PC Modding and tweaking = car modding and tweaking?

[Richdog]

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?

 

[Richdog]

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.

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"?

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

 

[Richdog]

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.

 

[Richdog]

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?

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

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

 

[Richdog]

My point was that you can't say whoever mods their car is doing it for their ego, when some do it for a hobby, and simply because they like to mod/tweak and improve on things. You made it sound like a negative thing, when their are great degrees of "modding".

And I know someone (acquaintance not friend) who has a giant spoiler on the back of his sax, by his own admission it isn't tasteful, but he thinks it makes the car "look mean". I don't think people buy things such as that to "look tasteful", stuff like that is most definately image.

 

[Richdog]

lol so far all i've done is add alloys...

Think i'll just stick a discreet spoiler on the back and change the rear lights (one is cracked) and then call it a day.

 

[Richdog]

Given that you are someone who has only changed his alloys why are we having this to and fro?

Because as has been said earlier in this thread, you have an incredibly condescending, "black and white" attitude and seem to love to fly through threads speaking in your bullet-proof absolutes and pseudo-philosophical twoddle. I usually genuinely cringe when I see you have posted in a thread, as I know from there on it usually goes pete tong and a nice relaxed thread turns into a mind-numbingly tedious debate and the atmosphere turns sour.

 

[Richdog]

i recently asked if you could ignore people from specific forums only on a board, but its not possible.
im usually the same as you in this instance and am close to ignore!

Ahh well, just do it manually.

clear side repeaters and colour coding would look nice on that clio :]

Hmm is it hard to fit side repeaters, is any re-wiring etc necessary? I'm a DIY muppet lol, not the best with my hands in a practical sense when it comes to electrics etc. And the colour coding, do you mean the side strip of black?

 

[Richdog]

Hmm yes mate I was thinking about lowering it as the 15" alloys have made it a fair bit higher but isn't it quite expensive?

 

[Richdog]

as for lowering, springs are cheap to buy and cheap to fit. no point going into full shocks n springs or coilovers on your car :]
-30mm would be great

So it's easy to do yourself? Not sure i'd know where to begin actually... probably end up wrecking the car, even with my dads help.

Personally I think the _interior_ is more important than the exterior and performance on a Clio. So that could mean things like an upgraded sound system (not a stupid boom box though), MP3 player head unit, iPod adapter or Sat Nav, etc etc.

Got a new stereo, sat nav is on my phone, and the speakers that were already there are surprisingly good.

Try to go for Lian Li/Coolermaster stlye modding but for your car and you can't go wrong

Hmm, add a 120mm blowhole to the bonnet and fit an LED displaying engine temps and cc?

 

[Richdog]

I'll keep that in mind mate.

Also just fitted my rear dark lexus-style lights onto the back and they look much better than I thought, even my dad, one of the biggest fuddy-duddies in the world gave a grusging "Hmm, they look better son". I'll take a pic tommorrow. Car is looking nice now I think. Yes it's just a little Renault Clio, but it's my first ever car and drives great so it can do no wrong in my eyes.

 

[Richdog]

lol engine transplants? Like putting a faster processor in? Tell me more.

As for spoiler I was thinking a discreet one like this? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RENAULT-CLIO-...ameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Think my next car will be a 2001 SEAT Ibiza 1.6 sport though, they look so nice.

 

[Richdog]

FincH what things can I do to the engine to tune it up, can you give examples mate?

Also (though I may go to hell for suggesting such a thing) if you have an accident and your car is modded a bit do the insurance company find out and screw you even if you kept schtum about the mods?

 

[Richdog]

The best thing you could do is get the head of your engine rewroked.

Then get the de-cat replaced, a panel filter, cam and a remap.

What sort of costs are we looking at for all that jazz, squire?

 

[Richdog]

Depends where you go mate.

Well, shall we start with how much you're willing to spend?

Erm I can probably afford to fork out £100-£150 a month until it's done. What's the realistic cost for each of those?

 

[Richdog]

the only thing is, if your looking at spending near on £1k on engine mods, you would do well to upgrade the brakes, then tell the insurance. It could work out a lot more costly than buying a faster car (with trade in on yours).

Yeah man... seems too much for such a car...don't think im willing to put that amount of cash into it...