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| Buddy Club Aero Complete Body Kit |
| Class and Elegance. Both words comes to mind when you look at the Buddy Club Aero Complete Body Kit. Well respected in the Import Tuning World, these body kits are designed for style and class. Buddy Club has set the mold for import enthusiast to get a body kit that is balanced in appearance and des |
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| Extreme Dimensions Duraflex Body Kits |
| The brand new Extreme Dimensions Duraflex Body Kits are the latest in a break through technology that has everyone talking. This product combines fiberglass, plastic, and flex resins to manufacture products that are more durable and flexible then ever before. Not only will these body kits take all t |
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| Extreme Dimensions ED Carbon Fiber Body Kit |
| What better way to reduce the weight of your car then installing a Extreme Dimension ED Carbon Fiber Body Kit. Your vehicle will have more power to weight ratio after the installation. As we all know carbon fiber is strong and durable, which makes it the best option for a body kit for everyday use. |
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| Extreme Dimensions Carbon Fiber Front Lip Addons |
| Extreme Dimensions Carbon Fiber Front Lip Addons are a great way to keep the weight down and change the exterior of your vehicle at the same time. When you look at your vehicle and notice it has the same features as every other car on the road, you soon get tired of looking. Now you can do something |
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| Extreme Dimensions Carbon Fiber Rear Lip Addons |
| Extreme Dimensions Carbon Fiber Rear Lip Addons gives your vehicle that customized exterior change you always wanted without having to spend a lot of money. Carbon fiber material is known for being light weight and very strong. Each piece is made with Grade A Carbon Fiber which is the highest qualit |
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| Extreme Dimensions Aftermarket Duraflex Fenders |
| Extreme Dimensions Aftermarket Duraflex Fenders are great for that complete exterior change. When you think about changing your exterior of your car, it doesn't matter whether you install the hood first, the bumpers or the Duraflex Fenders , as long as you get them done. When you consider Duraflex F |
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| Extreme Dimensions ED Carbon Fiber Fenders |
| One of the best after market Fender is Extreme Dimensions ED Carbon Fiber Fenders which makes a great addition to your vehicle. There are many ways to change the look of your vehicle. One of the easiest is an aftermarket fender. If you have a carbon fiber hood or planning on getting one, then Extrem |
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| Seibon Carbon Fiber Fenders |
| Seibon Carbon Fiber Fenders are the real deal. They will reduce the weight of your vehicle. When the weight of your car is reduced, the gas millage, acceleration, handling and braking will improve. These fenders are 10mm wider then OEM fenders, which make your vehicle look wider.
These Carbon Fiber |
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| VIS Cyber Black Carbon Fiber Hood |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece un |
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| VIS EVO Black Carbon Fiber Hoods |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece un |
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| VIS Fuzion Black Carbon Fiber Hood |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece un |
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| VIS G Force Black Carbon Fiber Hoods |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece un |
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| VIS Invader Black Carbon Fiber Hood |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece un |
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| VIS JS Black Carbon Fiber Hood |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece un |
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| VIS Monster Black Carbon Fiber Hood |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piec |
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| VIS N 1 Black Carbon Fiber Hood |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece un |
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| VIS OEM Black Carbon Fiber Hood |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece un |
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| VIS RR Black Carbon Fiber Hoods |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece |
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| VIS S14 Black Carbon Fiber Hood |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece un |
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| VIS SIR Black Carbon Fiber Hood |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piec |
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| VIS Techno Black Carbon Fiber Hood |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece un |
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| VIS Terminator Black Carbon Fiber Hoods |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece |
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| VIS Xtreme GT Black Carbon Fiber Hood |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece un |
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| VIS ZC Black Carbon Fiber Hood |
| ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods are made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a UV coating, that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All our carbon fiber hoods are Grade A and above. ViS Carbon Fiber Hoods have a tight carbon weave, rolled edges, and one piece un |
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| Seibon Carbon Fiber Hood - EVO Style |
| SEIBON Carbon Fiber Hoods are designed to replace your factory hood and accept all hinges, latches and windshield sprayers for 100% Bolt On fitment. Cut weight in style with SEIBON Carbon Fiber Hoods.
All SEIBON Carbon Fiber Hood should be installed with Hood Pins. Although SEIBON Hoods do Bolt On, |
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| Seibon Carbon Fiber Hood - OEM Style |
| SEIBON Carbon Fiber Hoods are designed to replace your factory hood and accept all hinges, latches and windshield sprayers for 100% Bolt On fitment. Cut weight in style with SEIBON Carbon Fiber Hoods.
