When you bought your house did you decorate it to how you wanted it? If you needed more space did you extend or move house?

It's all about your taste. Some people are happy to buy a car and use it to get from A-B and some people enjoy their cars and have them as a hobby. Why not modify them? we are happy to waste what little money we get spare and for me is my only escape from work and family life. I would have liked to have kept my vrs but the mileage I was doing meant it wasn't viable but I now have a car that's almost as much fun but costs alot less than the vrs and it's a bit more special to me than a standard vrs.

I think you will find that there are only a handfull of people on this site that act like your lexus oik. You can answer this by asking yourself how many octavia's have you seen drive like that? there will always be 1 or 2 of every car out there, it doesn't mean we are all like that.

We all have a love for the car/brand/club. come along to a meet somewhere and see what we are all really about, if you still think it's a waste of time then you can always leave.

Point taken. I would not decorate the house or at least I would not make the decisions - her in doors "the exchequer" would. I did move to a bigger house with a bigger mortgage, with a garage and a drive and more space to stick things in. But we are happy to do things as and when and to add value. I would not do things to the house which corrodes the value? which is what I was getting at in my little rant.

I love restoring cars and I think you have all taken it the wrong way. I am clearly an indifferent person to you guys, oh and girlies? I can see some people like their cars probably more than they would like to admit, to themselves. We have all played Grand Turismo at some point, which ever version? it just seems there are a core of drivers I am getting at who want more and more and more? If you bolt this or that bit on like in the game it makes you win. I real life who really cares if you can stuff a silly old fart in a MPV at the motorway slip road. You wouldn't do it to a police car unless it was unmarked and you were daft? Showing off is what it is all about. Theres is nothing I like to see more than a car (that I like) to be in the condition I would like it, and driven by someone who loves, that it makes everyones heads turn. However, I bet when you see some little chav with his 4 spotty mates in their matching Burbury caps in his clapped out Corsa which he has lovingly molested with his pocket money pulling away from the lights in a blackboard wrenching squeal of rubber, you all say the same as me "What a Wan**er" (we were all him at some point in our lives - less the cap in my case) I've changed and for the good I think.

We all know what Skoda RS says on the tin and it does it? they don't really turn heads and blend in with other cars, but everyone knows what they are capable of, so respect they're reputation. That's why the Fuzz use them as unmarked cars. You don't need silly dump valves and go faster re-maps (I have found also) you need to be content with it as standard. Putting stuff into it weighs you down in debt. The car you lovingly bought that you own - I hate to say, now owns you!

I was always to taught about money and to be practical with it. "Thats me in a nutshell" I can't understand why someone would spend good money for a short-term gain "that feel good factor" but then realize that it cost the earth for very little gain. My own brother is the same. He kitted out is VW Polo (diesel) a few years ago. It had everything possible done on it you could lament. He went to trade it in for a Golf R32 - and the dealer would not even give it a look over because it was modified. He was fuming and spent the best part of a month returning it to standard. There was several grands worth of mods on it? what a load of old pony! He got a good price for it in the end and got his Golf.

I have grown up in a family full of mechanics and engineers. My father worked VAG and for the imfamous Group B Audi S1 Rally team in the 1980's on Michèle Mouton and Fabrizia Pons car, when I was a child. He also worked on the Audi GT Prototype Le Mans Du 24 Heures cars over the years. I am very mechanically minded but also very opinionated and lively. I love cars as a hobby too! Much more than my wife sometimes likes as I disappear in the garage for whole week-ends. I admit I am a purist and returning battered and beaten cars to mint order. I have only been driving for 12 years and at the last count of cars I have had too many to remember them all but last count was well over 35 cars in the past 5 years I've been married, and the year before we met. so you could double that figure really.

