Would you rather have a Hot Rod or a Tuner?

Would you rather have a hot rod or a tuner?

This may sound like a stark comparison, but my friend and I got into this discussion. hes a tuner guy, I'm a hot rod guy. Which style do you favor better? What about performance and drivability?

Well, I'm a hot rod guy. With hot rods, you get the sexy sheet emtal (and unfortunately, a lot of fiberglass nowadays >:( ), the radical paint, the powerful engines, cool carbs, throaty exhaust, and infinite customization. A hot rod can defeat anything on the strip if you build it to, and you can even buy kits that can actually handle as well. It may not have advanced chassis development, but the set up can still handle (Factory Five RAcing has a 33 Ford hot rod kit out with a tubular steel chassis that can handle any engine you want, and takes fully adjustable coil over suspension).

IMO, I think Tuners are trash. With tiny 4 pots that require 30K$ just to get 300HP. hahaha. Not to mention they sound like shit, and 90% of the time, look like shit (though I have seen some "nice" or "well done" ones before). Not to mention That I think the styling is just gross. God, I hate those damn 22IN rims and rubber band tires. God its disgraceful.

I'd prefer a muscle car to either. Not that i dont like tuners, but the simplicity of the older cars make them more attractive to work on.

Who says tuners are all 4cyl anyway

i like to be fast everywhere, so tuner for me
hot rods are okay for cruising and hard parking, but then imports do all that as well

I personally would have a Tuner. But that's just purely my opinion.

I'm never a big fan of Hot Rods, so choice was easy for me.

Want to rage at how narrow minded your view of the import scene is.

I know your just generalising based on your oppinion but f*ck. Seriously?

Both "scenes" have their own benifits (Sounds of a V8 = yum) but I'll take an import and that 30K you mentioned before I step into a hot rod.

It's your mis-conceptions of the import scene that are spoiling it for you.

I'd go for tuner without hesitation. Thats not to say I don't like hotrods. They just suck when you have to live with them on a daily basis. I can appreciate the big engines, the deafening noise, and the smell of burnt rubber. Its just that they are too purposeful in that regard. They do what they were built to do very well, but lack in most other aspects of daily life. You can track a tuner on the weekend, and use it to get from A - B in relative comfort throughout the rest of the week, while in many cases getting fairly decent fuel mileage at the same time. The same can't really be said for hot rods, although some are more tame than others.

Gearheads arguing about this crap is silly. ... tuners and hotrodders do the same thing, it's a pointless comparison. Plenty of tuner cars are useless for daily diving, and there are stellar traditional rods capable of grocery runs as well as track time. It all depends on the skill and vision of the builder, regardless of what the basis of the project was originally. Aside from aesthetic choices, which of these two Viper powered cars is the "hotrod" and which is the "tuner" car?

hey is that a real viper engine in the acura or is the a photo shop

Of course it's 'shopped. That's the point... reaction to it is the same as if it were real. A reaction is part of what rod and tuner builders want, sometimes to the extreme. But plain looking old cars with modern underpinnings are a construct of both schools of thought.
Real car enthusiasts should be able to appreciate them all for what they are: driveable personal expressions. :cool:

muscle cars for me. more specifically, '69 camaro's, monaro's, mustang's and falcon's. i'd give my torso for a mint condition pearl black '69 camaro fitted with something tasty from nelson race engines. 2500hp camaro? yes please!

I like cars...

[quote=f6fhellcat13;956261]I like cars...[/quote]

Me too! We should totally hang out.


edit: I'd take tuners, the class is just more versatile.

Perhaps you two can hang out on a car forum online or something!

[quote=whiteballz;956240]Want to rage at how narrow minded your view of the import scene is.

I know your just generalising based on your oppinion but f*ck. Seriously?

Both "scenes" have their own benifits (Sounds of a V8 = yum) [B] but I'll take an import and that 30K you mentioned before I step into a hot rod.
[/B]
It's your mis-conceptions of the import scene that are spoiling it for you.[/quote]

These "misconceptions" are not unfounded in truth. With all the computer chips, turbos, and specialized parts needed to get serious power, out of a 4 pot as per my OP, requires serious money. While to get serious power out of even a fairly common Chevy small block requires a fraction of the money.
I could go in my garage right now, and take a 300HP chevy small block and bolt on a supercharger and a triple deuce carburetor set up and have 450HP for less than 3-5000 Dollars. While a 300HP chip costs the same for a 4 cylinder.

And you're just like the pot calling the kettle black.

