Cheap substitutions

I try to find inexpensive (or money-saving) improvements for our vehicles when the opportunity arises. Last night I thought it might be nice to share our ideas with each other to gain some new ideas or merely see what can be done on the cheap.

C had curbed all her Acura TL wheels badly and actually warped one in a minor incident a while back, and I have been searching for replacements. This version of TL wheels on her car are highly sought after by the import tuners for use on other vehicles because of their look and ability to take massive brakes. Therefore, even a curbed set that looked rough was bringing $300-$500. Since most import sedans take the 5 X 114.3 (4.5) bolt pattern, I started looking around for a suitable replacement that would cost less initially, and able to be replaced with less cost if damaged again.

I found a set of powdercoated 17 inch Mustang GT wheels with the correct offset for $75 that even had some Michelin tires on them. Perfect fit, slightly offset by maybe 1/4 inch which looks better in her wheelwells. Tires are 1 size larger (245/45), so I'll swap her present tires over off the TL rims after she gets some use out of the Michelins currently on the Mustang rims. Removing the Mustang center cap and installing an early 1st gen Honda cap made them look completely different. First picture shows the powdercoated Mustang wheel before I cleaned and polished the Honda center cap and washed the wheels - now the polished cap really pops. She likes the look, thank goodness, and I saved several hundred dollars. Plus, I bought a really nice spare set of the same Mustang wheels and tires (for $100) in the original polished finish in case she gets tired of the dark finish. I installed one of each on her car to let her choose and enclosed a shot of those as well. Bargains are out there, my friends.

That's awesome.  Definitely sounds like something I'd do.