Pre-Valentine's Day Impulse Buys: Car modifications that don't really make sense

What we find intriguing is that while it is understandable that personalisation can elevate the appeal of car ownership, slapping on fake badges just adds to the confusion. It could be inserting badges of another car manufacturer (or two!) under your current car’s logo, or even tossing in fake performance badges above the rear lights - they are actions we do not condone…

Sure, a larger-than-life spoiler serves to create downforce and grip at very high speeds, without adding significant weight to your car. They can even double as a picnic table. But it comes with a couple of inconveniences, too. Carpark buildings with half-floor layouts might even “spoil” your party, as you need to exercise extra caution when reversing into these vertical metal dividers hanging from the deck above. And with spoilers working best at speeds that exceed local speed limits, we’ll let you decide if its aesthetic appeal outweighs functionality.

Unless you hit the tracks every week (which is unlikely given border restrictions), using a racing harness on local tarmac does not sound like a good idea. It could be a four or six point harness, but they affect comfort levels behind the wheel. Imagine a five-minute grocery run that requires five more minutes of prep time! You can retain your OEM seat belt for leisure drives, but it might not work as effectively alongside the racing harness as the angles for the buckles have to be repositioned.

Have you ever struggled to figure out the make or model of a car? It should most likely have a fully customised body kit not meant for their car. They do add a unique touch compared to add-ons offered directly from the manufacturer, but it comes with a couple of niggles that some might find too much to bear. Custom body kits are often made from fibreglass, which are prone to cracks and not the easiest to repair. And depending on the extent of this custom job, it can add weight that might affect the handling characteristics of your car. And the most annoying encounter you will face could be fitment issues, especially along the front and rear fenders.

Sure, you can add countless speakers to cover all areas of the sound spectrum, but they do not really make sense unless they are properly tuned by your audio installer. We recommend installing what you desire first - it could be a couple of mid-range speakers and tweeters to cater for the mid and high ends, and even a subwoofer with a custom enclosure. But these attempts to make your car sound better will be futile, unless you make another visit to your installer to extract the best possible sound stage!

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