The Tuner Culture

[JohnBM01]

Hi, GT Planet. Now before I get into this topic, allow me to make a small disclaimer. First off, I like to welcome this forum to fans of import and sport compact cars. Is there another forum like this that I wasn't aware of? I'm just chooing topics. I rarely do searches. Now, there are a few sentences or suggestions that I, nor any other compact fan wants to hear. So, I don't want to see any "Hondas suck, American muscle all the way," "They tune their cars to look ugly and can't drive them worth crap," "Imports (in this case, non-American cars simply suck)," nothing like that. For those who like the ones some like to call "rice rockets" (personally, I don't), there are several cars that are good enough for this thread. For example:

ASIA: Toyota Supra, Nissan Silvia, Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Nissan Skyline, Toyota Celica, Honda/Acura NSX, Mazda RX-7, Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi 3000GT...

EUROPE: Volkswagen New Beetle, VW Golf, VW Jetta, Mini Cooper, Audi TT...

AMERICA: Dodge Neon SRT-4, Dodge Neon SXT, Dodge Stratus, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet S10 Pickup, Saturn... (who cares about Saturn), Ford Focus (actually an import), Ford Mustang...


So I'll begin with my side of talking about the interesting sides of the tuner culture.
Normally, the tuner culture is basically about people who love the cars they drive. When a person customizes their machine to do whatever they want, that person shows love for his/her machine. He/She loves his/her car so much that they want to LIVE with their car, like a wonderful marriage between two lovers. Some people, however, love to tune their cars, but are still experimenting on how to make their machine better however. On the stereotypical side, the ones involved in tuning and modding are said to be "high school students that design their cars to look faster than the machine actually is." Some even say that the cars look ugly, and while they waste their money on specialized bodykits and extreme, they still can't beat an American V8 muscle car. But to me, it isn't about V8-killing, instead it is about a love of cars, just that when they look at their daily driver, they see race car in it.

To add to the culture, techno music, dance shows, and BEAUTIFUL ladies help make the tuner culture a subculture. In normal circumstances, it is more like "hey, the muscle car fans have their culture, and we have ours." Now personally, techno/dance music is my favorite style of music. They have some breakbeat music, not to mention what they call "drum-n-bass." I've always considered techno/dance music that exudes youthfulness and energy. As they apply to tuner cars, it can be cool to have your little monster rolling on the streets listening to a CD featuring a New York City (don't forget, you can race NYC in GT4) underground rave party. Now, I can't get into the ladies because I don't want to risk the chance of getting my thread locked. While I'm probably expecting "John, you wuss" comments for not mentioning them, I think the tuner culture is pretty cool. I seen many Hondas (which are as popular as Porsches in GT racing) as tuners. I've seen them as tuners, all the way up to the Honda NSX, Nissan Skyline, and I even seen a Chevy Corvette C5 with tuner treatment.

The thread is open to people who want to positively talk about tuner cars, tuning in general, the tuner culture, or anything related to such.

 

[Goomba]

I was thinking about this recently. I do like the fact that people enjoy their cars enough to add modifications and such to the car. They're entuisiasts, just like you and me. However, many times I find these to be horrid tastes. These huge, ugly wings protrouding from rear of a Civic that a driver will never see 100 mph in a safe location, makes me laugh. Body kits and lowering the car to the point where it's lower than a Corvette and it needs to be lifted up in the air to change the oil is ridiculous. But thats just me. I enjoy a nice clean, stock looking vehicle. I spend $900 on WRX wheels, OEM spoiler and badging to get my old Subaru RS looking almost stock again.

Even though I've been guilty of it, a lot of these enthusiasts don't know where to show off. Racing on the street isn't safe. I've been to an organized street race, and there kids walking down where people are racing. Someone will get killed and going fast on public roads with traffic around them is stupid. If a kid in Civic or an old man in a Merc calls you a wuss for not racing, than good. They're the idiot.

Another thing, bring someone that thinks they're a very good driver and they think they know their car to the track or an autocross. I would bet good portions of money that they won't know how to properly launch (I know I can't) or where to shift, shifting quickly, etc. Or how to turn, where the apex is, left foot braking, heel-toe double clutching, the right line, etc. is on the track/course. Many times I look at the modifications to be pointless. I think people should learn to driver their car's to it's fullest extent IN A SAFE enviroment, and once the car starts holding them back, then by all means, proceded with the modifications.

 

[skip0110]

Originally posted by Goomba
I was thinking about this recently. I do like the fact that people enjoy their cars enough to add modifications and such to the car. They're entuisiasts, just like you and me. However, many times I find these to be horrid tastes. These huge, ugly wings protrouding from rear of a Civic that a driver will never see 100 mph in a safe location, makes me laugh. Body kits and lowering the car to the point where it's lower than a Corvette and it needs to be lifted up in the air to change the oil is ridiculous. But thats just me.

