What do you guys usually say to your friends, family, etc. when they tell you that modding your car is a waste of money and you should save it?

 

i just say that it's a hobby of mine and that i get enjoyment out of it.

 

I don't think there's anything wrong with having a hobby. There are much worse things that you could be spending your money on.

If you're not using the money you need for mortgage payments or paying for dental bills, etc., and it really is "disposable" income, then I say go for it.

But I'm sure the people who are saying those things to you are saying it only because they care about you, so go easy on them.

 

I'd just tell them its my money, and I should spend it however I want. Same goes to other people's whip no matter how ugly it is to you.

 

True that. One of my buddies that has been in the car scene told me "yeah it is a lot of money, but if its what you like, then go for it."

I guess you could say its DI, but I guess it's what you value your money in...

 

I would tell them that a giant chunk of Americans are just wasting their money then & have been doing so since the 60's.

Modifying cars has been around forever. People get bored of what they have, and are always looking for more power/performance. It's a hobby all car people love. So we're "wasting" money. I can argue someone's wasting money dumping money into their house to make it look nicer.

Don't like it? Don't worry about, not your cash.

This isn't directed towards anyone here, this is just my view on these folks who don't understand the hobby.

 

My mom still tells me that shit to this day. Just make sure you take car of your priorities first. Its just a hobby of something you call your own and is a way of expressing yourself.

 

Your right. I guess it's what we value in money. Just like computer guru's paying 500+ for a video card, or women paying 1k and up for purses.

 

Not taking sides with people who aren't enthusiastic about cars, but they do have a point in that putting money into fixing up your house is usually a better use of money in that the house typically will appreciate in value over time whereas our cars, well, you know what I'm getting at.

 

Jesus fucking christ tell me about it. How do women possibly justify $2000 handbags that are the size of my hand, $800 shoes, etc...

 

Wow I really like this thread. Never really crossed my mind that sombody would make somthing like this. It is of course a heated argument at my house. My usual response is one of two. "Its my money, thats what I want to spend it on", or "Im not going to be young forever, I wana mod up my car and/or do somthing stupid since im young". When you look at it, it's not the smartest thing to do. Its fun but not the smartest thing. If your spending every last dime you have on your car then I guess they have a right to say somthing. From what Ive read most of the members here do "break the bank" modding up their car. Wether thats right or not I guess is up to you. I make good money now but I plan on makin alot more down the road. So the whole not being able to mod up my car in the future is a load of BS, I just say it to get them off my back. Ima have my weekend car and the minivan!! (a motorcycle wouldnt hurt either)

Just make sure you get your priorities straight and if you have some extra money. MOD UP

 

I usually tell them that they are right... and ask them to tell me about their hobbies.. and take it from there...

 

I tell them it's better than spending my money on crack.

Can't argue. I don't think they want to by then either. Hah. Perfect answer.

 

Good point. I suppose dle had better examples with the computers & women's purses examples.

 

My parents gave up on telling me what to do a long time ago.

 

Yeah I get crap too, but now I get praises.

Here's what you can say..
"Why do you have an intake"
Reponse: "It saves gas" <-- hahaha, we all know it doesn't with our heavy foots.

"Why do you need a body kit for $900?"
Response "Aerodynamics.. better gas!" hahaha

You get my point, twist the truth around. These are responses to my elders, but to my friends, they know wasup.

 

Whenever people ask how much I've spent, they always tend to follow it with a ,"Why that much"? Because just like your exotic cars, developing performance parts for these cars isn't cheap. My buddies can't believe I spent a grand for ATLP's exhaust, but they won't understand til' April.

 

Tell them your helping out the economy in these times of automotive crisis!!

i tell them its a hobby. and that i do it cuz thats what i like to do.

My after spending 2G's last week on the car.

 

I tell em its better than spending money on doing bad things....plus im MECP so im certified to hook up cars and write it off on taxes (the parts that is)....its how i make money so it works out to some degree.

 

Well I am gonna be having a conversation with my dad about this in the near future. He told me "Do you fucking hate money". I am in debt but I am making payments on time on all my bills and I always tend to have at least 1500$ in my bank account Now I am saving up a little more and hoping to get a good tax return so I can get rims and lower my car. Offcourse my dad thinks its a bad idea and he probably wont speak to me for a good month. And a little tip, do not borrow money from your parents

 

I'll agree, people spend money on things they enjoy. In my house we have an understanding, if a purchase is more than $1000 my husband and I will discuss it, if it is under $1000 we just buy it and discuss it later. Most of the time we support eachother, but it is give and take too. I supported his decision to buy a new $12,000 street bike so he really can't say anything about the $ I spend on modding.

As far as my other family and friends, they are just haters anyway so what does it matter? My husband and I have owned our own home since we have been 19 and pay for everything ourselves, no help from anyone. Normally our parents do not question or concern themselves with what we spend out $ on.

And for the record I have NEVER spent more than $500 on a handbag, or $200 on shoes.