OEM Style guarantees your SEIBON Carbon Fiber Trunk will look just like factory. No additional fin |
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| Seibon Carbon Fiber Hood - VSII Style |
| SEIBON Carbon Fiber Hoods are designed to replace your factory hood and accept all hinges, latches and windshield sprayers for 100% Bolt On fitment. Cut weight in style with SEIBON Carbon Fiber Hoods.
All SEIBON Carbon Fiber Hood should be installed with Hood Pins. Although SEIBON Hoods do Bolt On, |
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| Seibon Carbon Fiber Hood - XT Style |
| SEIBON Carbon Fiber Hoods are designed to replace your factory hood and accept all hinges, latches and windshield sprayers for 100% Bolt On fitment. Cut weight in style with SEIBON Carbon Fiber Hoods.
All SEIBON Carbon Fiber Hood should be installed with Hood Pins. Although SEIBON Hoods do Bolt On, |
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| Bd 2 Style Side Skirts |
| Holding its title as one of the most popular vehicle upgrades in today's aftermarket industry, MimoUSA Body Kits are the ultimate addition to any vehicle, large or small. Our large variety of Body Kits make it simple for our customers to give their car the upmost unique makeover possible. Our highly |
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| Black Widow Style Side Skirts |
| The Black Widow Body Kit has become one of the all time best selling body kits due to its simple yet stylish looks, its reasonable pricing and its availability for most popular import tuners. This kit features a contemporary looking front bumper with a rather simple styling, side skirts with a small |
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| Blitz Style Side Skirts |
| The gorgeous green Mitsubishi Eclipse from The Fast and the Furious started a new trend in automotive styling. The kit on the car was the Blitz body kit. The kit is a semi aggressive aerodynamics package that is signified by its drift style inlets on both sides of the front bumper but with an indent |
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| Bsd Style Spoiler |
| Spoilers and Wings are all about style and substance. Make your car stick to the road with Spoilers and Wings. Find the best Spoiler and Wing to match your vehicle. Let people know you are serious about performance with a new Spoiler or Wing. |
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| Bw Style Spoiler |
| Holding its title as one of the most popular vehicle upgrades in today's aftermarket industry, MimoUSA Body Kits are the ultimate addition to any vehicle, large or small. Our large variety of Body Kits make it simple for our customers to give their car the upmost unique makeover possible. Our highly |
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| F1 Style Fender |
| Are you tired of the old look of Z3 and SLR fenders? Get something new and different. Our F1 fenders not only provide an awesome and unique new style but it also creates better cooling and air circulation in your engine compartment. You will get much cooler overall engine temperature by installing t |
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| Jdm Rr Style Side Skirts |
| Extensively bringing the most modern style to your vehicle, MimoUSA is once again blowing away the competition with its innovative Side Skirts. Statistically based on consumer reviews and demands, this product's potential has out-risen initial expectations and taken superior designing to a whole new |
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| Jdm Style Fender |
| The only thing that comes to mind when installing fenders on your car that were originally designed for a Half-A-Million dollar car, is INSANITY! The JDM will designed and placed into production for one reason only, to blow away your mind. Very few fenders in today's market can compare to the sleek, |
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| Jmd R Style Side Skirts |
| Extensively bringing the most modern style to your vehicle, MimoUSA is once again blowing away the competition with its innovative Side Skirts. Statistically based on consumer reviews and demands, this product's potential has out-risen initial expectations and taken superior designing to a whole new |
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| Octane R34 Style Side Skirts |
| Extensively bringing the most modern style to your vehicle, MimoUSA is once again blowing away the competition with its innovative Side Skirts. Statistically based on consumer reviews and demands, this product's potential has out-risen initial expectations and taken superior designing to a whole new |
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| Oem Style Carbon Fiber Hood |
| OEM style carbon fiber hoods are not your general carbon fiber hood. Each OEM hood is made from the finest carbon fiber available. Each hood is protected with a strong high temp UV coating that will allow the hood to hold its high gloss finish. All OEM carbon fiber hoods are the very highest grade a |
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| Tarmac Sports led taillights |
| Tarmac Sports Lighting products are designed for a direct plug and play installation. All lamps are manufactured for OEM fitment and simple bolt-on installation. All lights manufactured by Tarmac Sports are DOT/SAE approved and are 50 state street legal. |
