Define "Rice". Is this car Rice?

[TeflonTron]

So, I'm currently reading a thread on a Mustang Forum where everyone seems to be of the opinion that any car from Japan is automatically "Rice" or a "Rice Burner", Supra, Skyline, EVO and NSX included. Now, I know that their definition of what is Rice is incorrect, but that couldn't stop me thinking more about it. In the UK we usually use the term "Boy Racer" to describe someone in a small car with wings, fart-cannon exhaust etc, but again, when is the car just a small car with nice engine upgrades and cosmetic changes, and when does it turn into Rice? For example, is the below car a subtle bodykit, or is it Rice?





I'm in two minds. Part of me thinks that it's subtle enough, and then I see the spoiler, which whilst small, is still there. The car is relatively "fast' and has about 150FWP.


When does a personalised car stop, and Rice start? I'm particularly thinking about the car in the picture as an example.

[TNT]

well rice is, IMO, more about quality. sure i may not like bodykits etc. but i can still like quality work. and a ricer is a mentality (spelling) when you think everything you put on gains you like 20 hp to the wheels and so forth. but decals IMO are always rice, it just makes a car look like shit. and yes that goes for gumballers/players run/canonballers too.

but as for the car pictured the wing is border line for me but the rest i like. is that your ride?

[ae86_16v]

I think the rear wing on the car definitely puts it into the "rice" category. You are right, it is a fine line to distinguish what is rice and what isn't.

For me, not everything from Japan is automatic rice. It falls into a lot of different category.

For example, I think the WRX and Evolution cars are a bit "rice" but nevertheless they are backed by their performance. But in my book they still have that "rice" image associated with them. I don't hate on them, but they just have that image.

Likewise German cars, e.g. BMW, Audi, MB, could definitely be riced out too. Especially with BMWs and the M3s. How much Carbon Fiber could you put on a car? These guys are putting on CF Hoods, CF Wings, CF interior bits. Now in my book, they are doing that just for looks and that is definitely rice. Of course the argument goes, "Oh CF saves weight." But then they go ahead and put 2 - 12" Subwoofers and a box that weights 50lbs in the truck for their audio. Umm, yeah that is saving a lot of weight there!

That is not to say aesthetics modification automatically make it rice, but it is definitely one of the requirements. And aesthetics modification with no performance enhancement makes it even more so. (BMW Angel Eyes/Halos are in this quasi-rice category.)

Back to the car in the picture. Unless that spoiler is really needed, in my opinion it is rice.

[black_magician]

My rice sensors go off when there are parts(especially fake parts) on the car that serve no purpose for that specific application.

1. the hood vents - First, I don't think those are functional. But I don't think the engine needs the extra cooling anyway.

2. wings on hatchbacks - I've never thought that they served that much purpose when they are put in that position, but some are small enough that I can get over it. I guess I can deal with that one.

Drop those vents and it would be out of my "rice zone".

I think that the more power the car has, the more "stuff" I can deal with.
For instance, if that car had 300HP, I wouldn't scream rice if I saw some canards, wider wheels, and some seat harnesses.

but in the end, if the owner likes it, I guess thats what matters.

[DeMoN]

Rice is many things. Fake badges, wings, chrome rims, useless additions... etc. IN that car, the bodykit is subtle enough to be seen as an improovement. However, the hood vents that do NOTHING for the car are not. They should be removed ASAP! The wing is nothing close to small, and wings shouldnt even be seen on hatchbacks. If you ask me, that car needs the wing and hood vents removed to be a good looking improovement.

[ZfrkS62]

If you modify a car with no clue as to what you are doing (ie being trendy) then you have become rice.

Adding body kits to cars that are otherwise stock: Rice

lowering the car without readjusting the suspension: stupid and rice

carbon fiber/fiberglass panels: rice

coffee can exhaust: rice

19" rims replacing stock 13s: Rice


Now there is one way to change all this: get a fucking CLUE!! Replaceing stock panels with lightweight materials, adding coil overs, sway bars in conjunction with camber plates and lighter rims, then taking the car to the track: NOT RICE!!!!

Add any kind of overpowered stereo equipment though: Automatic rice

[HeilSvenska]

That car is not subtle. The wing is an eyesore, so is the hood gills. The wheels also. I'd say it's rice. Even the color too.

