Performance Upgrades — Grand Theft Auto V Guide

Performance Upgrades

Transforming your vehicles in Grand Theft Auto V is a core part of the experience, and performance upgrades are key to unlocking their true potential. From accelerating faster to handling better, these modifications can turn a standard car into a street-racing machine or an off-road beast.

Performance upgrades are primarily purchased at Los Santos Customs (LSC) and, for some high-end vehicles, at Benny's Original Motor Works. Each upgrade offers a tangible benefit to your vehicle's handling, speed, or durability. Investing wisely can make a sificant difference in races, chases, and general traversal.

Here are the key performance upgrades available:

• Engine Upgrades:
  • Levels: Level 1 (Engine Remap), Level 2 (Turbocharger), Level 3 (ECU Upgrade), Level 4 (Engine Swaps).
  • Effect: These upgrades sificantly boost your vehicle's acceleration and top speed. Higher levels provide more substantial increases. A Level 4 engine swap offers the maximum possible performance boost.
  • Recommendation: Essential for any vehicle you plan to use for racing or high-speed pursuits.
• Transmission Upgrades:
  • Levels: Level 1 (Transmission), Level 2 (Race Transmission).
  • Effect: Improves acceleration and gear shifting. Race transmission provides the best boost, allowing your vehicle to reach its top speed more quickly and efficiently.
  • Recommendation: Works in conjunction with engine upgrades to maximize acceleration.
• Drivetrain Upgrades:
  • Levels: Level 1 (Drivetrain), Level 2 (Race Drivetrain).
  • Effect: Enhances traction and acceleration by optimizing how power is delivered to the wheels. Race Drivetrain offers the most sificant improvement.
  • Recommendation: Particularly useful for vehicles prone to wheelspin, helping them get off the line faster.
• Turbocharger:
  • Effect: Provides a temporary burst of speed, especially noticeable when accelerating from a standstill or at lower speeds. This is a separate upgrade from engine tuning.
  • Recommendation: Great for quick bursts of acceleration, useful for overtaking or escaping tight situations.
• Suspension Upgrades:
  • Levels: Various levels of suspension, including Sport, Competition, and Lowrider suspension.
  • Effect: Lowers the vehicle's ride height, improving handling and reducing body roll during cornering. Competition suspension offers the lowest ride height and best handling characteristics.
  • Recommendation: Crucial for improving cornering speed and stability, especially on sports cars and supercars.
• Brakes Upgrades:
  • Levels: Street Brakes, Sports Brakes, Performance Brakes.
  • Effect: Improves your vehicle's braking power and responsiveness, allowing you to stop faster and more effectively.
  • Recommendation: Essential for controlling high-speed vehicles and navigating sharp turns safely.
• Tires Upgrades:
  • Types: Performance Tires, Bulletproof Tires, Off-Road Tires, etc.
  • Effect: Performance tires offer the best grip and handling. Bulletproof tires are resistant to punctures, ideal for chases. Off-road tires improve traction on unpaved surfaces.
  • Recommendation: Choose tires based on your intended use for the vehicle.

Where to Purchase:

• Los Santos Customs (LSC): Found throughout the map, LSC offers a wide range of performance and cosmetic upgrades for most vehicles.
• Benny's Original Motor Works: Located in Strawberry, Benny's specializes in lowrider customization and offers unique performance upgrades for specific lowrider vehicles, often transforming them into even more specialized vehicles.

Maximizing Performance:

• Full Upgrade Path: For maximum performance, aim for the highest level of each upgrade category (e.g., Level 4 Engine, Race Transmission, Competition Suspension, Performance Brakes, Performance Tires).
• Vehicle Type Matters: The impact of upgrades can vary depending on the base stats of the vehicle. A supercar will benefit more from handling upgrades, while a muscle car might see greater gains in acceleration.
• Test Drive: After applying upgrades, take your vehicle for a spin to feel the difference and adjust your driving style accordingly.