1. Clean it up: We all know that a new car is always tidy, shiny and the smell that comes out of it is very soothing. You could use some cheap air-freshener to have that aroma back in your old car. However, as long as the new look is concerned, you need to scrub it up from top to bottom. According to Popular Mechanics Magazine, the steps should involve washing the carpet and upholstery with shampoo, vacuuming the seat cushions and floor. If you have proper stuffs to clean, you could also wash many of the engine parts including the battery connections. Once done, wash and wax the exteriors. Washing your car on regular basis will not only make your car shine, but also help get rid of the dirt and other elements from that road that damages the paint.
2. Remove dents and scratches: If you inspect carefully, you will come across many dents and scratches that are not seen with regular gazes. According to Consumer Reports, just by using a diy dent removal kit you may be able to skip paying a dent removal shop. For as little as $20, you can purchase these tools online. However, keep in mind that the smaller the dent is, the difficult it is to fix. According to The National Alliance of Paintless Dent Repair Technicians (NAPDRT), minor dents and scratches caused due to hail storms can be fixed by two methods: paintless dent removal or the regular body shop repair method. Again, scratches in your car’s body make your vehicle look aged and worn. You can hide this just by apply some touch up paint.
3. Make use of the cigarette lighter as power source: Whenever you scale protracted miles or get struck in traffic, most of the time your mobile’s battery gets drained. To avoid this, Popular Mechanics suggests adding a power source through your cigarette lighter. There are many unites available in the market that you can plug in to the cigarette lighter socket and charge different electronic devices using the usb plug.
4. Upgrade your sound system: If your vehicle is 5-7 years old or more than that, probably you are using a backdated sound system. Getting a new radio unit that integrates with mobile devices or satellite radio and has bluetooth capabilities can work as a refresher for your car. Moreover, it’ll cost less than $100 online.
5. Docking stations for electronics: Many of us use electronic devices during driving, though it’s not practical, safe, or even legal. However, while driving, you have to have your phone’s navigation system in clear view all the time. If your car is a bit older, plausibly there would be no fancy big-screen navigation system in the dashboard. However, you can purchase a mount for your GPS-enabled phone for just $10. There are other addons too like a center console or a cupholder.
These diy updates and improvements will certainly not make your car anew again but help you continue with that for sometime. If you know how to improve your car with functional upgrades, you’d be having an all new vehicle without spending a fortune.