What aftermarket parts improve the looks of any car?

I think a stock vehicle kept in really nice, like new condition is just about the best after market thing you can do. My favorite type of vehicle is unrestored, unmolested and like new. Having said that, I do like older vehicles that have a nice "patina" also.

Smoked taillight covers.

Not like limo tint black, but just enough to dampen the brightness when they're off.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

Lowering, however, always looks crappy.  Makes the proportions all wrong unless you cut and roll the wheelwells higher to even up the wheel gap.

Depends on the car.  Some have well proportioned wheel wells that look wrong after lowering, others look weird until they're lowered a bit.  Look at a Ford EcoSport for a really bad example.  The wheel wells are a good 2 inches too tall for where the tires sit in them (and their front/back length), so a good drop would fix the "skipped leg day" look those come with. 

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

In reply to Berck :

Going from 18s to 17s dramatically increased the visual appeal of my Volvo.  The 18s look Conestoga-ey.  The 17s, on the other hand..

 

The stock 235/40-18s limit the steering to two turns, and Volvo put metal grind pads on the fender liners for the tires to rub on.  Which they did.  A lot.  The 235/45-17s do not rub, and I could probably use thinner steering stops on the control arms to allow more steering.

I don't know how much genetics is shared between the 3rd gen Focus and the Volvo P2R, but P2R 18" wheels fit the FoRS and vice versa (330mm rotors allow 17s to fit the Volvo) and the steering is similarly limited.  The next generation S60 looks a lot like a Focus underneath...

That's interesting that a 0.3% difference, with taller sidewalls on the 17s made such a big difference. Sounds like there is an offset difference between the 18s and 17s.

In reply to Mr_Asa :

This.

The only "upgrade" I can think of that makes every car look better to me is a good looking blonde.  No disrespect intended for any of our female readers.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

Keith Tanner said:

So, we have determined that across a given type of modification there are good choices and bad choices. You can still buy ugly aftermarket wheels and some stock wheels look good. 

Lowering, however, always looks crappy.  Makes the proportions all wrong unless you cut and roll the wheelwells higher to even up the wheel gap.

I've never seen a car that didn't look better tastefully* lowered

* My kids and I disagree on the extent of lowering that is tasteful. I'm a Pro-kit kind of guy and they're all about the Sportline

Aftermarket steering wheels also always make a car look better (not always a good idea but they always look better).

z31maniac said:

Duke said:

NO!  *Batman slap*

I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't care for window tint, at least on sporty cars. 

Although whatever I get next will definitely have the clear heat rejection tint to help with Oklahoma summers. 

Sorry you are both WRONG.

Tint (not blacked out) for the win! 

Except convertibles, that's just dumb. 

Mighty subwoofers for interior look

In reply to kalper223 :

When you absolutely positively need everybody in a quarter-mile radius to know you are an inconsiderate prick, accept no substitutes.

Like others have said, spacers and lowering springs for most of my daily drivers. Sometimes new wheels, but usually OEM wheels from other models. Here's my TDI 

(stock image-I guess I didn't take any pictures when I bought it)

And after, with H&R Sports, Bilstein B8's and Prismas from a VW Atlas. I also added some splash guards because I live on a gravel road. It really needs window tint and taller tires (These are 245/40, but I probably should've gone 245/45) 

I think it looks pretty decent for a boring daily 

1. 50mph temp spare wheels on a transit.

2. Trucknutz.

3. Stickers of all the people that don't sponsor you on your fender.

02Pilot said:

Yosemite Sam "Back off" or Playboy bunny logo mudflaps.

Whew, it has been a few years since I have seen either of these.

Any thing from the dollar bin at an auto zone 

Nothing.  With very limited exception, I'm not a fan of altering a car from OEM from the looks perspective.  Lowering, tint, wheels, steering wheel, etc...  Nope, no thanks.  To me, the worst of all of them is aftermarket stereos.  99% of the time, they just look horrible IMO.  

Some cars, you can't improve their looks with aftermarket parts.

How you going to make a series 1 XKE roadster on wire wheels look better than it aready does?

In reply to Colin Wood :

Chrome wire wheels.  Chrome plated starting handle. 

I can't believe no one has said fuzzy dice!