As I said - when you start driving you do fanny about a bit putting pure trash and your own corny stamp on the car. My first car was a horrid little Mini on a 1979 "W" I spent the best part of a £1500 on just altering the engine from 1275cc to 1475cc and adding big twin inlets and manifolds and an stainless exhaust. I maxed out a credit card or two at 18 doing it, and my insurance was diabolical at £1200 back then. The car was fantastic fun which defied physics and there was nothing I could remember on the road out of my friends who could beat it in and drag from the lights. It looked rubbish and standard in it's pageant blue paint. I ended up selling it to my ex-driving instructor for £500 and lost a fortune in the process and still having to pay for the credit cards for the following years.

This extravagant lesson in economics taught me a big lesson - "Less is more", like my dad said, and he is nearly always right, so I respect his guidance 95% of the time. My next car was going to be good from the start, not a heap to do up My second car was a red 2.2litre 1987 "D" Audi GT Coupe. I had it for a couple of years and did not modify it at all, just washed it and put petrol in it. When I sold it I got more money than I paid for it. They are cars that still hold their value even to this day if you have got a good one. That's my point in all this cockamamie. Most of you (who are that bit older these days like myself) are still doing what we all did (including myself) when we were mere kids. I have had some real classic cars in the past few years to play with.

Concours winning Alfasud Ti - 28K miles best in the country - was a wreck when I bought it for £253 off Ebay - Sold it to a collector up North for £4000. He said it is the most original one in the country (no crunch in 2nd gear either) a real rarity itself

Mk1 Renault 5 Gordini Turbo - was more than a wreck when I bought it for £350 sold for £3400 - DVLA said there were only 66 of these cars left in the UK and this one is about the best you can get outside of the Renault Museum.

Bought for £250 - was a bit of a minger and odd job lot and sold for £1400 - never like them wheels they came with the car and suited the car I suppose so didn't bother changing - had them of a Mk2 golf in past were OK when they came out

This was the biggest pile of rust in the world - worse than the 1966 one I have got now. 1972 1200 - was a really nice ride in the end - not a show winner but high quality finish, great fun and head turner.

£50 of Ebay - 2 week turnaround £750 Bang = gone - and the condition just after I picked up the Afasud from Crystal palace in London and the finished car above. people love standard cars

£300 from guy in Pompey month later gone for £900

A tastefully customized Alfa Sprint? Great fun and a real head turner.

Just shows you what you can do with standard stuff with the exception of the Alfa Sprint.

In most cases lowering the car alters the cars geometry so much it ruins the ride and comfort all together. I know from my fathers racing years that race bred cars are nothing like the ones we drive, they are hard and unforgiving. You don't get a real sensation of why you put tuning parts on on our cars unless you got a racing circuit to play with it on. Our public roads are not the same. Real life is not like Grand Turismo at all.

I will come to a track day if you all wish. I know what the my Skoda will do, so you can all do your show boating / crashing if you must. I know my Skoda can get to it's 155mph limiter, done it a while ago on the way to Nurburgring in Germany (that was with re-mapped ignition) Peering inside the bonnet of another car on a wet and overcast day, looking at a few shiney bits is not my cup of tea, but I will humble myself to do it for a laugh - say when and where and I will be there, work permitting depending how far away also. We could all meet at Santa pod next year as a thought. We have just been there with my brother-in-laws 13.7 sec 287bhp Escort RS Turbo (blew it up on the 3rd run) He loves tuning his cars to the max - again not my thing - but he is a Ford Nutter - he spent about £3000 on the engine alone.

Me pratting around on track in Somerset

Taa Taa for now

Edited 16 August, 200817 yr by Banana-Man

non of your last post changes my opinion of you.

If ya wanna mod your car go for it if you dont then dont,dont berate people who do.Variety is the spice of life afterall,that said i seem to be one of the few people (in the world it seems lol) that wasnt at all impressed by getting my octy remapped and reckoned it was a massive waste of money but id never have a go at anyone who has or will do similar to their cars,just coz i dont like something doesnt mean other people will feel the same and vice versa.Ive since changed my octy vrs for an LCR and think right now the car is perfect and have absolutly no plans to mod it right now but thats not to say i might in the future.

