There are some who consider buying a car is more important than buying a house. After all, a car provides mobility, and could help one to earn while a house is considered by some as a dead investment (I could imagine hearing howls of protest from our friends from the real estate business.) After all, buying a car as a business tool is capital, while buying a house to live in, is expense. But this is an entirely another story.)



If you are one of the former, then you would agree that besides keeping your car in optimum performance, it would not hurt to put some comfort in it, right? OK, you may call this part already as an expense, if you wish. I'd call this as 'tool upgrade' (with a straight face here.)

'OWNING' YOUR CAR

Let us say, you bought a pre-owned car. Mostly, the first things owners of a newly acquired car would do, besides putting it to a joyful ride, is to put in some stuff, accessories, or 'blings'. This process is called 'claiming ownership'. You know, it's yours, and to prove it, you do put in your 'markings'. It's almost like a brief but sweet turn-over ceremony of sorts (often private no one around would notice.) This is usually done immediately after payments are done and just before you happily and triumphantly drive 'your' car out of the car dealer's. This personalization of the car could be as simple as removing that pine-shaped car freshener to something major as repainting the entire body work.

CAR AUDIO SYSTEM

Installing a decent audio system could be one (if not the most) of the best 'personalization' you could do to your car.

By decent, we don't mean giving your arm and leg for it. You can easily put together one with less than $1000. You can easily find bargains over the internet for a good head unit with a CD player, amplifiers, equalizer, replacement for the factory speakers, and sub-woofers, etc. You may want to invest on a professional technician to ensure you get the best resulting sound quality. But if you are the more adventurous type, you may DIY.

CAR VIDEO

If you opt for those kick-ass video kits, you are assured of quality and satisfaction but you must be prepared to shell out about $500. If you wish, you can also buy cheaper by buying the different components separately. You can buy an in-dash monitor for a little more than $50, and an equally cheaper DVD player. Just make sure you have a qualified (if you are not comfortable doing it yourself) technician to install the components for you.

YOUR CAR AUDIO, VIDEO AND YOU

Besides emphasizing the usability, convenience, and efficiency of your car, we should not disregard the main reason for its existence: you. A car could also provide some measure of comfort for both you and your passenger. A good audio system could help ease up a long and tiring trip. Driving the wife for groceries? You could park in the shade and wait in the car watching your favorite DVD. Tired of endless 'Are we there yet?' questions from impatient and irritable kids on a long drive? Pop in a Hannah Montana DVD or High School Musical movie and these will keep your kids occupied backseat, you'd even forget they're there.