I agree 100% and also like clean, stock (in import lingo this is often classified as JDM) "sleepers" if you will. However, I dont really see why the import crowd gets so much flak for big wings, lowering, etc. Take a look at the Pro Street moevment, for example. Why would a 69 Camaro need an 11-inch rear tire? On these cars, you see chutes that will never be popped, one-piece fiberglass front ends, and wheelie bars. Or going even farther back, consider the gasser movement. These high-in-the-sky stright-axle cars with tremendous engine setback were just as silly from a practical perspective as the ground-scraping imports of today. But they are considered "cool" by many of the same critics of "ricing" as you migh call it.

I applaud anyone with any mechanical knowledge, whether they are eeking 10 more hp out of a 1.6L VTEC or a 290 hp small-block. Times change, and the ricers of today are exactly the equivalent to the hot rodders of yesterday. In either case, people are just tring to imitate the racecars of the day within their limited budgets.

 

[Cano]

Originally posted by skip0110
I agree 100% and also like clean, stock (in import lingo this is often classified as JDM) "sleepers" if you will. However, I dont really see why the import crowd gets so much flak for big wings, lowering, etc. Take a look at the Pro Street moevment, for example. Why would a 69 Camaro need an 11-inch rear tire? On these cars, you see chutes that will never be popped, one-piece fiberglass front ends, and wheelie bars. Or going even farther back, consider the gasser movement. These high-in-the-sky stright-axle cars with tremendous engine setback were just as silly from a practical perspective as the ground-scraping imports of today. But they are considered "cool" by many of the same critics of "ricing" as you migh call it.

I applaud anyone with any mechanical knowledge, whether they are eeking 10 more hp out of a 1.6L VTEC or a 290 hp small-block. Times change, and the ricers of today are exactly the equivalent to the hot rodders of yesterday. In either case, people are just tring to imitate the racecars of the day within their limited budgets.

hahaha glad you touch that. aaah, the pro-street show car movement. hot rodding's biggest shame. cars that looked like superstockers yet never ran more than 3 mph on and off their trialers. two superchargers poking frm a 500+ ci engine chromed to even its interior, not 11 (11s are actually a very good size for the street in a high-powered car), but 16 inch wide tires, completely useless suspension treatments to get them as low as possible, and yeah, chutes that never opened. and yeah!!! puke-paint. yup, the pro-street move of the 80s is hot rodding's equivalent to rice. and the fad hasnt gone, but now they are completelly "billetized" cars that are also trailer queens but now they have 22 inch wheels, power-everything, and a stock 350 LT1 for power. Back to the pro-street thing, I rememmber when Car Craft mag made its"ultimate street machine shootout" or some **** like that, and called the top Pro-street cars of the era (late 80s) into action at the drag strip. mid 13, high 12s were the result. The ProStreet movement faded from there, and has remained relativelly silent for the past years, thankfully.
however, I'd like to add that the Gasser cars, with the sky-high nose and monoleaf srping atop a straight axle and a monster motor are a danged effective way to do what they want to do: 1/4 times!!! I assume you know why the engine setback/alteredwheelbase/nose-high formula was used, all in search for traction, and you should know that these setups are SURPRISINGLY effective for straight acceleration. these cars are real strip monsters, unlike those ProStreeters (there are a handful of proStreeters that run hard, too, but most of those were show-ers) that were seen in the late 80s. The gasser movement is gaining strenght and you can see 55 chevys and even old fords and studes made the gasser way and beating the snot out of another cars at the strip, then driving home. and they arent as unstable as they seem, they are just way high n their front end. I defend the gasser movement over the pro street move everyday, because, apart from being more effective and practical than a prostreeter (try to pass a bump with a 1-inch ground clearance. now try it on your striaght-axler), they look immmensely cool and brutal. I'd build one in a wimp
the real thing now in hot rodding is Pro-Touring, a complete 21st century performer in the body of an old car. independant suspensions, 4-wheel discs, electronic management, modern turbo and supercharging systems, overdriven or electronically controled trans, you know, the lot. now you have a car that beats every Ferrari and Z06 and Skyline in the road, withthe looks of a 69 Camaro or a 70 GTX. oh yeah.

Cano

 

[skip0110]

Originally posted by Cano
however, I'd like to add that the Gasser cars, with the sky-high nose and monoleaf srping atop a straight axle and a monster motor are a danged effective way to do what they want to do: 1/4 times!!! I assume you know why the engine setback/alteredwheelbase/nose-high formula was used, all in search for traction, and you should know that these setups are SURPRISINGLY effective for straight acceleration.

I agree that back in the day of hard track tires that were mediocre at best, the high in the front massive setback setup was the only way to get weight transfer so that these cars could hook up. (Although its surprising the timeslips being turned by cars in the FADrags--Factory appearing drags--cars on period correct tires.) But today, I think that the gasser look is just that, a look, because beyond the 60-foot line the car is just gonna act like a giant windbreak. I still think the look is cool, though, althoough more form a historic perspective, since today there are better ways to go just as fast.

