Automotive

Customizing your car is a great way to make it your own, but some upgrades are worth more than others. Certain exterior car upgrades can add value to your vehicle when it comes time to sell, while others are more for show.

Finding exterior car upgrades that are worth the money can be tricky, but we’ve got you covered. Use these tips to make sure you’re spending your money in the best way possible.

Car Upgrades with Car Wraps

A car wrap is one of the most popular exterior car upgrades because it’s a relatively inexpensive way to impact it significantly. Car wraps come in all sorts of colors and designs so you can make your car stand out from the crowd.

However, car wraps are not just for show. A wrap can be a great way to keep your vehicle looking new for longer. They can also protect your car’s paint job from scratches and other damage.

If you’re thinking about getting a car wrap, find a reputable company to do the job. Doing so will ensure that your car wrap lasts for years to come.

Car Upgrades with Custom Grille

A custom grille is a great way to add personality to your car. There are different designs and materials to choose from, so you can make your car’s front end stand out.

Custom grilles can be made from metals like aluminum or stainless steel or from more exotic materials like carbon fiber. You can even have a custom grille made to match your car’s paint job if you want to get creative.

Custom grilles are not just for show either. Some aftermarket grilles offer benefits like better airflow to your car’s engine, which can help improve performance.

Car Upgrades with LED Taillights

LED taillights are a great way to add a modern touch to your car. They’re also much brighter than traditional taillights, so they can help improve your visibility on the road.

LED taillights are available for all sorts of cars, and they’re relatively easy to install yourself. If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, you can always take your vehicle to a professional to have them installed.

No matter what exterior car upgrades you’re considering, make sure you do your research before spending your money. Some upgrades are worth the investment, while others are more for show.

With a little bit of planning, you can find exterior car upgrades that are stylish and functional.

Your car made it through another frigid winter, and now it’s smooth sailing into the summer, right? Wrong. If you’re not careful, the summer heat can be as damaging as the winter chill.

We’ll break down how the summer heat can cause problems for your car so you can ensure that your vehicle stays healthy and strong this season.

Oil and Fluids

In the sweltering heat of summer, your body can become dehydrated without proper fluids, and your vehicle is the same. Your car’s oil and fluids are its lifeblood, and if it’s running low, it could spell disaster.

When it’s hot outside, your engine is more likely to overheat, which can cause severe damage. Ensure that your engine has enough coolant and consider flushing and replacing it if it’s been five years or approximately 100,000 miles since you last replaced it.

Other fluids in your vehicle that you should ensure are at their proper levels in the summer include:

• Brake fluid
• Motor oil
• Transmission fluid
• Power-steering fluid

Cooling System

As we mentioned before, your engine’s coolant is essential to the vehicle operating properly in the hot summer months. When the temperature rises, your car’s entire cooling system must work harder, including the water pump, radiator, thermostat, hoses, and coolant.

If any one of these components is malfunctioning or failing, the entire cooling system in your vehicle will fail. If that happens, you’re stuck with an overheated and hot car in the dog days of summer. Check and double-check your vehicle’s cooling system to ensure it’s ready and capable of handling the heat.

Exterior Paint

Plenty of everyday things can damage your car’s paint job, and the sun is chief among them. The sun’s UV-rays can cause your vehicle’s paint to fade faster, and the summer is when the sun is at its peak.

If you must park your car outside during the day in the summer, we recommend that you find some shade to keep it out of the sun’s beaming rays. Avoid trees—you don’t want to trade shade for bird droppings or tree sap on your car!

Battery

Typically, we hear about how the winter can drain your battery, but the summer can be just as harmful. The intense summer heat can cause battery fluid to drain faster, which exposes the lead plates and leads to corrosion.

Check your battery’s power and life remaining and have a professional inspect it for corrosion. If it’s on its last legs or has extensive corrosive buildup, it’s better to replace and take care of it now than when you’re on the side of a road on a hot summer day. 

As you can see, there are many ways the summer heat can cause problems for your car. You can keep your vehicle running strong, though, by taking the time and remaining vigilant of its fluid levels and exposure to the sun.

Cars offer a means of transportation to go wherever you want, whenever you want. While it’s sometimes convenient to take a train or bus, owning a car allows you the freedom to pick up and go in minutes. However, cars can also add expenses to your life, mainly if you depend on them heavily. Next thing you know, your tire popped, or your windshield cracked, costing you some money. Here are five budget-friendly car maintenance tips to know to prevent you from running into problems.

Maintain Your Car Fluids

An essential budget-friendly car maintenance tip is to keep an eye on your car fluids. This means you must clean and fill your vehicle’s coolant, oil, transmission, brake fluid, and power steering fluids regularly.

As for engine oil, don’t let it get dirty. Foreign contaminants can permanently damage the engine. If you have an older car, change out the oil every 5,000 miles or every six months. As for newer cars, you can push them to about 7,500 miles. Fluids keep the car moving, functional, and lubricated.

