I only ask this for the following reason......As many of you know i have done an engine swap and exhaust work as well........

People have complimented on having a good looking car........mind you that it's covered in dust and is rolling on two different sets of wheels.......one of those wheels being 16" salad shooters with missing center caps...

So my topic for dicussion, do people think a car will look nicer if it can go fast?

 

wha?

 

I think IMO, that if people see a car that looks fast, or sounds like it, know what motor is in it, etc, they might say, wow, thats nice...and look over small defects in the paint, dirt. But I think matched wheels, even in crappy shape are a must.

 

Just take the hood off. Answer is yes in that scenario.

 

I think if you know whats under the hood, it can change what you think the car looks like even though it looks the same. Myself, before I knew the differences in Camaros and what engines came with what cars, I loved em all and viewed them all as Camaros. Granted, I still love Camaros no matter what, but I find that when I see an RS for example, I immediatly think 305 TBI. Maybe thats just cause I used to have one and I like my IROC a whole lot more. But sometimes it doesn't make a car look good. If I see an IROC with a 350 and its all rusted out and beaten up, I don't think "Wow, sweet IROC". I just think " There goes another one"

No matter what engine you have in your car, I won't like your wing

 

Theres one of those down the street from me. Everytime I pass it I think, hey look, Iroc, lots of rust and bondo..given a little work..has potential.
So maybe I subconsciencely see what it could look like. Or maybe I just drink too much.

 

Personally; I do see a car that's fast as better appearance-wise. A camaro is a camaro, but if i see it do the 1/4 in 10 seconds or see it pass me in a stoplight to stoplight race then it is far more attractive to me.

 

Also - Sometimes just knowing whats under the hood of a certain car can sway how you see the car as a whole. If you know theres something special about a car that makes it very fast then that increases the attractiveness to me.

 

Im sure most everyone is familiar with my car. It really keeps non thirdgen car fans guessing what the hell my car is. Some think I have an 84, others think I have a V8. Its always funny to see expression of disbelief when I tell them its a v6 and not a V8. Maybe the reason that every car seems to want to dust me with a passion is because they probably think Im running some tired V8.


Surprisingly I get very few negative coments about my car even despite the fact I point out its a v6 with dented and rusted body panels. I'm sure if it were fast would make my car sweeter.


So to answer your question, to some extent engine and exhaust can improve exterior appearance. If I see a fast looking car, I expect it to have a fast motor, but if it doesn't I don't think the exterior would look quite as cool to me if it did have an awesome motor.

 

Exactly.

 

Yeah, a nice exhaust note and and corvette ls1 valve covers peeking out from under the hood make a serious swing on what I think of a car overall... all show/no go is nice, but lotsa show/lotsa go is far better.

Interesting... in both situations the first thing that hits my mind (and leaves my mouth) is "Hmm.. parts!"

 

yes i think a faster car looks better. I would never have a dodge neon , but now that they have the srt 4 i would like one for a daily driver.

 

I think its just a matter of respect, the car may look the same but peoples perception of it change.

And yes, except for railcars, horsepower and wing height are inversely proportional.