Originally posted by Cano
the real thing now in hot rodding is Pro-Touring, a complete 21st century performer in the body of an old car. independant suspensions, 4-wheel discs, electronic management, modern turbo and supercharging systems, overdriven or electronically controled trans, you know, the lot.

Thats true, but not every Joe an the street can afford to have a modern Camaro suspension dropped under their classic '69. So they invest in what the can, sway bars, maybe 20" billet wheels. These pieces alone dont make their car Pro-Touring any more than a huge wing and body kit make a Civic a race car. But in either case, the owner is making improvements over what the factory gave them, and this makes them a tuner (and earns my respect).

Originally posted by Cano
now you have a car that beats every Ferrari and Z06 and Skyline in the road, withthe looks of a 69 Camaro or a 70 GTX. oh yeah.

I'll take a hemi in an early fastback Charger or a 426 galaxie, thank you.

 

[Famine]

Originally posted by JohnBM01
When a person customizes their machine to do whatever they want, that person shows love for his/her machine. He/She loves his/her car so much that they want to LIVE with their car, like a wonderful marriage between two lovers.

If this is what happens when this muppet loves his car, I hope I'm not around when he decides to hate something.

 

[TS1AWD]

Ive grown up in the car scene and I never wanted to be the ignorant person who thought their car was god and everything else was inferior. If your tuning your car to be something, im sure there is probally a 10% chance Im going to like or agree with it, but you know, cars are different to every person, and every person has their own thing. My thing is all about horsepower mods and no exterior or interior, to the next person it will be the opposite. What I do to my Talon, I can promise that alot of people will hate on. But whatever.
I love racing, thats my hobby. I have never been to a street race in my life and never intend too. If im going to be racing somebody, I sure as hell better be getting a slip at the end with a time on it, If Im not, what is the use? Ive done rally, autocross, and drag race, won money doing it too.

 

[Goomba]

Originally posted by TS1AWD
Ive grown up in the car scene and I never wanted to be the ignorant person who thought their car was god and everything else was inferior. If your tuning your car to be something, im sure there is probally a 10% chance Im going to like or agree with it, but you know, cars are different to every person, and every person has their own thing. My thing is all about horsepower mods and no exterior or interior, to the next person it will be the opposite. What I do to my Talon, I can promise that alot of people will hate on. But whatever.
I love racing, thats my hobby. I have never been to a street race in my life and never intend too. If im going to be racing somebody, I sure as hell better be getting a slip at the end with a time on it, If Im not, what is the use? Ive done rally, autocross, and drag race, won money doing it too.

*nods* I'm right along with you, except I don't think horsepower is the only thing. Handling and the stability is pretty much number one in my book. I'd rather be blasting around an autocross at 60mph rather than racing at the track hitting 160 mph in nine seconds.

Although.... thinking about it more, there is a lot to say to have your car how you want it to be. I counldn't of been happier when I got the wing, wheels, badging, and a reasonable sized exhaust. It cost me about $1000 but I think it was well worth it. But this was all to get it to look stock again. As for expensive body kits that will just crack over a tech's lift, I think it's worthless. But, whatever floats their boat.

 

[JohnBM01]

I have numerous "Super Street" magazines. What intrigues me is how people are so devoted to modifying cars so that if people wanted to, they can LIVE in their cars. I don't know if people are too low-budget for a Bentley, or just want to custom a car to suit their personal tastes.

A point that was raised was that these compacts and non-American imports have great handling characteristics. As anyone who played Gran Turismo would know, the slow cars had low horsepower, but have impressive handling. And even when I had my Mugen Beat in GT2, my car had impressive handling handling the curves of the Seattle Short Course. I hate to say it, but my modified Beat handling that could put F1 cars to shame. Playing Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3, I considered the Toyota Chaser an import. The car surprised me in many ways. I thought it would be a heavyweight with heavy horses. However, the car had very sharp handling (has anyone ever said that the Toyota Chaser looks like a Japanese BMW (besides me)?). Some cars like the Chaser look VERY aggressive. Now, a more feasible model is the Nissan Skyline. With proper tuning, it can be a mean-looking one-off JGTC race car with all the street-legal components to make it a cool car. A person's dedication to modding plays a great role in the finished product. This even relates to guys who drive hot pink Japanese cars (just look at Yashio Factory).

Now when it comes to creativity, there is almost anything a person can do to a car to make it a Show Stopper, as Speed show "Hi-Rev Tuners" would talk about. I seen weird cars all covered by the lovely Thai-American Ann Poonkasem (http://www.annpoonkasem.com). These models consist of a Honda Prelude drenched in green, a "Nasty" Neon, the Fast and Furious Supra, and more. Including a machine that had the headlights of an R24 Skyline, side of an Honda/Acura NSX, and tail lights from the R33 Skyline. What people often forget is how much we appreciate cars as much as the next all-Chevy or all-Ford fan.

