Car mods / trends that need to die

[XR7-4.6]

Don't know why I get e-mails from these people, but this was in my inbox and seemed apt.

Ask AutoGuide: Which Car Modification Trends Need To Go Away Forever?

The car modification scene has spent the last decade chasing a digital ghost, building vehicles for the singular purpose of looking good in a high-resolution photograph.But like Dylan said,

www.autoguide.com

AI slop copying this thread

 

[XR7-4.6]

Must be rich too. Doesn't Illinois still charge a lot more for a personalized plate without a number in it?

Not that much, I think it’s like $165/year vs $150/ for regular plates, first time issuance is heftier though, I forget the exact number but it’s over $100 more than a standard or “personalized” plate(the ones with the requisite number)

Speaking of which, another BMW into pizza today, because Chicago

 

[MadMikeyL]

Not that much, I think it’s like $165/year vs $150/ for regular plates, first time issuance is heftier though, I forget the exact number but it’s over $100 more than a standard or “personalized” plate(the ones with the requisite number)

Speaking of which, another BMW into pizza today, because Chicago

View attachment 18288

At least he knows deep dish sucks!

 

[XR7-4.6]

At least he knows deep dish sucks!

Agreed, it’s a casserole

 

[Ericv8thunderbird]

Side and rear window louvers on anything that’s not from the 60’s / 70’s

 

[XR7-4.6]

View attachment 18289
View attachment 18290

Side and rear window louvers on anything that’s not from the 60’s / 70’s

Truthfully I can tolerate rear window louvers if they aren’t plasticy, the aftermarket quarter window louvers look stupid on literally everything, 70s included.

 

[Kenz]

As a self-admitted Tesla fanboy I can't even say anything nice. Guy probably put on a fake "dual motor" badge

 

[AdamG]

This one about killed me this morning...not sure which is worse, the cambered stance or the outrageously stretched tires...

 

[Kenz]

Anyone mention brake caliper covers yet? Especially the ones that make the calipers look way bigger.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Anyone mention brake caliper covers yet? Especially the ones that make the calipers look way bigger.



View attachment 18304

I’m pretty sure the Edge I posted earlier had those too, first ones I ever saw that had fake lines to really be phony!

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Ok, so here is a trend which has already died, but it annoyed me so much at the time, it deserves an honorable mention here:

Aluminum wheels with covers! Popular in the early 2000s and into the 2010s, the wheels weren't steel, yet they were entirely covered. Ford introduced the idea, among other models, on the then new Taurus. Below are an Edge wheel and a Cadillac DTS wheel. It was a cheaper way to offer a chrome finish, plus presumably more easily replaceable in case of surface damage. But they all looked bad; the plastic added an awkward thickness to the design.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Ok, so here is a trend which has already died, but it annoyed me so much at the time, it deserves an honorable mention here:

Aluminum wheels with covers! Popular in the early 2000s and into the 2010s, the wheels weren't steel, yet they were entirely covered. Ford introduced the idea, among other models, on the then new Taurus. Below are an Edge wheel and a Cadillac DTS wheel. It was a cheaper way to offer a chrome finish, plus presumably more easily replaceable in case of surface damage. But they all looked bad; the plastic added an awkward thickness to the design.

View attachment 18307View attachment 18308

Actually Tesla (sorry @Kenz ) does this, just for different reasons. They use conventional alloy (and actually quite nice looking) wheels underneath more aerodynamic (not so nice looking) covers. Cybertruck does it as well.




I’m not sure I ever realized that chrome “wheel” thing was a thing, but I do remember both those wheels. On a related note, which manufacturers STILL use are the infernal 2 piece lugnuts!

 

[Ericv8thunderbird]

Ok, so here is a trend which has already died, but it annoyed me so much at the time, it deserves an honorable mention here:

Aluminum wheels with covers! Popular in the early 2000s and into the 2010s, the wheels weren't steel, yet they were entirely covered. Ford introduced the idea, among other models, on the then new Taurus. Below are an Edge wheel and a Cadillac DTS wheel. It was a cheaper way to offer a chrome finish, plus presumably more easily replaceable in case of surface damage. But they all looked bad; the plastic added an awkward thickness to the design.

View attachment 18307View attachment 18308

When I bought my F250, I had that chrome wheel well trim, one of the first things I did was take that garbage off.

