Upgrades That Will Make Your Used Car Cool

When it comes to guys and their vehicles, what’s cool for one might not be cool for another. While a young teen who has just purchased his first set of wheels might think his decade-old pickup truck is the coolest thing ever, another guy might think his Bug, BMW or Bentley is the coolest thing on the road.

In other words, as Opposite Lock notes, what helps to make a car cool varies widely from person to person. A lot of it has to do with the attitude of the driver. Having said that, it is possible to modify vehicles to boost their overall coolness factor. So once you’ve researched what kind of car you can afford on a site like Kelley Blue Book, you can decide what kind of accessories you can buy. Consider the following:

Get a Killer Stereo

Upgrading the stereo in your car can really make a difference in its coolness rating, claims Ask Men. When you think about how much time you spend in your car, it only makes sense to have a fantastic audio system. Plus, it’s a great way to show off to your friends with your booming bass. Sonic Electronix sells the JBL MS-8 for $469.99, which will improve the acoustics and allow you to calibrate the sound in just 10 minutes.

Switch to Ceramic Brakes

Sometimes what helps to make a vehicle cool isn’t visible. A great example of this is ceramic brake pads. In addition to handling higher temperatures with ease, they also tend to be quieter and last longer because there is less wear and tear on the pads and rotors. A safe car is a cool car, so it’s worth visiting a retailer like Napa Online to check out their selection of ceramic brake pads, which sell for about $123 each.

Add More Power

This improvement has been popular for years among hot rod fans, and showing off your powerful engine definitely adds to your cool factor. You can even do this work yourself; lots of guys have upgraded their number of horses from the comfort of their own garage. You need at least a solid sense of mechanics, but it’s possible to upgrade your engine size by yourself. If you need some help, Flyin Miata offers tips on how to get a Chevy V9 motor into the much smaller Miata. The parts and accessories can be expensive, so make sure you know what you’re doing before buying anything.

Short-Throw Shifter

For some drivers, car coolness is equated with how easy it is to drive and maneuver the vehicle. If your car has a manual shifter, you can boost your driving efficiency and wow factor by upgrading to a short-throw shifter. These are often used in racing and will give you a smooth shift between gears, allowing you to drive faster and get more power. TWM Performance sells short shifters for a variety of cars including one for an Acura for about $150.