How can you get the greatest increase in performance while spending the least? These performance mods give you the most bang for your buck.
Upgrading the performance of your car can be a lot of fun. Its great to know you’ve added something that makes your car stand out from the crowd, giving it the look and feel that you desire. You can take a basic car and make it a lot of fun, but many drivers add a little here or there as their budgets allow.
These performance mods will give you the added performance you want and won’t break the bank.
Performance Air Filter
Bringing more clean air into the engine is a surefire way to increase your car’s power output, and a performance air filter is one of the cheapest upgrades you can make to your vehicle. There are several to choose from, but the standard air filter won’t get the job done. Those basic filters are made of paper and restrict airflow, causing your vehicle to have much less power than you might like. Performance air filters are made of more expensive materials, such as oiled foam or cotton, and can last a lifetime if you clean them periodically. This means you won’t have to buy another air filter and can improve your car’s performance with more breathable materials used in the performance air filter.
Lowering Springs
If you want to show off at a track day, you’ll eventually need to make a turn. One of the best performance mods you can add that will help you handle those corners on the track is a set of lowering springs. These springs are stiffer than the stock springs on your vehicle, but they will reduce body roll through the corners, which means you can hold the corner at higher speeds. Lowering springs also hold compression during weight transfer, making your hard acceleration and braking smoother. Some of these springs are progressively wound, which means your suspension will be softer when you’re not pushing the car hard. This means you can still have a comfortable ride on the roads.
Forged Wheels
Most drivers add forged or alloy wheels due to their increased visual appeal compared to the stock wheels that came on the car, but these wheels can have an additional benefit. If you add a set of forged wheels, you can enjoy wheels that are lighter and stronger than regular wheels. This means your car can be quicker and more nimble on the track. The forging process strengthens the metal and makes it more resistant to fatigue, which can be extremely important when you like to push your car hard. In addition to these wheels, choose the right tires for your performance needs.
ECU Upgrades
Modern vehicles utilize several computers and electronic systems to perform optimally. One of the most impactful performance mods you can make that will easily give you the most bang for your buck is making changes to the ECU. Simple programming changes can provide increased power of up to 20% and torque improvements of 25% or more. The standard ECU settings are made to safeguard the engine against drivers who ignore service intervals or use substandard fuel. If you remap your ECU, you’ll need to stay vigilant in terms of maintenance and proper fuel and fluids, especially when you take the car to the track. Strangely, some ECU remaps can boost the fuel economy figures in some cars.
Intercoolers
When it comes to adding performance to the engine, more cold air is one of the best ways to get the most power out of your car. Cold air is denser than hot air, and this means better and stronger compression in the chamber. Some modern cars with forced induction have an intercooler, but they tend to be extremely small or fitted in inefficient locations. Adding a larger model with a better location makes a huge difference in how your engine breathes and its ability to give you more power. The best performance combination is a larger intercooler, and an ECU remap. This will give you the best chance of squeezing the desired power out of your engine.
These five performance mods are relatively affordable and will improve your car’s power and performance on and off the track. Some are meant to improve handling, making it easier for you to carve up the corners and have some fun, while others can improve the engine’s power, giving you faster speeds off the line and down the straightaways.
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