The evolution of the import scene Options

[azian_advanced]

Way back in the the year 2000, extreme bodykits, large chrome rims, full body decals, loud exhausts, and wild color paint jobs were the hottest things then. I remember my buddies and I would just talk about imports every day and spend most of our free time in our computer classes just looking up sites with pictures of cars. We'd talk about drag racing even when none of us knew jack about cars and were still learning how to drive! Back then, the word 'souped-up' was frequently used referring to an extremely done up ride. It was in this time when F&F came out in the theatres and really brought the scene to another level.

well.. that was me when I was 15.

several years later, extreme looking bodykits and euro lights were frowned upon. not sure how it all started but it just did, and those cars were labelled as 'rice'. at the same time, a whole new era emerged and the new taste in modification was 'jdm'. if you bought a part and was not made in Japan, it's not 'jdm'. simple as that. this change in trend happened so fast that everyone just hopped the bandwagon and accepted it.

so this is where we are now in the import scene. but how are things gonna look like in the next 10 or 20 years? what's the import scene going to become? many concept cars are being designed to run on a hybrid or fully electric motor... or even run on bio fuels which has already begun in a few countries. how long will the tuner scene last? what's the future gonna look like? maybe 15 years from now people will be doing battery swaps instead of motor swaps. or maybe the future generation will look at us the same way we look at the older generation today who are into classics and hot rods.



edit: this belongs in offtopic

This post has been edited by azian_advanced: May 21, 2010 - 2:30 AM

[terbear4god4life]

hm.

[njccmd2002]

in the next years, better hold on to your celica or old mustang, cars will be so complicated, nobody will dare to swap. They will probably put a gps signal to track you via computer, and you will get disabled to go past certain speed.

ONSTAR can track you and disable your vehicle, they will track your every move and know at what speed you drive, go and so on. (BS)

So, in the future, any new car will be like the movie Demolition man, you cuz, youll get a ticket, you drive 1 mph past the limit, youll get a ticket ( that is if the computer of the car will let you, they will probably program the speed limits by computer, and then youll be screwed.

Then youll look back and say, wish had i not sell my celi, i could still modify.

My recommedation will be to keep your hondas, celis, or whatever, cuz no more modification, as it may become illegal to disable the GPS/tracking device...

One good thing, no more dealing with cops, as tickets are automatic. That is a FTW. LOL

[SwissFerdi]

^ Going off on a bit of a different tangent than the original thread, I see something like what Norberto said happening. I'm scared of the future of automobiles because everything is moving toward automation. You can buy a car nowadays that can shift itself better than you ever can, park itself, tell you if you're drifting out of your lane, and even stop itself. I don't see an "I, Robot" scenario as being too far-fetched in the near future (50 years), where a car can pretty much operate itself. I can't say that this would be bad for general traffic, as it might be a convenience...but with the emergence of this technology (combined with a trend toward renewable resources for fuel), I see super car brands such as Ferrari and Lamborghini to be a dying breed. The same goes with tuning, as we're not doing anything fuel-efficient either. So basically, I fear that we'll all be driving (or lack thereof) something very different when my generation is older. But even Ferrari itself is changing...the 599 is one of the most advanced supercars, and it's amazing, but it's also very much automated. The gearbox shifts for you (with minor input required), and the traction control (via the manettino) will pretty much save your ass from crashing. So even the process of driving a super car has become slightly automated.

So back to tuning, I think the above will sadly be the fate of tuning. Maybe it'll live for another 20-30 years? I honestly think we might just have to enjoy what we're doing, as we could be some of the last ones to be doing so without government interference (or much of it, anyway).

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: May 21, 2010 - 10:05 AM

[trdproven]

i believe JDM is defined as Manufacture OEM parts from Japan, Genuine. I call everything else made in Japan, Japan Aftermarket. The Japanese model vehicles is basically what I mean by that. But thats another opinion or idea on its own.

[enderswift]

I think azian hit the nail on the head. especially about the way we are going to be viewed in the future. The proof of all this lies in the fact that you actually have to pay extra for a manual transmission one some cars these days.

seriously who wants a clutchless manual. sure you can still control the gears but a-lot of the control that comes with a being able to modulate a clutch is lost

[blu94gt]

I think as far as tuning goes the whole JDM thing is starting to pass. Here are the 2 trends I've been seeing pop around town and on various sites:

Hellaflush, not my favorite since a lot of effort seems to be put in and the handling properties usually get ruined


And the second, the tossed together, zombie, ratted out, whatever you want to call it style. I actually really like some of the cars done this way, they aren't $100k show cars that only start up and run long enough to pull onto a trailer. The idea is function over form, so while the car isn't pretty to look at it's in great mechanical shape and/or heavily modified. Some cars like this could be categorized as sleepers I guess.

[njccmd2002]

^^^ those are like franken cars.

[freddy121389]

the future of leisurely transportation lol

[Culpable04]

vehicule modification will never die, whatever the next generation of transportation becomes people will find a way to make them their own by modifying to their taste, it's the mouse and cat game, it's human nature, when OBD II was put in place people were afraid of putting an intake on their cars, technology will improve / change cars, and technology will also make the parts to modify such cars. the " import scene " is something that will not disappear but will be blended with domestic in one big pot, domestic cars are looking more and more like imports and imports are trying to look more domestic.

[Tech-Nics]

I love!!! LOVE!!! the S30!!! aka Datsun 240 aka Fairlady!!! Looks nasty sex with the hellaflush. Although I too dont like hellaflush.

[terbear4god4life]

hellaflush<3

[OOBE]

vehicule modification will never die, whatever the next generation of transportation becomes people will find a way to make them their own by modifying to their taste, it's the mouse and cat game, it's human nature, when OBD II was put in place people were afraid of putting an intake on their cars, technology will improve / change cars, and technology will also make the parts to modify such cars. the " import scene " is something that will not disappear but will be blended with domestic in one big pot, domestic cars are looking more and more like imports and imports are trying to look more domestic.

Exactly. Diste en la cabeza del clavo. Plus, we spend thousands of dollars a year on our rides. We are doing our part in moving the economy.

[Harold_Fastwaker]

Nothing going on in the tuner industry today is NEW. Hellaflush is nothing special, it has been around for 30+ years in Japan. Just American's coined the dumbest term possible for it. It has only gone mainstream in the US market because of it being the bandwagon now. Patina cars are the same way (rusted hoods, busted up fenders) they have been around for years too.

The difference: Internet and digital cameras. Now when someone sees a car they like they can duplicate it. No longer do you drive around unaware of the guy 6 states over with a badass build.


P.S. Yuta's Z has been primed and painted with a different set of wheels now.

[Rusty]

hmm the other thing thats getting quite big in japan is bosozuku

[Spider77]

Wow, just googled that...gross. I hope that never makes it way stateside (for cars at least)

[terbear4god4life]

mehhhhh

This post has been edited by terbear4god4life: May 21, 2010 - 9:32 PM

[terbear4god4life]

so sick.

[illneversellmyce...]

bosozuku is hidious! Looks like a mad max reject.

back to the topic, Ill always keep my celica. I never trusted drive by wire or any automation. Looks at what trouble it has gotten toyota into lately. It will take a decade to get a good public image back.

[devilsden97]

i like the franken car look