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| Tarmac Sports euro taillights |
| Enhance the style of your car with a set of brand new Tarmac Sports Euro (Altezza) taillights. The upscale style and finish will be instantly noticed on the road and will set your car apart from all others. It's an economical upgrade that will add to your car's exterior styling. The Euro taillights, |
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| Tarmac Sports projector headlights |
| Tarmac Sports Projector Headlights are available with Halo, LED and Day Time Running Light configurations. These Tarmac Sports Projector Headlights also come in clear, black, smoke and chrome, depending on application. These are direct, bolt on, plug and play projector headlights, and come with ever |
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| Tarmac Sports oem fog light |
| Tarmac Sports Fog Lights are available as direct replacement fog lights, and depending on application come in chrome, smoked, clear or yellow. The Tarmac Sports Fog Lights in yellow, offer the unique richness of a JDM style color fog light, while for the BMW, there is an available Euro look. Tarmac |
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| Tarmac Sports Euro headlights |
| Very simple installation, replaces factory headlights. Comes with factory mounts. Most headlights come with plug & play wiring harness for easy installation. Low beam bulbs are also included with most headlights (please note that the bulbs may not be included, if the new lights use factory bulbs). A |
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| Tarmac Sports corner lights |
| Enhance the look of your vehicle front end with these corner lights. Corner lights which is also called side marker lights, are car lights mounted in the front corner of a vehicle and is usually placed beside the headlights and on the side of the fender or quarter panel or sometimes included on a wr |
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| Tarmac Sports Oem Headlights |
| Factory headlamps scratched, yellowed, dingy or just plain broken? Look no further than Tarmac Sports which is now offering a complete line of OEM replacement headlamps. This headlamp is identical to the stock headlamp installed from the factory.
Installation is quick and easy. Simply remove your |
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| MimoUSA Dash Trim Kit |
| Each dash kit is brought to enthusiasts, like you, by MimoUSA. Every kit is custom made to perfectly fit your car. There are tons of reasons why a dash kit is a great purchase and a fun modification. We are consistently asked by customers, "What should be my next car project." A dash kit is always o |
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| MimoUSA Carbon Fiber Headlight Eyelids |
| Eyelids install with adhesive on top of the headlight housing of the car. It gives a sporty and aggressive look to the car.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TYPES OF EYELIDS:
Polyurethane - Glossy polyurethane plastic. Works like a sticker but is thicker and more durable. It looks more like a 3D sha |
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| Polished Diamond Plate Aluminum Floor Mats |
| Looking to enhance the interior of your vehicle to a sporty yet classy look. ith these Aluminum Diamond Plate Mats, you can alter your car from the dull OEM look to the absolute maximum appearance. These Aluminum Diamond Plate Mats will bring out the life of your vehicle's floor, as you've never ima |
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| MimoUSA 2-Color Glow Gauges |
| These Glow gauges simply install over your existing gauge cluster to instantly bring your vehicle's vital statistics to life. These gauges are white in the daytime and glow brilliant blue or green at night giving you an incredibly clear view. Purchase our interior neon lighting kits to match and cre |
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| MimoUSA 6 Color Glow Gauges |
| Looking for the perfect visual upgrade for your vehicle? These Glow Gauges will look absolutely terrific in any car or truck. The 6-color glow gauges increase your visibility, and with multiple color choices it makes these gauges the obvious choice for a quick and easy visual enhancement for your ve |
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| MimoUSA F1 Style Mirrors with LED |
| You look at your mirrors everyday why not make them look the best. Add style and safety and get custom mirrors for your car or truck. Tired of big awkward looking mirrors add MimoUSA F1 Style Mirrors with LED to the appearance and give your car the fast and furious look it needs. It is designed to |
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| Fuzion Power Side View Mirrors with LED |
| If your looking for safety and attention then this product is for you. The Fuzion power side view mirrors comes with an LED Flash marker with 3 LED colors in one (White, Blue, Yellow). So be ready for attention because all eyes will be focused on your vehicle. The rhythmic blinking is unmistakable t |
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| MimoUSA M3 Power Side View Mirrors with LED |
| You look at your mirrors everyday why not make them look the best. Add style and safety and get custom mirrors for your car or truck. Tired of big awkward looking mirrors add MimoUSA M3 Style Power Side View Mirrors with LED to the appearance and give your car the fast and furious look it needs. It |
