https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=384344

Maybe, the Hyundai Genesis couldn't have came at a better time? True luxury, without the badge.

After reading that article in the link above and visiting a couple dozen forums, its clear how much the immediate impact of the financial crisis is having on consumers. While it took time for buyers to change or at least consider more fuel efficient cars due to higher gas prices, the financial crisis has an IMMEDIATE effect on people's choices with their money.

I am not here to discuss the why's behind the crisis or even if its just "panic", just the results and what will happen next.

One thing we have ALL seen the past 8 years is "go bling, go big, go me" car era. Out was understated and classy and in was "look at me" and "I'm better than you". This was not just with modded cars, but with OEM cars as well.

Out was grilless faces and understated looks or trying something different, in was giant emblems, grills, wheels, chrome and copy cat luxury styling.

While non luxury brands have always taken cues from luxury brands, in the past 10 years, especially the last 5, its CLEAR that BMW/Benz/Lexus and even Infiniti/Range Rover influenced comon cars.

We drove in the era of MONEY. This meant if you HAD it you showed it with your 745 with 22" wheels or you maybe you didn't have it and drove your Altima with 20" wheels. (This is not to say both owners of cars fit that stereotype, surely some 745 owners are broke and some Altima owners have money.) We might have seen more modded cars the past 8 years than the past 100 years. EVERYONE was modding and modding big. Big paint jobs, huge stereo systems, bright colors, huge wheels, kits etc. We saw BMW go from nearly perfect proportions and grace to "hey look here, I am a BMW". We have seen Benz go the SUV route with big wheel arches and bigger grills/wheels etc. Lexus had 3 SUVs before some brands had one, showing it was the new "cool I've made it" vehicle.

We have seen the 300C, a design CLEARLY after Bentley/RR, become VERY popular? Will it now overnight, become unhip?

What will hollywood do? Will they drop their big cars for even more Prius's, maybe the next Honda Insight? Will people follow?

Just look at modded cars. Wheels went from 17" to 24" or bigger overnight. You had to come big. Brake sizes are now the size of some wheel sizes of 20 years ago. 2-12 piston calipers! Black on Black became hugely popular "look at me, I'm Darth Vadar".

Look at grills and emblem sizes. Audi went from a nice grill to "HEY I AM AUDI". Cadillac's Escalade is one of the faces of this era. Emblems the size of small people. Lexus as well, their "L" logo continues to get bigger and bigger. The Ford Fusion has a huge 3 bar chrome grill.

Well overnight, we have seen sales DROP down the tubes for pretty much everyone. As Americans struggle, showing signs of success in a controversial way, might not be "cool".

Could "badgeless" cars become cool?


Now of course, there will be plenty of people that just don't give a crap who struggles, who hates what, they will buy and drive what they want and be proud of it. Will this group shrink?

Luxury carmakers now have to face the dilemna that people simply DO NOT want to be associated with a luxury brand during this time. How long will this time last? I am not sure, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years?

What about SUVs? Well now they are hit two-fold. We have seen their sales plummet b/c of high gas prices. Now they will truly be hit with the stigma that clearly you don't are or you have the $$$$$$ to drive one. Its not necessarily right, but people love to direct negative auto-anger to SUVs. Nothing says "I'm not worried about the economy" like driving a new LX 570 (which amazingly is still selling strong)

This means good things for brands that offer some luxury featurs without the badge. ; Buick might see new buyers who would not have explored the brand before. I've already mentioned the Genesis. Pontiac's G8 is not luxury inside but has the size and power of one. I also predict Volvo and Saab will get sales as they are luxury brands below the radar. So expect increases there.

I expect colors to change. White has made a tremendous surge as being one of the most popular colors. As one who used to kid about his "cocaine white" GS with chrome back in 2002, well it can get "loud". White is a safe color but its also a "hey look at me" color which was appropriate for these times.

Not anymore.

I expect silver, gunmetal, dark blue, black to gain back popularity and become stronger. People will stay away from green.


What about AMG/M/F/RS/etc? We have already seen BMW drop the CSL b/c of no business case. BMW will also not offer a V-12 750. Will Lexus really drop the LF-A and "F" after one car? Will Acura's/Infiniti's long rumored flagships die again or debut and flop b/c they waited to long?

Luxury car brands cannot hide and say we can sell in Russia/Asia because they are suffering too. This is truly worldwide. (The yen dropped today). America is by far every luxury brands largest and most profitible market. Lower expected profits means less investment in low volume cars, which are usually targeted to enthusiasts.

Finally, what about internet forums/communities. As people sadly lose jobs, work more than one job, more harder and have less rec time, internet communities will slow. Car meets will suffer sadly as well. Then you will have people simply drop their luxury car(s) for something more economical, thus potentially dropping off forums.

