What sort of car do you drive?

Haha alot of people comment on the size of the tyre wall :lol:

Personally i think it looks great, just ashame the tyres are so damn expensive, then again i do buy performance tyres so guess thats where half the cost goes.

Still though great tyres, ive always liked the small section side wall, oh plus mine are stretched so are even smaller than they would be if not stretched.

 

Yup, put big rims on which cost a stupid amount, make your fuel consumption worse and therefore your fuel bill higher, have to put special tyres on which cost more and will wear faster, and in modifying your car put your insurance premium up. And all that cost for what? Looks.

I really don't understand chavs :banghead:

 

Retro, i shall assume that was pointed my direction, just to clear a few things up here, number one i'm not a chav.

Secondly, why can one not put what wheels they want on their car? wether it be an older car, or a brand spanking new one that cost £100,000

As for my car, i want it to fit the 'motorsport' category, hence the carbon fibre bonnet for a start, once more is done to the car i intend to take it to track days and race it. I can't justify having more than one car, plus the costs would be somewhat silly.

I don't quite understand how you come to your conclusion that alloy wheels suddenly increase fuel consumption? My car originally came with alloy wheels, just i didn't really like the look of them so much, so i changed them for something i did like.

The tyres only cost what i decide to buy, you can buy a much cheaper crappy brand tyre that will go on just fine. As i tend to enjoy round abouts and bends, and for my own safety aspect, i would much prefer to pay the extra for the tyres i put on and have it basically glued to the road. Tyre wear isn't too bad, the tyres i use last very well, it all depends on how you drive. If you always drive steady, pretty much any tyre will last along time. If your one for giving it some, of course the tyres won't last as long, this goes for any tyre on any car.

As i said, my car is built around performance, hence the reason the new engine is going in, in the near future.

Now if you want to argue about fuel consumption, then by all means, yes around town the new engine will use a good bit more fuel than my current one, on long motorway journeys it will use less fuel than my current engine uses.

The real question is am i bothered about fuel consumption? not really, within reason of course. Even in the event my wheels did cost that bit extra in fuel, would i pay it? of course, because thats what i like and i'm willing to pay that premium like many others.

Not to sound harsh, but i can't stop thinking about the comment 'put big rims on which cost a stupid amount, make your fuel consumption worse and therefore your fuel bill higher' do you realise how silly this even sounds to someone that actually knows about cars?

Of course if you start putting different diamiter wheels and tyres on, the fuel consumption, acceleration, top speed, and the speedo would change. My wheels and tyres are identical in diamiter to the ones that came off my car, just there is much more wheel, and much less tyre wall, so nothing has changed. ;-)

It would also be interesting to hear what you consider a 'chav in a car' to be, while there are some chavs in cars, there aren't all that many. Most people in a modified car are car enthusiasts, simple as that.

Besides the very simple point the majority of chavs couldn't even afford a car, let alone a nice big set of alloys or anything else for that matter unless theyve been stealing!

I think what your problem must be retro, is simple that you don't understand people with different interests to the ones you have, and just like gaming enthusiasts, there are many car / motorsport enthusiasts.

Like myself, i am into gaming, have been for many years. But also i'm very interested in cars and motorsport. You may find there are plenty out there that would have a problem with you collecting gaming related items and being so obsessed with such things, i tend to be quite open minded with most peoples hobbies, while i wouldn't be interested in many, i think its entirely down to the person in question and so what if they have a hoby in something you don't care about?

Cheers. :thumbsup:

 

I will soon be driving a 1988 Honda Accord LX. Oh sweet babies.

 

Well said, Dano2k0. Modification of cars is a hobby in the same respect as anything else; if the individual enjoys it and finds it rewarding and fulfilling, then why not?

I can understand that there are some cars done by teenagers that look like total bollocks, but then that is our own opinion and as long as they are not hurting anyone else, why should we worry. Some modifications are very tastefully done and I respect anyone with enough patience to see it through.

I really don't trust the grip in my current car. They're brand new tyres (put on by the previous owner; my Mum ) but I think they're just cheap standard ones. Can't afford to change them. My red Corsa liked a good thrashing, it felt like it was gagging for it- I always stay within limits as I worked hard for my license and don't want it taken away, but it was nice to accelerate 'hard' in it It was a pile of shit anyway so hardly gonna lose out on anything.

My current one, I feel, is vey much an 'old persons' car.. even though the engine is the same size etc, its a much more sedate and smooth drive and it's not as fun to push hard. IMO it can only make me a better driver and I only use it for little things anyway..

