Ford cars are durable and reliable. Hence, many owners love them for drives on rough terrain. Nevertheless, upgrading several interior and exterior components can boost performance and personalize your Ford. Below, we discuss a few affordable upgrades.
In This Article:
Exterior Upgrades with Instant Impact
The exterior speaks volumes about your car before the engine takes the spotlight. As such, here are a few suggestions to enhance the exterior.
Grille Insert and Emblem
The grille is one of the prominent features on the exterior, and an upgrade can change the entire look. You can get a custom grille insert. For instance, a Ford F-150 Raptor grill gives your car an aggressive and distinctive appearance and can have amber LED lights or daytime running lights to enhance visibility.
Truck Bed Accessories
There are many ways to customize the bed and personalize your Ford truck. For instance, you can add a tonneau cover. Besides its appeal, it’s a functional upgrade that protects your cargo from elements like rain and the sun. In addition, your choice can be guided by your budget, as there are hard folding and roll-up designs.
Another accessory worth considering is a spray-in bed liner. It protects the surface by forming a textured, permanent barrier. A removable alternative to a spray-in bed liner is a rubber bed mat.
LED Light Bar and Headlight Kit
Changing your headlights modernizes the Ford and improves visibility when the weather is unfavorable. For instance, you can replace the halogen headlights with a clear white beam to mimic daylight. It improves your reaction time when driving through bad weather and reduces eye strain caused by driving long hours.
In addition to the improvements in functionality and exterior appeal, such headlights also reduce power consumption. Fortunately, many designs allow direct replacement, meaning it can be a quick do-it-yourself fix.
Aftermarket Rims
Although stock wheels are functional and give your Ford its distinct look, upgrading to wheels with an alloy or matte finish personalizes the car. In addition, there are many styles, from stealthy black to deep-lip. Rims also serve a functional role as they improve handling. As such, you can opt for a lighter material for better response. You may also enhance fuel efficiency. For instance, aluminum alloy is lighter than steel. In addition, it provides better fuel efficiency and steering response.
All-terrain Tires
New tires with raised sidewalls and rugged tread design improve the grip when driving snow, dirt, or mud. Therefore, all-terrain tires are versatile and make your Ford ready for any destination. Some designs also offer protection from punctures because of their reinforced sidewalls.
Upgrade the Exhaust and Muffler
Fortunately, you can make a few changes without replacing the exhaust system. For instance, you can upgrade the muffler or add a new exhaust tip. The muffler improves the engine’s performance as it helps it breathe better, thereby improving power slightly. In addition, a new exhaust tip makes it look sporty and sharp. It’s also easy to install.
Paint Protection Film and Vinyl Wrap
Your car may show signs of the many places and weather conditions you’ve driven it through because of its paint. Thus, you can protect it now before rocks, the sun, and other elements wear the paint out. Consider a paint protection film over high-impact surfaces like the hood and bumper. An alternative with a significant impact is a vinyl wrap to improve the finish or color without having to paint your Ford.
Improvements to Make the Ford Interior Comfortable and Modern
The interior can also match the feel and look of the exterior by upgrading the following:
Seat Covers and Floor Mats
Seat covers protect the upholstery from stains and wear, especially since Ford suits adventurers who are always outdoors. In addition, changing the seat covers personalizes the car, allowing you to bring in new features like waterproof neoprene and breathable mesh.
Further, after modernizing the seat covers, bring in heavy-duty floor mats to protect the surface from spills and dirt. Such all-weather mats have raised edges and deep groves.
Touchscreen Head Unit
Consider modernizing your Ford with a touchscreen unit if you have an older Ford model. It diversifies the infotainment system because you can connect to your favorite music streaming show or even connect the system to your smartphone to listen to your playlist. Some units also have voice command, which improves your safety as they keep your hands on the wheels. Installation is made easier by plug-and-play designs.
Dash and Trim Kit
Upgrading the seat covers, infotainment unit, and floor mats and forgetting to improve the dash and trim leaves one component incomplete. Therefore, make a few changes to this part to cover the plain or worn surface with stylish features. There are different kit finishes, from carbon fiber to piano black, which helps you match the component to the rest of the interior. Installing a dash and trim kit is easy as the components have adhesive or snap-on backing.
Cold Air Intake
It’s one of the top performance upgrades your Ford may need. The idea is to increase cool, dense air because it has more oxygen, which improves combustion. Further, this cool air generates a deeper engine sound. Installing the cold air intake takes a short time and requires simple tools.
Turning Chips and Programmers
Working on these components improves your engine by giving it more power and enhancing its towing capability and fuel economy. Most tuners have a built-in mode, such as sport or towing, to help you customize the settings. However, to enjoy these tools, upgrade the cold air intake or install a new exhaust first.
Window Tinting
The functional benefit of window tinting is the comfort of driving without the sun on your face. In addition, blocking the sun protects the interior. Tinting also improves privacy. However, first, consider your state’s laws on tinting.
Conclusion
The upgrades discussed above confirm that you can improve and modernize your Ford without turning it into a major financial undertaking. Further, you can start with the interior or exterior or combine the two and choose the upgrades with the most significant effect on functionality and aesthetic appeal.
