imports: a fad?

[greathuskie]

do you think imports, import performance, the whole import performance market is a fad? many domestic guys cant seem to grasp the fact that imports are here to stay so they play it off saying they are a fad

what do you think?

 

[nutshot]

I think Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Jaguar, BMW, Volkswagen, and many others have been making fast and/or affordable cars in the states long enough now to not be considered a fad.

 

[BD1]

Originally posted by nutshot
I think Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Jaguar, BMW, Volkswagen, and many others have been making fast and/or affordable cars in the states long enough now to not be considered a fad.

I've never seen a Ferrari or a Lamborghini in my entire life. BMW 3 Series flood the streets of the DC Metro area like they are a plague sent by God. Jaguar is now American made, I won't get started. Volkswagen are fast little crap mobiles that I loathe.

I'd say Porsche is the only fad, a hand full of people have em, but everybody wants one, not so with any of the other makes (what are you gonna do? drive your Ferrari on Christmas and then garage it for the rest of the year?)

 

[madmax]

No, imports aren't a fad. They are the classic cars of the future.

 

[Defiant]

Domestic manufacturers have been hoping imports were a fad since the first MG-TCs came back with flyboys from England. Then it was VW, and then we had a gas crisis and things got serious. And Datsun screwed EVERYTHING up with the fast, solid, cheap 240-Z.....
Now we have Ford owing Jaguar, GM selling SAABs, Daimler owning Chrysler, Renault owning Nissan... what the hell _is_ an import anymore?

At least DSMs were domestics! Need proof? Try changing tapes on a 2G in 5th gear. Morons.
oh yeah- and the rear turn signals are inboard, instead of being on the corners where they belong.

 

[jdmawd]

If anything is a fad its moding late model V8 domestics. The import market is a ton larger then the late model domestic performance industry. Want proof look at the aftermarket for a 96 mustang+ and the aftermarket for a Honda civic from 96+ its not even comparable.

most late model domestic's specifically mustang parts are designed and built by garage based grease shops. look at the technology offered to the import market just from a tuning point of view. apex,greddy,HKS,aem..ect look at all our turbo choices, the technology we use to tune our daily drives are only used by the most hard core purpose built competition domestics. how many domestics do you see driving around with standalones and widebands? how many domestic drives would even have the aptitude to read a data log and make fuel corrections with a S-afc:laugh:. they consider having a chip burned or making a global fuel correction with a fmu super high tech:laugh:.

 

[BruiserNJ]

Originally posted by BD1


I've never seen a Ferrari or a Lamborghini in my entire life. BMW 3 Series flood the streets of the DC Metro area like they are a plague sent by God. Jaguar is now American made, I won't get started. Volkswagen are fast little crap mobiles that I loathe.

I'd say Porsche is the only fad, a hand full of people have em, but everybody wants one, not so with any of the other makes (what are you gonna do? drive your Ferrari on Christmas and then garage it for the rest of the year?)

If you want to see a Ferrari or Lamborghini on the road before they bury you, come out to the Hamptons one summer. You will catch them on Route 27.

Porsche isn't a fad. They are midlife crisis machines (I should know, my dad bought a 944 on his 42nd birthday). Maybe the Porsche Cayenne is a fad, but the Carreras and Boxsters are gonna be here a while longer. Tuning 4 cyl cars that were never performance cars t begin with (Honda Civics, VW Jettas, etc) thats a fad.

Fad: a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal; syn: fashionable (from Merriam-Webster dictionary)

 

[jdmawd]

Originally posted by BruiserNJ


. Tuning 4 cyl cars that were never performance cars t begin with (Honda Civics, VW Jettas, etc) thats a fad.

:laugh: you must be joking you base that on what? market earnings ... overall growth or just BS you decided to spew from your mouth

It is infinitely cheaper to buy mod and insure a late model 4 cylinder econo box then it will ever be to buy mod and insure a late model big bad v8 this is why the import market is huge. You can note and insure a 4 banger for under 300 a month and mod the piss out of it. for hundreds and hundreds less then a late model v8. God help them if you can find a 1g dsm for 5-600 bucks like I did.

