You've done a good job of maintaining your old car. You have nothing outstanding on it, and you have no intention of selling it. But you can determine its age by looking at the basic equipment, and newer automobiles come with a lot of different technological features that yours does not have. It would make your life a lot simpler if you could retrofit your old vehicle with some of the advanced amenities seen in newer vehicles.
Modifications made to an older vehicle can bring it up to date, transforming it into a classic car and breathing new life into an early model.
You will be glad to find that the old car may be refitted with modern comfort amenities like Bluetooth, multimedia systems, cordless phone chargers, and seat heaters, as well as safety and driver-assistance technologies such as a rear camera and head-up display. Find out the must-have tech accessories for your car and you, too, can drive a vintage automobile with modern technology.
- Bluetooth
Installing Bluetooth in your car is simple, inexpensive, and a vital addition for safe driving, especially in an older vehicle that does not have this technology installed. Making a phone call while driving may be permitted in some jurisdictions, but it is generally a terrible idea due to the distraction and the loss of one of the driver's hands from the steering wheel.
A hands-free Bluetooth kit for antique cars is the ideal option in this scenario. With it, you can converse on the phone hands-free while driving, which keeps you safe and within the bounds of the law. The best approach to adding Bluetooth to a car is to either buy a simple plug-in unit or have a more complicated configuration installed by a professional.
- Backup camera
A backup camera and audible beeps when backing up are now standard features on newer automobile models, while park-distance control shows a colour image on a display inside the vehicle. Wireless backup cameras that stream footage to your phone are already available, but they are sluggish and inconvenient to operate.
Additionally, they demand your phone, which is likely already in use at the time, to increase the mess rather than decrease it. The recommended upgrade here is to have a wired system set up, even if this means more effort and a higher price.
For less than $100, you may get trunk handles or licence plate lights that are specifically designed to work with a specific automobile type. Investigate this alternative to see if you can discover something that works for your vehicle before settling on a generic mounting solution.
- Head-Up display
An automobile head-up display puts all of the most crucial information from the instruments right in your field of vision, allowing you to focus just on the road ahead. There are aftermarket options available for vehicles that do not come equipped with this technology as standard. Using a HUD, the driver can see data such as speed, navigation, and the distance travelled. The information is placed right in front of the driver's eyes because it is projected onto the screen or windshield.
- Dashcam
If you are involved in a car accident and need evidence from your insurance company or the police, investing in a dashboard camera for your vehicle is a smart move. There is a wide selection of models to choose from, each with its own unique set of features and technical specs.
You can get a reasonably priced dashcam for less than $50, but if you want it to record footage from the front and the back of the vehicle as well, you'll need to spend more like $150 or more. Important characteristics include an adequate field of view, high recording quality even when used at night, continuous-loop recording to cut down on the amount of storage space needed, battery power for recording in the event that the car's power source goes out, and incident recording.
Those that can be attached to the back of your rearview mirror are among the most convenient solutions.
- Blind-spot warning
When changing lanes, blind-spot monitoring will notify you if another vehicle is in the area that you cannot see. These alert the driver with a beeping sound and a blinking LED light by using sensors that are connected to the interior of the rear bumper.
The cost of a suitable system for your older vehicle will range anywhere from $75 to a couple of hundred bucks, based on the components that are included in the package and on whether or not you want expert installation. Those that come with radar sensors, LED indications, and all of the required wirings might come close to setting you back $500.
- Wireless phone chargers
A wireless phone charger is one of the best smartphone accessories. In-car wireless charging is easy. A thin, flat plastic panel, like a storage tray's floor, is great for your phone. The linked charging pad charges your phone. Wireless phone-charging mounts hold your phone so you can view it and charge it without an adaptor or cord. There are also charging pouches that can be fitted between the seats.
Summary
There are a number of modifications you may make to your older car to bring it up to date, as shown in our list. In-car entertainment, parking-assistance features, and dash cams are all readily accessible and may be installed by you or your local technician for a low cost. Furthermore, many of them are easily transferrable to another vehicle. Driving an outdated vehicle is no longer a source of embarrassment or dissatisfaction.
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