How to upgrade your existing car for less than you think

Maybe you’ve been tempted by a cheap finance deal or your bored with your existing motor. But wait: due to a combination of the chip shortage and the pandemic, nearly any new car ordered today will take a long time to arrive. So why not just make your existing car better?

Here’s a list of 20 things you can do to upgrade your old car, often for significantly less than the monthly payment on a finance deal.

You can see clearly now the rain has gone. Wiper technology hasn’t moved on a great deal but upgrading to so-called aero wipers could be a wise move. They cost a little more, but you’ll notice the improved wiping quality, longevity, and reduced noise levels. The one-piece rubber profile distributes the contact pressure evenly over the length of the blade. Don’t forget to paint the wiper arms if they’re looking tired.

Prices vary depending on the size and quality of the tyre but ditching your old rubber will deliver many benefits. Around 20 per cent of a car’s fuel economy is due to the tyre, so worn and under-inflated rubber will hit your wallet. Other advantages include improved stopping power, better handling and, in most cases, a quieter ride. Buy the best tyres you can afford; cheap tyres are a false economy.

Remember when one USB charging point was enough? Today’s families demand one per person, which is why an increasing number of cars come with multiple ports. Take the Land Rover Discovery Sport, which offers the option of six charging points. Don’t feel too inadequate if your car has little more than a 12-volt socket, because you can turn it into a USB port for around a fiver.

Using your smartphone for audio, navigation and telephone purposes on the move is a quick and easy way to mask your hideously outdated head unit. The thing is, you risk being handed six penalty points and a £200 fine if you’re caught using a hand-held phone at the wheel, so stick it in a cradle or on dashboard holder. Some stick to the windscreen while others can be attached to the vent, but either way this is a simple and effective upgrade.

You could spend up to £500 on a dash cam, but cheaper options start from less than £50. How much you fork out for a camera depends on the features you require, but a basic unit will do little more than record your journey in 720p. Look out for dash cams that can send live footage to your smartphone and record in glorious 4K. Other feature voice activation and What3Words integration.

Car mats wear out over time, especially on the driver’s side, so buying a new set is a wise investment. You don’t have to spend a fortune; a decent set of rubber mats for winter or carpet mats for the summer could cost as little as a tenner on eBay. Alternatively, consider investing in a tailored or car-specific set from your local dealer. Buying new mats is a good tip when trying to sell a car as they present a great first impression when opening the doors.

The Ferrari FF was the first car to hit the road with Apple CarPlay installed back in 2014. Since then, most manufacturers have adopted the system, which allows you to mirror Apple’s iOS operating system on the car’s infotainment screen. Today you’ll find it even in basic city cars and superminis. Adding the system to your old car is easier than you think, but you’ll need a dedicated head unit. Pioneer and Sony systems start from around £300.

Fear not, Android users, because you can play too. While you could argue that sticking a smartphone in a cradle would do a similar job, the ‘plug and play’ element of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto makes it hard to ignore. Both systems are designed to make it easy to use on the move, which delivers obvious safety benefits.

DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) radio has been mandatory on all new cars sold in the UK since the end of 2020. Given that DAB fitment stood at 95 per cent prior to the regulations, you’ll almost certainly find DAB in a car registered over the past couple of years. For older cars, you’ll need a dedicated head unit or an in-car adapter, which allow you to listen to the radio via your car’s existing speakers.

Bluetooth systems range from the headsets you might associate with sales reps to units designed to clip on to a visor. Others plug into the car’s 12-volt socket, while some are built into aftermarket head units or DAB receivers. Whatever the system, you should be able to sync your smartphone to the car to deliver hands-free calling and/or music.

Using the tow bar is one way to ensure you don’t hit the wall or car behind you, but fitting a reversing camera is a more hi-tech solution. They’re ideal if your rearward visibility is restricted or you’re tired of hitting those low bollards you often find in car parks. It’s also possible to retrofit reversing sensors, although the results are often far from elegant.

A new car with real-time traffic information can be a boon if you’re facing a long journey on Britain’s motorway network. Advance warning of congestion will allow you to make a detour or delay your journey until the traffic has cleared. Got an old car? Simply download the Waze app to your smartphone and enjoy having a community of ‘Wazers’ to guide you home.

Another quick win, especially if your car’s headlights are as effective as sticking a pair of candles on the bonnet. New bulbs could be up to 200 per cent brighter than standard bulbs, with a 150 per cent longer beam for maximum visibility on a dark country lane. It’s your way of fighting back against retina-burning LEDs.

Old number plates can ruin the look of a car and could potentially result in an MOT failure if it’s hard to read the digits. Investing in a new set of plates will modernise your existing car while keeping the MOT tester happy. Don’t forget that the old GB-EU plates are no longer valid for European travel; you’ll now need a UK sticker for continental adventures.

Adding in-car wi-fi to your car will drag your motor into the 21st century while keeping your children happy on a long journey. Prices vary depending on whether you opt for a pay-as-you-go plan or a monthly contract, but you should be able to connect up to 10 devices at once. The wifi unit plugs into the car’s 12-volt socket and provides an alternative to using a smartphone as a hotspot.

Alloys put up with a lot. Raised kerbs, potholes and width restrictions are the enemy of the alloy wheel, especially if you’re riding on rims that wouldn’t look out of place in a rap video. Refurbishing a kerbed or scuffed alloy wheel should cost around £50, but you’ll pay extra for special finishes like diamond-cut. It’s a good investment if your wheels are looking tired, and often renders a wheel as good-as-new.

Many garages or service centres offer a free air-con check, so take advantage of this before investing in an expensive repair job. Systems should be serviced (recharged) every couple of years, so a missed service could be the reason why it’s not operating as effectively as before. Be sure to use the system throughout the winter to stop the windows from misting up and to keep the system’s hose seals in good shape.

It’s not an upgrade as such, but when was the last time you vacuumed your car’s carpets? The thought of doing it might suck, but the car will look more presentable, not to mention more hygienic.

Spend a fiver on some car shampoo and a tenner on some wax, then break out the elbow grease. After a morning spent cleaning the car, you could find that a new motor isn’t as tempting as you thought.

You’re probably aware of how important it is to maintain your car to the recommended standards, but there’s nothing quite like a freshly serviced car. Need an oil and filter change? Do it yourself and save the cost of labour. The car will feel better for it. Plenty of great videos online to show you how to do it.