All cars need regular maintenance, the odd detailing and reliable spare parts when something goes wrong. A little care can go a long way, but there’s also the choice of various upgrades to enhance vehicle safety, performance and comfort. And these don’t necessarily have to be overpriced. Simple and inexpensive additions, like aftermarket exhausts, stiffer suspension setups, or reworked air intakes aid with better handling, faster acceleration, engine longevity, and a more fun car to drive. The parts can be bolted on any unassuming budget hatchback or full-fledged sports car and get the same results.
Most drivers get caught out when shopping for spare, replacement or aftermarket parts. Trends are changing, and you no longer need the long drive to the workshop or dealership to check availability or get labour quotes. Not all stores have what you need, especially with rare car models and makes, or brands and parts that bring more to your car. By choosing online autoparts stores, you save time, money and hassle.
Why Shop Online?
Buying anything online has obvious benefits. You can shop for parts compatible with your car from the comfort of your own home, and in your own time, Businesses are open 24/7, have a huge selection of parts and brands catering to different vehicle categories, and are often stocked with parts that you won’t find anywhere else. So, regardless if you’re shopping for original equipment or aftermarket 4WD parts or obscure upgrades for one-off builds, online is the way to go.
Retailers let you scour their wide product range with a few short clicks, have enabled multiple payment options and deliver orders within a few business days to your specified address. And they benefit from lower prices due to lower overheads and fewer employees, cutting out middlemen. All you need to supply is the VIN or part number, or the name of your make and model.
Car Upgrades to Consider
If performance is what you’re after, then there are tons of potential upgrades to boost engine power or provide for a more controlled ride. Generally, balance is the key, but all cars have more to give than what was delivered in factory form. Engines can be upgraded and tweaked, the chassis and suspension stiffened, and appearances and style lifted to net you a vehicle like nothing else on the road. The aim is to customise the car just as you intended while having a grin on your face each time you work the pedal. Here’s what can make that happen without leaving a hole in your back pocket.
Lowering Springs
These simple suspension upgrades lower the car nearer to the ground. They work with stock shocks and struts and bring better handling at high speeds with increased stability when cornering with more body control and braking from high speed to reduce braking distances and front or rear dive. Setting the car lower additionally improves traction, increases aerodynamics and saves fuel. The parts also perform an aesthetic role, by filling in embarrassing fender gaps and providing a slammed look.
Cars can be lowered anywhere between 0.5 to 3 inches, and optioned with linear spring rates with equal compression in all driving conditions or progressive springs that stiffen up as loads increase, such as in fast cornering. Choose lowering springs from respected suspension parts brands (H&R, Eibach, ST and Tein, to name a few) at prices that suit your budget.
Aftermarket Exhausts
Exhausts are another value-packed performance addition. They come in reworked designs to aid exhaust flow, improve engine power and efficiency and increase longevity. Aftermarket options include straighter and wider piping to minimise airflow restrictions, essentially helping engines breathe. They’re also better built, with tough stainless steel being the go-to material for entry-level performance exhausts, but buyers can also spend more on titanium, Inconel or carbon-fibre parts for even more strength, better heat and corrosion resistance, and lower weight.
Choose from the range of complete systems (axle-back, cat-back or header-back) or separate exhaust parts like mufflers to tune the exhaust sound or straight-tube pipes for improved flow. When buying go with compatible systems for your engine (there are differences between petrol and diesel exhausts, and aspirated and turbocharged engines), tubing that has undergone heat treatment and coating, and pipes in the right diameter. Also, consider appropriate mounting hardware for easy installation and reduced vibrations. Shop for aftermarket exhaust from reputable brands, with many local builders now easily available countrywide from dedicated online autoparts stores.
Cold Air Intakes
These performance car parts replace factory intakes with improved designs that get more cooled, oxygen-rich air into the engine. They consist of revised and relocated tubing to maximise air volumes and speed, heat shields to keep incoming air cool from radiating engine parts, and redesigned airboxes that push air into throttle bodies or carbs at the desired angles and pressure.
With more air, engines can produce bigger bangs, so there’s more power on tap. There’s also more substance to the engine sound. Another benefit is the addition of beefier cone-shaped air filters that get more contaminants (dust, oil, water, debris) than stock variants, reducing internal engine damage. The parts are also easy to install in most engines, with few modifications needed.
Other Online Parts Options
Online stores offer varying body parts for improved aerodynamics and more style, wheel and tyre combinations in different sizes, patterns, and performance levels, a range of spare parts (brake pads, coolant, oil, spark plugs etc) and more specialised parts including pistons, connecting rods, cranks, camshafts and more. Anything your car needs, either as a working replacement or performance upgrade can be easily sourced from well-stocked auto parts online stores with the added benefit of lower prices, fast deliveries, and a wide product range.
