The 5 performance mods your car DOESN’T need

There are two kinds of performance mods. Ones that genuinely improve your car’s performance, and ones that are an absolute waste of time. If you’re on a budget, and want to economise, be wise to your purchases and don’t go for these rather pointless add-ons for your ride.

5 Exhaust tip

Ask yourself this. Are you just getting this so you can rev your car in the streets and make people believe they’re hearing a V12 Lamborghini engine? If your answer is yes, then please think twice.

Firstly, your Peugeot’s never going to sound like a Lambo. So instead of wasting your time and money on an exhaust tip, save longer, work harder, and ACTUALLY get yourself a sports car (maybe consider a used one, here’s a guide for that).

To be fair, there are some genuine dual exhaust systems with a whole range of benefits from increased gas mileage and horsepower, to cooler engine temperature that more than make up for the obnoxious farty sound. 

So if you are going to get fartsy, then at the very least do some research and try to make sure you’re getting something that also improves your car’s performance and doesn’t just make people jump out of their skins.

4 Large exhausts

I’m getting a little exhausted thinking about all this (#dadjokes), but it’s necessary to mention here. You see, a lot of people think that a massive exhaust box sagging under your car equates to street cred and a pat on the back from your local car club. But in truth, it just looks stupid.

We get it, you’re an ass guy. Bigger is better and all that. And while you could argue that a large exhaust grants your engine more breathing space (as if), it’s not really a deal breaker. A smaller one will do the job just as well, and you could splash the cash on something more useful, like improved suspension.

Remember you don’t have to use your car to overcompensate for what you lack in the pants…

3 Higher grade fuel

You’re at the gas station, deciding what fuel to get for your car. There’s a standard unleaded, and then there’s some premium variant. In the back of your mind, you must be thinking: higher grade fuel means greater performance. *sigh*.

It’s not that simple. Yes, while a car with a higher RON (Research Octane Number) may certainly give you all that and more, it’s not for everyone.

Let’s take the example of a turntable to play your music back. There’s an argument that vinyls produce a more ‘original’ sound, and that’s why a lot of people buy them. Now unless you’re an audiophile, chances are you’ll hardly notice the difference between that analogue and Spotify’s digital sound.

Same thing with high RON fuel. Firstly, you need to make sure your car can actually support the higher grade juice, otherwise you run the risk of knocking your engine. Secondly, ask yourself if you really, really need it. If you can make do with the standard, then fill er up and save.

2 Body kits

What’s the side effect of 14 Fast and Furious films? Oh, that’s right, annoying, cheap body kits.

Before you take your car in and ask them to fit it into a Hulkbuster of sorts, really stop and think. Why am I doing this? Are you involved in some kind of underground pink slip street racing thing? Is your car club putting pressure on you to do it?

See, the thing is, in your attempt to give your car the Brian O’Conner treatment, what you may end up doing is whacking on a cheap kit that, instead of improving speed and agility, will just look clunky and out of place. And then don’t come crying to us when you lose the race and blame it on the kit.

1 Short ram intakes

So you’re looking for a new desk online. Yes I did say desk, but you’ll see why in a minute. There are two options. The first is sturdier, will last longer, but is more expensive and more difficult to put together. The second one isn’t half as sturdy, may not last as long, but is cheap and easy to assemble. You take the second one.

Now in five years time, not only have you needed to replace two legs, but you’ve also had to get some other flimsy add ons to make sure the desk doesn’t wobble (cheap is expensive).

If you’re going to get short ram intakes thinking it’s cheaper and easier to replace, and also might make your car go faster, you first of all need to go back to school and retake your physics exam. Short ram intakes combined with a short pipe will draw hot air only around the motor, which isn’t what’s needed to boost your car’s speed.

If you really want to enjoy more horsepower, save fuel and have a richer engine sound, do yourself a favour and dish out a little more for a cold air intake instead. And if you really don’t like that engine sound, then fine, get yourself a short ram, but at the very least get one with a heat shield (see, cheap is expensive).

Want to improve your car with some genuine performance mods? Check out our page to find out more!