 

[Black91Talon]

first off, I have to say I have a TON of love and respect for american muscle. I grew up around 1st gen camaros, chevilles, novas, you name it.

I've owned a 70 cheville SS, and a 1981 Camaro.

However the times are changing. forced induction is becoming very popular, including with the V8 guys. superchargers have been around forever, however turbo induction has been catching on with them quickly. When you have stock 300whp 13 second 4-bangers coming out, it's starting to scare a lot of them. I can't blame them, they're losing heritage, slow to change. Where once it was needed to put a couple thousand to give 1hp/ci, we're seeing the above mentioned 2.0L 300hp Evo. the AWD advantage is really taking a toll, where traction is one of the main focus' for RWD lovers.

There will always be a place for v8 muscle. but with lighter cars, fast spools, high RPM powerbands, it's not required to have a shitload of torque to get off the line and down the track.

I also want to state that NHRA really dealt a severe blow to the import crowd this year. Shameful.

it's a new era in performance. People will either roll with it, or fade away to oblivion. It pains me to say it, but Sport Compacts are the hot rods of the 21st century.

 

[BruiserNJ]

Originally posted by jdmawd


:laugh: you must be joking you base that on what? market earnings ... overall growth or just BS you decided to spew from your mouth

It is infinitely cheaper to buy mod and insure a late model 4 cylinder econo box then it will ever be to buy mod and insure a late model big bad v8 this is why the import market is huge. You can note and insure a 4 banger for under 300 a month and mod the piss out of it. for hundreds and hundreds less then a late model v8. God help them if you can find a 1g dsm for 5-600 bucks like I did.

Uhhh, jdm, do you know what a fad is you thick-headed fool? Pet rocks were once a fad, and made the sellers lots of money. Tons of growth...one month, nobody bought rocks. Next month, thousands of parents were buying their kids pet rocks.

Fad = passing craze

Where I grew up, everyone in the neighborhood used to modify pickup trucks. Now, nobody does. They all modify 4-door Hondas.

Slamming pickup trucks = passing craze = fad
Modifying Hondas with cheap ass parts = next fad

 

[Tallen]

it is a fad.....look up the definition.....all caused (mostly) by a movie....then everyone thinks its cool to put ugly wings and other crap on their cars...

 

[jdmawd]

Originally posted by BruiserNJ


Uhhh, jdm, do you know what a fad is you thick-headed fool? Pet rocks were once a fad, and made the sellers lots of money. Tons of growth...one month, nobody bought rocks. Next month, thousands of parents were buying their kids pet rocks.

Fad = passing craze

Where I grew up, everyone in the neighborhood used to modify pickup trucks. Now, nobody does. They all modify 4-door Hondas.

Slamming pickup trucks = passing craze = fad
Modifying Hondas with cheap ass parts = next fad

How can import tuning be a passing fad when the market has not even hit its peak? The import market has grown in the last 10 years more rapidly then any other automotive enthusiast base EVER.go beat you're head on your turbo less exhaust manifold you moronic pinhead.

 

[BruiserNJ]

Originally posted by jdmawd



How can import tuning be a passing fad when the market has not even hit its peak? The import market has grown in the last 10 years more rapidly then any other automotive enthusiast base EVER.go beat you're head on your turbo less exhaust manifold you moronic pinhead.

All I'm saying is that once the "next greatest thing" comes around, people will flock to that and will sell their imports for that. Of course, this only applies to those who are not serious about their cars, and are only modding them to be fashionable. I'm sure you've seen those ass-ugly transformer-looking vans in Japan...wait until that catches on here in the US. We won't have to worry about riced-out Hondas anymore.

Oh, and jdm, I'm not offended by that last comment. I know my car ain't the hottest thing on the track, but I love my car. And yeah, it doesn't have a mutt turbo to walk on me...ya got me there.

 

[cait sith]

SCCA, and other roadcourse-style organizations world wide have been modifying "imports" for a long,long long long long long VERY LONG time before NHRA even thought about NIHRA or whatever the hell it is now.