Believe me when I say it, their are SOME impressive tuners out their, that dominate on the tracks, and sometimes the street. But you can't build a proper tuner on a shoestring budget like you could a hot rod.

I've seen some hi-tech hot rods that go fast and handle that I'd take over any tuner.

Tuners for me. For some reason all hot rods look the same to me, i couldn't tell a Ford from a Chevy or even early Dodge coupe. With tuners you get to choose not only from Japan but also Europe and some American models to tune up. Variety is the spice of life.

[quote=Magnum9987;956298]And you're just like the pot calling the kettle black.

Believe me when I say it, their are SOME impressive tuners out their, that dominate on the tracks, and sometimes the street. But you can't build a proper tuner on a shoestring budget like you could a hot rod.[/quote]

I fail to see where I've been a hypocrite -

You've made sweeping comments about a scene obviously not to your taste - I have not.

You've seemingly done little research into the cost and abilities of most imports (Or are all "imports" 4 cylinders?).

Yes you can build a rocket out of a V8, Wont deny. But from a 4 or 6 engine they're not as costly as you are saying.

roads have corners

& bumps

hot rods are good for looking at tho

[quote=Magnum9987;956298]These "misconceptions" are not unfounded in truth. With all the computer chips, turbos, and specialized parts needed to get serious power, out of a 4 pot as per my OP, requires serious money. While to get serious power out of even a fairly common Chevy small block requires a fraction of the money. [/quote]
a JZ series engine comes with 300hp, and will see 400hp for little money spent.. and 800hp before the internals need to be strengthened.
any import 'performance' engine with $30k thrown into it is going to have more than 300hp with sensible mods..
hot rods are nice for show, imports for go

[quote=aiasib;956281]Me too! We should totally hang out.[/quote]

I lawl'd.

Tuner

i would have to say tuner. Im a big fan of both but when you take a car like the Supra and tune it you get a total piece of art. Cars like that can produce upwards of 1000 hp. But so do muscle cars. Muscle cars are meant more for drag racing and tuners for track days and races.

Old school homebuilt hot rod for me. Thank you! And not necessarily with a bent eight either...a good straight eight or straight six would be my first picks, and even Ford's old 4-banger sounds pretty good, though fast it will never be. Or go more exotic with a Lincoln or Jaguar V12. That's how I like a car - visceral, unique, and basic.

Tuners...well, just not my thing. Too new, plastic interiors, computerized motors...and if you do it tastefully (ie not a rice-out), then frankly the thing would have no personality whatsoever. Exception? A VW TDi or a Volvo 240 wagon with B230ft (turbo motor) :) otherwise, I'd be ok with some old Honda or something (Civic VX?) to putt around in, but that's about it.

Of the two, I'd have a Rod. It fits in to my personality. Big hard lump of muscle. :D But tuners usually have the performance advantage on the road.

I like 2jz driftr :) :) :) :)

[quote=KillKevsCorsas;958884]Of the two, [B]I'd have a Rod.[/B] It fits in to my personality. [B]Big hard lump of muscle[/B]. :D But tuners usually have the performance advantage on the road.[/quote]

I question what that personality is you speak of :D.

[quote=DesmoRob;958911]I question what that personality is you speak of :D.[/quote]

im his friend, he is very strong and bulkey, that why he said he's like a big V8

[quote=thebrochureman;958914]im his friend, he is very strong and bulkey, that why he said he's like a big V8[/quote]

Its okay :), you missed the joke.

Gotta live with it every day? Gimme a tuner with adjustable VTEC and turbo, as I can get 30mpg or well over 350-400hp depending on my mood and destination.
As a second/third/etc. car? Gimme the Moal Torpedo. Hot rod with 1930's Alfa good looks, 1990's Ferrari 550 Maranello power, modern handling capabilities, and more originallity than you're likely to see in either category.

[quote=jrgitar;959009]As a second/third/etc. car? Gimme the Moal Torpedo. Hot rod with 1930's Alfa good looks, 1990's Ferrari 550 Maranello power, modern handling capabilities, and more originallity than you're likely to see in either category.[/quote]

Thats lovely. I'd rather have the Rex Burnett Classic Deucari instead..... Classic ferrari v12 power trumps a modern motor in my opinion.

[quote=Magnum9987;959076]Thats lovely. I'd rather have the Rex Burnett Classic Deucari instead..... Classic ferrari v12 power trumps a modern motor in my opinion.[/quote]

Agreed. So I'll take the Torpedo's looks and handling with a 330 or 365 under the hood!