Just tryng to get an idea of what is more important to most people. Looks or performance? I am torn between the 2. I really want to black out my windows and get some more wheels, but at the same time, I wanna start "pepping" up the car some too. Obviously I dot have the finances to do both, so I am asking some of the more experienced people which way should I go. My car looks pretty good the way it is. It does have a couple of flaws, but over all it is in really good shape.
The little 305 is just lacking in performance, but heck, I usually find myself cruising below the speed limit anyway...LOL!!!

 

I think there was a thread just recently on this; the overwhelming majority preferred performance over looks.

I'll take a gorgeous, slow, stock car every time over a fast trashbox. I like to have *nice* cars, and that means cosmetics.

 

I personally did both and I think it turned out well. I kept the stock look and shove a LQ4 in it with some goodies done to it and I think it is just the right combo

 

Depends what the goals for your project are. My opinion is that if you're driving your car often, at least make it look presentable, thirdgen's already have a poor reputation. :P If the car isn't gonna be driven much, then I'd consider performance first.

With that said, I'm doing a complete restoration, so I started with performance(engine and suspension) and then afterwards I'll work on the easier part, appearance. Every part on the car was removed and will get painted as it goes back on the car. Just recently got to the point where I can start on appearance. Then will come interior.

 

if it is something you drive while you work on it then this is what I would do in order:

Mechanical Maintenance - Make sure the engine/drivetrain suspension are all working properly. Make sure the vehicle can drive under its own power.

Body Maintenance- If the vehicle is running smoothly, then fix up the body, that rust in the quarter panel, worn out bumper, hatch struts, etc. Certain cases where the body repair would be priority are something like rusty floorboards.

Performance - The car runs well, looks decent, now to give it some kick. If you plan on swapping engines, then I would only look into bolt ons or mods that will be used later, such as exhaust or suspension.

Looks- It can move, now aesthetics. make the interior yours, custom. New spoiler? Rims? etc

Of course after the first two the line gets a bit blurry, you would just have to use judgement. You live in a hot place? tinting the hatch might be up on the list ahead of a new intake. need new tires? you planned on getting rims anyway, depending on price you could just get it over now.

There are times when performance/ repair can cross paths. Your exhaust rusted off, rather then just replace it with a stock exhaust, get that set up you really want. Shocks are bad? time for an upgrade.

You don't have to do it this way, this is my personal preference of how I get things done.

 

Both at the same time, save up and make it all come together like the way you envisioned it.

 

Living in the OC(god, I hate that acronym, but it is what it is), there are damn few chances to wring the car out as it is with the traffic. I opted for improving the looks first, while tweaking what I could performance-wise. Mine is a daily driver- in fact, my ONLY car- so it has to ride nice, look good, be comfortable to ride IN and get reasonable gas milage, all things considered. When I have the cash it will get some more performance mods, although I must admit I put on a nice Magnaflow exhaust to at least make it SOUND a bit menacing. When I pull in somewhere, I often get 'nice ride' comments, based on the looks and the crackle from the pipes, so no one can tell it is a box stock L98 anyway. Plus, out here you have to tiptoe around the smog ***** too...

 

Well, so far it seems as though appearance is just a bit more important.

 

Both

 

Performance. I'd rather have a mean junker than a polished turd. Performance first; looks later.. that way when it LOOKS fast, it's because it IS fast.

 

That will be me helping the hot blond into my polished turd, while you sit there in your mean junker....

 

I don't think any hot blondes are into thirdgens

 

Yeah, hot chicks only like jap junkers and expensive foreign luxury cars.

 

Don't forget 1st second and 5th gens

Most women I know ask me when I am gonna grow a ****** when I tell them I own an 84

 

Hasselhof drove an 82 and he didn't have any lady problems...

 

It just depends on the car, AND THE DRIVER! A couple of years ago, I was driving in Southern California and I stopped at a light. A guy pulls up next to me in a slick new Jaguar sports car. He looks over at me and says 'nice car'.I said 'thanks- I could buy 20 of these for what you have got in the Jag- leaves me a lot more money to spend on the ladies!' He looked pissed, but the blond next to him winked at me and laughed hysterically. She mouthed the name of the bar they were going to... he drove her there, but I drove her home!

 

Performance. Love a car thats show quality, but if its all show and no go, its only cool sitting still.

 

you're into the wrong hobby if you think these cars will earn you a keeper, haha. Like said before, MOST of them like imports/"tuners"/whatever else you'de like to call them.

 

A little of each at the same time will end up looking and running better in the long run.