Someone Learn me somethin, I dont get it, Exterior styling trends have changed. Want to hear ur thoughts Options

[stephen_lee]

I googled it. a little north of austin. I dont think you have made it to our texas meets?

[Rob_A]

Times change, fashions change, viewpoints change. That is just the way of life

If I were doing my celica again it wouldn't look the same this time round!

[kurt95gt]

I think some of it has to do with the fact that alot of the ppl that grew up watching f&f an that's what made them want an import are older now an don't have a need for the flashy cars that they through was super cool when they were young maybe im wrong but that's my opinion let's face it cars aren't even that way in f&f any more than guess it just show the change in time

[NYp8tBaller07]

I think its peoples opinions, I like a good body kit on some cars but not all cars. I think a big reason why people stray from kits is because they want function over fashion, kits whey the car down a bit and smash way too easily(had one on my 90 celica and hardly hit a bump and it cracked) You dont see kits on track cars(aside from wide body). Someone else brought up the point of cops following you, with my old car cops would follow me or scan my car when I was parked, now they dont and it makes me feel way better knowing im not bear bait, lol.

[trdproven]

its really how you pick and choose, some people are straight OEM, some are extreme aftermarket, some are mixing the two styles. Some are looking for a specific theme while some are not.

To each his own, some just add to their current style when trends come out or when they decide to add it. hellaflush, stickerbomb, rusted hoods, carbon fiber, wild body kits, LED tails, VIP, Mesh wheels, whatever it is.

I'm simple, keep it OEM as much as possible in terms of styling, only wheels are the difference. Aftermarket performance don't count cus theres no choice. this is just strictly styling wise.

[SwissFerdi]

I believe we all live in the 90's a bit - perhaps some of us are 90's kids, or others were fairly old already when the 90's came...point is, we're all driving 90's econoboxes (speaking per USDM). The F&F erupted in the 2000's, so let's take an Eclipse of such vintage, which I think is a fairly stereotypical "ricer" car (next to Civics). The market for that kind of vehicle is suited toward a F&F flavor, whereas our 90's aftermarket never carried such things. Instead, we have splitters and lips from the factory. Aftermarket kits and stuffs are available, but generally not desired by the community, and mechanical support isn't really there either.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Oct 13, 2011 - 10:14 PM

[CelicaSTX02]

Personally, I don't think you're seeing the real scene. True the trend is to go for a sleeker more subtle look, but that doesn't mean there's less creativity or ingenuity in making your car look like it came out of the factory. The big flashy shogun bodykits are a thing of the past, people are doing other style of bodykits now, just not those crazy veilside or erebuni type kits anymore. My other car is a vip-style Lexus LS400, and from what I've seen in the vip scene, which is growing, people are doing all kinds of crazy modifications. Every single aspect of the car is being modified. Custom bodykits is the norm, interior mods, I.C.E, decked out turbocharged engines, upgraded brakes, badass suspension, nothing is left untouched. You just gotta see outside the bubble you're in and you'll see that there's a lot of stuff going on that you didn't realize before.

[smkr3w]

Ultimately its YOUR own choice on what you do to YOUR car. However if you have limited selection or lack of knowledge on how to create, as well as possible limited money, there's only so much you can do. And EVERYONE, doesn't matter who you are, cares, even a little bit, about what others think of your car. I'm not saying any of it will change your own ideas, but its human nature to care what others think.

I, myself like clean, FLOWING body lines.. and picky about big body kits. In Joe's case, i like his car, his body kit matches all around, meaning in a profile shot his bumper and lip are of similar design and height, paint-matched, and work together. For me its when you see something like a car with an aftermarket front bumper, unpainted or primered, and no skirt, or rear add-on.

When it comes to s13's, s14's and the like, I think is all about the culture surrounding them, plus that the body lines for those cars are usually square and boxy, therefore bigger, gaudy kits fit well.

P.s. the feminine body lines of the 6g are what make it sexy and most kits compete with them instead of compliment them.

to each their own

[malpaso]

True. How good will you feel about something if EVERYONE but 2-3 ppl bash on you about it?

