When did JDM become Rice?

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Ok, I feel that I've had my hand on the vein that is the import tuner scene for about 5 years now, having read practically every issue of SCC, half the issues of Superstreet and researching, following and posting on various import message boards. Now I know that stickers are rice, big ugly body gits are rice and having a pep boys exhaust on an otherwise stock 91 civic hatch is with crappy paint and stock 13" aluminum wheels with spinner hubcaps is rice. Hell even the trusty roll cal is considered rice these days, which is a shame cause I actually like have a rollcall of all the companies that have parts in your car running down the doors or fenders. Meh. So this time last year JDM was all the rage, to be driving around in a tuned car with JDM lights or parts on your car meant you were cool and were on the inside of cutting edge. But lately I've been seeing on here that you guys make fun of JDM components like they are Rice. Did I miss something or JDM not considered cool anymore. Is JDM somethign only the honda guys get into or is it still cool. Someone explain this to me, I'm confused about you guy's perception of JDM.

Oh and you want rice, hows this for rice...I went to CompUSA back in January to get a DVD Burner for my PC that was on sale. Well I was walking from car to go in the store and there is the riciest thing I've ever seen. In all it's bass thumping glory a 97-98 Forest green Jeep Grand Cherokee comes rolling by, yellow and black neoprene seat covers on the front seats, Homie G white boy w/ Sixers hat backwards in the drivers seat and the windows tinted (drivers window was down cause it was a balmy 40 degrees out) and low and behold on the assend was one of those generic coffee can mufflers...Pep Boys Exhaust on a Jeep Grand Cherokee with Wal-mart seat covers...come the **** on dude, those are meant for cars, not SUV's.

[StatixNWH]

thats not rice man me and my friend keeps logs...we have well over 40 cars on file, our biggest one was an old gen eclipse wit yellow tail lights, the car was blue, a battlegtr yellow wing with the exhaust tips painted yellow, the backwindow had the biggest yellow APC sticker ive ever seen, as we circled around the car, there were yellow lightning decals going down the side....i think it had side skirts. the frount of the car had yes another yellow APC tent sticker, and yellow head lights remember now the car is like sky blue, it was horrible.

[1991S13]

I agree with you. I subscribe to Super Street and I used to get Import Racer, and JDM would be on pretty much every page. When JDM first hit big time I didn't have a car (wasn't old enough for my license). But now, it seems like anything JDM is made fun of; picked apart by the jack***es that put their own "JDM" parts on a Dodge Neon.

My perception of JDM is anything that comes from Japan. Isn't that the definition of the phrase "Japanese Domestic Market"? If you have a USDM s13, but you throw in an sr20 and go with the Silvia front end conversion, go ahead and put the Silvia badges on it. That is not TRULY JDM (we drive on the other side) but enough knowledge and money was put into it to deserve the title. This gets twisted and JDM is made fun of when Timmy goes to Wal*Mart and buys a windshield banner that says SILVIA and a coffee can muffler, then puts it on his USDM 240sx and tells friends to check out his JDM 240. There seems to be a fine line between JDM and Rice, and it is often unknowingly smeared.

Some people may actually consider my car to be "riced". Body kit (although it is not an extreme 2F2F type kit), 17" Konig rims, and the primer paint job. It may look faster than it really is, but I don't ride around revving my engine at everyone on the sidewalk and doing 80 mph through a school zone just to impress the kids. I even waited a few months so I could scrape up the extra couple hundred dollars so I could get the whole car primered instead of riding around with the oh-so-popular white body kit on a different color car that would SCREAM rice. What pisses me off is I spend my time working to get the money to make my car nicer, when the guy next door driving a 4 door Cavalier with a HUGE front bumper and blue tinted windows calls me a ricer.

It's the people who take an APC product and call it JDM that have rewened the true beauty of JDM parts. Some people go to great lengths to make their cars truly JDM, and don't get the credit they deserve because of the kids who call their very American car (or even German - VW tuners) JDM.

I think that yes, JDM is still nice, people are just cautious when they hear the term JDM because they do not know if it truly is JDM or not. Hopefully, the ricers die down (but they continue to thrive due to the great film industry) and everything will go back to normal.

[Looneybomber]

Hell even the trusty roll cal is considered rice these days, which is a shame cause I actually like have a rollcall of all the companies that have parts in your car running down the doors or fenders. Meh.

