car modifying, when does it end?
Discussion
What with car leasing becoming more and more common, cars getting more complicated with every new model and cars coming with radios designed as part of the dash board, corsas and the like coming with large wheels, 'sporty' suspension etc, is this the start of people modifying their cars beyond an ecu remap soon to come? With car insurance being so expensive, young people being forced to drive econoboxes and also losing interest in cars and more interested in other things, will we ever see the likes of the mid nineties to the mid noughties again? Or is the modified car industry in this country at least on the wind down?
BritishRacinGrin said:
A song as there are cars there will be modified cars.
But to what degree? Sure the older die hard modifiers will always be around, but the current and next generation of car owners, will they be the same? What with car cruising and meeting up on car parks (the location of choice for many a young car modifier etc) being banned in many cities and that you can now buy cars already with big wheels and body kits that you never used to (corsa limited etc) and the cost of insurance being ridiculous for young people, why would you bother?I Love cars, but if I was 15-17 now, i wouldnt bother with modifying them like I used to. 15 years ago everyone my age had novas and such like and all modified in some way. It was more affordable and available back them.
It just doesn't seem the same anymore.
Engine modifications may not be as popular in the future with cars now being ever more powerful, or at least with a lot more torque, which changes the perception. But remaps will always be popular, air ride will be popular, wheels will always be popular for design reasons. A lot of manufacturer designs are really boring. Sound systems will be popular.
As long as there are companies providing better products people will modify. Better Haldex controllers in the VW world, better suspension components and the odd invention like Defcons will always exist.
The future is driverless cars so any car driven by a human will probably be confined to tracks
. But the modification world won't really change for now. Even if is just for legacy reasons with people keeping older cars still ticking. The business model will be as is today, a mix of boring servicing of rep mobiles and the interesting odd project.
There may even be a new generation of home mechanics and an industry to cater for them. Nothing never really dies in such a steep manner. As long as there are cars there'll be modifications. Will it be a billion pound industry or whatever? It depends how relevant cars will be in the future. In 2200 the world will be mighty different.
As long as there are companies providing better products people will modify. Better Haldex controllers in the VW world, better suspension components and the odd invention like Defcons will always exist.
The future is driverless cars so any car driven by a human will probably be confined to tracks
. But the modification world won't really change for now. Even if is just for legacy reasons with people keeping older cars still ticking. The business model will be as is today, a mix of boring servicing of rep mobiles and the interesting odd project.There may even be a new generation of home mechanics and an industry to cater for them. Nothing never really dies in such a steep manner. As long as there are cars there'll be modifications. Will it be a billion pound industry or whatever? It depends how relevant cars will be in the future. In 2200 the world will be mighty different.
hdrflow said:
Engine modifications may not be as popular in the future with cars now being ever more powerful, or at least with a lot more torque, which changes the perception. But remaps will always be popular, air ride will be popular, wheels will always be popular for design reasons. A lot of manufacturer designs are really boring. Sound systems will be popular.
As long as there are companies providing better products people will modify. Better Haldex controllers in the VW world, better suspension components and the odd invention like Defcons will always exist.
The future is driverless cars so any car driven by a human will probably be confined to tracks. But the modification world won't really change for now. Even if is just for legacy reasons with people keeping older cars still ticking. The business model will be as is today, a mix of boring servicing of rep mobiles and the interesting odd project.
There may even be a new generation of home mechanics and an industry to cater for them. Nothing never really dies in such a steep manner. As long as there are cars there'll be modifications. Will it be a billion pound industry or whatever? It depends how relevant cars will be in the future. In 2200 the world will be mighty different.
Very good points. Re the audio, the problem I find is that many manufacturers now integrate the head unit into the car making it very difficult to replace. Which Bose, Harmon Kardon etc becoming standard kit, it makes it harder to rip this out and fit after market kit.As long as there are companies providing better products people will modify. Better Haldex controllers in the VW world, better suspension components and the odd invention like Defcons will always exist.
The future is driverless cars so any car driven by a human will probably be confined to tracks
. But the modification world won't really change for now. Even if is just for legacy reasons with people keeping older cars still ticking. The business model will be as is today, a mix of boring servicing of rep mobiles and the interesting odd project.There may even be a new generation of home mechanics and an industry to cater for them. Nothing never really dies in such a steep manner. As long as there are cars there'll be modifications. Will it be a billion pound industry or whatever? It depends how relevant cars will be in the future. In 2200 the world will be mighty different.
Remaps I think will continue to be popular for some time until it is banned by the Government, but with suspension having various settings on cars now at the press of a button, and younger people having all of their money in the the insurance, will they really be able to spend £500+ on a new set of wheels?
vx220 said:
What are "Defcons"?
http://www.modshack.info/defcon.htmThe Audi TT understeer joke killer
TheAngryDog said:
Remaps I think will continue to be popular for some time until it is banned by the Government, but with suspension having various settings on cars now at the press of a button, and younger people having all of their money in the the insurance, will they really be able to spend £500+ on a new set of wheels?
