Car mods begin when someone looks at their stock-standard car and thinks, “This needs more.” Yet car mods can be expensive, time-consuming, and can even compromise your insurance. So why on earth do so many people still modify their cars and obsess over the next upgrade?
Let’s look at the pros, the cons, and the motivations that drive people to adapt their vehicles.
First, what exactly are car mods?
Car modifications include anything that can make a car brighter, louder, faster, comfier, smoother or cooler – and sometimes a combo of these. And the ways you can modify a car range from basic additions to the barely recognisable.
There are the entry-level car mods.
This is the beginner group. Think fluffy dice, bumper stickers, custom licence plate bolts, and novelty tyre valve caps.
These changes are usually temporary and removable. Just be aware that entry-level upgrades can be the gateway to more extensive car mods.
There are cosmetic car mods.
Fancy LED lighting is a big one in this category. So are window tints, spinning wheel rims, vinyl wraps, and custom paint jobs. We’d argue that bigger exhausts are as much for the eye as for the ear too, so they half belong in this group.
Then there are the comfort-driven car mods.
This category can include upgrades to car seats, sound systems, soundproofing and suspension. All the stuff that makes that ride smoother and more of an experience.
There’s the performance-driven.
Performance is of course a big driver for many car enthusiasts. Engine tunes promise to unlock hidden horsepower, while tyres, brake kits and pedals also get upgraded.
Even spoilers, roof fins and wide-body kits can technically go in this category – though whether they fit in the cosmetic category instead is a discussion we’ll leave to the #CarMods forums…
And then there’s the unhinged.
This category includes putting epic sound systems in a clunker of a car, and engine swapping to put a V8 engine into a micro body. See also: adding patina and rust effects to luxury cars.
Are we against these insane mods? Heck no. The crazier the better, as long as they don’t hurt anyone. Things don’t need to make sense to be awesome. Which leads us to:
The pros of car mods
As well as the potential for improved looks, performance and comfort, there are three other big advantages that add to the appeal of car mods:
The personalisation
Who wants to be the same as everyone else? There’s a deep satisfaction in driving something that’s uniquely yours and expresses who you are, whether that’s a lover of sophistication or of neon yellow vinyl wrap.
The learning
There’s a lot we can all learn from working on our cars. Hopefully that learning isn’t through expensive trial and error, but rather through hours of careful research and learning from those who have already created modified masterpieces.
The community
Between online forums and car meets, there’s an undeniable community of car lovers who also say enough is never enough. Newbie car modders can learn from those who have bravely modified before, and there’s always someone who understands why that new exhaust system takes priority over groceries.
On the other side of the coin, there are of course:
The potential cons and risks of car mods
As we touched on earlier, there are a few clear downsides to keep in mind before taking on a major car mod project.
The cost
Car mods can be a slippery slope, and before you know it you might have sunk the cost of another small car into your daily driver. By the time you’re spending with the big guns, you potentially could have just bought a better car for the same money.
The warranties and insurance worries
When you mess with a stock car that’s been thoughtfully engineered, you could be messing with that car’s safety, performance or reliability. That’s why manufacturers and insurers are both a little wary of car mods. Modifications can sometimes void or affect the vehicle's warranty, and make it more difficult to insure. Some significant mods can also be straight-up illegal, such as extra-dark tints and super-loud exhaust systems.
The impact on buying and selling
Buying a modified car is a little like buying a house that someone else renovated – you never know quite what’s under the surface. Car mods don’t always add market value, and some owners will even revert their mods before selling. When buying, most people look for second-hand cars that are as close to brand-new factory condition as possible. In fact here at Carma we don’t even consider buying modified used cars, because we’re all about selling high-quality cars with full transparency
about service histories and condition.
So if you’re planning major mods, just consider your long-term selling plans before you make any irreversible changes.
The verdict on car mods: worth it or not?
The fact of the matter is that people modify their cars simply because they love doing it. There’s a joy in driving something that reflects us and is shaped to our preferences.
Some car mods are logical, and others are less so, but there’s an undeniable appeal in optimising and personalising. Just be sure to weigh up those pros and cons before you take the dive.
And if you ever do feel like a swish car upgrade without all those pricey aftermarket purchases, there’s always Carma.
