| Lately I've noticed a disturbing trend in the Sport | | | | What ever happened to the "Street Car"? Where did |
| Compact industry, or "lifestyle" as most have come to | | | | the fun go? Seriously, while most all the products sold |
| know it, and that is the ever expanding dividing line | | | | in this industry end up on a daily driver, no one seems |
| between show cars and race cars and the slow | | | | to strive to build a sick street driven car. The few guys |
| death of the purpose built street car. Here’s my | | | | that do build them, never drive them. They sit in their |
| thoughts on it, and I'd love to hear your feedback. | | | | garages’ waiting for a sunny day that never |
| In the beginning or the Sport Compact scene, | | | | comes. The most common excuse I hear when I ask |
| performance and exterior enhancements were both | | | | people about this is Well, I’ve got too much |
| equals, there wasn't enough aftermarket support for | | | | money in it, and id hate for anything to happen to it. |
| the cars for people to draw that line. There were no | | | | Are you serious? I don’t know about you guys, |
| show cars, there were no race cars. There was | | | | but I don’t see any pleasure in pouring that |
| however a few guys with clean rides that went down | | | | much time, money, and sweat into a project, just to let |
| the 1320 just a bit faster. That was it, that was all they | | | | it set around. If I was into that, I’d sit at home |
| had and the best part was, the cars were driven | | | | and try to avoid the ill-effects of modeling cement as I |
| everyday. "Trailer Queens", whats that? Wow, look at | | | | paste together a plastic car that cost me $6.99 at any |
| how far we have come since then. | | | | local retailer. |
| Today, the scene is completely different. It went from | | | | For your average, everyday, hardworking sport |
| a tiny industry that people said would never make it, | | | | compact enthusiast, my hat’s off to you. Your |
| into a $2 Billion dollar a year industry. As recently as 10 | | | | car is an ever evolving piece of art that you are proud |
| years ago i could have counted the major import | | | | to show off. You drive your car, you stay up late |
| performance manufacturers on one hand, today, they | | | | working on your car, you go crazy trying to set you |
| have their own 1000 page directory. This has allowed | | | | and your car apart from the crowd. You guys drive |
| consumers the options of building cars based | | | | the industry by demanding innovative parts, higher |
| completely on what they like, not what their neighbor | | | | quality parts, and better performing parts. |
| has. This has also given enthusiasts the choice- Build a | | | | With all that said, I feel like I should throw a little |
| race car, or build a show car. Of course, there are in | | | | disclaimer down here. This is not directed at the guys |
| betweens and plenty of options, but to most, | | | | that build a race car or a show car to advertise their |
| everything else is just a deviation of those two options. | | | | company or business. |