

Act fast if you want one, however, because Supra prices are skyrocketing. While it’s not the only Japanese sports car prized by tuners, the Supra is somewhat less exotic than its rivals, making it reliable and relatively easy to modify. We haven’t discovered the new car’s full tuning potential yet, but the older variants of the car are highly coveted for their sensual styling and wild engines, which can be upgraded to produce mind-boggling amounts of power. That’s why the fifth-generation model introduced at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show was so hotly anticipated. Over the course of its first four generations, the Supra became one of the most iconic cars ever to wear a Toyota badge. Toyota isn’t usually associated with automotive excitement, but the performance cars it has made over the past few decades have turned out smashingly. Considering the latest version is one of the best Miatas ever, we’d say the MX-5’s future on the tuner scene is looking especially bright. It’s relatively simple to squeeze more power out of the stock four-cylinder engine, but dropping a V8 into one of these babies isn’t unheard of, either.

The Miata feels right at home whether it’s on a road course, at a drift event, or dodging the cones at an autocross. It can also be modified for any number of uses, however nearly all of them involve roll cages, crash helmets, and lots and lots of duct tape. It’s light, it handles well, it has rear-wheel drive, and it’s relatively affordable. It may look like a toy, but the Mazda MX-5 Miata is about as perfect as a small sports car can be. So while the Civic has been around for awhile, its tuning potential is just beginning. Pre-2000 models are preferred because they handle better and their engines are easier to tune, but the current, tenth-generation model is the first to feature a turbocharged engine straight from the factory. Not all Civics are created equal, though. There is also a legion of aftermarket companies that support the plucky compact, which means you can build any type of Civic you like, whether it be a drag racer, an autocrosser, or a showpiece. It is, however, an inexpensive, versatile, and reliable vehicle that works just as well as a starter car as it does as a long-term daily driver. Honda Civicĭespite what Fast & Furious tells you, the Honda Civic has never been an incredible performer.

Some cars are better suited to receiving modifications than others, and we’ve put together some of the more tuner-friendly ones here. You could put a straight-six engine from the aforementioned Supra into Toyota’s gorgeous new Mirai if you put your mind to it. It’s possible to modify just about any car with the right amount of money, knowledge, and patience.
