8 Small Car Tweaks That Make A Big Difference
A car is the second biggest purchase that you could make, so it makes sense that you would want to buy a model that suits your needs, looks good and lasts you for a few years. It takes some time to search for, try out an purchase the right car and most people who are knowledgeable about cars in general know this already. Car owners spend a lot of time with their vehicles, whether this is commuting to work, ferrying the kids to and fro various activities or generally heading out for a day trip. With all these small uses come wear and tear, which can make it ever more tempting to spend time shopping around for a newer, shinier car than you already have.
Keeping a paid-off older car can be incredibly cost effective, though. The shiny new car that has 0 mileage on the clock may be calling your name, but the car you have already got could easily keep running for a few more years. All it needs is a little love and attention to keep it roadworthy, so making small upgrades can help you to keep your older car a little longer. Not only is that a frugal choice, it’s a way to be really creative and shop around for some of the upgrades you may have seen on other cars and admired, but never had the chance to get for your own. Below, we’ve got 8 of those upgrades that can make a difference to make your older car feel just like new again.
Give It A Clean
Okay, so it’s simple, it’s easy and it’s not expensive, but cleaning your car inside and out can make such a difference to the way it feels to sit in it, that you’ll be getting into a car cleaning routine in no time at all. Every time that you get out of the car, make it a habit to get rid of empty bottles and rubbish. Every other week, splurge a little cash on a deep cleaning on the inside – or do it yourself with this video – and take it to a car wash for a proper brush and clean down. Do your wheels yourself with a toilet brush and soapy water, because wheels don’t get the same deep clean at the car wash as the rest of the car does.
Replace The Bed Liner
If you’re a fan of the pickup truck, you’ll know the importance of looking after your bed liner. Every once in a while, you need to repair or recoat the bed liner of the truck with products from Speedliner to make them more durable. Not only that, they look great! Your whole car can look older and worn out when the bed liner is cracked, ripped and peeling. Recovering the bed liner with the strongest coating material in the industry will change the way your pick up looks and it’s not an expensive solution, either.
Reupholster Your Seats
You may have bought the car years ago, and over time, your seats wear down. It’s not just where you sit, but if you ever put boxes or bags in the back these can snag and cause tears in the fabric or leather. Seats take a lot of abuse over the years, and it can give your car a refreshed look if you choose to get some seat covers or reupholster the entire interior. When it comes to leather, you can buy new leather seat covers, or you could choose to repair the leather and give it a clean, instead.
Repair Dents & Cover Scratches
There are a lot of creative ways to remove dents and scratches from the body of the car. You may have used some of them in the past yourself, such as the suction method or the hot glue method. Older cars that are still made from real metal, repairing the deep scratches can prevent the car from rusting in the future. If you haven’t got the funds to repair all the scratches on your car, you can buy scratch repair pens that can only fix the top layer of your car’s protective coat. They’re a good quick fix until you can get into the shop.
Maintenance Time!
After you’ve cleaned the whole car and reupholstered the seats, you need to think about the condition you car is in currently. You may not think that the interior health of your car makes a difference to the way that it looks, but it really does! Think about it: if you eat junk food, your skin, hair and eyes show it off. If your car doesn’t have fresh oil, fresh water and a fresh battery from time to time, it’s going to splutter and cough and generally take longer to work in the morning. It’s also going to be more susceptible to breaking down.
Upgrade The Music
This one is a little more costly but it can also seriously up the value of your vehicle. Sound systems in older cars may well be a little vintage, but you don’t have to break the bank for better sound quality. Replacing the speakers can make all the difference in the world.
Repaint The Exterior
A new paint job instantly gives your car a new look. The entire exterior of the car is what the world sees, and the quality of the paint that you use doesn’t have to be the most expensive out there. You can get a great paint job for a couple of thousand dollars, which can make your car feel brand new.
Change The Wheels
Car wheels are a funny thing, but everything down to the rims and the tread can change the way that your car looks. Older cars that are cheap come with older wheels that are also cheap. New wheels can be expensive but they’re an investment that’s worth it!
Your car deserves some attention, so take a moment and appreciate how much less you will spend on upgrades compared to a new car altogether!