Keep Your Vehicle Clean

Bird droppings, salt residue, kicked-up dirt, and oil can all make your car look disheveled and worn down. It goes the same way for the interior; crumbs, hair, and dust build up over time. Develop a consistent cleaning schedule. Regular washing will keep your car paint from fading and prevent chips or cracks in the exterior. As for your interior, clean it on a seasonal basis with a car vacuum, fabric or leather cleaner, and a microfiber cloth. You want your car to smell and look clean all year round.

Listen for Odd Noises

You probably enjoy some tunes, a podcast, or the daily news on your commutes. Listening to something keeps you entertained during long or repetitive drives. However, turn down the music from time to time to listen for any odd sounds coming from your vehicle.

Grinding when you brake, creaking, whining, and squealing are signs of problems that may require you to replace your belt, brake pads, suspension, or another part. Take your car to a trusted mechanic to diagnose any issues early before they spiral out of control.

Watch Your Tires

Tires tend to get ignored the most when it comes to car maintenance. Worn down or underinflated tires can impact numerous driving functions, such as braking and alignment. You can perform the penny test at home to determine the tread in your tires. Stick a penny into the tread channel with the top of President Lincoln’s head directed toward the tire. If you see the top of his head when you look from the side, your tires need to be replaced.

Monitor Your Dashboard Warning Lights

Your vehicle’s dashboard will often indicate any issues or oddities. Each light indicates a problem that requires a professional mechanic’s opinion. Your owner’s manual will help you identify what each light means and the steps to follow before it’s too late. By monitoring your dashboard lights, you’ll repair minor problems early so you won’t have to spend thousands later on severe damages.

We use the windows of our vehicles as forms of protection while we drive. The wind, small objects, and direct sunlight can all be harmful while we’re driving, and we need a barrier between ourselves and those aspects. Tinted windows can further increase the protection and benefits that windows already offer.

How Are Windows Tinted?

To tint windows, a professional places a plastic film over a window after spraying it with water so that the tint will adhere. They’ll then cut the tint to fit the window and wrap it over the top of the glass. After cutting away any excess, they’ll secure the tint using a heat gun while smoothing down the edges.

Benefits of Tinted Windows

Stronger Protection From UV Rays

The sun continuously produces UV rays that damage our skin and heat up anything they touch. One of the pros of tinted windows for your vehicle is the reduction of the effects of UV rays. As the driver, you’ll be safer because the sun won’t impair your vision, and your skin won’t suffer from UV exposure, since the tint dulls the brightness and intensity of the sun’s rays.

Furthermore, if your vehicle has a leather interior, it will also maintain its integrity for longer and have a smaller chance of cracking. Luxury cars such as Porsches commonly come with leather interiors that could sustain damage from prolonged sun exposure. Adding window tints is one of the best ways to modify your Porsche for safety and appearance.

Cooler Interior

Placing tints on your vehicle’s windows will also create less heat inside your vehicle. Light generates heat, so tints will reduce the intensity of the light and the warmth it produces. The cooler interior will save energy on air conditioning as well as save your wallet from more frequent gas payments.

Damage Resistance

Another one of the pros of tinted windows for your vehicle is the extra layer of protection from outside elements. When small projectiles such as hail, pebbles, and twigs hit your windows, they may leave scratches from the impact. But with the layer of tint, you’ll have a barrier that causes those small objects to bounce off without harm.

When selecting which off-road luxury vehicles are the greatest on the market, keep in mind that the people buying them will have varied needs, wants, and preferences. Because there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution, what works for one individual may not work for another.

Off-road vehicle customers, on the other hand, have a plethora of possibilities to further customize their vehicles to their interests. They can add parts and equipment from the manufacturer or aftermarket vendors. However, there are a number of all-terrain SUVs and trucks on the market that are ready to tackle the trail right out of the box. Here are our favorite off-road luxury vehicles of 2022.

Off-Road Vehicle Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

If rock crawling is your passion, you’ll need a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, which is perhaps the most capable 4×4 off-road vehicle on the market today. In our Ultimate Rankings, the Jeep Wrangler is our top pick for off-road SUVs. The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is the ultimate vehicle for tackling tricky rocks, slush, mud, and ruts that would rip most other cars apart.

It comes with a 4.0:1 low-range Rock-Trac transfer case, Dana 44s, Tru-Lok locking front and rear differentials, and an electronic-disconnect front anti-roll bar. Furthermore, the Rubicon has a plethora of aftermarket support, so the possibilities are endless when it comes to customizing it.

2022 Land Rover Defender

Because of its excellent overall ability, including more-than-capable off-road skills, the Land Rover Defender was recently resurrected in an all-new form and instantly won the 2021 MotorTrend SUV of the Year award.

Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 technology is standard on the Defender. It adjusts the throttle response, steering, stability control, four-wheel-drive, differential, and air suspension systems based on trail conditions. The Defender also includes auto-locking front and rear differentials, permanent four-wheel drive, and breakover and departure angles that are better than the Wrangler Rubicon’s.

