WALK into any big car accessory shop and you will be bewildered by the sheer array of stuff you can glue, screw or bolt-on to your car.
However, aside from the various chemicals and waxes on the shelves, most of it is actually not very useful or made of cheap, throwaway plastic.
But we just can’t help ourselves and walk out with at least a few blue bulbs and chrome plastic aerofoils for your wipers.
While some things like air fresheners, tyre pressure gauges and cup-holders are our usual purchases, there are some things out there which may not have crossed your mind.
If you are really hankering to blow your hard-earned on some accessories, here are a few that may actually be useful (in no particular order):
12-VOLT SOCKETS (CIGARETTE LIGHTERS)
These sometimes come with waterproof covers (useful for 4WDs) or may not.
Install one in front and also in the rear (a useful position is in the rear of a centre console).
Now everyone can charge their phone or smoke a cigarette (heaven forbid!).
THEFT-PROOF WHEELNUTS
A no-brainer, this one, especially if you have installed those hyper-expensive three piece alloy wheels on your car.
Some key-lock types need additional maintenance (a few squirts of penetrating oil once in a while).
Make sure you keep the special socket in a safe place (not in your drawer at home).
HANDPHONE MOUNT
While some cars may have bluetooth installed, many other cars don’t, so this makes a worthwhile accessory to have.
So many variations exist but the suction-cup type is odds-on favourite.
Inspect carefully to ensure you get a good-quality one. Ask any Grab driver what they use and get the same unit.
BLUETOOTH TAG
Lost your keys again? Usually when you’re in a hurry, right?
Get a bluetooth tracker and hook it onto your car-keys.
Not all accessory shops have them but they are available online.
MESH STORAGE NET
A standard accessory for some hatchbacks and MPVs but may also feature in some saloon cars.
If your car does not come with it, it’s worth hunting out so you paper grocery bags and other odd-shaped items don’t tumble around in the boot or spill out when you open the hatch.
POWERBANK
Not you usual handphone powerbank but a larger version which has an outlet for crocodile clips.
This accessory will get you (or any unfortunates) out of battery trouble in a jiffy.
They can be quite expensive but you will bless the day you bought one.
DASH CAMS
These are commonplace now and some are fairly cheap.
They only need to be useful once to pay for themselves and that fact alone puts them on this list.
Who knows, you may even become an overnight Youtube star if the footage is spectacular enough.
PARKING CAMERAS
I sure wish I had installed one before I bumped that Lamborghini. These are cheap nowadays and have inconspicuous lenses.
You may need to figure out where’s the best position to install it but the installer will help you out.
It’s also the perfect excuse to get that ICE you’ve been eyeing installed in your car.
Otherwise, some parking cameras come with their own screens.
DEHUMIDIFIER/IONIZER
Let’s face it, that two-day old burger your child left in your car does not smell good.
And smokers will admit that their car will not smell as nice as non-smokers’ car.
At least now you have a use for that extra 12-V socket you installed. Be warned that your air freshener will be working overtime.
MP3 TRANSMITTER/PLAYER
Not all cars come with USB ports in their ICE. So be your own deejay. Choose your own frequency and play the music you like instead of what the radio stations were paid to play.
Sometimes your CDs are so scratched they just get kicked out of the CD player.
And 16 GB thumbdrives hold a great many songs.
SEATBELT CUTTER/WINDOW BREAKER
Self-explanatory, this one. In emergency situations, it may be a life-saver. God forbid you should ever need to use it.
SUCTION CUP SHADES
Cheap and cheerful. And in the early morning and evening suns glare, worth every sen.
Just don’t use it on the front windshield.
RUBBER FLOOR MATS
How times have changed. In the seventies, all cars came with rubber floor mats. Now it’s all shag pile carpet (almost). But nowadays the rubber mats are deep dished and useful to catch all the stuff that sometimes sticks to our shoes. A godsend when you go to the beach.
There are more useful things out there. But these are the accessories that pay for themselves or are safety and comfort-related. Oh, go ahead and buy that cat wiper sticker for your MyVi, will you? See you at the next service (where I will remove that cat).?