And another thing, no matter how good a Japanese car is, do NOT call them "modern day muscle cars." That's what Hot Rod TV called the Subaru Impreza WRX STi after a test to prove it could beat the Mustang in street trim. Just because a Japanese car can do such a thing, I'm uncomfortable calling a Japanese car a muscle car. Only thing close to that would be the Nissan Skyline with its power and weight. So, that's what I wanted to talk about all along. Okay, next reply.

 

[ShobThaBob]

Muscle is muscle any way you look at it. It doesnt matter if it's wearing a form fitting spandex one piece, or a suit, or a letter jacket...it's still muscle. Thats all I have to say about that.

 

[pimp racer]

Man that peugot looks ****ed up LOL

 

[Joey D]

I wouldn't consider the sport compacts hot rods of today, they are sport compacts. The days of hot rodding died a long time ago. No body crusies the strip like they used to, back when my dad had his 32 Ford coupe. American Graffti is what hot rodding was about.

I'm not dissing on the sport compacts or anything, there just not hot rods. Times change and so do names, I think you should call them tuners. When someone says hot rodding I think of 50's diners with chromed out detroit iron, not fiberglassed Hondas. You say tuners and the first thing to come to mind is a honda.

I would never call a 03 Caviler a hot rod, but I would a call a 57 Bel Air. And just to show that I'm being racist here a "hot rod" of sorts from Japan would be the old Datsun Z cars. Hot Rods are older cars, tuners are newer cars. Thats how I feel at least.

For some reason you put a S-10 up there. Well an S-10 is part of the mini-truckin culture. Most people just bag em or juice em. Yes there are a few who drop V-8's, but still I would call a truck a tuner vechile.

 

[JohnBM01]

Well first off, I mentioned S-10, because there are some people who'd rather tune trucks than cars.

Now on to the tuner culture. When I heard the Subaru Impreza WRX STi being called a "modern day hot rod," I was like "oh hell no." I mean, a hot rod is one of those cool, head-turning, classic American cars. Now, don't get me wrong. I LOVE looking at cool American cars going down I-45 here in Houston. I seen SWEET Corvettes, 60s Mustangs, and a very sexy chick magnet known as the Bel-Air. But, when I look at a hot Japanese car (like the Honda S2000, for example) I think about a car with impressive handling and advanced technology on today's streets. Japanese cars are meant to be head-turners at the most. I don't picture a Supra with a 351 Windsor under the hood (although I heard of a Mazda Miata that went to a Ford event, but it had a Ford Mustang motor under the hood). Now, if you're an American car fan, here is something. do not, I mean DO NOT call a Japanese car a hot rod, or much worse, a muscle car. Now sure, muscle and pony cars rule the streets, but Japanese cars aren't the ground-pounding grocery getters muscle car fans are used to. When I think of a Japanese car that could seriously turn heads even today, I think about the Datsun 240Z, 260Z, and 280Z. While the 350Z of today is a hot modern car (with some off-camber issues, I heard when doing a lot of miles), Japanese cars have a lot of styling and not to mention smooth driving characteristics. I don't think I heard of a Japanese car with sometimes sluggish handling or acceleration. There is a reason why some Japanese cars are told to be fast even though they don't have a Hemi or a Windsor or an LS-1.

When it comes to American compacts, I got a lot of respect for the Dodge Neon SRT-4. Under $21,000, but pretty fast. Only problems would be that huge rear spoiler. And the surprising thing is that here in Houston despite its cheap price, I haven't seen ANY on the streets. All I seen were the Dodge Neon SXT. I am surprised that I haven't seen a lot of exposure of the SRT-4 in tuner mags. I mean, the SRT-4 isn't an exotic car. It isn't a Ferrari F50 or a Jaguar XJ220 in terms of exclusivity. It is a commercially-available, street legal tuner car. The only thing you have to do with it is add graphics or jazz things up a little. The end result = tuner car. You can make some nice customs even if you don't like Dodge or even if you don't like Neons.

So give it a try, folks. If I make my own money and get a license, I might get one and maybe get a new, adjustable wing. Since I like racy elements, my meal ticket is GT wings. I know I wouldn't have a Viper GTS-R even with fancy bodywork, but as I said earlier in this thread, it's all about creativity and the ability to make my ride as customized as I want it to be.

And that alone is the overlooked aspect of these cars as some people like to say that the tuner folk just customize their car and couldn't care less about V8-killing performance or 9-second ETs. Again, it's about customization. No one knows your style if you own a V8 and give your car a shaker hood to alert people that you don't have "a slow Honda" (in the words of Japanese car haters). Next time, I'll comment more about an unlikely car that is turning out to be a popular mod.

 

[Joey D]

I really don't like Japanese cars all that much, but I can't argue that there are fast Japanese cars out there. The stats show that they are fast. I know there are ones out there that has been made fast. Like the 200mph Civic that ran at the salt flats. Now there is a fast Honda. Also there are plenty of SCCA Japanese cars as well as the JGTC. I can fully respect a car like that.

