That EURO Look

[4felix20]

I'm not really into the whole flashy, super agressive JDM look. I like that euro look ALOT more. Does anyone know what i mean? I'm gonna try and go for that real smooth look. just brainstorming...

[skydragoness]

You mean a subdued, clean look overall? Not hard. Just keep things simplistic. If anything a lot of euro cars are subdued looking, but real sleepers.

[BomexS13]

If you wnat EURO look, then buy a EUROpean car

[4felix20]

yeah...kind of like that. just way more clean and refined looking. something not with racing wheels. i don't know, it's kind of hard for me to explain what i'm imagining it to look like.

[4felix20]

i just don't want something that looks like an all out race car..

[PGBrian]

GP sports roof and mini spoilers are winners.

[Juujai]

your probably thinking about osmething like a bmw 3 series, audi a4, audi s4, saab,

i think 240s with a lot of money can look way better than that.

theres 2 types of jdm looksoem jdm and jdm jdm loljdm jdm is with crazy vented cf hood, bronze/gold rims with deep deep dish, crazy shiny paint jobs, bucket seat with the rest of the car stripped and really big angled exhausts that shoot out fireballs =)

oem jdm is more like a clean look with side skirts, bumper, rear valence. i think that looks really clean and the interior can look european also with a little money. just redo the car into suede and leather. jdm can be lowered with nice rims also. with rims like bbs especially itll look more european but that crap is more expensive than the car itself

[VmaN!]

PDM's setup is pretty low key

http://www.pdm-racing.com/products/bodykits.html

o wait..its not JDM ^^

[wickedpelf]

i think i know what u mean...nothing really flashy..but nice and clean, not stock looking, but not all out crazy looking...just a nice little wing, clear turn signals...etc, but while i was in europe this summer i saw what they call the "200sx" which is the JDM 180sx..or our 240sx hatch...it looked exaclty like the 240sx only it had fender markers, and the center peice to the taillights said 200sx...other than that it looked the same...

[WingsNThangs]

Generally, I believe the "Euro" look is factory stock or factory upgrades.

German cars are pride of European cars, and because they are generally designed so well out of the factory to start off, enthusiasts tend not to modify them the way JDM tuners do. I'm not gonna deny it, at least older ones, stock Japanese cars, as much as i love em, cannot compare to the solid build quality to comparative stock German cars. Japanese cars just arent built as well (in the past at least), and German cars are, and thus German car owners/enthusiasts feel no need to resort to fancy, superfluous, unnecessary upgrades.

I dont think I'm alone when I consider OEM stock parts to be more reliable and safe bet when compared to aftermarket parts, despite the claims in improvement in performance aftermarket brands claim.

If you had, say, a Porsche 944, would you only want genuine Porsche factory parts on it? I sure as hell would. More pure, more timeless, better reputation, better resale value.

Of course there are always exceptions to the general rule, and there will always be cases where some guy will say "thats not true, i personally owned this benz and its ****ty compared to my toyota."

So if you want to go for that "Euro" look on your Japanese car (if that is even possible", stay stock for the most part, consider the style of the car and its era of production, where the market was, and make decisions accordingly. For example, 2000 Nissan GTR34 rims would look unnatural on a 1991 Nissan 240SX, whereas 1992 GTR32 or Z32 rims would probably be more fitting.

I personally strive for the stock look. However I do disagree with the stock fender-wheel gap on S13's as I think it is ridiculously and unnaturally large, but lowering it 1-1.5" should give it the standard stock look of the times. Other than that, forget the shiny shift knobs, the decals, and the kouki tails. I strive to perfect the chuki 240SX they way that it should have been released to the public 14 years ago.

[Juujai]

about the porsche, if you just wanna drive it around, race a little/track sell it,then id go original parts all the way. but if im interested in power and handling the original parts cant compare with a tuned car. im a guy that likes performance and lots of aftermarket parts are reputable/long lasting but some people lik eit all original.

some cars have timeless styling though, i think the s13 is a little more 80s 90s loooking not all jdm cars are like that

[Juujai]

chuki 180s are nice, but koukis are nice too. chuki is not that hard to do skirts, turning signals i think. i think the original taillights on the hatch looks alright if the car is clean. my opinion changes and grows though, sometimes i dont liek things and after tiem it grows into me

[MarkEmark]

Generally, I believe the "Euro" look is factory stock or factory upgrades.

German cars are pride of European cars, and because they are generally designed so well out of the factory to start off, enthusiasts tend not to modify them the way JDM tuners do. I'm not gonna deny it, at least older ones, stock Japanese cars, as much as i love em, cannot compare to the solid build quality to comparative stock German cars. Japanese cars just arent built as well (in the past at least), and German cars are, and thus German car owners/enthusiasts feel no need to resort to fancy, superfluous, unnecessary upgrades.

