Letter of the Month
This month's Letter of the Month will receive an exclusive eurotuner T-shirt for his effort. If you'd like the same, email us at eurotuner@primedia.com or write to: eurotuner Magazine Letters, 6420 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
Conformity 1
Did you get hit on the head? This was the first thought that came to mind halfway through your editorial in the 9/06 issue. I have a pile of magazines next to my computer that represents six months of et evolution. I thumbed through a couple of them in light of your letter and all I saw was cars that basically give a big ef-you to your delusions that the European tuning scene here in America is flat or pass.
I'd never try to deny that some tuners lack the imagination to do anything more than buy a grey, blue, silver, white or black car and throw a few bolt-on parts under the hood. But if you're going to generalize about the whole scene, we could say all Asian tuners buy Integras and Civics, add shitty vinyl and loud, farty exhausts.
In the tuning scene it's always been the minority who set the trend; the few who break away from crap like giant spoilers and tasteless vinyl to try something new are the ones who get into magazines, get sponsorship and inevitably have car junkies drooling over them.
If the purpose of your letter was to prod people into being more creative with their rides, I just bought a 2006 Ford Focus. Admittedly it was because I know the owner of the local dealership, but you can expect it to be a huge project while I'm at UTI, and I'll send you photos whether you want them or not.
Eric Shor
Email
I never stated the scene was flat or pass. I merely asked whether it was stifled by a desire to conform. It was simply to get people thinking about the cars we're building and maybe prod them in to something more creative. And yes, that is what we say about the Asian scene. What the hell are you complaining about? You bought a Focus!
Conformity 2
Your Mk5 GLI isn't looking too bad in the 9/06 issue - good work. And yes, those are zany-looking cars at the Bodensee show in Germany (et 9/06). But they're intriguing enough to be worth looking into over here... I mean, over there in America. It may take some getting used to, but keeping your mind open is the way to go.
SGT Jim Lawson
Iraq
Conformity 3
I read your 9/06 editorial about the US scene and have to say I don't think it's about conformity or lack of imagination, as much as the desire to do things once with the goal of being proud of it for a long time.
Most of the show cars I saw while in Europe were different every season. They'd change their theme completely, and not because the interior wasn't custom, or their paint wasn't unique, but because it was last season's look and they needed something different to get a trophy this season.