How to Customize Your Car

When you buy a vehicle, whether it's a brand-new model or a new-to-you used car, it's an exciting experience. As you drive away after making the purchase, you may find that certain elements of the car don't quite align with your driving style. Luckily, you don't have to turn around and return the vehicle. Instead, you can customize your new ride to fit with your style and accommodate your needs and desires.

?Learn more about customizing your car here, and then get help from Kings Toyota in Cincinnati. We carry a wide selection of OEM and aftermarket parts, personalization components designed to improve the appearance and functionality of your vehicle, and customized special edition vehicles exclusive to our Cincinnati Toyota dealership!

Audio Enhancements

Unless you invest in a high trim level, your vehicle may come with an audio system that doesn't quite fit with what you want. The standard audio systems in most automobiles don't deliver high-quality sound. If your vehicle is a few years old, it may not have the connections needed to stream your favorite playlists or catch up on your podcasts as you drive. Audio enhancements are excellent upgrades to make to your vehicle, as they nearly always increase the value. You can replace the sound system with a better unit or connect upgraded speakers to improve the sound quality.

If you frequently drive with kids in the backseat, adding a rear entertainment system can be a significant and worthwhile upgrade as well. It's not too costly to add one or two screens to the backs of the front seats, along with a DVD or Blu-ray player that can run off the power source available in the car. When you're taking long trips or even running to soccer practice in traffic, helping your kids stay entertained can benefit everyone in the car.

Upgraded Tires and Wheels

Upgrading your tires or wheels can benefit both the appearance and performance of the vehicle. A new set of tires can help you maintain better control over your ride, especially if you're adding performance tires or those designed for specific driving styles. If you enjoy taking your car on the racetrack, racing tires are a must. 

You could even consider a set of winter tires if you want to improve the safety of your vehicle when driving on snowy or slick roads. Tires also come in different colors and styles, so you could add a set of whitewall tires to give your vehicle a unique and retro look.

A wheel upgrade is more about the appearance and customization of your vehicle, and it's one that can help the car stand out. If you want larger wheels, be sure to choose lower-profile tires to accommodate the size change. Before you drive on larger wheels, be sure to have the vehicle's speedometer calibrated to avoid acceleration and speed tracking problems. Wheels also come in a number of styles and finishes, so you can get chrome, aluminum, painted, and even spoked options. 

Window Tinting

Tinting the windows of your vehicle is another customization option that can provide a number of benefits. Many automakers provide some level of tint when manufacturing vehicles, but your glass may not have the level of shade that you want. Before investing in window tinting, make sure to check the legal requirements in your state. Most states will only allow drivers to tint their windows to a certain percentage and may restrict which windows can be tinted. 

Window ting comes in various darkness percentages and color options. The percentage is the amount of visible light that can come through the surface of the glass. You can even choose reflective window tint if it's legal in your state. Darkened windows can make your vehicle look sleek while also preventing prying eyes from peering through the glass to see what's inside the cabin.

Exterior Modifications

The exterior of your vehicle is what people will see when you roll up, so modifying the outside can turn a few heads. A body kit can make the car appear to sit lower to the ground, so it's an appealing addition to a sporty model. It's best to steer clear of anything too drastic, as major exterior modifications can actually make your car stick out, but not necessarily in a good way. Consider upgrades that look sleek, such as a fresh coat of paint in an eye-catching color or racing stripes on a muscle or sports car. 

Another exterior upgrade that can impact the sound of your vehicle is a custom exhaust. The exhaust system is connected to the engine and allows for the release of certain byproducts of the combustion process. A custom exhaust can alter the appearance of your car while also changing the way your engine sounds as you accelerate. You can modify this component as much or as little as you want, whether you're considering a simple exhaust tip change or you want to change the entire muffler.

Performance Upgrades

If you want to change the way your car drives, customizations that impact the performance will be the most beneficial for you. A modification for performance can be minimal, such as replacing the tip on an exhaust pipe, or can involve a full overhaul of what's beneath the hood of the car. Most drivers want to boost the horsepower of their vehicles when making performance changes, allowing them to achieve higher top speeds or accelerate faster.

Before you go down the road of performance upgrades, make sure to set a budget. It's easy to spend a fortune on various components that impact the way your vehicle performs. You should also leave these modifications to an experienced mechanic who will use high-quality parts and make sure to put the components back together properly. Even a small mistake in a performance modification job could impact the safety of your ride.

Learn More About Customizing Your Car in Cincinnati

At Kings Toyota, we can help you customize your car to align with your style and help you feel proud when you drive down the street. Contact us online or call us at (513) 683-5440 to learn more, or visit our location to find out what we can do to take your ride to the next level.