In reality, such a task is for all intents and purposes impossible – the relative stagnation of any particular car-modding culture is a subjective argument at best. What seems cutting edge and mind-blowing to one person could very well be yesterday’s news to another. Still, any car scene can and will become relatively stagnant at one point or another, so I do believe it’s worth taking a detailed look at the state of the North American VW/Audi tuning scene (or at least a rather East Coast-flavored look, considering I’m using this year’s Waterfest for examples…).... Full Story...

thanks for noticing!!

And then it was EVERYWHERE. Oettinger became de rigeur for the Jetta and GTI crowd. And with it ABT, Pzwo, etc.

Enthusiasts customize their cars to reflect their personalities. Once someone has copied it, it ain't there own no more!

Take for example the first TT interior swap I saw in a MkIV. Awesome. Then I saw them everywhere. Yawn. Same with Oettinger. Or the ubiquitous Mille Spyper wheels.

What I think we are seeing is a natural evolution of the style. People are tired of the off-the-shelf stuff that every other S.O.B. at Waterfest/Waterwagens/H20, Treffen, etc has. They are going for the individual style.

I think that's the unwritten rule of the Car Lounge. Most of what is said here is ass-based
--ATL-Av8r

Quote, originally posted by DeeJoker »

Enthusiasts customize their cars to reflect their personalities. Once someone has copied it, it ain't their own no more!

I think that it's safe to say that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" holds in this case. Yes, if someone copies your wheel selection, or does the same "little touch" that makes your car yours, then your car is no longer unique, but it is still your car, and if that person did that modification because they looked at your car and said "Man, that looks really, really cool. That's what I've been looking for," then you should be even more proud of your modification, because it not only pleases you, but someone else who authentically admires your car. Be happy that your car now makes two (or more people) genuinely pleased.

Obviously, if some trend-follower comes along and sees that "everyone" is doing that same thing to their car, they are no longer doing it for themselves, they are doing it so other people will notice them.

Brad,

Thanks for the summary of the current status of the scene. I agree with you that certain ideas are getting stale, and to break out of that, one must grow increasingly-reliant on custom modifications to break the mold, so-to-speak, once again.

As far as the critiques go for the MkIV scene, think about it: This generation has been out for 5 years now (7 in Europe, right?) So, it's fair enough to say that the MkIV is now in that stage where all of the mass-produced modifications have been utilized to the point of stagnancy. But, the car is still young enough such that the really super-niche stuff has not been identified. If one looks back at the MkI and MkII's, one sees a whole host of second- and third-generation styling waves, where different sub-trends have arisen and cars are seen as a whole, rather than just a mod-list. I know at least a few MkII's that can be identified and remembered in 10-words or less.

Once the MkIV takes a back seat to the MkV, people will begin to recycle trends, hybridize styles and generally mix things up. This lack of attention is what will drive the new styles. Rather than being constantly the focus now, where one must keep-up with the Jones', one can sit back, think about what makes their car special to them (as a whole, not just a bunch of singular modifications), and then go after it.

Besides, I have to defend my decision to follow Brad's choice in wheels for my MkII

'Cause Europe won't give us North American Jetta lovers any good lighting products! I know the Golf rules Europe, but they can at least show us some love.

I was actually trying to be funny with my question, but you still make a good point.

It does look like things are looking up for Jetta 3 owners, though. Between the new multi-lens in.Pro Vento headlights and and smoked E-codes, as well as the various clear, smoked and M3-look taillights - J3 owners finally have a few options now.

So no more Integra light swaps, k?

but to say that the vw scene has been somewhat stagnent here in the states is really confusing to me....

Somehow at the end of 2003 it seemed that way, and then a lot of things have changed...

I think 2004 was the year of the us in the world tuning scene, a lot of nice work has been done like shaving a compelte engine bay, two tone with billet, and just overally new rides that have really been way above and beyond what has been around.

Alot of that goes to the realization that custom is better, and buying pieces from oettinger and pzwo and whomever are great, but changing them, modding them, and making them truley your own style is much much cooler,

Also I think a certain company from a while ago with a VAG tool name did alot of customizing us rides with all thier custom crazy projects to look at an google over....

Anyway thanks for the pic of my wheel on the opening page, I was to say the least

I hear ya.

But I guess what I was trying to say is that what folks like you, your bro, and a bunch of others are doing right now is the exception rather than the rule - at least a lot of people think that.

But I agree that more and more people are looking for stuff not found "off the rack" and the scene is more interesting as a result.

Edited to add that I think this piece was thoughtful and very eloquently written.

Modified by crazyreesie at 4:42 PM 11-5-2004

I know several people in different facets of the automotive enthusiast community, some of which are the ones copying the trend b/c that's what everybody else does and they have no individuality and I also know people who like their vehicles unique to just them...and while I much rather see a 1 of kind, 1 off, custom, never been done before there's something to be said for a clean, neat well done that I may have seen before but maybe has a lot more craftsmanship in it...In every enthusiast communtity there is going to be those that stand out and those that wanna follow and most of us in the end really only modify our vehicles for us and as long as it makes us happy who cares what everyone else has seen or built...Great write up Brad