Is the cosmetic mods phase over?

[Sunboost]

Is it just me or the days of modding cars cosmetically pretty much over? I see the trend turning towards bringing a car back to it's original glory, and then just lowering it to a tasteful height - rather than flashy colours, big wheels, kits and other small cosmetic mods here and there.

When I was 18 it was pretty sick to have a bright coloured car lowered on on some big wheels, and common. Nowadays, some of the best and quickest cars out on the street are pretty much cosmetically stock, and anyone with a bright coloured car slammed on big wheels (unless it's newish) is generally considered a wanker.

[Michael (HYPOEB)]

lol how true.

sleepers are the best thou

but there are still alot of nice cars with big wheels and are slammed.
i was never a big fan of big kits..

[Nikk O'lass]

No, bogans are still putting HSV kits on commodores. Some unpainted, some painted in a different colour from a spray can.

[vey]

id agree , id hate to have a bright car with big wheels. and im 17 , imo the phase is over. theirs more bling cars out their like luxurys on rims , and ppl with power dont wanna show it off for cop attention so theirs more sleepers.

those fully sick lebos ruined that scene lol.

[Nikk O'lass]

Hetick Queen Street Racing and Tempe tires, through the outlet of Autosalon recked the scene.

Rich drugdealers and/or mummy sponsered cars, cruising up and down kings cross...

[CHEETR]

im new to the ford scene, i guess you would call me one of those cosmetic people(6k worth of custom trim, chrome highlights,bonnet gauges and big pizza pan 20z) on the commodore, but i also have big power to back it up (hoping once the new LS1 is done to make 300rwkw)


and as for my daily, i going all out on power and cosmetic stuff simular to the commdore as well (20z,custom trim,bonnet gauges ec..)

i dont like n/a 6cyl cars with cosmetic stuff, but if the car has a forced or v8 motor under the hood and sounds good producing some good figures i reckon its even better having a whole package to go with the car.

[John_LS1]

I guess most people realise now its not cool to have a flashy looking car without the power to back it up!

[vegabass]

My EL is pretty flashy and it certinly has no balls what so ever! lol

[Sunboost]

Most of my recent cars have just been returned to mint original condition.. That's the way I like it these days. MRDOSE was cool until very early 2007.

[LOW_XR]

oowwww... my car is bright with big wheels?

ah ill get over it.

[Bazza J]

there is still alot of it going on, just look at al the "mini trucks" getting around, i hate those cars that are all show and no go, id rather the best of both, loks and power, but if i had to choose between the two it would defantly be power

[needfordspeed]

Most of my recent cars have just been returned to mint original condition.. That's the way I like it these days. MRDOSE was cool until very early 2007.

And that's why it's going back to white with grey bars

I'm a fan of tough stockers, for example a mint stock car, but through the back window you see a roll cage and on closer inspection it's got widened stockies or some shit then the kunt puts his foot down and gets wheelspin at whatever speed he/she wants...that's the shit

[burnt turtle]

No, bogans are still putting HSV kits on commodores. Some unpainted, some painted in a different colour from a spray can.

id agree i think its mainly commodores, and jap cars. you get a few falcons like that but not to many.

[Dezza]

I've done a fair bit of cosmetic stuff but I like to think it's still got a bit of subtlety about it and I haven't gone overboard. I'm almost done with the exterior stuff besides eventually an EB bonnet, respray and a few minor details. Now I'm moving more towards mechanical mods, but being a daily I haven't been able to go too extreme. The main reason I've done cosmetic mods more than mechanical is I still don't rate my mechanical ability, and found the cosmetic stuff I can do myself fairly easily. It's each to their own really. I don't want to mod my car the same way as everyone else, and I'm not trying to impress others.

[Bazza J]

No, bogans are still putting HSV kits on commodores. Some unpainted, some painted in a different colour from a spray can.

id agree i think its mainly commodores, and jap cars. you get a few falcons like that but not to many.

true, it is mainly the commodores and imports, im not really a fan of big kits or big flashy wheels, all of my mates are but i just dont see the point in wasting so much money on wheels when some EB S rims or pollished up turboblades do the job fine

[krisisdog]

I added a bit more poke to my car firstly ( no turbo, too much $$ for me currently), although I'm now spending up on cosmetic mods - respray, kit, bulge - because I want to and love the look of it. That ad my car needed a respray and some new panels, so I'm just taking this opportunity to dress it up a bit.

[Rollin]

I think a lot of it has to do with your friends in blue.

Probably a few people would love to get round with enormous wheels and all the shiny crap, gauges on the bonnet etc, but the cops just rape you left right and center, so now it's all about going fast while not drawing attention from the shtknts.

Having said that, I could stand on the footpath of any road in Brisbane and be able to throw a rock through the windscreen of at least one slammed VY/VZ sedan/ute on 20s within 5 minutes.....

[Bipolar]

I don't think it's over. I think it's less prevalent coz of the increased cop attention over the last couple of years, but I think it's mainly the difference between those who like to look at pretty stuff, and those that like to do cool shit and respect the machine. The former mainly know what they see in advertising and who I don't consider most of to be a true car enthusiastic; the latter go looking for info and find out how to go faster and appreciate cars in all forms.

[Dumpsta]

For me, Id always do the cosmetic mods before the power, I know others reverse that too but I guess I cant understand having a car that has the balls but no one looks twice at. Gimme a set of 20's and my day would be made. One think that pings me is, the older commodores getting around with massive bodykits that stick out about 50-100mm from the car with 15" stockies at normal offset (your thinking 'wheretf are his wheels'? as they drive past).

