Subaru

WRX, STI, Outback, Forester

Subarus live outside. Gravel, road salt, ski racks, dogs, and owners who put real mileage on them in weather that keeps other cars in the garage. That is the actual test for a badge, and it is why these are cut from cast acrylic with the color in the material rather than printed on top of it. A stone chip on a printed badge exposes white substrate. On these it is a scratch in a colored part.

Boxer, turbo, and the numbers

Engine callouts are the most-bought item here: boxer, turbo, EJ and FA displacement numbers. They belong on the front fender behind the wheel arch, one per side, at roughly door-handle height.

The hood scoop is the spot everyone asks about and the one place not to use. It is curved in two directions, it sits directly over the intercooler, and it runs hot enough on a WRX to work the adhesive loose over a summer.

Rally plates and trail names

The other half of this collection is personal: rally-style number plates, trail names, and short phrases. Subaru owners lean toward the door and the rear quarter for these rather than the fender, which leaves the front of the car clean.

Finishes that survive winter

Fifteen solid colors and five mirror. If the car sees salted roads, solid finishes hide the film between washes better than mirror does - mirror looks superb clean and shows every water spot dirty. World Rally Blue cars generally take gold or white; gray and black cars take mirror silver.