European Cars Modification

In the history of Indian car industry, car tuning had no place. As and when new cars started approaching the domestic market, innovative and advanced processes also entered the industry. Car tuning was one of those processes that helped car owners and drivers to zing their cars withy plenty of innovations and customized car accessories.

Car tuning is the best way to improve the look and performance of any car. Most of the people do tuning at regular intervals because cars reflect the owner’s personality and characteristics.

The first approach towards car tuning is to improve the appeal and aesthetics. Tuning of car exterior and interior is something very interesting and is done with open options and choices.

Nowadays, varieties of car accessories are available in the market for customization and personalization. Some of the (more…)

Our cars are not just a vehicle anymore; they’re expressions of our personalities. This has brought about prestige on certain badges and models, sometimes even down to details such as the colour of your car. This is obvious from the rise of enthusiast clubs for cars such as Subaru drivers, Mini owners and many, many more.

In order to keep up in the fashion show happening on our roads some drivers have expressed their individualism and made changes to their run of the mill vehicles. These changes can be subtle ones such as a new set of alloy wheels through to extreme changes such as redesigned body kits or enormous spoilers strapped to the back of their cars.

With films like the Fast and the Furious and video games like Need For Speed glamorising this subculture of modifying cars and whilst most people in the UK have limited their changes to strictly cosmetic elements, there are some people who illegally modify the ECU (Electronic Control System) of their engines to get a performance boost. Others add items such as induction kits and turbo superchargers all manner of parts and gadgets that get the petrol head’s blood flowing. (more…)

A driver’s first car is normally not the prettiest; you have just passed your test and now start looking for a car on the market. If you have passed when you first turn 17 you are unlikely to have a big budget to help you purchase your first car (unless your parents are feeling generous!). This means looking for second hand cars that fit within your budget. Don’t forget to leave some money spare though because your insurance is going to be quite high as well as running costs such as petrol and the dreaded MOT.

As you get older and start leave university and find your first job you may be able to afford a newer car. A car that you are proud to have and maybe even a brand new car, this is certainly a possibility as there are many different finance deals that are available. It is worth pointing out though, that certain cars may give you a bit of a reputation. Cars with modifications may seem like a good idea but in the long run may end up costing you more in insurance. (more…)

Everyone is talking about alloy wheels these days. It is the hottest accessory on a car be it a small car or luxury cars. Alloy wheels are the preferred decoration on a car for modification enthusiasts. All wheel technology has allowed hot rodders and muscle car enthusiasts to be encouraged to aspire for greater speeds. It has inspired a new generation of performance savvy- car drivers. Why are alloy wheels such a craze now!

Apart from their lightweight, alloy wheels improve steering and speed of car. They come with an endless choice of design too. They can be fit on any car, pick-truck or an SUV. Let us look into what is an alloy wheel.

The alloy wheels are formed or either aluminum or magnesium or sometime both the metals. The term alloy means the process of combining other raw materials to a specification to achieve a performance metal. Alloy wheels are better heat conductors than steel wheels, which helps improve heat dissipation from the brakes and helps reduce chances for brake failure in tough driving conditions.

Alloy wheels made of magnesium were popularized in 1960’s, however they were prone to flammability and offered poor corrosive resistance. That is when wheel manufacturers shifted to the more stable aluminum. Just like the steel wheels, alloys are formed by either casting or forging mechanism.

Advantages of alloy versus steel wheels

Steel wheel are standard type wheels sold in high volumes. Alloys offer exclusivity.

Steel wheels have limitation during high performance driving. Alloys offer better stability and strength during high performance driving.

The total weight of the wheels, tires, suspension and drivetrain equipments contribute to the  weight of the car. This affects ride quality and traction during high speed driving. Since alloy wheel weight one third of steel wheels, they help reduced weight. They help improve acceleration, traction, and braking due to reduced weight. The unintentional but a definite advantage is that fuel economy increases. (more…)

Whether you are an old hand at customizing your ride or you are just getting started, there are plenty of things to work with in every conceivable price category. On a larger scale you can get a complete body kit, bolt-on Lambo Door Kit or you can start out small like mose folks and build your way up starting with some small and easy modifications.
If this is your first shot at tricking out your vehicle, here is a partial list of some easy, inexpensive ways to get started. This way you can start out one accessory at a time, and with a proper plan you can modify your car without making it look like you are just addind a piece at a time. This way you can save money in between modifications.

If you are still riding around with your original hub caps (or without some of them), one of the quickest and least expensive ways to clean up the look of your car, truck or SUV is to get some new hubcaps or wheel covers. If you have the dough and they are available for your car, wheel simulators are a great place to start and can make all the difference. Youll need to know your tire size (its printed on the outside of your tire), an you can take your pick from a huge selection thats available online. Chrome hubcaps keep their shine and draw attention to those nice Armor-All dressed tires that you have. (more…)

Modified Cars versus Insurance Costs

If you are planning on making any modifications to your car, no matter how minor, then you could possibly increase the price of your insurance premium.

What do insurance companies consider to be a modification?

Insurance companies will deem a car to be modified if anything has been added that alters its original factory configuration. So, anything that you add, be it alloy wheels, body kit, tinted windows etc. will mean that your car is no longer considered a standard model. Also, any modifications to the engine, suspension, exhaust system etc. are changes that will increase performance. These will definitely increase your premiums.

Some car insurance companies don’t insure modified cars, as they see them as too much of a risk. So if you have a heavily modified vehicle you may have to seek out a specialist insurance company. (more…)

Car modifications are becoming increasingly popular, especially with younger drivers. It is a well known fact that under 21’s struggle to get low prices on their car insurance as it is, but by making a modification to their car, they could see their premium increase by 139%.

Modifications can take place in many forms, for example, engine backing (which allows the engine to run at higher speeds), adding a turbo or even adding (more…)