[EFFalcon]

perhaps its people not making decent looking cosmestic mods for late model cars?

HEAPS of people are sticking factory FPV kits on non FPV cars.
so obviously there is still interest in upping the cosmetic value of their car.

also.. i think you're on the wrong forums
goto any big cruise in melb and there are plenty of showy cars.

[LTDHO]

R.I.C.E still exists. Always will. Sunny, you are immune to it now.

[SnyperEB]

RICE is definately still out the there thats for sure. Sunny your not getting out in the scene much these days days the V.C.C Crusie last weekend was prime example heaps of showy flashy cars. I must admit the amount of cop attention has slowed people down in cosmetic appearance.

[psychotic-angel]

my car isnt by any means a show car its a daily driven work hack its had the exhaust and cold air intake done but thats about it so far for the mods power wise i like my car to be able to handle well and when i put the brakes on it want it to stop so ive had my brakes and susp done now that it handles well i want more power lol im a fan of the sleeper look some nice wheels lowered thats it tastefull id like to think my cars looked at an people think wow his on a budget but his done well rather then wow ricer much ?

[psychotic-angel]

my car isnt by any means a show car its a daily driven work hack its had the exhaust and cold air intake done but thats about it so far for the mods power wise i like my car to be able to handle well and when i put the brakes on it want it to stop so ive had my brakes and susp done now that it handles well i want more power lol im a fan of the sleeper look some nice wheels lowered thats it tastefull id like to think my cars looked at an people think wow his on a budget but his done well rather then wow ricer much ?

[Troutman]

Interesting comment Sunny, the rice trend is certainly less extreme than it used to be.

The only thing I can add is that large wheels can be more than cosmetic and bring a performance advantage. I'm keeping stock 16" wheels on the VT and got rid of all badges so it might as well be a V6 Berlina. But traction is pretty poor even with the tall 3.08 diff, to the extent that it wouldn't do anything great down the quarter mile as is. The small wheels also limit braking upgrade options and so on.

[pHaT`eL]

It definately has something to do with the cops. If you have the big wheels, big kit etc, it will grab there attention.
I went the same way, big rims, etc. Then I got the performance bug. Sleepers just make it amusing, the look on someones face when they get beaten by what they think is just a low Falcon is priceless.
I agree with CHEETR though, the kit, rims, etc goes well if youve got the power to go with it, thats what makes a feature car or weekender.
If youve just got a daily with a bit of poke, no point throwing 3k worth of rims on it or having a mint paint job, because no one else in the carpark cares for it.

[CHEETR]

my ford wont be a daily long the way im going lol

[UNEZED]

i agree with whats been said here about how there is mostly stock looking cars or just standard bodykits and shit like that
but i love the cosmetic mods and have a few planned for my ed just makes it hard while its my daily and also with a low paying job

[ClassicAU]

Ha, I must have missed the boat on flashy mods! I have never purchased any form of body kit, wing, or anything for any of my cars. The closest to this is the XR8, which came with the kit fitted. Most I have done is a set of 18s, which are the new 17s anyway. All my money has ever been spent on stereo systems and mechanical mods. I see no point wasting money on useless cosmetic additions. Little things like clear indicators and all that is fine, but why spend $3k on a body kit, when that money could get you an awesome drive line or extra power mods.

[edfairmont4.0]

Sleepers for the win. Never spent a cent on cosmetic mods.

[Steady]

shits still the same from where i'm sitting, takes larger testicles to drive a flashy modded car around now that's all.

[TUFED6]

Last time I checked there was still an Autosalon magazine. Has anyone picked up a Hot 4's or Street commodores lately?

Cosmetic mods are still in full effect.

[iliov]

Yer i was going to go ahead and buy some gtps for my ghia but i thought i would rather spend the money making it look as close to it did the day it came out of the factory and just dumping it on its ass. Theres nothing i like better that a 100% factory car dumped on its factory rims.

[bng]

Hetick Queen Street Racing and Tempe tires, through the outlet of Autosalon recked the scene.

Rich drugdealers and/or mummy sponsered cars, cruising up and down kings cross...

Queen St do some nice cars, they are located near me, see afew running around my area. But majority are over the top
As for tempe tyres, dont touch em, most of their wheels dont pass australian standards

[nath]

power over looks for sure,, sayin that keeping it neat is key to having the good stock look too, my EL is stock 100% except its low and turbo kit and suporting mods, my EB daily is lower'er and cam/extractors n just cheap stuf for my cheap daily..... stock exterior but slammed FTW... plus power = MINT

[FRAGGA]

i think it personal taste. i myself have a stock engine but have a few cosmetic jobs such has big wheels lowered kit tob fitted shortly. n im happyt with the power cuz dont take it to the track or nething to use the power. so thats the reason for my cosmetic mods.

[Parfrey]

For me it comes down to cash.. or lack of it! i would rather spend money on things to make it drive/handle/go better than things that make it look fully sik. but then again big wheels will probably find there way onto my cars eventually.
i drove around in my ute that was low with big wheels, bright (factory) colour, P plates and loud exhaust.. never got any cop att. so i guess it depends if you get a good run or not??

[galapogos01]

Last time I checked there was still an Autosalon magazine. Has anyone picked up a Hot 4's or Street commodores lately?

Cosmetic mods are still in full effect.

+1, the only thing that changes is perspective/taste. You get older, your perspective changes.