Car Accessories

               Car Accessories a important thing to think about while buying a new car. Car accessories covers a wide variety of things like Car audio/video (Music) System, Interiors, Alloy Wheels, Spoilers, Sun Control Film for the windows(tinting), Rear cameras, navigation units, Remote Control Lock(Keyless system),seat covers, Car protection cover etc..


These are the Car accessories that we have to think of while buying a car. Based on the needs and the budget we can opt for different accessories.If possible we can opt for all the accessories that the car can have.


Now i will try to help you find the necessary accessories for the car and also few suggestions of the brands that we can go for and price range of the products.



Car Music System:


It has become the most important accessory in the car. Now no one is having a Car without a Music System. There are wide range of Music Systems available with lot of features. There are lot of Brands also.


Understanding Music System:

              If you get bored during long stints behind the wheel or get stuck in traffic jams a lot, install a music system. Listening to your favorite music while driving will alleviate the boredom and frustration. However, before you buy one find out what the important factors are in a music system.


Start Off With a Good Head Unit

              A good head unit is the most important part of the system. A head unit with high-voltage RCA outputs is useful. High-voltage outputs allow better noise immunity but if the speakers are run from the amplifiers built into the head unit, don’t bother with RCA outputs. Head units and amplifiers need to have impeccable sound quality and no noise (background noise or alternator noise) whatsoever. Paying slightly more and getting a CD Changer control will enable you to simply plug in a changer in the future even if you are getting a cassette or MD head unit for the present.

Enter The Speakers

              Installed in the dash and the rear they are definitely the most important aspect of the music system. They determine how the system sounds. No equalizer or processor can compensate enough for poorly-installed speakers.

Amplifiers

               Amplifiers do not merely make a system sound louder; they also make it sound better. Reputed brands should be preferred. The size and the weight of the amplifier are important. The different types of amplifiers are Classes A, B, C and D of which class B amplifiers are the most common.


Equalizers

               Equalizers are used to fine-tune a system. They are valuable instruments that can flatten a system's frequency response (they can make the output levels of all frequencies similar). There are two types of equalizers: mono and stereo equalizers. The main difference between mono and stereo EQs is that a mono EQ has only one input and one output and a stereo has two inputs and two outputs. Many people use mono EQs for the easier control they give over the output sound.


Subwoofer

               They are generally designed to handle low frequencies down to around 20Hz. With the exception of free-air subwoofers, a lot depends on how well they are mounted and enclosed. They need more power than regular speakers because they are bigger and have to move more air. Opt for a Sony Pioneer or a Kenwood amplifier for the front speakers and a better high-current amplifier for the subwoofers.


Power Considerations

               It is better to have more power than you need to get clearer sound. A minimum of 30-50 watts is what is required to drive the speakers. Contrary to popular belief, too much power will not damage the speakers. Speakers get damaged because of distortion. Therefore a bigger amplifier enables higher volumes without distortion.


Upgrading

               Powerful amplifiers are expensive so it is better to get a two-channel amplifier to drive the subwoofers at acceptable levels. They can be upgraded later with an identical amplifier and each of the subwoofers powered with an amplifier in the bridged mode for more bass.


Quality Counts

               It is always better to buy quality components which will definitely increase performance of the system.How secure is your system?There are many security options for head units nowadays. Detachable faceplates are the most common option. The front part of the radio comes off rendering the rest of the unit useless. Yet another security protection pioneered by Kenwood is a flat panel that covers the radio when the ignition key is turned off. Some radios such as Blaupunkt use a smart card that when removed renders the unit useless.


Navigation Unit:

               It is also available as part of the Music System in some high end models of many brands. Sometimes if it is not available also we can get the navigation unit separately and integrate it with the music system head unit if it is navigation ready head unit.


