Some will argue that modifying a car is a waste of time and money, and while those people are certainly entitled to their opinion, we think they’re wrong! People would like to modify their vehicles for many reasons, but making it more fun to drive and having a car that turns heads are probably the biggest factors.
The modified car scene has changed significantly over the last few decades. Many modern cars don’t have any available aftermarket parts at all, and since the cool cars from the 1980s and 90s have skyrocketed in price in recent years, it’s not always easy to find something cool to modify. Let’s look at 24 affordable cars that are perfect if you want a modified ride.
NB Mazda Miata
There are plenty of NB Miatas out there on the used market, so you should find one that’s as rust-free as possible. Once you’ve secured one, the world is your oyster as far as upgrades and modifications go.
The Miata enjoys one of the largest selection of aftermarket parts. Everything from lip kits to widebody kits is readily available. The stock engine can be massaged to produce more power with simple bolt-ons, or you can even swap in an LS V8 engine.
R53 Mini Cooper S
The R53 Mini Cooper S was BMW’s first Mini, and people loved this little hot hatch from day one. It’s easy to see why it received so much attention, too. The R53 Mini has cutesy styling, an aggressive stance, excellent handling, and a screaming, supercharged 1.6-liter engine.
The Mini is another car that enjoys a vast selection of aftermarket parts. People have extracted more than 500 horsepower from this tiny monster, and there are plenty of bodykits and other goodies to make it stand out from the crowd.
Toyota GT86 / Subaru BRZ
Apart from some minor details, the Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ are practically identical. These sports cars offer tons of fun and excellent driving dynamics for those on a budget. They really are proper sports cars, not just stylish economy cars.
There are more than enough aftermarket parts to spend your hard-earned cash on. If you want to go all-out, how about a Rocket Bunny widebody kit coupled with a juicy turbo kit?
E90 BMW 335i
There’s no denying that the E90 BMW 335i has some flaws, particularly with the engine. However, with lots of TLC, and if you don’t regularly bounce it off the rev limiter, the engine is better than its reputation and capable of producing some serious power.
Styling-wise, there are lots of cool parts that’ll make the E90 3-series look more aggressive. Its design has aged well, too, so most people would never guess that it first emerged in the mid-2000s.
E46 BMW 330
Many Bimmer enthusiasts will tell you that the E46 M3 is the best M3 to ever emerge from Bavaria, and we’re not going to disagree with that. However, the M3 is fetching top dollar these days, and prices are still rising. The 330, on the other hand, is still available for reasonable money.
A simple setup consisting of a bodykit, wheels, and suspension can transform the E46, making it look truly aggressive. Those who want to take it to the next level can opt for a widebody kit and air suspension.
Honda Civic
There’s no way we could leave the humble Honda Civic off this list. Every generation since the mid-80s has massive modifying potential, so it doesn’t matter which one you go for. Early cars are perfect if you like to keep it simple and retro-cool, but newer cars have more tuning potential in stock form.
A good compromise would be the sixth generation from the mid-90s. Plenty of affordable cars are still available, and there’s a massive selection of aftermarket parts. You can either slap a turbo on the D-series engine or swap it with something more performance-oriented, such as the B-series or K-series.
Lexus IS300
The Lexus IS300 is perfect if you want to build a retro drift car like the ones in D1GP back in the early 2000s. Few affordable rear-wheel-drive cars are available anymore, and the IS300 is worth buying for that reason alone.
Plenty of bodykits and other mods are available, and it has a naturally aspirated Toyota 2JZ engine under the hood. Swapping the engine with the turbocharged 1JZ or 2JZ is relatively straightforward if you want more power.
Nissan 300ZX
Nissan built the 300ZX to be their flagship car, so it’s filled with fancy tech that’s prone to causing issues now that it’s older. However, if you’re a bit handy with the tools, that shouldn’t put you off buying one, especially since the 300ZX can be turned into an absolute beast.
In the late ’90s, Japanese tuners extracted ridiculous amounts of power from the 300ZX’s engine. There’s a reason why it was so popular with Tokyo’s infamous Mid Night Club street racers.
Toyota MR2 Spyder
The Toyota MR2 Spyder never quite managed to fill its predecessors’ shoes, and there are some valid reasons for that. It’s not exactly what we’d call practical, as there’s virtually zero space to bring some bags or a suitcase. It also has an underpowered 1.8-liter engine from a Corolla, pushing out 140 horses on a good day.
However, the MR2 Spyder is like a Lotus Elise on a budget. Remove the asthmatic engine and drop in the 190 horsepower unit from the Celica or, even better, the Toyota 2GR V6 engine. Couple that with some stylish exterior upgrades, and this can be a proper head-turner with the power to match.
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang has been around since the mid-60s, so there are plenty of cars to choose from. If you’re into old-school cars, you can’t go wrong with a classic ‘Stang. If you want a daily driver, you may be better off going with one of the later generations, though.
The fifth generation is available for cheap these days, and with the right modifications, it’s more than capable of turning some heads. Just be careful when you leave the Cars & Coffee events, as it has a nasty habit of seeking out crowds.
Dodge Challenger
Those who want some American muscle but would prefer something other than the Blue Oval should look into the Dodge Challenger. If you want a bargain, there are many V6-engined cars on the used market, although they don’t have the proper noise.
We’d start by modifying the Challenger’s suspension to improve handling. Next on our to-do list would be a set of fender flares, bigger wheels, and a louder exhaust.
Volkswagen GTI
The GTI is the grandaddy of hot hatchbacks. It’s been around since the mid-70s and is the undisputed champ of its segment. That also means every generation has a massive selection of aftermarket parts.
