Mastering the Deluxo: A Comprehensive Guide to Customization in GTA Online

The Imponte Deluxo, a flying sports car inspired by the iconic DeLorean from Back to the Future, is arguably one of the most unique and sought-after vehicles in Grand Theft Auto Online. Its ability to transform between driving and hovering modes, coupled with its surprisingly agile handling and offensive capabilities, makes it a powerful and versatile asset. However, like many other vehicles in GTA Online, the Deluxo truly shines when it’s been customized to fit your specific playstyle and aesthetic preferences. This guide will walk you through every step of the customization process, from acquiring the vehicle to installing the most effective upgrades.

Acquiring the Deluxo

Before you can start customizing, you’ll need to own a Deluxo. Here’s how you can get one:

• Purchase from Warstock Cache & Carry: The Deluxo is available for purchase from the Warstock Cache & Carry website, accessible through your in-game phone’s internet browser. As of this writing, the Deluxo costs $4,721,500. Be prepared to spend a considerable amount of in-game currency.
• Consider a Trade Price: Certain discounts and trade prices for vehicles may become available after completing specific in-game missions or requirements. Always check for these options as they can save you a significant amount of money. For the Deluxo, completing the ‘Signal Intercepts’ setup mission during the Doomsday Heist will unlock a trade price of $3,550,000. This makes completing the Doomsday Heist at least once to obtain the Deluxo significantly cheaper than buying at full price.

Essential Modification Locations

Once you’ve acquired your Deluxo, you will need specific locations to modify it:

• Los Santos Customs: This is the most basic modification shop and is readily available across the map. It allows you to do basic customisation such as paint jobs, wheels, and performance enhancements.
• Arena Workshop: The Arena Workshop is necessary for certain specialized upgrades, particularly weapons, and advanced modifications unique to Arena Vehicles. This workshop is required for Deluxo modifications, but be aware that you will still need to use a vehicle workshop in a facility for certain modifications.
• Facility Vehicle Workshop: The facility workshop is necessary for some of the Deluxo’s key modifications, such as the missiles. Without this you will not be able to equip missile upgrades.

Customization Options: A Detailed Breakdown

The Deluxo offers a wide range of customization options, which are primarily focused on aesthetic changes, performance upgrades and weapon systems. Here’s a detailed look at each category:

1. Resprays

The Deluxo’s appearance can be extensively altered using paint jobs. Here’s how you can do it:

• Primary Color: This is the main color of your vehicle. Choose from a wide range of standard colors, metallic colors, and even special crew colors.
• Secondary Color: The secondary color affects areas like the hood, bumper, and side panels. Consider a contrasting or complimentary color to enhance the visual appeal.
• Pearlescent: Applying pearlescent paint over the primary or secondary color adds a shimmering, iridescent effect. Choose a pearlescent color that is a subtle or vibrant complement to your base colors.
• Crew Color: If you’re part of a crew, you can apply your crew’s primary or secondary color to the car. This is a great way to show off your crew’s identity and work together to create unique looking vehicles.
• Classic and Matte Colors: These options allow for more muted, vintage-looking paint jobs or a matte finish for a unique look.

2. Wheels

Wheels significantly alter the look and handling of your Deluxo. The options include:

• Wheel Type: Choose from a variety of categories, including Sports, Muscle, SUV, Off-Road, and High-End. The wheels of the Deluxo can drastically affect the aesthetic and look of your car, consider carefully and test a few different options before settling on your final selection.
• Wheel Color: You can customize your rims with various colors to match or contrast your paint job. Experiment with different colors to see what looks best to you.
• Custom Tires: Certain wheel options will allow you to apply custom tyres. Custom tyres can be a nice aesthetic choice.
• Tyre Smoke: You can add tyre smoke, which is a cosmetic feature that leaves colored smoke trails behind your wheels when you accelerate.
• Tyre Enhancements: This adds upgrades to your tyres to help with performance such as bullet proofing your tyres.

