Well, that's one possibility. But I really think that in most cases,
thestock vehicle is the best balance of performance, EPA crap, reliability
and cost.
And alot of mods we do either are copyrighted (i.e. the K&N filter mod) or
are mods that really cause the vehicle to have characteristics that an
"average" buyer may not want (i.e. a slightly louder/rumblier exhaust).
I ride ATVs and have a Honda 250x as does several of my freinds. We each
have customized the bikefor our own riding prefs. I have a bigger front
sprocket, K&N filter, and a certain brand of tire that I prefer. My buddy
has the gear, a different brand air filter, a cam, exhaust, and some other
internal mods. Of course, he is always tinkering with his to get it to run
optimally. I prefer to have more reliability in the woods.
I agree...sometimes the $$$$ end of it affects the product. But I think
overall, the best balance is struck. Performance upgrades DO cost money
and DO affect vehicle character.....Just like the old cafeteria lady had to
cook a meal that would appeal to the greater portion of the scholl (i.e no
special spices that some students may hate), the manufactrurers build
vehciles that will please the bulk of the market.
The rest of us are destined to tweak and fiddle until we get the perfect
match for OUR needs.....
Just my 2 cents.....
At 09:05 AM 2/23/98 -0500, you wrote:
> Well... I'd have to opine that the manufacturers build and engineer these
>vehicles for optimum _profit_.
>
> As long as they can claim reasonable performance figures to get you to look
>at the vehicle in the first place, along with enough reliability to keep most
>vehicles out of warranty repair, they have done their job as far as they are
>concerned. Preferably with as cheap a manufacture as possible (which is why
>you see things like no zerk fittings on many cars; that extra $1 they saved is
>money in their pocket).
>
> There is definitely a point at which performance modifications start
>causing deficits in other areas (reliability, driveability), but IMO there
>is plenty of room for relatively easy and painless improvement on stock
>vehicles. Most of the bolt-on mods we talk about on the list are not going
>to cause significant deficits, but when you start getting into blowers,
>nitrous, and head swaps you might have a case.
>
> Ron
>
>
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