Exploring and buying accessories that may come in handy in unexpected ways is fun. But, here’s the twist: You’ll use many of these only a few times in your life, and most of it will end up on the pile of your hoarded items. The worst happens when these are car gadgets, as most only occupy space in the already small dimensions of the car.
Gigantic Spoilers
Spoilers add to the vehicle’s aerodynamic function, but you only really need them if you’re on a race track. Using these for cosmetic reasons will be nothing short of trouble, as it adds weight and increases drag. Your vehicle will need more power to run; consequently, the owner will experience reduced fuel economy issues.
Hydrogen Generators
The manufacturers of this gadget claim that it separates hydrogen from oxygen in the vehicle and redirects it to the fuel supply to add to the power, as hydrogen is more powerful than gasoline. The truth is that it works but produces only a small amount of hydrogen at the cost of extra strain on the alternator, which may get damaged under the given pressure.
Antenna Toppers
The vehicles’ antenna toppers might add to the personality but at the cost of the car’s safety. They may repeatedly strike against the windshield at high speeds or on bumpy roads, causing a risk of cracks and breakage.
Neon Lights
That’s the one that doesn’t apply to all. Neon lights, when adequately used on cars, have a strong presence, but they are acceptable only until the car owner doesn’t overdo it. That’s all about the looks. The real trouble arises when you are in a state where you can get a ticket for using neon underglow lights. Unhelpfully, laws relating to neon underglow vary from state to state, so you should be aware of the restrictions before investing in such mods.
Fake Hood Pins
Hood pins do a great job on sports cars by holding the hood down at greater speeds—because they are “functional.” Using fake hood pins on your random street car might not even serve any purpose other than adding to the weight, let alone looking cool.
Police Strobe Kit
Remember the story of rapper DMX? If yes, you already know the lesson. Install a police strobe kit on your car only if you don’t mind heavy tickets because they are definitely going to catch attention, especially the negative kind. In the worst case, unauthorized use of police strobe kits can even land you in jail.
Bolt-on Exhaust Tips
The companies selling these accessories might make you believe the lie that the bolt-on exhaust tips increase performance. In pracice, unless you have a larger exhaust pipe running from the engine (that’s very uncommon), they likely will not do anything meaningful. In addition to serving zero purpose, these gadgets, being large and extruding, give the vehicle an obnoxious look.
Fake Wood/Carbon Fiber
Wood and carbon fiber add a touch of luxury or sportiness to your vehicle, but only if they are legit. Stick-on wood and carbon fiber accents don’t stay adhered for a long time and stand apart from the real ones, making the car look cheaper and substandard rather than luxurious or sporty.
Fake Performance Badges
Fake performance badges are not just idiotic but kinda funny to anyone who sees an AMG badge on an entry-level Mercedes. When someone looks at a performance badge, his instinct is to look at the “high-performing” car, which often leads to embarrassment for the owner who uses fake ones.
Cup Holder Swivel Trays
Cup holder swivel trays are advertised as some “out-of-this-world” gadget, but that’s true only if you don’t mind a tray wobbling around a few inches away from your face that can let go of its contents on any sharp turn. Do you see the point? These cup holder swivel trays are far from being practical.
Steering Wheel Work Tray
Let’s face the fact: No one is using a car as an office, and while there are plenty of places to work, the driving seat isn’t one of them for obvious reasons. Why would a driver need a plastic tray hung on his steering wheel when they can simply pull over and sit at a cafe (or even in their car) in case of urgent work?
Fuel Line Magnets
It’s natural to fall prey to a gadget that claims to help you run an extra mile for each gallon of fuel. Fuel line magnets surfaced in the 1980s and are still in use as the manufacturers claim that the magnetic effect somehow reduces gasoline consumption. Studies have shown that fuel line magnets or popular fuel-saving devices do not affect fuel efficiency.
Intake Vortex Devices
If you are a driver without enough knowledge of the engine’s workings, you will fall for this intake vortex device that claims to change airflow input into the combustion chamber, resulting in better fuel economy. However, cars today have computerized systems to adjust the airflow to synchronize with the fuel consumption. Don’t you think the intake vortex device will be nothing more than a useless additional part of the vehicle?
Whistle Tips
Whistle tips don’t do anyone any good. They are welded with the exhaust pipe to constrict the exhaust flow. The most expected and noticed outcome is the loud noise. They are illegal in most states, but even if not specifically outlawed, you might have to violate the noise ordinance of your area and be liable for a fine anyway.
Vanity Shift Knobs
Vanity shift knobs are attractive since you can always pick the one with your favorite movie or character’s theme. Nonetheless, newer cars are already aesthetically pleasing, and these knobs can make a significant difference only to a restored classic car. If you have installed these, you may find it difficult to shift gears.
Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers
Whilst theoretically a handy gadget, and indeed it is an OEM favorite on most cars these days, off-the-shelf gadgets, in particular cheap ones, needs a lot of improvement before they can actually start helping people.
At the moment, the sensors turn on the wipers even when there are no signs of rain. The sensors adjust the wipers’ speed, which may not always suit the situation. At best they can be a nuisance, and at worst, a hazard.
Anti-Static Straps
Have you ever experienced shock when opening the car door because of the accumulated static charge? Well, anti-static straps are a practical solution to prevent it as they ground the car and discharge the energy. In reality, this is unsightly to see and hear, not to mention adding points of failure to your car – and do you want a strap hanging out of your vehicle, rubbing against the road wherever you go?
Gull Wing Door Conversion
A gull-wing conversion on your mediocre car is only your best bet if you want to decrease the resale value of your vehicle. Such a conversion significantly changes the manufacturer’s door specifications and adds complexity, and even if the car is reliable, it never retains its true value. Plus, if the only thing you can afford to upgrade on your car is the doors, it is unlikely to be mistaken for an exotic Italian supercar.
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Zainab Noor is a motoring journalist. Childhood rides in Nissan Almera fueled her love for cars. After graduating from AIOU in 2021, she steered her passion into freelance writing. You can find Zainab on LinkedIn.
