PC Modding and tweaking = car modding and tweaking?

Richdog · 27 Jan 2006 at 12:14

Agghh I can't help it. After years of modding and tweaking PC's to eke the most performance out of them that i can possible can, I have now discovered that this transcribes to cars. I've started looking at my clio and actively seeking ways to mod it in ways like adding alloys, discreet rear spoiler, different rear lights etc. I've now found that you can buy all sorts of things for the engine like different air filters, valves for increasing fuel economy blahdey blah.

Let me just also add that i'm not remotely the boy-racer type, consider myself a pretty safe driver and i'm not interested in getting attention from people (it's a clio for gawds sake).

Is this wrong and should I be worried or nip it in the bud? Has anyone else of a PC modding/tweaking background who has just recently bought their own car noticed a worrying tendancy to do this?

Scarfacé · 27 Jan 2006 at 12:20

Nothing wrong with it.

You'll get lots of sheep coming along saying you're a boy-racer/ricer/it's only a Clio/chav etc etc etc.

Modifying cars is all about personal taste. I do very subtle mods to my car, because I think that looks best. The people who stick neons under their Corsas and fit huge body kits to their Novas.... well, that's what floats their boat. Simple.

Siliconslave · 27 Jan 2006 at 12:20

right, i advice adversion theripy, go out and buy a copy of maxpower, fast car and that other rubishy boy racer mag... read them all cover to cover a couple of times then go and visit your local cruise. You'll either feel so amazingly sick at the thought of modding a clio that you'll never want to do it again... or you'll start shopping for burbry

edit: Baaaaaa!

Morba · 27 Jan 2006 at 12:25

well done!
another person who has realised that car modding is just like pc modding or just like creating an image through clothing!

Bear · 27 Jan 2006 at 13:10

I wouldnt worry about it, Im becoming one of the people that might get insulted and get called sad as the mods on my car is fast becoming level to the price I paid for the car.

Richdog · 27 Jan 2006 at 13:13

Scarfacé said:
I do very subtle mods to my car, because I think that looks best. The people who stick neons under their Corsas and fit huge body kits to their Novas.... well, that's what floats their boat. Simple.

I agree about subtle mods being best, but as for neon lights, which I affectionanately term "****** lights" well... that's a bit much in my opinion, don't think i'll be sticking those on, they just look daft to me.

Siliconslave said:
right, i advice adversion theripy, go out and buy a copy of maxpower, fast car and that other rubishy boy racer mag... read them all cover to cover a couple of times then go and visit your local cruise. You'll either feel so amazingly sick at the thought of modding a clio that you'll never want to do it again... or you'll start shopping for burbry

edit: Baaaaaa!

I will give this a try. Does it involve driving to McDonlalds car park and picking up a 15-year old harlot who is impressed with my "wikkid ride mang"?

Morba said:
well done!
another person who has realised that car modding is just like pc modding or just like creating an image through clothing!

I feel enlightened now, no longer will I conform to what society says my clio should look like!

No swearing. Read the FAQs

Siliconslave · 27 Jan 2006 at 13:33

Richdog said:
I will give this a try. Does it involve driving to McDonlalds car park and picking up a 15-year old harlot who is impressed with my "wikkid ride mang"?

well it depends how far along the plan you feel you need to go, you can warm up slowly by starting with legal ladies at rubishy resurants and slowly working your way down....

btw, i'm not anti mod, i have a couple of subtle mods on my car (well... i suppose the wheels aren't all that subtle... but they fit with the car, and thats the main point. There have been some lovely examples of modded cars on here, and as long as you don't attach an arse to the roof it, or so dodgey RSA body kit (

) thing it should look pretty nice

go for it and have fun!

One More Solo · 27 Jan 2006 at 14:19

Most of my friends consider fitting new speakers "chav", I don't even have a sub! Anyway, it's their loss when they're driving their Fiestas and can't hear the Arctic Monkeys because their speakers go to mush, as I trundle along in my Rover with Flaming Lips in glorious stereo.