I dont think I'm alone when I consider OEM stock parts to be more reliable and safe bet when compared to aftermarket parts, despite the claims in improvement in performance aftermarket brands claim.

If you had, say, a Porsche 944, would you only want genuine Porsche factory parts on it? I sure as hell would. More pure, more timeless, better reputation, better resale value.

Of course there are always exceptions to the general rule, and there will always be cases where some guy will say "thats not true, i personally owned this benz and its ****ty compared to my toyota."

So if you want to go for that "Euro" look on your Japanese car (if that is even possible", stay stock for the most part, consider the style of the car and its era of production, where the market was, and make decisions accordingly. For example, 2000 Nissan GTR34 rims would look unnatural on a 1991 Nissan 240SX, whereas 1992 GTR32 or Z32 rims would probably be more fitting.

I personally strive for the stock look. However I do disagree with the stock fender-wheel gap on S13's as I think it is ridiculously and unnaturally large, but lowering it 1-1.5" should give it the standard stock look of the times. Other than that, forget the shiny shift knobs, the decals, and the kouki tails. I strive to perfect the chuki 240SX they way that it should have been released to the public 14 years ago.

I agree completely....subtle and understated are a lot better than extravagant and overstated. For example, my brother's A4 1.8T compared to a subaru wrx or evo 7 (which, in my opinion, are 2 of the ugliest "look at me I'm a boy-racer!" sedans ever made).



It doesn't need to stand out to make a statement....the cleaner the better, that means no unnecessary ugly wings, etc.

[mrflip69]

It doesn't need to stand out to make a statement....the cleaner the better, that means no unnecessary ugly wings, etc.

Funny how you mention about "unnecessary wings", and post an Audi

[Juujai]

yeah theyre ugly but its a rally car leav eit alone all of them are ugly. you should compare it to like

your brother is a baller though with the bbsbut seriously i think the a4 from the side looks like a maxima. i think any bmw 3series looks better than the a4. but thats my opinion. but the a4 has a crazy motor 5valves per cylinder ahhh trueno motor!!! lol

i dunno though i prefer jdm over anything. my cousin ha san a4 too. i always make fun of him. its like u throw so much money into it for performance whats the use. hes in a class where there are other luxury cars like benz/porsche pushing 400-600hp no matter how much he dumps hes still crappy

[MarkEmark]

Funny how you mention about "unnecessary wings", and post an Audi

Mind explaining yourself?

I don't see any superfluity on his car....and compared to an Evo or an STI, it's the polar opposite in terms of understatement vs. overstatement, which was the point I was trying to make.

I like the A4 alot better than the BMW 3 series, even though the 3 series (some of them) may look better...I've never been able to see BMW 3 series as anything more than a yuppie starbucks-going woman's car, and I think they're extremely over-rated and expensive for their "performance." Not to mention, his A4 has a lot more tuning potential than a n/a 3 series (1.8 liter turbocharged inline four) and has AWD stock. It's a decently fast car too...I've driven it...nothing like my car but it's a very nice car IMO. With a K04 turbo upgrade, they make 240+ hp...that's plenty to beat on a lot of cars out there.

Furthermore, keep in mind that the A4 is Audi's entry level sedan...it doesn't compete with 400-600 hp porsches (supercars) or mercedes by any means. It competes with cars like the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C class, etc.

Anyway, to each his own.

[mrflip69]

You misunderstand. I do admire the clean, classy look of the many european auto manufacturers. I mentioned Audi because of the TT. When the car was first released, it had a major handling problem, due to a missing rear spoiler. I am in no way bashing the aesthetics, in fact I find the A4 quite pleasing to the eye. I just wanted it to be clear that while on some cars things like spoilers and body kits may be extraneous, the opposite holds true as well. Food for thought... maybe ricers got it right after all?

[hannibal]

That A4 is sweet!!

[HashiriyaS14]

compared to a subaru wrx or evo 7 (which, in my opinion, are 2 of the ugliest "look at me I'm a boy-racer!" sedans ever made).

WRXs and EVOs look the way they do for a reason...

AWD cars have pretty high offsets, so the fender flares let them mount wider wheels.

The hood scoop on the Subie is totally functional, and a TMIC is really preferable there for most demands as it requires less piping, and thus generates less lag.

The wings are FUNCTIONAL. I owned a wingless WRX, and that thing was all over the place on the highway at speed, big mistake. My friends' STI, with the big wing, is rock solid at high speeds. And you can't just lower them instead of putting the wing on, because that reduces their dirt/gravel functionality, and REAL WRX/EVO enthusiasts don't confine their babies to tarmac (I didn't).