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| MimoUSA M3 Carbon Fiber Style Mirrors with LED |
| You look at your mirrors everyday why not make them look the best. Add style and safety and get custom mirrors for your car or truck. Tired of big awkward looking mirrors add MimoUSA M3 Carbon Fiber Style Side View Mirrors with LED to the appearance and give your car the fast and furious look it ne |
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| MimoUSA Euro SLR Style Side View Mirror with Dual LED |
| You look at your mirrors everyday why not make them look the best. Add style and safety and get custom mirrors for your car or truck. Tired of big awkward looking mirrors add MimoUSA Euro SLR Style Side View Mirror w/ Dual LED to the appearance and give your car the fast and furious look it needs. I |
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| MimoUSA Aluminum Bezel |
| Get that special look your after with our Exotic Brushed Aluminum Dash Bezel. From high quality material to easy installation, the Exotic Brushed Aluminum Dash Bezel's characteristics make this product a mandatory addition to any vehicle. Each and every order is custom made by our top of the line CN |
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| MimoUSA Chrome Door Pillars |
| Alternating a car's exterior features is a big concern for most race car drivers and car enthusiasts. The options available are unlimited. The introduction of MimoUSA Chrome Door B Pillars has added to the creativity and quality enhancement that a vehicles appearance can achieve WITH durable and aut |
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| MimoUSA Gloss Black Door Pillars |
| Alternating a car's exterior features is a big concern for most racecar drivers and car enthusiasts. The options available are unlimited. The introduction of MimoUSA Gloss Black Door B Pillars has added to the creativity and quality enhancement that a vehicles appearance can achieve. The UV protecti |
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| Polyurethane Headlights Eyelids |
| Eyelids install with adhesive on top of the headlight housing of the car. It gives a sporty and aggressive look to the car. Polyurethane - Glossy plastic eyelids. Works like a sticker but is thicker and more durable. It looks more like a 3D shape then flat shape. This product is installed with adhe |
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| Honda Body Kits can turn your Civic into one Hot Customized Vehicle
With automotive fashion becoming the trend nowadays, you cannot afford to let your Honda be left behind. So how do you make a great first impression with your car. Honda exterior accessories will do the trick. Exterior re styling accessories like Honda body kits alone can do wonders to your vehicles appearance. If you want to make your car look sportier, you can install any number of Honda body kits which will easily change your cars appearance.
Decades of being a leader in the automotive industry has proven that Honda parts do sell themselves. However, before purchasing any kind of Honda body kits, there are some tips you should to keep in mind. First, you have to consider the make and model of your Honda. Although there are generic body kits on the market, you will want to buy those body kits which have a custom look. A customized look can only be achieved if you use the correct body kits for your car. Do not make the mistake of purchasing body kits without knowing if it fits the specifications of your Honda. Fortunately, there are many different types of Honda body kits which can be found on the Internet and a lot of information that you can research.
While doing your research on the Internet, you will quickly gain an idea of the various body kits that you can buy and the price range each fall in. However, the total price from start to finish should include...
- body kit
- shipping
- installation
- paint work
The great thing about custom body kits is that you really don't need to have any body and fender experience, skills or special tools in order to create the look you want for your vehicle. Auto body and repair shops will easily install and paint all types of body kits. All you have to do is pick up your new mean machine when they finish. You can modify the look of your car as much or as little as you want, the choice is yours.
Check out some Civic Body Kits
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| 9/9/2010 - | GPS ratings updated: Latest navigators from Garmin, Magellan, and TomTom
Garmin Nuvi 3970T Looking to buy a portable navigation device for yourself or as a gift? Our GPS testers can point you in the right direction. Frank Spinelli and Frank Rizzi have been busy this summer in the lab and driving around the greater New York City area evaluating units from market leaders Garmin, Magellan, and TomTom. And the results have been both mixed and interesting. In testing more than 100 devices a year, we have found the surprises most often come from the newer competitors. The leaders tend to move in a predictable manner, with each new unit advancing over the previous and premium features routinely trickling down. This summer, we again learned why you never assume. Sales-leader Garmin continues its march, moving helpful features across more affordable models. Free traffic is now more widely available, such as with the Nuvi 1490T. A new feature is