Written by Menswear Style in Cars on the 19th March 2019

The car modification market is expanding day by day. Thanks to movies like The Fast and the Furious and TV shows like Pimp My Ride, many car enthusiasts are looking for ways to improve their cars’ overall performance and cosmetic appeal. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to make your car look better and go faster. This includes changing the standard car manufacturer setting and installing aftermarket car parts. Here, we list some top modifications for your street car. But before we delve into that, it’s important to note that not all mods are equal and different accessories will have different impacts on your car. So, make sure to compare parts and find the right ones for your car. Here are the best car mods that offer the best bang for your buck:

1. Low Profile Tyres 

Almost every automotive enthusiast knows that tyres are one of the easiest and most effective ways to make a car perform better. A good set of high-performance tyres can upgrade every single aspect of your car’s performance from acceleration and speed to braking, handling, and cornering. If you live in areas with prolonged winter weather, consider having two sets of wheels – one for the winter and one for the summer, each with tyre compounds optimised to their respective temperature ranges.

2. Install A Short Throw Shifter 

This modification is most common amongst folks with manual transmission cars. A short shifter may look like a miniature version of the standard gear stick, but it’s the changes which you cannot see that improve your shifting and give your car quicker shifts. A short shifter reduces the angle that the shifter shaft travels during its stroke between gears. Consequently, it reduces the distance your hand needs to move to engage the next gear, resulting in improved performance. When fitting a short throw shifter in a four-drive car, you may need to change the length of the lever in the console or the bell-crank on the transmission. For rear-drive cars, it will involve changing the shifter assembly underneath the centre console. 

3. Get an ECU Remap 

If you want to unlock all sorts of engine performance and get better gas mileage, an ECU remap may just be what your car needs. The nice thing about this mod is that it is simple – all you have to do is leave your car at an auto repair shop where the technicians will reprogram the ECU software to optimize the car’s overall performance. You don’t have to purchase any aftermarket car part. Additionally, the process is reversible if you want to return your car to default settings. You can also have your car remapped for better fuel economy, but this will depend on your driving style and personal requirements. It’s important to note that fuel economy gains are more noticeable on turbo diesel engines. Petrol engines may not benefit from mapping, but some car owners report slight improvements (never a loss).

4. Upgrade with An Aftermarket Performance Exhaust 

We all know that factory exhaust systems on cars muffle sound, meaning they create backpressure which restricts the flow of exhaust gases out of the engine. While some engines require some backpressure to operate efficiently, it robs power. But there’s an easy fix – upgrading to a less-restrictive aftermarket exhaust. An aftermarket exhaust provides a quicker and more efficient path for exhaust gases to escape. So, the better the engine breathes, the faster the fuel/air mixture exits the combustion chambers. This allows more fuel/air mixture to be burned creating more power. In addition to increasing power output, installing an aftermarket exhaust system can make your car sound a lot better. 

5. Fit an Adjustable Anti-Roll Bar 

Installing adjustable anti-roll bars/sway bar is a great way to reduce the body roll of a vehicle and the impact that it has on the driver. Body roll is the leaning sensation you get during fast cornering or over road irregularities. Most sway bars are easy to fit, and you can tinker with their settings until you’re satisfied with how your car feels.

6. Install A Short Ram Intake 

A short ram intake is a cheaper version of the popular, cold air intake. Both are designed to replace your OEM air intake with a smooth pipe and a conical air filter inside the engine bay. This device enhances intake pressure hence improving your car’s performance. A short ram intake is easier to install, and most car enthusiasts prefer it as it is louder when you’re heavy on throttle. We can go on in another column but if you want to get the most out of your car, start with these six mods. Just think about what you’d like to change about your car and how those car modifications will affect your car then modify as you want.

We list Low Profile Tyres, Short Throw Shifter, ECU Remap, and Aftermarket Performance Exhaust in this guide to 6 Car Mods That Will Turn Heads.