Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Stereotyping

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Just take a good look at this car. Can’t you just feel the owner’s personality radiating from it? I bet it’s a girl or it could even be a guy who appreciates nature or cute stuff. This tiger represents cute and cuddly things. It wasn’t designed to intimidate. If it was then it should have should a roaring or crouched tiger. But what it is a cute portrait of a tiger cub. Awwww… Not your taste? Well by all means do something different with your car then.

It is by my understanding that what we, car customizers, strive for is to transfer our personality unto our rides. What we generally want is to have a ride that says a lot or even totally reflect our personality. This is a good starting point, as well when you’re looking to customize your ride. Search yourself… You have to know yourself inside and out for this to work. If your ride looks like a hodge-podge of everything then you probably don’t know yourself as well as you think. Think hard and come up with a good solid theme that works for you.

Say, for example you’re a rocker; I suggest decking your car out in a matte black paintjob with tribal vinyls added. Then may you could throw in a set of huge ass rims for good measure. I’m basically stereotyping here, but this is only a suggestion. As for the abovementioned example, rockers are supposed to exude an aura of rage and passion. That’s what rock is all about… pure, unadulterated, burning passion. So, I think it’s only fitting that the car should be a metallic incarnation of that, don’t you? I’m thinking of a powerful American muscle car like a mustang or a GTO. Woot… That’ll certainly grab everybody’s attention. And of course, what’s a rocker without ear-splitting music? You have to have a great sound system set-up. Give your stock speakers a good shake down. Purchase quality subs and amps to have the perfect aural experience to go with your ride’s rocking power.

Hip hop fans on the other hand require a bit more bass, so I suggest prioritizing the subs. Hip-hop is generally driven by the beat, so you’ll need quality subs to get everybody’s head bouncing. And since Hip Hop is also about the bling then you can bet no matter what model the ride is, it’s going to have a lot of shiny trimmings. There are great billet sets to add to your ride. Chrome, chrome and even more chrome add that much desired flash and sense of luxury about the car. Throw in some posh upholstery to add style to the interiors, and watch the honeys come banging at your doors begging to cruise with you. Spinners can also do wonders for your car’s shoes. There are even rims that have animal skin these days. The things men do for luxury…

A movie buff are you? Well, if you can’t wait to get home to your TV set, you can always set up a perfectly decent entertainment package on your car. Grab cool LCD monitors and the right sound system and you’ll be enjoying your favorite flicks in no time. But please, no airbrushed design of Quentin Tarantino’s face on the hood please…

I think I’ve reached my limit… there are just too many personalities to mention. But I trust you got the drift by now. Whatever your personality, always remember that you can customize your car to match it. The world is evolving rapidly and every need is caters; even making your car a “mini-you”. Oh but please, no matter how much of a dog lover you are; please don’t take your design cues from the movie “Dumb and Dumber”. If you do well… you’re the dumbest. Spice up your car’s looks by incorporating a bit of you, but don’t go too much though. Still, you must be able to draw the line. And again, take the car’s design into consideration. And you might want to consider the practicality of the accessories you’re going to put in. Really, just because you’re a chef doesn’t mean you need to fit in that stove top grill in there, right? Although, I think lady passengers might appreciate it if you have a wine cooler in there. Hmmm… scheming I am.

If you find you’re having too much trouble of finding a design on your own, you can always borrow ideas. There are a lot of inspirations to be found on the net, movies, magazines, etc. Do your research so you won’t end up with a car you wish you hadn’t fooled around with. Borrow ideas, but please, don’t build an exact replica. C’mon man, you’re better than that. It’s time for those creative juices to flow. Always keep your mind on the goal which is to build a great car that:

  1. reflect your personality
  2. original
  3. practical
  4. efficient
  5. pleases the eye

With these guidelines in mind, I don’t think you won’t be able to build a car worth flaunting. Just stick to your overall plan and you’ll build your dram car in no time. But take heed, these do not come cheap so work hard and earn some moolah first lest your dream car remain…well, a dream. What are you waiting for son? Take that dream car out of your head and onto the streets.