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Many older cars continue to provide a pleasurable and reliable driving experience.  However, it is the case that older model cars might be missing some features that contribute to the performance and safety of the vehicle.  Here are a few easy upgrades that you can make to add some modern bells and whistles without breaking the bank.

Cold Air Intake and High-Flow Exhaust

You can improve the performance of your car’s engine quickly and easily with a cone-shaped filter and an intake tube made from plastic or aluminum mounted under the hood.  You can add to overall efficiency by adding headers and a more effective exhaust system to allow that air an easy escape at the other end. Reducing back pressure in the system means the engine doesn’t have to work as hard, so that power available power increases along with fuel efficiency. Win-win!

Backup Camera System

New cars will include this very useful safety feature that allows drivers to see what is behind them while backing up.  Not only does this reduce the possibility of accidents, but it also makes parallel parking much easier.  Thankfully, there are lots of DIY backup camera systems for cars available on the market that allow this upgrade to be easily installed with a minimum of time, effort or required skill.

Tires

A new set of good tires is more expensive than some of the other upgrades you might be considering, but tires are one of the most effective upgrades you can make if you want to significantly increase the performance and safety of your car.  Make sure that you take account of the weather conditions that you have to drive in most often, and buy the best tires you can afford.  If you are planning to hold onto your car for a few years then tires with a longer-lasting tread are worth the investment.

Sway Bars

The installation of a sway bar allows you to make the most out of a good set of tires.  Sway bars, also known as “anti-roll bars” contribute to the suspension system of your car by stiffening the chassis and providing a solid connection of the left and right sides of the car.  This means that corning is improved with reduced changes of rolling over in a tight curve.  Be sure to install them on both the front and the back of the car, and don´t mix brands.

Spark Plugs

The spark plug is the key to generating power in your car by igniting the mixture of gas and air in the cylinders.  The cleaner and hotter the spark, the more efficient the system.

As you can see, with a bit of attention and a relatively small investment, your older car will run efficiently, perform better, and be safer to drive. Especially if you are planning to drive your car for a few more years, any of these upgrades will be well worth it!