Modifying your new vehicle with custom upgrades can get expensive, but there are many ways to customize different features of your car while still staying within your budget. You can opt for cost-effective modifications that improve your vehicle’s performance and capabilities, or you can even set aside some cash for aesthetic upgrades! Here are five cost-effective ways to upgrade your vehicle for performance and appeal.
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Custom Paint and Vinyl Wraps
Upgrade the exterior appeal of your car with a custom paint job or vinyl car wrap. You can go for an entire body color or opt for a partial paint job to make different features on your vehicle stand out. For instance, a matte black vinyl hood wrap can accent a bright body color like red, yellow, or blue. Depending on your budget, a new color can add loads of exterior appeal that can go a long way if you want to resell your car down the road.
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Interior Accent Lighting
This is a cost-effective modification because you can upgrade your interior lighting with LED kits, different bulb colors, and door lights. Brighten your car’s interior for better visibility, or create an ambient atmosphere in your vehicle with some muted LED colors like blue or violet. You can even upgrade your dome light for maximum brightness so that you can see more easily inside your car.
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Wheels and Rims
Most drivers think of custom wheels and rims as purely cosmetic, but you can choose a set of wheels from a reputable brand that can decrease the unsprung weight of your vehicle. This performance factor can significantly improve your car’s handling and boost the performance of your steering. With the right set of wheels, you can enhance performance and appeal simultaneously.
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Engine Tuning
If you have a factory turbocharged engine in your vehicle, consider tuning your engine control unit (ECU). This updates the factory software code of your engine, improving its performance with a boost in horsepower. It can also increase its durability and economy. Use a reputable auto mechanic or your dealer’s service center to update your ECU safely.
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Exhaust Manifold Upgrade
Upgrading your exhaust can help you lower emissions and boost your car’s horsepower by a few points. You can trade out your factory exhaust with an aftermarket axle-back exhaust, which replaces the parts of your exhaust behind the rear axle of your vehicle. If you want more efficiency and a little bit more horsepower, go for a cat-back exhaust replacement, which upgrades the entire exhaust manifold behind the catalytic converter. A full cat-back exhaust overhaul is more expensive than an axle-back upgrade, but you’ll get more power from your car.
When you modify your vehicle, it’s important to first understand what types of upgrades you can do yourself and which modifications you should take to the pros. You can apply several of these upgrades for less than a few thousand dollars, and for some modifications, you can even purchase the parts yourself and have the work done at a shop. So, if you’re interested in upgrading your vehicle, consider one of these cost-effective solutions!
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