 

[Ericv8thunderbird]

Up-badging.

E.G. Cobra badges on anything but a Cobra, M series badges on a non M bmw.

You get the idea.

 

[Grog6]

IDK; If you have the parts to support it, I'm not adverse. IMHO, Matt could rock snakes; his car is way above cobra specs in 96. And handles better.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Up-badging.

E.G. Cobra badges on anything but a Cobra, M series badges on a non M bmw.

You get the idea.

Situationally dependent IMO up badging a stock lower spec model is pure cringe, but if the build backs it up I’m ok with it, I always thought the Lincoln logo wrapped by a Cobra badge is one of the most clever things anyone came up with, I’d rock these on my fenders if I had a Mark(with a Cobra intake!)



I have considered sticking a ST badge on the Focus, not to be a poseur just to be a smartass rocking one on a beater. No worse debasement of it than Ford themselves sticking it on SUVs nowadays!

IDK; If you have the parts to support it, I'm not adverse. IMHO, Matt could rock snakes; his car is way above cobra specs in 96. And handles better.

I had Cobra fender badges very briefly after the DOHC swap, but I thought it looked silly having two different animals on the side of the car

 

[Ericv8thunderbird]

Mercury Cougbra.

 

[Vicinity]

I misread and approved that you would put a SVT badge on the focus!

 

[gunn]

Actually Tesla (sorry @Kenz ) does this, just for different reasons. They use conventional alloy (and actually quite nice looking) wheels underneath more aerodynamic (not so nice looking) covers. Cybertruck does it as well.

View attachment 18309View attachment 18310

Gen 3 Prius (2010-2015) had wheel covers over alloys...allegedly for better aero.
I put mine in a box the first week i got my car (mine are black powder coated alloys) so whenever I finally sell this appliance, it'll have fresh looking wheels on a 300K mi vehicle

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Gen 3 Prius (2010-2015)

My roommate has one of those. Bought used, and it came without the covers.

Side note: we changed a rear wheel bearing on it last week, and it was remarkably easy because the bearing/hub assembly is bolted onto the torsion beam axle. No press needed.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Gen 3 Prius (2010-2015) had wheel covers over alloys...allegedly for better aero.
I put mine in a box the first week i got my car (mine are black powder coated alloys) so whenever I finally sell this appliance, it'll have fresh looking wheels on a 300K mi vehicle

Only reason I have any hope for the future of the automobile as we know it, for now anyway, is the car enthusiasts that are still inexplicably employed by the corporations that design cool looking parts even knowing they’ll get covered up with shitty ugly plastic in the end.


Oh other trend that I’d like to see die but know won’t with ICE engines being in a precarious state as is; Plastic engine covers!







Fuck. This. Shit. What am I even looking at???

What happened to this???



Or this???



Or that?????




And for a less boomery carbureted take, what happened to these???








It wasn’t THAT long ago engines were cool to look at without any non-functional cover to “modernize” them.

All covers belong in a landfill

 

[Green T]

Sheepskin seat covers!!

 

[Grog6]

Agreed, it’s a casserole

I thought Chicago pizza was deep dish, and NY was thin?

 

[XR7-4.6]

I thought Chicago pizza was deep dish, and NY was thin?

Square cut thin is Chicago style too, it’s made more crispy than New York style

 

[Irv]

Tavern pizza. From what I've seen of those who speak of it online, more Chicago natives prefer that over deep dish. Deep dish gets more attention because it's so dramatically different than other pizza styles, and thus inherently controversial.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I am seriously considering getting a Bronco Sport, so I rented one this past weekend to check it all out.

I am still not entirely sure about the Bronco, but I was reminded about how much I detest auto engine stop. I just can't stand it!! I push the button to turn it off almost immediately upon start up, it does not appear you can permanently turn it off. Inevitability, I forgot to turn it off at start up and at the 1st stop sign/light the engine turns off and I am reminded. I just think there are so many potential failure points here. I do not believe the supposed fuel savings is going to be worth it. Also, it is just annoying to have the engine turn on and off all the time.

Switching the drive mode to Sport will turn off the auto engine stop. I’ve driven many rentals, including a Bronco, and I’ve discovered that this is the case with any vehicle that offers selectable drive modes.

