Why all the chrome?

[HAL9000]

Hey America.

When I was out in the US of A, I noticed chrome, on every car, shiney silvery chrome. My question is why?! Over here we think it looks tacky and cheap. So why?

 

[punjabiplaya]

Because they think it looks good and makes the car looks more expensive than it is?

And it seems like there are only 12 people in the US that thinks it looks tacky and cheap.
Ford's grilles, Chevy's wheels, Lincoln everything, /puke
Pepboy's porthole stickers, fake chrome lining all around windows, door linings, fenders, bumpers, exhaust tips.

It makes sense since Chromium prevents corrosion, but going overboard...

 

[Bartman39]

Chrome on a car/truck is bling for a guy like bling...bling is to gals...:awe:

Also its like a mirror you can see yourself and we like ourselves...:biggrin:


Years ago I wanted a real military tank with chrome Cragar SS mags for the road wheels...


As for the "portholes" which came from fake Buick exhaust crap from the late 40`s & 50`s that most dont even have a clue to their origin... That kind of fake chrome along with other cheap stuff I can do without... The real stuff like what goes on true street hotrods is what made the style of the American auto market what it is...

^

 

[speedy2]

It does look tacky and cheap. It's just that most people like flashy crap here. They think it looks cool. They will put $5000 chrome wheels on a $2500 crown vic. They'll also put plastic chrome portholes on the fenders. As well as countless other chrome crap to make their car look, "mad tyte."

I consider this crap part of the "rice" category. Pointless and tacky. Usually fake(portholes, hoodscoops, etc.)

Also, the higher class people tend to do it with higher priced/quality parts, yet still retain the same tackiness and "I'm better than you" attitude as well.

 

[HAL9000]

Wow chrome to look more expensive! Crazy. OK thanks guys I guess it's a chav thing.

 

[JulesMaximus]

My wife's car has chrome wheels. I think they look good but if it were my car I wouldn't have bothered.

As for whether it is ricey or not I think it depends on the car and the wheels more than anything.

This is my wife's car right after we bought it and before we had the chrome wheels installed. They are the same wheels...just chromed.

No chrome on my car.

 

[speedy2]

Chrome wheels can be tastefully done. But, excessive sizes and gaudy designs are disgusting.

 

[Bartman39]

Chrome wheels can be tastefully done. But, excessive sizes and gaudy designs are disgusting.

Agree`d... Whats worse is putting the size of the frick`in wheels on the side of the car and in chrome...?:hmm::thumbsdown:

 

[HAL9000]

Also wondering: What's with all the Pickup trucks.... I don't get it. I saw a lot of them but none carrying anything.

 

[speedy2]

Also wondering: What's with all the Pickup trucks.... I don't get it. I saw a lot of them but none carrying anything.

Depends on what part you went to. I live in a very rural area. Pickup trucks everywhere. And people use them. A lot. But, some areas you will see trucks and SUV's that never get used the way you would expect them. AKA "Pavement Queens."

 

[HAL9000]

Depends on what part you went to. I live in a very rural area. Pickup trucks everywhere. And people use them. A lot. But, some areas you will see trucks and SUV's that never get used the way you would expect them. AKA "Pavement Queens."

Yeah I guess that's what I mean, obviously there are places where they are needed, but I don't see it, we don't really use them over unless your like a lumberjack or something, It's either a 4x4 or a van. Never got the point of pickup trucks except in extreme circumstances?

 

[Bartman39]

Also wondering: What's with all the Pickup trucks.... I don't get it. I saw a lot of them but none carrying anything.

One nice thing about a pickup truck is you can have a ton of chit it the bed and it cant be seen, for sure if you have a bed cover...:thumbsup:

I use mine to pull my 33' dual slide travel trailer and its a crew cab so it hauls the family like any 4dr car... I also have an 18' steel floor dove tail car hauler which allows me to haul my buddies broken down car from time to time...


Also a hell of a lot tougher for some of the roads we have as opposed to cars... A ton of them are 4X4 as well...

 

[RKS]

Chrome wheels can be tastefully done. But, excessive sizes and gaudy designs are disgusting.

no, not really.

 

[IronWing]

The demise of chrome in America is a direct result of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The act requires cradle to grave tracking of hazardous wastes with specific regulations to follow every step of the way. Metal plating generates lots of hazardous waste and became prohibitively expensive relative to powder coating. So auto makers went to black. RCRA doesn't say company's can't use chrome, but it raises the cost of doing so. I miss the chrome on the chrome on the fenders.

 

[zerocool84]

Also wondering: What's with all the Pickup trucks.... I don't get it. I saw a lot of them but none carrying anything.

It's because they got made fun of a lot and had to change their name........err I mean car for a truck.

 

[roguerower]

Yeah I guess that's what I mean, obviously there are places where they are needed, but I don't see it, we don't really use them over unless your like a lumberjack or something, It's either a 4x4 or a van. Never got the point of pickup trucks except in extreme circumstances?

