5 tips to remember when modifying your car
We've all seen them. We hear them even before they appear. Idling in traffic waiting for a green light, suddenly a striking car catches your eye. The bold colors and unique look are hard to miss, and you'll wonder what it would be like to drive a car like this down the William Nicoll.
With magical modifications, you can make your regular car look and perform like a premium model.
Whether your modifications are purely for aesthetics or you want to improve your car's performance for more driving fun, modifying your car isn't as easy as it seems in the movies. Getting a Fast and Furious-worthy car can be expensive, time-consuming, and even illegal. Before you plan to drive off into the sunset, here are a few things to keep in mind.
1. What are the most popular car modifications?
According to the purpose of vehicle modification, fashionable car modification is divided into three major categories. The most popular ways drivers modify their cars include:
Increase engine capacity
Installing illegal devices such as nitrous oxide cylinders
lower suspension
Install bigger wheels
Turn windows to extremely dark
Install body panels, spoilers, diffusers and rear wings
Change the exhaust system to make a louder sound
Install a super sound system that exceeds approved decibel levels
From appearance and feel to speed requirements, the most common adjustments people make to their cars are:
Aesthetic or visual car modification
Stars, stripes, flames and even graffiti are popular choices when drivers want to add more cost-effective visual appeal to their wheels. Aesthetic modifications extend beyond the bodywork, however, and include chrome tire rims, grille and so-called "halo" headlights.
Modifying your car in this way is easiest because all of these changes are not permanent and only affect the car's appearance, not its performance. It's a fairly harmless way to make adjustments to your car, but there's no guarantee that your bold design choice won't impede traffic.
Functional car modification
Car enhancements have more to do with function than form and mostly have to do with the vehicle's suspension.
If you are satisfied with the overall performance of your car and are not planning to increase its machine power, you might consider making some functional modifications to the car for practical reasons. Some of the reasons include raising the suspension of your vehicle to drive on rough roads and rough terrain as a puck driver. This enhancement lifts the vehicle to avoid any damage to its underside. [N3]
Maybe you want your ride to have a sportier look and feel. A slight drop in the suspension allows your car to ride on larger, wider tires while riding comfortably and safely.
Performance car modification
Looks aren't everything, as drivers who seek speed and crave a powerful engine know this. Car modifications that increase a vehicle's engine power, speed, and braking capabilities are considered performance-based.
Turbochargers and nitrous oxide are popular methods of changing a car's speed limit, but they're not as popular legally. These performance modifications may be illegal because they pose a risk to the safety of the driver and other users on the road.
The idea of modifying a car for performance purposes is to improve the driver experience or simply enhance the car's functionality in a chosen environment.
2. Benefits and challenges of modifying your car
The concept of tuning doesn't just apply to illegal street racing in movies. Some cars could benefit greatly from a few tweaks to various components.
For example, if you change your car's speed capabilities, your car will have more power, which you can use with restraint and experience the benefits of fuel economy, or choose to drag race, putting you and other road users at risk.
Fitting bigger rims and better tires can improve your car's grip and reduce road noise, but they can create a road hazard if they're not compatible with your vehicle, don't fit properly or don't have the correct speed rating.
Car modifications that exceed the scope of the manufacturer's approved accessory installation can also affect the car's warranty. When the same alteration also contravenes the Road Traffic Act, the car can be deemed illegal for use on public roads. This may result in your car being taken out of service and to continue driving it you will need to restore it to its original condition and take it to an approved vehicle testing station for re-testing.
According to forensic road transport and risk expert Stanley Bezuidenhout, you shouldn't have any problems modifying your car with aftermarket parts or upgrading your vehicle if you meet the following criteria:
Obtain vehicle manufacturer approval
Use parts developed or supplied by companies certified to the appropriate standards
Suitable for modification and addition