Improving a used luxury vehicle’s performance in an affordable way can be achieved by making simple modifications that help increase production of existing vehicle systems. Tuning the vehicle, upgrading the muffler and exhaust, upgrading the air intake, adding a super charger or turbo charger and adding aerodynamic features like a spoiler, hood scoop and front splitter.
The car industry is constantly evolving and making gradual improvements to a vehicle’s operations, performance and efficiency. At a certain point in a vehicle’s lifetime its technology will become obsolete, its aesthetics will become out of style and its performance will no longer be the optimal. These advances will continue to happen, some major and some minor, the world is still waiting on fully autonomous vehicle technology to be perfected.
In regards to performance, better suspension, more horsepower and faster acceleration are aspects that increase incrementally overtime. If you have a used vehicle about 10 years old, chances are that the new model of that same vehicle will weigh less and have more horsepower, which increases the performance.
If you purchase a used luxury vehicle that is sport inspired, it will have still produce an expected amount of power as advertised but if you just want to enhance the performance to be comparable with the modern advances but not interested in getting completely fast and furious, than considering some of the suggested performance upgrades can help bridge the gap by offering some basic affordable performance enhancement ideas.
TUNING
Tuning a vehicle involves a variety of modifications of a car’s performance systems. It refers to performance increases specifically by modifying a vehicles engine (intake manifold, spark plugs, ECU) and management systems, including suspension, tires, brakes steering, transmission, spoilers, air vents and weight reduction.
One of the simplest ways to tune a vehicle is by making adjustments to the vehicle’s engine control unit (ECU). If your vehicle is new enough then it will have an electrical module that controls the vehicles systems and subsystems. These systems can be optimized based on your personal driving desires to produce the most output that your vehicle has to offer, this is something that your vehicle already has but can be optimized with the proper adjustments.
You should locate a vehicle customization shop that has experience with performance upgrades and modifications. Let them know that you want better performance out of your vehicle and get an assessment on tuning the ECU. If successful it will result in a noticeable difference in driving experience that only requires relatively little time and little money.
MUFFLER & EXHAUST SYSTEM
Another way to improve the performance of a used luxury vehicle is by upgrading the muffler and exhaust system. This system moves gases produced by the engine efficiently away from the engine and out of the vehicle. Standard mufflers and exhaust systems are designed to operate within EPA requirements for environmental reasons to help reduce harmful emissions. Some performance based vehicles have performance mufflers and exhaust systems that not only meet efficiency regulations but are also designed with performance in mind.
The quicker and more efficient an exhaust system can displace gases, the more the engine can produce and consequently the faster the vehicle will go. Custom aftermarket exhaust systems go beyond the factory’s performance exhaust and try to design systems to get the maximum amount of efficiency. This is how performance exhaust and loud exhaust sounds became synonymous and popular amongst car enthusiast.
Exhaust notes are like music to a car enthusiast ears, the initial growl, the deep tones, the cracks, pops and burbles. These are the noises of exhaust systems designed for maximum performance. In addition to the sounds these systems also give your vehicle a boost in horsepower.
Depending on the type of vehicle you currently have; its level of performance will determine the type of upgrades you can suitably add. If you have a standard vehicle then you have a lot of room to play with and make a big difference in the vehicles performance levels. If you have a vehicle that already came with increased performance from the factory then you will have less room to travel to reach optimal levels.
The aftermarket exhaust systems with well-known reputations are Flowmaster and Magnaflow. You can purchase a full aftermarket exhaust system or you can just go with an upgraded muffler. Installation is affordable and most automotive repair shops should be able to do assessments of your vehicle’s systems and consult with you about areas to improve.
AIR INTAKE
While an exhaust system is responsible for dissipating gases from the engine, an air intake is responsible for getting necessary air to the engine and blocking out impurities. Like with other systems the factory air intake usually only meets government regulation standards for environmental purposes to work at an efficient level. But performance air intakes are designed to maximize the amount of air flow into the engine way above the standard amount, in order to get the most performance out of the engine.
This is a simple upgrade because aftermarket air intakes are affordable and basic to install, while resulting in a noticeable increase in your vehicle’s performance. You should consult with a professional automotive repair shop with experience in performance upgrades. They can do an assessment on your vehicle and determine any deficiencies in performance levels and recommend how to improve speed and performance.
AERODYNAMIC FEATURES
Another way to improve the performance of a used luxury vehicle is by controlling the air flow around the vehicle to reduce resistance and gain speed.
Spoiler – A spoiler creates downforce on a vehicle at high speeds, allowing it to use the force of the air to move faster. If your vehicle does not already have a spoiler then it is missing out on optimal performance. Spoilers are easy to install, some are glued into place and others are screwed into place. They are made in different materials from fiberglass to carbon fiber; and they have different designs, some subtle, some extreme, depending on the level of performance and type of driving that is desired. Many luxury vehicles, especially performance based will already come with a spoiler but after almost 10 years it may become old and outdated, so it is worth considering a new spoiler for both increased performance and aesthetics. Please visit our affiliate partner to explore different options and prices for spoilers.
Hood Scoop – There are 2 types of hoods scoops, those that help divert air over the vehicle to reduce resistance. And reverse hood scoops that draw in air to help engine performance. The front hood scoop is an easy addition that can either be attached with adhesive or screwed into place. The reverse hood scoop would require cutting a hole in the roof in order for it to be functional, which requires help from a professional auto repair shop. Please visit our affiliate partner to explore different options and prices for hood scoops.
Front Splitter – A front splitter helps to divert air flow from the bumper area of a vehicle, which receives a lot of force as the vehicle travels. A front bumper has a large surface area that directly impacts the air and causes more resistance at higher speeds. Bumper designs try to account for this by including air vents and angled edges to reduce resistance. Many high-end used luxury vehicles may already come with a front splitter but if not, installing one on your vehicle will improve aerodynamics and increase performance. They typically screw on and are easy to install, please visit our affiliate partner to explore different options and prices for front splitters.
Adding any of these aerodynamic features to your vehicle will instantly change its profile and make it look more performance inspired and aggressive. You will get improved aerodynamics and increased speeds, all for affordable cost and basic part installation. If you want quick and easy performance enhancements you should consider upgrading your vehicle with these aerodynamic parts.
Adding any of these aerodynamic features to your vehicle will instantly change its profile and make it look more performance inspired and aggressive. You will get improved aerodynamics and increased speeds, all for affordable cost and basic part installation. If you want quick and easy performance enhancements you should consider upgrading your vehicle with these aerodynamic parts.
TURBOCHARGER/SUPERCHARGER
Another affordable way to increase the performance of a used luxury vehicle is by installing either a supercharger or a turbocharger to the engine. These options are the most expensive on our list, require professional installation but also result in the most increased power. Technically they operate a little differently but both of these devices compress and supply more air to the engine allowing it to produce more power. There are different types of turbochargers/superchargers that provide various amounts
of performance improvement. Depending on your vehicle’s engine, performance capabilities and your desired amount of speed a professional auto shop should be able to assess your vehicle and suggest which type of turbocharger or supercharger works best for your situation. Please visit our affiliate partner to explore different options and prices for turbochargers and superchargers.
