The saying “too much of anything is bad for you” applies not just to food, but to cars as well. Mod enthusiasts might argue that too much power is actually good (fair enough), but for the majority of drivers, a car that is too powerful is actually undriveable.
As with most things in life, moderation is key.
However, there are some car owners who have either forgotten this or just ignored it, especially when it comes to bodykits. There are too many cars out there who are sporting bodykits that are so aggressive that they could rival a Super GT racecar.
Bodykits can definitely make a car look sportier, but one should bear in mind that since they’re designed to increase downforce, they also increase aerodynamic drag. Added downforce on a circuit can help boost cornering speeds, but they’re impractical for everyday driving. They can also affect fuel consumption.
Within the confines of our concrete jungle, drivers have to face unnecessarily high kerbs. If your HDB estate only offers multi-storey carparks, you’ll be faced with ramps and speed bumps as well. Depending on how aggressive your bodykit is, it could either spell damage or doom.
In my estate, I know of two tuned Subarus, a Honda Civic and a Mazda whose bodykits have contributed to the colourful paint swathes on the carparks kerbs and the bottom of ramps. It doesn’t matter how slow the drivers negotiate these obstacles – their front bumper lips end up kissing the concrete anyway. Naturally, the “smooching” sounds they make are akin to fingernails being dragged across a blackboard.
And, if you’re suay enough to follow them out of the carpark, you’ll be unnecessarily slowed. I had the misfortune of following the Mazda’s owner once. The driver must have felt so paiseh because once we exited the carpark, she promptly slowed down and pulled over to let me pass.
As our contributor and mod expert Tony Tan once said, “If it’s too low, you’ll end up going real slow!”