My 2 cents for what its worth on this debate.

Banananananan man.

I had an interesting conversation with my wife earlier, she said I and my car was a boy racers car and driver, to this i took offense and said no I am a car enthusiast, I explained that rich people buy Ferrari's and such and are rich car enthusiasts and young people buy corsa's and halfords **** and me well I buy in the middle kind of thing.

My car has mods all of them suttle improvements in my mind on the original, I pointed out to her that in the 6 years I have had my car she has had 4 cars and that my mods where alot cheaper then that and still even now I dont wish to get shot of my octy, nothing i said could change her mind, to her im a boy racer and my car is a boy racers car.

I admit my car is bright red a tad loud due the zaust and induction and now the sound system, I do not drive like a **** and 90% of the time im driving at such RPM so as not to stand out.

I think we are car enthusiast's, even boy racers and Ferrari drivers, yes less is sometimes more However you made the mistake my wife did, you put everybody into one nice tidy slot, when in truth all car enthusiast differ but we all have one thing in common and thats cars and long may that continue.

I have 3 kids, a mortgage and own my own business, I dont drink and i dont do debt, my car is my pride and joy and im not caring what people think of it I love it and in a world especially in London where i am where the car is the worst thing in the world i damn well wanna enjoy my car at whatever the cost from the major, the wife or any body's opinion.

Long live the car! the route of freedom and expression!

well said that man

Mark

I bet when you see some little chav with his 4 spotty mates in their matching Burbury caps in his clapped out Corsa which he has lovingly molested with his pocket money pulling away from the lights in a blackboard wrenching squeal of rubber, you all say the same as me "What a Wan**er" (we were all him at some point in our lives - less the cap in my case) I've changed and for the good I think. How very true

We all know what Skoda RS says on the tin and it does it? they don't really turn heads and blend in with other cars, but everyone knows what they are capable of, so respect they're reputation. That's why the Fuzz use them as unmarked cars. You don't need silly dump valves and go faster re-maps (I have found also) you need to be content with it as standard. Putting stuff into it weighs you down in debt I guess this depends on the person and how much they spend on mods against their earnings.. The car you lovingly bought that you own - I hate to say, now owns you!

I was always to taught about money and to be practical with it. "Thats me in a nutshell" I can't understand why someone would spend good money for a short-term gain "that feel good factor" but then realize that it cost the earth for very little gain.it's not always a short term gain, Yes I have spent quite alot of money (to me) on my car but then I intend to keep it for quite a few years which isn't short term to me. My own brother is the same. He kitted out is VW Polo (diesel) a few years ago. It had everything possible done on it you could lament. He went to trade it in for a Golf R32 - and the dealer would not even give it a look over because it was modified. Thats why anything I change and most people probably keep any OEM parts that they change. I understand that a modyfied car isn't to everyones taste but then I intend to return mine to standard before I sell it and I'm quite prepared for the cost/time todo this. He was fuming and spent the best part of a month returning it to standard. There was several grands worth of mods on it? what a load of old pony! He got a good price for it in the end and got his Golf.

I love cars as a hobby too! Much more than my wife sometimes likes as I disappear in the garage for whole week-ends. I admit I am a purist and returning battered and beaten cars to mint order. I have only been driving for 12 years and at the last count of cars I have had too many to remember them all but last count was well over 35 cars in the past 5 years I've been married, and the year before we met. so you could double that figure really.

