What I don't understand about the tuning scene...

[B16a2 Civic]

i cant vote

i like fast cars cause i had a somewhat fast car ( dodge stealth twin turbo)
i currently have a car built for show
i like watching cars drift
big wheels are fine by me
if you like jdm, thats you, but were not in japan
carbon fiber looks godo and is lighter, so theres nothin wrong with lookin good and having a purpose
decals are okay, if you ahve that product on your car or your representign something

[speedminded]

I probably have the oddest personal goal for my car, the cleanest track prepared street car..."show car" clean but without the "show car" styling/trends. Why? Not exactly sure but any car looks good if it's clean....not just physically clean but clean lines too. Personally I think starting with the quality, reliability, & durability of OEM parts and working from there is the best look...may not be the cheapest or most exciting but it's a style that won't go out of style.

Some people say roll cages on a street car is ridiculous. Saying you are driving too hard if you need a cage and the disadvantages out weigh the advantages. Yes, cages are dangerous...could result in a serious injury in just a minor accident but it could also save your life in a major one too. I do alot of driving...interstate, city, mountains, etc. and i'm not ready to turn it into a 100% track car because I like driving it on the street....but whatever additions I do I make sure are SCCA legal. Even though it may not ever be driven competitively on the track I still do track days and sanctioned events.

It basically all comes down to competition...

Q: Show cars, why spend so much for plastic awards?
A: Competition, normally for those less mechanically inclined and generally into the looks more than the performance or handling aspect of a vehicle. It's exciting to mod and clean a car to compete against others...especially those nights leading up to a show then the anticipation at the show of how you will place...it's just not exactly for me.

Q: Drag cars, why spend so much to go 1/4?
A: Competition, thrill of those few seconds...i much rather prefer a road course but for those few seconds of launching and shifting through the gears competing against someone next to you can be just as exciting. Then you set personal goals to beat, perfecting the launch and timing the shifts to your torque curve...


Q: Drift cars, why spend so much on tires to burn them up?
A: Again competition, but as anything I like to get into the history of something...learning where and how it started, the people that started it, etc. Plus Americans love Japanese cars and always have since they were first imported...it may not be the fastest way around the track (well contested) but who doesn't love the smell of smoking tires and the thrill of getting a car loose? It's practically an art form, nearly a step above of finding the perfect apex by adding an extra step...doing it sideways yet still under control while trying to look good. It's addictive and exciting, everyone's wanted to throw a donut or two: whether it's in the snow on a 4-wheeler or in a parking lot in a car...this just takes that little thrill and turns it into something bigger. Sponsors, best deals, or used tires are the key to being able to drift without it hurting your pocket too much.


Q: why decals on cars?
A: As I mentioned yesterday, advertising for a company that's not giving you anything is ridiculous. I would never do that for a company that didn't give a good deal, reimburse, or something...just because the product may be higher quality why pay retail and then sport a sticker to further help their profits? It's like buying clothes that have a huge name printed across it, they should be paying you to wear it. What really gets to me is seeing a car with stickers knowing very well that product is not on there...as a joke, a car that may have cost a few hundred and just doing it for fun is one thing but rarely is that the case. Also people that get the cheapest part, say $129 tein springs with stock shocks and putting their stickers ALL over their car, lol. It's amusing.


Q: car clubs, what is the point?
A: Group mentality, you nearly always have someone that desires control over others so they create one. It's a learning experience for most, some are operated like a business giving more power to someone than next and you may gain tons of knowledge from it...someone creating a club is showing leadership skills that may prove to be something more beneficial down the road but it does not always lead to organization. I understand makes/model clubs: PCA, Ga. Z, SELOC, etc...but for the mispelled words (i remember seeing in g'ville "Twisted Diminsions" multiple times, lol...wtf is Diminsion?) It's cool and all to hang out with friends and make new ones but that's no reason do something because everyone else is doing it...rockin the same paint colors, same aftermarket products, etc. My impression, like the "secret" clubs in a treehouse as a kid was made to create a bond between some and exclude others. Making a name for yourself is one thing but my question is what are the benefits? For the people in clubs, what does "your" club promote or do? Is it just to gather together and be seperated from others or do you do charity functions, promote business', etc? What's the purpose?


Q: carbon fiber, is it that my lighter?
A: It all depends on the part it's replacing. As for my hood, i'm saving about 20lbs...it may not look the best, i would love to have one that fit better but my main concern was to shave some weight from a near torqueless car. I have no problems painting carbon fiber, if you're adding it just to show off (even though it looks good) then you're doing it for the wrong reasons. It's also more durable than fiberglass


Q: big wheels 19", 20", etc...?
A: I'll admit 19's on a larger sedan or higher end sportscars (some porsche's, lamborghini, bugatti, etc.) looks really good but it's not always practical. IMO 17" wheels on the average honda/acura is too big...it looks good but for everyday driving accidentally hitting a pot hole or road plate is disasterous...leading to bent & broken wheels and blistered tires. Anything larger is strictly for show, and the added "unsprung" weight has numerous disadvantages: gas mileage (even with the proper outside diameter, the weight kills gas mileage), loss of torque, initial wheel cost, tire cost, etc. It's all your personal preferance though and i think the Cutlass or Caprice with 24's or 26's is goofy looking...but apparently that's what the owner wants.


Q: JDM why not import a car?
A: It's something differant yet still has the OEM qualities. Other countries love to convert their Toyota Harriers into Lexus RX300's and Honda Integra's in Acura's. I went with the Honda badging because that is the roots of my car, it's manufactured by the Honda (or a subsidiary) and America is one of the few that pay extra for the added luxury of Acura. Same as for Lexus (Luxury EXport United States), and Infinity.

Importing a car for parts is the way to go (cheaper overall and you can sell what you don't use) but it can be difficult to make it registereable. It all comes down to being differant but like the girls with black clothes, makeup, & nails with pink hair...all trying so hard to be differant, to be/find "themselves", yet they all end up looking exactly the same