Bodykits: Are you considering adding one to your car?
Then read on to find out the pluses and minuses of installing them.
THE PROS
1) Bodykits can improve aesthetics.
To a petrolhead, even a family saloon with a decent bodykit looks sportier than the same model without one.
Provided you haven’t gone overboard in terms of the bodykit’s design, of course.
It may not make your car go any faster.
But if it looks good in the carpark, it definitely makes you feel good, too.
You might want to complement your car’s looks with a new set of sporty wheels, too.
2) Bodykits improve handling.
A properly designed bodykit that has actually been tested in a wind tunnel can help your can handle better.
It can reduce lift at higher speeds, thereby ensuring your vehicle remains planted on the tarmac.
3) Bodykits can improve performance.
Provided that the kit in question includes larger air intakes and a bonnet with vents/scoops, it could deliver better engine cooling.
Engines love cooler air. It enhances their outputs.
THE CONS
1) You may look like you’re trying too hard.
Although you think that new spoiler on your car looks awesome, your friends might actually think it is too much.
This is especially true if the rear spoiler in question is too tall/broad/wide.
A less “radical-looking” rear wing, or perhaps boot lip spoiler might be enough.
2) Bodykits can improve handling – at the expense of driveability.
You may be reaping the benefits of a more aerodynamically stable drive, but how are you coping in carparks?
Carpark ramps set at steep angles can be especially cruel to front spoilers.
I have seen lowered cars with bodykits in my carpark kissing the ground as they descend the ramps.
3) Bodykits can increase fuel consumption
This may sound ridiculous at first.
But consider the fact that bodykits are not just cosmetic – some of them are designed to add downforce.
If they’re not properly tested, they may actually increase your car’s drag coefficient – literally dragging your car down.
If your car has to overcome the added air resistance – which only increases with speed – your fuel consumption will increase.
So, weigh your options and consider these pros and cons before deciding on a bodykit!
