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

[CHADbee]

i'm don't get it when people spend all that fuckin $ on ctr seats or ctr brakes on the civic. why not buy sparco and brembro brakes for the same price but get better performance. there was a post in the car talk section asking wiether or not the ctr motor was worth it...fuck no. it so much $ cause it "jdm". just like people who buy itr swaps, there no way i'd buy that motor. why would'nt u buy a b18c1 and put skunk2 cams, head package and build the bottom end...much better motor and u would only come out like 200 bucks more than the itr but have much more power. i'm not saying i hate the jdm style...i do like it. i just don't get it when people buy parts that are stock rather that real performance parts and pay more!

[JITB]

i still dont understand putting integra suspension on a civic...... when it was made for a INTEGRA

[ALVIN]

I don't understand the whole car club thing...I was in one but it was ghey as hell and never did anything. I understand most of you will say cuz it people getting together with similar interests, but that is what Import Atlanta is for. lol just my 2 pennies.

[Chuckster]

im not voting on this one cuz i have an answer for all. Its a competetion.

Decals are useally sponsers and they help me out online when i search for parts, lol.

[Red]

I voted drifting and JDM, cause I cant see why spend $100+ for a clock in the car...LOL, and drifting is just burning up tires in a parking lot...

Yeah I kinda agree.

[RISKYB]

why question it

[tony]

i dnt understand show cars bc u spend g's to let a car sit and let somebody else tell you whehter or not they like ur car. ill be ready to kick somebodys ass if i got beat by a spray painted car or something stupid like that. lol!!!

I felt that way after entering NOPI, it makes absolutely no sense for me personally since beauty is in the eye of the beholder... I paid $20k plus in modifications and they want to tell me what I can and cannot do with my car? sheiiiiittttt...

And that is the other thing, I understand major sponsorships.. but some sponsorships I just dont understand, what is the use of owning and paying for the car (especially an expensive one) if someone else dictates where you need to be and what you need to do? I'll be damned if I'm calling someone to explain why I want to spend time with my son instead of going to a car show..

[1439/2000]

i voted jdm. cause mitsubishi imported a few just for me.

[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

[lowjack]

My 2 things are explined below.

1. Having JDM parts can be cool however the why spend inflated amounts to have what is the norm overseas. I also believe that the ones out there that do the left to right hand drives are much more accepted than the folks putting on steering wheels or lights. It is much more unique to do something to a car that is "not normally" there and take time and effort to complete.

2. All bitching about the scene going to shit. With folks out there saying, Man the scene is nothing like it use to be." and doing nothing really to keep things going. There are fads every generation that fade away because the people who made the scene either burnout, get bored, or become discouraged while standing by letting it fade. The American muscle car scene has been strong for 6 decades and the reason why it will continue is because the folks in it make it happen. The Sport Compact scene should not be any different especially since it involves almost every car make on the planet. Where else can you go to a show, meet, or drift and see a Magnum sitting next to a Intergra, or a NSX sitting next to a Caviler? The verisitility of "OUR" scene is so great that the only way it becomes shit is by the folks allowing it to happen.

Everyone who has modded their car or kept it in prestine "clean" condition has a bit of pride in it. This even includes the ones that have made mods that others deem as "Rice", "Bling", or "Under Construction". At the end of the day it still is someone "trying" to make positive impact in the scene and in some respects should be commended. Sadly though, there are far to many jokes, and pokes at them which I am sure after so many makes them wonder why even try to improve or be different.

Most of the folks in "Our" scene are younger and don't have the $$ backing of the 50+ year old driving a 67 Firebird that is totally restored. So it take a little more time to make those mods happen.

There is no better feeling than watching some of the younger folks (4-15 yrs) walking up to cars at shows and being inspired by what they see in "Our" scene. For a great example, my daughter Olivia (Bug) was so taken by a Hot Pink VW at the Summer Elite Nationals, that is all she talked about for a week after the show, and still to this day keeps telling me that when she is 16 she want a car just like it, suicided doors and all. That is the impact this scene should be making. It is all up to us and I don't want to end up like some scene that can be compared to Disco or Hair Rock Bands from the 70's and 80's.

[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

[DrivenMind]

drifting is just burning up tires in a parking lot...

lol,

nah... there's a lot more going on than just destroying tires in a parking lot.

[Slowboy]

i dont understand people who know nothing about ANY SCENE, go watch f&f

and think that they are cool because they drive to pep boys and bought an

apc spoiler, hideous bodykit, and other things that would make anyone else

sick. It's all about originality but these people are doing things they dont

even understand. ask most of them how an engine works and the

i'm the shit look turns into the I have no clue face.

Werd to that, But whats up with random cars that normally dont get fixed up to go fast, or swaped, or whatever you want to do with it, and pay 100 dollars for a muffler, on a altima, like the new ones, or just putting clear outs on your ride then thinking its bad ass, I cant stand shit like that.

I met this one kid, had a 4 door eg, put a exhuast tip on it and claims it 350WHP, I was like WOW thats tight man, there no way i could hold with that, And then was like yeah I had this wing put on to hold my back end down, at high speeds, i was like can you tell it works, "yeah the car starts tucking at 100 mph, damn that kid had me rolling, everytime he drives by my car he shoots revs, ahah

[speedminded]

I met this one kid, had a 4 door eg, put a exhuast tip on it and claims it 350WHP, I was like WOW thats tight man, there no way i could hold with that, And then was like yeah I had this wing put on to hold my back end down, at high speeds, i was like can you tell it works, "yeah the car starts tucking at 100 mph, damn that kid had me rolling, everytime he drives by my car he shoots revs, ahah

lol, got a kid like that in my neighborhood, it's quite embarassing...he can't wait to go to pepboys every paycheck to get something else for his car. If it's shiney or lights up in some way then he's gonna get it *sigh*

[Crowml]

aluminum 2 ft tall wings. What, are you sponsored by gillette?

[Flip]

I choose none of them, because everyone has there own likings. I like all of it. except ricer rides..

I second this! Especially the ricer part...

[Sibious]

i can understand 26s, but only a on a truck/suv that can hold them. I don't understand 26s on a vehicle that cost $500 (caprices, cutlasses). That's like putting an olympic swimming pool behind a trailer.

so true

[devinwebb907]

decals, car clubs and big wheels...why?

[HiPSI]

and drifting is just burning up tires in a parking lot...

not sure about the JDM thing... but the true answer to any of this is because it's FUN to you. i have fun working on my car (most of the time), it's like christmas every time a new piece shows up at my door... and more importantly i have great fun using my car for what cars were intended; driving it . others get giddy at the thought of owning a part that doesn't hit production models in the US, others like hanging around a show and bullshitting all day. the only real reason to be into any of this is because it's fun, because for pretty much everyone out there it damn sure isn't profitable .

[Halfwit]

words of wisdom^^