Upgrades, also known as modifications or mods, are changes made to your vehicle that make it different from the manufacturer's original factory specifications. As car enthusiasts, we just adore the feeling of satisfaction we get from upgrading a stock vehicle to a fully modded performance machine. Upgrades can enhance different aspects of your vehicle, from performance to comfort to aesthetics and even resale value.
That said:
Not all upgrades are suitable for all cars (or drivers). The specific upgrades you get will rely on individual preferences, driving style, budget, and how you intended to use your vehicle. You also have to ensure that any upgrades you plan to get will comply with local laws and regulations to avoid any legal issues or safety concerns.
Best Car Mods to Get First
If you're looking to trick up your vehicle to be the best it can be, then this post is for you. Discover the best bang for your buck car upgrades to make your vehicle more comfortable, perform better, and look snazzy too.
So, let's dive in:
Improve Interior Comfort
The more comfortable your ride, the more you enjoy driving it. Improving how your car interior feels to you is crucial since that's your point of contact with your car. Customizing your car interior not only makes it more comfortable and stylish but also adds to its resale value.
1. Upgraded Car Seat Covers
Installing car seat covers is always a good idea. Getting new car seat covers lets you change the way your car interior looks while also giving you a more comfortable ride. Seat covers provide great lumbar support, extra padding, and protection for your original upholstery.
Premium car seat covers, like those from Seat Cover Solutions, are designed to regulate temperature while also being compatible with heated seats and airbags. Their luxury car seat covers are meticulously crafted to perfectly fit your original seats and are made from high-quality eco leather to reduce their impact on the environment.
2. Steering Wheel Cover
Steering wheel covers work similarly to car seat covers but for your steering wheel, another point of contact.
They give you a more comfortable and confident grip when your original steering wheel is worn out, slippery, and uncomfortable. Installing steering wheel covers on a new car protects the original from hand oils and sunlight as well as the wear and tear of everyday use. Depending on the material, a steering wheel can also keep your hands from getting scorched in hot conditions or from freezing in cold climates.
Steering wheel covers can be made of different materials such as fabric, leather, and eco leather. You can choose generic off-the-shelf models or pay a bit more for an aesthetically customized one. No matter the material or design you choose, make sure your steering wheel cover is easy to install and uninstall for easy cleaning and replacement.
3. Sound System Upgrade
This next upgrade can be divisive depending on how much of a musicophile you are. If you seldom drive while listening to music, you may want to skip this modification and stick to your factory sound system. But if music is life and you can't drive without it, then you should definitely make some changes to your car stereo.
Replacing your receiver with a better-quality one can instantly improve your sound quality, although it can be a bit expensive. If you're on a stricter budget, then upgrading your speakers with aftermarket ones will do. That is unless you opt for component speakers which can also be expensive but definitely worth it.
If you notice that your sound gets distorted when you turn up the volume, or if you just want your bass to really boom, you may want to add a subwoofer.
Exterior Enhancements
Now that you've enhanced your car interior, it's time to do the same with the exterior. These mods won't just improve your car exterior's functions but will also give it some pizazz.
4. LED Lighting Upgrades
If your car comes with halogen bulbs, you may want to upgrade to LED bulbs instead.
According to Meteor Electrical, halogen bulbs use 90% of their wattage producing heat while LED bulbs save 85% of energy producing light. LED lights also outlast all other types of light bulbs by years. So, by upgrading to LED bulbs, you're not just saving energy but also money for buying replacements.
Make sure to check for the LED bulbs' compatibility with your vehicle beforehand. Then, replace all lighting fixtures with LED bulbs. These include headlights, taillights, and interior lights.
5. Stylish Aftermarket Wheels
If you want to improve how your car looks and performs, change out your wheels.
Larger wheels with a larger contact area give your tires improved traction and grip, perfect for cornering and better handling. They also make your car safer by reducing braking distance and improving overall brake performance.
Getting a customized set lets you add a sense of personal style to your vehicle, making it truly stand out among the crowd.
Performance Modifications
Now that you've made your car look and feel great both outside and in, it's time to make it better performance-wise. Upgrading performance means improving every function your vehicle is supposed to perform, apart from just adding pure power. These modifications won't just make your car go faster but make it more reliable as a whole.
6. Maintenance Update
When was the last time you had an oil change?
Whether your vehicle is brand new or it's been with you for a while, make sure all your worn items, fluids, and filters are up to date on their maintenance. The other upgrades on this list won't matter if your car can't go two miles without breaking down due to old serviceable parts. If you're not completely sure about your car's maintenance status, spending money to get it up to par is always a good idea.
A maintenance update should include all your fluids such as brake, power steering, engine oil, transmission, coolant, etc. Replace worn cabin and air filters, old spark plugs, and everything else that isn't working as they should.
If you want to save money, just get some hand tools plus a good DIY video tutorial and do it yourself. Or set aside a weekend and take your car to the mechanic.
7. Performance Tires
Another sure way to make your vehicle feel like an entirely different car is by upgrading your tires. This is especially evident if you haven't changed your tires since you bought your car. Tire technology is constantly evolving so getting a good new set of tires will instantly improve how your car performs.
Tires are usually good for about five years so make sure to check the date codes on the sidewall. Replace them immediately, even if the treads still look good.
If you're thinking about getting better wheels, this is the perfect time to also get new tires. Make sure to choose tires appropriate for the roads you'll be driving on (summer, all-season, winter).
8. Better Brakes
One of the most underrated upgrades has to be getting better brakes. Your car can be the most powerful in the world but it won't be safe to drive unless you have the stopping power to slow it down when you need to, like when you're cornering.
If you usually drive at a slow leisurely pace, stock brakes will do.
But if you plan to soup up your car's power, you'll need to get better brakes before you can make it go faster. Fresh brake fluid plus new rubber or steel braided lines will suffice if you're adding just a bit more horsepower. If you're building your car specifically for track duty, you'll need more expensive high-performance big brake kits.
9. Suspension Upgrades
If you mostly drive on perfectly paved asphalt, with just the occasional pothole here and there, you can skip this modification. However, if you plan to take your vehicle off-road, you'll need to make sure your suspension is up to the task.
In off-road conditions, your stock suspension is going to bounce like mad. This up-and-down motion combined with aggressive tires produces a lot more heat which can eventually reduce their dampening ability, wear out your tires unevenly, make your vehicle harder to handle and keep stable, strain other suspension components, or even damage them.
When upgrading your suspension, you can opt for the popular coilover shocks which combine the shock and spring of a suspension system in a single assembly. Upgrading your shocks can be quite expensive but definitely worth the price if you want to improve off-road performance.
10. More Power
Now that your car is well maintained, has better-sticking tires, good stopping power, and great suspension, it's finally time to give it more power.
Now, adding more power to your car will always be expensive. Out of all the costly power upgrades, the least expensive option will have to be engine tuning.
Engine tuning adjusts your engine's parameters to optimize performance. This method can improve your vehicle's throttle response, adjust fuel and ignition timing, as well as potentially increase power output. However, before getting this modification, make sure it's compatible with your car's engine and that it's performed by a reputable tuner.
To Recap
Upgrades improve your car overall. They transform your ordinary standard stock car into a personalized, comfortable, and high-performing vehicle.
If you would like to transform how your car interior looks, feels, and performs, upgrade with Seat Cover Solutions today. Our premium eco leather car seat covers are made to perfectly fit your seats and give you that luxury feel without breaking the bank.
