For many car guys and gals, modifying their ride's style to make it their own is one of the most exciting and satisfying aspects of being an enthusiast. Maybe the stock wheels look rather plain and/or lost in the big wheel wells, so installing an aftermarket quartet can go a long way towards jazzing up the car's looks and stance. Maybe you'd like to liven up its face by accenting the headlights with some electronic eyeliner. And then there are the sporty spoilers, which range from mild to wild.
Note that in keeping with the affordable and "bolt-on" installation nature of this article, we didn't include pricier and much more involved mods such as lower body kits and boxed wheel flares.
Custom wheels for Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ
Which Wheels?
It's hard to top a new set of wheels for making an easy, yet impactful visual statement. With so many different styles available, ranging from a subtle upgrade over stock fitment to what can only be described as over the top bling (remember "spinners"?), aftermarket wheels are understandably one of the most popular upgrades.
In addition to the visual pizzazz they provide, new wheels can also improve your car's handling. Going with a larger diameter wheel means going with a lower profile sidewall for the tire. That translates into sharper handling as there will be less sidewall flex when you're pushing your car on a curvy section of blacktop. Keep in mind that a stiffer ride is part of the deal, as those shorter sidewalls won't help absorb the smaller bumps as much as the original, larger and more flexible sidewalls did.
Despite the temptation to "go big or go home" — for example bolting on a set of 20s when 15- or 16-inch wheels were original fitment — we advise keeping it to a "plus two" (two-inch larger diameter over stock) maximum. The reasoning behind our thinking is that, unless you're going with very expensive, ultra lightweight wheels, those larger wheels are also going to be substantially heavier, which negatively affects a car's acceleration, braking and ride characteristics.
One of our favorite sites for wheels is tirerack.com. In addition to the great selection they offer, their site allows you to see what different sets of wheels will look like on your car (provided your make and model is in their extensive data base).
Smoked headlights for Ford Mustang
Show me the light
Swapping out headlights and taillights is another relatively simple and cost-effective way to personalize your car. First seen on German luxury cars, accent lighting around the headlights is now a very popular aftermarket accessory. If you've got round headlight elements, you can go with what BMW called "Corona rings" — circular lighting rings that surround the round lighting elements. And then there are what we call "LED eyeliner", which was made popular by Audi and, as our nickname implies, uses LEDs to brightly accent the headlight clusters.
Custom taillights have been around much longer and come in a wide array of styles. If a cool, subtle vibe is your thing, a lightly tinted set of taillights can work, especially if the stock ones feature multi-color elements. However, if you are looking for some flash, there are the clear lens units that have individual elements with bright metal accents.
Spoiler alert
Although front and rear spoilers serve a purpose (they reduce aerodynamic lift at higher speeds, thus keeping the front and rear tires of the car more planted to the asphalt), let's be honest: most folks dig them for the looks. Just as with the wheels and lighting options, spoilers come in a huge variety of styles.
We tend to prefer the more subtle ones — a discreet chin spoiler up front followed by a small, color-matched rear spoiler rising maybe an inch or so off the rear deck. But for those who like to turn the knob up to eleven, larger front air dams with gaping ducts (to ostensibly help cool the brakes) and large rear wings towering a few feet off the rear deck are available. Not necessarily our cup of 10W-40, but to each their own. It's all about your own preferences and sense of style.
For plenty of affordable customization options, be sure to check out Advance Auto Parts and use the "add a vehicle" tool to make sure that your purchase is the right fit for your car.
