US vs Brit website content
Discussion
Though both pistonheads and nobleforums websites are full of useful information and passionate devotees, it's interesting that the US site seems to be dominated by upgrades and debates about upgrades and upgraders, while the Brit site is full of people talking about taking their cars on the road and to the track. I'm not sure what it says about our respective motorsports cultures, but I do know that the act of driving these cars is what it's all about.
cheers,
Doug in Cincinnati
cheers,
Doug in Cincinnati
Upgrading seems to be in the American blood, where as here, the only people that much around with cars are called Chavs and drive Vauxhall (Opal) Nova's with 1.1l engines and body kits that halve their power to weight ratio.
Dare I say your culture is different given the shocking state that US companies turn out your "sports" cars. Until recently, US manufacturers seemed to think a sports car was a normal car with a big engine. Only recently have they realised that something called suspension and brakes are rather important if you increase the power.
Couple that with you are the country that invented "bling" and you'll find your difference I think.
The US forums are a facinating read for me, but personally I just like driving it "as God (Lee) intended".
J
Dare I say your culture is different given the shocking state that US companies turn out your "sports" cars. Until recently, US manufacturers seemed to think a sports car was a normal car with a big engine. Only recently have they realised that something called suspension and brakes are rather important if you increase the power.
Couple that with you are the country that invented "bling" and you'll find your difference I think.
The US forums are a facinating read for me, but personally I just like driving it "as God (Lee) intended".
J
So, Justin, are you calling me a chav!!! 
. I think it is more a case that in the USA there is a many more tuning shops, and people with dare i say more money to spend/play around with the car. And correct me if i am wrong, but have you not upgraded/modified your M400 with the FP bits!!
There are quite a few Nobles over here that have/planned mods/upgrades. We just tend to keep it quiet until its all done.
>> Edited by alex s on Monday 20th February 23:48
. I think it is more a case that in the USA there is a many more tuning shops, and people with dare i say more money to spend/play around with the car. And correct me if i am wrong, but have you not upgraded/modified your M400 with the FP bits!! There are quite a few Nobles over here that have/planned mods/upgrades. We just tend to keep it quiet until its all done.
>> Edited by alex s on Monday 20th February 23:48
Bugger - spose I'll have to join you with the Chav label then 
I've often wondered how your "shops" continue over there. Tuning places occasionally pop up over here, but often or not only last a few years. The only ones that seem to survive are either significantly specalist, or appeal to the 'modders'.
This is what our poor Chavs do to their Fiat Unos
3 weeks later, salvation for our eyes
I've often wondered how your "shops" continue over there. Tuning places occasionally pop up over here, but often or not only last a few years. The only ones that seem to survive are either significantly specalist, or appeal to the 'modders'.
This is what our poor Chavs do to their Fiat Unos
3 weeks later, salvation for our eyes
I think it is more to do with the fact that the cars over here are delivered 'complete' with no great input from the customer other than trim level etc.. Therefore no relationship has developed with an independant installer who can help with mods / upgrades etc...
Certainly from my point of view having products for people to buy / install always helps and until recently there hasn't been much available over here. I think it fair to say that the British public largely prefer to buy a modification off the shelf per se, rather than develop something of their own and herein probably lies the main difference.
I would disagree with the comment about the only modifiers over here are chavs. There is a huge tuning scene in the UK. Some choose to throw taste out of the window, as they do the world over (you call them 'ricers' in the States right?)- however there are many that make aesthetically tasteful mods as well as performance mods without creating a dogs dinner (intercooler and afterburners Justin ) There's just different levels of how far you go.
As the value of secondhand cars falls in the UK the more likely we are to introduce modifiers coming from other marques. As long as they don't create an abortion of a car, its fine by me! From my own point of view whenever I plan and execute an aesthetic modification it must blend seemlessly with the original structure of the car and look like it belonged there in the first place.
Regards
Graham
Certainly from my point of view having products for people to buy / install always helps and until recently there hasn't been much available over here. I think it fair to say that the British public largely prefer to buy a modification off the shelf per se, rather than develop something of their own and herein probably lies the main difference.
I would disagree with the comment about the only modifiers over here are chavs. There is a huge tuning scene in the UK. Some choose to throw taste out of the window, as they do the world over (you call them 'ricers' in the States right?)- however there are many that make aesthetically tasteful mods as well as performance mods without creating a dogs dinner (intercooler and afterburners Justin
) There's just different levels of how far you go. As the value of secondhand cars falls in the UK the more likely we are to introduce modifiers coming from other marques. As long as they don't create an abortion of a car, its fine by me! From my own point of view whenever I plan and execute an aesthetic modification it must blend seemlessly with the original structure of the car and look like it belonged there in the first place.