Garmin's nuRoute technology, that can add intelligence to routing—accounting for congestion patterns based on day and time as well as predicting the desired destination. The expensive Nuvi 3790T offers three-dimensional landscapes and voice recognition, two upscale features we find are not worth a higher purchase price. The staff has been impressed with the more iPhone-like design of some new units, and the improved screen on the Nuvi 3790T, 3760T, and the 3750 is more clear and sensitive than many competitors. Magellan RoadMate 3065 Magellan has been a significant player in the portable navigator market, though until this year, we found their products rather mediocre. That changed with the previous generation units, which were easier to use and rich in useful features. The latest Magellan PNDs continue in the right direction. These new units all have an easy-to-use interface with modern graphics and free lifetime traffic. Small touches such as shortcut keys and graying out letters help when entering an address. However, these Magellans lack multimedia extras, and welcomed features such as Bluetooth hands-free calling, highway lane assistance, and AAA information can be found only on the pricier versions. The RoadMate 2035 and 2036 devices provide good, basic guidance without frills, though the map coverage is less than with some competing models. TomTom XXL 550T The real twist in this group is with TomTom. A major, international leader in portable navigators, TomTom is known for many innovations, such as historical traffic, cell-phone-derived traffic data, and customizable voices. Yet, we found their latest units lack many of the common functions found on GPS devices. The new TomTom PNDs feature a simplified menu structure that is intended to aid usability, but the update eliminates some frequently used routing options and other controls typically found on higher-scoring TomTom devices, such as multi-destination routing and directions list. Further, most of these devices have no option to adjust brightness or make changes to other common settings. The real concern is that the display washes out in bright sunlight. Latest GPS Ratings Our most-recent ratings update added: Garmin Nuvi 295W Garmin Nuvi 1450 Garmin Nuvi 1490T Garmin Nuvi 3750 Garmin... | | 9/9/2010 - | First Drive: 2011 Honda Odyssey minivan
I drove to Honda's introduction ride-and-drive event yesterday for the 2011 Odyssey minivan with a combination of anticipation and dread. With the current Odyssey at the top of our minivan Ratings, you wonder if they made a good thing better—or if they messed it up. But there was another part to this. I just bought a 2010 Odyssey for my household. Over $5,000 off sticker and strong resale, even for our less-than-concours 2005 Odyssey, helped push the purchase. (Read: "Should you buy an all-new car or a proven, carry-over car?") Plus, I knew that the last year of a body style means the bugs are usually worked out. But in true Honda fashion, details on the redesign were sketchy —until this event. Would driving the new van make me regret not waiting? The new Odyssey is longer, wider, and lower, but only by a few inches. Immediately apparent is the aggressive-for-a-minivan styling. Honda says the (no pun intended) striking "lightning-bolt" beltline will help you spot which van is yours from "100 meters" away. While it sure will stand out in the day care parking lot at first, it probably will eventually blend in once Honda moves a good chunk of the approximately 110,000 units they expect to sell each year. The styling isn't helped by a very obvious sliding door track seam and the black-painted mirrors (claimed to help them blend into the greenhouse). It all hangs together better in darker colors. More important than styling, the body structure is claimed to be considerably stronger, with projected top marks from both IIHS and the new NHTSA crash-test rating system. For 2011, all Odysseys get a 3.5-liter V6 with a cylinder shut-off system that cuts fuel flow to two or three of the six cylinders as load dictates. Adding this system to lower trim lines (which previously lacked it), along with tweaks to tire rolling resistance and engine efficiency, considerably improved fuel economy to 18 mpg city, 27 mpg highway. (That's four mpg highway better than the previous lower-trim-line vans.) Another aid for better fuel economy: losing 100 pounds, despite more content. The mechanical difference between the trim lines is now the transmission. Most 2011 Odysseys have the same five-speed automatic as in the last van. But the top Touring and Touring Elite trim lines feature the six-speed automatic first seen in the Acura MDX. You'd think that would help fuel economy, and indeed these top trim levels get the best EPA estimated numbers—19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. But Honda claims that low-resistance tires and aero tweaks on these models are the actual cause for that difference; the extra gear helps more with acceleration and drivability. Either way, the Odyssey's powertrain remains smooth and willing, with minor improvements in horsepower and torque. I drove a 2011 Odyssey EX-L, the volume seller. (My colleague, Gabe Shenhar, drove a Touring Elite.) The Odyssey remains the only game in town if you want a full-sized minivan that handles with agility. Steering effort... | | 9/9/2010 - | 2011 Ford Mustang V6 vs 1970 Mustang Boss 302: Who's the real boss?
