Performance vs Cosmetics

[MoveOvr]

Hi t4r'ers

this is a great site, i'm new to the forum. Just wondering what was more important to all you members. performance or looks. i'm just curious.

in my short time here, i've noticed most of the members have 4th gen runners. and the other thing i've noticed is not a lot of performance mods, just cosmetic things here and there.

for example, after reading a bunch of posts, and looking at peoples signatures, they have things listed as mods like cargo nets and stickers.

i just thought it was funny. but just an observation. all your cars look smokin hot. i wish mine looked that nice!

anyways, great place here. anyone from ontario canada??

 

[MoveOvr]

all weather mats is another one i came across....lmao...are they listing mods?...or accessories that came with your car?

 

[Cleric]

Yes, a lot of people list options, rather than mods. A lot also list everything they do to or buy for their car. A lot of us want to do performance mods, but there are not a lot of PROVEN options for us so far, leaving us to go with the obvious stuff. Most of the stuff that you see on other forums (Honda, BMW, etc...) such as Pulleys, Flywheels, Superchargers, Headers, etc., are not available, not practical, or exist but remain to be proven effective and reliale for this vehicle. The performance market is not nearly as strong with SUV's as with other cars and this is especially true of the Japanese ones. Also, a lot of people do not offroad their cars and do not have need for off-road accessories, which also are not as prevalent as with American SUV's.

Personally, I always start my cars by working on the audio system. The system I have now is an interim system. Way better then stock, but not nearly what it will be when finished. My list of planned "mods" is long and includes both performance and appearance upgrades.

BTW - Welcome to the Forum. Please share any mods that you performe(d). Thousands of people browse this forum and even the most modest posts can actually reach a ton of people, most of whom never even post here.

 

[PioneerMeta4]

Just like Cleric, i too start my 'mods' with the audio. I want to be heard before i'm seen. : I can't wait until the whole Import SUV craze will start, but it'll never fade! forget compact imports now! played out! Thats my opinion, we need more support so we can trick out runners. The only mod engine mod i have by the way is the K&N FIPK...which i can't even tell the difference. But it makes my ego happy. Welcome to the forum too! We look forward to your interesting posts.

 

[cdoyle]

The only things I list in my sig are things I've modded, and just want others to see it, incase they might want to do the same.

oh, i have 'all weather floor mats' too

 

[Ghost Rider]

Fine... I've changed my sig to say "Upgrades", not "Mods"...:bowdown:

 

[MoveOvr]

Cleric & PioneerMeta4:

i agree too, the stereo is where i started. nothing too crazy because i like to have my trunk space. i just have a single 12" in a box. heres a pic of the double din head unit i put in. (i posted this pic already in the 3rd gen section. my car is old )

toyotadoodz:

offroad mods is what i want to do next. any suggestions where to start? my car hasnt left pavement before, but i want to give it a try. it will mainly stay on the road, but on weekends, i'd like to find a trail and get it a bit dirty.

Ghost Rider:

you have trd exhaust!...i'd say thats a mod. i wanted to do my exhaust, but ran into problems. i'm not very technical, i dont know much about cars. all i knew was there is a mod i wanted to do that required my car to have dual catalytic converters whereas my car only has one. i thought it would be a simple conversion, but its not. long story short, i still have single, and havent done the mod yet.

anyways, i didnt mean to be a prick about my other messages. no need to bow down. i just thought it was funny to list floor mats and cargo nets and tint, etc...as mods.

 

[4route]

I have to change my signature a lot.

Welcome to the site and be careful, because pretty soon you'll have a million things you want to add/mod and then all of a sudden you'll realize that we've made you poor!

i know i'm poor!

I suggest we start a commune of cardboard box houses and trucks.

 

[Thai]

the added HomeLink mod.

What a sissy! I have a "If you can read this, turn my 4x4 over" sticker, which makes my truck into a real off-roader for sure! Beat that!

Of course, my signature is just full of information....:

 

[Ghost Rider]

Ghost Rider:

you have trd exhaust!...i'd say thats a mod. i wanted to do my exhaust, but ran into problems. i'm not very technical, i dont know much about cars. all i knew was there is a mod i wanted to do that required my car to have dual catalytic converters whereas my car only has one. i thought it would be a simple conversion, but its not. long story short, i still have single, and havent done the mod yet.

anyways, i didnt mean to be a prick about my other messages. no need to bow down. i just thought it was funny to list floor mats and cargo nets and tint, etc...as mods.

LOL... No worries... Most of the crap I hung on the 4Runner ended up as convenience items, not performance mods, so I was agreeing with you... As for the TRD exhaust, it is a mod, and a nice one...

I like my rig so much that I've decided to not go hard core and not turn it into a killer off road machine... I'm going to pick up a used Jeep, and offroad in that instead...