The Shabana Motors Auto Blog - Expert Tips On Cars & Credit

Pimpin’ Your Ride on a Budget

Written by Cory Lowe | Fri, Jun 13, 2014 @ 12:00 PM

Customized upgraded features and accessories can help your car reflect your personal style and taste, no matter how standard the car model is. Installing new pimped out features to your car can get pricey, but you don’t need to break the bank in order to add some flare to your ride. Start with smaller, more affordable, details that will enhance your car’s style on a budget. 

Seat Covers

One of the most affordable, easy and effective ways to customize your car’s interior is with seat covers. Old, worn out, or out of style seat upholstery can be quickly transformed by placing seat covers over the offending material. Big box discount stores and automotive retailers sell basic seat covers starting at around $30. If you, or someone you know, is handy with a needle and thread you can sew accent fabric, patches, or monograms onto the back of the headrest covers.

Interior Lights

Another inexpensive way to customize the interior of your car is by adding accent lights in a few key places. Colored light accents can be purchased in flexible LED strings that can be installed around the trim of the interior, such as along the dashboard or around the stereo face-plate. You can also purchase durable neon tube lights that are easily installed beneath the seats for a more subtle lighting effect.

Exterior Decals

Be very careful choosing decals for your car’s exterior that fit your budget. It is possible to find decals that are relatively durable, easy to put on your car and look cool without spending professional prices. However, discount decals should be researched and considered carefully so you can avoid spending your hard earning money on a dramatically inferior product. Make sure the decal won’t look like a cheap paint-destroying sticker. Instead make sure your decals show off the slick fashion statement you intended.

Body Kit

Most car owners on a budget assume a body kit is too expensive to consider while they work on smaller customization details. However, the most costly aspect of a custom body kit is the professional installation that comes with the higher end options. A do-it-yourself body kit for your car will completely change the look of your ride, and can be bought and installed for under $300. Work slowly and pay attention to both the instructions included and any online how-to help you can find.

Steering Wheel

Similar to adding personal style to your car’s seat covers, a personalized steering wheel cover adds instant customization to your car’s interior. Not only will a steering wheel cover look cool, it also makes your steering wheel more comfortable on your hands in both extreme high and low temperatures. Remember that not every steering wheel is shaped the same, and covers will indicate the makes and models on which they fit.

You don’t need to pay rock star prices while pimping out a boring car. Start small and do as much installation work as you can on your own in order to customize your car on a budget.

*Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net