Nozzer · 27 Jan 2006 at 14:45

Modifying your PC is like getting a tattoo on your arse, it's a stupid thing to do but nobody can see it. Modifying your car is like getting a tattoo on your face, it's a stupid thing to do and everybody can see it.

Confused · 27 Jan 2006 at 14:55

What is there to be said about people modding PCs into cars?

*whistles*

Nathan · 27 Jan 2006 at 16:35

DO NOT mod the engine on a low spec low engine clio, it wont get you anything apart from maybe a noise from an IK. Mod the outer by all means, but do it with taste.

Vipernet · 27 Jan 2006 at 16:40

Imho car modding is the next step up from pc modding. I've modded my pc from simple added fans to a full custom watercooled system. My only limit was the money factor. Now that I've got a bit more cash I've moved on to modifying my car and spending £1000 on a single turbo etc..........I'm not sure whats next though? A plane?

Edit - don't modify a clio or the likes mate. Fair enough a nice pair of alloys but not bodykits and stuff. If you want to seriously start modding cars you need to have something with good tuning potential with good third party backing. If you've not got the cash for something flash like a skyline or mr2 turbo, get a classic car or a classic sports car like a mk1 mr2 or mk1 mx5. Plenty of tuning and modding potential there!

cleanbluesky · 27 Jan 2006 at 16:54

Aesthetic mods are barry. I dont think its possible to make an philosophical point by modding how your car looks, so its mostly down to ego. If you enjoy plugging your ego then car modding is great - although having said that, if it were possible through a small effort to remedy part of your car that was unusually ugly then that would be cool.

Non-visual modifications are okay.

DamanC · 27 Jan 2006 at 17:12

i aquired my taste for PC modding from car modding

Morba · 27 Jan 2006 at 17:16

cleanbluesky said:
Aesthetic mods are barry. I dont think its possible to make an philosophical point by modding how your car looks, so its mostly down to ego. If you enjoy plugging your ego then car modding is great - although having said that, if it were possible through a small effort to remedy part of your car that was unusually ugly then that would be cool.

Non-visual modifications are okay.

what rubbish (even for an opinion!).
its got nothing to do with ego.

DamanC · 27 Jan 2006 at 17:27

agreed

Richdog · 29 Jan 2006 at 14:19

cleanbluesky said:
Aesthetic mods are barry. I dont think its possible to make an philosophical point by modding how your car looks, so its mostly down to ego. If you enjoy plugging your ego then car modding is great - although having said that, if it were possible through a small effort to remedy part of your car that was unusually ugly then that would be cool.

Non-visual modifications are okay.

My two day suspension for not fully starring the sweary prevented me from saying what a load of twoddle that statement is. By that logic no-one should buy any sort of nice car, nothing nice for their house, or fashionable clothes for going out in without being negatively egotistical.

I'm sure people do modify cars to sate their ego but you can hardly paint everyone who wants to mod their car with the same brush. Some people just want to improve the look so that they are happy with it for their own personal reasons/tastes, not for attention.

cleanbluesky · 29 Jan 2006 at 15:30

So why mod the appearance, or indeed pay any attention to appearance?

What about when people put 'shopping lists' down the side of their cars?

cheets64 · 29 Jan 2006 at 16:04

I love sleek looking cars, none of this carbon fibre bonnet or huge spoiler that does nothing.

If you see a car with sitckers all over it and chrome wing mirrors and and huge exhaust tip, you know the driver will be a show off and could easily crash into you.

Richdog · 29 Jan 2006 at 16:08

cleanbluesky said:
So why mod the appearance, or indeed pay any attention to appearance?

Because they want to? Personal satisfaction from improving the appearence of something? Part of a hobby?

Is it not normal to like things to look good such as our clothes, homes etc? Do you call your mother an egomaniac for adding a new ornament to her mantlepiece? Your dad for changing the doorhandles on your house doors to match the rest of the decor? PC modders too for making a boring case look nice?

No of course not, they must all be egeomaniacs... right?

cheets64 said:
I love sleek looking cars, none of this carbon fibre bonnet or huge spoiler that does nothing.
.

Agreed, but that isn't "tasteful" modding.