I’m a Car Expert: 5 Car Upgrades That Aren’t Worth the Money
Written by
Josephine Nesbit
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Jenna Klaverweiden
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Car upgrades can help boost your vehicle’s horsepower, fuel efficiency and comfort — but not all are worth the money.
“I always tell people: hang on to upgrades that add safety, reliability or resale,” explained Alex Black, chief marketing officer of EpicVIN and an auto industry expert with over 15 years of experience. “Skip the bells and whistles if you don’t want to pay more down the line.”
According to experts, here are five car upgrades that aren’t worth the extra cash.
Rims
Upgrading your car’s rims can sometimes improve its performance, but that’s not always the case.
“Aftermarket rims can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 per set. But the cost doesn’t stop there,” Melanie Musson, an auto industry expert with InsuranceProviders.com, wrote in an email. “Big rims require upgraded tires, which cost more than the tires your vehicle was manufactured for by $1,000 to $2,500 per set. With big rims and shallow tires, you can expect a rougher ride and lower efficiency.”
Oversized Wheels and Low-Profile Tires
Oversized wheels and low-profile tires are more of an aesthetic upgrade, but Black pointed out that they can negatively affect ride quality, gas mileage and tire life.
“A 20-22 inch wheel set will cost you $1,500 to $3,000, and new tires to replace those are not cheap — you’re looking at $1,000-plus per occurrence,” he said. “And you’ll likely have bent wheels or blown tires more often.”
Exhaust
Adding an aftermarket exhaust system can allow your car to “breathe” better, but it will cost thousands of dollars, and it can often cause more irritating and costly problems, according to Musson.
“The noise levels can lead to issues with your neighbors and can even escalate to legal problems, resulting in fines,” Musson explained. Aftermarket exhaust systems can also reduce the efficiency of your vehicle and void your warranty. “A voided warranty might cost you nothing, but if you end up with costly problems, it could cost you thousands of dollars,” she said.
Infotainment Upgrades
Infotainment systems are a common feature in new vehicles, but it’s not recommended to upgrade if your car doesn’t have one originally.
“If your car didn’t come with a cool screen or Apple CarPlay, adding it later usually means a $1,000-plus aftermarket system that never works as well,” Black explained. “And, installation can compromise factory wiring, and some dealerships won’t work on the vehicle after that.”
Aftermarket Performance Chips
An aftermarket performance chip, or “tune box,” is designed to modify a vehicle’s engine control unit, but it could potentially lead to excess wear and costly damage.
“Others vow to get better mileage or horsepower, but typically wreak havoc with your engine’s original parameters,” Black explained. “You might save a little gas in the short term but in the long term, will ruin your transmission or void your warranty. A repair can cost several thousand dollars.”
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