The 1960s and early '70s are remembered by many car enthusiasts as the glory days of the American muscle car—those pavement-ripping, tire-shredding, rumbling V8-powered domestics that could blast screaming from stoplight to stoplight, as long as the road stayed straight. As you might guess, finesse really wasn't part of the formula. Don't get me wrong: I've got nothing against muscle cars, and in fact I'm part of the generation that grew up with Pontiac GTOs and Plymouth Road Runners on the brain. But a funny thing has happened in the 40-odd years since various hot Chevrolet Camaros, Dodge Challengers, and Ford Mustangs burbled their way to the drive-in on Saturday nights and to the drag strip Sunday mornings: technology, as it tends to do, has marched on. We just tested a V6-powered Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang for the October issue of Consumer Reports magazine, and found, among other things, that both put out more horsepower than many V8s from the muscle-car era, all the while delivering faster acceleration, better cornering, and much better fuel economy. Back in 1970, Consumer Reports tested a Mustang Boss 302 (shown above), a high-performance model inspired by racing Mustangs of the era. A comparison of the Boss' performance versus our new Mustang V6 is something of an eye opener. Keeping in mind that testing methods and engines have come a long way in the last 40 years, and that horsepower ratings are now more conservative than they used to be, here's a look at how the Mustangs stack up. 1970 Mustang Boss 302 2011 Ford Mustang V6 Drivetrain 4.9-liter (302 cubic inch) V8, 4-speed manual transmission 3.7-liter (226 cubic inch) V6, 6-speed manual transmission Horsepower* 290 (SAE gross) 305 (SAE net) Vehicle weight 3,335 pounds 3,540 pounds Acceleration, 0-60 8.0 seconds 6.2 seconds 1/4 mile time 16.0 seconds 14.8 seconds 1/4 mile speed 93 mph 98 mph Overall fuel economy 11 mpg 24 mpg Braking, 60-0 mph 130 ft. 134 ft. *Horsepower figures based on testing standards established by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Horsepower ratings were "SAE gross" back in the day, meaning that the rating was based on an engine unencumbered by things like an alternator, water pump, and other equipment that an engine needs to function in the real world. A more realistic approach took hold in the early 1970s, known as "SAE net" that better approximates that parasitic demands on the engine and reflects performance of an installed engine. (A more precise approach has been implemented in recent years, known as SAE Certified Power.) All this means the new V6 has significantly more horsepower than the old Boss 302 if measured to the same standard. The fact that we measured a shorter stopping distance with the Boss 302 is more of a head scratcher, and it probably has something to do with the different testing methods and facility used at the time. Still, the statistics make for an interesting comparison. I like old Mustangs, but new ones do tend to... | | 9/8/2010 - | Pricing: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze - Promising new sedan to reach dealers next week
General Motors has begun production of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze sedan for North America; the first cars will be delivered to dealerships next week. Produced at GM's Lordstown, Ohio plant, the company hopes the Cruze will finally be a more competitive small car than they've had in the past. The Cruze has already sold 165,000 units overseas, making it the most popular Chevrolet car worldwide this year, second only to the Silverado pickup truck. In our recent first drive of the car, we found it to feel substantial and more refined than the outgoing Cobalt with good handling, responsive steering, and a roomy cabin. We'll know more when we buy our test model. Pricing is set to start at $16,995 for the base LS model, which comes with a standard 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Standard safety features include 10 air bags, stability control, traction control, and antilock brakes. Other features include power windows and door locks, remote keyless entry, OnStar, and satellite radio. The LT model starts at $18,895 and comes with a turbocharged, 1.4-liter, four-cylinder engine, an automatic transmission, and 16-inch wheels. The 2LT model will start at $21,395 and has the turbo engine, plus a power driver's seat, leather and heated seats, and leather-covered steering wheel and shift knob. Other features include Bluetooth, USB port, and steering-wheel audio controls. The Eco (the fuel-sipping version) will start at $18,895 and will come with the turbo engine and manual transmission, and 17-inch wheels with low-rolling resistance tires. GM says that special aerodynamic and powertrain enhancements promise to deliver 40 mpg on the highway. The LTZ will start at $22,695. It builds on the 2LT model, adding automatic climate control, cruise control, park assist, and 18-inch wheels. We look forward to purchasing the Cruze once it hits dealerships and will put it through our battery of tests in the coming weeks. In the meantime, watch our video for our first impressions. —Liza Barth Next Steps Small Car Buying Advice: Types of Small Cars | Small Car Features | Small Car Brands All Small Car Ratings Subscribers can view and compare all Small Car Ratings. Recommended Small Cars Look at the ones that we chose as the best of the best. | | 9/8/2010 - | Nissan Leaf lease details revealed