Personally, I think any sticker displaying any brand in/on your car (air filter, wheels, subs) is tacky unless they're required to be on their by your sponser. If you're not sponsered by them, why advertise for them?

So this time last year JDM was all the rage, to be driving around in a tuned car with JDM lights or parts on your car meant you were cool and were on the inside of cutting edge.

Seriously??? I thought supreme driving skills made someone cool/respected, not headlights?

But lately I've been seeing on here that you guys make fun of JDM components like they are Rice. Did I miss something or JDM not considered cool anymore. Is JDM somethign only the honda guys get into or is it still cool. Someone explain this to me, I'm confused about you guy's perception of JDM...

To me, I don't see a reason to replace some cosmetic part of your car if it is still functional. Why change the hood if the one you have looks just fine and the one you're replaceing it with weighs just as much?Why change headlights when the ones you have shine just fine? Or why change tail lights? My biggest thing is why change to RHD instead of LHD like every other vehicle in america (except mail trucks) is? To me that is STUPID! But my oppinion is my oppinion and everyone has their own. Some people want that stuff and others (like myself) would rather go for performance and saving money over being "JDM tyte yo!"

[S12Nick]

jdm is cool but it has to be true jdm not i have a gsr and put red honda badges on it plus jdm drives on the other side. if it comes from japan it is jdm only if it is the true full thing not just a few parts then my cat is jdm. mabey jdm styling but not true jdm.

[1991S13]

To me, I don't see a reason to replace some cosmetic part of your car if it is still functional. Why change the hood if the one you have looks just fine and the one you're replaceing it with weighs just as much?Why change headlights when the ones you have shine just fine? Or why change tail lights?

I forgot to touch on that in my post, Im glad you did. I see my car as a way of expressing what I am interested in. I don't want my car to look like every other 240 in the area, so I make cosmetic changes. Replacing body panels might be pointless, but it makes your car stand out from the crowd. I agree with your headlight/taillight opinion, I hate altezzas with a passion. I guess I could have just said to each his own, it is just illogical to change some things, but what would this forum be if all the cars were the same. Before long, JDM won't be recognized anymore because every JDM part you can think of has been grafted on to a USDM car.

[Looneybomber]

I forgot to touch on that in my post, Im glad you did. I see my car as a way of expressing what I am interested in. I don't want my car to look like every other 240 in the area, so I make cosmetic changes. Replacing body panels might be pointless, but it makes your car stand out from the crowd...

For me I don't really want to stand out so much. But that's why we have different factory and aftermarket options right?

[Chaotic_Warlord]

The reason people swap in the JDM headlights is because 9 times out of 10 they are HID projectors and are brighter than the ones that came stock on the USDM cars. while some of it is a matter of looks there are some JDM parts that are are performance focused IE the SR20DET. I'm not trying to validate going out and buying JDM parts, just trying to find out when it became rice. Don't get me wrong, I'm more about all go no show, but bodykits do serve a purpose. Bodykits not only give your car a distinctive look and show your personality and style but they also serve for aerodynamics purposes. I plan on getting a bodykit for my 240 but not until I've built up the engine, trans and suspension.

[S12Nick]

to me its all about being different that is why i drive an s12

[jdmfreak]

Im rice?

[SmithSR]

In the end you really gotta modify your car to your liking. If the scene has convinced you that a body kit will aid handling, then the terrorists have won.

[Red coupe]

Im rice?

yes... (internet sarcasm sucks...)

Id have to say its because of the mentality, Rice to me is typicaly people who make themselfs "racecars" by slapping a buch of astetic stuff on the on the car so othrs can tell how cool they are and how much money they have spent, and that CAN be along the same lines of what alot of JDM guys do now adays(or maby the JDM guys style got punked by the rices?) kinda hard to put into words EXPECIAL over the internet were its so easy to be mis-understood. but seriously do you think the majority of people doing sil. conversion are doing it because of better lighting?! id have to say thats wrong... the better lighting may be a deffinate bonus but Id hazord to guess that the majority of people driving around with sylvia front ends have it cause its JDM. Personaly I preffer the USDM front but I guess thats not really the question here...

