Parking Lot Pimpin: Mazda Miata MX-5

 

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Mazda RX-7

I've always been a fan of Mazdas, and I've enjoyed the RX-7 from an early age; I think first ones I can actually remember identifying on the road were the FCs, and I knew what these were by the time I was about four or so. To me, these symbolized sporty imports as a child. I didn't know much about Japanese sports cars besides the RX-7 and Nissan 300ZX and earlier Z-cars. This (and the equal vintage Z-Car) are what I learned to associate with popup lights before  I learned about the Corvette.

I obviously didn't know bodycodes when I was little, but I always called these the "80s RX-7", and even at about three or four, I was right. The FD3S debuted in 1991 as a 1993 model on our shores; these were available from 1986 to 1992 on our shores, and were available in a larger variety of models than the successor, the FD was. I would wager that the FD is more popular here in the US, but the FC is still an awesome car.

I love this car; I love FCs, and I've been wanting to shoot one for a good while now; and while this one isn't entirely stock, it isn't a bad example. Sure, the paint could be glossy, and it could be stock height, but what fun is stock, when the car isn't yet considered a "leave-it-stock-asshole" classic yet?

Honestly, I love the stance on this; it's pretty low, but not enough so that it scrapes ground like that damn tC I posted up yesterday--and damn these wheels. While most non-wheel guys would think these are BBS wheels-- they're not. They're wheels from a 1998-2003 Ford Crown Victoria LX--and they look badass here. I love laced-pattern wheels, and these are a subtle--and quite nice--change fro the normal idea of throwing BBS on everything. Well done, and well spotted I think.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Scion tC

As with any form of car customization styles, fads come and go; in the late 1990s to the mid 2000s, thanks to magazines like Import Tuner and Super Street, the ricer fad started--then the movie series "Fast and Furious" came and amplified the trend by a million. Now that the ricer trend has all but died down, the "Fast and Furious" movies, as well as the magazine, Super Street have changed focus, instead focusing on nicely-tuned imports versus bodykitted wonders.

Around 2008 or 2009, a new form of the ricer trend was developing; it's called stance and its where you fit exceptionally wide wheels onto a car and leave it for the most part looking stock-- save for hoards and hoards of stickers, and possibly a garish paint color. Sometimes the cars are done up reasonably well, and I don't hate them, and other times, all the work is done to car that honestly doesn't deserve the attention, as is the case here.

Like my buddy Alan explained on his blog Auto Neurotic Fixation, the stancetards love these little shits; not a sports car by any stance, these things were offered with a TRD Supercharger from the factory, bumping the horsepower from a 160 to an even 200. I suppose the idea of a supercharger makes these idiots think that its fast? Sorry pal, it's still an Avensis.  I doubt many Scion owners (much less "bros" who modify them) even know what that is. Props to you if you're in the know, because the car is boring enough that I'd fall asleep if I had to write about it.

In many ways, the Scion tC is equivalent to the Paseo of the 1990s; it wasn't fast, it wasn't a sports car, but it didn't really look offensive--- until some dumbass does this to it. Then we have a problem--and being white, it was probably either a dealer demo, or an ex-driving school car.

As I explained above, I really don't like these things-- much less this one; it's loud, the thing shakes like a 1997 Cavalier RS on its last legs at a stoplight, and the tires rub on the fenders every single time there's a change in road conditions. Cool? Nope, you're a fucking poser that thinks being a car nut means driving the loudest, fartiest, scraping-est thing in uptown.

I like your "fuck you" sticker, too. Classy, dude.  By the way, that's what all of us who have to hear your loud-ass piece of shit think of you. Oh, and you wasted a clean set of Volks--unless they're knockoffs, which they probably are. And the "Form> Function"  sticker? Yeah. I don't see any form--all I see is a compact car that used to haul groceries and crap to and from a college campus. Now, it's primary function is to go over speedbumps at an angle as to not fuck up the tires.  Dumbass. Oh, and your "lower it" sticker? Your shit isn't lowered; its just sitting on wheels with no suspension. Hence the shitty ride; I hope you enjoy fake teeth, because yours are all going to fall out if you keep driving this shitbox.

Okay, rant's over; this has been "fuck a Scion tC" with slightly more profanity than you're used to. Case closed. End of discussion. Scion tCs are poser cars. 

Minneapolis Street Sighting: BMW E46 sedan

First attempt at doing a photoshoot. Light was alright, and background was decent. Too bad I can't photoshop the crap out of the background. I wish it was a better setting, though I think did alright, given what I had to work with.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Nissan 240SX

If there's any one car trend that possibly annoys me the most its the new trend of modifying import cars to "be cool". It started as the hellaflush trend, in which the tires are stretched, and the vehicle is sitting low enough that it needs to clear speed bumps and road imperfections at angles to avoid bottoming out. As the hellaflush trend has hit Minnesota, once decent-looking examples of sporty cars are being plastered with stickers, and finished in an odd mix of matte and bright colors. Not very pleasing to the eye, is it? Sadly, this Nissan 240SX is reminiscent of almost all the surviving specimen here in Minnesota. And this car deserves the term. "shitbox". While it probably is a "drift car" on the weekends, it has no excuse for looking like this.







This particular saddens me; I usually don't blog car I have a personal connection with, but this one is owned by a classmate. Every time I see him, I tease him relentlessly about his "sweet ride." I know he loves his little "driftmonster" as he calls it to death, but damn. The missing grille, cheap-ass aftermarket headlights (actually they're likely JDM Silvia units) , and iffy quality of matte paint are no excuse for modifications. The carbon hood was probably double what he paid for the car initially, and I hope the rest of the car gets the bodywork it desperately needs. Inside, the quality of his craftsmanship astounds me to say the least. No pictures of the interior, but.. stickerbombing everywhere, and the trim is all but gone. Oh, but there's a wood steering wheel. Gotta keep it classy somehow, right?
Usually, I don't openly frown on a friend's car, but honestly.. I know this car has seen better hands, and at this stage, it's probably only destiny is to be wheeled around an empty Home Depot parking lot at a 45* angle whilst churning up a mixture of tire smoke and broken exterior parts. From what I understand, the exhaust has been replaced twice in the last seven months, and the front clip has been replaced as well. Aside from my snide comments about the workmanship, the owner is a nice guy, and does accept that most Nissan fans detest his car. Not the car, really, but the modifications done to it. I can only hope he does actually spruce up the SR20 so it can outrun the massive ugliness. As it is, it's just another half-assed "stance" car on a budget that's just waiting to get eaten up by the rough, pothole-filled streets of Minneapolis. And that's how it should be when you stance something and don't do it right.