Last week, we published some of the surprisingly high expenses facing early buyers of the Nissan Leaf. For example, people are finding that having a charging dock installed could be more expensive than they bargained for. (Read: "Nissan Leaf electric-car charger installation cost proves shocking.") Now those buyers are also learning the details of Nissan's advertised $349-a-month lease deal. That price sounded too good to be true, especially for a $33,000 car. Digging a little deeper, we found that to get down to that $349-a-month, three-year deal requires the $7,500 income tax rebate and a $1,999 capital cost reduction, the leasing equivalent of a down payment. Other extra costs include a $595 acquisition fee and a $395 disposition fee. That adds up to a total out-of-pocket cost of $15,553. Aside from the tax rebate, the deal is structured like a traditional lease. Consumers with good credit (Tier 1, or a FICO score of 700 or above), will see a money factor of .00224, or the equivalent of an interest rate of about 5.4 percent. With less than optimum credit, the monthly rate would increase. (Learn about lease rates.) Although the Leaf can only go about 100 miles before needing an overnight (or longer) recharge, the lease comes with a generous 15,000 mile-per-year allowance. As with all leases, additional miles will cost extra. The residual after three years on a base SL model will be 45 percent, or $14,423.20, based on the Leaf's MSRP of $32,780. (That doesn't include the destination charge of $820.) The advertised deal is for three years. Longer and shorter terms are available for different rates, with different residuals. And, of course, your credit will vary. (Learn about buying vs leasing.) For more details on other lease terms, check out the mynissanleaf.com user forum, which breaks down the factors behind other lease terms. Also read: Nissan announces roll-out plan for electric Leaf —Eric Evarts See our guide to fuel economy for advice on saving gasoline. Learn about future technologies in our guide to alternative fuels. | | 9/8/2010 - | August car sales and how they will impact September car deals
Last week automakers announced their August sales numbers, and the news was quite mixed. Even though most mainstream manufacturers posted double-digit declines over last August, the year-to-date sales are mostly up for all brands, with luxury brands showing significant strength. It is no surprise that automakers are continuing to struggle amid the recession, with industry sales expected to be about 5 million vehicles less than just a few years ago. But the numbers look even more dynamic compared to this time last year, especially for those brands who benefited from the sales spike caused by the Cash for Clunkers program. Many consumers think that a rough time for sellers will mean more deals for buyers, especially with the model-year change over, but that may not be the case this fall. Among the top automakers, the major Asian brands are having a tough year. Toyota is down one percent and Honda is up just one percent so far this year. The recall issues and safety concerns are the main reasons for Toyota woes; the automaker is working to turn its fortunes around, with an expansion of safety equipment on 2011 models and significant investment in marketing. Despite the financial troubles faced just a year ago, the domestics are faring better with Chrysler up 10 percent, Ford up 14 percent, and GM up six percent so far for the first eight months of 2010. One key industry change is the inventory levels. In 2008, August inventories for GM were at a generous 82-day supply, in 2009 that dropped to 64 and this year it’s a more desirable 57. Ford was at an 83-day supply in August 2008, in 2009 down to 48, and now they have ramped up a little bit to 57. Chrysler was at 108 in 2008 and dropped to 40 in 2009 and now is maintaining a 55-day supply. (Some of the drop in inventory last year were from the Cash for Clunkers program cleaning dealers out of their fuel-efficient models and the impact of Chrysler and GM bankruptcy proceedings.) This puts domestic inventory in a much more comfortable place, with supply being closer to demand, though still above 2009 levels. Known for tighter inventories, Toyota and Honda have generally stayed the same through this tumultuous period, now at 51 and 49, respectively. So, what does that mean for car buyers this season? Excess inventory leads to dramatic discounts. This fall dealerships will need to clear out the 2010 models, but as illustrated above, they may not be as anxious to do so as in years past. For consumers, this means less negotiating room and selection. However, the remaining 2010s should still be priced well under the new 2011 models. Because the customer incentives won’t be as large, car shoppers should carefully consider the benefits and trade-offs before choosing to buy a year-end model. After all, a 2010 car purchased now will essentially have depreciated a full year’s worth soon as it rolls off the lot. This wouldn’t matter... | | 9/8/2010 - | IIHS names best-fitting booster seats of 2010
