Upgrade your old car with new-car tech
word yet on when cars will be able to take the wheel while dressing you in a suit, à la “The Incredibles,” but today’s carmakers are still coming up with some pretty fancy new technology.
As the industry barrels toward autonomous vehicles, new cars include increasingly advanced ways to protect drivers, such as automatic braking and blind spot monitoring. Plus, new car technology often means posh comfort features. Think Wi-Fi access and massaging seats.
But it’s not always affordable to buy a new car or expensive technology packages, and buying a used car — or holding on to a car longer — is much more practical for many shoppers.
The good news is, you don’t need a new car to get some of the latest upgrades. Several aftermarket devices can be added to your current ride to give it capabilities found in new models.
Here are three ways to give your trusty ride a technology facelift without spending a fortune.
Heads-up displays
In a world of Oculus Rift and virtual reality video games, the auto industry is ripe for a video projection upgrade.
Heads-up displays, or HUDs, show navigation for drivers as a transparent image projected on the windshield and have been included in newer car models by brands such as Audi, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Land Rover.
HUDs not only display arrows for up No coming turns, but also information like your speed, mileage, engine warnings and more — all without ever requiring your eyes to leave the road. It’s typically offered as a factory-installed add-on but is becoming standard equipment on higher-end cars and even some midlevel models.
You can find standalone aftermarket HUDs for $100 to $300; they typically project onto a transparent screen that sits on the dashboard in front of your windshield and displays directions and engine warnings. Other companies have designed stands and smartphone apps that provide HUD capabilities for even less, like the Hudway Glass for $49.95.
Rearview camera
We can’t sing the praises of rearview cameras enough — they’ve become essential safety equipment for nearly all vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will require them in all new vehicles after May 1, 2018, as rearview blind spots account for over 15,000 injuries each year, and backup cameras reduce this blind zone by about 90 percent.
You can buy a quality rearview camera that you can install yourself for less than $150. Auto retail chain Pep Boys offers a wireless backup camera for $127.49 online.
Bluetooth stereos
Nobody wants a ticket for holding a cell phone, or worse, an accident caused by distracted driving. And in today’s connected world, that makes Bluetooth capabilities a fan favorite upgrade.
Bluetooth installation wirelessly syncs your phone to your sound system, so drivers can speak to callers over their car speakers, display incoming alerts on their dashboard, and operate their phone’s music through the car stereo — meaning no more manually scrolling through your tiny device to find Beyonce’s “Lemonade” on your morning commute.
Simply replace your current stereo with a Bluetooth-equipped one. A reliable model can be found for under $150. Best Buy’s Kenwood radio, at $79.99, has over 100 positive customer reviews, and the company’s Geek Squad auto techs will install it for $64.99.