For getting details of the head units you can have a look into the below links of different brands


a)Kenwood  - http://india.kenwood.com/products/car/index.html
b)Pioneer   - http://www.pioneer-india.in/index.php?option=com_catalog&view=category&Itemid=11&id=3
c)JVC          - http://www.jvc.co.in/car/index.html
d)Blaupunkt - http://www.blaupunkt.de/index.php?id=797&L=1
e)Sony         - http://www.sony.co.in/productcategory/car-audio
f)Philips       - http://www.philipscaraudio.co.nz/



And to find out the price ranges of the products and details about the accessories you can have a look on below link also

http://automobiles.mapsofindia.com/car-accessories/car-graphics.html



Alloy wheels:


What is an alloy wheel?
              The term alloy wheels  is usually given to wheels 'cast' from a mixture of aluminum instead of steel, making the tyres light weight even though they’re usually larger in size than the factory fitted steel wheels. They aluminum helps dissipating heat and small amounts of more rigid metals whose presence in the 'mix' provides rigidity and helps prevent cracks propagating.


What are the advantages of alloy wheels?

•     Aesthetic value ( beauty , elegance and a sporty look )
•     A variety of designs to choose according to ones taste.
•     Light weight ( hence low unsprung weight ) resulting in lower inertia being imparted to the springs   while riding over a bump.
•     Lighter rotational mass improves acceleration , braking and fuel efficiency .
•     Better road holding ( Tyre remains in contact with the running surface longer ).
•     Better braking ( wheel hop under traction is reduced ).
•     Longer Tyre life because of better heat dissipation (alloy wheels are better conductor of heat) .
•     Tyres fitted on alloy wheels are on an average 10% cooler than the normal rims particularly at high speeds .
•     Cooler tyres wear out more slowly.
•     Reduced and even tyre wear because alloy wheel is invariable and perfectly true.
•     No corrosion or rust since special aluminium alloys are used .
•     Perfectly round and balanced hence no wobbling even at high speed.
•     Completely air tight hence perfectly suitable for modern tubeless tyres.
•     Enhanced cooling of disks and drums .
•     Less prone to bending and deformations , hence improved balance retention .
•     Superior rigidity improves cornering , lateral stability , better steering & handling .

What does Offset mean ?

                Offset is the distance between the hub mounting face at the back of the wheel and the wheel's centreline. Offset is usually stamped or engraved into the wheel and is measured in millimetres of 'ET' [ET is the short form of the German word 'Einpresstiefe' which literally translates as 'insertion depth']


Positive Offset wheels have their mounting face toward the front face of the wheel. Most front wheel drive vehicles have positive ET wheels.


Zero offset wheels have their mounting face even with the centerline of the wheel and are by definition "ET 0".


Negative Offset wheels have their mounting face toward the rear of the wheel - powerful rear-wheel drive cars often have wheels with negative offset.


What does PCD mean?

                 PCD stands for 'pitch circle diameter' and is the diameter of a circle drawn through the centre of your wheel's bolt holes. P.C.D. is measured in millimeters and also indicates the number of studs or bolts the wheel will have.


Are special tyres required for installing alloy wheels?
                 There is no requirement of special tyres to install alloy wheels. Standard tyres given by the car manufacturer are perfectly compatible with the wheels.


Are tubeless tyres required for alloy wheels?
               No, tubeless tyres are not required for alloy wheels, however they are compatible with alloy wheels.


Is balancing and alignment necessary while installing alloy wheels?
               Just like any other steel wheels, balancing is necessary while installing alloy wheels to strike a perfect balance between the tyres and wheels. This is necessary to avoid wobbling and uneven wear and tear.


Do you get common alloy wheels, which fit on all the cars?
               No every car has different bolt pattern, but there are vehicles, which share a common bolt pattern for which common wheels are applicable and available.


What does Plus-Sizing or Up-Stepping mean?
               Plus-Sizing or Up-Stepping are two terms given to the practice of increasing the diameter of your wheels whilst simultaneously reducing the profile of your tyres to keep the overall rolling radius the same. Plus sizing helps improve the handling of the car.


What are alloy wheels locking nuts and locking bolts?
               A set of locking wheel nuts or locking wheel bolts functions like a regular nut or bolt, but requires a special key tool for installation and removal. Locking wheel nuts & wheel bolts are designed to only be loosened when the appropriate key is used to turn them and therefore offer great protection from wheel and tyre theft. The simple installation of locking nuts or locking bolts makes them an easy way to secure your alloy wheels.


