An idiot's guide to automotive un-improvement

[msirach]

The perils of customization

PeterCheney - THEGLOBEANDMAIL - September 27, 2012

Do you fit this profile? --Ed.

Hundreds of years from now, archeologists will dig up our civilization to ruminate on who we were, and what we were thinking. Here’s hoping that their first discoveries don’t include a Toyota Corolla with a giant spoiler bolted on the back, an oil sheik’s solid-gold Bentley or a set of 32-inch wheels with chrome spinners.

Unfortunately, there’s every chance that this is what the excavators will find, since there is no shortage of bad car alterations. Human beings like to create monuments to their personal style, and the automobile provides a blank canvas that can become the Mona Lisa – or (in most cases) a black-velvet oil painting.

Car alterations rarely go well. Just this week, I saw a Rolls-Royce with pimp-style chrome rims (a modification that conjured up a sudden and unwanted mental image of Queen Elizabeth in sequined hot pants).... [Read More]

[basjoos]

There's nothing wrong with customization as long as it is intelligently thought out and isn't some haftbaked attempt to follow a recent auto stying trend or to copy an inpractical design from a Hollywood movie.

Customization has worked wonders on the aerocivic in lowering the Cd and greatly improving highway mileage. Mileage at 70mph rose from 40mpg to over 80mpg and mileage at 80mph went from mid 30's to low 60's mpg. The aeromods also added two and a half feet of additional cargo space behind the rear seat, added crush space fore and especially aft for additional safety, and the "deer scoop" front end shape redirects collision energies upward to reduce body damage during deer collisions.

[dr61]

"there is no shortage of bad car alterations". Yes, but the picture here appears to be a B-Spec racing car. Maybe the graphics are a bit over done (although distinctive graphics help timers and the crew to spot the car in a pack), but the other alterations are purely functional or required for safety.

[msirach]

Originally Posted by dr61

"there is no shortage of bad car alterations". Yes, but the picture here appears to be a B-Spec racing car. Maybe the graphics are a bit over done (although distinctive graphics help timers and the crew to spot the car in a pack), but the other alterations are purely functional or required for safety.

You're right about the car in the pic. Didn't have time to upload a new one and this one shows mods. Picture the mods on an everyday street car.

[ALS]

Here are some prime examples for you.





And my favorite

Go to the site directly

[msirach]

I like the forward facing gauge on the hood of the top car.

[thunderstruck]

One of my faves:


And don't forget to lower exhaust pressure for better performance.

[brick]

Awesome. This thread is giving me killer ideas for the Volvo. Keep 'em coming!

[RichXKU]

Volkswagen covered this quite well, and hilariously:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv157ZIInUk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCIF6JF1O5U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I0WfnhVs2s

And the AE86 ALS posted from this Poser Mobile (T-Mobile) Commercial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFavZIKWsJc

[msirach]

I just replaced the pic with a MUCH more fitting creature.