What are the worst Mustang modifications?

I've seen a mustang around me with the 'steel wheels' look which to me is def considered rice...

LaserSVT said:

So sometimes I wonder if I am too judgemental on cars or not. Things that at one time in my life when I was in the import scene looked cool now look stupid and for lack of a better term, rice
I think I can set up this poll for multiple selections and would like the members here opinions and votes as to if certain "modifications" could be classified as "rice".

I mean I dont care for any body kit on a Mustang save for the production Rouches, Saleens and Steedas. But I mean the "Vader" kits and the like. I dont like lots of stickers and such. Is it just me or is this a fairly common taste in the Mustang culture. So if you have other suggestions of poorley executed mods let me know.

No bashing on peoples rides, im just looking for opinions on as what parts would qualify as riced on a Stang.

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Dude, do whatever you want to your stang. That's why car modding is so great. You can do whatever you want to it, and it will be YOUR car. If you like how it looks, who cares what other people say? If you want and like the Vader kit, go for it.

I think "rice" is interpreted in many different ways. It's stupid stuff like HUGE spoilers on FWD cars that serve NO purpose whatsoever. Personally I could care less about clear/altezza tail lights, but if I saw a mustang with them I wouldn't call it "rice". I just don't like the way they look.

LaserSVT said:

Thats an excellent example of rice with the big wing on FWD. But what things similar to that do you see on a Mustang and think "rice"? If its never having that thought about a Mustang thats cool too cause thats what im trying to see if its just me

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When I see a mustang with giant dragon decals, giant aluminum spoiler, 22" rims, and a retarded body kit, I definitely think rice.

damn... i cant vote for all of them

Hasnt this been covered by the mustang man laws thread?

Thou shall not...........................

he was just asking what we thought was the WORST thing you could do to a car... we know none of it should be done.

Rice/Ricer: Origin

The word "rice" in rice burner refers to the fact that the vehicles the term was originally applied to were of Japanese origin, and the fact that rice is a staple food in East Asian cuisine. Its earliest usage is still in question, but examples include the term referring to Japanese motorcycles in the early to mid 1980s, and muscle car enthusiasts' jokes that cars from Japan used engines powered by rice alcohol.

In the 1970s and 80s Japanese motor companies produced many popular performance cars and performance versions of existing cars. However, many of these were never exported beyond Asia. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, "grey imports" of Japanese performance cars became abundant in Western Europe and North America, such as the Nissan Skyline and Toyota Supra. Many factors, such as parts being interchangeable, the low cost of obtaining a used imported car, and networking and e-commerce via the Internet all allowed the expansion of the practice of modifying a low-cost compact car. In the United States, this was in direct contrast to the domestic car production around the same time, where there was little widespread performance aftermarket for domestic compact and economy cars. In the United States, the focus was instead on sports cars such as the Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Corvette, or on classic muscle cars.
Another "riced" Dodge Neon, with a "Tuned" exhaust, "Altezza" taillights, a large wing and low profile tires.


Another "riced" Dodge Neon, with a "Tuned" exhaust, "Altezza" taillights, a large wing and low profile tires.

Because of their light weight and the increasing availability of low-cost tuning equipment, economy cars and compact cars exhibit high performance, at a relatively low cost in comparison to dedicated sports cars. As professional sporting and racing with such vehicles increased, so did more recreational use of these vehicles. Drivers with little or no automotive, mechanical, or racing experience would modify their vehicles to emulate the more impressive versions of racing vehicles with mixed results. A few detailed examples are below, but the most pointed out instances are aerodynamic attachments to a car, or loud exhaust systems.

On the contrary, many modern "Ricers" seemingly install aerodynamics to emulate the "more impressive versions" of a car. As a result, they are looked at as "posers". So even though some tuners are installing performance modifications to their cars, they are not getting the credit for their work. Partly because of the "Ricers", and partly because of the clash between Muscle cars and Ricers (AKA Tuners).

By the late 1990s, many contemporary Japanese sports cars were no longer being sold in North America. In the United States, this added to the exclusivity of these cars. The release of the PlayStation racing video game Gran Turismo acquainted North Americans with performance versions of compact cars that were never made available outside of Asia.

The movie The Fast and the Furious released in 2001 continued this exposure and expanded the visibility of automobile modification to the general public, and is generally thought to have resulted in an increase in the number of cars being modified.[citation needed] Two sequels of the movie series have been released since, with similar focus on modified vehicles.

The most immediate criticism of such modifications is usually aesthetic on the part of the person using the term rice. However, because of pop culture references to movies and the influence of video games, as well as the perceived demographic of "ricers", the criticism is often leveled at the driver.

In the United States, as American car companies began to follow suit with visual enhancement packages on older economy and compact car platforms, a similar phenomena could be seen trickling down to used American cars of the last generation. The term "American rice", "domestic rice", or "wheat burner" has been used to describe American-made cars that have been modified as described, but simply calling them rice is also commonplace. German models with the riced look (usually a Volkswagen Golf or a Volkswagen Jetta) are sometimes referred to as "kraut-powered" or "kraut burners". Non-performance versions of the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, with V6 engines, might be found sporting large spoilers, graphics, colored tint, or other strictly visual modifications. The Performance V8 versions of these same cars may also be considered rice if their visual style leans too heavily towards the stereotype of a rice car or Japanese tuner car.