I know there are fast stock Japanese cars to. The Skyline, 350Z, and others.

But still they will never be hot rods. Just like a Mustang now a days isn't a hot rod. A Mustang is just a sports car. The 50's are dead and gone.

Also as for s-10 tuning. The most people do to the stock motor is throw a K&N on it and some flowmasters. I got a Blazer and I've started to tune the crap out of it, but for the most part S-Truck owners don't do that much. I think that if someone really wants to make a s-truck fast they should drop a 305 or a 350.

To add on to the American sport compact tuner thing, along with the SRT-4. The Ford SVT Focus is really quick. Also Chevy will be introducing a Cobalt SS with over a 200hp from a 2.4 supercharged engine. The sport compact market has become popular. Grant it my sport compact days are over, I still can't deny these cars won't be fast. But if I really wanted a sport compact it would be a Pinto with a 305 in it. True sports compact there.

 

[JohnBM01]

Hate to admit it, but it's true. Even the best street-trim Japanese car isn't a muscle car, a pony car, or a hot rod. I don't like to call them "rice burners" (maybe since I chat in a Japanese Chat where some people show little or no respect to Japan and/or Asians), but there are some cars that are otherwise quick. I tend to think that if Japanese tuners can't tune cars to exceed the 276hp/280ps limit, there should be American tuners looking to max out their capabilities. I mean, I think Comptech modded out a Honda S2000 with 300hp. The S2000 is turning out to be the ultimate Honda/Acura if you don't have the finances for an NSX (if I'm not mistaken, a Corvette C5 or ZO6 sells for about the same price of a S2000). The newer S2000 seems to have only suspension and engine modifications.

I've never been a fan of the newer Cobalt (formerly known as the Cavalier) models. I liked the older Cavaliers before Chevy killed it a few years later. A lot of people like to say the Ford Focus is an American car, but from what I heard, it is actually an import, just rebadged and made in America.

I think it terms of tuning strategies, Japan and America are different. A lot of people say that people who tune Japanese cars tune them with parts that aren't even functional. An example is a scoop on the roof resembling European rally cars on Japanese cars. Then when the Focus SVT came out, one person said "this car is about functionality, not 'show and go.'" As I said, some tune for looks and not so much functionality. of course, there may be some tunable elements. However, do you mod for looks or functionality? It's like when girls wear cargo pants (or skirts). Do they go for looks, or do they carry some stuff around? I have some cargos, and I carried some stuff in mine when I'm going out and about.

Any more talk about the tuner culture?

 

[Famine]

Originally posted by JohnBM01
Hate to admit it, but it's true. Even the best street-trim Japanese car isn't a muscle car, a pony car, or a hot rod. I don't like to call them "rice burners" (maybe since I chat in a Japanese Chat where some people show little or no respect to Japan and/or Asians), but there are some cars that are otherwise quick. I tend to think that if Japanese tuners can't tune cars to exceed the 276hp/280ps limit, there should be American tuners looking to max out their capabilities.

Doesn't happen though, does it?

They all say "Yes, 276hp", but even the latest Impreza has 310hp out of the showroom.

I'd class a Supra TT right in with the muscle cars - 326hp (UK spec), FR and a flat 5.0s to 60mph.

 

[Slicks]

For me, it just can't be a muscle car/hot rod if it doesn't have a V8 and RWD. Of course, there are some exceptions (Buick GNX, for example). To me, ricers seem rather pointless. Body kits that scrape the ground and add weight, 3-foot rear wings on front drive cars, and a stock motor. It doesn't help that there are many ignorant ricers out there ( Not just ricers, but the ricers are the ones who end up getting noticed as being ignorant). Now, if you can make your car as fast as it looks, then that's fine.
I'm more for the sleeper look. It attracts fewer cops whether you are racing or not, and you can blow the doors off some unsuspecting joe at the track.
Pro touring is always nice, but 1) It can't be a trailor queen, and 2) It can get really expensive really fast. But then again, cars tend to do that.

Ah, the S-10 thing. I personally think that most of the mini-truck thing is pointless. Kinda similar to ricers. HOWEVER, if you make it right, the S-10 can have potential. Personally, I want a '88-'94 S-10. Short box, reg. cab, 2WD. Manual trans. Step one: put a set of IROC Camaro wheels on it, and lower it about an inch. Step Two: 350 cu. in. V8. Step three: other suspension bits, cosmetic touch-ups, decent sound system, and a hitch. Now you have a fairly quick, very useful mode of transportation.
Oh, and has anyone noticed that the 4.3 liter motor mounts will allow a 350?

 

[skylineGTR_guy]

Originally posted by JohnBM01
I tend to think that if Japanese tuners can't tune cars to exceed the 276hp/280ps limit....