Why does a couple with 1-2 kids need a massive SUV/station wagon? These are the questions I've stopped asking because it makes me angry.

My absolute favorite since moving to Texas is the massive super-duty pickups that are raised with all sorts of shit on them but not a speck of dust. Fucking ridiculous. You can usually tell a truck used for working v. a truck bought to make the owner feel superior.

 

[punjabiplaya]

My absolute favorite since moving to Texas is the massive super-duty pickups that are raised with all sorts of shit on them but not a speck of dust. Fucking ridiculous. You can usually tell a truck used for working v. a truck bought to make the owner feel superior.

you're not the only one...

 

[exdeath]

Like anything else, it looks nice when use SPARINGLY on the RIGHT CAR, and a few bozos think if a little looks good, alot must look better!!!!

Driving in the US for non car enthusiasts is about showing off your money through bling or having a more expensive car. Majority of these people are lower class apartment dwellers who put everything they have into making their car something it isn't and starting pissing contests with others on the road. Hence why you have bigger rims, more chrome, blue shit everywhere, etc.

Speaking of trucks, I had one one of these so called pavement queens, some big honking ass turbo diesel, get into a pissing match with me. We took off from a light together with no drama, and then I heard him floor it to get around me because there was a car in his lane up ahead, and he decided instead of just simply changing lanes behind me he was going to beat me and squeeze through. Not only did I see it coming by the way he was driving, but also his exhaust was about level with my open window, so I wasn't about to let him blow by me and blow black smoke into my car. So sad for him, I immediately spun and slammed 2nd in to the rev limiter, and by the time I let off in third I couldn't tell what kind of truck it was anymore. He stopped driving like a billy bad ass after that.

FTR I'm not one to start pissing matches with people, but I'll be damned if they are going to start one with me.

No chrome on my car, and all the plastic trim pieces I've replaced with billet are black anodized.

 

[Bartman39]

you're not the only one...

Oh great here we go again... But as most dont know mine is a 2WD and is that way because I have no need for 4WD and there is a difference between 4WD and AWD other than the spelling...

Also WTF is up with they idiots that have $50K and up cars...? Tons of them out there and what for...?

 

[Bartman39]

Speaking of trucks, I had one one of these so called pavement queens, some big honking ass turbo diesel, get into a pissing match with me. We took off from a light together with no drama, and I heard him floor it to get around me because there was a car in his lane up ahead, and he decided instead of just simply changing lanes behind me he was going to beat me and squeeze through. So sad for him, I immediately rev limited 2nd and by the time I let off in third I couldn't tell what kind of truck it was anymore. He stopped driving like a billy bad ass after that.

Just to note... Hook your car onto 15Klbs of trailer and see if it turns out the same...? Apples and Oranges

My truck is quick but is 7000lbs so is not a match for something that is half its weight but hook them up and the gasser counterpart is toast...

One other note there are quite a few 10 second Diesels out there now and a ton of 11 & 12 second ones as well and they drive back and forth to work every day and most you would never even know... Also I think I read where a Diesel powered car ran in the 8`s...? Same as always speed is only a question of money...

 

[exdeath]

Just to note... Hook your car onto 15Klbs of trailer and see if it turns out the same...? Apples and Oranges

My truck is quick but is 7000lbs so is not a match for something that is half its weight but hook them up and the gasser counterpart is toast...

He wasn't towing anything, he was trying to race in his pavement queen, so the point is moot.

Also this gasser is putting out 600 lb-ft at 2500 RPM

Like I said, I'm not out picking fights, only responding to people who start them.

 

[exdeath]

One other note there are quite a few 10 second Diesels out there now and a ton of 11 & 12 second ones as well and they drive back and forth to work every day and most you would never even know... Also I think I read where a Diesel powered car ran in the 8`s...? Same as always speed is only a question of money...

I know, but not this one :awe:

 

[punjabiplaya]

Diesel Drag Racing. I hate trucks, but this is awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDJBM9qLRNo&feature=related

 

[exdeath]

Most people with nice cars don't have them all chromed out, it's usually mexicans with ratty oil burning V6 Mustangs and such with chrome fender arches, chrome window visors, chrome bumper letters, chrome grills, chrome tails, chrome spinners, chrome B pillar and window trim, etc.

Likewise with Chysler 300s, it's always ghetto folks with the base V6 model trying to make it look like a Bentley, I've yet to see a SRT8 ghetto'ed out.

Of course money doesn't buy brains or taste, so occasionally you'll see a more upscale $30k+ car like a SRT8 or G35, or BMW/Mercedes type car all ghetto'ed out.

 

[Bartman39]

He wasn't towing anything, he was trying to race in his pavement queen, so the point is moot.

Also this gasser is putting out 600 lb-ft at 2500 RPM

Like I said, I'm not out picking fights, only responding to people who start them.

Uh you missed My point (what a truck like that is really for)... Nice torque though...:thumbsup: (my current flash is only on level 2 can add another 100ftlbs and 60+ more HP but that with a single programer you can stack them or just use EFILive)