Pointless car mods

[Suspect99]

Never liked mods. The manufacturers engineered and build the car after years of r&d, why change it?

I don't like stupid mods. But engineers don't necessarily design the best part for your car. Cost is a major factor in their design choices and some mods might outperform stock on a number for levels depending on what shortcuts the engineers took

 

[nazmo]

I have no issue with mods, done right.

And no, manufacturers DO NOT do the best they can, otherwise the car will be too expensive.

Example, a good quality set of coilovers will ALWAYS be better than factory stock suspension, it will not only handle better, but also ride better.

Also, in terms of software, a proper tune, considering local fuel, local air pressures and conditions, can make for a better performing engine.

Same goes on and on... Then there's also visual mods, done well can be sweet.

 

[Craig_]

WTF would anyone do this, it looks crap. Shoot the bastard and put him out of his misery.

 

[nazmo]

Stupid/pointless mods IMO:

1) Short ram intakes or cone filters without the correct heat shielding, or even risks water uptake
2) Generic autostyle wings that's on every golf/polo
3) Stretched tires, stance (i dont mind a nice coilover drop where the car can still handle)
4) Making your car look like another model in the range (fake M badges, Fake GTI grilles)
5) big @ss tire lettering on your general tires/tazz

 

[Sinbad]

So true, also loss of value due to mods

The only mods I do when I buy a car is replace the air filter with a drop in K and N life long filter , just helps the car breath easier.

Proven on the dyno to do nothing

 

[RonSwanson]

Proven on the dyno to do nothing

Now you got me started.

Magnets on the fuel line

 

[killerbyte]

Proven on the dyno to do nothing

It lasts longer than a stock filter, and can be cleaned.

 

[RonSwanson]

Fuel saving "Cyclone"

 

[Sinbad]

It lasts longer than a stock filter, and can be cleaned.

True but that was not the reason stated.

 

[RonSwanson]

Fuel "molecule enhancer"

 

[nazmo]

Proven on the dyno to do nothing

Though not adding power, it definately does help the initial upspool of my turbo. and sounds bit nicer than stock
That perceived responsiveness is more important that 1 or 2 kw's

 

[RonSwanson]

Looks like that Land Cruiser rightfully got the driver then.

 

[SykomantiS]

Proven on the dyno to do nothing

Actually, in the case of the diesel Civics it was proven to affect performance and fuel economy negatively. That is, every single filter tested at the time performed worse than an oem Honda air filter. So there's that...

I don't like stupid mods. But engineers don't necessarily design the best part for your car. Cost is a major factor in their design choices and some mods might outperform stock on a number for levels depending on what shortcuts the engineers took

Agreed. Intercoolers spring to mind.

 

[Sinbad]

Though not adding power, it definately does help the initial upspool of my turbo. and sounds bit nicer than stock
That perceived responsiveness is more important that 1 or 2 kw's

It made zero difference to the torque curve and spool up for me.

 

[nazmo]

It made zero difference to the torque curve and spool up for me.

Will vary car to car. My car does have a slight delay on upspool, relatively big turbo, any help it gets helps. A bigger Intercooler also helps quite a bit. Decat too, made things much better low down

 

[RonSwanson]

Exhausts that were modded like ****.

On one hand it's the fact that likely it added little to now horse power with a massive diminishing return on the investment compared to other options in a pure R/horse context.

But then if you say it was all about the noise, which I can fully understand....why the hell does it sound like utter **** because nobody actually engineered it properly and the fuelling is all wrong so it's popping and burping and spluttering all over the show and not in the right places.

Probably the worst for me though is when the car is obviously modded in various ways, but there was no attention paid to getting the basics right of being up to standard. So you see this car with dead or broken lights and paint flaking off and the tint peeling, but then the suspension is dropped and there are LED lights around the sills with new rims, while the money should have gone to putting the other things right and making the tyres legal.

So true, someone without much cash buys a cheapie first car, and then finds that he has an identity crisis, so he takes out a small loan and spends it at Autostyle. Feels somewhat better about himself, then sanity sets in and he needs another "feel good" fix. So off to the loanshark, rinse and repeat.

 

[killerbyte]

Will vary car to car. My car does have a slight delay on upspool, relatively big turbo, any help it gets helps. A bigger Intercooler also helps quite a bit. Decat too, made things much better low down

Sounds like you have everything in place for a stage 2 tune.

 

[RonSwanson]

WTF would anyone do this, it looks crap. Shoot the bastard and put him out of his misery.

Or maybe he could just plug the chip on his shoulder?

 

[RonSwanson]

Multiple LED on bakkies Fake Raptors "Xenon/LED"lights blinding us on the roads

Um, when it comes to Raptors, even buying one new seems to suggest something about the owner (backyard dog fighter perhaps?) but then again, live and let live...

How to make your Ford F-150 look like a Raptor

 

[nazmo]

Sounds like you have everything in place for a stage 2 tune.

Need I/C... but flipping everything has to be imported. IM still in two minds, the current power is perfect for the chassis, I dont want to mess with the balance. But a good I/C is always a good thing, cooler temps bodes well for turbo and engine longevity