Pimping out my ride - when I have no idea.
April 10, 2013 6:25 AM Subscribe
Looking to do a number of upgrades to my car but am hoping for some insight as the best way of getting them done preferably at a lower cost and any tips to make sure they are done right.
I've bought a 2013 Honda Accord Sport that really has everything I wanted and there is not much to do to it but I can't help but want to personalize it (don't judge!). So here are the list of things I'd like to get done, any tips?
- I have to get the back bumper replaced as it's been cracked when a guy backing up from his parking spot hit me and ran. I have a $500 insurance deductible and was told I could get the work done for less than that so no point in submitting a claim and having my insurance rate go up. So please correct me if that is wrong!
- The front bumper was scuffed. Not my fault! This happened at the parking lot a work. I know I can cry both these things happened under 4 weeks of me owning the car. (But will having someone sand and repaint still look good? I shouldn't have to replace the bumper since the scuff didn't break the bumper right?)
- Upgrade speakers in the car. I'm looking at mid-top range price/quality.
- Subwoofer/amp installation (maybe, depends if the speakers will suffice)
- Tinting the windows (should I do the 5 or 4 windows? What tint % do you suggest? I still want good visibility)
- Paint calipers red (Is this something simple to do that I don't need to go to a super high quality shop?)
Should I buy these materials/accessories online and just pay for labor at the shop?
Thanks! All tips appreciated! And I'm in Indianapolis if that means anything.
I've bought a 2013 Honda Accord Sport that really has everything I wanted and there is not much to do to it but I can't help but want to personalize it (don't judge!). So here are the list of things I'd like to get done, any tips?
- I have to get the back bumper replaced as it's been cracked when a guy backing up from his parking spot hit me and ran. I have a $500 insurance deductible and was told I could get the work done for less than that so no point in submitting a claim and having my insurance rate go up. So please correct me if that is wrong!
- The front bumper was scuffed. Not my fault! This happened at the parking lot a work. I know I can cry both these things happened under 4 weeks of me owning the car. (But will having someone sand and repaint still look good? I shouldn't have to replace the bumper since the scuff didn't break the bumper right?)
- Upgrade speakers in the car. I'm looking at mid-top range price/quality.
- Subwoofer/amp installation (maybe, depends if the speakers will suffice)
- Tinting the windows (should I do the 5 or 4 windows? What tint % do you suggest? I still want good visibility)
- Paint calipers red (Is this something simple to do that I don't need to go to a super high quality shop?)
Should I buy these materials/accessories online and just pay for labor at the shop?
Thanks! All tips appreciated! And I'm in Indianapolis if that means anything.
You should search out Honda enthusiast forums. They'll provide more advice than you could ever use......
posted by lstanley at 6:53 AM on April 10, 2013
posted by lstanley at 6:53 AM on April 10, 2013
As for the window tint, check with your state: there's usually a legal limit to the percentage, and sometimes (like here in my state, Va.) it's illegal to have the front and/or windshield tinted.... which isn't to say people don't do it anyway, just be aware of your local laws.
posted by easily confused at 7:31 AM on April 10, 2013
posted by easily confused at 7:31 AM on April 10, 2013
- I have to get the back bumper replaced as it's been cracked when a guy backing up from his parking spot hit me and ran. I have a $500 insurance deductible and was told I could get the work done for less than that so no point in submitting a claim and having my insurance rate go up. So please correct me if that is wrong!
I would be amazed if that is the case for quality work. For one thing, the bumper alone is almost $400.
- The front bumper was scuffed. Not my fault! This happened at the parking lot a work. I know I can cry both these things happened under 4 weeks of me owning the car. (But will having someone sand and repaint still look good? I shouldn't have to replace the bumper since the scuff didn't break the bumper right?)
I had someone take out my front passenger door, mirror, and quarter section of my car in the same time period in a parking lot by a person backing their car up ~25 feet. It's amazing what people can do in parking lots. On a more topical note, my car has also been rear ended twice, and each time the bumper was sanded/repainted for ~$500-$700. I can't tell the difference, and the second time, the repair technician didn't notice that the bumper had been previously repainted until he started the repair work.
