There's an absolutely stunning array of visual modifications that you can add to your car. Although some of these, such as spoilers, would seem to aid your car's performance, in truth, all they do for you is increase your Reputation, which in turn helps you gain more style points, which in turn unlocks more visual modifications that you can apply to your vehicle. Some challenges, especially tournaments, have Reputation requirements, but for the most part, you won't need to worry about upgrading the look of your car unless you would like to.
Visual modifications work in concert to increase your Reputation, meaning that you will usually get a bit of a bonus to your Reputation for having a full suite of upgrades installed. Keep in mind, though, that many of the visual mods don't affect your Reputation score at all, such as paint, decals, and vinyl, which are exclusively for your own eye candy needs. In general, if you have to pay for something, it'll boost your Rep; if not, it won't.
Most visual modifications are split into up to three categories, with each level of modification being unlocked individually. Different races will unlock different modifications, so before long, you should be able to trick out your ride and make it look as sleek or as garish as you like.
Last, note that some of these modifications begin at Level 2; this just means that you won't be able to buy any of these upgrades at the beginning of Underground mode. You'll need to unlock them before you can move up from the stock model.
Body mods are going to be your primary source of Reputation points. They can be expensive, however, so you may want to hold off on buying them until you unlock enough of them to get to the next Reputation multiplier, and buy any engine upgrades that come along in the meantime.
Level 1 Cost: 500 Unlocked: Race #1
Tier 2 Cost: 1000 Unlocked: Race #44
Tier 3 Cost: 1500 Unlocked: Race #90
Tier 1 Cost: 500 Unlocked: Race #1
Tier 2 Cost: 1000 Unlocked: Race #49
Tier 3 Cost: 1500 Unlocked: Race #100
Tier 1 Cost: 400 Unlocked: Race #1
Tier 2 Cost: 800 Unlocked: Race #39
Tier 3 Cost: 1200 Unlocked: Race #84
Tier 1 Cost: 300 Unlocked: Race #1
Tier 2 Cost: 600 Unlocked: Race #45
Tier 3 Cost: 900 Unlocked: Race #93
Note that decals and hood vinyls can't be applied to non-stock hoods. If you want to gussie up your hood, you'll need to revert back to the stock model. This may drop you back to a lower Reputation, so check your multiplier before changing equipment out.
Tier 2 Cost: 600 Unlocked: Race #43
Tier 3 Cost: 900 Unlocked: Race #89
Tier 2 Cost: 400 Unlocked: Race #31
Tier 3 Cost: 1500 Unlocked: Race #70
Tier 2 Cost: 800 Unlocked: Race #34
Tier 3 Cost: 1200 Unlocked: Race #81
Neon Tier 1 Cost: 200 Unlocked: Race #1
Tier 2 Cost: 400 Unlocked: Race #18
Tier 3 Cost: 600 Unlocked: Race #62
Tier 3 Cost: 600 Unlocked: Race #60
Tier 3 Cost: 600 Unlocked: Race #61
Tier 2 Cost: 200 Unlocked: Race #28
Tier 3 Cost: 300 Unlocked: Race #54
Tier 1 Cost: 100 Unlocked: Race #1
Tier 2 Cost: 200 Unlocked: Race #29
The basic paintjobs are free, but you will eventually be able to unlock extra colors. After you hit level 3, don't forget to check out the options for pearlescent and metallic paint. After you unlock and buy extra paint, it will be available for all of the parts that you can apply it to, so if you buy level 2 under the body menu, it will be available for painting your spoilers, brakes, and so on, at no extra cost.
Tier 1 Cost: 0 Unlocked: Race #1
Tier 2 Cost: 600 Unlocked: Race #23
Tier 3 Cost: 900 Unlocked: Race #65
Decals are available for all of the game's parts manufacturers, and can be applied to almost any available space on the exterior of the car, including the hood, the rear and door sections of either side of the car, and the windshield and window. These are all free, though you will need to unlock them.
Tier 1 Unlocked: Race #1
Tier 2 Unlocked: Race #12
Tier 3 Unlocked: Race #51
When you want to make your car look really hideous, then look no further; vinyls will help you force passersby to retch as they see your loathsome, repellent vehicle drive by. Or, you could use them to turn your car into something really stylish, although this is much more difficult than achieving a critical-mass level of ugliness. Luckily, vinyls are free, so you can mix and match all you like. Most vinyls are unlocked via style points, so if you want to expand your selection, take your car out for a Quick Race on one of the later Drift tracks for huge scores. You can easily unlock five or six different vinyls in a single race, especially after your car hits the fourth or fifth Reputation multiplier.