 

[Black91Talon]

half this thread is what is wrong with this forum.

good work guys.

 

[BD1]

Originally posted by BruiserNJ



Porsche isn't a fad. They are midlife crisis machines (I should know, my dad bought a 944 on his 42nd birthday). Maybe the Porsche Cayenne is a fad, but the Carreras and Boxsters are gonna be here a while longer. Tuning 4 cyl cars that were never performance cars t begin with (Honda Civics, VW Jettas, etc) thats a fad.

Come on now, you have to admit that the 911 owners think they are an "elite few", people who have the money to buy one will because it is the cool thing to do. Yea Cayenne is pretty bad, Porsche should can it after this year.

 

[XerxeS]

This import fad is at least 10 years old.

 

[cadesigns]

Originally posted by XerxeS
This import fad is at least 10 years old.

Well put, it really depends on the definition of a fad. Usually something that lasts a couple of weeks or a few months is a fad and we've already proved that wrong. Instead of "fad" more like "new wave."

 

[Earl Lee]

Muscle car era = fad (changing emission standards, gave it a short life)

import tuning era = here to stay, with our emissions standards now, automakers have no choice but to make more 4 bangers, and fewer v8's. So because of that, they are using forced induction, to get efficiency, and power.

how many domestics do you see driving around with standalones and widebands? how many domestic drives would even have the aptitude to read a data log and make fuel corrections with a S-afc. they consider having a chip burned or making a global fuel correction with a fmu super high tech.

Sad thing is your right.

 

[FourG63 97GST]

I wish this so call "import scene" was a fad

 

[nutshot]

In Seattle, we see Porsche, BMW and Jaguar constantly represented on Freeways and back-roads. Ferrari and Lamboghini aren't as prevalent, but are seen enough to prowl with conviction.

Jaguar is owned by Ford, but Ford is two distinct companies; one is found in the states and produces Trucks, farming equipment, and low-tech cars, the other is found entirely (sp?) in Europe and produces small panel vans and High tech cars. Jaguar is not built in the states.

 

[crashed97tsi]

Originally posted by jdmawd
If anything is a fad its moding late model V8 domestics. The import market is a ton larger then the late model domestic performance industry. Want proof look at the aftermarket for a 96 mustang+ and the aftermarket for a Honda civic from 96+ its not even comparable.

most late model domestic's specifically mustang parts are designed and built by garage based grease shops. look at the technology offered to the import market just from a tuning point of view. apex,greddy,HKS,aem..ect look at all our turbo choices, the technology we use to tune our daily drives are only used by the most hard core purpose built competition domestics. how many domestics do you see driving around with standalones and widebands? how many domestic drives would even have the aptitude to read a data log and make fuel corrections with a S-afc:laugh:. they consider having a chip burned or making a global fuel correction with a fmu super high tech:laugh:.

Man you really hate v8's. They are slow to change, and the technology to change them will come along soon. V8's are always going to be there. The corvette isn't going anywhere, and neither is the mustang. I think their displacement might go down, but they'll still be v8's.

I personally would buy a cobra or a vette, and would seriously consider a mustang GT.

"how many domestic drives would even have the aptitude to read a data log and make fuel corrections with a S-afc:laugh:. "

just like how many people jump into the import scene just to rice out their car and say it has 600 hp. Please the import crowd has no room to talk about intelligence. We have more than our fair share of idiots, just like they do.

 

[nutshot]

Why not make a V8 like the 360 Modena's?

 

[herostar]

it's here to stay


by the way, I was reading on Stangnet or some forum like that and I read a post about a mustang guy getting a SAFC. He praised it like nobody's business, going on about how he "thought it was just an import fad, but this thing fixed all of my rich/lean conditions and took just half a day to get hooked up.... It's deffinately worth the money and not just a worthless import electronics gadget"

 

[TSi999]

Originally posted by Black91Talon
first off, I

I also want to state that NHRA really dealt a severe blow to the import crowd this year. Shameful.

it's a new .

whaat did the NHRa do to the import racing scene?? Didnt they buy NIRA or something??