 

Let me get one thing straight - I actually know a LOT about cars, and modifying them. Do you really think I'd buy a rust bucket if I wasn't going to do it up? ;-) lol.

You seem to have completely misinterpreted my use of the phrase big rims. Rims don't have to be alloys. I said big, that's where the emphasis was - on changing the wheels to a BIGGER wheel. That will make your fuel consumption worse.

Few chavs in cars?!? You have to be joking! Come down South - there are fucking thousands of them! :lol: With regards to cars, they always go for the same damn cars. I understand that this is often for cheapness, but please, get some imagination! I am sorry to say that an Astra is a prime example of a chav car. Not that I'm calling you a chav - far from it. You seem to be able to string a proper sentence together for one thing, resisting the use of words such as "innit", "geeza" or "blud" ;-)

As for their imagination, why don't they get something old (preferably old enough to be tax exempt) and mod that? Then you get a gorgeous car that doesn't look like every other car around but with an added body kit. I rather see some imagination go into modifications rather than "that's sum sick 106 innit. I is gettin me one o'dem an putting some propa phat body kit on, innit geeza". Perhaps that's what separates chavs - they have to have something cheap because they can't afford something else (other than the rich ones with their "Scoobys" (sorry Yakumo lol - it's a chav car here! OK, maybe not the estate...) and they want something relatively modern. They go with the "fashionable" cars that their mates have, and would often poo-poo a classic. Except maybe a Mk. 1 Escort lol. That, and they'll prat around on the roads.

I dunno, the problem is that chavved up cars are two a penny around here. It's just so boring and unoriginal. It's somewhat like that bog standard car shape that is EVERYWHERE in America. It gets old fast. At least you're going for a modification that will actually DO something... unlike say cluster lights

Now check this mofo out...

http://www.racedriven.com/2007/04/800hp-biodiesel-65-chevy-impala-on-pimp.html

THERE'S a modified car to write home about!!

 

:/

If people wanted good economy they'd get damn Honda Civics or whatever the equivalent is over there. You have to have a tradeoff somewhere.

The more power you have, the less mileage you get. Easy as that.

 

It's also a lot of fun if you're in to that sort of thing. Not too sure about those tyres though :lol:

 

When you say speedo... I really hope you don't mean
this :lol:

Just kidding man, lol

Ah, nothing like late 50's, 60's, and early 70's Detroit. The most beautiful cars ever made were from the muscle car era. Personally, I would love to have either a 1969 or 1970 Nova SS... or a Yenko Super Nova, but that's quite a bit less likely (impossible, actually).

 

ON top of that. People think a rust bucket chevelle or any other 60/70s muscle car is worth over $10GRAND.

 

I love the muscle car era but for true beauty you have to look to the 30's and 40's. Those cars were works of art.

 

AWS, you are one sick, sick puppy :-(

I agree that there are a fair few muscle cars that look very good. If I were to spend any amount of time in the US, I'd most likely get a cheap old muscle car and do it up (yes, you CAN still get them cheap, amazingly!) I don't know if I'd say the MOST beautiful, though. There are a lot of gorgeous European cars from the 60s and earlier.

Then again, it is a fairly subjective thing. I mean, there are many people who think this is the most gorgeous car ever:



I can see its charm, but it is a very quirky design and I think perhaps a little too "out there" for my liking.

Likewise, the whole idea of the aesthetics of modifying certain cars is very much personal opinion. No offence to those who like to buy a cheap, modern(ish) car and mod it, but IMHO a turd is a turd no matter how much you polish it. I can't get excited about Vauxhall Novas, Peugeot 106s and the like. Conversely, an old car done up tastefully is very appealing. That's just my opinion.

OK, who wants a laugh?

http://www.yourcarisshit.com/

Chavtastic!

 

The only French cars I've ever liked are Bugatti. Outside of something from the old Soviet Bloc they have to be the worst when it comes to style. Then again maybe I'm just missing something.

 

retro, i understand a little more where your coming from now, but as you seemed to be pointing your initial post very much my direction, i figgured your big 'rims' was aiming at my alloys and saying they'll make my fuel consumption worse.

My overall diamiter is identical to the originals, so my fuel consumption and everything else is just as it always was with the original wheels on, the originals were crap alloys, and i fancied something abit different, always been one for liking big alloys, as you can see ive also painted them to what i think is abit more of a 'motorsport' look rather than a big bling look of silver in the arches.

