We’ve all seen them in the campus parking lot. No matter how much we try, we somehow always seem to spot them. Even worse is when we see the owner and feel embarrassed for him or her.
Of course I’m talking about those old, beat-up, seen-better- days cars. As college students subjected to used cars and hand-me-downs, many students own the vehicles on their last legs.
MTV, however, has created a show where experts take these beat up cars and transform them into hot street machines. The name of the show is “Pimp My Ride” and it features rapper Xzibit and the car detailing company West Coast Customs.
The kids chosen to have their ride pimped are rewarded with thousands of dollars of detailing and fabrication done to their car. From DVD players, to Sony Playstations and Nintendo Game Cubes, to interior fish tanks, these cars get tricked out.
West Coast Customs puts thousands of dollars worth of equipment to pimp these cars, but students who just wish to transform their beat up scrap metal vehicle can spend a lot less money and still give their car a decent look.
One area the mechanics at West Coast Customs concern themselves with is the rims.
The plain standard issued rims on a car can be the most noticeable and embarrassing part of a car. Victims of deep pot holes and college décor vandals are left with the frightening black steel wheels.
A simple and fairly inexpensive way to fix this problem is purchasing a set of plastic hub caps at any automotive store.
Sure, they’re not going to give your car the same feel as four chromed 20 inch spinners, but it’s a lot better alternative to the plain metal.
The hub caps come in various designs and styles, from a flat gray to a shiny pseudo-chrome look.
A set of four generally costs around $30, depending on which store they are sold.
To find the right fit of hub cap, look on the car’s tire. There is a set of numbers located on the outside of the tire, ending in the diameter of the wheel. For example, if the code ends in 14, then the wheel requires a 14-inch hub cap.
The interior of the car is just as important as the exterior. Even if a car looks good on the outside, it needs to show some class and dignity in the inside.
Torn seats and stained floor mats are not the way to go if you want to give your car a sense of pride.
Although replacing the entire seats would create a dent in your wallet, a simple cover-up will transform the disgusting seats into loveable lounges.
Wal-Mart carries an array of slip covers for your car’s seating. They even have zebra print and velvet fabric so your car can truly be pimping.
In addition, you can purchase alternative floors mats to replace the grease-stained ones in your car already.
Floor mats are available in numerous colors, and even feature cartoon characters and novelties to add some personality to your car.
The floor mats and slipcovers total around $50, but they will give your car’s interior a sense of style.
Finally, what is a pimped out ride without the system?
Every car needs to be heard, and the antique cassette player just does not cut it these days.
This facet of automotive supremacy is the ultimate symbol West Coast Customs cars. They equip every ride with thousands of dollars worth of entertainment electronics.
While not every person can afford to have a six-CD changer and 10-inch monitors in their car, no one should be subjected to using a boom box as their car stereo system.
Electronic stores such as Circuit City and Best Buy offer car CD players for less than $100. They also offer free installation with a purchase over a certain amount.
While the bass on these systems may not set off car alarms and rattle windows, it will be enough to listen to your favorite music.