Unsafe Mods - Extreme Dubs / Drifters / Stance etc.
Discussion
First, I'd like to say that I'm a serial car modder myself and I clearly don't have an issue with modding per se.
The carpool thread with the 'rocco [sic] reminded me of a Golf that I see driving around near me. massively lowered, huge wheels, stretched tyres. It's kind of what I'd call 'Extreme' dub scene style.
I suspect (although I don't know for sure) that these mods have made the car less easy to drive than OEM, and that actually it's less safe than OEM too, if not unsafe full stop. So whether I like the look or not is immaterial (I think it looks a bit cartoonish and naff), my main concern is that it's a danger.
Clearly it's the case that trends in modding do appear to have their 'extreme' ends of the spectrum, and that these are not the norm, but my overall concern is that it only takes a few of these more extreme cars to be involved in accidents to start the ball rolling towards 'thou shalt not mod' legislation.
Thoughts?
The carpool thread with the 'rocco [sic] reminded me of a Golf that I see driving around near me. massively lowered, huge wheels, stretched tyres. It's kind of what I'd call 'Extreme' dub scene style.
I suspect (although I don't know for sure) that these mods have made the car less easy to drive than OEM, and that actually it's less safe than OEM too, if not unsafe full stop. So whether I like the look or not is immaterial (I think it looks a bit cartoonish and naff), my main concern is that it's a danger.
Clearly it's the case that trends in modding do appear to have their 'extreme' ends of the spectrum, and that these are not the norm, but my overall concern is that it only takes a few of these more extreme cars to be involved in accidents to start the ball rolling towards 'thou shalt not mod' legislation.
Thoughts?
Captain Muppet said:
I think the only way to ensure these ridiculous extreme modifications are safe is to introduce some kind of compulsory roadworthiness test every year.
But what is some little scamp decides to modify their car AFTER having the test done? They could even put the car back to standard before one of these tests, and then modify again afterwards!??!?!Seriously though, are "stanced" (is that the word? and is that what you're getting at OP) cars really dangerous? Sure they might handle a bit s
t, but then so does a Vauxhall corsa.ILoveMondeo said:
Seriously though, are "stanced" (is that the word? and is that what you're getting at OP) cars really dangerous? Sure they might handle a bit st, but then so does a Vauxhall corsa.
I get the p*ss taking, I really do. t, but then so does a Vauxhall corsa.
I'm not picking on any group or trend of modder. I just think there's a point at which the mod actually makes the car worse and more than worse, dangerous. Excessive camber, no suspension travel, tyres stretched on rims beyond the design parameters of those tyres etc.
I don't want those who haven't got the sense not to make their car unsafe spoil the modding hobby for those of us who don't.
Ah, it's just a thought. I'll STFU now...
I'm with the OP in that it's dumb as st and bloody dangerous. 
I saw an old-ish Honda Civic crawling along the A303 at 45mph with about 30Deg rear camber and HERRATHRUSH arches or whatever they call it. The driver had his baseball hat delicately balanced on the back of his head, so clearly had some kind of issues with putting things on properly.
Modding - yes. Absolutely no problem with it.. openly encourage it and am involved in it (if from a track bias these days) but the extreme "stanced" crap should definitely be better controlled.
t and bloody dangerous. I saw an old-ish Honda Civic crawling along the A303 at 45mph with about 30Deg rear camber and HERRATHRUSH arches or whatever they call it. The driver had his baseball hat delicately balanced on the back of his head, so clearly had some kind of issues with putting things on properly.
Modding - yes. Absolutely no problem with it.. openly encourage it and am involved in it (if from a track bias these days) but the extreme "stanced" crap should definitely be better controlled.
ILoveMondeo said:
But what is some little scamp decides to modify their car AFTER having the test done? They could even put the car back to standard before one of these tests, and then modify again afterwards!??!?!
Seriously though, are "stanced" (is that the word? and is that what you're getting at OP) cars really dangerous? Sure they might handle a bit st, but then so does a Vauxhall corsa.
Standard Corsa are like boats. Drop them 3/4cm and chuck in some Bilstein B4/B6 shocks and you're on rails!Seriously though, are "stanced" (is that the word? and is that what you're getting at OP) cars really dangerous? Sure they might handle a bit s
t, but then so does a Vauxhall corsa.Greg_D said:
he's talking about the utter cretins who do this sort of thing to their cars
To cap it all off, they generally use the cheapest rubber as well becasue they are trashing them so often.
A compulsory 50-0 wet braking test would certainly be illuminating.
Have you ever actually seen anything that extreme in the UK? I haven't. Not on the open road at least.To cap it all off, they generally use the cheapest rubber as well becasue they are trashing them so often.
A compulsory 50-0 wet braking test would certainly be illuminating.
It's like anything, it's about moderation. Too much stretch, too much camber is just unnecessary and will make the car drive awfully. The people who enjoy this "extreme" side of it tend to drive a diesel Mk4 Golf with cheap s
t coilovers and fake wheels from China.There is some good news though, I do think stance is on it's way out as a trend. Not completely, because every car has stance, just different types. I think we'll see a switch back to motorsport inspired looks, rivet on arches, that kind of thing.
The point is, trends come and go, and this one is no different.
Greg_D said:
he's talking about the utter cretins who do this sort of thing to their cars
To cap it all off, they generally use the cheapest rubber as well becasue they are trashing them so often.
A compulsory 50-0 wet braking test would certainly be illuminating.
Note how the car is not British, if anything I'd have thought a significant number of the lowered UK cars are in fact closer to road worthy than a lot of the Rat Rod/resto mod scene cars that are allowed abroad. To cap it all off, they generally use the cheapest rubber as well becasue they are trashing them so often.
A compulsory 50-0 wet braking test would certainly be illuminating.
It's worth remembering that the vast majority of the lowest of the low cars be it VWs or BMW or Mercedes or whatever it may be in Britain are going to be on a combination of adjustable coil over suspension, adjustable air ride or hydraulic suspension. The cars will have had an annual inspection that covers things like tyres protruding from the wheel arches, the wheels fouling the arches or any part of the bodywork, tyres not being within the correct specification of the wheels etc so this ought to weed out the very worst....
That said it is very easy to swap wheels, raise suspension and get a pass before reverting back to a previous set up...
What I find quite funny how worked up some people are getting from static pictures of a car whilst on it's lowest setting and the assumption that this must be how it drives all the time.
The whole dubber thing is so daft, they do it to look individual yet all look the same!
I saw a lupo the other day, it struggled to get over a speed bump then bounced and scraped its way down the road. He looked like an utter tool...
Drifter's are generally abit more sensible as they need the car to handle ok. They usually sit with a sensible ride height and have a few degrees of camber at the front.
I don't get the dubber thing though, making a car seriously uncomfortable and dangerous all to look cool. You sir are an idiot
I saw a lupo the other day, it struggled to get over a speed bump then bounced and scraped its way down the road. He looked like an utter tool...
Drifter's are generally abit more sensible as they need the car to handle ok. They usually sit with a sensible ride height and have a few degrees of camber at the front.
I don't get the dubber thing though, making a car seriously uncomfortable and dangerous all to look cool. You sir are an idiot
aka_kerrly said:
What I find quite funny how worked up some people are getting from static pictures of a car whilst on it's lowest setting and the assumption that this must be how it drives all the time.
nobody here complaining about a static image of ride height that i can see one is a moving box the other that i posted is pointing out the stretch not the ride height Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff