Originally posted by codeo:
IMHO:most high schoolers do get ghetto ass cars at first,and if your a car guy then you have to put what you can afford on the car.But if your fortunate your parents spend their life savings on your car,then you get s*** b/c your parents are more well endowed than most.
BTW: I happen to be one of those that gets the POS as my first car.
My first 3 cars were beaters, but my money (and my parents') went to keeping them running, and my work went into washing and polishing. The only aesthetic mod I ever spent money on was to replace the rusted out running boards on my 71 Super Beetle. Lot's of stuff I wanted to do, some I'm glad I could never afford. (Anybody remember the "Mulholland" Look?)
The point is, my dreams were big and probably gaudy, but my priorities were straight.
IMHO, slapping a wing on the trunklid does not make a beater car look "good." Fixing the rust, and getting a decent paint job, making sure the brakes work, and the engine, etc. are essential first steps. Wings, single wipers, etc. can be successful finishing touches to round out a unified theme. I've nothing against them, per se, but too often they are the first choice of a kid who can't even afford to have them properly painted.
And if the truth offends you, that doesn't mean it's not the truth.
Looked liked Close Encounters of the Third Kind or something...