Throughout many parts of Europe, a number of European vehicles (most of which have not been released in the United States) are commonly "riced", particularly several small hatchbacks such as the Peugeot 106 and 206, Citroen Saxo, Renault Clio, Opel Corsa and Astra, Fiat Punto, Škoda Fabia, and the aforementioned Volkswagen Golf.

With the introduction of the Scion line from Toyota, auto manufactures have begun to actively court the "ricer" market in the United States. Scion television advertisements frequently feature modifications and interviews with Scion owners who have modified their cars.

Characteristics

Poser Mobile (as featured on T-Mobile To Go commercials), a parody of commonly associated modifications done by ricers. The car featured is a Toyota AE86.


An example of an organic style body kit, installed on a Mitsubishi Lancer, to allow it to resemble the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, a much higher priced rally base car.


This modified Honda Accord is lowered, has low profile tires and the badging has been removed.


"Ricing" a vehicle is meant to emulate the aesthetic work of independent automotive car tuning companies who modify more than just appearance, and to give an appearance of greater ability than the car actually has. Ricing is generally looked down upon amongst people who perform engine tuning, suspension tuning, and other performance racing modifications.


A "riced" Honda Del Sol, with a body kit, fart can, and spoiler


Another picture of a "riced" Honda Del Sol

This is not meant to be a complete list of known ricing characteristics, nor do all rice burners have or are limited to these modifications. Almost all of these examples have practical performance or racing applications, but when these modifications are made improperly, done for pretense of being fast, or for the sake of visual appeal, the car in question will likely end up labeled as "rice".

Many of these modifications are nearly always found on high spec, comprehensively modified professional racing cars, but they are added as finishing touches to other extensive modification.

Common aftermarket modifications in this style can include but are not limited to:

Body modifications

* Aerodynamic-seeming or creatively-designed body kits, often flimsy, thin and have little function
* Wings and spoilers that are unusually large and serve no useful function.
* Fiberglass or plastic replicas made to look like Carbon fiber
* Non-functional hood scoops and roof scoops.
* Aftermarket scissor doors that open similarly to those of a Lamborghini
* Excessively large wheels ("rims"), often chromed or painted in bright colors
* Excessively lowered suspension
* Bumper canards fitted to the front bumper

Aesthetics

* Bright paint or interior, frequently in contrasting colors
* Decals and stickers for aftermarket parts (parts that may not even be installed on the car)
* Badging from other higher-performance vehicles or JDM factory racing developments such as Mugen or Nismo while the car may or may not have the branded parts installed.
* Imitation parts being represented as real parts. (i.e. fake Mugen shift knob being represented as a real one)
* Digital turbo, consisting of speakers installed under the car that emulate the sound of a turbo engine
* A loud, free-flowing exhaust system with a large cylindrical resonator at the rear of the car, known as a "fart cannon" or "coffee can"
* Large speakers that occupy the entire trunk.
* Lots of stickers that mean nothing and/or companies of parts not installed on the car.
* Silver or blue reflective tint of all or the bottom half of the windows.

Lighting

* Decorative neon and LED lighting in addition to the regular head/tail lamps and brake/turn signals, such as lighted windshield washer nozzles and tire valve caps, underbody neon lighting ("hover lights")
* "Altezza"-style lights or "Altezzas" (equally popular and known as "Lexus" lights in Europe), which have the colored light sources and reflective bodies contained within chrome housings and clear lenses
* Most Commonly, Simulated HID Xenon Bulbs with high kelvin color temperature, mounted in inappropriate halogen light housings[1] causing excessive glare.[2]

Improper Badging

* Type R or Si exterior and/or interior badges on Honda and Acura cars that are not Type R or Si models.
* MIVEC, VTEC or VVT-i exterior badging on cars not equipped with variable valve timing technology
* Applying the badge of higher trim level models (such as “limited” or "sport") on an economy trim level car of the same model
* Lexus/ Acura/ Infiniti badges on models sold under Toyota/ Honda/ and Nissan or vice versa
* V6 badge on cars with I-4 engines
* Mitsubishi badges on Proton cars and Daihatsu badges on Perodua cars

Identity crisis


An example of an "Identity crisis". An Acura Integra sporting a Ferrari badge.


While not always associated with rice, an "identity crisis" can occur when decals, badges or other identifiers from one type of vehicle appear on another vehicle of the wrong type, or lacks the specifications indicated by the accessory. Examples could include a Honda Civic with a TYPE-R which hasn't been available in North America. A cross-manufacturer example would be an Impreza WRX sporting a VTEC sticker (a Honda branded technology).

Identity crisis is not limited to Japanese cars, however. A Ford Mustang might be found with "GT-R" badging from the Nissan Skyline GT-R. A muscle car badge might be placed on a vehicle that is not a muscle car (e.g. a Yenko emblem on a non-muscle car Chevrolet Cobalt). A base model BMW 5 series car may sport M5 badging. Mercedes-Benz vehicles may sport AMG badging while the car is simply a de-badged base model. Volkswagen has also been the victim of cutting together the VW GTI, Golf, and Jetta.

