however, so there is scope to make the Golf unique - even with so many sold in the last five decades.

Recent Golf models have been sold with an all-turbo engine range, units which have also been fitted to a wide range of models from other Volkswagen Group brands like Skoda, SEAT, Cupra and Audi. As such, there are a number of companies offering remaps and chip tunes specifically for these engines. It’s possible to get as much as 100bhp extra out of a tune alone, while a downpipe will improve exhaust flow and noise - but you must keep the catalytic converter to pass your MOT. If you are more concerned with pace from the outset, starting with a hotter version like the Golf GTI is a good option. If you want to make your car stand out from the crowd, there are plenty of companies which specialise in Golf styling and modification, too.

Toyota GT86/ Subaru BRZ

The Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ are nearly identical twins, and were created as affordable sports cars with an emphasis on driver engagement rather than out-and-out speed. It’s the same ethos as the MX-5, and the GT86/BRZ twins always felt like they could handle a chunk more power.

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Tuners like Litchfield can go to town, creating modified GT86 and BRZ models that can wow a crowd. The engine, suspension, brakes and cosmetics can all be upgraded, so the pair have developed an enthusiastic following. Toyota even released limited-edition GT86 models that came pre-lowered and pre-wrapped, featuring liveries inspired by classic Toyota racing cars.

Jeep Wrangler

Of course, car modification doesn’t just mean lowering a car or making it go faster. You might instead prefer to go off-road, in which case a large SUV or pick-up trucklike the Jeep Wrangler will be more to your liking. Lift kits are a common modification, regardless of whether the car will actually ever be taken away from the tarmac, because these not only increase the ground clearance but make the vehicle look meaner too. Bumper guards and eyelids for the headlights can also give more presence.

Those looking to cross deep water will want to put an intake snorkel on, while the Wrangler specifically can even be modified by taking body panels off or having half-height doors added. Of course, arguably the most effective way of increasing a car’s off-road performance is by investing in a new set of tyres, just be careful that your gnarly mud terrain rubber doesn’t bring too many compromises when driving on the road. In the UK, similar off-road modifications are often used on Land Rover Discoverys and various pick-ups, including the Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi L200 and Toyota Hilux.

Volkswagen Beetle

The classic Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most popular cars ever created, but making a Beetle stand out from the crowd is pretty easy as there are an almost unlimited number of ways you can modify the old-style Bug. One of these could be a 4x4 dune buggy that’s fantastic off-road, a drag racer, rat rod or a number of other things, and always with plenty of character.

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The car also shot to fame in the ‘Herbie’ movie series, so replicas of the film car are a common route, too. If you’re looking for more extreme Beetle modifications, you can upgrade or even swap the air-cooled engine for something more powerful - just make sure you upgrade the brakes if you decide to add more power.

Citroen Saxo

The Citroen Saxo might just be a small hatchback from the 1990s to some, but for car modders, it is one of the most popular cars out there. Partly because it is one of the cheapest cars to modify, but also one of the easiest.

Considering how prominent the Saxo became in the modding scene, picking up parts should be fairly easy. If you want to simply enhance the look of your car, smoked lights, new badges, wheels and styling bodykits can all do the job for not a lot of money. Things start to get expensive when you start to look at handling or performance modifications like turbos or superchargers, however.

Whichever way you want to modify a Saxo, there should be plenty of how-to guides online thanks to the car’s popularity. Just remember, some Saxos are well over twenty-five years old and are becoming a scarce sight on the roads, so even maintaining and keeping a Saxo stock could do more to help it stand out from the crowd.

The best cars to modify

• Mini
• Toyota Supra
• Ford Fiesta ST
• Mazda MX-5
• Ford Mustang
• Volkswagen Golf
• Toyota GT86/ Subaru BRZ
• Jeep Wrangler
• Volkswagen Beetle
• Citroen Saxo

How to modify a car

Start off by deciding on what you want from your car, whether that’s faster acceleration, tighter handling, better braking performance or just a visual upgrade. Putting a large boot spoiler on a front-wheel-drive hatchback is unlikely to increase performance on its own - the drag from the spoiler would likely make acceleration and fuel economy worse.

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It’s important to budget carefully and plan ahead when embarking on a project, unless you have a large pot of cash to spend. Car modifications are often inexpensive on their own, but tweaks you make often have knock-on effects, prompting you to invest in additional items. Once you’ve started it can prove hard to stop, and before you know it you may have spent far more than initially intended on a car that isn’t worth the money you’re putting into it.

Before you decide which parts to get, research which are the best brands for those products. You want high quality items from reputable suppliers, so it’s always worth reading reviews from previous customers before buying or asking people who’ve made similar changes to their cars. Mechanic prices can be expensive and you might be confident in doing most aspects yourself, but some things are best left to the professionals.

Tell your insurance company

Even if it’s a tiny, seemingly insignificant modification, you need to tell your car insurance company about it to stay legal. Anything that isn’t standard won’t be covered, and you run the risk of your insurance not being valid in the event of a claim. Some things, like dashcams, can actually reduce your premium. If you’re planning big changes, it will be worth checking out an insurance company that specialises in modified cars.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that any changes are likely to invalidate your car’s warranty, if it has one. Meanwhile, number plates need to be perfectly visible and have the correct spacing, and windows need to let a certain amount of light in - you could get pulled over by the police and issued a substantial fine if they’re too heavily tinted.

You must also notify the DVLA if you change the car’s colour, through either wrapping or painting it.

Have you modified a car? Tell us about in the comments…