I'll re-word what i originally said and meant, looking back it would seem youve got a very old car, and if it was / is a rust bucket when you originally bought it and intend to do it up, doesn't exactlly mean your going to do any of the work yourself, alot of people pay mechanics and body shops to sort all their issues out. I know more that buy the more 'classic' cars do more themself, but still pay for a large chunk of the work doing on average. I'm not saying your incapable, but neither did you say you intend to do the work yourself ;-)

Everything thats been done on my car, ive done myself so far, i don't intend paying anyone else to do any of the work either. When it comes to engine transplant time myself, my brother and my dad will be doing that, its better to at least have a couple of people than to try and do the whole thing yourself, as i'm sure you'll know its hard labour.

Going from the cars you could consider 'chav cars' i personally wouldn't say the Astra MK4 comes close to fitting your category, and the subaru point in my opinion is very wrong, some of the old cheap subarus sell for less than alot of Astras would, and ive seen some real idiot 'chavvy' kids driving those around and do all sorts of silly things with them.

Now i agree more in saying some Corsas, Novas, 106's etc etc tend to have the more 'chavvy kids' in them out of most other cars, reason being is they tend to be so cheap.

Don't get me wrong the older Astras are in the same boat more or less, MK3 etc. Seen some chavvy kids driving an odd one of those about.

To be perfectly fair though, i think the price of the MK4 (decent model) way out prices most of their wallets. Yeah you can probably get some cheaper models for not a great deal in the current state of the economy. Classing the Astra as a 'chavvy car' is quite wrong look for instance at the GSi 2litre turbo, those cars still second hand sell for as much as some cars cost when brand new. My dad actually bought a GSi MK4 just around a year ago for near the £10k mark, i don't think many chavvy lads could whip that sort of money out and buy one.

Very much like my brother, ive always been a lover of Vauxhalls, most of cars don't tend to appeal to me. What is even better is obviously people like yourself will probably under-estimate just what some people interested in 'motorsport' etc will do to a Corsa or an Astra, for instance my brothers Corsa has seen off a huge list of cars, many different models of Subarus, including the limited edition NR1. Now as you can safely guess, a huge percentage of people would never even guess its anywhere near as fast as it actually is, they'd probably think oh another 1.2 Corsa, but they are sadly mistaken ;-)

Its just like my Astra will soon be, later this year i'm hoping for it to be running approx 300bhp, not the worlds greatest ammount i know, but none the less it will be a very fast car, with plans to go further in the future with it. I'm sure i'll upset alot of people when you consider the 5 door SRi came with a 1.8 16v engine. Another car most people would under-estimate, which i think is quite funny.

I'm not really one for liking classic type cars to be honest, i undestand why some people like them so much, but they are not for me. I do however like some of the american muscle cars, but again not all are to my liking.

The link you posted to that car is very nice, i agree its obviously a beast and is quite a stunning looking car, though i couldn't ever see myself buying something like that, i'd rather buy an Evo or simillar.

I suppose when youve also talked about the chavvy kids buying a rust bucket and modifying that, none of them will have enough money to fix one up, it would sit and rust further.

Your also soon forgetting the aftermarket support there is for cars such as the Corsa for example, theres a huge ammount of parts that can be had, which are often good value for money. Buying spares if yours breaks is no big deal either.

Plus to be fair, the suspension upgrades there are for such cars, and their general design will probably always give much better handling etc than an old car.

If your intending getting a car and using it on the track and modifying it, then your better off with something a good bit newer than the type of cars your talking about in my opinion.

 

The problem with french cars, is that they will always have eletric / eletronic problems. Not forgetting, they love cheap plastic (Renault mostly).

I replaced some of the wiring on my car, because of this. Plus a lot of cheap plastic connectors that love to break / disconnect.

 

Johnny,

Couldn't agree with you more on that. French cars in general seem very unreliable, ive known many (in particular Renault) cars with wiring faults, and in general plauged with problems, even from the day of purchase.

 

That was the first image that appeared when I did a google image search of "speedo" :lol:

 

lol, your sick, and surely you must have already known what a speedo is?

I think youve got a secret or two your not telling us lol.

 

Yep. Thankfully, my Xsara VTS didn't had that many problems (previous owner had fixed most of them). But i decided to fix what he missed, even though no problems had surfaced. I was surprised to see cheap plastic connectors that broke just by trying unplugging them. Plus, all wheel plugs were rusted.

I also checked all parts from the "list of problems", that a friend from Citroen Club of Brasil gave me.

 

I could rant all day about French wiring.