Hook's UT Place

**Hook**

By Deimenried - Listed at The Forum Directory

Why mod a car? This is the one single most important question that is overlooked before many of us shell out hard-earned cash at the mod-shop (generic term; applies to graphics shops, body shops etc). What are we trying to achieve? I realise that for the most part, people do it to impress their mates; nothing wrong with that, we all want to be the best at everything, but does this mean we are modifying our cars for all the wrong reasons? Firstly, let us look at the difference in criteria when it comes to modding a car when we are:

a) Trying to impress our mates
b) Genuinely trying to improve the car

>>>>

Aim	Must Be	Part
Impress	Loud	Large diameter exhaust
		Large ICE setup
	Outragous	Large Spoiler
		Large Rims
	Fashionable	Lexus Lights
	Cheap	Unpainted bumpers and sideskirts to give "two-tone" effect
	Quick	Low gear ratio
		Nitrous Oxide
		Cheap induction kit
Improve	Bespoke	Aerodynamic Spoiler
		Wide-Arch Body-Kit
		Racing Rims
	Unique	Custom headlamps
		Custom tail-lights
		Pearescent Paint
	Quality	Profesionally fitted bodykit
	Fast	Racing Muffler
		New Super/Turbocharger
		Overhauled engine block
		Lightened body panels
		Stripped out interior
		New Suspension
	Safe	Bucket Seats
		Racing Seatbelts
		New Tyres
		Roll/Sway bars

So with that in mind, what is the end result?

Impress: The result is a loud car with virtually no top speed and a window vibrating sound system; in other words this may impress your mates, but this isn't going to go down well with the police or the neighbours. The large exhaust will reduce back-pressure, and thus will actually reduce the power output of the car. The spoiler only works if the car is going ca. 90mph, which with the low gear ratio (great for getting away from the lights, but cuts your top speed drastically) means you are never going to see any benefit.

The good thing is, these parts are generally cheap and readily accessible, meaning a council-estate cruiser is easy on the wallet.

Some examples:

Improve: Ok, so this lot is going to cost you, but even doing just a couple of these things can steer you away from those mocking laughs at those auto shows. The extra cash means your new muffler and engine components are going to see you getting a lot more out of your car. The unique paint and bodykit may cost you, but will set you apart from the rest. Generally custom light clusters can be pricey and will probably need to be professionally installed, but off-the-shelf LED light clusters will still mark an improvement without resorting to tacky Lexus Lights. The engine and weight improvements will mean that your spoiler may actually see some action (make sure that it's on the track, not on the road (unless it's an autobahn) ).

Apart from the costs, it's pros all the way!

Some examples:

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In Conclusion: Fashion Crime or Cheap Alternative?

Hitherto I have outlined two distinct tuning methods, but in the real world there are some happy intermediates. If you want the performance, but don't want to fork out on exterior work, you can always build a "sleeper car" (no exterior mods; looks like stock, but has had extensive work done under the hood). You can combine the two methods to create a well rounded car, but half the cost.

So are fashion crimes the result of not having the cash? In my opinion, no. You can modify a car well very cheaply if you know good mod-shops. There's no excuse for dustbin-diameter exhausts or lexus lights on todays modded cars. It takes a basic understanding of a car's mechanical operations to mod one correctly. Nothing screams "I've got a small c**k" more than a large exhaust on a cheap euro-hatchback, lexus lights and a massive spoiler (according to some "genius", installing a spoiler backwards makes it go faster Rolling Eyes

).

Steer clear of the pitfalls of the fashion disaster moddings ad you'll rack up respect!
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