Do you mean japanese tuners or manufacturers?

I think we can all agree that the 280ps thing is a big load of crap, no one really knows why the hell they did it all we can do is speculate. The lack of facts is absolutley unbelievable. Regardless of the limit we know that companies "cheat" but what I absolutley cannot understand is why Nissan would build a GTR to a certain power level only to detune it before it leaves the factory. Why not just leave it at 280 if all you are going to do is lower the power and advertise it as even lower than you detuned it.

Anyway, you have to admit that what you can do to a Honda or any import is amazing. While it may not be exactly like the hotrods and muscle cars, its similar, if not more, popular. Some of these 280ps Japanese econoboxes can hang with the big boys like porsche etc. The tuner culture is a great thing, it unites people of all races, religions, creeds etc. I don't know about any of you but recently I've noticed that alot of people who used to be die hard import or domestic fans now have grown to embrace both followings, Which I think is a great thing. But like anything good the idiots (who heavily outweigh the smart ones) have to ruin everything by street racing and endagering other people.

 

[JohnBM01]

Nice way to look at it, GT-R friend of ours. When you think about unity, don't forget about the fairer sex getting into this culture as well. Who says girls can't ride cool mods?

Anyhow, the "unlikely tuner car" in question is...

the Ford Mustang.

No kidding. When I been to "Hot Import Nights: Houston," I seen some Mustang mods. In Super Street magazines, I seen some taillight parts for the Mustang. Now, I brought up this topic, so why am I bringing up a car I 'banned" from the topic? Well, for tuner fans, you're asking "Why the hell would a Mustang be in an IMPORT show?" Ask the Mustang tuners. For the same, you'd ask "why is a Jeg's ad in Super Street with a modded Nissan 350Z that says 'Tired of seeing this? We can help!'?" Some see the 5.0 Mustang as a tuner car. And if that's true, some well-recognised American pony cars and muscle cars have done well in the showcar scene.

But to me, I'll admit. Some American cars are modified pretty well. I don't hate them when talking about tuner cars. But personally, I don't agree that dragons and Japanese lettering would work on a Camaro or Trans-Am. However, both cars are aerodynamic looking. So with the right aero kits, they'll look like race cars going down the road. When it comes to them, I think the 2000 Chevy Camaro RS would be a car that would be cool to own and mod. After all, a nice GT-style wing would make it killer.

No one wants to talk about something like this, though. Some people wouldn't me talking about it- modified American muscle cars. But there are people who want to tune their American cars, and I don't mean the compacts. Nowadays, the sport compact revolution is turning out to be the hotrods of our day (note, I did not say that sport compacts are hot rods, I say they are being AS popular as them).

With all the talk about "Japanese cars being cheated out of horsepower," let me comment on that. I'm sick of all the people who SERIOUSLY poke at Japanese cars. I actually think the 276hp/280ps cars have more power to them, just that it's restricted in Japan. Can you believe the Nissan R390 GT1 (Road car) has 305 horses when its race car counterpart has at little more than double that? I think the Supra is 276 in Japan, and maybe 320 something from when I seen stats in "The Need for Speed SE." And NFS:SE has sponsorship from Road & Track Magazine, so no estimations were made about the car's power. I think the NSX had either 276 or 289 in the game.

I know Japan has some strict regulations on car engines and stuff. But for the performance-minded, Japanese cars are more than capable, yet some people overlook them. Maybe someone looking up "Japanese cars suck" on Yahoo (yes, you can make history online because your online stuff makes it on to search engines, so whatever half-assed comments you make will end up online. Isn't that fun?) will find our argument and find out that we are as much of enthusiasts as the next person. The tuner culture lives on. Reply away!

 

[Famine]

Originally posted by JohnBM01
I actually think the 276hp/280ps cars have more power to them, just that it's restricted in Japan. Can you believe the Nissan R390 GT1 (Road car) has 305 horses when its race car counterpart has at little more than double that? I think the Supra is 276 in Japan, and maybe 320 something from when I seen stats in "The Need for Speed SE." And NFS:SE has sponsorship from Road & Track Magazine, so no estimations were made about the car's power. I think the NSX had either 276 or 289 in the game.

Originally posted by Famine
Doesn't happen though, does it?

They all say "Yes, 276hp", but even the latest Impreza has 310hp out of the showroom.

I'd class a Supra TT right in with the muscle cars - 326hp (UK spec), FR and a flat 5.0s to 60mph.

It's indigo, not invisible...

 

[ShobThaBob]

Im surprised you havent seen many SRT4s on the streets of houston. When I was going down westheimer coming home from Taste of Texas (gotta love their steak) I saw 11 of them. Granted, they were all in a group, obviously in a meet, but living out in Katy, I see quite a few roaming the streets.

 

[skylineGTR_guy]

Originally posted by JohnBM01
Nice way to look at it, GT-R friend of ours. When you think about unity, don't forget about the fairer sex getting into this

Very true, I've seen many girls with awsome cars, including one particular asian chick with a jaw dropping NSX that comes to the track once in a while.

