Do you see anything wrong with the car in the picture?

[Memnoch]

Be enlightened!

Click here

And here

And here

You can see why your responses have given me more confidence in my $1500 decision. After all, you represent the 95% of people who are not modding fanboys (and I mean modding as in tuning).

(Hint #1: I'm OZGOD)

(Hint #2: I currently drive an Audi A4 like the one in the picture, but with 16" wheels. The one in the picture has 18" wheels.)

(Hint #3: I would really hate to have to spend $1000 on a new suspension to lower my car by 1 1/2 inches just because it would make the wheels look marginally better.)

[ 07-24-2007, 08:15 PM: Message edited by: Memnoch ]

[wellard]

Oh I know what's wrong with the car .....


It does not have happy birthday written on it ....

Happy birthday Memnoch [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Sever]

Question: You want your car to look good by:
a). Installing the components that you think look good.
b). Installing the components that other people think look good.
c). Installing the components that other people think look good because you're not sure what looks good.
d). a + b
e). b + c
f). "WTF is Sever on this week?"

Ed: Where are my manners? Happy Birthday, Memsie!

[ 07-25-2007, 05:58 AM: Message edited by: Sever ]

[Cloudbringer]

ACK! Maz, I wish I had your problems... LOL And here I was worried about whether to get the ac in my husband's old Dodge fixed or let it go a while and just pay the insurance! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Dunno, my dear, but I think your car looks just fine as is, if that one in the pic is yours!

[Memnoch]

Originally posted by Sever: Question: You want your car to look good by: a). Installing the components that you think look good. b). Installing the components that other people think look good. c). Installing the components that other people think look good because you're not sure what looks good. d). a + b e). b + c f). "WTF is Sever on this week?" Ed: Where are my manners? Happy Birthday, Memsie!

Interesting question! Normally it's always been "a", except for the fact that when you spend time in a subculture you're not normally familiar with and get exposed to the thought leaders in that subculture, you start to adopt those same views because of "c".

This was an interesting exercise on how the views of a subsegment/subculture (in this case the Audi modding culture) can significantly differ from that of the general populace (which includes me!).

Here's the 411. My car currently has 16" stock rims and looks like this:



I am planning to get snow tires for it and mounting the tires on those rims - that will then be my "winter set" (that I will put on the car from Nov to April).

I was then planning to get 18" rims with summer tires which I would use the rest of the time. I worked out the total cost (4 sets of wheels and 8 sets of tires) would be around $1500 or so.

The thing is, my car has the stock suspension (i.e. it is not lowered).

I asked the same question in an Audi forum and was (nearly) unanimously told that my car would look like total rubbish, that it would looked like a jacked-up 4x4, that it would look like a Subaru Legacy, etc. Apparently the "rule" is that if you upgrade to 18"s (most of them wanted me to up to 19"s even though the roads here in Boston would kill those wheels pretty damn quick) you "must" lower the car as well, so that it looks "sick".

So I inquired at a few auto shops here as to how much it would cost to lower my car by an inch and a half. The general consensus is that it would cost about $1000 or so, parts and labour. However, this would apparently void my suspension (shocks and springs) warranty (my car has 2 years of factory warranty left). If I got Audi to do it, then I would be looking at $3000+.

The thing is, I looked at that pic of the blue Audi with 18" rims and stock suspension and couldn't find anything wrong with it, but after reading up this Audi forum and posting some threads I started to confuse myself about whether there was actually anything wrong with the picture of the car. I decided to take myself out of that environment and seek unbiased opinions elsewhere that were more representative of the general populace (i.e. not hardcore revheads).

So thanks everyone for helping me make my decision. I like the way it looks and don't care about that stupid wheelwell gap. Bugger spending an extra $1000 to lower it by an inch and void my warranty in the meantime. I wouldn't have even noticed it until it was pointed out to me anyway.

[ 07-25-2007, 10:05 AM: Message edited by: Memnoch ]

[robertthebard]

I think the biggest difference is "conformity". For example; I worked with a friend on his Harley before I ever worked on cars. I was intimately familiar with them by the time I was 15 or so. Everybody I grew up with that rides has a Harley, and the ones that don't are saving for one. Imagine their shock when I showed up to go out riding on my Goldwing.

http://www.robertbard67206.com/images/My_bike-1.jpg

Note: This is my second Goldwing. After taking my first one on an extended road trip, from Wichita, KS to Dallas, TX, I won't have anything else for an extended ride.

Anyway, the point is, I ride what I like, not what my bro's like, or what people on the forums tell me is cool. Hence the "conformity" thing. Customizing cars is supposed to be about "custom". If everybody's cars look the same, what's custom about that?

[Memnoch]

Exactly. Individuality is the spice of life (slightly corrupted quote).

[Balintherlas]

Ah Memnoch, you still have the tree to get rid of. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Sever]

Originally posted by Memnoch: Interesting question! Normally it's always been "a", except for the fact that when you spend time in a subculture you're not normally familiar with and get exposed to the thought leaders in that subculture, you start to adopt those same views because of "c". *snip* The thing is, I looked at that pic of the blue Audi with 18" rims and stock suspension and couldn't find anything wrong with it, but after reading up this Audi forum and posting some threads I started to confuse myself about whether there was actually anything wrong with the picture of the car. I decided to take myself out of that environment and seek unbiased opinions elsewhere that were more representative of the general populace (i.e. not hardcore revheads).

I figured as much from reading the various threads. The question was merely to ensure you knew what you wanted. The next question was going to be regarding whose eyes you wanted your car to look good in but i think you know the answer to that one.

Something that wasn't mentioned in the audi threads (even after you voiced concerns over your location) is the consequences of upgrading your suspension. Increased performance at the expense of reduced ride comfort. Apparently in contrary to the beliefs of modding fanboys, sports suspension packages are NOT designed to make your car look better. If you're getting bigger rims, you are already sacrificing some of that comfort. Depending on what kind of driver you are (and you strike me as the sensible type ) you may not even want that extra performance. However, if you like to take her up over 180kmh every now and then, having all four wheels firmly hugging the ground is definitely more comfortable.

Forking out extra dosh and sacrificing warranty and ride comfort for unwanted/needed performance and the odd nod of approval from 1% of motorists... Well, i think you know you made the right decision.

[Memnoch]

Originally posted by Sever: [QB] Something that wasn't mentioned in the audi threads (even after you voiced concerns over your location) is the consequences of upgrading your suspension. Increased performance at the expense of reduced ride comfort. Apparently in contrary to the beliefs of modding fanboys, sports suspension packages are NOT designed to make your car look better. If you're getting bigger rims, you are already sacrificing some of that comfort. Depending on what kind of driver you are (and you strike me as the sensible type ) you may not even want that extra performance. However, if you like to take her up over 180kmh every now and then, having all four wheels firmly hugging the ground is definitely more comfortable.

Thanks mate, I'm aware of the fact that the ride will get a lot harsher with a sports suspension and lower profile tires with a smaller sidewall - I used to drive an Alfa Romeo GTV (that probably rules me out of the sensible category, but anyway. ). It's one of the things I'm considering, particularly here in Boston where the roads are crap. This car will be a daily driver that will need to be comfortable with the odd freeway or twisty road dash. So I guess my criteria could be broken down as follows:

Performance - 40%
Comfort - 30%
Cosmetic - 30%

Forking out extra dosh and sacrificing warranty and ride comfort for unwanted/needed performance and the odd nod of approval from 1% of motorists... Well, i think you know you made the right decision.

LOL - I should post this quote on the Audizine forum. Love it!

[ 07-26-2007, 10:19 AM: Message edited by: Memnoch ]