If the scene has convinced you that a body kit will aid handling, then the terrorists have won.

serious Im stealing that for my signature...

[The 240 kid]

I think the only reason that JDM has become rice is that people who don't know look at say a Civic and see that it's customized. They don't care who it's from (WalMart or Japan).

[mkory]

I'm pissed that my neighbor will be driving here in a few months. She has a pretty sweet DSM, but, by the way she talks I know she's gonna rice the hell out of it. It's completely stock, turbo (not AWD), and her money has gone into it so far by way of seat covers and neons... PISSED.

There's about 8 imports in my community (3 or so being probes... HA) and all but mine and my friends stock 3kgt are riced to hell. It's hard not to be stereotyped all the time, even when I drive around NOT revving all the time and breaking traction every chance I get.

[M3Racer]

I kinda like real JDM stuff. I mean authentic stuff from Mugen and Spoon on a civic is something like. JDM became rice when people who didn't know what JDM is started using it for JDM Ebay exhausts. But I don't consider authentic JDM stuff ricey but thats just me.

[Dattebayo]

I dont think you know what "JDM" actually means.

JapaneseDomesticModel

Its a term to describe the spec or mechanical quirks of the model made only in that country. Its not a "style" thing until someone is copying something or tacking on meaningless labels.

In america, nothing sells your product more than a recognizable label.

[ace135cc]

only ricey "JDM" would be having your silvia emblem or some other random nissan lettering(K, Q, etc) on your american 240. even with your SR or CA, its still a 240, not a 180 or silvia.

[mkory]

While we're at it, how do you guys feel about people who take the lettering off other cars, to make theirs unique. IE: 260sx trunk lettering because of an rb26... ect?

[PantherRacer]

well...If I have no other choice butto buy a civic then I will rice it out(S14 front)...but at least respectably (for where I live anyways) lol. then I shall buy a Silvia or Cefiro and be 100% JDM lol. Tht cavalier guy can call him rice because he has a japanese spec car, from a Japanese car maker. Thats the way it goes...a guy who owns a mustang can call every 240 owner a ricer, just by that definition.

[Mr1der]

man...I remember wanting a jdm front bumper for my old '90 teg back in 2000......and some Mugen M7's for it.

it's not really rice by any means...it just depends on the person buying it.

usually the jdm gfx are way better looking...

[BomexS13]

Hell even the trusty roll cal is considered rice these days, which is a shame cause I actually like have a rollcall of all the companies that have parts in your car running down the doors or fenders. Meh.

Yes, roll call decals, when you're not sponsored, is rice. IMO

[Jesda]

On Cardomain some a$$ has an "FX55" and claimed he owned the first one. Moron.

[xyoufailmex]

Ok... I understand the function over form debate, but if thats the case, why dont we all go buy the most beat up S13 we can buy and puts all the money we can into performance. That means no S14s, no Z cars, etc. Best bang for the buck performance, right??

Personally, I had about 4 grand to put into my car. I had saved money and the AW11 broke down, so I wanted my OWN car, not a daddybought one. So, I had to make the decision of which to get... I found a few S14s for about my price... but, as far as looks go, I loved the S13 hatch+ koukis + silvia front. So, instead of putting that money into a S14, which is still stock mind you, I bought a S13, did these cosmetic changes, and now have a perfectly unique car that everybody in my area knows, that has clean styling. So, 4000 dollars later, I have a custom S13, as compared to your S14, which for the budget, is still stock. Catch my drift? *no pun intended*

[GEO]

I'm pissed that my neighbor will be driving here in a few months. She has a pretty sweet DSM, but, by the way she talks I know she's gonna rice the hell out of it. It's completely stock, turbo (not AWD), and her money has gone into it so far by way of seat covers and neons... PISSED.

There's about 8 imports in my community (3 or so being probes... HA) and all but mine and my friends stock 3kgt are riced to hell. It's hard not to be stereotyped all the time, even when I drive around NOT revving all the time and breaking traction every chance I get.

LAST time I checked, Probes were made by FORD and are not an import.. Anyway...

