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flash968 flash968 is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: O.C. CA
Posts: 4,587
i've had all kinds of cars (over 40 in the last 30 some odd years), ranging all over the map from hot rods to GTs to sportscars, and they were all trimmed out differently - i've had chrome trimmed cars, all painted cars, even polished aluminum body cars (ok, just one) - there were things i liked about all of them - it's really very subjective, but each car lends itself easily to seeing to what looks right and what looks gaudy

for these cars, i realize the tendency is to do "something", but avoid the urge to do something just so that it's different - more often than not less is more - they aren't big hot rods - they aren't tiny sportscars - they are GT cars and should be treated as such - some sporty stuff is good, but too much and it just looks like a gangster with too much bling around his neck - tacky

i see a lot in this arena, and much of it is clearly related to the age group of the owners - fortunately the cars aren't expensive, and when it comes time to move on, it can just be disposed of, rather than trying to recoup the expense of an ill thought out mod or treatment - for example, you couldn't do that with say, a ferrari

i am definitely not a fan of bling or things non-functional - whatever it is must serve a function

carbon fiber look is out - carbon fiber replacement items (not overlay stuff) that are painted body color are fine

polished this that and the other should be tastefully limited - rim lips are ok, if it's the right style rim - all the small parts on a car are not so cool

loud multi-color paint schemes are for advertising cars - they look cartoonish on a street car - that stuff is fine in the movies, but in real life you can tell how old the owner is without ever seeing them

it's the same thing with product stickers on the car - if they aren't sponsors, they shouldn't be there

painted wheels are for kids, or old timers looking for that retro look - they aren't contemporary

it's easy to get caught up in something and be excited about it - but take a look at other cars and see what it looks like before you go to the time and expense of something that you may hate 6 months later - try photoshop if you can't find another car

try this for a rule of thumb or guide when thinking about what to do: do you want people to see the car and think more in terms of ferrari, or more in terms of suburu?

clearly i've become a cranky old fart, but give it some thought before you dive into something you may not be able to afford to correct if it turns out less than what you wanted
Old 07-07-2009, 08:43 PM
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