BL_Protege

Are JDM Conversions rice? Let's say if you bought the emblems for the Toyota Altezzas and gauges, steering wheel, grill, bumper, etc. stuff like that, and put it on an IS300, would that be rice?

P2K

I don't think so. Even though they have two different names, an IS300 is an Altezza with a Lexus badge. What so rice about that? All you're doing is changing the name.

Jonnyman

I would say putting the emblems on might be a little ricey but if you like the steering wheel, guages and bumper better AND have the cash then why not do what you feel looks good.

I don't think anyone would really make fun of a guy with an IS300 though unless he really butchered it.

Jonny

P2K

Not to put him on the spot, but Jeremy DeHart has changed his stock Protege into a Sport20 and changed his badges and everything. Is that considered rice? It's pretty much the same concept. He just went beyond the badging by swapping engines, but still a JDM conversion. As you can see from my signature, I'm on the road to doing the same thing. The only thing I have that's rice are my Altezzas.

Jonnyman

I wouldn't change the badges myself ...I would probably just take them off and let people decide for themselves what kind of car it is, but I wouldn't think anyone was an idiot for doing it themselves. If someone asks you what type of car it is, what would you say? That's the way I see it.

Jonny

P2K

I agree. No matter what you do to a Protege, it'll still be a Protege or whatever car you have. It really depends on what part of the world you live in. As we all know in some parts the Portege is a 323. In others it's a Sport20. Go figure. But it does make you wonder. Are there owners out there with 323s and Sport20s looking for Protege badges?

Jonnyman

or people out there with acura's looking for honda badges? j/k

I put the 2001/2002 large mazda emblem on my front mesh grille but it's not rice it's nice imo. ..i got bored of my 2000's stock chrome piece on the black front grille.

pr5owner

putting honda logos on acura's is actaully better, when you open the hood of an acura you see a big "H"
________
HOT BOX VAPORIZERS

SEA_P5

RICE is such an ugly term. I believe that the terminology "un-modification inclined." I still find it quite humorous to see badges, smothered stickers and exaggerated wings on vehicles that are not equipped with the modifications.

But if you are changing the real parts from a vehicle, that should be fine. I also say remove the badging on the vehicle...I like to see people's faces with that certain look...especially when their faces go..."what type of vehicle is that?"

Also, do not add large obnoxious stickers on your vehicle...small subtle ones are the best...just make sure you do not add to many...I hate to see a protege associated with a VW bus...You know...the ones with 50 million stickers on the bumper...but a few always look more sleek.

Jonnyman

There's no way I would put any advertising on my car unless I was paid and it didn't look tacky.

I even took the dealer license plate frames off. I don't want it to look like the dealer owns it.......I own it. For that matter, might as well leave the sticker price in the front window too...would that be rice?

Jonny

SEA_P5

You should tell that to Homegrocer.com in their hayday and red bull.

SEA_P5

probably...but I am more worried about the contents of the can...pure caffine...now that is dangerous

MikeD

Im not trying to be biased in my post but...I have done the complete Sport 20 Conversion. Meaning headlights, corners, fenders, sideskirts, foglights, grille, engine, all badges and front bumper.
Do I consider it rice? Not at all. All I did was take "factory parts" (from the same car or equivalent) from Japan and put them on my U.S. car. The conversion is complete too. So its not like I put a Sport 20 badge on my car and think it is a "Sport 20." I have the goods to back up my badges!
I guarantee you there are ppl in Australia and other countries that try to get the U.S. parts.
Why did I do it? Just to have something tastefully different from everybody else. And thats how I look at my car. Not better than any other. Definitely not rice. Rice in my opinion is putting Integra headlights on my car, painting the entire dash and grafting a Civic bodykit on. Oh and you can't forget the lime green paint.
Why do magazines want to have JDM conversions in their pages? 1) They are nice and clean. 2) They are different. 3) A "proper conversion". 4) Quite frankly it is expensive and sometimes hard to get parts.

Im not trying to flame. These are just my opinions. I dont think that putting anything "factory" on can be considered rice.


Jeremy

P2K

I agree with everything Jeremy said. Ok, we need to clear up what is considered rice. Everyone needs to put their 2 cent in this. What I consider rice is doing too much to your car. Such as aluminum wings, grafting kits that don't nessessarily belong, too many decals and stickers(there is a such thing as too many), exhausts that are too big and weren't meant to go on your car, and dropping a car so low that it scrapes the reflectors off the streets. Some ppl consider altezzas to be rice too. I agree. I only got them cause it was something different to do to my car. I'm thinking about switching back to factories. But anything that was made specifically for a particular car and is used by that car and is made by the factory is not rice no matter what anyone says. I'm in the process of my own Sport20 sedan w/o the stickers. Is it rice just because it didn't start out as a Sport20? I think I speak for almost everyone on the site that altezzas are rice. It's been brought up a number of times. Do a search. Any other members want to throw in some change into the well?

SEA_P5

Foxy...that is part of my routine when I go to work at 7:00am....
1)Quad shot venti mocha
2)A can of Red Bull
3)Starbucks Double Shot
This is what I drink during the mornings of my companies month end close processes. And if I am still tired at 3:00pm I go for a another regular mocha...
Just say I feel quite...

Now to get back to definitions.

The terminology of rice "my opinion" is sticking on labels and exaggerated wings and labels onto a vehicle, which makes the vehicle unappealing to the mass audience. Having one or 2 items is not considered rice. If you are converting a US version vehicle back to the original manufacturer specks, I do not consider this rice.

I consider rice applying enough bondo onto your vehicle to add 200lbs...sculpting a wing that has to be supported by L brackets...adding stickers of items your car does not have...(sparco, tein, etc)...badging your car as a type R when your car is a stock toyota corolla...etc...the list can go on and on.

But remember...this is YOUR VEHICLE...you can do anything you want to it...do not label anyone into a specific field based upon suitable modifications.

And if you nail 2X4 to your car trunk as a wing...thatz not rice...that just stupid

I am also interested in seeing some pics.