Ack Attack Post 33: Lights

New Acuras, BMWs, Mercedes, etc. come with really bright, white lights. This helps the driver to see better at night as well as aids in the bliding of oncoming traffic. There are many different types of lights which people with older model cars can buy so that they can see better. Projector headlights, Xenon headlights, Halos, etc. are just a few of the additions which mostly tuners add to their vehicles. For example, Xenon headlights have a longer wavelength and can thus light up a larger area while in use. Many tuners will put HID lights in their cars, but these are modeately expensive for just a light. A HID kit ranges from $200-$500 unless they are already on the car. So pretty much, you're paying a few $100 per bulb. Though they do clear up the view at night and make the car look a little sleeker, it's a steep price for a couple of headlights.

Tail lights are another way to personalize your car. Euro, Clear, and Altezza are just a few types of tail lights which many tuners choose to put on their cars. Changing from stock lights is a fairly easy thing to do, hence why so many tuners have chosen to add this as a customization to their cars. I personally have never seen a tail light conversion on a CL, but I know plenty of Integras have them as do Honda Civics and Accords. Black housing is also very popular in customizing lighting. Black housing is painting the inside of the plastic, the part that holds the bulbs. This can be painted a variety of colors, but it is very difficult to do because you have to bake the plastic - not too many tuners choose to do this because there is a high risk factor for messing up your headlights or tail lights. Tinting is another choice that many tuners use to customize their cars. A spray or lining can be applied to the lights so that they are "smoked" or darker looking. While this does look pretty cool, it isn't legal everywhere. So, as will all customizations, make sure to check your state listings to see if it's legal where you live before making any additions to your car.

Ack Attack Post 32: Tires & Rims

There are tons of wonderful places to get tires and rims, many of which are on the internet. By looking in tuner magazines or other car magazines, you can find at least 10 different ads for tires or rims for sale. Many of these ads transfer over to the internet where you can choose your car and literally see what the rims and tires would look like on your car before you acually purchase them. DiscountTire and TireRack are two of my favorite sites for choosing wheels. I purchased my tires and rims from Discount Tire and have been very pleased with the customer service as well as the products. They also have a wonderful replacement plan. If you get a hole or nail in your tire, just bring it to them and they will fix it. If they can't fix it, they will get you a new tire for as long as the car is under your name. Now, this is not to say that they will always replace the tire. If they can fix it with a plug they will try, but if not, you will get a new tire.

When shopping for tires, make sure that you take into consideration the number of lugnuts on your current rims - it's easier if you stick with the same number rather than having to do a conversion. Also, deciding on the number of spokes you want and the color can take some time. If you're in a rush, I would recommend waiting until you have a longer time to decide on what you really want. There's nothing worse than thinking you've bought the most awesome rims and deciding later that they aren't want you really wanted. Rims are a personal decision and you shouldn't let others' opinions sway yours.

Ack Attack Post 31: Carbon Fiber Special

Carbon fiber is a woven cloth made of carbon filaments. It is extremely light weight, so it can replace large car panels reducing the weight of the car. It is one of the leading materials used in F1 car making because it makes them so light. Tuners with money choose carbon fiber as their stylistic choice though others who are not so financially set go for the "carbon fiber look" which is a simulation of the real thing. Carbon fiber comes many colors so it can match a wide variety of cars without making them sacrifice when it comes to color choice. Tuners tend to go for the basic black carbon fiber because it shows that it is really carbon fiber. There are also textural differences between real and simulated carbon fiber. You can actually feel the woven filaments in the real thing while the simulated CF is smooth and slightly more shiny.

Carbon fiber is often used in sporting equipment, utensils, or musical instruments. Since it is in such high demand, it is relatively expensive. In referencing above, the tuners with money buy CF because of its cost. A cheap CF hood would be about $500. Most tuners aren't looking to make their cars "show cars," so they aren't worried about spending that much money on them. Many CF hoods come with vents in them which allows for more cool air to get to the engine, cooling it down faster, which is better for the car. Overall, CF is a great look and great addition to any car, but it'll cost ya.