I'm assuming they (I mean the person who posted about it originally, Giccin) meant the silver vs fake cf stereo bezel. Also I think some of the shifter surround area is different but I'm not 100% sure anymore.

The only good [legal] halogen setups are projector beams with tightly controlled optics. A crappy last-gen OEM HID is as good as an excellent halogen. The only excellent halogens I've owned are the projector beams in my Lotus and the "off-road-use-only" e-codes I installed in my NA Miata. Regarding HID's CRI; it's irrelevant for nighttime, as your eyes' rods don't see in color. Beam patterns on most modern factory HIDs are fantastic, panning them is naive at best. Why are you barking up this tree, anyway? What are you rationalizing? Even that link you posted ends up saying that HIDs are a markedly better solution, assuming it's designed with reasonable competence [i.e. OEM setups].

Back to the OP's question, HIDs necessity can range from a big cherry on top to virtually mandatory. The steering HIDs in my Golf TDI are incredible and have spoiled me silly in backwoods pitch-black driving; even if the BRZ has top-shelf optics, they still can't hang with steering lights. I don't think I can go back two steps to less-efficient halogens on my daily driver.

Oh by the way not to mention HID saves about 10-15% overall electricity usage which translates into 1% better fuel economy at highway speed, more at lower speed :P

I meant the climate control system.

BRZ Premium and FRS both share the same climate control system.

Bla-bla, anything optic related is highly individualized. If you're trying to make sweeping statements - you're gonna be wrong for a sizable chunk of people. I am not rationalizing anything, I'm getting a limited trim, HID or not. Availability of HIDs has close to zero weight in my decision, that's all.

And parts of your eye don't see color - are the ones you'll be using when your headlights burn out, not the ones you use when your lights are on. Colors matter for quick recognition of road signs at the very least.

Or for dsgerbc's situation where he claims his low+fog = HID, he's burning 220W over four 55W halogens vs. 70W for 2x35W HIDs. That's over 3x the electrical power for "similar" performance. *violins playing* Not to mention the D-bag factor for driving around in normal conditions with his fogs on.

^ Sigh, you can't read. I didn't claim HID=whatever. I'm saying that coverage is similar. Intensity across coverage is gonna be different, but more intensity nearby, which HIDs tend to produce, could be not such a great thing for some.

Well said Ryephile. Not sure why this debate is even going on. I think you made it as clear as possible. Nothing can get close to a properly designed OEM HID setup in terms of output and efficiency (maybe those new laser lights in development?). If you can afford them, HIDs are of course worth it as stated by Ryephile and others.

Fail. :bonk:

^ explaining your point fail.
Meh, I'm not gonna waste time arguing with HID fanboys.
/out

Hell yeah!

And immediately after I am putting on 8-piston 19" Brakes on the front, Quad 4" straight pipe exhausts and 22s!!!


http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__.../ff/Ballin.gif


I keed, I keed... I agree with your sentiment though. If I can afford it, then I might as well get what I want to get, because when it's damn cold here in Texas (It's 32 and snowing right now in FlowMo) I want my car to caress my ass with heat waves.

:word:

After doing an HID retrofit on my car I don't want to get into a car without them.

:threadjacked:

You can buy a generic GPS stand that has hooks to clinch to your air vent. The hooks hook through the plastic vent blades and connect to a base. You just place your GPS to that base and connect the power wire if required.

Where to mount the GPS is really up to you, I think. For smaller devices (< 4-5") mounting to the window does not block too much of your view, but some. However, if you are trying to mount a 7" device, just right below your rear view mirror, you pretty much block a huge portion of the view on the right side.

My personal experience with GPS is that I do not look at it most of the time during driving. I listen to the direction and think if that make sense. I cannot forget one of the early commercial where a young guy driving a Mazda 3 listening to the GPS to drive and turn in city streets happily and then the GPS said: turn right.. the guy turn right into a store, and then the GPS continues: in 100 meters. That was hilarious in the early days of GPS.

Everybody knows you can do a "HID conversion" for $50 and some hot glue. Very few people, including those with an interest in upgrading their lighting, know or have ever talked to someone like Daniel Stern. The idea you're suggesting, that HID isn't God's Own Flashlight, delves in to the technical aspects of lighting systems that most people have never considered. "HID = brighter = look at these Kelvin ratings = wow less wattage = OMG yes!" is pretty much the end of it for most folks. So it's understandable that people may not immediately grasp the full breadth of the topic - especially when you're so quick to talk down to them. "You'll catch more bees with honey" as my grandma Ruby Dawn always said. :happy0180:

In your haste to discount the "fan boys" I think you've gone a bit far. Same for same, the HID out-performs the halogen. I'm the first person to stand up for nostalgia and "less is more" and question the need for implementing new technology but when it comes to lighting, 9 out of 10 times the HID setup wins.

The only downside is sneaking around at night, I can't see shit when I look out the side or back windows of my car because my eyes have adjusted to the HID headlamps. But that's what these are for...

http://www.magnalight.com/images/pro...arge/45292.jpg