The joys of stock car ownership become more apparent every time I complete another trip around the sun. It’s not as exciting, and definitely my car won’t be as fast when compared to peers with the same car. But as I age, I’m learning to be content with less.

Without the extra performance, there’s also so much less drama, less anxiety, and no extra money being flushed down the drain. The ability to have the safety net of an actual warranty (that won’t be voided) underneath me is a great feeling.

The huge exception is the most meaningful mod- a nice summer tire upgrade on a secondary wheel set.

I think the way to go with fast cars in the future is to buy them that way. Some cars are really fast stock.

Any of the rest of you feel like this, or will you keep modding through your forties and fifties?

 

Yes and yes. and I'm in my 50s now. Got the Evo when I was 33 (note my EvoM join date). I keep modding my Evo8 and a Camaro I've owned for over 20 years, but I also keep my S2000 bone stock and generally have one late model sporty car that is my actual daily car, which I also keep stock. Currently, it's a 2019 GT350. I really appreciate how dialed in stock cars are, especially the recent ones that perform so well out of the box. Before the GT350, I had an RS3 and never stopped thinking when I drove it -- "the tune in this thing is right on the money!"

p.s. "Stock" to me means no real performance enhancements. Brake pads, brake fluid, tires, wheels, catch cans, heat insulation, etc. don't count and don't affect drivability or streetability.

 

Will keep mod'ing. Gotta compensate for slowing reflexes, bad vision and newbie racers with their off-to-college cars

 

this gave me a good chuckle!

 

I've never went crazy with power mods... except my current NC which I've been "almost done" for like 3 years now putting a turbo on it. I've been putting it off cause I got this nagging feeling its gonna blow the engine the first time I take it to the track... Generally I've been a fan of zero to basic power mods and get the suspension dialed, possibly brakes. There's nothing like the piece of mind of being able to beat on a cars engine and thats hard to come by with the aftermarket. One of these days I might get around to getting some decent wheels for my truck...

 

Based on my observation of the real-world Evo clubs, the minority who do engine builds and track builds don't stay in the club for long. The majority don't go into those reliability-compromising builds. Instead, they either keep the Evo's powertrain stock with an aftermarket cat-back, or mod the Evo with bolt-ons and a tune only. Both of these approaches keep them on the road and in the club.

I only have an HKS cat-back on my Evo X, power-wise. I have many non-power-related mods like the Voltex front lip, Gram Lights wheels, Xpel wrap, Huper Optik tint, Dynamat SuperLite pads, and the Kracka's Ultimate Shifter Package. None of these cause drama, anxiety, or money drain. Well, maybe not the Gram Lights which do cause some drama because they are too aggressive (19x9.5 +18, sidewalls prone to pothole damage and fenders prone to rub), and that the Voltex lip does cause some anxiety because it sits too low.

 

I'm on the Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor spectrum. I literally can't help myself.

 

I feel the need for both extremes; OEM stock glory, and a gutted race machine. After rebuilding my old DSM (94 Galant) into a turbo charged street monster, and then going the fully OEM route, I appreciate both tremendously.

I've found over the years that 95% of these ultra modded cars are a total mess, with tons of quirks and small problems that make it something unintended from what the designers envisioned. Even just lowering a car 1" can introduce dozens of problems as a multitude of components are now out of spec. Sure, a 1000hp Honda Civic is a blast, but will never compare to a super car that has the same performance when it's stock. There's just a congruency that lives in an OEM vehicle, that's almost never replicated with an aftermarket car.

The greatest thing about the CT9A is the simultaneous formality and casual nature of it: a young man's date night car and track car straight from the factory. And the nostalgia is unmatched for me.

 

this is the one lol

 

Instead of a second set of wheels i just get a second set of cars

 

ADD got me always looking for the next improvement. Its best to have a modded car and a stock car (if your circumstance allows it). Or mod everything and fk it, lifes short

 

The special edition cars from the factory are catering exactly to such demands. Examples are Shelby GT350 and STI S209.

Since the car is legally recognized as stock from the factory, you will have no problems with reliability, warranty, buying new insurance, or the California Highway Patrol. They cost more upfront, but can be financed to become more affordable.

While the special edition cars offer a much simpler ownership experience, a growing and healthy society should support individuality, enthusiasm, and custom cars. The former Eastern Bloc states did not even allow design build homes, and (mainland) China today still bans custom cars. So enthusiasts like those old muscle car (most heavily enforced) fans emigrated, had many children in the free parts of the world, and contributed their talents here. Only the apathetic people who don't care remained, had few or no kids, and the society became stale, inefficient, and eventually collapsed.

 

I come from 240sx's and IS300's so the Evo 9 MR I picked up 2 years ago felt like a rocket for a stock car. I don't see myself modding this car much beyond basic bolt ons as I drive pretty tame most of the time. Also, being in CA I appreciate having a fast car that passes emissions and can be driven on a daily basis without breaking the bank.

 

My Evo has a new OEM short block. I'll never make more power than it can handle. I get to treat it like a regular car. I don't have to go nuts with excessive maintenance. I love it.
I have a Mustang that makes enough power stock. I'm never adding more power. Yay for newer cars.
I have a fancy car that makes less than 400hp. It'll never be modded.
I used to go crazy on everything. Mod everything.
Now I just enjoy my cars for all the reasons you list and more.
SO much less stress and all the enjoyment.

 

I'm from the camp that believes evo's did not have a enough hp in their stock form. As such, I will continue to mod it for as long as I own the car. Take with this that I am pretty stubborn, have reliable daily drivers (corolla and MX5), and don't like laws telling me what I can and cannot do to my car.