With all the talk about "Japanese cars being cheated out of horsepower," let me comment on that. I'm sick of all the people who SERIOUSLY poke at Japanese cars. I actually think the 276hp/280ps cars have more power to them, just that it's restricted in Japan. Can you believe the Nissan R390 GT1 (Road car) has 305 horses when its race car counterpart has at little more than double that? I think the Supra is 276 in Japan, and maybe 320 something from when I seen stats in "The Need for Speed SE." And NFS:SE has sponsorship from Road & Track Magazine, so no estimations were made about the car's power. I think the NSX had either 276 or 289 in the game.

They skyline is quoted at 280, the dyno charts say 328

Just undoing all the detuning nissan did you gain about about 112 hp on top of the 328 it put out giving you a grand total of 440 Hp with very little or no money at all. In addition the stock ignition system can handle over 1000 Hp, why do that if the car is only meant to do 280?


@ famine

 

[Joey D]

Originally posted by Slicks
Ah, the S-10 thing. I personally think that most of the mini-truck thing is pointless. Kinda similar to ricers. HOWEVER, if you make it right, the S-10 can have potential. Personally, I want a '88-'94 S-10. Short box, reg. cab, 2WD. Manual trans. Step one: put a set of IROC Camaro wheels on it, and lower it about an inch. Step Two: 350 cu. in. V8. Step three: other suspension bits, cosmetic touch-ups, decent sound system, and a hitch. Now you have a fairly quick, very useful mode of transportation.
Oh, and has anyone noticed that the 4.3 liter motor mounts will allow a 350?

Ok first off I'm pretty annoyed that you would classify mini-truckers and ricers together. There is nothing wrong with baggin or juicing a truck. I want to put my Blazer on bags, or lower it some more. Thats the whole point of mini-truckin, to see how low you can go.

Also I don't think you realize the complexity of doing a body drop on a truck, its definalty a b!tch to do.

Mini-truckers have been around a whole helluva lot longer then ricers have. People have been lowering truck since the 50's I know of, probably longer then that.

Yes there are a lot of guys dumping 305's or 350's in S-trucks. I know quite a few Blazer owners who have various V8's in there trucks. I also know of a guy that runs juice and has a v8. So there is no reason that you have to be low and slow. My trucks lowered, but it doesn't mean I don't try and make it fast.

I can get out on the track and run with a lot of cars. I always love beating people in a 2 ton truck. Makes there jaw drop. But power isn't my main focus, sure I put a little more in but thats to help with my hauling my dirt bikes, boat, and trailer.

Also the 4.3L motor mounts work with a little modification if I'm not mistaken. Its better to spend the money and buy the right ones in a swap kit.

 

[ExigeEvan]

what is your nearest tuning club or ricer club if you think taht is more appropiate. Mine is the sw-cc

they all seem a bunch of idiots, but they are group tuning a car, which doesn't seem to bad...so far.

 

[Joey D]

I'm the president of a local car club, we go by The Dice CC. But not one of drives anything ricey. Theres my Blazer, 2 03 S-10's, a 87 Power Ram, 71 Chevelle SS, 94 Tahoe, 02 PT Crusier, and a 03 F-250 Superduty. We are a diverse club I guess you coudl say.

But I think one of the more riceier or "wannabe tuners" around me is Lehal Lowz, there a bunch of wannbe lowriding hondas and dodge shadows. Pretty funny if you ask me.

There are some clubs around here though that have some fast cars. Theres a kid around campus who has a 4G63 in a Hydaui Excel. I give that car credit cause he can most anything around here.

 

[JohnBM01]

Looks like we have some clubs in the house for this topic. No Redsuns, Night Kids, or Speedstars, though (Initial D). All tuner groups have a certain preference to types of car, paint scheme, aspiration (NA or Turbo), or what have you. It would be interesting to see someone of a certain tuner group on GTPlanet.

It's always interesting to know how groups tune and custom their cars. When it came to Speed Channel show "Hi-Rev Tuners," one given example was a 3000GT that was going to get some hydraulic work done to it, but "Doc" Kuhfeldt said it had some safety issues and faulty wiring. If you're going to mod, do it safely.

When it comes to getting into the tuner mood, there's music and ladies. I might talk about that next time.

 

[Cano]

Originally posted by BlazinXtreme
Ok first off I'm pretty annoyed that you would classify mini-truckers and ricers together. There is nothing wrong with baggin or juicing a truck. I want to put my Blazer on bags, or lower it some more. Thats the whole point of mini-truckin, to see how low you can go.

