This may be better in the OT part of the Forum but ..................................
I always thought that a 'Ricer' was a vehicle made in the Far East, such as Japan, but here on PFF I have heard the term applied to other cars as well. Is it because of modifications done to the engine, exhaust (Fart Cans) etc. Or is it the custom paint jobs, lighting systems, and stereos?
I have seen some really nice looking cars here on the Forum with as many different looks as there are personalities.
So what is it that labels a car a "Ricer"?

(Just want your opinions with no intentions of starting any flame wars or offending anyone. To me if a car looks good, it looks good! If it's fast, it's fast!)
Thanks,
John

I consider rice to be any car modified to look fast rather than be fast.

quote Originally posted by iced_theater: I consider rice to be any car modified to look fast rather than be fast.

Thats a pretty hard defination to beat, so Ill go with that too. Paint jobs dont really qualify to me though. Anything they paint is the owners choice. Add on scoops whether functional or not really dont either, even factories put them on for strictly cosmetics. It does also apply to the owners that brag they can take anyone and beat them with their 4 cylinder stock Cavalier because they have lite up windshield squirters.........

My definition of rice, is the addition of unnecesary plastic crhome, leds, neons, and other lights, pieces of unecisary downforce, seeming pointless mods, chrome glasspacks (fart cans), and certain rims that have unecisary spoke and crazy paterns, not to mention the millions of declas expressing what the driver admires, not what he has done, and dont forget carbon fiber look window tint.

edit to retract low comment

[This message has been edited by FieroWannaBe (edited 01-20-2005).]

Fiero 5

Lol Jk

...But Yeah For Sure ..Car Made To Look Fast But Really Is Not

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"This car is so good looking its almost indecent. - AutoWeek on the new 1986 GT"

Zeros Home Page
MSN Messanger tylercaddick@hotmail.com

I'm old so it started as a statement you would say when you saw a car or motorcycle made in Japan. It also started as rice burners but as time passed the burner was left off. It had nothing to do with looks.

quote Originally posted by iced_theater: I consider rice to be any car modified to look fast rather than be fast.

Same here, I usually say, ALL SHOW NO GO.

quote Originally posted by FieroWannaBe: (gook tubes, fart cans)

GOOK TUBES?! How about those niggah seats, spic wheels and kike wings?

This place is going to hell.

[This message has been edited by stimpy (edited 01-20-2005).]

quote Originally posted by ZeroC: Fiero 5 Lol Jk

Bwahahahaha

Taken at the extreme, it's a put down by the serious go fast crowd on 'wannabe' racers or even the custom scene as they often don't care about how fast, but how it looks.

Fart cans------20 H.P.
Decals----------5 H.P. each
Spoilers--------25 H.P. for each level
Wheels---------24 inch gold plated spokes
Paint------------1 pint of paint and 2 gals of metal flake
Stereo----------more power than the engine
Engine----------actually all talk as the money was poured into all of the above
Driver------------usually some rich daddy's little smart mouth a$$ wipe

I am sure this list can grow a lot

Here in Miami, as I am sure everyplace else, it is out of hand. When I go to the Friday night cruise in, there is a lot/section just for the RICERS.

NOT THIS AGAIN!!!

I always find some of the responses in these threads about "what is rice" interesting as many of those who speak out with "rice" comments all the time in threads seem to agree that there idea of "rice" is merely for "looking" fast. An underpowered car that looks sporty but has no real HP to back up the "look" of the vehicle. In other words, all show and no go.
Well thats pretty funny because we currently also have another thread discussion going on about an article published in a car mag about the Fiero that is still haunting GM and so maybe being an embarrasment to Pontiac. The comments are that the Fiero was underfunded making the car underpowered (especially given the Fieros awesome sporty look) and was forced to use many off the shelf parts and in the end was nothing more (in the begining anyway) than a good looking commuter car.
Now, lets take this a step further. Many of the first mods on Fieros that are done are adding fancier rims, side rocker scoops, hood vents, modified front facsia, different dash, upgraded stereos, etc.
I guess I never realized that what we do to our Fieros is so much different to what many of the so called "ricers" do with their cars.
The Indy Fiero came stock with a dual exhaust on it's 4 cyl engine. You want to talk spoilers? The Fiero had the industries widest. Decals? Look at what the Fierostore, FOCOA and others sold successfully for over 10 years in the way of aftermarket large add on decals. Fierosails (Paul McKibben) still does and they get larger and more exotic all the time. How many Fieros have you seen that have the large Pegasus decal in some shape or design on them? Go tell the proud owners they drive rice and see what you get for a reaction.
So lets see now, if going by the descriptions of some on here of what they think "rice" is, I guess in stock or even semi modded form we Fiero owners are all driving rice? LOL

So is that the pot calling the kettle or the kettle calling the pot?