I say all cosmetic enhancement is unnecessary on any car that's cannot be enhanced by simple bodykits ie cheapo hatchbacks etc... And that makes rice.

I also tend to call useless performance enhancements rice sometimes, such as making a superpowerful, yet completely unusable front wheel drive civics, etc...

As for extensively modified German cars (and other non-asian cars), if it doesn't have a V8+ engine and a base price of $50000+ to start with, it's rice.

For a modified car to be not rice, the stock car must be expensive and good looking from the start, and most of the visual enhancements should be functional, and the engineering behind the modification should be sound.

[TeflonTron]

Hey guys. See, so far in this thread there have been 3-4 completely different definitions of Rice, and that is what was confusing me, as I've never really given it that much thought, tbh.

I agree that the car in the picture is a little over-done. The hood scoops are from an Escort Cosworth, and the rear wing is a little too big. However, I think that this car in particular needs "something" at the back, as standard it's very square and plain.

So, a car can be fast and rice, and slow and rice? I always went by the definition that Rice is anything that gives the appearance of enhancing either power or aerodynamics but without actually doing so.


SWT: no, the car isn't mine. I'll be surprised if most know what it is though, as it's old and rare.

[Vansquish]

From my perspective, the modifications on a car need to be functional and if they're to be "functional styling" modifications then generally they need to be subtle and not differentiate the car too much from its stock looks as tacking wings on or putting on a widebody kit is all about showmanship and not about the car itself. A paint scheme or decals can easily transform a car into a rice-machine. I have deep respect for people who manage to subtly transform their car's looks and increase performance.

[TeflonTron]

Vansquish (ccol name!): so, would you say that the car in the first post is subtle, or over-done? i like it, minus the hood scoops and spoiler.

[Vansquish]

It's not too bad for a mid-90's hatch... again, from my perspective, the extractors on the hood need to be functional if they're going to be there, and the spoiler at the back could've been done more tastefully, like the Focus RS or something along those lines, i.e. integrated into the tailgate or roof.

[saadie]

ok .... hers what i think ....
all the cosmetic changes on a car which are not requires .... as in .. a roof scoop on a honda civic .... why do you need a roof scoop on a honda civic the frigging engine is in the front .... and alllso daft paintwork ... you know shiny or lame 2 tone paint work that sees as if it s painted tht way just to show off and offcorse lame idiotic decals

that spoiler on the back is rice

[T-Bird]

OK I think rice is when you put shitty parts ie $20 intakes and $20 mufflers on your ride and say that you just gained 30 hp usually it takes $500-$1000 exhausts and $200-$300 intakes to get to that point and then it isn't rice. Adding wings on FWD is rice PERIOD. Wheels should never be more than 2 inches overall larger then available from the factory. getting a body kit no matter how tasteful and subtle then not painting is rice. putting type-R badges on everything is rice period unless it is a type-R. We have this kid come into work that turned his RSX type-S into an Integra Type-R looks wise and if he left it there it would be rice but then he changed to the Type-R head and upgraded everything else to make it one hell of a fast car for an NA 4 banger making no longer rice. the criteria for rice is simple it is when what you do to the car is more for asthetics than performance. We have an NSX that comes in to work with deep dish rims and a wide-body kit but it isn't rice because it also has Brembos, Suspension from Comptech, stage 2 clutch, sup0ercharger, full exhaust including headers, intake and everything else you can think of and is still a factory color aswell that car is far from rice in my book. The guys at work all have done extensive work to their Hondas some even swapped in GSR motors and more none of them are rice, hell the only exterior mods any of them have done are the one guy had to notch his hood slighty to clear his head because of the much larger than original engine and he put on integra wheels another guy put on 16" from factory 14" rims from spoon in a magnesium color and repainted the car with NSX red his car has every suspension and handling mod you can do to a civic hatch back and he autocrosses it and takes it to the drag strip to run a consistent mid 13 time. none of that is rice.

[TNT]

^^ you are saying every show car are car with a good audio system is rice.

[SilviaEvo]

id say its rice. just cuz of the hood vents which are basically without much function and the wing on it is a bit retarded but it doesnt look that bad without those two