I've always defined rice as stuff that looks like it enhances performance but actually reduces it. Rear wings on an FF car are a classic example. Most of the stuff done with show cars are another.

However on further reflection I'm starting to formulate a new concept: functional rice. Kinda like gilding the lily, functional rice are things that look nice and either improve performance or at the least don't take any appreciable amount away. It can be decorative (like graphics) but doesn't get in the way of what's important--good driving.

I met a guy at Laguna Seca last month and after I mentioned the various mods I've done he complimented my car's looks and asked, "So it's a show car?" I was momentarily horrified and responded that no, it's primary purpose was to take turns as quickly as possible. But he's right; on the surface it looks like a wannabe show car. That strikes me as an amusing observation for someone who dislikes rice.
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EXPERT INSURANCE

 

Haha.

While GT wings are not ideal for FF cars, I've seen a few that have them, and make it work. I've seen some track B13 SE-R's with those types of wing tear up the course.

Is it possible to have a car that looks ricey and be a giant killer? Yes.

 

does that make it right? NO

 

I wouldn't call that Altezza ricey because it is an actual race car that's parts function and decals are on for sponcership reasons. A ricey car to me is one that looks like a race car, but is a parking lot b*tch. Or just a car that looks really dumb with its mods.

 

I know it's a race car, but it's the trickle-down effect that makes this car look ricey.

 

Well if you paint the damn thing it wont look half as bad.

 

trickle down effect?? man you use that in every context... sounds like you're perscribing too heavily to old school too-right-wing economics to me.

anyhoo, not just anything with a bodykit is rice, that car is ricey as hell without a nice paint job and all the stupid stickers. sure, it's a race car, but it looks like crap (on purpose, to try and make it 'cool').
i think it's intention more than anything else that really defines rice: if you're some small brained idiot with daddy's money to burn and no sense of style, and want to "stand out", you buy a civic and make it look like a horse's ***. that is rice. buying an old mustang 'cause they're cheap and 'fast', don't know anything about cars at all and put Mugen stickers all over it 'cause you saw them on some 'cool' car but the car has still never had the engine shampoo'd, is rice.

rice isn't wings. rice isn't japanese cars, or japanese anything. rice isn't bodykits or exhaust tips (unless the intention without justification is there, too), it's just a kind of stupidity and obliviousness to automotive culture, or performance.

 

Ain't that the truth!

Like a Mopar sticker on a Honda! LOL

 

Yeah. Redundancy is in this year.

 

To paraphrase the bard, a rose by any other name may not be a rose. A guy turning his car into a visual replica of his favorite nascar ride may be rice, but no one thinks twice about people who wear football or basketball jerseys of their favorite athelete. Why? There's a woman who is totally nuts for Star Trek and wears a Wrath of Kahn uniform every day to work. She used the same jersey example and it's true.
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Sikhism dicussion

 

I do, I think it is a stupid thing to do. I say, stop trying to be something you're not. You are not Jerry Rice nor allen Iverson or any other superstar athlete.

 

Is she hot?

 

I dont understand ricers at all. I prefer the method of building a "sleeper" car. Instead of hopping up my car with pointless graphics, wings and bodykits, which do nothing but add weight, i would build a car that looks like a completely stock RX-8, that just happens to put out a shitload of whp. This is my plan. It would be alot more fun when you beat somebody while racing (on track or street).

So why not build a car that doesn't look "ricey" at all, and be a giant killer?

 

Where can I find some info on performance enhancing mods that will look stock and not void the warranty? Any help would be great, I am new to the club, Don

 

There arn't many performance-enhancing modifications that look stock, and wont void the warranty, unless of course your talking internal mods, good luck.

 

Hardly detectable mods.

Sway bars - don't you think? Flattens the ride with less bodyroll.

I think my 3rd brake light RX-8 logo is quite ricey

There is no real enhancing mods for engine in the market though. No reliable turbo is out... yet. The only thing worthwhile is suspensions, strut and sways, semislick and exhaust +/- intake.

Semislick alone will kill a lot of stock cars on the track - without modding others. Right?