3 Simple Upgrades That Can Save You From Having To Trade-In Your Car
There comes a time when it seems like the best thing we can do for our car is to trade it in. Right now, 12 years is the average service life of cars in the US, as Americans are keeping their cars for longer, according to the Wall Street Journal. If yours has been on the road for longer than that, it can be considered as having had a better run than most.
But if its flaws have become many and cumbersome, you’ve probably thought about trading it in more than once. It’s all well and good if you have the income to purchase a new one, but not everyone has that luxury. Not to mention that some may have a personal attachment to their trusty set of wheels.
Fortunately, there are ways to breathe new life into things without making any big sacrifices. With a little creativity and ingenuity, you can get your car looking like you just drove it out of the dealership yesterday.
Simple Upgrades for Your Car
1. Spruce up the interior
First things first. Decluttering will make it much more convenient, and even safer, to upgrade your car. Organize your personal effects, wipe it down thoroughly, and give it good vacuuming. If your efforts turn out to be insufficient, it may be time to get professional cleaners to take a look at your car.
Once that’s done, you can move on to the interior improvements. These can be as simple as changing carpets and seat coverings. Start by looking at the interiors of your dream cars, and pattern your vision after the best elements of each.
The best areas for improvement are the color scheme for the interior plastics and the dashboard layout. There are a lot more places you can fix up in the interior that may not occur to you, so be sure to ask the Bodyshop where you’re going to get these upgrades done for their recommendations.
2. Give the exterior a makeover
The exterior is just as much of a factor in your car’s overall look, feel, and even function. Scratches and old paint jobs make the car look dated and grimy. Buffing those scratches and giving your car a fresh paint job is your first step in getting the exterior looking good as new again. Be sure to shop around for a good deal so you get your preferred balance of quality and price.
There’s a lot of factors that go into paint job pricing, so it’s best to familiarize yourself with these to prepare for the expense beforehand. There’s also a wealth of body mods you can apply to get it looking sleeker, and even make it faster than it once was. But these can be quite pricey and should be reserved for when you have any leftover funds. Aside from the car body, you should also direct your attention to your wheels and tires. The simple addition of a new set of hubcaps and tires can add a lot to your vehicle’s overall look. Not to mention, it’s also an essential part of proper vehicle maintenance to replace any wheels and tires that may be faulty.
3. Upgrade your accessories and gadgetry
Any mechanic can tell you what parts you need to buy to keep an aging vehicle running smoothly. But to truly make it feel new again, you might want to consider upgrading your in-car accessories and gadgetry. With finite funds, you have to make such purchases count, so you have to ask yourself what kind of functionality and quality of life features you want to have out of your vehicle.
There is a wealth of devices that can add more utility to your vehicle, but even a single addition can change how your driving experience feels. You can modernize your sound system with a 6-speaker surround and Apple CarPlay compatibility, or perhaps invest in a more in-depth navigation system. With gadgets like car health monitors, air quality controllers, and state-of-the-art car security tools, the only real limit to how futuristic you can make your vehicle feel is your budget.
Summing Up
Depending on the age and wear, some cars may be difficult to polish back to a more ideal state. But with enough dedication and a bit of money saved up, anyone’s beloved vehicle can be brought back to its prime.
I hope you have found the article helpful. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Have a Good Day!
