If you’re looking to upgrade your car, put in new systems and really give the car a full makeover, you may be on a winning hand, if you can manage your costs. Giving a car a full car service and really bringing it back to life can also be a great way of improving both performance and safety. The trick is not to go broke in the process. It’s one thing to have all these intentions, but paying for them can be a whole new ball game.
Car makeovers basics
A car makeover is really a full upgrade, “back to specifications” job with some extras thrown in. Everything is restored to best condition, and the car’s systems are overhauled and improved. This is always a good idea with older cars, many of which can deteriorate dangerously without some serious care and attention.
Best practice car upgrading requires realistic assessment of all issues:
- A body job- This is absolutely unavoidable to preserve the structural design context of the car’s assembly.
- Genuine or industry standard parts- Forget all about “like” parts or bits and pieces from the depths of someone’s garage. Verify the quality of every part you put in.
- Full suspension work and genuine or better shocks installed- This is mandatory, if you want the car to perform.
- Brakes- If the car gets upgraded, the brakes must be able to handle the “new” car’s performance and if you’ve got a grunt car, they’re dangerous unless give a full maintenance job.
- Steering- No alternative, and it has to be done from the ground up.
- Wheels- Authentic name brand wheels with proper balance and alignment.
- Transmission- Old transmissions can be real risks.
- Engine- This means taking it apart and making sure it’s in A1 condition.
- Service quality is critical- Always get the best technical support
Getting your makeover costed
This is absolutely vital- Before you spend a cent, get a good idea of realistic costs. This will take some time, and you can check out any issues with your local car repair people (real mechanics, not self-proclaimed “experts”) about parts, cost of work and issues with upgrading your particular model of car.
There are degrees of difficulty in this phase, but they pay off when you do your car makeover.
The facts are:
- Mainstream brand name cars are a lot easier to restore to top condition.
- Parts are easier to get for major brands
- Service people know these cars well
- Car collectors can source parts for you or help you find them, but it’s likely to cost a lot more
You can easily cost your car makeover using these basic facts. (This really is a sort of quoting system, based on advertised prices and service fees.) Do your research on specialist sites online, and look for prices to get a clear picture of your likely expenses upfront. Also look for any problems experienced by others, and use forums to get a rough guide of issues and fixes.
The only real criteria for success is a good roadworthy car which won’t get a blink out of your car insurance people. Do your car makeover properly, and you’ll have a real dream machine.
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