5 ways to make your daily commuter stand out
For crawling through the notorious city traffic, having a boring, low-maintenance vehicle as a daily commuter is practical. Yet, if you have the will to do it, here are some of the most affordable ways to make them stand out
For car enthusiasts, it is almost an untold fact that the cars they drive directly indicate their personalities. Hence, there's a massive global industry of aftermarket parts supplying universal and custom-tailored parts for nearly all car brands and models.
Some cars, particularly sports cars or luxury sedans, have enough styling bits to stand out from the average crowd. However, for crawling through the notorious city traffic, particularly amongst the thousands of rickshaws and millions of two-wheelers, it is practical to have a low maintenance, highly reliable but rather boring model as a daily commuter.
These vehicles are what form the majority of everyday traffic and are designed to prioritise function over form. Yet, if you have the will to do it, here are some of the simplest and most affordable ways to stand out from the crowd in style, while still being within the boundaries of law.
Fog lights with flair
As the name suggests, the primary function of fog lights is to cut through thick winter fog. In reality, fog lights are underrated and attractive. To make any car sparkle, one of the easiest ways is to install a pair of fog lights. Many vehicles already come with them but depending on preference, options for fog lights can vary from halogen bulbs and LEDs to various colour options like white or yellow.
Not only can fog lights be a stylish add-on, but they also be extremely advantageous during unpleasant monsoon rain and winter fog, particularly when driving on the highway. In case you do plan to install one, it is recommended to opt for only the branded ones along with appropriate wires based on the bulb's power draw as not doing it can put the car at the risk of fire.
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Price starts at: Tk3,000
The mystery of light tinting
Yes, there is probably no one left in this world who has never seen a Corolla. But do you still want to make your Corolla (or any other daily driver) stand out? Well, slightly darkening the casings for the headlights or tail lights would make your car pop out in the crowd.
One feature that many sports cars and luxury cars come with is black-housed headlights. On the other hand, most mundane vehicles cheap out on fancy headlight technology and opt for the regular chrome headlight housing.
Thus, among the plethora of regular models, adding a faint smoky tint to the headlight and taillight casings can give the overall car's fascia a new layer of depth. It is an easy way to stand out, as long as it is ensured that the tint isn't too dark to hide the purpose of the lights.
Price starts at: Tk1,500
Replacing the wheels
This is considered to be arguably the biggest cosmetic glow-up for any car. Most daily commuters, like the nation's favourite Toyota Premios and Allions, come with a mundane set of wheels, designed to ensure the utmost fuel efficiency. However, going for aftermarket wheels will not only change the whole look of the car but with the right setting, can even make them more exciting to drive.
A spoked bronze set of everyone's favourite TE37, a gunmetal grey set of XXR or even a reconditioned original pair from a different manufacturer, the design choices are endless. One important point to remember is to strictly stick to the tyre specification that has been approved by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) if you want to avoid hefty fines or want your vehicle to legally pass the fitness test.
Price starts at: Tk25,000
Styling the car with body kits
Bodykits installed on top of the body panels are designed to enhance the visual appearance, while also reducing air resistance at high speeds.
For models which don't have one already, these are either locally available or available through pre-order at parts shops like in the capital's BanglaMotor area or Scout Market. Another cheaper alternative that will not break the bank is to make custom ones using fibre from automobile workshops.
Consider sporty rear diffusers, side skirts, and front splitters. Whatever you do, the key is to remain subtle and avoid skirts that make you flinch whenever you come near a speed bump.
If you're not willing to take any hassle of sourcing or building body parts for your grocery getter, the least you can do to stand out is to make your normal again- get rid of the steel bumpers and go back to stock ride height.
Price starts at: Tk5,000
Finish with polish
Do you remember how appealing your vehicle was when you first took delivery of it? One should never underestimate the importance of good polish.
Amongst all the half-beaten Toyotas, Nissans and Mazdas with countless dents and scratches, a subtle yet effective way to stand out is to keep the car looking new all the time. That's possible with a good polish which can make any car look clean and classy.
A clean, polished car looks great and tells a lot about the driver. It is recommended, however, to get it done from a well-reputed place and to only use the premium materials. A branded wax or ceramic coating can not only make the car look new but can also protect the original paint, even during small impacts.
Price starts at: Tk4,000