Less traffic means less advertisers. So on so on.

Post your thoughts!!!

 

Car Culture with enthusiasts differ than those of regular car buyers. Regular car buyers will go smaller, and enthusiasts will continue to go bigger/better.

I believe that the "bling" and "excess" will still exist, albeit a smaller crowd. In turn, it will be heralded and glamorized and desired, and although not everyone can afford it, it will still be sought after by many.

"First rate" luxury marques will become more luxurious and desired and harder to get, and "second-rate" luxury marques will flourish but still not command the respect and desirability that it so desperately seeks. Some will survive; some will be weeded out of the economy.

In other words, the American Dream (of owning and modding a car in excess) will continue; Car Culture wil still be hip . As the economy temporarily dips, so will the accessibility to the American Dream. In time, when the grass is greener, Car Culture (and other excessive hobbies) will flourish.

 

I think the "Bling" mods will always be there. It is the "Performance" mods that probably will slow down. One reason is cars today are much harder and more expensive to modify performance wise, so as money gets tighter those will be the first area of modifications being cut back. My friend I believe has seen a slow down in people buying products from his shop, but he is still selling a ton of rims/tires and other cosmetic accessories. Large items like body kits may be slowing down, but rims, grills, lips, spoilers, and other smaller cosmetic mods are still selling very well for now at least.

Just like Phillip said above, those that customize will probably continue to do so, only they may redirect their efforts in different areas of the car.

 

I agree with CK6Speed, bling mods will still go on, while performance mods might not. I believe that a lot of modders today go for visuals rather then for performance. Still, even with a slowing economy, there are still car enthusiast who would keep their cars for better or worst. I also don't think its such a good idea to trade in your car (if you own it) just to get a more fuel efficient one, and have to pay monthly bills on it. Every car manufacturer now advertises MPG on every single one of their ads, SUVs are fading away, but yet you still see people driving Hummers, why? It could be because they love the car, and yes through thick and thin would stick by it, even if it puts a hole in your wallet, regardless if you can "afford it" or not. Even people who have money are still affected by the economy and are tightening their belts.

 

no matter what happens, i will make compromises, adjustments, cut back on other things in order to be able to keep a cool car/truck/bike adn mod them.
modding cars is what i do, it's why i get up in the morning; it's who i am. my job doesn't define me, my house doesn't define me, my clothes don' tdefine me, my vehicles and what i do with them and my other activities define me.

 

I dunno. Will people really stop modding less?

maybe mod better.

 

I am with you.
No matter what, I will cut off on other things so I can still mod my car.

 

My views on this are already well-known at CL; I don't have to post them again in detail. Basically, in a nutshell, sport-sedans and luxury/sports sedans (or coupes) should be just that......sport-oriented, and luxury cars should be LUXURY cars...with plush interiors, long wheelbases, soft rides, library-quiet noise isolation, lots of chrome, etc.....

There has been SO much effort, lately, into making sport or luxury-sport sedans out of former luxury cars that there are very few TRUE luxury cars left.

 

I'm not quite sure what this article might be saying about auto sales & mods, but I found it interesting. I guess the ultra-rich will keep buying anything and everything they want. The aspirational and wannabe shoppers will become more conservative. But this article makes it sound like people with a $25 to $50mil net worth can't buy a Rolls Royce...
Ultra-Rich Shopper Remains Intact

 

Over the top luxury modding is already becoming unhip, thanks to Mansory, Lorinser, and Wald. They've crossed the line from classy to West Coast Customs pimp my ride excess.

On the other hand, high dollar expenditures will always be made by the wealthy. They just won't be buying ugly body kits.

I guess I'm in the minority: I think performance mods will continue, while bling will thankfully subside (or at least take another form).

 

I have noticed less and less modding of cars in my area. There are so many SUV's and Ford Big Bodies with stock wheels and 22" or 24" logos still left on the fenders. Thats how I know the bling era is slowing, but I don't think it will come to an end. (As long as there is rap music, there will always be a weird justification for gluttonous living beyond means)

Cars for years have been a sort of freedom to people. But with gas prices, cars have become more of a burden. Things like regular maintainence and oil changes aren't so transparent to the point that I really didn't care for it as much.

But with the economy in a dump and as financing is close to impossible for another car I have payed a little more attention to making it more like a new car by possibly changing wheels, suspension and tinting the windows. I think in time I will appreciate my car and mods more now that I realize this will be my vehicle for a longer amount of time.

So with this stated, I think that the modding market is in a slump, but I think it will make a small comeback. And as the economy comes back (as it always does) I expect the shame of having a little more then average will go away as well.