I had some fun reading through this. I think I may buy a 5th gen just to be a bigger part of this category :P
Few things:
- 20" wheels are standard on the LTD.
- Wheel Spacers are typically advertised as Off-Road Use ONLY. So the danger comes much less from the spacer's mfg, or the spacer itself, rather the misuse of said spacer.
- Hybrid Badge: I finally get it now,
@
gaterose
.
Most of these mods are strictly opinion based on whether or not they're bad. I've seen very few mods in here which are safety-based, or adversely affecting the vehicle.
Adverse effects of some of these.
- The HUGE wheels (24", 30", etc.) DO affect the quality of the ride, as well as the safety of it, so the addition of them, unless NEEDED (for, say, clearing HUGE brakes to go with those HUGE wheels. And let me say, you better have HUGE sidewalls on those tires. IMO, nothing looks worse than a... low-profile mud tire (if that's what it'd be called?))
- Wheel Spacers used ON-Road are dangerous, as I've seen in several posts on here. (Wheels shearing the lugs, etc.) A lot of it is incorrect installation, including, but not limited to, over- or under- torquing the lugs on the spacers.
- Use of CAI and/or TB Spacers. CAI's usually filter less than the stock airbox, and usually make very little, if any at all difference in power. The same goes for TB Spacers, but they can also cause a (small) loss in power (As I've seen from a few dyno charts, just to fact check.)
- Blue Halogens, HID's in stock housings, Other Bright-ass lights using reflectors. The Reflector isn't really "aimed" like a projector is, so unless you're a mathematical genius, and have somehow perfectly positioned the bulb, these bright lights will likely blind other people. The blind people will then need more seeing-eye dogs, and these seeing-eye dogs will take away from the general dog population. REMEMBER: THE BRIGHTER THE LIGHT, THE LESS DOGS TO HAVE (unless you get blinded by another with bright lights). HID's also have a higher potential to melt the stock housing. Keep that in mind. And with projectors? Much fewer blind people.
- PA Systems are illegal in some jurisdictions. Not really a concern of safety, but a concern of extra money you have to pay for just even having it.
And one of my own:
A roof rack, basket, etc. that one has no intention of actually using. Sure a lot of them look pretty cool, but without a use, it's just more money you're paying. Buy a rack, lose aerodynamics, add weight. So you just bought a rack for (probably) around $1k, and now you lose more money on fuel.
Not trying to hurt feelings or make anyone feel like I'm bagging on their opinions.