I'm sorry they, just did. The latest printed copy of the Crutchfield catalog arrived, and they've crossed a line that I'm not comfortable with.

I mean, they hinted at carrying these kinds of products a little bit in the past. But now they've just gone overboard and there's a whole section devoted to it.

Henceforth, in my correspondence, Crutchfield shall be referred to as "Ricefield".

OK, I just flipped through it (got it today). I guess you are referring to the last two pages. Yeah, ricefield is more like it.

This isn't the first catalog they have done this in. At least one back had this stuff too.

You know what would be really funny would be to start a line of "performance" accessories and kits under a "Rice" label. I'd love to see all these cars driving around with "Rice" stickers slapped on next to the phony "Type R" stickers.

A few months ago I was at a light and I saw an Accord with "Accord Type R" plastered all over the front window... it ticked me off. I almost got out of my car to go knock on his window and let him know how stupid he looked.

I live in Charlottesville which is home to one of the two crutchfield retail stores so I am able to go listen to stuff before I buy it and not have to worry about shipping and all that. I was in there about a month ago and was looking at some of the "rice" things they had in there. I couldn't even keep a straight face because it is all so dumb. They even had a demo car in the store decked out in all this crazy stuff. It was the ugliest thing i've ever seen. Why would anyone want a bazooka tube that looks like a nos bottle?

Perhaps someone thinks a Bazooka tube disguised like that is less likely to get stolen from the car.

IMO, it's more likely to get the whole car stolen.

LMAO. I saw one of those in a local Circuit City and i laughed uncontrolably for a good minute. I couldn't F'N believe that anyone would possibly buy that POS.

You mean that lit-up exhaust and stuff? This is going to sound naive as hell, but do people really put that crap on their cars? I haven't seen that at all around here. Guess you learn something new every day...

Awww. Too bad.

I've seen the lit exhaust, the spinny lights on the tire spokes, and the "hovercraft" under-car lights (which was actually pretty cool the first time, and ONLY the first time I saw it).

Ah, I have a new lame thread idea. Hahaha...

I haven't seen that at all around here.

I wanna move to wherever it is that Tim lives.

I wanna move to wherever it is that Tim lives.

The Phoenix area. Last time I went out shopping (about a month ago, then I disappeared for a 3 week trip), I saw 3 Ferraris, (F40, 512TR, and 355 I think), a McLaren F1, and countless BMWs and Porsches (it was a gorgeous day to be out). I guess the 'ricer' demographic doesn't really live in this area.

For people unable to see the delights, Google is your friend.

Gareth

So people actually drive the McLaren F1 on the streets? It's not just another caged-greyhound-on-speed that never gets to leave the garage, is only for show in the home, and probably doesn't work anyway because the belts and gaskets have cracked due to lack of use because no road is flat enough to prevent bottoming out and tearing out the underside of the beast? Man, I love run on sentences.

All I can say is that I was thrilled to see a Smart Car (battery powered, by Mercedes?, popular in Germany) driving on a local road by me. Wanna look original but still have some class, import a Smart Car (if you're rich enough to bribe the EPA to let you have it).

The Smart is petrol powered and related to the A-Class in design, although I don't think Mercedes is actually involved in the company any more. The engine is a 3 cylinder 600cc turbo, and not particularly fast according to people that have driven it. It is also pretty expensive when you compare it to the smallest "normal" cars that some close - eg. Hyundai Atoz, Ford Ka etc..

There are quite a few in the UK now, my dad mentioned today that the train stations are putting special 1/2 price parking spaces for them.

FWIW I think the front looks pretty ugly - they could have done something a lot nicer yet still kept to the "minimal space" ethic.

Gareth

Man, that don't crack me up nearly as much as this one:

http://www.sounddomain.com/sku/BAZNOS8

What part of Phoenix is this rice-free zone where the Ferrarae roam free? There's no shortage of rice burning out in the east valley, pretty much inversely proportional to your distance from ASU.

Those cars were all spotted on a recent trip up into Scottsdale (they were all on Shea - must've been trying to out-cool the others). The F1 was in this month's R&T. I'm in the east valley, but I swear I haven't seen anybody putting that kind of aftermarket stuff on their car.

ROFL at the pluralization.

Looks like they hired a new mascot too:

Those cars were all spotted on a recent trip up into Scottsdale

You must mean Snotsdale... I used to work for Coca-Cola doing a route up there. Totally different world than Tempe was... My hometown, never moving back, it's getting too much like Los Angeles...

Yeah, they drive like a sack of, wll, not very fast or motor related things. They don't corner well. People laugh at you. In fact the main use round here is as marketing - lots of logo-wrapped smart cars which just pootle up and down the streets going nowhere.

Even the bottom end A-class Merc drives better.

Same here. They're all used for takeaway deliveries around here. I guess because it's small so it's easier to park the thing.

- Trevor

train stations are putting special 1/2 price parking spaces for them.

Them spaces can't have moved very far north yet. Maybe it's the train operating company in your father's part of the world.

I've long commented: Why would you put up with all that discomfort, when, unlike a motor bike, you have no advantage in traffic and a Rolls Royce(or more topically, a Maybach), pays the same for a parking bay, not that I've ever had trouble with a 23ft. Hymer motorhome.

I'm a fair man, I tried one out for the day in Majorca, out of 10: Ride:1 point: Vibrating beds tone you up better,
Noise level 9 points: surprisingly quiet,
Pulling power=norwegian eurovision entry. But then maybe it's because I'm old and ugly,
Fuel consumption: piss in the tank and you can go three times round the island.

Not all bad, if you never ever have to make a journey outside the immediate city centre - but then you might well be able to find something battery powered.

Snotsdale is a good description for parts of it, but it really depends on which part you go to. I tend to like the bars in Tempe and the clubs in Scottsdale. They just opened up a new bar called 'The Library' (no relation to the one that burned down in Glensdale) which is pretty groovy. Especially if you dig the librarian look. They also have a bar that opened up a few years ago that was supposedly had the bar built in Ireland, ripped apart, shipped here and reassembled. Nice place.

I've said it once... I'll say it again.... FINS FINS FINS!!!! why do you need a fin that stands 4ft high on a car that won't break 100 mph?????? Arrrrgggg

What car doesn't break 100MPH these days? I had a Suzuki Sidekick that couldn't do over 95, but that was a non-aerodynamic truck. I would imagine the common Civic would go over 100. Maybe I'm wrong?

I guess that was kind of an exageration... I just think it's humorous that people slap the huge fins on a car that would never reach a speed in which a fin of such enormity would be needed.... thats just me though...

OK, I guess I took you too literally. Yes, I agree with you. Some of those wings are just way too big and moronic looking.