3. Performance Upgrades

While not as extensive as some vehicles, performance upgrades can still enhance the Deluxo’s handling and speed. These can be applied in Los Santos Customs:

• Engine Upgrades: Improve your vehicle’s acceleration and top speed by upgrading your engine. Start with the most basic engine upgrade and continue to improve as you go.
• Brakes: Upgrading your brakes helps reduce your stopping distance and increases your vehicle’s control. Brake upgrades improve your overall control of the vehicle.
• Transmission: An upgraded transmission ensures faster and smoother gear changes, which in turn can improve acceleration and overall speed.
• Suspension: A good suspension can make the Deluxo handle better and be more responsive when cornering.
• Turbo: Add a turbo to provide a significant boost to acceleration. This is crucial for competitive races or quick getaways.

4. Armor

Armor upgrades protect your Deluxo from incoming fire and can enhance your survivability during heated encounters:

• Armor Percentage: You can choose from varying levels of armor, ranging from 20% to 100%. 100% armor is highly recommended for better protection.

5. Weapons

The Deluxo can be equipped with weapons, transforming it from a stylish car into a lethal attack vehicle:

• Machine Guns: The Deluxo comes standard with front-mounted machine guns. They are effective against infantry and light vehicles. You can choose between normal machine guns or gatling guns. The gatling gun variant is very powerful and highly recommended.
• Missiles: Missiles are an essential addition for any serious Deluxo user. They can lock onto enemy aircraft, ground vehicles, and even helicopters. The missiles have a good lock on range, good damage and are very accurate. The missiles have a cool down timer between firing so be mindful of this limitation.

6. Additional Modifications

These modifications may not affect performance but can further personalize your vehicle:

• License Plate: Customize your vehicle with a unique license plate. Choose from standard license plates, vanity plates, or even a custom text plate.
• Window Tint: You can darken the windows using various tint options. This doesn’t affect vehicle performance but provides some privacy.
• Headlights: Customize the colour of your headlights.

Step-by-Step Guide to Modifying Your Deluxo

Let’s break down the modification process into clear steps:

1. Acquire the Deluxo: Purchase the Deluxo from Warstock Cache & Carry using your in-game phone. Consider completing the Doomsday Heist first to unlock the trade price.
2. Head to Los Santos Customs (for Basic Upgrades): Drive your Deluxo to the nearest Los Santos Customs location.
3. Start with Resprays: Choose your primary and secondary colors, add pearlescent if desired, and test out different color combinations.
4. Select Your Wheels: Pick wheel styles and colors that match your aesthetic preferences.
5. Upgrade Performance: Equip the best engine, brakes, transmission, suspension, and add turbo to maximize performance.
6. Upgrade Armor: Apply 100% armor for maximum protection in firefights.
7. Head to the Arena Workshop: If you own the arena workshop, head here for access to weapon modifications and specialized upgrades.
8. Head to your Facility Vehicle Workshop: Drive your Deluxo to your facility to add missile upgrades.
9. Equip Weapons: Select between machine guns or gatling guns. Choose the missile upgrade for your Deluxo.
10. Complete Additional Modifications: Customize license plates, window tint, and other cosmetic options.
11. Test Your Modifications: After applying modifications, test out your vehicle’s performance in different scenarios, in free roam, missions, or races. This helps assess how effectively you made your upgrades.

Tips and Tricks for Effective Customization

• Experiment with Colors: Don’t be afraid to try different color combinations and pearlescent options. Sometimes, the most unique designs come from experimentation. Use online resources to search for images of good paint jobs.
• Match Wheels to the Overall Style: Ensure that the wheels you choose complement the overall look and feel of the vehicle. Test and experiment with your options before settling on a wheel type.
• Prioritize Weapon Upgrades: If you are going to be using your Deluxo in combat or for defensive means. Missiles and gatling guns are essential upgrades to your vehicle.
• Fully Upgrade Performance: Fully upgraded performance for this vehicle makes it very effective in races or fast get aways.
• Consider Personal Preference: Customization is subjective; prioritize the look and function that best suits your style and needs.
• Start with a Budget in Mind: Modification of the Deluxo can be very expensive and drain your bank account quickly, consider what you want from your modification and work to a budget.

Conclusion

The Imponte Deluxo is not just a car; it’s an icon in the world of GTA Online. Modifying it is an essential part of personalizing your in-game experience and it can enhance both your style and your combat capabilities. By following this comprehensive guide, you can take your Deluxo from a stock vehicle to a custom masterpiece that suits your individual needs and preferences. Happy customizing!