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I didn't state that it would elliminate all outward movement. Just stating that some kits allow more, making the door seem loose and floppy.Quote:
Originally Posted by transio
"Rice" was a term originally used on all Japanese vehicles imported into the U.S. Therefore if you have a Japanese vehicle it is "rice" so how can you say that modifing a Japanese vehicle makes it look "rice"?Quote:
Originally Posted by transio
Thank you for the etymology lesson. Despite what it originally meant, the term "ricer" is currently used to refer to any automotive mods that are kitsch (meaning that they tastelessly imitate something functional). Examples are:Quote:
Originally Posted by JAFO
- Fart can exhaust. Kitsch, cause it doesn't add any HP... it's just a big chrome tip meant to look like it's a high performance exhaust.
- Lambo doors. Kitsch, because they serve no purpose. Real lambo doors are designed to improve ingress/egress into an exotic sports car with special design needs.
- Huge wings on the rear of the car. Kitsch, because they usually add no downforce and most of the time just increase drag and add a lot of turbulence, in effect decreasing the car's aerodynamics.
- Most body kits. Often times, they are tasteless, but usually just meaningless, because they are not wind-tunnel tested and add no significant improvement to aerodynamics.
- Black-painted steel wheels (aka hubcap delete). Steel wheels are the heaviest you can find. Painting them black and losing the hubcaps doesn't improve your performance.
- Painted calipers. Meant to make stock calipers look like Brembos, or some other aftermarket variety, which often come in bright colors. Contrary to popular opinion, the paint does not improve the performance of the stock brakes.
- Cut springs. Cutting your springs may give your car a lower ride, but it will significantly hamper your vehicle's performance. Lowering the car with aftermarket springs may improve the ride, but unless you're going with a complete suspension redesign (or at least coilovers) you're likely going to just screw up the suspension geometry.
- Hood scoops. Usually just adds drag. Unless you've got a ram-air induction system going on, this is pathetic. Reference Mustang GT for factory-supplied kitsch.
On the other hand, you have "bling" - a term which refers to mods that are intended to be purely aesthetic, without imitating performance modifications. These include:
- Big chrome wheels,
- Spinners,
- Chrome grills,
- Lights in wheels, hood, neon under car, etc.,
- TVs in headrests,
- Custom paint,
- etc. etc.
So to recap:
Chrome wheels = bling.
Lambo doors = ricer.
I hope you understand what I'm getting at.
I think the more common term used to generalize Japanese imports was "rice burner" . "Rice" and "ricer" evolved from that term to refer to tasteless, functionless modifications like cheap body kits and tin can tailpipes.Quote:
Originally Posted by transio
I'd classify these as purely aesthetic, and therefore "bling" if done in a professional way that improves the look of the vehicle. I don't think anyone actually believes these mods will improve performance.Quote:
Originally Posted by transio
body kits and and painted calipers add looks to a car.. add uniqueness to a car... anyone (especially VX owners) can appreciate making your car unique... i think lambo doors have the same effect... making the car unique and if you are willing to sacrifice money, and maybe some of your ability to get out of the car for being unique then do it! who cares what other people think of your car if you like it
baldwin- theres almost no such thing as a 'bolt on' kit for any car, especially a VX, chances are if you do the lambo kit, youll end up having to do some kind of modding of some sort, so before you tell the shop to do it, you should see exactly what they are going to need to do and if it can be reversed, you wont know until you try though
Uh, the VX is EXTREMELY rigid. It was an SLK.
What would really do if Transio wasnt a member? Hum......Id be bored at work cause there would not be anyone intelligently stating their opinions, therefore, cuasing the threads to be less interesting.....
