We love our cars. And for car enthusiasts, it’s a natural step to want to add a personal touch or give the car a signature style. Some car owners want to soup up the looks and body style while others want to take their car’s performance and ability to the next level. Some modders will want a healthy mix of both.
While car modification can be an expensive, time consuming and quite arduous interest, it can have incredibly rewarding results when complete. Here, we discuss five aftermarket car parts you can install in your car to give it a little extra personality.
1. Lowering Kits
One of the most popular car modifications that can make your car turn heads is installing lowering kits. Modifying your car to a lower stance increases its aesthetic appeal and makes it looks like a sports car. Tuning the suspension also improves aerodynamics. When the car sits closer to the ground, less air goes underneath the vehicle reducing drag on the car. Lowering your ride’s suspension can also improve speed, control, and handling but only when done properly.
This mod has some drawbacks though. It increases bottoming out which increases the risk of your car’s bottoms kidding against the ground. The mod can also accelerate or cause uneven tire wear. Other disadvantages of lowering your car’s suspension include reduced ride comfort, compromised traction and drivability, and difficulty when riding on rough roads.
If you’re considering installing lowering kits, ask yourself if you want to improve aesthetic appeal or a better ride (or both). Knowing what you want beforehand will help you figure out how to lower the suspension correctly depending on your preference.
2. Performance Exhaust/Mufflersa
Aside from visual mods, replacing your exhaust system with something that’s freer-flowing can help improve the vehicle’s efficiency. A performance exhaust system reduces backpressure and frees up some power in your car’s engine. Consequently, exhaust gases escape quickly and more efficiently allowing the engine to breathe better and create more power.
If you love mufflers that make your car sound loud, Flowmaster and Magnaflow are great options that deliver a deep, aggressive rumble that’s only found in high-performance sports cars. You can find these two exhaust systems and other high-quality mufflers at Compare Parts, a comprehensive search engine for performance parts.
3. Wheel Trims
Fitting wheel trims may sound obvious but many drivers get this wrong. Wheel trims should be the first aftermarket part to consider when seeking to make your ride a prized possession. High-quality rims can upgrade a jalopy or degrade a fantastic car. In addition to the aesthetic benefits, rims also have functional benefits. They obstruct dust, moisture, and debris into the wheel, reducing its risk of damage.
There are innumerable options on the market some of which come in different materials, sizes, shapes, and designs. Worth mentioning is that different rims are built for different purposes such as looks, performance or overall toughness. This makes choosing the right wheel for your car and preferences very important.
Most wheel trims are made of aluminium-nickel alloy. Rims made of more nickel are heavy and have more stable seeming that doesn’t bend easily. However, they are often brittle and crack under a force that can only bend softer wheels. Rims with less nickel, on the other hand, are light and bend more easily under impact such as on potholes and other poor road conditions. Ideal wheel trims are those that occupy a middle ground between these two extremes.
4. Head and Taillights
Replacing your head and taillights is another great way to make your vehicle stand out from the rest. Since headlights and taillights are designed to be reflective, they are certain to draw a lot of visual attention. You may want to purchase LED (Light Emitting Diode) and HID4 (High-Intensity Discharge) as they are new trends for cars these days. If you own an older model, it probably has halogen headlights. However, you can buy conversion kits at your local auto store.
5. Aftermarket Stereo System
While aftermarket audio doesn’t change your vehicle’s appearance, installing a new subwoofer will be felt. You can do a modest upgrade or if you have the money, you can go total Mad Max Fury Road, installing subwoofers, speakers or completely reinventing your sound system to take your stereo to the next level.
Whether you prefer installing flashy wheels, lowering kits, a new stereo system or LED lighting, modifying your car can significantly increase its value and intrigue. These mods can be very expensive and time-consuming, but they are worth the effort.
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