After Market Options: Adding New Car Tech to Your Used Car
Making the smart decision to buy a previously owned vehicle instead of a new one has many benefits. Chiefly among them is that used cars don't depreciate as much as new cars and trucks.
However, your new-to-you vehicle may not have every piece of technology you'd like for it to have. No worries. Adding new car tech to your ride is surprisingly affordable.
Here are a few that are now available:
Tire Pressure Monitors
Add bluetooth-enabled valve caps to your tires to continually monitor tire pressure. It will also let you know if you have a slow leak or if pressure is dropping. Data is sent wirelessly to an app on your phone.
Parking Sensors
Take the stress out of parking in a tight spot. Some of the most affordable parking sensor options are easy to install on your own. Using sound waves to detect when you're about to ding somebody else's car, it alerts you with a beeping sound. Just make sure that what you're installing is compatible with your vehicle.
Heads-Up Displays
This device projects navigation onto the windshield as a transparent image. It displays upcoming turns, mileage, speed, engine warnings and more.
Rearview Camera
For new vehicles, rearview cameras are required. That's because they are incredibly helpful in avoiding backing into or over what's behind you.
The prices on these devices keep coming down. Right now, you can install one for well under $150. You can even get some with additional features such as night vision and cross-traffic alerts.
Smart Car Safety
These typically plug into your car's diagnostics port under the steering wheel. With a monthly subscription fee, get roadside assistance for breakdowns, as well as automatic emergency response when the system detects you've been in an accident. Then relays your GPS location to the nearest 911 dispatch center.
Blind Spot Warnings
For those that do a lot of highway driving, this is a must! A recent addition to the aftermarket, they are pricier. Think $400 or so. Essentially, it's a radar sensor installed below your license plate that contains an alert indicator inside your car.
It lets you know when a vehicle is in your blind spot and it alerts you when you're backing out of a parking spot, but you can't see vehicles driving by.
Dash Cameras
Great for recording beautiful scenic drives, dash cameras are also great for proving you weren't at fault in an accident.
Jump Starters
Say goodbye to cumbersome jumper cables. Now you can jump start a dead or ailing battery with a powerful, small lithium -polymer battery. It also charges your other devices and serves as a flashlight. Most will fit in your glove box!
Joe Bowman Auto Plaza has both new and used cars and trucks. Check out all we have to offer on our website!
