This was posted over at Edmunds. I happen to agree with it.....

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Colum...rticleId=105024

 

Interesting view point, and I can agree with many of the statements. But, that won't stop people from personalizing their cars by modifications.

Different strokes....

 

I found it iteresting from the mere fact that if you ever see a modded car, more likely than not, it will perform worse than one that's bone stock.

 

hmmmmm, very interesting....I still mod mine though

 

I think I'll replace the wheels/tires on mine.......

That's about it....

 

I'm leaving my GT bone stock, performance and exterior. I am totally satisfied with the performance and I think the car left stock looks better than any mod I've seen IMO. I even like the production cars look better than the concept IMO. With that said, mod the stink out of your stangs, they belong to you and are for your enjoyment. is this a great country or what?

 

I might slap a sticker on the side rear window, how's that for a mod?

Question though: I'm curious as to what tires would be better than the stock Pirelli's? Anyone have a opinion?

 

My only mod is a LoJack.

 

That was a very good article, mods in many cases result in a loos of efficiency and longevity if they are not done properly, and most are not done properly, a change of tires for most, especially those younger operators would be recomended for sure !!

 

Honestly, who cares anyway. I will mod my car good or bad. I have been doing it since I got my drivers license 18 years ago.

People who mod thier cars do it as a hobby. Its fun and to some degree a measure of skill and knowlege.

You only live once.

 

The mustang has the most mods on the market. That is one thing that makes it so much fun. Sure you can mess it up, but you can also make it unique and have fun doing it.

 

Most interesting were the two points in the article made about pro tuner shops (I'm thinking the recent article in R&T) actually degrade performance and longevity for big money spent with them by the customer (you listening STEEDA & Roush?).

The second point is the one where I see most of the time. Someone puts bigger tires/wheels on the car. The author makes a good point that that does little more than negatively affect performance and make it ride much worse.

 

I definitely want some suspension upgrades for this car.

-Front & rear sway bars
-Tower brace
-Panhard bar
-Control arms

All that good stuff to help it rip through those corners

 

I say....ughhmmm...

 

Thats a pretty good read. I think in alot of ways it's true, depends really on what your upgrading and how much knowledge you have and how much you spend.

The one real truth was the comments on tires, it used to really boggle my mind why people would replace perfectly good OE tires right away until I did it on my 03 Honda. It made a huge differance.

Adding mods is FUN, I think that's the primary reason people do it, the performance increase is more just an excuse to justify it. Our car is like a grown up toy, we want to fiddle around with it.

No matter how old you get the kid inside never goes away, the toys just get bigger and more expensive.

 

I was thinking pretty much the same two words. It all depends on the mod and how well it is installed. I personally believe in doing everything (other than tint and paint work) by myself. That way I know it's getting done right and not by someone who really doesn't care about the car once it leaves their shop. And as far as a stock running better than a modded one. The same two words come to mind. The proof is out there. You change the exhaust or the pulleys or whatever it is.... your car is going to gain HP/torque and it will definitely go faster. Adding a CAI or even flashing the computer will make the car perform better and in many cases last longer. Now there are stupid mods IMO... like putting on a supercharger without doing the right necessary mods to the engine/tranny so that they can handle it. Or even putting on huge wheels with low-profile tires hurting your driving performance (not to mention you definitely won't get back nearly what you paid for them in resale value in a couple years down the line). But as far as modding your car in general, I say go for it. People have been doing it for 50 years. And now some article comes out written by some journalist who for all we know has no experience on modding his own car (except that he has been sprayed with gasoline, etc...), we are all supposed to say wait a minute... what are we doing? I don't think so.

 

I'm sure different tires aren't the only mod that increases preformance, but there probably are mods that don't help much. From what I remember, changing the stock exhaust on the new stang won't gain much horsepower but it will make your car sound better so I would still mod it if I had one.

haha sprayed with gasoline, makes me think of zoolander when his friends died in a "freak gasoline fight accident"

 

Only 1 car w/ more mods avail than a Mustang. A Jeep Wrangler. I modded the crap out of my Jeep... Chrome, Bumpers, Lift, Wheels, Tires, Stereo, etc, etc, etc...

When I dropped it off to trade it in, someone already had it on a test drive and was on their way in to sign the papers for it as I was leaving. Salesman later told me that all's they did was a safety check, didn't even detail it, and the guy took it home a couple hours later.

Some people like mods.

 

I agree with a lot of his points also

 

There comes a point where you can "over-mod". I have always joked that I am the founder of the Association of Stock 'Stangs. Yet even I am guilty: custom short antenna, Mach 1 Chin Spoiler, Pony Decals on quarter windows, sequential tail lights, bumper letter inserts, and hood appearance "pins".

My mods tend to be understated however, and that is what is important. Too many mods begin to make the car look "busy" if they don't flow with the styling.

For me, I think I'm done and I think its just right-not to over the top, but unique engough to stand out.

Oh-right: I always forget when people ask me what kind of car I drive I just tell them the ORANGE one they couldn't help but notice outside.