Some of the things are funny and some are off IMO. I like to lightly modify my cars, but just because I have a Momo wheel (pre-air bag car) and shift knob or PIAA (please add another "A" to PIAA) lights, doesn't mean I'm a ricer.
The Momo wheel and shift knob are comfort items and contact points and enhance your driving experience. The PIAA lights are great! I love being able to see that much better at night. What's a joke is when people put those lame blue bulbs to mimic HID lights. They don't work as well and they are actually worse in inclimate weather. The cheapie impersonations of PIAA quality lights are pathetic as well. What's the point?
I put lower profile tires on to improve handling by having less sidewall on the tire to flex in corners. I lowered the car to improve handling with handling springs and tuned struts. I added a european manifold and full exhaust to improve exhaust flow to let the engine breath better. The car has a nice performance sound now that is just the side effect of having a freer flowing exhaust. It's not about making the car louder by putting a fart can on the end of a stock, restrictive exhaust.
Things get out of hand when people see performance improvements and do it all wrong. Cutting the springs as opposed to putting on a set of springs that are correct for the car is rediculous. The spring rates are all wrong for the car at that point when you cut them and you end up with a worse handling car that rides much rougher. The improved looks of having less tire to fender well clearance are just secondary to having a functionally better handling car.
Don't get me started on the wheels that sit outside of the fender wells, but not under the fender wells themselves. Full race seats or roll cage in a street car? What's the point, especially if you don't even have a harness for it. Ditto on the wings and ground effects packages. They do help when you are going over 100 mph if it's even tuned properly and right for the car, but how often is that possible on the street?
All that sickening add on crap like the Altezza tail lights. Have you ever looked at the quality of those lights up close? The chrome reflector area is horrible.
Anyway.. My point is that just if someone puts a Momo wheel, shift knob, pedals or driving lights on their car, it doesn't make them a ricer. Now.. If it's a hot pink or lime green wheel and shift knob, definitely.. Heh.
and its prices are just insanely high... and now they have these LOUD commericals on all the time with direct acs controllers "just like in fast and the furious"... waking up to it at 3 in the morning can be quite annoying....
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