How to Pimp Your Ride
MTV’s Pimp My Ride caused a sensation among many viewers because of the way Xzibit and his crew of mechanics tricked out vehicles to reflect every shade of extreme, awesome, and big pimpin’ style. You don’t have to own the wrecked machines some car owners do when they have their vehicles fixed and pimped. Here are some ways for you to get a tricked-out, pimped-up ride.
Performance Parts
Most auto customizers focus their energies on performance, instead of merely focusing on exterior and interior modding. One of the most preferred customizations in a vehicle is to perform an engine swap, or replacing the factory engine with the engine from a more powerful vehicle. Most of the time an engine with the same displacement is used in the engine bay, but some customizers may strengthen the chassis or expand the area of the engine bay to accommodate a larger engine. Transmission replacements and refurbishing brakes may also be performed in vehicles.
Exterior
Here are some of the exterior parts and components that are often customized:
Paint. Pearl, matte, and high-gloss metallic paints are often used in customized vehicles. Candy-style paint schemes and airbrushing for two-tone paint are also common. Some may even apply racing decals or airbrush entire artworks to their car body.
Wheels and rims. Spinner rims and large mags are very popular ways to trick out one’s rims, and vintage whitewalls are often used for vintage vehicles.
Body kits. Factory-made front and rear bumpers look good, but they are sometimes replaced with ones that look cooler. Most body kits are made from steel or aluminum, but carbon-fiber shells are now becoming very popular.
Spoilers. Most spoilers do not increase downforce or improve aerodynamics because the car is not driven in a fast-enough speed, but many people add them to their cars to make the ride look tricked-out.
Window tint. While there are regulations in some jurisdictions regarding the use of window tint, some people like to tint their windows to complement or highlight paint schemes.
Pimpin’ Mods
Customization doesn’t have to end with performance mods and exterior mods. The interior of a vehicle is a wonderland for auto customizers, who can think of many ways to pimp out your ride;
Racing seats, five-point seatbelts, custom lighting, and racer-style dash instruments
In-car electronics like LCD TVs, full surround sound, gaming consoles, onboard computers
Upholstery ranging from leather to alcantara felt to shag or even Persian knotted carpet
Outrageous mods like aquariums, food stations, compartments for pets, study areas, ping-pong tables, slot machines, and turntables.
The trick to a pimped-out ride is to keep it real and stayin’ fly. With these tips, even the most banged-up ride you have can turn into a big pimpin’ screamin’ demon on the streets.