Care and maintenance of alloy wheels
               In order to maintain the finish on your alloy wheels it is recommended that you use a mild soap with water based solution and clean with a soft un-abrasive cloth. Please do not use any kind of chemicals, household cleaners or detergents. Avoid using Aluminum polish on chrome, painted or clear coated wheels.

For finding out the different models of alloy wheels have a look into the below link
http://www.alloywheelsindia.com/product.php


Spoilers:

            You should have noticed a wing like accessory attached at the rear of most of the cars and some times even on trucks. Have you ever wondered what it could be or what is the use of it? Many of us hold a misconception that this is an accessory to beautify cars to look like racing vehicles. But, in fact, they are very useful to make your car fuel efficient and stable on roads. The particular attachment is called 'spoilers'.


Nothing changes the look of a car quite as quickly as the addition of a spoiler. A car spoiler, or rear wing, consists of a styled piece of fiberglass that enhances the aerodynamics of your car. Spoiler wings can come in all different shapes and sizes, too. The high hoop spoiler, Supra spoiler, Lip spoiler, Wings West spoilers... there are number-less designs are available. They, of course, add to the beauty of your car, but apart from just the beautification they are very helpful mechanical accessories to make your car stay on the road.


A spoiler is an aerodynamic device attached to an automobile whose intended design function is to 'spoil' unfavorable air movement across a body of a vehicle of some kind in motion. This can result in improved vehicle stability by decreasing lift or decreasing drag that may cause unpredictable handling in a car at speed. Spoilers are often fitted to race and high-performance sports cars, although they have become common on passenger vehicles, as well.


Spoilers for automobiles are often incorrectly confused with, or even used interchangeably with, wings. Automotive wings are devices whose intended design is to actually generate down-force as air passes around them, not simply disrupt existing airflow patterns.


Spoilers generally work by disrupting the airflow going over a moving vehicle. This disruption's primary purpose is to reduce the amount of lift naturally generated by the shape of the vehicle while it is moving. This is accomplished by increasing the amount of turbulence flowing over the shape, "spoiling" the laminar flow and providing a cushion for the laminar boundary layer.


In cars, the result is increasing the contact between the tire and the road surface, thereby increasing traction. This increase in traction allows a vehicle in motion to brake, turn, and accelerate with more stability. Additionally, this is accompanied by an increase in aerodynamic drag. In nearly all cases, drag increases as the speed of the vehicle increases. Thus, some spoilers that are effective at very low speeds often generate excessive drag at high speeds, and spoilers that work well at high speeds are often ineffective while moving slowly.

Car Rear-view Cameras:


Car Rear-view Camera with a wide angle lens and up/down angle adjustment for the absolute best view of what is behind you when you are reversing your car.


This high quality waterproof rear view back-up camera with color wide angle lens is an easy DIY (do-it-yourself) unit that makes a great upgrade to any city use vehicle. With an easy mounting design and included pre-wiring, this model rear-view camera can be installed on all of todays big and small cars without the need for any extra parts. With a few simple, common tools, now anyone can add a rear-view camera to their car.


Safety while reversing the car is very important for you, your passengers, and any pedestrians nearby. One of the best ways to keep everyone safe while reversing in narrow alleys, drives with blind spots, and other difficult areas is to have a high resolution rear view camera to give you a full view of what is coming up on the street. By simply pairing this unit with an LCD screen (like on a car DVD player or GPS unit), you will now be able to more clearly see what is behind you.


This easily installed rear view camera will ensure you can park and reverse safely. It is small enough to mount above your license plate and yet will provide a wide viewing angle with crystal clear color video. And the best part is that this model has a fully adjustable vertical adjustment so you can personalize the aiming angle to best fit your needs. An ideal add on for any car needing to park in congested cities as well as for anyone with a large vehicle.


For info about the Top brand models have a look into the links


http://india.kenwood.com/products/car/visual_navigaion/cmos-200/index.html
http://india.kenwood.com/products/car/visual_navigaion/cmos-300/index.html
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/Accessories/Rear-View-Cameras