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How to Upgrade Your Car In 6 Quick Steps

You can upgrade your car for far less than you would pay for a new vehicle. If you are in love with your car and want to save money, then you can do so by upgrading your car with this simple six-step process. 

A six-step process to upgrading your car

This review highlights how you can upgrade your car in an affordable way, preventing the need to purchase a new car. Of course, every car owner is different, and you may not need to follow all six steps. However, if you want to give your car the care it deserves, our six-step process to upgrade your car can help you do precisely that. There are six important categories that we address, which are: 

  • Basics
  • Performance
  • Safety
  • Comfort
  • Technology
  • Aesthetics

Let’s take a closer look at each step and what all services, upgrades and features you will need to upgrade your car. 

1. Order a care tune-up and inspection

A tune-up is an affordable way to improve your car. During the tune-up, the mechanic can also check all car components and tell you what your needs are. During the tune-up, the mechanic can:

  • Replace plugs and wires
  • Change the filters
  • Add new belts and hoses
  • Change the fluids

The tune-up and inspection will also include checking the brakes, transmission, alternator and other crucial car components. If there are any concerns, then they can recommend the necessary services and provide a quote. 

2. Improve the performance of your car

Car performance refers to the car’s ability while driving, including acceleration, turning, brakes, top speed and more. As cars age, the performance decreases. This can be attributed to a number of factors. To improve the car’s performance, your mechanic may recommend changes or additions to the following parts:

  • Spark plugs
  • Engine control unit (ECU)
  • Bushings
  • Cold air intake

Improving the car’s performance not only allows you to enjoy the experience of driving more, but it also allows your car to last longer, reducing the need for frequent service. 

3. Make your car safer with upgrades

Safety is the most important thing when driving. If your car is older and has not been serviced in a while, then it may not be fit to drive. When improving the safety of your car, you may need to replace, add or service the following:

  • Brakes
  • Headlights
  • Taillights
  • Brake lights
  • Alignment
  • Tires
  • Cameras
  • Car seats
  • Safety kit

You may also need to upgrade your car’s infotainment system so that you can be hands-free while you drive. If you have tint on your windows, then consider removing the tint. With these changes, you can ensure optimal safety for yourself and everyone who rides with you.

4. Transform your car into a comfortable ride

Although a necessity and the most important part of upgrading your car, the first three steps are not exactly fun. The fun begins after you do the essential maintenance. Now you can focus on improving the comfort of your ride. This may include:

  • Servicing the air condition and heat
  • Adjusting seats and adding seat covers
  • Declutter and add car organizers
  • Invest in tires that offer a smooth ride
  • Adding air freshener to improve the smell

You can also add more technology to your car (see below). For example, adding video screens to the backseat is a great way to keep kids entertained during long rides.  

5. Bring your car further into the 21st century

Nothing screams outdated more than a car that does not have any technology. While you can most certainly make your car very nice without any fancy technological features, there are certain features you can add to enhance the overall experience. Notably, you can bring your car into the modern-day by adding:

  • Infotainment system
  • Backup camera
  • Data monitoring
  • Remote start
  • Tire pressure monitoring

Of course, there are many more features to consider as well. Adding technology not only improves the driving and riding experience, but features such as backup cameras make your car safer as well. 

6. Fix up the aesthetics of your car

The very last step is to make your car look much better. Older cars tend to suffer from faded paint, chips and scratches, dirty windows and broken aesthetic features. You can start with a thorough and professional car wash. This should make your car shine. Your car may also benefit from a new paint job, especially if the paint is beginning to fade or chip. Repairing any blemishes such as chips and scratches is important as well. 

Keep your car well serviced

One of the purposes of upgrading your car is to reduce the cost of driving by not purchasing a new vehicle. To reduce the long-term costs, it is important to keep your car well serviced after the car upgrade is complete. Otherwise, the costs can quickly add up from expensive replacements, eventually forcing you to purchase a new car sooner than you may desire. Mechanics typically recommend a car tune-up every 10,000 to 12,000 miles, and you may need more frequent tune-ups for older cars. 

How to upgrade your car in a cost-effective manner

The best way to upgrade your car for the lowest cost possible is to plan in advance. Be sure to compare prices and shop only from reputable dealers. Otherwise, you risk purchasing parts and products that are not ideal. If the cost after planning is too high, then you can remove some non-essential steps. It is also important to understand your installation limitations. While it may cost a little more to pay for installation, trying to install something that you are not familiar with could take a lot of your time. 

The bottom line

When your car starts to show its age you have two options — upgrade your car or buy a new one. If you love your car and want to save money, then you can effectively upgrade your car by following the six steps that we outlined for you above. Have at it, and shine those headlights bright when it comes time for a joy ride!

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Aaron Westbury
Aaron is a content writer with a passion for cars. He enjoys learning new things and loves to share what he learns with others. Aaron also has a Bachelor's in English and years of experience as a writer, and he constantly seeks to improve and make his writing more informative and helpful for readers. Although a writer by day, Aaron enjoys his free time by getting outdoors and staying active anyway he can.

    3 Comments

    1. My truck is a 2013, and as much as I like all of the new features for 2021, I just think she drives better without a payment!

    2. It is always nice to know how to upgrade the car for performance. I always upgraded for aesthetic and it is embarrassing to have a beautiful car that doesn’t move well!

    3. I bet most people reading this article could benefit from new spark plugs, transmission fluid change, alignment/replace worn suspension parts, and change your cabin air filter.

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