TTAC Author Gets Schooled: Tries Again

Thomas Kreutzer
by Thomas Kreutzer

Earlier this week I wrote a little article about the SEMA show and those weird little auto add-ons that so many people choose to stick all over their otherwise decent looking rides. In it, I contrasted performance add-ons with “auto accessories” and tried to poke a little fun at those plastic chrome doo-dads and the people who abuse them. It wasn’t really intended to be a heavy “think piece.” It was supposed to be light, fun and maybe elicit some cheerful banter from the best and brightest. Nice and easy, right? Hell no. As usual, the TTAC readership doesn’t make anything easy…

No excuses, the premise of my article was silly. I said performance add-ons were a good thing and that auto accessories were by their very nature, stupid. Despite that, a couple of you guys took the ball I punted so lazily downfield and ran it right back up the field. The points you made are really good and since my earlier article wasn’t intended to start a serious discussion I’m not sure they got the attention they deserved. But you made me think, and when someone does that I figure they might make others think too. That means another article and, hopefully, a fuller discussion.

El Carlismo en Castilla-La Mancha


Image courtesy of www.abc.es

In response to my assertion that performance mods were justifiable while appearance mods were not, Carlisimo wrote:

I scoff at mods that looked tacked on, as many of them do. But I understand them. Even a small mod can make your car feel fresh for a little while, and that’s a good feeling. Especially when you know your car isn’t everything you’d like it to be. And I have a soft spot for underglow that I won’t admit to out loud.

Those modders are more honest than those of us who install performance mods. What could be sillier than increasing our car’s top speed from 137 to 140mph when we never exceed 80? Oooh, my coilovers save me a second when I drive around in a circle on a loop in the middle of nowhere. Best $1,000 evar! (I did install coilovers on my Miata. I like them, but it wasn’t a purchase I try to justify.) In contrast, visual mods make their difference 100% of the time, including when parked, and in heavy traffic. That’s value.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia.org

Athos Noble wrote:

Personally I don’t care, even in the most offensive of the cases. And I saw plenty of those in Venezuela. Here not so much, but they’re still out there… Brembo brake caliper covers anyone? chintzy 20″ chrome wheels? As far as I’m concerned, people can spend their money in whatever they want.

For example, I would use the aftermarket to upgrade my headlamps to projectors, complete with angel eyes. I also would like a fancier stereo and some “sport” seats would spice up my current ride. Some 18″ wheels would make it look more actual too. And retrofitting later model suspension bits would make it drive nicer. A turbo kit would certainly give it more oomph and coupling it with a LPG kit would make that “affordable” to run. I could sort those issues via OEM bits, aftermarket or a wrecker.

There were other comments as well, and while they were all great these are the two I want to focus on. Part of me wants to follow Carlisimo’s point to its logical conclusion and decry any form of performance add-on for the street but Athos raises a great point when he talks about improving a lot of your car’s basic characteristics through the aftermarket and selective scavenging. It’s clearly not the black-and-white issue I tried to lay out in that earlier, sillier article and I am hoping this new discussion allows us to fully explore the topic.

I’m curious, what are good add-ons for the street? What add-ons have you mounted over the years? What did you hope to gain and did the results meet your expectations? I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Thomas Kreutzer currently lives in Buffalo, New York with his wife and three children but has spent most of his adult life overseas. He has lived in Japan for 9 years, Jamaica for 2 and spent almost 5 years as a US Merchant Mariner serving primarily in the Pacific. A long time auto and motorcycle enthusiast, he has pursued his hobbies whenever possible. He also enjoys writing and public speaking where, according to his wife, his favorite subject is himself.

Thomas Kreutzer
Thomas Kreutzer

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  • Wheeljack Wheeljack on Nov 15, 2013

    Usually the first thing I do to any car is add on some of the factory options or parts that they stripped out from earlier models (if possible). For example, my 2006 Wrangler now has a factory Nav radio, the factory compass/temp mirror with map lights and some different colored dash bezels used on a few "special" editions just to jazz up the interior appearance and break up all the black plastic. I also added back the little rubber mats that used to be in the dash bin and rear cupholder that were on earlier Wranglers but removed from 2006 models as a cost-save. Next on the list are any OEM brand accessories that are well designed and clearly superior to the aftermarket alternatives. The only one that made the cut here was the Mopar ipod integration kit - it works with the factory nav radio much better than any of the aftermarket alternatives. After that, I added things from the aftermarket that are well engineered and suited for off-roading. Heavy duty front and rear bumpers, the rear with a swingaway tire carrier. Full compliment of underbody skid plates (steering, engine, fuel tank) and some rocker protection rails. Mild lift coupled with 33" tires, and of course sway bar end links that can be disconnected out on the trail. Lastly, the final things I added were just to make the vehicle suit my needs and usage patterns better. Top on the list were better headlamps and auxiliary lights. A different soft top that is easier to deal with than the factory top. Lastly, I added a metal storage compartment in place of the rear seat so I have a lockable "trunk". All told, I have thousands in add-ons and accessories on my Jeep. The nice thing about Jeeps is that there are many alternatives to chose from when it comes to accessories - all the way from the bargain basement junk to super high quality stuff that is equal to or superior than OEM components.

  • 05lgt 05lgt on Nov 15, 2013

    Didn't read all the comments so I don't know if it's been said: TIRES! Most of the time I don't even think of it as a mod, but when I put shoes on my ride that look and perform better than what it came with, isn't that a mod?

  • Joe This is called a man in the middle attack and has been around for years. You can fall for this in a Starbucks as easily as when you’re charging your car. Nothing new here…
  • AZFelix Hilux technical, preferably with a swivel mount.
  • ToolGuy This is the kind of thing you get when you give people faster internet.
  • ToolGuy North America is already the greatest country on the planet, and I have learned to be careful about what I wish for in terms of making changes. I mean, if Greenland wants to buy JDM vehicles, isn't that for the Danes to decide?
  • ToolGuy Once again my home did not catch on fire and my fire extinguisher(s) stayed in the closet, unused. I guess I threw my money away on fire extinguishers.(And by fire extinguishers I mean nuclear missiles.)
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