Regards
Graham
Dare I say, but I have a feeling tuning shops are cheaper in the US than the UK which has to make a big difference?
As Broad says though, it must be largely to do with their cars coming as kits. Slightly different kind of buyer I guess. I wouldn't have the balls to buy some Brit car in pieces to be assembled by a shop with no prior experience!
broad said:I said that a bit toungue in cheek. However, there is a different between changing a few small things to address certain issues (I was fortunate enough to be the guinea pig for the afterburners for the 2.5, but haven't done them on my M400, and the Matt Intercooler addresses the heat soak issue on track) and doing what that bod has done to the Punto above!
I would disagree with the comment about the only modifiers over here are chavs. There is a huge tuning scene in the UK. Some choose to throw taste out of the window, as they do the world over (you call them 'ricers' in the States right?)- however there are many that make aesthetically tasteful mods as well as performance mods without creating a dogs dinner (intercooler and afterburners Justin
"Modifiers" over in the UK in the main seem to try to improve the looks - and do little to improve the actual performance of the car. By reading the US forums it seems that whilst there are a few US owners that change things just for looks (like that re-work of the interior in CF), most of the changes have again been down to trying to improve heat soak or general performance.
Nothing is every black or white in trying to sum up a country, but it does seem that the US bods do more "upgrades" than "mods"?
J
joust said:
Good point. I was thinking at the weekend when the milometer clocked over 1300 miles for my drive to/from the skiing slopes that that was just a drive "to see your neighbour" in some parts of the states!
J
Justin, you took your M400 to the snow last weekend?! Did you use sone chains?!
joust said:.
I said that a bit toungue in cheek
Moi aussi
joust said:
However, there is a different between changing a few small things to address certain issues.... and doing what that bod has done to the Punto above!
I agree but you brought the Punto bod up ! As I said - there are different levels of modification the world over, some will always rip up the taste book though !
joust said:
"Modifiers" over in the UK in the main seem to try to improve the looks - and do little to improve the actual performance of the car.
Sorry again - totally disagree. Me thinks (and I'm only guessing) you haven't really been involved in the modifying scene Justin and can only comment on what you see cruising around the local streets. This is the same in the States with all the Fast and Furious style 'ricer' cruisers. Lets not forget that there are far more that don't fall in that typical 17 - 21 age group and have modified performance cars. I could give countless examples but just from my previous experience of Mitsubishi Evo ownership the top tuners are recognised to be MA Developments, Coordsport, Norris Designs, Steve Hill Motorsport, Arnside Motorsport, Promax, WRC Technologies, NR Autosport and 99% + of their business is 'performance' orientated. Its the same for many other makes but my post would never end if I listed them all !! Performance tuning is a huge industry in the UK
Graham
DanH said:
As Broad says though, it must be largely to do with their cars coming as kits. Slightly different kind of buyer I guess. I wouldn't have the balls to buy some Brit car in pieces to be assembled by a shop with no prior experience!
It was mentioned earlier - a couple reasons why we in the US modify more than you guys:
1 - we have to somewhat put the car together ourselves. The very nature of owning the car leads to owners who probably modify their cars to begin with. And the fact that we have the car apart when its delivered allows us to find (dare I say) faults and points to improve upon. A US owner has a little more of an intimate relationship with the car, as there are no dealerships, etc. That, and we just like to mess with stuff.
I agree that most Americans just throw in a huge engine and call it sporty. Or a huge wing. I haven't owned an american car since I was 16. It was more akin to a barge (1967 Chrysler). But I think those of us that went out and bought Nobles are different from the norm - I hope..
Another main reason for modification is that a lot of the shops installing the engines are either race engine builders, performance shops, or tuners.
To our defence (credit?), most of the modifications that we are doing are less "performance" and more safety, reliability, heat management and that sort. Most forums that I brows are all show and no go. Its a special group of cats, and some pretty smart and knowledgable ones at that.
Combinging our forces and different approaches will probably net some fantastic results. A lot of us in the US are tracking the car, let alone driving it. Its a given. They (nobleforums crew) just like to throw in their $.02. That and we have one special member who likes to "overcontribute" and stir the pot.
We like to be creative, for better or worse. Why? Cause we can I suppose. Why does a dog lick his ____ ?
By the way, what is a chav?
) Here's what I found on "chav." Good grief! Sounds like fighting words...
[url]www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chav&r=f[/url]
Doug in Cincinnati
[url]www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chav&r=f[/url]
Doug in Cincinnati
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