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released its 3rd annual list of the best-fitting booster seats and this year’s list shows that there are more options for parents to find a good fitting seat for children 4 to 8 years old. The IIHS ratings are based solely on how well each booster seat positions the lap and shoulder belt, its primary function, and are not an assessment of crash performance or vehicle fit. A well-fitting booster should put the lap portion of the seat belt flat across a child’s upper thigh and the shoulder belt at mid-shoulder. Out of 72 booster seats rated this year, 21 of them were considered Best Bets and seven Good Bets. Only nine seats in 2009 received the Best Bet award and 10 in 2008. However, IIHS found eight seats that aren’t recommended because they do a poor job of fitting with the belts. See the list of the IIHS Best Bets below and the full list at www.iihs.org. Best Bets Britax Frontier 85 (combination highback) Chicco Keyfit Strada (dual highback) Clek Oobr (dual highback) Cosco Juvenile Pronto (dual highback) Cybex Solution X-Fix (highback) Eddie Bauer Auto Booster (dual highback) Evenflo Big Kid Amp (backless) Evenflo Maestro (combination highback) Graco TurboBooster Crawford (dual highback) Harmony Baby Armor (dual highback) Harmony Dreamtime (dual backless) Harmony Dreamtime (dual highback) Harmony Secure Comfort Deluxe (backless) Harmony Youth Booster Seat (backless) Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR (dual highback) Recaro ProBOOSTER (highback) Recaro ProSPORT (combination highback) Recaro Vivo (highback) Recaro Young Sport (combination highback) Safety 1st Boost Air Protect (dual highback) The First Years Pathway B570 (highback) To conduct this test, the IIHS used a crash-test dummy representing the average six-year old. Engineers measured how well each of the 72 booster seat models positioned the three-point lap and shoulder belts on the dummy under four conditions spanning the range of belt configurations in a variety of vehicle types. The IIHS test provides an important assessment when choosing a booster seat and educates parents on how belts should fit and what to look for. The IIHS test is based on fit to a dummy that represents an average sized six-year-old child, but as we know, children and cars come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to do your own assessment to make sure the belt properly fits your child in their booster. If you determine that the belts fit fine and the seat is positioned properly, then it should provide good protection. Just as we recommend to try a car seat in your car before you buy, it’s also important to try out your child in the seat, as well. When assessing booster fit, ask these key questions: Does the booster seat position the shoulder belt across the clavicle/collar bone, approximately mid-way between the neck and shoulder? Does the booster seat position the lap belt low and flat across the hips/top of the thighs? Does either the booster seat or vehicle head restraint provide some support behind the child’s... | | 9/7/2010 - | Video: Chevrolet Camaro vs Ford Mustang V6 - More and less than the sum of their parts
Let me say up front that I've never been a muscle-car kind of guy. I've always put handling finesse before horsepower, and in waking states a BMW M3, Volkswagen GTI, or a Porsche makes my heart beat faster than a Chevrolet Camaro or Ford Mustang. But deep inside I've had a soft spot for those American icons ever since I got my first ones, in a slot car racing set sometime in the early 1970s as a pre-teen. Now that we've just finished testing the latest V6 versions of the Camaro and Mustang, let me reflect. Even after all these years, those two pony cars still exert some kind of elemental animal attraction. The V6 versions, which screen out the distractions thrown up by the rumble, torque and oversized tires of the V8 models we tested last summer, actually allow for a purer perspective on the underlying cars. (Read the full 2009 muscle and sporty car test, available to online subscribers.) Taking the Ford first, it's clear the folks in Dearborn continue to improve the Mustang breed. Despite mechanical throwbacks like a live rear axle, it drives like a champ: alert, responsive, agile and ready for action. The shifter is a delight, and the 3.7-liter V6 sounds satisfying and pulls strongly. However, the switch to electric power steering that came with the 2011 model year has blunted some of the feedback it had previously. (Privately, some Ford engineers I've spoken with agree with that judgment.) But the electric steering is still quick, linear, and well-weighted and it contributes to average fuel use of 24 mpg - not too shabby for a 300-hp machine. And if the need for speed trumps your green sentiments, the Mustang GT packs a 412-hp, 5.0-liter V8, which brings a terrific sound and, at $36,000, is a performance bargain. Now consider the Camaro. It was derived from the rear-drive Pontiac G8, a sedan that's held in universal high esteem by driving enthusiasts because of its sophisticated chassis and impeccable road manners. The Camaro employs the G8's basic hardware, but it fails to excite the driver. The steering response and feel is not fitting with a sporty car. The high belt line makes it tough to see out in any direction, which effectively blinds you to the outside world, let alone the next corner. The 312-hp V6 version feels limp and uninvolving to drive. Throw in tall gear ratios, a balky shifter, and the 275-pound weight disadvantage compared to the Mustang, and you find yourself saying, "This car might as well be an automatic." If you are already yawning, I'm not blaming you. So while the Camaro may boast a more impressive spec sheet, with state-of-the-art this and that, on the road it amounts to less than the sum of its many precision parts. Conversely, the ostensibly cruder Mustang delivers on a level that surpasses the sum of its parts. Read our Camaro vs Mustang Face Off, and research the Camaro and Mustang in our model overview... | | |
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