Why Not to Pimp Your Used Car

First and foremost, you need to keep in mind that the team on Pimp My Ride are highly skilled mechanics. Xzibit and his dubious rap/acting career aside, the rest of the team are professionals who know exactly what they are doing. If you're going to pimp your ride yourself, make sure you know exactly what you are doing, and that you have all the necessary skills. Ruining your used car may not cost you a penny, but sorting out your mess afterwards could cost you a fortune, plus your mechanic will probably laugh you right out of his garage.

Even if all your pimping is successful and you don't wind up ruining your once perfectly good used car, there are still problems a-plenty for souped-up rides. Firstly, the insurance. With a newly hot-looking motor, you will be bound to attract attention, envy and damage. Stand-out cars are more likely to get pinched than your trusty, old used car. On the road, you are also more likely to encourage aggression and animosity from other drivers. This can result in even more damage to your car, which will drive your insurance up through the roof and drive you crazy all at once.

And still there are even more issues. Even if your car receives no criminal attention, you are still likely to find yourself under the scrutiny of the police. Many of the methods of pimping your ride are illegal and not safe to use on the road with other drivers. Neon lights under your used car, for example, can get you a fine or even a couple of points on your license.

In the UK, the laws regarding neons and strobes under your car are unclear and a bit confusing. As a rule of thumb, if your pimped out used car is lit up light a Christmas tree it will probably distract other drivers. This will get you pulled over by the first policeman you pass. Technically, the only under-car lighting that is allowed is red back lighting, orange side-lighting and white front-lighting, but the only way to be truly safe from unwanted cop attention is to only use your under-car lighting when driving off-road, which sort of defeats the point, really.

All in all, if you are hoping to cheaply and effectively pimp your ride yourself, you are sorely mistaken. Unless you are a master mechanic, or happen to be friends with Xzibit and his team, steer away from souping up your used motor yourself. It could land you in a whole heap of trouble.