ROB RUN car performance parts can make the difference between escaping Looty Bay and losing your haul. Start with the affordable ECU for top speed, then consider acceleration and handling upgrades as your budget grows. You'll need ROB RUN Cash for both research and purchases, and the prices below reflect version 0.7.0.

How car upgrades work

First, get a plot and an owned house, then buy a car. Rented vehicles can't accept upgrades. Research parts in Larry's Tree and purchase them through the Trade Laptop; each part becomes available after its matching car unlocks.

Walk up to your car, open the hood, and drag a part from your bag into its matching slot. Check the car key card afterward to see the effect on top speed, acceleration, or handling. Your purchased car and installed parts remain after death.

ECU research costs and prices

The ECU line improves top speed. Each higher level follows the previous one in the research tree and gives a larger improvement.

The base ECU is tier 1: research costs 30,000, and purchase costs 14,000. The tier 2 Improved ECU costs 160,000 to research and 75,000 to buy. The tier 3 High-performance ECU costs 260,000 to research and 330,000 to buy.

For a new car, the base ECU is usually the first upgrade worth considering. Remember that its 14,000 purchase price is separate from the research cost.

Turbo Kit and Intercooler costs

Both of these part lines improve acceleration, which is useful when a city escape involves frequent turns and stops. The tier 2 Turbo Kit costs 110,000 to research and 79,500 to buy. The tier 3 Improved Turbo Kit costs 210,000 to research and 238,000 to buy.

The tier 2 Intercooler costs 120,000 to research and 72,000 to buy. Its tier 3 upgrade, the Improved Intercooler, costs 200,000 to research and 270,000 to buy. Compare both research and purchase costs before choosing your first acceleration upgrade.

Handling parts and the sentence requirement

The tier 2 Steering Rack costs 100,000 to research and 68,000 to buy. Its tier 3 upgrade, the Reinforced Steering Rack, costs 220,000 to research and 270,000 to buy. These are especially useful when your car is fast but difficult to control.

The tier 2 Racing Rotor also improves handling. It costs 100,000 to research and 61,500 to buy, but it requires a sentence of 75 years before it can unlock. Cash alone won't get you past that requirement.

Some sentence-locked items appear behind a question mark in Larry's Tree. Authority tracks your sentence total and stays with your character after a wipe, so time served earlier still counts toward the Racing Rotor requirement.

Unlock higher vendor tiers

Your Trade Laptop's vendor tier depends on your plot's district, not the house itself. With no plot, the vendor is tier 1; a plot in district 2 gives tier 2, and a plot in district 3 gives tier 3. You'll still need a house and owned car to install any parts.

Research is a one-time cost, but the price can vary between servers. Check Larry's Tree before committing your funds, and make sure you've unlocked the matching car and any earlier part levels.

Spend at the right time

Match your spending to the car you plan to drive. A Fukurou Tensa or Longhorn Van can use inexpensive early upgrades, while tier 3 cars such as the Royal J, Longhorn Wild, and Buletti Soltempra can use higher-tier parts. Don't pour resources into a car you're about to replace.

The weekly Federal Raid resets plots, bases, weapons, and cash, including stored cash, while converting wealth into jail time and Authority. Expensive upgrades have more time to pay off early in a cycle. Close to a raid, consider whether you'll get enough use from them.

Make each escape count

Police operate in Looty Bay, and criminals must drive their loot out of the city to keep it. Officers earn a base 2,000 for seizing vehicle loot and 9,000 to 15,000 for an arrest, so acceleration and control can help protect both your cargo and crew.

Prioritize the base ECU, add acceleration when you can afford it, and improve handling if the car feels hard to control. If you choose to buy ROB RUN Money/Cash through U4GM, check your unlocks and the approaching raid first so you can plan your upgrades around the time available.