If you’re on a budget, our pick of the litter would be the Mk2 or Mk5. The Mk2 is getting more expensive these days, but it’s so modular that you don’t even need the GTI to build a serious machine that can handle the twisties. The Mk5 is like the GTI’s rebirth, as the previous two generations were a bit soft, and it has massive tuning potential.
Ford Fiesta ST
Americans never really warmed up to the hot hatch, but the Fiesta ST was so good Ford just had to sell it on the US market. The Fiesta ST packs nearly 200 horsepower from its turbocharged engine, and thanks to its excellent chassis, it will make you feel like a professional rally driver.
That’s probably why there are so many aftermarket parts to choose from. It’s even possible to buy the same widebody kit as Ford used on their WRC cars. The engine can handle tons of power, but the gearbox has a nasty habit of blowing up if you push things too far.
C5 Chevrolet Corvette
The C5 Corvette was the last car with pop-up headlights; that alone is reason enough to buy one. It looks stylish even in stock form, but it can still be improved with some carefully selected parts.
The legendary LS V8 engine is hiding under the C5′ Vette’s hood, and there’s no shortage of performance parts. With time, effort, and a stack of cash, the C5 Corvette can be turned into a proper supercar slayer.
Nissan 350Z
Nissan went back to basics with the 350Z, but although it’s a simpler car than its 300ZX predecessor, it’s certainly not lacking in the performance department. With roughly 300 ponies living under the hood, it packs a serious punch in stock form, but it can easily be improved upon for those who want more.
The 350Z’s styling is still attractive, and plenty of options exist for those who want something unique. Multiple widebody kits, ranging from mild to wild, are available.
986 Porsche Boxster
Many gearheads view the 986 Boxster as a poor man’s Porsche with a potential fatal engine issue. However, it’s better to consider it an entry-level mid-engined car that can outhandle its more popular 911 sibling.
The base models are fun in their own right, but if you want power, go for the 3.2-liter version. A handful of bolt-on upgrades and a coilover suspension setup will make it as fast around a track as your driving skills allow.
Subaru WRX
The Subaru WRX has been around in some shape or form for quite some time now, so we’re spoiled for choice on the used car market. It’s always been one of the most popular Japanese cars to modify, so it’s possible to turn it into a monster whether you want a street racer or rally replica.
All Subarus have a Boxer engine, and with a proper exhaust, they give off a nice rumble. For maximum rally-style, we’d go for the legendary bug-eye or blob-eye versions of the WRX and live out our secret dreams of dominating rally stages like Petter Solberg and Richard Burns.
Mercedes-Benz 190E
The Mercedes 190E was arguably the last over-engineered Benz, and it may be old now, but it’s still as good as it ever was. Its square design means it’s perfect for some old-school modifications.
The aftermarket is virtually nonexistent these days, except for some 16v and Evo replica kits. However, if you join the forums and social media groups and scour eBay, you can find some uber-rare classic bodykits. Unfortunately, the 16-valve versions are getting expensive now, but the 8-valve 2.3-liter engine does have some performance potential. The 2.6-liter is better, but the biggest surprise is the diesel version. Gearheads have extracted more than 450 diesel ponies from those, and they’re reliable, too.
FC Mazda RX-7
The FD RX-7 is fetching crazy money now, but its predecessor is almost as good and for a fraction of the price. Granted, it doesn’t look as cool in stock form as the FD, but with the right mods, it can be a real headturner.
Over the years, people have built some incredible rotary engines, so extracting a decent amount of power from the FC RX-7 shouldn’t be too hard. As far as bodykits go, there’s a lot of cool stuff, but it’s hard to beat the Rocket Bunny widebody.
Mazda RX-8
Mazda really messed up with the RX-8. This sports car could’ve been great, but it has a ton of issues. However, it’s still an excellent platform if you’re willing to look past that.
If you’re building a drift car or a track-day missile, the RX-8 is still a good choice. Plenty of upgrades are available for it, so if you don’t mind a bit of wrenching, the RX-8 can be a proper weapon in the right hands.
Chrysler 300
If you want something big and luxurious but are not too keen on paying big bucks for it, you should check out the Chrysler 300. The more performance-oriented models are more expensive, so the lesser versions are where the bargains can be had.
The big Chrysler looks fantastic when it’s slammed on air suspension with a set of huge rims filling the arches. For that proper mafia/VIP style, we’d give it the complete murdered-out look with a matte black wrap and no chrome or shiny bits, nicely rounded off with a Bentley-style grille.
Mazdaspeed3
As you may have guessed, the Mazdaspeed3 is a performance version of the Mazda3. This little pocket rocket packs a decent punch in stock form, but everything can be improved.
Mazda tries to inject some of its Jinba Ittai ethos (horse and rider as one) into all its cars, and we don’t want to ruin that by going overboard. A simple lip kit, coilovers, some fancy JDM rims, and just a hint more power make the Mazdaspeed3 perfect for twisty roads and the racetrack.
Jeep Wrangler
Only a handful of options can match the legendary Jeep Wrangler if you want to venture off-road. However, thanks to its humongous selection of aftermarket parts, it’ll leave them all in the dust when the going gets tough.
You can turn the Wrangler into practically anything you want. Slam it and fit huge chrome rims, lift it and fit some beefy tires and underbody protection, it’ll even take you around the world if you want an overlander.
Acura TSX
The Acura TSX was around for two generations, from 2003 to 2014. The second-gen car obviously looks more modern and aggressive, but both are great platforms if you want to modify a practical car.
Under the hood, we find the legendary Honda K-series engine, so extracting more horsepower shouldn’t be a problem. There is also a vast selection of body kits to choose from.
