FUN car debate

[Jarrid'sBRZ]

Hello all,

A friend and myself had a fun debate and I thought I would open it up to the forum. So since I have a BRZ my friend said I should supercharge it and then upgrade the clutch. I expect this would cost 10k to do at a good shop. So for the price of the car and upgrade I could of gotten any car that is in the 35-40k price range and 300+ power range. So why do people end up modifying cars in this power range when the money could be better spent?

[8RZ]

Because I'd rather have a $30k car with $10k in mods and make it "mine" rather than a stock $40k car that's just like the rest of them.

[imnotsureaboutbrz]

Originally Posted by Jarrid'sBRZ

Hello all,

A friend and myself had a fun debate and I thought I would open it up to the forum. So since I have a BRZ my friend said I should supercharge it and then upgrade the clutch. I expect this would cost 10k to do at a good shop. So for the price of the car and upgrade I could of gotten any car that is in the 35-40k price range and 300+ power range. So why do people end up modifying cars in this power range when the money could be better spent?

Car Forum Answer:
If you have to ask you don't understand the car mod life!

My answer... You are smarter than your friend. I'm on the same page as that thinking. I'm trying my best to just spend on consumables (tires, gas, brake pads) until I step up to a different platform (if I do).

My likely next moves would be a Evora or Camaro SS if I still need a 2+2 coupe.

or a Cayman S or Vette if I can manage to get away with just owning a 2 seater.

Everyone gets into this platform for different reasons, mine was to learn to handle a FR platform (that wasn't a miata) before adding power.

[Xxyion]

So i did exactly what your friend suggested. I bought a BRZ and i supercharged it. With all the mods ive spent on this car i could have bought an M3.

So why didnt i just buy an M3? Or a Mustang? Or a Mercedes? Or hell even a maxxed out STi?

None of those cars (including the porche cayman) offered what this car does.

FR style (for those who dont know, Front Engine RWD)
Drift happy but controllable
Reliability (its a subaru)
Mod friendly

If i had bought any of the other cars mentioned i would have had enough money to mod them. I've been a HUGE fan of the 90s 2-door modifiable coupes ever since ive been a child. All throughout high school ive wanted a super modded car. (This was before Fast and Furious).

The thing i like most is how i can always make this car my own. Sure i added power and did all sorts of Aero to it. But i can also take away the power or change it just as easily. Thats harder to do with something that comes with massive power stock. I'm actually selling my Edelbrock and going back to NA. Why? Because i realize the supercharger is not for me. But i like having the freedom to make that choice.

[funwheeldrive]

Originally Posted by Jarrid'sBRZ

So for the price of the car and upgrade I could of gotten any car that is in the 35-40k price range and 300+ power range.

What brand new driver's cars are available at that price right now?


Focus RS
STi
Camaro SS
2 Series BMW


I would take a SC BRZ with supporting mods over any of the above.

[ichitaka05]

Why? IDK everyone have their reasons... just like why members buy this car. There are so many reasons.

Some members have spent x2 the cost of 86/BRZ to mod. Some members haven't spent dime, keeping it stock. Some members preferred to buy more power car, so they traded their 86/BRZ for different cars. Some members mod it cuz they like the look of the car more than >$40k cars. There are countless reasons. No point in debating it.

[Jarrid'sBRZ]

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

What brand new driver's cars are available at that price right now?


Focus RS
STi
Camaro SS
2 Series BMW


I would take a SC BRZ with supporting mods over any of the above.

We can add a 370Z, Mustang GT, and Challenger R/T to the list. All of which would of been cheaper and faster then a SC BRZ

[wreckedrex]

Depends on what you are after. If you want a light sports car with power and you've got a sub $40k budget you're going to have to buy used and/or modify something. If your're after power and aren't interested in the light sports car thing factory options abound in that price range. Pick whatever makes you giggle.

[imnotsureaboutbrz]

Originally Posted by Jarrid'sBRZ

We can add a 370Z, Mustang GT, and Challenger R/T to the list. All of which would of been cheaper and faster then a SC BRZ

I still really like the look, size and power of that car. If they made a real track pack (not a strip pack) which could get that boat turning better I'd jump on it.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Jarrid'sBRZ

So why do people end up modifying cars in this power range when the money could be better spent?

If you only looked at the value of the car + mods, then yes you can buy a "better" car.

Usually people mod because 1) they don't like something about the car now, or 2) they mod for the sake of modding. To justify this type of behavior versus a new car with better performance at the same target price of car + mods is not a fair way of looking at it.

At the end of the day, if you have $10k disposable income in a year, if you want to blow it all on strippers or if you want to blow it all on the stock market with risky investments, your view of money will not be the same as the person next to you.

To each their own. Some people buy junk cars worth $100 and spend $30k on it, nothing wrong with that.

-alex

[Zaku]

Because I didn't choose Stance life, Stance life chose me......

I mean I didn't choose Mod Life, Mod life chose me...

wait I didn't choose Stock life, Stock life chose me

Resale value...

lol That was FUN

You could also save alot of money by having a slow daily like me, everytime you get into your BRZ you'll love the stock power it already has cause it's at least 80hp more than your daily.

[extrashaky]

In many cases, I think it's reverse elitism. Modders with inferiority complexes think they're being judged by people who drive expensive cars, so they buy cheaper cars and spend just as much to thumb their noses at those people and pretend to be superior to them because "Built not bought yo!" Modders are a lot like hipsters in that respect.

The funny part is that after all that copying of each other and buying ready-made body kits, wings and performance mods to "make it theirs," all that rice looks exactly alike.

[funwheeldrive]

Originally Posted by Jarrid'sBRZ

We can add a 370Z, Mustang GT, and Challenger R/T to the list. All of which would of been cheaper and faster then a SC BRZ

If I wanted a fast car I wouldn't have bought a BRZ in the first place.

[Seasaw]

Originally Posted by Jarrid'sBRZ

Hello all,

A friend and myself had a fun debate and I thought I would open it up to the forum. So since I have a BRZ my friend said I should supercharge it and then upgrade the clutch. I expect this would cost 10k to do at a good shop. So for the price of the car and upgrade I could of gotten any car that is in the 35-40k price range and 300+ power range. So why do people end up modifying cars in this power range when the money could be better spent?

First off you would have to define "better spent". I feel as if this is subjective. If one wants to blow all their money on lottery tickets, they can make the argument that its better spent than any car and vice versa. No opinion is wrong, just different perspectives.

Second I think personally modding stems from either personalizing your car or the feeling it gives you similar to picking up a hobby.

My personal opinion is that I liked the platform of the BRZ. RWD, sporty look, good handling, mpg, the back seats(lol), ect. The modding helps with what I personally want the car to become in appearance and performance. I also find enjoyment in installing parts and enjoying the fruits of my labor.