I’m a petrolhead – six trends loved by drivers which make your motor look tacky… just don’t do it
Modifying your car is more popular than ever — but driver are warned of six trends that will make your engine look cheesy.
Sales of parts to make vehicles faster and flashier have exploded in the UK.
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Car modifications allow motorists to change the look and performance of their vehicles.
Brits can upgrade their cars with exterior accessories, window tints, custom hood ornaments and other cosmetic enhancements.
Drivers can also improve the performance of their vehicles by modifying the brakes, engine, exhaust systems, suspension, steering, and filtering.
But there are big no-nos when it comes to specific modifications.
FAKE ACHIEVEMENT BADGES
We’ve all seen them – putting an R badge on a TDI Golf or an RS badge on an A4 TDI.
Mercedes-Benz has the AMG division and Audi has the RS division.
Putting a plaque on a car that wasn’t there when it left the factory is commonly known as a fake plaque.
Motorists try to pretend that their car is faster and more expensive than it actually is.
ROTATING WHEELS
Spinning wheels have rim attachments that continue to rotate even when the wheel is stationary.
The optical effect is forbidden in Germany because it can irritate or endanger other road users.
Adhesive bits
So many cars now have fake air vents and scoops on the hood that everyone thinks they’re awful.
Air intakes in the hood direct air into the engine compartment, either to an intercooler for the turbo or to the air intake system itself.
However, cheap imitations are also available on the market.
A COLUMN ADVERTISEMENTS
When some motorheads modify their cars with a ridiculous array of gauges mounted on the car’s A-pillar, that’s overkill.
You don’t need an exhaust gas temp gauge, fuel pressure gauge, or air-fuel ratio gauge.
SCISSOR DOORS
Scissor doors (or LSD doors) are an impressive type of door that pivot vertically and slightly forward on a front hinge, much like a pair of scissors open.
These doors may also be referred to as “Lambo doors” as the door style is commonly found on Lamborghini models.
WRONG ENGINE NOISE
Everyone loves the sound of a Ferrari or Mustang, but some gearboxes use mods to create fake engine sounds.