AdrianFRST

I've already posted this on the RSOC board. I don't know what kind of response this post is going to get but I'm interested to hear your views in comparison to theirs.

The other day looking at a message board I became frustrated with people who slagged others off for modifying their cars, whatever level they were at. I decided to write something to try and explain the reasons people modify theirs cars and overcome some of the common misconceptions associated with the modified car culture.

Any comments welcome.

<B>"Why modify your car?"</B>

To be different. Individual. To add what manufacturer's budget restrictions wouldn't allow them too. To replace standard parts with higher quality aftermarket items. To make the car handle better or go faster than it did when it came from the factory.

<B>"But why spend so much on that car? The amount you've spent you could have had a [whatever]"</B>

But I'd have just another [whatever]. My budget is £xxxx, I chose to take a cheaper car and improve on it. Something different, out of the norm. Something that has more to it that you'd think. When you see [whatever] you might expect it to be fast, you have certain preconceptions of how you expect that vehicle to perform. My car is different, you don't know what's under there. It might be a 1.1, it might be a 2.5 V6... Element of surprise. How are you going to find out...?

<B>"Why bother with a 1.1? Why not get a decent model to start with?"</B>

There is a large spanner in the works of the modding plan known as insurance. The cost of insuring someone under 21 on any model categorised as performance is astronomical. Some people pay it, others prefer to spend their money on mods that won't incur a huge increase in premiums. Of course there are also some people who don't care how fast the car goes as long as it looks good. Personal taste.

<B>"Manufacturers know what they are doing, why upset the balance?"</B>

I don't need to tell you manufacturers have a set budget. An Escort / Astra / 306 could be made to handle like a dream if the manufacturers fitted the best suspension they could design. This would naturally have an effect on the price of the car and so the manufacturers produce the best they can for the particular budget of the vehicle. Aftermarket, these budgets no longer apply and 99% of the time parts can be improved.

<B>"Why have you done that? It looks crap!"</B>

I did it because I like it. Other people like it too. People whose opinions and taste I respect and value more than yours. I don't care what you think, It's my car and if you don't like it you don't have to look at it.

<B>"Why have you got such large wheels? They must screw up the handling"</B>

Yes, large wheels on small cars have a detrimental effect on handling, but not as much as you may think. I didn't do it for that anyway. Impact, that's why. It looks good. It's also a challenge. Out-do fellow modders, go larger, do the impossible. Gain respect. Push boundaries. Waste of time..? See above. Practical reasons? Improved traction and roadholding due to increased contact area of wider tyres, more room for larger brakes.

<B>"Why do you need such loud bass speakers?"</B>

Try this: Drive slowly. Play music, something with a bass drum is good. Now drive faster. As you accelerate what happens? Road noise drowns out the music. Turn it up. Can't hear the bass notes very well? The frequency of the bass is similar to the frequency of road noise. This has a cancellation effect on the sound and the whole reason for large bass speakers is to reproduce this sound effectively. There is also the effect of physically feeling the bass with the sheer volume of air being moved, but that's merely a side effect and an often welcome one at that. Feel the music, as they say.

<B>"You're a Boy Racer"</B>

Am I? Define 'Boy Racer'. Is it because I drive a modified car? It's the attitude *not* the car. Speeding in built up areas, tailgating, driving carelessly and so on. This is possible in any car. As with many aspects of modern culture, stereotypes are formed and many exist to re-enforce this stereotype and project a bad image of the modified car driver. Typically, car modification constitutes a full time hobby and a costly one at that. Many cars have had thousands upon thousands spent on them and the owners are not about to jepardise what represents a sizeable chunk of their disposable income.

<B>"Nova / Corsa / Escort? They are all sheds"</B>

Not so true. These cars are both fortunate and unfortunate in the fact that they are very inexpensive cars to both purchase and modify. This leads to a great deal of badly modified examples driven by people who fit into the category above. However, if there are bad examples by the very definition of bad there must be an opposite. Good examples. An uneven balance perhaps in comparison to other cars but life isn't always even.

-------------

There was one more about having a car that could greatly exceed the speed limit but it goes without saying that's a little irrelevant here.

Adrian.

[This message has been edited by AdrianFRST (edited 10 July 2001).]

IntegraR

"I don't care what you think, It's my car and if you don't like it you don't have to look at it."

So why did you write all that just to justify it to us?