Insurance money will always be an issue. That's an unfortunate consequence of people being data rather than people and not being allowed to deviate from the standard pattern, or what someone thinks the standard pattern should be. My wheels cost £500 a piece with tyres 
and there'll always be a market for lightweight, well manufactured ones. Vossen wheels are seen as a premium product and Lambos, Ferraris will always have them for example.If kids will be outpriced in the market then I'm of the opinion future generations and even mine will struggle in the old age. But I think it's a society wide problem. Car industry will reflect some of it too.
hdrflow said:
"Arms race" and Defcon, I geddit!The EU are planning to ban mods altogether to curb the out of control exhaust noise problem. Companies like Akrapovic have seen massive growth in providing illegal exhausts to many Eu countries including the UK. I've heard they've been warned from inside the industry to self regulate and stop pipes being altered i.e removable baffles, but they've shot themselves in the foot in the end. The BMF were also against fitting loud pipes on bikes due to the negativity it creates.
So looks like the old saying 'noisy pipes lose rights' will come true.
There are plenty of people on these forums, especially those with more money than sense, who've contributed to the problem. Although to be fair, very few in the motoring media including forums have ever been prepared to educate. It is in fact illegal to make a car louder than type approval level, which covers most aftermarket performance pipes.
The changes in the MOT test over the years looks like it became more lenient, but they've just been gearing up for tighter controls. Many MOT testers themselves are still poorly educated and garages blatantly breaking the law by fitting pipes and MOTing them for customers.
With noise complaints doubling in a few years, Essex Police as one example have taken to measuring problem vehicles. Sussex Police now invite complaints to a dedicated project called Operation Crackdown.
So looks like the old saying 'noisy pipes lose rights' will come true.
There are plenty of people on these forums, especially those with more money than sense, who've contributed to the problem. Although to be fair, very few in the motoring media including forums have ever been prepared to educate. It is in fact illegal to make a car louder than type approval level, which covers most aftermarket performance pipes.
The changes in the MOT test over the years looks like it became more lenient, but they've just been gearing up for tighter controls. Many MOT testers themselves are still poorly educated and garages blatantly breaking the law by fitting pipes and MOTing them for customers.
With noise complaints doubling in a few years, Essex Police as one example have taken to measuring problem vehicles. Sussex Police now invite complaints to a dedicated project called Operation Crackdown.
Edited by oilspill on Saturday 4th April 14:38
There will always be the vag modification scene, lowering, air ride, swapping wheels interiors etc. as long as a bigger turbo can be bolted to a engine they will be modified cars.
I can never see barabus, alpina, mountune or revo etc go out of business. Khan etc still doing well
Holland and Holland range rovers etC
I can never see barabus, alpina, mountune or revo etc go out of business. Khan etc still doing well
Holland and Holland range rovers etC
In answer to the OP, I don't think it'll ever go away completely.
I've never owned a completely standard car for long - the Elise has aftermarket springs and dampers along with a number of interior modifications to improve the driving position and an afermarket exhaust fitted by the previous owner; the wife's Octavia has aftermarket wheels (16s where the originals were 18s); the MG probably has more uprated bits in the engine than original, along with a raft of modifications to other bits of the car.
I guess teenagers modifing their cars might die out simply because they can't afford to. In fact the way things are going, teenagers owning cars might become a thing of the past because they can't afford to.
I've never owned a completely standard car for long - the Elise has aftermarket springs and dampers along with a number of interior modifications to improve the driving position and an afermarket exhaust fitted by the previous owner; the wife's Octavia has aftermarket wheels (16s where the originals were 18s); the MG probably has more uprated bits in the engine than original, along with a raft of modifications to other bits of the car.
I guess teenagers modifing their cars might die out simply because they can't afford to. In fact the way things are going, teenagers owning cars might become a thing of the past because they can't afford to.
Edited by kambites on Saturday 4th April 15:10
kambites said:
Can you point me at the law in question?
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regul...http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regul...
Pepipoo links from a thread there,
http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=7483...
May have been updated in the meantime, but I believed or was convinced the above is/was correct.
One day EU will regulate death and famine as well. It's just about the only thing they haven't really.
Anyhow, Akrapovic has
http://www.akrapovic-foundry.com/services.html
and is involved with Koenigsegg
https://www.akrapovic.com/#!/news/27550/akrapovic-...
so let's stifle innovation once more and let us decide on which add-ons (ultra expensive and not very good) from the car manufacturers we're allowed to have.
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