- Upgrade speakers in the car. I'm looking at mid-top range price/quality.
- Subwoofer/amp installation (maybe, depends if the speakers will suffice)
No comment from me; keep in mind that these will not change the value of the car and will likely decrease it.
- Tinting the windows (should I do the 5 or 4 windows? What tint % do you suggest? I still want good visibility)
Good visibility always trades with window tint with any level of tint. I've heard anecdotally from police officers that they see a very disproportionate of accidents at nights with cars with tinted windows. I'm not sure if that's due to people driving more aggressively (likely correlated with tinted windows) or due to the tint.
- Paint calipers red (Is this something simple to do that I don't need to go to a super high quality shop?)
Depends on how long you want the painted calipers to last. Unless you detail the calipers regularly, the paint is going to slowly degrade anyway. If you drive in the winter in Indiana, I'd worry about the longevity of any painted caliper job.
posted by saeculorum at 7:39 AM on April 10, 2013
I would be amazed if that is the case for quality work. For one thing, the bumper alone is almost $400.
- The front bumper was scuffed. Not my fault! This happened at the parking lot a work. I know I can cry both these things happened under 4 weeks of me owning the car. (But will having someone sand and repaint still look good? I shouldn't have to replace the bumper since the scuff didn't break the bumper right?)
I had someone take out my front passenger door, mirror, and quarter section of my car in the same time period in a parking lot by a person backing their car up ~25 feet. It's amazing what people can do in parking lots. On a more topical note, my car has also been rear ended twice, and each time the bumper was sanded/repainted for ~$500-$700. I can't tell the difference, and the second time, the repair technician didn't notice that the bumper had been previously repainted until he started the repair work.
- Upgrade speakers in the car. I'm looking at mid-top range price/quality.
- Subwoofer/amp installation (maybe, depends if the speakers will suffice)
No comment from me; keep in mind that these will not change the value of the car and will likely decrease it.
- Tinting the windows (should I do the 5 or 4 windows? What tint % do you suggest? I still want good visibility)
Good visibility always trades with window tint with any level of tint. I've heard anecdotally from police officers that they see a very disproportionate of accidents at nights with cars with tinted windows. I'm not sure if that's due to people driving more aggressively (likely correlated with tinted windows) or due to the tint.
- Paint calipers red (Is this something simple to do that I don't need to go to a super high quality shop?)
Depends on how long you want the painted calipers to last. Unless you detail the calipers regularly, the paint is going to slowly degrade anyway. If you drive in the winter in Indiana, I'd worry about the longevity of any painted caliper job.
posted by saeculorum at 7:39 AM on April 10, 2013
For the regular stuff, I've never been sad at going to my Honda Dealer's body shop. My poor car has been in accidents, had a tree fall on it, etc. It's all been repaired with genuine Honda parts.
As for tint, check out local statutes first, and ask the dealer for a referral. They'll know who does a good job.
For audio, I went to a top shop and paid out the ass when I had my Mercedes done. But considering a car is probably the worst acoustical place in the world (between the class, metal and road noise) I was pretty happy with my system. I paid $2200 at the time, were I to do it over again, I'd go to BrandSmart and have them do it for $300. (I'm smarter now.)
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:33 AM on April 10, 2013
As for tint, check out local statutes first, and ask the dealer for a referral. They'll know who does a good job.
For audio, I went to a top shop and paid out the ass when I had my Mercedes done. But considering a car is probably the worst acoustical place in the world (between the class, metal and road noise) I was pretty happy with my system. I paid $2200 at the time, were I to do it over again, I'd go to BrandSmart and have them do it for $300. (I'm smarter now.)
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:33 AM on April 10, 2013
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You can get paint kits for calipers at well-stocked parts stores, or online. It's easily done yourself.
Repairing the scuff on the bumper is tricky. The plastic doesn't lend itself to easy patching and repairing, being purposely flexible. It can be done. But the labor involved might come close to simply replacing the thing, depending on how bad the damage is.
I would suggest you seek out some Honda forums and see what others have to say about mods and parts that work, and those that don't. Research is your ally.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:44 AM on April 10, 2013 [1 favorite]