Well...

I've been giving the whole subject of after-market modification some thought lately and it's getting pretty common. The more I see them, the more I think that on the whole, they tend to spoil rather than improve most cars.

Can anyone honestly say that a lowered, be-spoilered, neon-underlit and flare-arched Saxo, 205, Nova etc… look any better for the addition of randomly chosen Demon-Tweaks brochure accessories?

Sitting at a set of lights the other day, I noticed a guy beside me with a "tuned" Clio sporting such delights as a bonnet air-intake from an Impreza, and a Vectra touring-car-spoiler-on-stilts at the back. Then he "roared" away with the hollow'est sounding twin exhaust set up that I'd ever heard. Talk about gilding the lily! How much easier can a crap 1.0 Litre engine breathe? Am I being snobbish?, probably. However, I think the same rules apply for mucked-about-with Beamers, Subarus and Mercs etc. I may just have grown out of pretend-gangster chic (and don't proper gangsters all drive blacked-out S-Class and Lexus LS-300's anyway?). Look at the Bentley Continental T for yet further evidence that money cannot buy you good taste (mmm… turned aluminium dashboard, not distracting at all in sunlight).

Is it my age? I don't think so, my previous car was a 97' 200SX Touring and I'm currently driving both a black 01' Toyota Celica with identical sized 17's to my silver/black S-Spoke'd MINI Cooper. At least manufacturer/dealer approved options may have had a designers eye cast over them, 'are they proportional, in keeping with the overall theme'? etc.

It was seeing pictures of an owner-modded MINI kinda clinched it for me. That US designer got paid a fortune to pen (what many consider to be) a work of art - yet some people have the arrogance to think that they can improve it with a set of springs and a loud roof spoiler. I thought it looked cheap and nasty, and I think that's the essential hatefulness of the aftermarket. It's second best. If you've got talent then apply to the Royal College of Art , otherwise leave it to the pro's.

DBK.

(ps. I am not related to Mr Bill, honest!)

http://www.rca.ac.uk/schools/hindex_archanddesign.html

[spanky2k]

Well I always thought the original Mini was the definitive modified car of all time. The MINI is following in its footsteps. Its a car with character & people will mod it to suit their character, just like the originals.

By modifying a car your making it something special, something that 'relates with your soul' although that sounds way too cheasy.

Sure, I don't like little 1 litre hatchbacks modified big time, I believe that a car which deserves modifying should be a decent car in the first place, ie a MINI or a BMW.

I don't agree in the nova boys methods of 'the biggest exhaust available' or 'the hugest spoiler on the market'. I believe in more subtle changes, to make the car look better, not to stand out as 'modified'.

Here endeth the sermon!


Phil

[Yurinaut]

I have to agree with both of you. Aftermarket goodies are mostly crap. A lot of really nice stuff comes from companies like Racing Dynamics, Alpina, AC Schnitzer and Dinan. whereas a lot of crap comes out from many others that looks absolutely absurd. Take those horrid ZeeMax body kits that look like the winners from the "how ugly can you make a car" contest. I'm sure they have some tasteful mods but, most of them look like...well...I won't say it here but, you get the point.

The MINI is gorgeous on it's own. If you add anything, make sure it's tasteful and not something designed to go on a Hot Wheels model for 5 year olds please!!!

-Mike

[Steve 555]

Quote:

Sitting at a set of lights the other day, I noticed a guy beside me with a "tuned" Clio sporting such delights as a bonnet air-intake from an Impreza, and a Vectra touring-car-spoiler-on-stilts at the back. Then he "roared" away with the hollow'est sounding twin exhaust set up that I'd ever heard. Talk about gilding the lily!

I know where you are coming from, I've smilled a few times myself at lights at other peoples pride and joy whose looks do not measure up to their wannabe performance.

IMHO, I have found these drivers to be predominantly young who would love to own a car that talked the talk as well as walked the walk. However, they can neither aford the car, running costs, maintenance nor insurance. So what do they do, they go for body kit which is cheaper than the real thing and gives the persona it may be faster than it is. I can remember having an Hilman Hunter with flames (stick on) coming of the back wheel arches. How tacky was that LOL

What's a mucked about Subaru look like by the way

[Dom]

Quote:

Originally posted by Steve 555

What's a mucked about Subaru look like by the way

Usually a Subaru shaped blur...

