There are plenty of car accessories and upgrades that you can purchase to make your vehicle look good and perform well. With so many products to choose from, however, it can be difficult to decide which ones you should buy first—or at all!
To help you out, here’s a quick guide to car accessories and upgrades that are actually worth your hard-earned money:
1. Tyres
The tyres are some of the quickest parts of your car to get worn down, especially if you drive every day. Things like road debris, extreme temperatures, or even animals can cause damage, even if you’re not driving.
This simply means that you have to invest in a good set of high-performance tyres. Depending on where you drive, you can choose between all-season tyres or purchase a set of both summer and winter tyres. These are made from rubber compounds that are designed to handle specific driving conditions.
With high-quality tyres, you’ll experience better fuel economy, improved road grip, and increased stopping power.
2. Quality Brake Pads and Stainless Steel Brake Lines
Your vehicle has a lot of safety features, which include the brake system. For the safest driving experience, make sure to purchase a set of quality brake pads that match your driving style and frequency.
For daily drivers, ceramic brake pads are a great choice. They’re quiet, produce less dust, and are extremely reliable. Meanwhile, racers and high-performance drivers may benefit from semi-metallic brake pads.
In addition to new brake pads, you should also purchase stainless steel brake lines to replace the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) rubber ones. With stainless steel brake lines, you won’t feel a “flex” when you step on the brake pedal. Instead, you’ll experience a firmer pedal response and a markedly better braking performance overall.
3. Shock Absorbers and Springs
Your car’s suspension is responsible for your driving comfort. Among the most important parts of this system are the shock absorbers and springs. The shock absorbers do exactly that— absorb shocks that result from bumps or potholes.
Shock absorbers also prevent the springs from moving up and down too much after compression, resulting in improved driving stability.
Meanwhile, the primary job of your car’s suspension coil springs is to support the weight of your car and cargo. They help compensate when you drive over uneven road surfaces, improving your ride comfort. The springs also help keep your tyres in contact with the road for better handling and braking.
For a more cushioned ride and better stability, consider getting a set of lower, stiffer springs. This is particularly true when cornering, because stiffer springs let your vehicle transfer weight faster.
4. Adjustable Sway Bar
A sway bar or anti-roll bar is like an arm that connects opposite wheels of your car. Its main role is to reduce so-called body roll, which occurs when you turn a corner too fast or when you drive over road bumps.
If you have an SUV, ute, or any other big vehicle, high-quality sway bars are a must to make sure that your car’s weight is evenly distributed across the suspension components. It’s not absolutely necessary to get an adjustable sway bar, although it’s highly beneficial if you want to customise your car’s driving feel.
5. A Dash Camera
A dash camera or simply a dash cam is a camera that captures and records what’s happening on the road as you drive. They’re especially handy when there’s an accident, whether or not your vehicle is involved. Some high-end dash cams also come with additional features like GPS location and AI surveillance for added security.
For the best view, mount your dash camera on the centre of the windshield or on the passenger side of the rear-view mirror. Of course, the “best view” will differ based on the size and type of your vehicle so test the angles before you permanently install the camera.
You may also want to add a rearview camera to your setup to enhance your visibility when backing up. This can help minimise the incidence of accidents.
6. Safety Upgrades
Last but certainly not least, it’s worthwhile to invest in your car’s safety features. Most modern vehicles already come with a few technology upgrades, but you can still choose additional upgrades at cost. For older models, your choices may be a little more limited but you should still check which ones can be added to your car.
Some of the safety upgrades that you may want to install on your car are the following:
- Tyre pressure monitoring system or TPMS
- Adaptive cruise control
- Collision avoidance system
- Lane keeping assist
- Parking sensors
- Automatic emergency braking
In the end, it’s your car and you can do whatever you want with it as long as it’s legal. Still, these accessories and upgrades are sure to bring the best out of your car’s looks and performance. Consider purchasing them for your vehicle if you haven’t already.