Maybe You Should Not Upgrade Your Car, Here is Why

Upgrading cars has become a common practice in Nigeria’s automobile industry. At one point, you must have come across ads or people saying a car has been upgraded from a particular year (older year) to a more recent year. What does it mean when this is said?

What do we know about Car upgrading?

Automobile manufacturers launch a new generation of a model of a vehicle every 3-5 years. For instance, the Toyota Camry 1997 – 2002 (popularly called Pencil) is a generation of the Toyota Camry model, while the Toyota camry 2002 – 2006 (popularly called Big Daddy) is another generation of the Toyota Camry model. Cars, being consumer goods that need to be upgraded regularly, what manufacturers do to bridge this production gap before producing a new generation is to facelift old models in the same generation to create a new design. For instance, Toyota face-lifted a 1999 Toyota Camry to a 2001 Toyota Camry; they both have the same frame, but minor changes are in the lights and some other things. Same with the Toyota Camry 2002-2006. Most car owners for different reasons rather than buy the new model face-lifted by the manufacturers, prefer to do the facelifting themselves.

Facelifts or upgrades (as it’s popularly called ) are the modification of a car from an older design or year to a more recent year or design. This is done by replacing the old parts like bumpers, lights etc., with parts from a more recent model of the car to give it a more recent look. For example, replacing parts of a Toyota camry 1999 with parts of a Toyota camry 2001 to give it a Toyota camry 2001 look.

Why You should not Upgrade your car

Upgrading your car is a more attractive option than buying a more recent model because it’s a cheaper option, it also saves the buying process for a new car. But it is not the best option.

When you upgrade your car, the old parts of the car are replaced with newer parts to give the car a more recent look. The new parts most times are substandard and not of the same high and tested quality as the parts formerly on the car. This puts the safety, functionality and longevity of the vehicle at risk.

Upgrading, if not done by a very good technician can be a nightmare. Most car owners in Nigeria especially in Lagos prefer to upgrade their cars in Ladipo (a popular spare part market) and this is a place filled with uncertified technicians who do shabby jobs for quick money. The result of these bad jobs most times are structural defects, electrical issues, etc. There are reports of cars getting burnt from the wrong wiring done during upgrades.

Also, when you upgrade your car, most times you are not getting the complete package. There are cars that only the exterior parts can be upgraded and the interior can’t be upgraded. Especially in cases where car owners do extreme upgrades like upgrading a car from an older generation of a model to a newer generation of a model, which has also become a common practice; you won’t get the full package. For instance, upgrading a Toyota Hilux 2010 to a Toyota Hilux 2020; the only thing that can be done is body modification. The interior, engine, gear system, and other functionalities will still be that of 2010. So it’s still like driving your 2010 Hilux but with a 2020 face. Most car owners go as far as upgrading from one brand of car to another.

Another thing most car users need to know is that upgraded cars are not easy to sell. Most car buyers prefer not to buy an upgraded car because, they are not sure of the quality of the upgrade, and when they do want to buy, the price they offer does not reflect the price of the upgrade in most cases.

All in all, upgrades are a welcome option if it is not too extreme, that is, within the same generation of a model; 2002 – 2003, 2003 – 2004. This has its disadvantages too but they are limited if it is properly done. Extreme upgrades from one generation of a model to another generation of the model or between different models of the car should never be considered. It puts the safety of the car and its occupants at risk.

Car Upgrades That Are Worth the Cost in Nigeria

• Include Backup Cameras in Your Car

Cameras are now fairly common in cars but hardly standard for most models. That doesn’t mean you can’t upgrade to the technology that gives you eyes in the back of your head or at least sensors and a camera in the back of your car to guide you in reverse and help you park without unnecessary bumps in the back.

• Get an AI Security Car Camera

Regular car cameras offer peace of mind in case of an accident or a police encounter, and plenty of decent ones are on the market. But when you incorporate artificial intelligence with high-end features such as anti-theft beacons, crash assistance, GPS location, and parked/off AI surveillance, you get much greater peace of mind even when you’re not in your car.

• Upgrade Your Car’s Aluminum Wheels

Many automakers offer aluminium wheels on high-end trim packages for one simple reason. They’re more expensive than their steel counterparts. There’s also a reason for that. Aluminum is a superior metal in this particular application.

Aluminium wheels are much lighter, meaning cars with them get better gas mileage. They also exert less inactivity when they spin, making it easier to stop and putting less strain on your braking system. Although they’re more expensive upfront, aluminium wheels can offer lower ownership costs over the vehicle’s life.

• Upgrade to High-Quality Car Speakers

If you upgrade your vehicle to include Apple CarPlay or Andriod Auto, you can also upgrade your speakers to high-quality car speakers for better sounds. High-quality car speakers will give you rich, true sound even with the top down at full speed on the highway.

• Upgrade to High-Quality Seat Covers

Plenty of cheap seat covers are for sale, many of which can be yours. But if you can get highly-rated, well-built seat covers, you’ll enjoy protection against water, mud, and even oil, quality craftsmanship, a sleek look, cushion backing, airbag tearaways, and storage pockets.

• Upgrade Your Vehicle’s Shock Absorbers and Springs

Upgrading your springs and shock absorbers is expensive for the front and rear suspension. Since they’re out of sight, suspension components are often out of mind, but few systems directly impact your driving experience. Shock absorbers do exactly what their name suggests when you hit bumps or a rough road. They absorb shock, keeping your tires glued to the ground and reducing the up-and-down motion of regular driving. Getting a new set and lower, stiffer springs make for a noticeably more stable, well-cushioned ride.

• Upgrade to All-Season Performance Tires

When it comes to tires, they directly impact everything from fuel economy to handling and your ability to stop; you generally get what you pay for. Ultra-high-performance all-season tires can be expensive, but the average driver will never drive fast enough or corner tightly enough to reap the benefits. Getting low-budget versions of them will give you functional tires and a break on the price. In between are performance all-season tires, which will cost you but will give you an undeniably superior driving experience.