5 Things You Should Consider Before Getting Performance Upgrades For Your Car

Are you wanting to kick your driving experience up a notch? If there’s life still left in your vehicle, but you want a look and feel that is exciting and new, consider performance upgrades.

This is not something you want to jump into blindly jump! If you’re looking to have your car’s performance upgraded, here is what you should take into consideration.

1. Do Your Research

Planning is the first step when you decide to get performance upgrades for your car. If you don’t know exactly what you want, you could end up spending a lot of money on parts you don’t need.

To start, it’s important to know what you want out of the upgrades. Are you looking to enhance performance to drag race, or are you looking to make your vehicle more rugged for off-roading? You don’t want to rush to buy parts that look good but ultimately lead you away from your original idea. Doing so may cost you more money when you need to replace them to achieve the look or performance you are going for.

Do your research and come up with a plan before you spend money on performance upgrades.

2. Plan Financially

Once you have an idea of what you want to achieve with performance upgrades, you have to consider your budget and what you are willing to spend. Upgrading a rusty old car into a modern performance vehicle is going to be significantly more than it costs to perform similar upgrades in a newer car. Knowing your budget will help you manage your money as well as get a better idea of how long it will take to complete your dream modifications.

3. Repairs and Maintenance

Upgrading your car typically requires the use of aftermarket parts. The repair and maintenance of these parts can be pricier than factory parts.

This is especially true if you plan on getting performance upgrades to make your car sportier. Sporty cars cost more to own than normal cars because they are designed to perform to their limits. This means that their components are typically worked harder and put under more stress than a regular car. They also tend to use unique parts that are designed for your particular vehicle so it’s harder to share more cost-effective parts with traditional cars.

4. Fuel and Insurance

Before you go ahead and get performance upgrades for your car, you should also speak with your insurance provider. Insurance is sometimes more expensive for upgraded cars, especially ones that are designed to go fast or use parts that cost more to replace.

Many upgraded cars are designed to burn more fuel and tend to have worse gas mileage than traditional vehicles. You may find that you’re spending more on gas when you upgrade the performance of your car.

5. Find a Trusted Shop

While some simple upgrades can be performed by drivers who are handy with their vehicles, modifying your car should always be left to the care of professionals. Keep in mind that not all professionals are trained equally when it comes to performance upgrades. When you choose a shop to do the work, you want to make sure they are skilled and knowledgeable in this area of expertise.

You should also only take your vehicle to shops that are equipped with the correct tools to install performance car parts suitable for your vehicle’s make and model. Without specialized equipment and knowledge of the brand, you could end up with damage to your vehicle, making it unsafe to operate.

Popular Vehicle Modifications For Beginners

Now that you know what to consider before getting performance upgrades for your car, here are some popular vehicle modifications that are perfect for beginners:

Exhaust Systems

Upgrading your car’s exhaust system usually means creating a less restrictive system that allows for better airflow and allows exhaust gasses to better exit the combustion chamber. Improving airflow will lead to better fuel economy, increased power, and a more efficient motor.

Upgrading the exhaust system can involve installing an improved catalytic converter or performing a muffler delete or DPF delete.

Tires and Rims

If you’re looking for a simple upgrade for your car, consider changing out the tires and rims. When it comes to changing out your rims there are two factors to keep in mind: appearance and performance. If you’re looking to enhance the performance of your car, choose a lighter-weight rim to reduce unsprung weight. This will make your car feel quicker and respond better on the road.

Upgrading your tires can not only help vehicle aesthetic and performance, but improve vehicle safety as well. If you plan on racing your car, sportier tires (especially low profile tires) have less tread and are stiffer. This makes them highly responsive when driving fast. If you plan on off-roading with your vehicle, you want to make sure your tire has enough tread to safely grip the backroads.

When you combine the right tires with the right rims, you can upgrade both the look and performance of your vehicle!

Short Shifter

A short-throw shifter is a shifting shaft that reduces the distance your hand needs to travel to shift gears, meaning that you can accelerate and decelerate more quickly.  While short-throw shifters do not increase vehicle power, they can create a sportier look to your car’s interior and improve your overall driving experience.

Are You Ready for an Upgrade?

Park Muffler is here to help! Our expert team of technicians has the skills and tools to modify your current vehicle into the car of your dreams. Want to talk more about upgrades? Get in touch with us today!