Mazda3Club.com : The Original Mazda3 Forum

...Why is it that I was more interested in the pop-up ads that accompanied the website? Probably because I detest the commercial aspect, i.e. the "scene" that has come with modifying these little cars. I just do it because it is fun.

Here is a crazy thought - the import "tuning" trend is still in its infancy.

The "scene" caters primarily to cash strapped youth who buy universal mufflers at Pep Boys. A slim majority actually mods out their cars. Doing so takes commitment and a lot of creativity in terms of finding and adapting parts while maintaining some originality. Even less still race them (and I mean really race, as in a legit organized event at a track). When the people who are in to these types of cars age, there will be an increasing demand for performance parts. This will result in larger availability in the aftermarket, and better prices.

Contrast the "tuner" community to the old school crowd. I lately have been considering a toy, to reward myself for progress in my career. I have been thinking about a nice older Corvette, maybe mid to late seventies, for around 10G. That will buy you a nearly pristine car (if you know what you are looking for). True, this model year range represents the performance low point in the Vette's history, but I love the shape, and it is easy to extract a lot more horsepower out of the 350 Chevy engine. Mated with a nice four speed manual, I think it would be a fun "sunny Sunday" ride. Anyhow, the "tuner" market for Corvettes (aka "Hot Rodders") is a mature market. Literally whatever performance part your heart desires is available. Take a look at all the very serious hardware for sale in Summit that would bolt right up to this car. Then, look in the Sport Compact section and you will see a ton of neon lights, floor mats, shift knobs, and pedal covers and relatively little in the way of hardcore performance stuff. Yes, it is going to be fun. But, alas - I have at least a year to wait until this is going to happen.