Car modification has been popular since the invention of the car itself, and represents an entire subculture – most famously represented by the Fast and Furious movie franchise.
It is not difficult to understand why car modification is so popular. If you are passionate about automobiles, it allows you to get hands on and make a noticeable difference to your car. Furthermore, if you have bought a car that you enjoy but that you believe can be improved – whether aesthetically or mechanically – then changing it to your specifications may well improve your ownership experience.
Despite the obvious benefits of this, modifying your car does come with some clear downsides. It is important to weigh up the benefits and these downsides in order to decide whether car modification is right for you.
Here are the pros and cons of modifying your car:
The pros:
It can make your car more special to you
One of the most common reasons why people modify their car in some way is to make it more unique and special to them. This could be as simple as cool number plates or as major as a body kit or suspension change that you have fitted yourself.
You can improve the performance and usability of your car
Another major reason why car modification is popular is because it allows you to increase the performance and usability of your vehicle.
Perhaps you want to remap the engine to unlock more power, change the set-up of the suspension to make the car more responsive in corners, or fit a specialist exhaust to improve performance and increase the engine note.
The cons:
It can be expensive
Although there are numerous compelling benefits for modifying your car, there are also a number of potential downsides to consider.
An inherent drawback of car modification is that it can often prove expensive. Car parts aren’t cheap, and if you embark on a project, dismantle your car and then run out of money, you might be unable to use the car until you find more money.
This is why it is important to save up the necessary money before you start the project, in order to ensure you can see the project to its end.
There is no guarantee your car will be improvedÂ
Furthermore, another drawback of car modification is that there is no guarantee that your car will be any better after you have finished the project.
When you are passionate about improving your car, it can be tempting to swap parts out for different ones, change the colour, or even fit a new engine. However, there is a reason why the original manufacturer designed the car the way they did, so amateur changes rarely make it a better all-round vehicle.
You may have issues with insurance and resale values
Another consideration you should make before modifying your car is how it might affect your insurance and the resale value.
While you may appreciate the changes, increasing the performance or fitting more sporting parts may classify it in a higher insurance bracket, while potential buyers may not appreciate the changes you have made.
