eBay x SHARP
For those like us with a need for speed and a hunger for the open road, the dog days of summer are for glorious Sunday drives and time with friends wrenching on cars. There’s no prize at the end, no glory. But if you know, you know.
Like our man Javier Bardem asked washed-up racer Brad Pitt in this summer’s blockbuster film F1, “Why do we do this? What’s wrong with tennis or golf?” The answer, of course, is that driving is more fun.
If you’re new to this whole wrenching and performance tuning thing, welcome. Upgrading your car’s performance even in subtle ways can seem daunting — we’ve been there! — but it’s not hard. It’s a bit like learning to cook a proper risotto, intimidating at first but once you try you’ll find it’s surprisingly easy, and impressive.
While there’s no Alison Roman-type figure teaching us all how to build the perfect car, there is eBay Motors. It’s a one-stop shop for everything you need, whether it’s your first performance car, or hundredth build. Last time we looked there were over 1.3 million new and used automotive performance parts listed for sale.
Not only that, but eBay Motors has a pair of tools that make it a breeze to find what you need. Think of their MyGarage feature as your virtual garage. It lets you input your car or motorcycle down to the year, make, model and even the trim-level, engine and VIN. Once your car is in that virtual garage, you’ll be able to search for compatible parts using eBay Motors’ Fits Your Vehicle feature. When there is a match for your car, you’ll know it because there’s a green circle with a checkmark on the listing. Easy.
Whether you’re looking for a few tasteful performance upgrades or you’re looking to do a fully bespoke build and chase perfection in every nut and bolt, your first stop should be eBay Motors’ Performance and Racing Parts page.
Performance Exhaust
A freer flowing performance exhaust system won’t only make your car sound better, it could unlock additional performance by allowing your engine to breathe easier. Performance is all about airflow: getting clean air in, and dirty air out. Don’t go for those cheesy exhaust tips that do nothing; get a proper cat-back system or, if you’re looking for a bigger performance leap, new exhaust headers as well. (As with any automotive upgrades, be sure to check they’re road legal where you live.)
Performance Suspension
Suspension is the single least understood performance part when it comes to tuning your car, but perhaps also the one that’s makes the biggest difference over the long term. The trick is to be realistic about what you want. Is your car a daily driver that could use a slightly crisper turn-in and less understeer? Race-spec suspension may look cool, but it’ll rattle your fillings out. Go for a softer street-oriented adjustable suspension kit including springs and dampers with little-to-no lowering. If, on the other hand, your performance car is a Sunday-only kind of machine, by all means, go for fully-adjustable motorsport-derived coilover suspension and take the time to learn to set it up properly. Big brands like KW, Bilstein, Eibach, H&R or Koni typically offer a variety of kits for various purposes. (And yes, eBay Motors lets you filter searches by brand.)
Brake Upgrades
Before jumping into the deep end and fitting a big brake kit to your car, start with one of the most underrated upgrades: high-performance brake fluid. The stuff your car comes with probably isn’t meant for the high temperatures generated by spirited driving. For cars that will often see higher speeds and hard braking, choose brake fluid meant for high temperatures. You’ll notice better feel on the brake pedal and less squishiness when the going gets fast. (As ever, check to ensure any fluid is compatible with your car’s braking system; the owner’s manual is a good place to look.) The next steps would be high-performance pads, rotors, brake lines and/or bigger brake calipers.
Cooling Upgrades
In the combustion-engine world, more performance inevitably comes with more heat. Keeping that heat at bay is the job of your car’s cooling system. Any horsepower upgrades should always be accompanied by upgrades to the cooling system: radiators, hoses, pumps and fans. Stock radiators are typically heavy and not built for the heat of high-performance work. Upgrading to a performance-focused aluminium radiator will keep your engine operating at its full potential, and help avoid any undue wear and tear. You never want to be the guy nervously watching their car’s temp gauge; it’s a surefire way to ruin a nice Sunday drive.
Performance Wheels and Tires
Tires are the single most effective upgrade for any car if you’re looking for more performance. Sticky rubber will help your car hang on the road better, which means faster cornering and, ultimately, a more rewarding driving experience. Similarly, lightweight wheels — sometimes made of carbon-fibre or magnesium — not only look good but reducing unsprung weight and let your car suspension work more efficiently. And, if you’re hunting for a particular set of rare rims, MyGarage lets you save searches and receive alerts in case they pop up for sale.
Now, these performance upgrades are just scratching the surface of what’s possible. Tuning and tweaking your car can become addictive. You can’t say we didn’t warn you.
