People seem to make these modifications to their cars solely to make the car appear as if it's souped-up without actually doing anything to actually make the car ``faster''

You are correct in the literal sense here, but you have to try and see things from their viewpoint.

I consider myself to be on exactly the opposite end of the spectrum from the "ricers" -- but I do not criticize them in the least.

Their "thing" is to have what they consider to be a cool looking car -- with wings, spoilers, flare kits, big wheels, etc. They want the car to be an attention getter. It does not have to be fast.

My "thing" is to have a car that looks completely ordinary -- but is full of hidden surprises. It does have to be fast.

Is my outlook "better" than the ricers? Not a bit. Different strokes, and all that. That ricer put just as much time, money, and labor-of-love work into his car as I did to mine. We just seek different goals, that's all.

tanstaafl.