[This message has been edited by IntegraR (edited 10 July 2001).]

Jza

Thats some interesting reading.

I modded my old car about 7 years ago (not telling you what it was - but it was small and french) and got similar comments from other people - particularly the "why not buy a faster car". Theres something special about doing it - you get nothing back for your investment - just a huge grin.

However - now im an older git with more money, ive moved on to a scooby. Totally different ballpark for mods. Im not really interested in something unless it adds to the handling/power delivery of the car.

I suspect its an age thing. As you get older your cars gets "quieter" but quicker!!!

I do sometimes have to laugh at some of the mods some people put on their cars - and make them look stupid. But each to their own as you say!!

I now prefer dinner with friends to cruises at Mcdonalds....... if you know what i mean. Must be getting on!!!

I think a lot of people slag others off for something to do. I thought about this thread - should i a) Rip him as a boy racer or b) recognise i was one myself.
If i'd picked a) you'd say i was unfair - but i may have been bored and looking for a fight. So take some of the threads as such and dont take it personal.

Oh - by the way - Nova / Corsa / Escort's are sh1te!!!!

Jza
Ex Boy Racer and former Max Power reader.

The Zohan

Adrian - Yep, Agreed, each to his own. We all have something in common and that is a interest (call it what you will) in our cars.

IntegraR - Quote 'just to justify it to us'- since when did you become spokesperson for Scoobynet'?

I occasionally read Max Power, Banzai and Revs mags - they do have some great articals, conversions and stuff.- I prefer Classic & Sportscar and Top Gear (not so much recently)

Anyway, Adrian - sums it up well.

Paul

chiark

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Jza:
<B>As you get older your cars gets "quieter" but quicker!!![/quote]

Scoobysport backbox? De-cat? Induction kit?

Not to mention shedloads of subs, but I've just not grown up

IntegraR

Paul, you clearly missed the "lets make IntegraR a spokesperson for all of Scoobynet" thread, in where I was given the powers to use "us", "we", and "I", to represent every member of this board, and "we" do not appreciate your blatant challenge on the rights "I" was given.

Any more of that, and "I" will authorise "us" to give you a swift clip accross the ear.

AdrianFRST

Thanks for the comments guys.

The reason I wrote that was to explode the myth, you might say, of the modified car driver.

I might have given a bit too much away already but does anyone want to hazard a guess at what I drive?

I'm 22, Professional ASP Web Developer for a multinational corporation, and I don't own a puffa jacket or a baseball cap...

JoeyDeacon

If you want a laugh might I suggest you look at the cars for sale adds in the back of Fast Car magazine sometime.

One add that stuck in my mind was the guy trying to sell a B reg Escort RS turbo for £4,500 when the add stated "14,500 spent". £14500 spent!! he could have bought a decent car for that much money!!

Is there something seriously wrong with these people for spending that much money on a POS when they could have bought a far newer, better car for that money.

The Zohan

IntegraR
Sorry oh master!

Paul

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by AdrianFRST:
<B>I'm 22, Professional ASP Web Developer for a multinational corporation, and I don't own a puffa jacket or a baseball cap...[/quote]

Oh my God, I'm a boy racer!! I've got baseball caps and a puffa jacket!!!

IntegraR

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Andy Tang:
<B> Oh my God, I'm a boy racer!! I've got baseball caps and a puffa jacket!!!

[/quote]

Hmmmm, not necessarily a boy racer, but it does bring your fashion sense into serious question.

cryptwalk

Hear Hear adrian, well said mate.

I only have to look upon some of my previous car's on the way upto my scoob to think "Oh my god what was i thinking"

What i consider now as cool and what i considerd then as cool are a world apart, all part of growing up i suppose!

I do appriciate the time and effort that goes into modding even if some bit's/car's look tacky, i just look and remember i was there once.

I'm all for modding car's, i'm currently looking at putting a escort cossie wing on my impreza LOL

BOB.T

Adrian, do you drive a Fiesta RS Turbo, it's just a guess, your web name doesn't give it away at all LOL

I've modded my car ( fiesta si) because I wanted to, I bought thinking I like that but it would look better with some bigger alloys on it though! At no point did I want to impress anyone else, I'm not bothered about being uniuqe ( or being able to spell).

RE the budget thing, everything on cars is a compromise, you might get two people who love how a car loks but where one loves stiff suspension the other may hate it, hence middle of the road suspension etc.


Bob