Talking about rice, hmmm lets see. I have a full 3" apexi exhaust system on my car, single canister and all. Now when people call my car rice, it kind of makes me furious. The reason is because of all the poor *** new drivers just getting their licenses and trying to make their car cool by putting a muffler tip on their 1.5" piping stock exhaust just for sound. I seriously don't believe in any kind of rice what so ever. I mean if you want to drive around with 30 spoliers on your trunk and a body kit that causes drag to impress the ladies. FINE, do it. I don't care, just don't bother me. Sure I will laugh when I see the typical kid driving around with cut springs bouncing all over the road cause his paycheck at McDonalds isn't enough to get a REAL spring / shock combo. I seriously hate it when people use the term rice as well, I am not offeneded by it or anything. It's just way over used and its like a broken record now. If I want to do a JDM conversion the walmart way with wal-mart silvia decals and a wal-mart SR20, then let me do it. I don't know, I am done with this subject.

[darkeagle]

I've never got the point to putting neons under the car. I see it this way, you need to work under your car at night, there you go instant "flash light".

All of our cars look the same as when we got them except or minor changes but nothing Drastic. I see it tis way unless it breaks or quits working it doesn't need replacing.

[SmithSR]

Ok... I understand the function over form debate, but if thats the case, why dont we all go buy the most beat up S13 we can buy and puts all the money we can into performance.

I did. What a feeling of satisfaction! Stock looking is always best.

[1991S13]

If I could go back, I wouldn't have spent any money on any cosmetic changes. I think "rice" is a phase. When I got my 240 I wasn't aware of the huge fanbase, all the aftermarket support, and possible engine swaps (whether it be JDM or not) until I found NICO. So I spent $1000+ on a body kit (plus installation and all that). Now, I wish I had a completely stock 240 with that $1000+ invested in performance parts.

Cause come on, is it worse to get beat by a nice looking fast car, or a plain looking fast car? Next car I get is going to be 100% sleeper.

[GEO]

I am working on my sleeper right now

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Alright, I don't know if you guys have actually seen some of the cars at Japanese car shows but some of it is just plain nasty looking, like Toyota Bb's (Scion Xb) with huuuuge front and rear bumpers(I'm talking park bench huge) with walls of 12 and 15 inch subs inside of them or the cars that some of the most respected tuner shops produce (Like that hot pink FD RX7 Ifini). Stateside those would be rice (maybe not the RX) but over there thay are the hottest cars on the road. Is this why it's referred to as being rice? I thought only the domestic muscleheads with the camaros and rustangs threw around the term ricer a lot. Ok so if you buy your parts at pepboys or autozone then hey you are screaming rice, if it's beyond tacky (huge double decker wings on the trunk of a stock civic coupe, thats rice. Sure somepeople don't realize people are just laughing at them but hey their loss our gain. JDM shouldn't be considered rice if you have other components on your car to make it perform or handle better. If you have a modded out civic or 240, but dont want anything more than the JDM bodykit and some authentic badging you shouldn't be called a ricer.

I'm kind of sick of people who build show cars being thrown into the same bag as people who just have no common sense and think their ugly pile isn't rice. Oh just so you know to score any real points at car shows you recieve points for the parts you have on your car, if it was NA and you turbo'd it you get points, depending on what body kit, wheels and paint you have on your car make or break an award winning show car. Personally I don't like trailer queens, I'd rather drive my built car every day. And yes I do intend on putting a body kit on my car, but not until it's turbo'd and lowered. Which wont happen until I rebuild and upgrade the parts in my engine and do a transmission swap.

[1991S13]

I think most people modding 240's try to replicate the JDM drift cars, not JDM show cars, and thats what gets them "rice" status. An authentic s13 drift car may need the big wing, but a daily driven s13 owned by a high school student does not need one, so they get called rice. Hell, in the majority of drift pics/videos I have seen the front bumpers are torn off and the cars are 14 different colors - when will that JDM trend catch on?

I agree that if someone wants to build an all show no go trailer queen, more power to them. I think they are the cars that get the younger generation into tuning. And I don't think people who shop at Autozone or Pep Boys should be called ricers - unless all they buy is neon light bulbs and "JDM" shift knobs that on the back of the box boast that they are "100% Made in America."

Rice - One that attempts to make a car look nice/go faster by adding the cheapest, tackiest parts they can find.

Non-Rice - Someone who drives a domestic car, stock foreign car, or someone who carefully plans out their modifications, and spend a significant amount of time and money to enhance the performance and/or cosmetic aspects of their car.