Vehicle Customization/Upgrades

Unlike previous Grand Theft Auto titles, Chinatown Wars offers a streamlined, yet impactful, approach to vehicle customization. Instead of dedicated mod shops, all upgrades and repairs are handled directly from your various Safe Houses scattered across Liberty City. This system allows for quick modifications and repairs, ensuring your ride is always ready for the next mission or drug run.

Accessing Vehicle Upgrades

To customize or upgrade a vehicle, you must first bring it to one of your Safe Houses. Once parked in the designated garage space, a prompt will appear allowing you to interact with the vehicle. Tap the vehicle icon on your touchscreen or press the corresponding button (depending on your platform) to open the customization menu.

Important Note: Only vehicles stored in your Safe House garage can be customized. Stolen vehicles left on the street cannot be upgraded until they are properly stored.

Types of Upgrades Available

The customization options in Chinatown Wars focus on performance and durability, rather than purely cosmetic changes. These upgrades are crucial for surviving intense police chases, outmaneuvering rival gangs, and completing time-sensitive missions.

1. Performance Upgrades

These upgrades directly impact your vehicle's speed, acceleration, and handling. Investing in performance modifications can give you a significant edge in races and escapes.

Engine Tune-Up: Increases the vehicle's top speed and acceleration. Essential for outrunning law enforcement or catching up to fleeing targets.
Suspension Upgrade: Improves handling and cornering stability, making your vehicle more responsive and less prone to spinning out, especially at high speeds.
Brake Enhancement: Shortens braking distance, allowing for more precise control and preventing collisions. Crucial for navigating Liberty City's busy streets.

2. Defensive Upgrades

Defensive upgrades focus on increasing your vehicle's resilience, allowing it to withstand more damage before being incapacitated.

Armor Plating: Significantly increases the vehicle's durability, making it more resistant to bullets, collisions, and explosions. This is a must-have for any mission involving heavy combat or sustained police pursuit.
Bulletproof Tires: Prevents your tires from being shot out, which can severely cripple your vehicle's performance and make escapes nearly impossible. A highly recommended upgrade for any frequently used vehicle.

3. Repairs

Beyond upgrades, your Safe House garage also serves as a repair shop. Any damaged vehicle stored in your garage can be fully repaired for a fee. The cost of repairs varies depending on the extent of the damage.

Full Repair: Restores your vehicle to pristine condition, fixing all dents, scratches, and mechanical damage.

Upgrade Costs and Strategy

Each upgrade has a corresponding cost, which can be viewed in the customization menu. Prices vary depending on the specific upgrade and the type of vehicle. Generally, more expensive and high-performance vehicles will have higher upgrade costs.

Strategic Tips:

Prioritize Armor and Bulletproof Tires: For frequently used vehicles, especially those involved in combat or high-speed chases, these defensive upgrades should be your first priority. They will save you money on repairs in the long run and increase your survivability.
Invest in Performance for Race Vehicles: If you plan on participating in street races or need a quick getaway car, focus on Engine Tune-Ups and Suspension Upgrades.
Consider the Vehicle Type: Not all upgrades are equally beneficial for every vehicle. A heavily armored truck might not benefit as much from a suspension upgrade as a sports car would. Tailor your upgrades to the vehicle's intended purpose.
Save Money by Repairing: Instead of constantly stealing new vehicles, repairing your customized favorites is often more cost-effective, especially if they have expensive upgrades.

By strategically utilizing the vehicle customization options at your Safe Houses, you can transform ordinary cars into formidable machines, giving you a significant advantage in the dangerous world of Liberty City.