Shoestring mods

Improving your ride needn’t cost you an arm and a leg — even if the car did. Here are five ways to improve the performance of your car, all for less than S$500.

Tyres

What: Fitting new tyres to help save fuel and improve your car’s ride quality and handling.

Why: Tyres are the single most important performance differentiator in any car. F1 drivers like to blame their tyres when they don’t win, so they must be important.

Try: For green tyres, Bridgestone’s Ecopia series. For comfort, Michelin’s Primacy ST3, while Goodyear’s Eagle F1 offers lots of bang for your buck.

Cost: From S$150 per tyre from a mid-range brand

Tip: Check once a week that your car’s tyres are at their optimum pressures. This goes a long way towards improving tyre longevity and your car’s handling. The optimum tyre pressures for your car are usually indicated on a label in the driver’s door frame.

Oil

What: Changing your car’s engine oil to protect and lubricate vital components.

Why: An oil change doesn’t cost much and can make your car feel a lot smoother and more responsive.

“Engine oil ... helps prolong the life of your engine and give you better fuel consumption and overall performance,” said Dr Katsuya Arai, Chief Technology Officer of Motul Asia Pacific

Try: Most major car workshops and service stations offer oil-change packages. Like tyres, there are different types of oil for different uses. Most drivers will benefit from a normal car-servicing package, like Shell’s Helix Ultra package. Drivers who want more dynamism can consider Motul’s lauded 300V oil, which is also used in some racing cars.

Cost: From S$100

Tip: You can check the condition of the oil in your car with the dipstick. “Healthy” oil should be clear, amber fluid. If it’s dark or cloudy, an oil change is needed.

Creating lightness

What: Removing unnecessary items from your car to reduce weight.

Why: Some people treat their car like a store room, but carrying extra weight can increase fuel consumption and affect handling.

Try: Keep only what you absolutely need in your car — an umbrella, water and perhaps a change of clothes. Leave everything else at home.

Cost: Free

Tip: Consider leaving your spare tyre at home and using a tyre repair kit and inflator instead. Roadside assistance in Singapore doesn’t take long to arrive. If your tyre is severely damaged, you’re safer waiting for roadside assistance anyway.

Headlights

What: Changing your headlights for improved night vision.

Why: Singapore’s roads are well lit, but brighter, properly-adjusted headlights are a bonus, especially in the rain.

Try: You don’t need expensive high-intensity discharge bulbs. Brands like Philips X-Treme Vision or Osram Silverstar are good choices, and claim to increase brightness by more than 50 per cent over stock bulbs.

Cost: From S$40

Tip: Different cars use different bulb types. The most common are H1, H4 and H7 — check your car’s manual to see which type your car uses. Leave a spare set in your glovebox and remember to adjust your headlight throw to avoid blinding other road users.

Driving Courses

What: Attending advanced driving courses to improve your skills.

Why: All cars are limited in safety and performance by one key factor — the driver. Think of advanced driving courses as upgrades you can always use, no matter what you drive.

Try: Examples include Audi’s Urban Driving Course, which offers a refresher on navigating city spaces, while Mercedes-Benz’s annual Driving Experience teaches drivers how to control a car and what its safety systems do.

Cost: Advanced driving courses offered by car manufacturers here usually cost about S$200.

Tip: Many brand-oriented driving courses are also open to the public for a small fee.