Yes, the A4 is a prettier car, and will probably get more respect from a valet. An Evo RS is both less attractive and more capable, but will get more respect from the guy you just passed at Summit Point. Personally, I prefer the latter type of respect, but I suppose it's up to you.

[MarkEmark]

WRXs and EVOs look the way they do for a reason...

AWD cars have pretty high offsets, so the fender flares let them mount wider wheels.

The hood scoop on the Subie is totally functional, and a TMIC is really preferable there for most demands as it requires less piping, and thus generates less lag.

The wings are FUNCTIONAL. I owned a wingless WRX, and that thing was all over the place on the highway at speed, big mistake. My friends' STI, with the big wing, is rock solid at high speeds. And you can't just lower them instead of putting the wing on, because that reduces their dirt/gravel functionality, and REAL WRX/EVO enthusiasts don't confine their babies to tarmac (I didn't).

Yes, the A4 is a prettier car, and will probably get more respect from a valet. An Evo RS is both less attractive and more capable, but will get more respect from the guy you just passed at Summit Point. Personally, I prefer the latter type of respect, but I suppose it's up to you.

My car certainly isn't a head-turner in the looks department and I much prefer the respect you refer to as well...but if we're talking about expensive sports sedans, they should be evoking both types of respect. It's one thing if a $5000 10 year old car doesn't look that hot, but a $30,000 brand new car better damn well at least look nice. Again, I prefer function over form to an extent, but it definitely depends on the application; I'm just saying that I think their engineers could have done a bit better of a job without making them hideous and sticking out like bruised, bloody thumbs with hideously overgrown fingernails.

I'm not doubting that the wings aren't functional, although I read recently somewhere about a lightweight, stripped down HIGHER PERFORMANCE evo version that comes sans wing....Look at the Ferrari Enzo and 360 modena, F430, 190+ mph corvette z06, BMW M3, Audi s4, nissan 350z ....no wings, yet they all go as fast(er). And since the STI and Evo CAN compete with some of the aforementioned cars, then it follows that they should be able to do so without the wings. To me, they look like huge "oops, i forgot about that" afterthoughts. Subaru and Mitsubishi know enough about racing that the cars could have been developed to be aerodynamically efficient and with enough downforce without wings, but it's obvious that'd detract from the market segment these cars are targeted at.

Furthermore, since when do all AWD cars have high offsets? My brother's AWD A4 has lower offset stock than my RWD nissan 240sx.

A TMIC may prevent lag due to less piping, and for a boxer engine I'm sure it's a lot easier to mount there, but it's not exactly efficient sitting right there on top of the engine in a stiflingly hot engine bay. But hey, hood scoops are cool, I guess, if you like staring at some big box in front of you every time you take the car out. I think the Evo engineers (and Audi, Saab, Volvo, Nissan, etc etc) recognized the merits of a FMIC/SMIC mounted down and away from the engine bay and placed its intercooler, more appropriately, in the front. Again, I understand it's a lot harder to plumb a FMIC for a boxer 4, but if all those aftermarket companies offer FMIC kits for the WRX, it couldn't have been THAT hard. But if they did that, then the WRX would lose that aggressive hood-scoop (again detracting from the market segment it garners sales from). In regards to the lag comment, there was barely a negligible increase in lag when my car was non-intercooled with maybe 1/3 the length of piping vs. after it was intercooled with a lot of piping....

Anyway, this thread was about the subtle euro look, and both the japanese evo and sti are the stark antithesis to that. I'm just using them as examples, regardless of the functionality of such add-ons. That said, my opinion stands.

[Juujai]

okay audi a4 is cooler. why do u say the bmw 3 series is a starbucks girls car? i can say the most people that drive 240s cant drift for crap and pretty much cant really drive too and benz is an old mans car so what. most people that buy entry/middle level luxury sports sedans do it to show off or look good right. for an older person maybe a real estate agent its to look good to get some sales. for a younger person its to dig chicks or whatever. i feel if i were to drive a car like that itd have to be known/ pretty popular. benz/ bmw seems to suit those needs to me more. but its my own opinion dont take it to the heart. i dont feel it needs to be fast or anything it just needs to look good and be known.

i feel tuning an audi a4 is kind of like tuning a newer model corolla. even if you get like 200-220hp off a corolla. lets say a corolla costs around 15-16k u dump in a turbo kit and built the motor. that ends up costing more than buying a higher end car. i look at it like this the 240 is a relatively cheap car i prefer the 89s-93s because its cheap to obtain. and i wouldnt get a 95-98 because the cost to performance ratio is lower. for the price of a kouki i could probably get an mr2t or a newer model rx7.


Modified by Juujai at 8:24 PM 1/18/2005