This is just me trying to clarify some things… I’m not trying to bash anything or say that there’s a right way or wrong way or anything like that. I just feel like this has to be said. Mmkay? No hating. I’m not here to hate.
I like Function
I don’t think anyone can take this as surprise, but I come from the “form follows function” camp. I love how my Miata’s lip and splitter look, but I love them even more because both are fully functional.
I’m apt to say things like, “If it doesn’t make me faster, it doesn’t need to be on my car.”
I adore my Enkei RPF1’s because they’re incredibly light-weight racing wheels that aren’t stupid expensive. They also look hella good in my opinion.
Function before form in my Miata build.
I enjoy driving my Miata around cones and on the track… Which requires things like suspension travel. I currently live in a state that’s less than friendly to low-stanced cars, and my Miata’s a ‘97, the tallest year for the NA. (I think I knew why once upon a time, but I can’t think of why right now. They just are… All of them.)
I also like Form
My 240SX is an exercise in balancing form and function. I want her to be able to drift… But she’s also mainly my cruise around and look pretty car. It would be fun to have a car that’s not super slow but also looks good. S13’s pull that off really well, I think.
I plan on paying attention to the aesthetics of my Sil-Eighty build — Everything from the Silvia front-end conversion, to the gold VS-XX’s I want to the Midnight Purple Pearl color she’ll end up is meant to make one gorgeous looking but not slow car. I’m not sure I could tolerate just a pretty exterior and a neglected interior. I want her to be more than just a pretty face.
However, I’m not going to super extremes and compromising complete functionality for the form. I want the SR20DET swap to mean something, other than just being JDM. I want her to look good and kick some tail too, whereas the Miata can have faded paint and I’m not too worried about my little track warrior.
The fitment lovers should be happy when my 240SX is done, here she is currently. Big plans though.
Think of her as my show build, sort of, but taking into account my love of improving cars as far as performance goes.
What I don’t get is…
Why people go to extreme lengths to build cars that they either won’t drive, can’t drive or are damn near impossible to drive. Like, omg I can’t take it anywhere because I’m afraid I won’t make it kind.
Why a FWD car needs crazy rear camber just to fit wheels. Doesn’t that make the car handle awkward?
Why anyone would put performance work into a car with an air suspension. It’s never gonna get used, it’s just there… Isn’t that a bit of a waste just to say, “Hey, look what I’ve got”?
What I’m not saying:
It’s pointless to build cars that make you happy. If it makes you happy, far be it from me to tell you otherwise.
Rear camber isn’t ever necessary on FWD cars. When you cross that line, though, you’re only setting yourself up for some nasty bouts of understeer. I know understeer and I know oversteer, and there’s no way in hell I would ever do something to induce understeer. It just plain sucks. (And can be very dangerous. Especially if you’re setting your car up for that and adding power at the same time.)
It’s a waste of money to pay attention to all areas of your car. I understand that show cars are judged based on everything, which I don’t get. Wouldn’t you rather have another set of wheels than a turbo upgrade you won’t ever get to fully enjoy?
The Take-Away Points
I will always love a car with a good stance, be it stance from function or stance for form.
I do not like when the form-first guys try to act like their cars beat my function-first ones. You get mostly one or the other, there are compromises to be made. If you don’t track your car, I don’t care if you think yours can beat mine on the track… Prove it then.
There are some things I just do not get because I don’t understand why people would do them. When I wonder these things aloud or in comments, I’ve had people jump down my throats for it. I get that you can’t tell my meaning, but I’m not saying it to be negative. I am genuinely trying to understand why it came out that way, and would like it if someone would take the time to gently point it out for me.
Because of the perceived negativity, I often don’t check comments again after something I think people will get mad about… So I really don’t gain anything from it. I’ve seen enough people ripped apart on the internet to know that it’s probably happened to me and it can get very ugly.
I hate when people act like everything they see is the greatest thing ever. Just because a blog that you agree with most of the time posts something, that doesn’t mean you have to like it… Cars would be very boring if everyone had the same tastes.
I also do not like it when someone who does something different gets an inflated opinion of themselves… Congrats for doing something different, but that doesn’t make it the most amazing thing ever. And it never detracts from someone doing a “traditional” build. There’s something to be said when you work with the tried and true and put your own spin on it.
Does this make me a bad person? Can you see my points? It’s ridiculous how many times I’ve tweaked this post, just to make sure it’s got the right tone I’m trying to project….
No related posts.
Well, I won’t pretend that I have 1/20th of your knowledge or passion about cars, but maybe that’s a good thing because I can totally understand your Form Follows Function line of thought.
I’m a practical person, and though I have my personal fanaticist demons to cherish, things have got to make sense. If you’re going to build the super-coolest-car-ever, then I should hope that all the modifications make sense, are usable, and contribute to the overall performance, safety and looks of the car.
I’m not in the camp of doing something just for the sake of doing it or just because it seems cool but doesn’t actually integrate well or function well.
Have I got the gist of it?
Pretty much…
Let me see if I can add it in financial terms:
It’s like saving money for retirement, a little bit, but blowing through a lot more and using credit cards. Well, congrats, you did something that makes sense. (You saved for the future = modifying for performance, in this case.) But then you went out and basically ruined what you did by doing something that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense coupled with that. (Here, putting yourself into what would be high-interest debt, the car equivalent of putting your form over your function.) I think that should make it easier to see, maybe.
But you really do get the idea as far as I can tell.
I have yet to draw out a good car:fashion analogy, it’s sorely overdue haha.