 

I agree with most of what's been said.
I think as long as you put your main responsibilities first, then why should they care what you do to have some fun? I'm dealing with that too, all of my friends have pretty much moved away, and my car is all i have to keep me occupied... besides my wife

 

Good posts guys. I was just wondering because I get a lot of crap from people saying that car modding is a waste of money and its annoying. One of the guys told me to screw the wheels and get a bike instead. (I guess its for attention)

Then the other one just said don't tell anyone and just magically appear with it. They won't say anything because the modification you just did will keep them speechless.

 

Well maybe not you, but majority of the women that are into big designer name brand handbags.

 

I dated a girl one time that could care less about cars and especially about modding. My friends always mentioned the GN and she just didn't get it. I was 28 back then and she was 38, very conservative, and rich. She was one of those women that thought cars were stupid.

So one day she told me (2 months after we started dating) since my friends talked the car up so much I should take her for a ride.

I took it out of storage, ran it around for a few minutes to warm it up and then hammered it. This conservative uptight business woman was now screaming like a little girl and would not let me take the car home. I went through an entire tank of gas that night and had to go to the airport for another tank full that we used up. Every time I would go to take it back she would ask for one more trip around the block.

That was my standard answer, to take people for a ride when they questioned why I like to mod my cars and it usually shut them up.

 

Put it this way....I start with the words....Fu** Y*u.

I might add....I am on my second woman since I bought this car. lol


dude....I hear the same thing every week! dont sweat it.

 

 

Oh, don't get me wrong I am the coach handbag queen but I just can't justify spending more than $500 on one. Canal St (NYC) for the win!!!

 

I wish i had money, I need it so i can finish my big project to unveil to AZ

 

lol canal street!!! thats true though

 

After the knock-down drag-out arguement, I usually stay at a hotel for a couple of nights. Then, I send flowers and/or candy.

Finally, I sneek all my mods in from that point forward when no one is looking. I've had to bribe the UPS guy to deliver before 4PM, even if that means waiting an extra day for delivery. A $20 each delivery usually does the trick.

I've also built a false back panel into the garage cabinets where I can hide my "stash". If I keep the OE parts, I use misc t-shirt, towel or golf equipment boxes - these blend in like camoflauge.

Finally, NEVER EVER let anyone other than you open the hood; it is certain death.




.

 

ROFL that is AWESOME Bearcat!! It's true too, isn't it??

 

About half.

You guys can have fun imagining which 1/2.

 

A Related Thread:

HOLY SHIZ!!! The wife noticed!!!!

 

My neighbor has a car he races at Summit Point W. Va. He is in the SCCA and races a Mini Cooper. This is his 4th car thru the years. His house is extremely nice and they are very comfortable if you know what I mean. His family lacks for nothing. One day we were in his driveway looking at his car and wifey comes out of the house and angrily says "If you didn't spend so much on racing I could buy that new living room set I want". To that he replied "I work. I pay for it all. If I were married to someone else, I'd still race. If I were single, I'd race. If you were to die tomorrow, I'd still race. Got it?" She immediately made some sort of ugly expression and quickly turned and went back inside. That was five years ago, he still races and they are still together.

Me, I don't care what they say or think. Cars and performance involve understanding concepts like compression, gases, fuel, temperature, power, weight, torque, gearing, lubrication, metals, tools, use of this website and on and on and on. What other hobby is so rewarding and enjoyable to minds like ours? More than once I've said "If it weren't for minds out there like mine, humans would still be getting around on horses".
That's just my 2CW.

 

whenever someone tells me that this is what i say:"well i personally look at it as discretionary spending, I'm trying to help the economy by spending on items other than the basic needs. and by doing that i will be keeping jobs for people in the automotive industry".

I'm also single dont drink,smoke,or do drugs. so what else am i suppose to spend my money on??? and i still have enough money to put aside as savings. By the time i say all that shit most people just shut up.

 

I keep threatening to add up the money I've spent on my Type S since I've purchased the car. I haven't done it yet...kinda scared to. But between modding my car and my time spent on Acurazine, it keeps me off the porn sites! (hee hee)

 

I usually get my stuff shipped to my friends house, put it on and go home. If someone notice that somethings different I try to convince them that I found it cheaper at some garage sale and bought it. I did that for wheels, bought them from a member here on Azine and told my parents that I paid $100 for it. No worries, didn't say a word. Trying to figure out what the hell to say about taillights....lol

 

Say one of your lights cracked and you went to the dealer looking for 1 of them. And since our cars are 1 gen old now, the dealer had a set on hand that they wanted to get rid of. the parts manager was nice enough to give them to you for 100 bucks for the set.

 

Yeah i mean i think most people Mod their car because it makes them happy, some want to stand out of the crowd, some want to go faster, handle better.

Now whether you should be saving money or putting into your car is dependent on how much extra cash you got lying around.

I mean if the wife is saying don't waste money on that $1k exhaust, and your behind on bills, shes right.

But if anyone else whos not dependent on your cash flow tells you to stop wasting money on your car, i would tell them to " Mind your own Bidness!" haha.