There is always a moment in each car owner’s life when they have to consider changing the way their car looks and performs. Even if you’re one of those passionate gearheads who’s into sports cars and who takes very good care of them, time will most certainly affect how your car behaves or looks. Luckily, you can do so many things not only to keep your used car in optimal condition but also to restore some of its original shine.

Needless to say, regular maintenance is a must. Every modification is much more difficult and pricier if the car has been neglected for too long and that usually happens to car owners who don’t know how to look after their car properly. That’s why we’ve prepared the following tips to help you make your used car look and feel factory fresh.

Pay attention to the interior

Unfortunately, there are many people who don’t pay attention to the interior of their cars. Ironically, they are often ready to splash out on the exterior, believing that it’s the only thing that matters. They couldn’t be more wrong. Regardless of whether you’re upgrading your car to boost its resale value or to enjoy driving it for a few more years, the interior of your car makes a huge difference. Depending on your budget, you can change the entire interior, from changing the seat covers to the dashboard, everything can be changed to improve the look and functionality of your used car.

Get new tires

Another inexpensive way to boost both the appearance and performance of your car is to get new tires. You could also change the wheel caps for even better results. However, you need to be sure you get the right size and type of tires for your car, which means you have to strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding tires. Don’t trust anyone who tells you that you can install some tires that are not listed as an option in the manual. Also, make sure you get the best possible tires you can afford since they’ll last longer and provide greater safety.

Don’t overlook suspension problems

Though not visible from the outside, suspension can really change the way your car performs, which is probably the most important thing. Replacing your old suspension will make your used car handling much better and easier. The suspension can also be optimized for the way you drive your car. The good thing is that it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to make this improvement without jeopardizing safety.

There are excellent aftermarket car parts you can buy that provide the same performance as the original ones but are less expensive. Still, you need to be careful when buying such parts and look for trustworthy and reliable sellers, since you can easily be tricked into buying a product that costs much less than the original one, but which doesn’t come close when it comes to its quality.

Give your old used car a paint job

One of the most obvious tips is to give your old car a paint job to make it look fresh and new. However, this is a very tricky job, which should be done by professionals only. Another disadvantage is that it will cost a lot, but if the paint on your car has faded or is damaged, this might be the only option you have.

Install beautiful neon lights

Many modern cars now feature neon lights, which lift up the entire look of your car and make it look stunning. Neon lights are now making a great comeback and more and more people are installing them in their cars. However, you have to make sure your state laws allow them, since some states have a complete ban on neon lights, while others allow them provided they don’t impersonate a police car. Apart from neon lights, you might want to consider fog lights, rally lights and other supplemental lighting modifications to make your car look new.

These are just some of the modifications you can make that will surely change the look and boost the performance of your used car. As we’ve said, investing in your car makes sense regardless of whether you’re planning to sell it or keep using it until you finally decide to replace it. Such modifications are definitely cheaper than buying a new car, but they’ll make your used car look and feel as good as new.

Luckily, there are now more options than ever and you can really find those you can afford without any problems. Just make sure you check your state laws to find out that the modifications you’re planning to make are legal and opt only for professionals to perform the works. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting your money and won’t get the result you’re after.

By Mike Johnston