The way a car door opens has no effect on the cars performance and according to you they are only aesthetic, since you say they serve no functional purpose; therefore, vertical doors would be "bling" not "ricer" according to your definition.Quote:
Originally Posted by transio
Right. That's the derivation that I was using. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by kpaske
Actually, the mods are intended to mimic other mods that actually DO improve performance, like upgraded brake calipers (often painted bright colors by the manufacturer to help market their products) and aftermarket race wheels (which are often powdercoated, anodized, or painted black to decrease maintenance for brake dust cleanup). The idea behind painted calipers and wheels is to get the "racy look" without actually improving performance. They are, therefore, "rice" to the core.Quote:
Originally Posted by kpaske
Unique? You mean except for the 1000s of other ricers with lambo doors at all the kids' car meets, right? Even if I conceded to the unique argument, that is independent of the taste argument. In short, being unique isn't always a good thing. As evidence, I present:Quote:
Originally Posted by etlsport
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/atta...1&d=1156883449
Actually, I said that vertical doors DO have a purpose for the cars that come with them. Read up on the Mercedes SL 300 Gullwing for a little more information on how and why vertical doors came to be. The function is to better enable ingress/egress in sports cars with high/wide sills. If your car doesn't have big sills (the VX doesn't) then vertical doors serve no purpose, and in fact, often INHIBIT ingress and egress, because the doors on "normal" cars aren't DESIGNED to be opened vertically. They don't have the proper shape or connection to the vehicle, and therefore wind up covering half of the opening, making it more difficult to get in and out. Note that this is the OPPOSITE of why vertical doors were invented!!! THAT is why they are "ricer" in my opinion - the same as huge wings bolted onto your trunk.Quote:
Originally Posted by JAFO
Some more info from Wikipedia:
- "The gullwing doors, hinged at the roof and so named because the open doors resembled a bird's outstretched wings, were implemented as such to accommodate for the car's tubular chassis, designed by DBAG's chief developing engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut. Part of the chassis passed through what would be the lower half of a standard door. This tubular chassis was a necessity, as the original car was designed solely for racing and needed to be as light as possible while still providing a high level of strength. This required the driver and any passengers to do some gymnastics to get in or out of the car, usually by sitting on and sliding across the wide door sill. A steering wheel with a tilt-away column made the process considerably easier."
Note the height of the sills in the pic below... this is to accomodate the spaceframe chassis, which is very rigid while also being very light.
http://www.stevenmoseley.com/vehicross/gulllwing.jpg
You flatter me. Thanks. :) There are many people on VX.info who intelligently state their opinions, though. If there were no one presenting a decent counterpoint, what would be the point of making an argument at all? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by JHarris1385
Right. And if you had ever gotten in or out of one with the top on, you would understand the purpose of vertical doors. The Lotus Elise has a serious design flaw in poor ingress/egress. Of course, it was originally designed as an open-top roadster. With the hard top in place, though, getting in and out is seriously debilitating. So much so that there's an aftermarket company that started making gullwing hardtops to make it easier to get in and out.Quote:
Originally Posted by JAFO
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/atta...1&d=1149592568
well, ive never seen a VX with lambo doors so it would be unique... i guess it all comes to personal preference.. i dont think anyone here could honestly say that ferarri(?) doesnt make them want to puke.. but obviously someone likes it, i know lots of people who think my VX is hideous.. but it doesnt bother me, cause i love itQuote:
Unique? You mean except for the 1000s of other ricers with lambo doors at all the kids' car meets, right? Even if I conceded to the unique argument, that is independent of the taste argument. In short, being unique isn't always a good thing. As evidence, I present:
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/atta...1&d=1156883449
Great feedback guys. Thanks! Uhh...I'll do without the Hello Kitty hood insert though. :cool: I'm trying to see if one of the lambo door companies will find it unique to get the first VehiCROSS on their list which will be featured on the upcoming videos and marketing packages for the CD release and concert tour. Hopefully they can cut me a deal or something. I do get looks all the time with the near stock VX just pullin' up...but I can only imagine what people would say if I got out, and the doors went up! You KNOW i'll be bumpin' it too when I pull into the parking lot! Well, cross your fingers. If I can do well with the CD and land a major record deal, maybe one day I'll buy another VX and do EVERYTHING possible to it. It'll be the ultimate car for the hip hop enthusiest and you guys will all be invited to the Grammy after show party! You all just have to roll in with the VX's! :cool: Ok...I'm dreamin' now. But who knows? I'll keep prayin' though. :)
Good luck man, just don't let the dreams of glory blind you when the big labels come by and offer you stardom in exchange for your freedom, they usually reneg on the stardom bit but keep your freedom anyway.
So does the VX - it should have had two suicide doors for the rear passengers. If the Lambo or Gullwing doors address this flaw, then they become functional by your definition.Quote:
Originally Posted by transio
Actually, since I know jack ***** about race cars, when I painted *my* calipers the intent was purely aesthetic - I think the blue paint helps to draw attention to the wheels and rotors and the contrasting colors just look nice. It *IS* purely aesthetic and was never intended to "mimic" anything. However, for the most part I agree with you. Most true "ricers" likely do it to make a regular 4 banger look like a tuner car.Quote:
Originally Posted by transio