As to the Bronco itself, I really liked it and would consider buying one for the right price. The version I had as a rental was the Outer Banks edition.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Brodozer! OMG I’m using that one. That’s hilarious

But yeah, the list is long for the Brodozers. In part: spikes on rims, rubber band tires on rims that are like 30” and stick 3’ feet out on suspensions so high that you need a step ladder to get in and out of the vehicle. Bullet shaped antenna, led strips all over the undercarriage and, of course, trailer hitch balls or welded massive nuts hanging from chains attached to the trailer hitch.

Giant truck exhaust tips, this is a peeve associated with coal rollers but I’ve seen them on as many gas pickups too. This is the stupidest looking appendage ever and ironically I’m fairly certain the very same owners of these brodozers would have been the first people to make fun of fart cans on rice burners back in the day.

View attachment 18055




Very cool especially with the incandescent bulbs, the effect is so much better than harsh LEDs!!

 

[gunn]

My roommate has one of those. Bought used, and it came without the covers.

Side note: we changed a rear wheel bearing on it last week, and it was remarkably easy because the bearing/hub assembly is bolted onto the torsion beam axle. No press needed.

IMO, Priuses have more in common with my dishwasher and laundry machine that it does a "fun" car. It just works. Stuff bolts on. Probably the best value car I've ever purchased in terms of mi per $ with a 92 honda accord I purchased for $200 coming in a close second.

The fact that the brake pads (not just rotors) lated on the Prius for 150K mi still amazes me.
Knock on wood but my only unscheduled maintenance on this car has been when the car complained about the NIMH intake fan getting to hot. I vacuumed the dust filter next to the passenger rear seat bolster and called it a day.
I'm probablu jinxing myself but the car has nearly 200K mi from 2014 and still has its factory 12V battery. Considering the 12V battery doesn't do much (the ICE engine is started by the big NIMH pack) and this car lives in a very mild environment (SF weather ranges from 45F-72F year round), its not unheard of but still makes me chuckle. I keep a jump-starter in the car just in case though (in hindsight, I'm not really sure why since the NIMH pack is what starts the car).

I find this super funny because two of my friends Hyundai/KIA EVs had issues with their DC-DC converters not charging their 12V batteries enough (yeah, those cars still have one). Both found themselves stranded in their EV6 and Ioniq5 once the 12V batteries died.

 

[KevinVarnes]

My roommate has one of those. Bought used, and it came without the covers.

Side note: we changed a rear wheel bearing on it last week, and it was remarkably easy because the bearing/hub assembly is bolted onto the torsion beam axle. No press needed.

You will never find and easier wheel bearing to replace than the fronts on MN12. On the other end of the spectrum I've replaced three late model Subaru rear wheel bearings in the last couple weeks. Those bolt in too.

Only reason I have any hope for the future of the automobile as we know it, for now anyway, is the car enthusiasts that are still inexplicably employed by the corporations that design cool looking parts even knowing they’ll get covered up with shitty ugly plastic in the end.


Oh other trend that I’d like to see die but know won’t with ICE engines being in a precarious state as is; Plastic engine covers!

View attachment 18357

View attachment 18358

View attachment 18359

Fuck. This. Shit. What am I even looking at???

What happened to this???

View attachment 18360

Or this???

View attachment 18361

Or that?????

View attachment 18362


And for a less boomery carbureted take, what happened to these???


View attachment 18363

View attachment 18364

View attachment 18365

It wasn’t THAT long ago engines were cool to look at without any non-functional cover to “modernize” them.

All covers belong in a landfill

I'd be just fine with all the plastic engine covers if they would stop putting belly pans on cars. Nothing worse than getting a job all done and then realizing you still have to put the jigsaw of a belly pan back on and figure out where all of the screws and plastic push pins go.

 

[MadMikeyL]

You will never find and easier wheel bearing to replace than the fronts on MN12. On the other end of the spectrum I've replaced three late model Subaru rear wheel bearings in the last couple weeks. Those bolt in too.

I'd be just fine with all the plastic engine covers if they would stop putting belly pans on cars. Nothing worse than getting a job all done and then realizing you still have to put the jigsaw of a belly pan back on and figure out where all of the screws and plastic push pins go.

I won’t even get involved with those Subaru rear wheel bearings anymore. After quoting 2 hours, then spending the better part of 4 hours with torches and hammers and air-chisels, fuck that. Tell them to take it to the dealer, let Subaru deal with their own fuckup!