This term should not be confused with the process of re-badging badge engineered cars. Badge engineering is the process by which a model from one car company is sold as a model of a different company. This operation often happens when cars from companies belonging to conglomerates (eg. General Motors) are sold overseas. One example is the Opel-produced Vectra, which was sold in Australia as a Holden, in The Americas as a Chevrolet or Pontiac and in the UK as a Vauxhall.

Legitimate uses

There are some car owners who are legitimately interested solely in visual appeal rather than any perceived performance, as there are custom car shows and competitions with focus on innovative design and expression of the driver. Such shows may be used to display artistic paint schemes or even radical structural body modification of the vehicle. The difference between this and a rice-burner is that the rice-burner's modifications are made under the pretense of higher performance.

Almost all (nonfunctional devices being a notable exception) of the examples given have a legitimate performance or racing application that can be seen in professional motor sports. Carbon fiber body panels (as seen on many motorsport event vehicles) are extremely light and reduce overall vehicle weight. True HID lamps improve night vision for rally (WRC) and endurance racing. Wide, lightweight wheels can improve cornering for SOLO events.

Non-automotive applications

The terms "rice rocket", "riced-out" and "ricing" are sometimes used to describe computer case modifications which serve to make the computer look fast without actually improving its performance. As with "riced" cars, neon lights and adhesive decals can be installed by the consumer but some consider this tacky."

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_burner

It's interesting to note that they mention Non-functional hood scoops as being rice LOL
How many Mustangs over the years have come from the factory with Non-functional hood scoops?
So, according to this list of what may be considered rice, maybe half of the Mustangs out there can be considered rice even if they are totally stock...

LaserSVT said:

Really? I thought I made it so you can selet more than one



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You gotta be kidding on the 4x4.

And on the red one the first thing that comes to mind is Van Halen...

And I agree with all the subtle changes.

There is a stang with the same type of body as the red one painted like a blk and white cow running around town for the last several yrs....

Maybe some springs would help?

ahhhhhh im blind!!!!

i have been in an argument with a woman that had a new edge pony on 22''s, never bring up the speedometer or wheel rub.

I voted for "Multiple model emblems" and "V6 rebadged as a Cobra/Saleen/Rouch". When you get down to it ricers are posing...trying to look fast when they really are not. Fake badging your car to be something its not, is RICE. Your trying to make your car look like an upgraded (and thus faster) model.
Now say if you put GT badges on a 03/04 cobra....I guess we cant call that rice. Thats call playing the field, hoping someone will think you have a fobra so you can blow them away and get a kick out of it. (or win some money)

Do I think a "darth vader" body kit makes you look fast? Nope. Do they? Thats the key. many times they simply think it looks nice...in that case NOT rice. Now if they do it to make their car look fast then its RICE. IMO it all depends on the owner, when it comes to body kits.

How about parts and racing stickers? Well all depends on where they are located, what the car is used for, and whats done. Now if its a full blown race car= not rice. If its a V6 mustang with stickers from every little performance upgrade he has bought (ie comp cams stickers when he just bought new lifters, or MSD stickers when he just bought new plug wires)...thats rice. Prentending to be fast.

Now we come to 20+" wheels. They actually make your car look slower because noone thinks "race car" when you have huge heavy rims with 1 inch think sidewalls. NOT rice.

Stripes....Same as the sticker thing. Depends on volume and what the car is being used for. Could go either way.

Neon.....its made by dodge. Assuming stock= NOT rice.

5000 watt 4-12" subwoofer sound system....Well assuming that your not playing sounds from an F1 racing engine to try and make your car sound good, then noone is going to think your car is fast just becuase your shaking yours and everone elses windows....infact we will all just know your slower since your hauling around all that stereo equipment.

Thats MY opinion on your poll options

In my opnion twenty inch wheels or bigger on any mustang would
have to be the worst modification for any Ford Mustang.Plus only
negros like twenty inch wheels.

Fastwrx15 said:

In my opnion twenty inch wheels or bigger on any mustang would
have to be the worst modification for any Ford Mustang.Plus only
negros like twenty inch wheels.

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Not true!!!! 20" wheels can look good on certain cars, just not on any mustang from 79-04. On 05+ stangs, 20's look good IMO....


Also, No need to get racist on us with your last sentence...

For the record "I HATE THE TERM RICE"...Its derogatory in my book....

EPIK said:

Not true!!!! 20" wheels can look good on certain cars, just not on any mustang from 79-04. On 05+ stangs, 20's look good IMO....


Also, No need to get racist on us with your last sentence...

For the record "I HATE THE TERM RICE"...Its derogatory in my book....

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Don't bother with Pennywise2

EPIK said:

Not true!!!! 20" wheels can look good on certain cars, just not on any mustang from 79-04. On 05+ stangs, 20's look good IMO....


Also, No need to get racist on us with your last sentence...

For the record "I HATE THE TERM RICE"...Its derogatory in my book....

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It's not my fault that negros like big chrome twenty inch wheels
they look like ****.