Dom

[olddad]

Most of the mods on the classic Mini, both mechanical and styling, were developed from years of racing. There are already dramatic body styling parts for the MINI without any racing development. The stuff that really means anything (and actually works) won't be available until the car has a few years of racing success.

[erazo]

There are mods and there are mods. When I was much younger, the cars were simple and there were some good aftermarket manufacturers with bits that did wonders for cars 10-20 years old. Few of us had the money or expertise to improve late model cars, and were content with reading about the accomplishments of the likes of Shelby and Cooper.

Today, the vast majority of cars are already "fully invented" and need no aftermarket improvements. So we get a plethora of ugly body kits, wheel kits, and other cosmetic devices to create an illusion of individualization or customization but which actually create a distinct "style" that few car owners want to be identified with.

I still admire what a lot of owners do to improve the looks and performance of their older cars, though.

[Ady]

my taste in after market mods lean toward the "must do something" sector. An aftermarket exhaust must actually make power rather than just sound great, likewise with an induction kit. When i eventually get mine ( the wait is killing me) these two items will go on when i have found the right ones and maybe a few shiney bits too.

and a decent stereo

Ady (R50)

[Paul Simonds]

Hi

I have had my mini modified quite alot but its tasteful and i think that what it all comes down too, dimma kits are a bit much but as the mini is always going to be a classic you can get away with some mods, mine was in PBMW mag and the pic's are in my gallery have alook and tell me if you think it is too much

Paul

[dennis]

[quote]Originally posted by dietbruking
[b]Well...

. The more I see them, the more I think that on the whole, they tend to spoil rather than improve most cars.
_________________

Hear, here. Why re-engineer something that the top engineers of Rover and BMW have done as best they can?

"A fool and his money are soon parted."

[TomM]

Putting a body kit and other little things like that on there does two things for me:

1) Something I thought didn't look as good as I would want, so I change it to my liking. IE My car with my new wheels looks like it is too high. I think if I lower it some it will look better, not to mention it will be more fun now in the twisties (is that possible? Probobly to a small degree)

2) I would mod to make my MINI my own.

It's my oppinion on how my car should look, and often times just because you see a modded BMW or Mercedes on the road, doesn't mean that they do nothing with it. They may drag race, they may do some road racing, you never know. You should just feel happy that you think your car looks better than theirs, even if that isn't the guy next you's oppinion (was that grammatically correct? )

Tom

[Marts]

Isn't it like anything in life , down to the individual.... ?

I mean, some people feel the need to modify a car and others feel the need to have plastic surgery??

Let's just leave it down to the owner.....

[Aurel]

I am all for mods if done tastefully ...

Tom and Paul .. both of you have done a great job in my book

Although I am a "wheel" guy myself, I will not be upgrading the 5 Star 16" that will come with mine. This is the only car that i feel the wheels look fine straight out of the factory.

Your mileage may vary ...

Well...

300+ views in one day, not bad.

Moving the subject on somewhat - what responses have people had from their insurers when confronted with that fearsome question...

- "Has your vehicle been modified in any way from the manufacturers standard specification?"

I've worked in the industry for 8 years now and have met very few genuine car enthusiasts (even among senior motor account managers!).

I suspect most underwriters could not tell the difference between Wayne MaxPower with his lowered 106 Quicksilver Special-Edition and a more "mature" MINI Cooper owner with an unhealthy interest in Superchips and Induction Kits...

I've dealt with Adrian Flux Insurance Brokers a few times who seem to specialise in modded and performance cars - the service was a little ropey but at least they'll try and find a home for even the most ambitious insurance request

;-)

DBK

[spanky2k]

I'm with Cooperative Insurance (CIS. They don't care about any modifications apart from engine ones. You can stick a 20 foot spoiler onto your car, they wouldn't mind. I have also heard that they deal very well with engine modifications & do not whip up the premium in a jiffy. This may be something to do with the way they work. They don't advertise, their advertisement comes from word of mouth, hence, they like to keep their customers happy.

CIS eh? I just banged my details in and got a quote of £820, twice what I'm currently paying on our staff scheme.

Don't think I'll be moving to them at renewal when I upgrade to an S.

(He says optimistically!)

DBK.

[Minimonkeyboy]

I have a couple of opinions, firstly I think some mods are beneficial and maybe even necessary, eg: the selection of factory alloy wheels for the mini one are crap and a nice set of 16" wheels would benefit the car.

Secondly, The CIS are hopeless. the reason they are not concerned about mods is because they are going to do everything in there power not to pay you out when you claim