Body Kit

A body kit is a collection of exterior modifications to a vehicle, such as roof scoops, front and rear side guards, paint jobs, spoilers, side skirts, and front and rear bumpers. The main purpose of body kits is to allow regular vehicles to mimic the look of racing vehicles, and serve aesthetic purposes over safety purposes. Body kits are usually designed to work together as a complete design, although sometimes a mix and match approach is used on cars, where the rear of one body kit will be matched with the front.

Brands

Choosing a body kit will determine how your car will look, so it is extremely important you choose the right brand for your vehicle. Wings West Body Kits are known for their terrific fit on cars, and are praised for their excellent bumpers and bumper covers. It is renowned for its work on Honda Civics, Dodge Chargers, and Ford Mustangs. Aero Function Body Kits is another popular brand. They offer premium Fibreglass Body Kits which are made entirely for show, and their quality is unmatched.

Safety

Safety can sometimes be an issue with body kits. Side skirts, and to a lesser extent front skirts, mean less ground clearance, which can be dangerous when driving on uneven roads or going over things like speed bumps. Body kits are also often made of polyurethane or fiberglass, which means they are more likely to splinter and crack in the event of a crash. Body kits are often installed for aesthetic purposes however, with safety reasons taking a back seat.

Benefits

A body kit can make even the most beaten-up model look like a show car. It is a perfect alternative for people who cannot afford an upper end model, and it helps your car stand out on the road. It also helps increase the value on your car, which can be incredibly beneficial down the road when you are trying to trade it in or sell it. Some body kits, perhaps surprisingly, can even make your car safer. A rear spoiler will help keep your back end down at high speeds, and front bumpers tend to come with Xenon bulbs which improve visibility.

Drawbacks

The biggest disadvantage to purchasing a body kit for your car is the price. A complete kit can cost several hundred dollars, and likely even more. Still, if you are upgrading an older car, or purchase a used vehicle, you may save thousands, which more than pays for the body kit. You also have to make sure you purchase parts that fit your vehicle. This is especially important if you decide to buy parts online. Body kits make the car look more valuable, and sometimes this means the car is more likely to suffer from theft or vandalism.

Cost

The average price of a body kit depends on the number of accessories you choose to add, and the brand type. The prices can range from $1,000 to as high as $10,000, especially if your kit contains performance enhancing parts. You also have to add installation and labor costs on top of that. Often, the kit itself is only a third of the entire cost of adding a body kit to your vehicle.