7 Reasons its Okay to have "Purely Cosmetic" Mods on your Car

First of all, everybody has their own opinions. I personally think there should be “purely cosmetic” modifications allowed on cars. I saw a post of this Subaru and there was a comment saying “as long as functional and not just cosmetic, I’m ok with it.”

Now I think we can all agree that is a damn nice looking car. It’s not exactly my taste, and I probably speak for a lot of people when I say that, but to base your opinion on the car on whether every modification is “functional” or not? That is just ridiculous in my opinion. I’ve seen a lot of comments like this on CT and I think its time they came to an end.

Not every change someone makes to their car has to improve its speed or performance in some way, and here’s why.

1. Cars are a Beautiful thing

I think I speak for every car-nut when I say that cars are a beautiful hunk of metal with wheels. Thats why we are all obsessed. The curves, the edges, the shapes, the sound, the smell. When we see an amazing looking cars we often get weak at the knees, sometimes falling to the ground and crying while your friends are asking whats wrong. Or maybe thats just me. The point is, cars are supposed to look good to the owner. That is their function. Their function isn’t to squeeze more power out of your engine, to make you turn corners faster, push you to the ground harder with aerodynamics, their sole purpose is to break the necks of other car guys walking by, and make you stare at your car without blinking until its completely out of view every time you park it. Cosmetic mods are purely just to look good, and make you feel good about your car, and thats not a bad thing. Of course there are cars like sleepers where maybe appearance isn’t required or even wanted, but for the most part, owners want their cars to be looking their best at all times. Its a sense of pride. Maybe you add a lip kit or add some stripes to your car that don’t do much, if anything, for the performance of your car, but thats ok! Thats how cars are supposed to be.

2. It gets you Noticed!

Nothing feels better than getting your ride noticed by a stranger. Most of the time, the thing that gets them to notice you is by what your car looks like. Sure there are other things like the exhaust note, or maybe they’re just a fan of that particular car. Most of the time though, its because something about the look of your car caught their eye and they just couldn’t turn away. Lets face it, unless you’re driving a 2016 Lamborghini LP610-4 Spyder, stock cars usually look boring. There’s a million other cars that look exactly like yours around the world. If you want people to come up and ask about what you have done to improve performance, you need to get their attention by how it looks.

3. Cars come “Riced” from the Factory

Where do you draw the line between rice and acceptable modifications? Cars roll right out of the factory with things that don’t effect the performance at all. What about paint? Besides protecting the metal from corrosion and debris, paint does nothing but make the car look different. If you’re only allowed to modify a car if it increases performance, why do cars come in so many different colors? Its because cars look better to different people in different colors. Why do car companies design different wheels? Why not just make them as light as possible because its better for performance, and then slap them on every car they make? People buy cars based on how they look, thats why. What about badges/logos? If anything those add a fraction of a pound to your car and restrict airflow. Why are those on there if they don’t improve speed?? Weight reduction bro.

4. People Own the Cars they do for Different Reasons

When people own and/or modify their cars, even car enthusiasts, they do it for different reasons. Maybe it is purely for speed and the ability to get around the track quicker. Is that always the case though? No, its not. Maybe it was your Dad’s car back in high school and it has sentimental value. Maybe it’s from the 60’s and you just like the fact you own an old car. Mayve you just want to own it because it’s a legend in the car world. For example, what about an AE86? An AE86 GT-S pushes out a whole 112hp and 97 lbft of torque. Its a slow car. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a blast to drive or that you shouldn’t own one. Modifying a car doesn’t mean the goal is always to make it as fast as possible.

5. It Personalizes your Car

People love to personalize things. Wether its getting a fancy case for your phone, a cool sticker for your laptop, the posters you hang in your room, or what you choose to do to your car. Every one has a different view of the “perfect car” in their mind. The different colors, styles of bodykits and rims, smooth or sharp curves, it all shows who you are in some way. Its fun to customize your vehicle to your liking, even if it doesn’t make it keep up with a super car. You’re not going to have the same style as everyone you meet, but we’re all car guys, we all share the same passion, and we should respect every car that has had blood, sweat, tears, and a passion put into it.

6. Even Racecars have Purely Cosmetic Mods

Think about it, when was the last time you saw a race car without stickers from their sponsors? Or without paint? Or without some decent looking rims? Probably never. Sure they always go with “function over form,” but they all have some sort of cosmetic only enhancements.

7. It’s not YOUR Car!

Last and in my opinion the most important of them all, ITS NOT YOUR CAR. Why are you so worried about what other people do to their cars and you have to make sure that every modification is acceptable to you? Build your car for yourself and nobody else. For us cars are more than just cars. We have a special connection with them, and something about wide open throttles shifting through gears that just puts a smile on our face. We would rather listen to exhaust sounds on repeat than an actual song, we have gasoline running through our veins, we are a different breed of human. Cars are special to us and can take away stress, anger, sadness, and if your building your car to impress others you’re doing it wrong.

In conclusion, not every car is made to be fast. I read somewhere that “A show car is not always a race car, but a race car is always a show car.” I totally agree, race cars are always something to look at, but if you only modify your car cosmetically, well you risk being classified as a ricer. So while cosmetic only mods are perfectly acceptable, you shouldn’t build a car only to look like a race car. I also believe in function over form. If you’re thinking about modifying your car, and the mod severely hurts the performance, WHY? Surely there are other mods that can change without hurting your performance as much, or at all. Maybe the body kit you like slightly decreases the airflow, but if its not noticeable, there’s no reason to freak out about it.

What I’m trying to get at here is build your car your way, you don’t need permission from anyone to make your car the way you want it. People are going to disagree with your tastes no matter what you do, don’t let it change how you build your car. Just don’t go as far as this guy:

Thanks for reading, this is my first blog post. Let me know what you think. Also what are your opinions on excessive camber and/or stretched tires? I personally think it looks absolutely ridiculous and stops the car from doing the one thing it’s supposed to do; drive. I think its just a fad that will soon die out, but lots of people seem to like it. Do what you want to your own car, but I just don’t understand it. What are your thoughts? I want to hear why people do it to their cars.

Have an awesome day!