2022 Lexus LX600

The newly updated Lexus LX600 is essentially a Lexus-badged version of the robust Toyota Land Cruiser (also a wonderful alternative but unavailable in the United States). Given its starting price of over $90,000, you’re unlikely to see many of its twins on the trail, which is a plus if you’re looking for something unique.

The 3.4-litre twin-turbo V-6 engine in the Lexus LX SUV produces 409 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. It comes with a locking center differential, a Torsen rear limited-slip differential, a two-speed transfer case, a rear anti-roll bar, downhill assist control, and more.

Hopefully, you have enjoyed this recap of the top off-road luxury vehicles of 2022. If you’re interested in any of these cars and are looking to sell your old one, consider selling online for a fast turnaround and an easy process.

Sports cars are exciting purchases because they feature showstopping designs and performance that you make you proud to drive them daily. That said, anyone planning this purchase should know a few helpful tips before making a final decision. Here are three essential things you should know before buying a sports car.

Habits and Preferences

Among the critical details to know about sports cars is that you should look for a model that meets your performance needs and preferences. For example, is the power of the engine up to your standards? Sports cars can pack a powerful punch on the road, but results will vary. Another performance detail to consider is how the car handles the road.

Will you drive the sports car frequently each day? Likewise, what kind of road conditions will the car endure on a regular basis? Ensuring you have a car that turns, brakes, and grips the road in a way that meets your preferences will ensure a smooth ride.

Beyond power and performance, don’t forget to consider aesthetic preferences. Sports cars come in many sleek, unique designs and color combinations, so don’t settle for something that you aren’t proud to own.

Post-Purchase Personalization

A sports car might look excellent on paper and perform admirably during test drives, but daily performance on the road is the true test. So, before buying a sports car, remember that aftermarket parts are available to further tailor the vehicle to your standards.

For instance, suspension upgrades provide drivers with an easy method of updating performance. Is the vehicle’s weight distribution during turns less than ideal? If so, lowering its center of gravity with the help of coilovers or lowering springs can help you improve weight distribution, resulting in a more comfortable ride. Of course, there are a few crucial things to know before lowering a car’s suspension, but it can have an excellent impact on handling with the right prep.

Fuel Type Options

One final thing you should know before buying a sports car is the type of fuel the vehicle uses. Don’t worry—sports cars that run on normal fuel exist. However, some models require premium gas. Generally, the sports cars that require premium gas are models with high compression engines.

This fuel type comes in handy because it prevents engine knocking, ensuring the driver can make the most out of the engine’s performance on the road. When talking to manufacturers, be sure you know whether the car can take premium fuel or needs it to prevent knocking. In doing so, you can buy a sports car with more clarity and, hopefully, have an ideal experience on day one.

Maintaining your car helps to keep it running well and avoid costly repairs. While you should always take your vehicle to a mechanic for significant work, there are many routine car maintenance tasks you can do yourself to save money.

Doing simple maintenance tasks on your own can be quick and easy. Plus, it’s a great way to get to know your car better and learn more about how it works.

These car maintenance tasks you can do yourself should be part of your regular car care routine.

Change Your Oil

One of the leading car maintenance tasks you can do is regularly change your oil. Over time, motor oil breaks down and gets dirty, losing its ability to lubricate and protect your engine.

Depending on your car’s make and model, you should change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or every three to six months—whichever comes first.

You’ll need fresh motor oil and a new oil filter to change your oil. You can buy these items at an auto parts store or your dealership. Once you have the supplies, follow these steps:

• Warm-up your engine for a few minutes to quickly help the oil flow.
• Place a drain pan under the oil drain plug at the bottom of your engine.
• Unscrew the oil drain plug and let the used oil drain into the pan.
• Screw the new oil filter onto the filter housing.
• Pour fresh motor oil into the engine, using the amount and type specified in your owner’s manual.
• Replace the oil fill cap and screw on the oil drain plug.

Replace Your Air Filter

Your car’s air filter keeps dirt and debris from entering the engine. A dirty air filter can cause your engine to run less efficiently, leading to engine damage.

You should check your air filter every 12,000 miles or 12 months. Go by whichever comes first. If it’s dirty, replace it with a new one.

You can buy an air filter at your local auto parts store, and most replacements are simple.

Sanding Your Car’s Paint

If you notice any scratches or chips in the paint, you should sand them down and repaint the area. You can do this simple car maintenance task yourself to keep your car’s paint looking new. To sand your car’s paint, you’ll need sandpaper, a sanding block, and touch-up paint.

There are lots of sanding tips and videos, but the process is simple:

• Wet the sandpaper with water to prevent scratches.
• Sand the area gently with the sandpaper until the scratch is gone.
• Apply touch-up paint to the sanded area and let it dry. Use a sanding block for bigger sizes.

These are just a few examples of car maintenance tasks you can do yourself. Learning how to do simple maintenance tasks on your own can save you time and money. Plus, it’s a great way to get to know your car better.