HOW IN HELL?? I mean... read what you are saying. yes, minitrucks started to get riced out some good years before hondas and the other cars. minitrucks are what got the rice ball roling. just take a good look at it, ten years ago, minitrucks had the same "tricks" that today your ricer of choice proudly sports. stupidly bagged suspension systems. is it correct in an S-10 but not a Honda? pleeeease. puke graphics are good on an S-10 but not on a honda??? by golly. stupid, wild-ass sound systems are good in an S-10, but not a Honda? how in hell can you say you cant relate minitruckin and ricing, if minitruckin is what gave the ricers all the stupid ideas????? hell, I just have to quote you saying:
Thats the whole point of mini-truckin, to see how low you can go.

idiotic. as rice. AND as minitruckin.

Cano

now, for some other interesting points here. how come a tuned skyline isnt a hot rod?and how come a hot rodded 69 Camaro isnt a tuned muscle car??? PLEEEEEEASEEEEE!!! they are just geographical expressions to say the same ****ing thing, just like Roadster and barchetta.!!! both things ARE hot rods AND tuned cars. dont fight over such a stupid topic. after all, a hot rod is a vehile that had been modified for the sake of performance and good looks. now tell me... what would a modded skyline be?
it aint about hot rodding or tuning. its about modifying. THAT is the key word.

 

[JohnBM01]

Ustedes amigo de Mexico es verdad. Or if my Spanish served me well, it should translate to: "Our friend from Mexico is right." Well, many of us here in America like to think anything with a big block, small block, 351 Windsor, LS1, or Hemi are muscle cars. Now in seeing a modded Skyline, primarily, I think... well, if you want to call a Skyline a hot rod, go right at it. Just don't call it a muscle car or something. That might upset the Chevy, Ford, and Mopar boys and girls. It does go against what I said about "don't call a Japanese car a hot rod," but when I think of muscle cars, I think of the more traditional ones. You know, heavy horses, heavy weight, big rumble when the accelerator is depressed, can't corner like a small Japanese car, that sort of thing.

The Skyline here in America is basically the Infiniti G35. Thing is, I don't think anyone was determined enough to mod one and then challenge the Skylines in Japan to have a Nissan/Nissan battle (Infiniti is to Nissan as Lexus is to Toyota). But I was rather amazed to hear about the 440 possible horsepower with the Skyline. As I said, they can be as fast as those who strut their Detroit Iron around. But a lot of people want to think it is a basic "ricer." Well, I see it more as a powerful Japanese car, only downtuned. It is a supercar, much like the Viper. I've been more of a Supra kind of person, though. I don't hear them mentioned much. In fact, this is the most popular vehicle in the Gran Turismo series. Who could ever forget paying 500,000 Cr to race that beast, the Castrol Toyota Supra GT?

When it comes to fancy bodykits, the most aggressive looking body kits come from Veilside. Some make the cars more like race cars. Some just make them look ultra-aggressive, to the point where the "aggression" look goes too far. But Veilside is pretty popular.

 

[Joey D]

Cano your an idiot. So you think a 1964 Impala SS running a juice set up with some little wires is rice? No thats a lowrider and so are most mini-truckers.

Ricers think there fast and stuff, but mini truckers don't usally care about speed, there more about lowriding like I said. Plus mini truckers have been around a whole helluva lot longer.

Am I a mini-trucker? Yes I am. I don't have graphics or bags. Yes I have a nice system, but systems ain't rice. Systems are just nice, any car can have them.

Baggin a truck is no simple task either, and 90% of mini-truckers do all the work themselves. Grant it, it might be done half assed, but at least we do it instead of paying a bunch of money to the install guys.

There is no way in hell a mini trucker it a ricer.

 

[Cano]

Originally posted by JohnBM01
Ustedes amigo de Mexico es verdad. Or if my Spanish served me well, it should translate to: "Our friend from Mexico is right." Well, many of us here in America like to think anything with a big block, small block, 351 Windsor, LS1, or Hemi are muscle cars. Now in seeing a modded Skyline, primarily, I think... well, if you want to call a Skyline a hot rod, go right at it. Just don't call it a muscle car or something. That might upset the Chevy, Ford, and Mopar boys and girls. It does go against what I said about "don't call a Japanese car a hot rod," but when I think of muscle cars, I think of the more traditional ones. You know, heavy horses, heavy weight, big rumble when the accelerator is depressed, can't corner like a small Japanese car, that sort of thing.

it would be "Nuestro amigo de méxico tiene razón" but, it doesn't matter. Why wouldnt you call a skyline a muscle car? heavy horses? check. heavyweight? heck, check! loud as hell when the pedal is depresed? check, also. not as a V8, but noisy as well. The difference are 30 years of technology development, wich now makes the skyline a cappable corner car. In those days, muscle cars were as competent as Ferraris and Jags in corners. These days, well, the same cant be really said about a mustang and, say, an RX7, but well...
japanese sports cars are a main part of the muscle cars of today. of course, its muscle of a different kind. its small engine with huge turbos, high xompression and high RPMs, a different formula, but as effective as a big inch high compression or blown V8. either way both formulas work magic.

Cano