In most cases lowering the car alters the cars geometry so much it ruins the ride and comfort all together. I have to disagree, since I had sport springs and dampers fitted to my car the ride has been much nicer, yes it's much firmer than standard and yes it's also lower but it doesn't wallow around as much and as such my wife doesn't get as travel sick in it now I know from my fathers racing years that race bred cars are nothing like the ones we drive, they are hard and unforgiving. You don't get a real sensation of why you put tuning parts on on our cars unless you got a racing circuit to play with it on. Our public roads are not the same. Real life is not like Grand Turismo at all.that is very true however the escapism is nice. It's a nice thought when I leave work at the end of the day/night and I get into my car and can enjoy some of my hard earned money before I get home and slip into my father role for the children.

I will come to a track day if you all wish. I know what the my Skoda will do, so you can all do your show boating / crashing if you must. I know my Skoda can get to it's 155mph limiter, done it a while ago on the way to Nurburgring in Germany (that was with re-mapped ignition) Peering inside the bonnet of another car on a wet and overcast day, looking at a few shiney bits is not my cup of tea, but I will humble myself to do it for a laugh Being part of Briskoda and going along to a meet isn't just about enjoyment of cars and what shiney bits have been fitted to a car it also about meeting friends and having some food/drink/laugh etc. - say when and where and I will be there, work permitting depending how far away also. We could all meet at Santa pod next year as a thought.

http://briskoda.net/general-car-chat/where-would-forum-without-modified-cars/120136/2/#post1399718 What's wrong with the OEM speakers? if you are as you say a 'purist' then there is no need to upgrade them surely?

IMO this could keep going on and on and on and on (you get the idea) you don't agree with modifying cars yet you have beach buggy with a red bull can on the engine (surely not a standard item?), you have or have trialed Revo (why if your car is fine out of the box) and you now want to change your speakers:rolleyes:. You do seem to contradict yourself and some of your comments I feel are not justified especially towards me as you don't know me, I can't comment on other members of Briskoda although it does appear that you have offended them too.

I too don't drink/ don't smoke/ don't go out/ I'm married with 2 young children/ I have a mortgage and my 1st priority is my family and their quality of life and needs, 2nd comes me and my hobbies.

You have your views and I have mine, they are different and as such should should agree to differ and this should be the end of it.

Absolutely agree 100% there well said.

Why waste any time with him.

Edited 17 August, 200817 yr by Taxi 219

:)I don't agree with everything Banana-man has typed, but I do understand what he's trying to say. He's made his point, has given us an interesting thread and in his own "special" way made a valuable contribution to BriSkoda. I don't know the guy at all and I might be totally wrong, but I certainly don't think he's a ****.

Each to their own I say, as long as it isn't hurting anyone and it's legal.

I can see that the op restores cars therefore will have different opinion of modding to us. He likes to bring them back to original condition and we like to enhance original condition but many of the cars on this forum can easily be turned back to standard and are when they are sold.

My car has so far cost me very little money to get to the stage it is now. When i sell it it will be put back to standard and the parts sold separately giving me my previous outlay back.

So in summary, there is no harm done.

:iagree:

don't start insulting people over differeing opinions

When people are modding their car,its a bit of freedom they have from SWMBO and we enjoy it

We all like to see what eachother are doing to their cars especially cars that we're interested in,everybody knows that we're not going to get any of the money back on it that we've splashed out on it ...but who cares!

Its something to do that that makes our car that bit more special to anyone elses...and we love doing it

I dont think its fair that you are criticising us guys here on Briskoda,since iv joined up iv took in lots of info and ideas and advice from countless members on here.

You obviously knew you was going to upset practically everyone on here with this post,if you dont like what other people have done just keep it to yourself,if you dont want to go to any meets then dont...simple.

Everyone on here enjoys what they do and they still have a life/family

Modifying your car is ok in my book,whether youv got a stereo or a full blown big turbo conversion...its ok

Theres no harm done!

I was going to post on this thread but then thought why bother its all rather pointless now - as everything has been said they should be said and things said that shouldnt have been said IMO.

I don't think it's what the OP has said (everyone is entitled to his/her opinion)

It's the way he's said it, in a very "this is what I think, you're all wrong if you think differently" way...