MANY less ppl will bash stock, and iif they do, tell them "its 100% OEM bro"

No no... it is not about laugh anyone has stock car or not. I just say any modification you make on car yield (I hope it is the right word) to fashion... to taste of public. And this changes all the time. That is why my example with neons. I do not say OEM look is bad. No... not at all. OEM look is simple way how stay timeless. No yield to fashion that changes every few years . And that is reason why peole keep OEM look and not making crazy modification anymore (IMO )

[Lil-Joe101]

All of u bring up very good points. But I guess the real answer is and always will be, Personal taste, style, and preference. I still think OEM is a lazy, and boring look tho, lol. Give me any body kit anyday, I'll make it work. But to each his own.

I googled it. a little north of austin. I dont think you have made it to our texas meets?

No I havent. I will be next summer tho.

[kurt95gt]

not trying to thread jack but since this is a thread basically all about body kits
what would a good gt4 look alike bumper
I've seen the c1 bumper an a bumper made by vis (id post a pic if I knew how )
but I would like something little closer to the gt4 look

[NYp8tBaller07]

All of u bring up very good points. But I guess the real answer is and always will be, Personal taste, style, and preference. I still think OEM is a lazy, and boring look tho, lol. Give me any body kit anyday, I'll make it work. But to each his own.

I googled it. a little north of austin. I dont think you have made it to our texas meets?

No I havent. I will be next summer tho.

I wouldnt say its lazy, I think if i were to put a lip kit on and make it look good I would still have to do body work and paint. The time one takes to make an oem kit look good can take as much time(depending) as an aftermarket.

[KAOS]

Joe - I know what you're saying and there are a lot of great points brought up in this thread.

I've wanted a 6th Gen Celica for as long as I can remember, well before the F&F crap came out. I've always loved the sexy curves and agressive stance the GT-Four's have had. I'm proud to own an import.

That being said - there are a MILLION things I want to do to my car to get it where, in my minds eye, would be a sexy car. Which sort of brings me to my point...

I am never going to see a cent of what I'm investing in my car...

I've come to the decision that I will never sell my car, because the VALUE that I appraise it at will never be the same as some guy trying to buy it off me...

I've noticed the car building trend dying off too, Joe - and I this might be the reason behind it: The Recession.

Every since that happened, people have been less frivolous (sp?) & more conscience about their money. Smarter spending means not sinking dollars into a car that you won't see returned value in - which is why you see a lot of people buying the high HP cars straight from the dealership *cough*WRX*cough*, because they don't have to spend an arm and a leg to have a decent looking ride with the performance to follow suit.

Sure laziness plays a factor into it too, but in my opinion - its the mentality of the economy, "Gawdy bodykits, rediculous amounts of ICE, and wheels that are worth more individually than the blue book value of of the car that you put them on... we might as well be throwing money into burning barrels; as it has the same effect/outcome."

That being said - I'm still in the game, but my priorities have changed. I fully intend to go all out with my car; after the roof over my families head is paid for, and there's food on the table...

My 2 pennies... I'm out.

[SwissFerdi]

The argument can be made that OEM style is in fact NOT lazy. If everyone rocks OEM lips and such, where's the differentiation? It's in in wheel fitment and suspension, meaning that uniqueness is, in a sense, fine-tuned. Comprende?

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Oct 14, 2011 - 11:17 AM

[jordisonjr]

My other car is a vip-style Lexus LS400,

Would love to see pics haha.

[njccmd2002]

the new trend now is none....

all is fair.

having said that, well dont go overboard

[mak5603]

It's all about fitment for styling, bodykit or not...

[richee3]

Here's my other thought on the subject. People put kits on their cars to make it look different than the way they bought it and they like the look of the kit better. That's also the same reason people put the GT4 front end on out cars. It looks better than how we bought the car. So in a way, you can think of the GT4 front end as being like a body kit, just made by Toyota rather than Veilside or Andy's Auto Sport or whoever makes the body kits now.

[Lamont]

I read this post with a bit of a smile on my face , it seems the op is in some way trying to justify having a body-kit on his 6th gen. I think its personal taste, and that if you like it I love it for YOU. My preference is JDM SS-III or GT-FOUR styling for a 6th gen. Not that I dislike body-kits, but in my opinion that time has past. It would be like trying to bring back bell-bottom jeans; the time has past. Now to have a body-kit and a loud exhaust is looked at as being a ricer because the scene has shifted away from the whole F&F look. Now if you like your body-kit that's fine, but I wouldn't hold my breath trying to make anyone else like it

[Tony-B]

Body kits age badly. On any car.

The 6gc has rally heritage, its a shame to stick fiberglass to its lines and fill the boot with speakers.

T