| Author | Message | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 588 Registered: 9-2001 |
I figure I will get slammed for this but I liken the guys who don't drive their Ferraris to the guys that aero-kit only their imports. All show...no go. I have a friend with a Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo AWD that he tracks regularly. I have driven it and the car is lightning fast, handles great and stops on a dime. Where is the bling there? That car combined with his skills is going to blow the doors off of most performance cars with their poser drivers... So to dismiss "ricers" (a term that shows ignorance IMHO) as posers that don't know what they are doing is short-sighted and a great way to insure your pink slip goes to them if you ever thought about racing. To me, automobile love can be broken in a couple of categories...those that car about the performance of a vehicle and those that don't. For those that do, I have a tremendous amount of respect for what *they* are trying to achieve, not what I wish them to achieve. For those that don't, I wish them the best but don't get excited about their lack of interest. - JMG | ||
| Johnny Bravo (Ben) (Johnny_bravo)
Junior Member Username: Johnny_bravo Post Number: 101 Registered: 7-2003 |
You don't think I know that Tim? Of course most of us don't prefer the style they choose for their cars otherwise we wouldn't visit this forum. The "ricers" everyone talks about has a lot to do with the "JDM" craze that started sweeping across the US several years ago. Obviously there are a lot of cars that Japan produced that never made it outside of their country or to the US (Skylines, Silvias, GT4, Lancer Evo's, Suby WRX's, Ciferos, et cetera) and many related fads that can only stem from those cars since they're heavily followed and tuned there (and rightfully . So this was the way folks here tried to customize their cars to emulate what they'd see in magazines and soforth. Unfortunately this has produced some rather "unique" creations here in the States which are just I guess you could say our (U.S.) way of interpreting the Japanese car culture. Yes it is the personal taste of the person customizing their car, but unfortunately it doesn't always translate into generally accepted "good" taste. I suppose in a way this trend is creating a new and unique to the U.S. car culture, but it's roots are clearly in Japan. I can't help but think back to quite a few threads on this very forum of respected members bitching about these "ricers" and their actions and so forth. For you to go and call me an idiot in this case is pretty inappropriate and for no good reason. I have my own opinion on this matter and I have been into the Japanese car culture for quite some time now (my last car was a twin turbo RX-7 and currently I own a Galant VR-4) so I've been following the trends just as much as anybody out there so I'm well aware of what's going on. But to each his own and that's just my own personal opinion which in reality isn't worth much just like anybody else's. | ||
| MFZ (Kiyoharu)
Member Username: Kiyoharu Post Number: 348 Registered: 2-2003 |
if you want to see riced out cars in Japan, go to Wangan or Daikokuya or any other long freeway/highway in Tokyo AT MIDNIGHT. There's a reason why the illegal racers call their team the Midnight Club. Also, every January, there's a car show called the Tokyo Auto Salon. It's a show for aftermarket parts and tuners to strut their wares. You'll find the ricers there. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 6509 Registered: 12-2000 |
I'm with you Tim. I see no difference in the current import movement vs. the hot rod movement several decades ago. Boys like to fix up their cars, same thing now as it always was. Import chicks rock! | ||
| Ralph Koslin (Ralfabco)
Member Username: Ralfabco Post Number: 904 Registered: 3-2002 |
James: Greetings. Remember that thread about Japanese women and what the latest style was ?? We need a report. Pics will be appreciated. Tally Ho. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 3459 Registered: 6-2001 |
No Johhny_Idiot, you have it all wrong. The owners of the cars in question are just customizing their cars and making them into what they want. Your taste may not agree with theirs, mine usually doesnt either, but its their choice to modify their cars should be respected. There are alot that look stupid or were poorly done, but its THEIR car wihch they chose to modify. I actually LIKE the ones that are done properly, even when they have outrageous body mods. I usually dont like the ones that dont have any engine mods though. Dont get me wrong, i would go out and buy one of these cars, but some of them are really impressive and i like those ones. Ferraris are all about customization too. this is why there are so many color combos, wheel options, painted caliper options, seat options, etc. | ||
| Johnny Bravo (Ben) (Johnny_bravo)
Junior Member Username: Johnny_bravo Post Number: 92 Registered: 7-2003 |
Well the whole "ricer" movement here in the States (and even some in Europe/UK) is just a pathetic attempt for these tools to copy a style they really don't know anything about. So, what comes out of it is the garbage we see every day. I'd say what would be the "ricer" scene in Japan would be the VIP cars. Basically big luxury sedans (think Lexus LS400, Infinity Q45) with HUGE wheels with HUGE polished lips, HUGE fender flares, slammed, HUGE exhausts, and lord knows what else. Granted these aren't exactly inexpensive cars and the parts they use are pretty expensive, but they're not performance oriented by any means. It's Bling Bling times 10  Oh, and lets not forget those insane Transformers looking vans with absolutely crazy body kits, wings, and other strange add on's. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Advanced Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 2942 Registered: 1-2002 |
  | ||
| Thomas I (Wax)
Member Username: Wax Post Number: 515 Registered: 7-2003 |
That's heartening & what I suspected, though my understanding is that Osaka is for the hardcore racers, while Tokyo is for the pretty boy showoffs. Since I'm over-generalizing the young hipster scene, do you find that a percentage of young women are still into the whole Prada or Gucci image thing that was happening a few years ago? Though it's not a Japanese ride, it's Sweden's finest in Osaka - a beautiful Saab SPG(Aero) which fails only in das blinkenlights department. Sans louvres, it'd make a great daily driver, IMHO. | ||
| James P. Smith (Tigermilk)
Junior Member Username: Tigermilk Post Number: 206 Registered: 7-2001 |
Well, maybe a couple, but I swear you never see "riced" out cars in Japan. I'm here on business and I've seen maybe 2-3. I see that many on my way to work or home everyday in Houston. |