Customize Your Ride on the Cheap

Even if you think of your car as mere transportation, you'll probably want to make some subtle enhancements to increase its practicality or aesthetic awesomeness. Fortunately, you don't have to part with numerous stacks of greenbacks to accomplish this. Here are five ways to customize your ride while keeping your bank account intact:

MP3 Adaptor

Most new cars have fancy inputs that allow you to connect an iPod or other MP3 player directly into your stereo. Older cars don't have these inputs, so you need some kind of bridge between the old and new technology. The two most common types of bridges are the cassette tape adaptor and FM transmitter adaptor. Based on our experience, the tape wins, hands down. You don't have to worry about losing radio signals, and the sound quality is generally better because of the direct connection. Plus, tape adaptors are significantly cheaper.

Fuzzy Dice

There are a lot of things you can hang from your rearview mirror, including Mardi Gras beads, sunglasses, and a tiny, fragrant tree. But it's hard to go wrong with a pair of classic fuzzy dice. Yes, their swinging motion is distracting, and they serve no functional purpose unless you want to host a game of craps in your back seat. But, for around ten bucks, they'll make you look like a cool 1950s greaser. Pompadour not included.

Bumper Stickers

Hand over the chocolate and no one gets hurt! My other car is a broom! Bumper stickers are always hilarious and thought provoking. But best of all, they are dirt cheap. If you pay more than $1 for a bumper sticker, you are getting ripped off. Many establishments even give them away as free advertising. If you take a road trip, try to collect at least one bumper sticker from every state you visit. Doing so will turn the back of your car into a collage of witty aphorisms and ads for small-town diners.

Aftermarket Hubcaps

If your car's hubcaps are dented, scratched, or completely missing, you can give your ride a new look with a fresh set of fake plastic rims. Hit up AutoZone, Pep Boys, or your favorite online retailer. Options include chrome, spinning, vintage, replica, and multi-spoke. There is even a model that goes flying off when you take a sharp turn, then rolls down the block and finally falls over in a gutter, where it will remain for two years. Total cost=$100 max.

Inflatable Passenger

Before you scratch out a check for a vehicle you want, do a little research to see how much maintenance and repairs will cost. In general, Japanese and American cars will be cheaper to own than most European models. Regular maintenance, like oil changes, will cost you between $30 and $100 every 5,000 miles or so. Bigger jobs, like replacing timing belts and fixing the A/C, can approach $1,000.



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