[This message has been edited by Fiero5 (edited 01-20-2005).]

quote Originally posted by stimpy: GOOK TUBES?! How about those niggah seats, spic wheels and kike wings? This place is going to hell.

yeah i agree that comment was pretty low and unnecessary, how bout you change your name to skinhead wannabe?
i think useless mods are key for this description like fake non-functional scoops, huge tin spoilers on cars that can't go fast enough to make it functional, fart cans that make cars sound like ducks or dirtbikes, and some may disagree, but i think neon lights placed anywhere on a car is a ricey way to draw attention to a car

quote Originally posted by LITEDAZE: the difference is whether or not you make it functional........or tacky for that matter

Are you speaking just for yourself or on behalf of everyone on the forum?
At any rate, so what you are saying is that any vehicle that has in whole or partially a part that is merely for show, for looks and is not functional, then it would be considered rice?
Have you walked around car shows lately or even car lots selling stock production cars?
Maybe you don't realize just how many even right off the assembly line sporty cars are being produced sportin' fake hood/side scoops and the like?
Just something to consider.

quote Originally posted by iced_theater: I consider rice to be any car modified to look fast rather than be fast.

This would be my reply as well. I would also add, adding a part to the car that is larger than the car.
I mean does a stock Honda Civic really need a wing as wide as a minivan and as tall? Sometimes I think the only way these people win races is because the other person is laughing too hard to see.

actually I'm speaking on behalf of myself, and I'm sure many agree, but if they don't they don't....this is what I think of when I hear that term. And yeah I've been to car shows and seen guys with body kits held onto their cars with double-sided tape, stick on vents/scoops in areas that don't have holes for venting stickers on their windows/fenders from every part added to their car, or evey shop they've had an oil change in.......most of the shows i've been too have mostly challengers, GTOs, vettes, stangs, camaros, and stuff that goes really fast (like my car).....half of the cars run on av gas, and have scoops that aren't held on by adhesive. There are a few imports, but besides the tacky looking ones, there are a couple of professionally modded ones that show up, and they are somethin! They don't have 4 inch tips on a 1.5 inch exhaust, or gaudy stickers everywhere......they maintain classy but sporty looks.

Don't get bent outta shape over this steve, this thread asked for my opinion and i gave it......that's what public forums are for....different opinions. Anyone on this forum can turn around and call my car a "steak n potatoes rocket" if they want.......you can do whatever you want to your car, because it's yours/jordan's.....that's the style you want to emulate, all the power to you. I respect your car because it's a symbol of your awesome fatherhood, honestly it's totally not my style, but whatever I don't have to drive it........Don't look at my above response as an attack, but more of an opinion that's different than yours. and on that note, yes i think factory non-functional scoops and vents are tacky too....but we're not talking about factory here....
James

[This message has been edited by LITEDAZE (edited 01-20-2005).]

Don't worry, I'm not getting bent out of shape. Look at the smilies in my post
Just a good honest discussion here I hope.
I do find it funny that many of those who call out "Rice" have mods themselves on their own rides (if they even have one) that fit in the exact same description they themselves are calling rice at to others.
I go to lots of shows myself, and leaving the "custom compact" cars out of it for a moment, I see many mostly stock production cars that have factory fake scoops on them among other "non" functional accessories. You can't call it one way and then ignore it the other way. I'm not saying you are but there are quite a few on here that are obviously negatively biased towards the custom compact crowd, ie ricers for whatever reason. Obviously there are quite a few custom compact owners that have deserved getting called out and those who may have gawdy (based on someone elses opinion of course) looking cars. To each his own I think. We also have those with are called fart cans, or have more money in their big rims with rubbing tires on lowered suspensions then in the rest of the car and of course a Civic or two with a wing that is bigger than their car. (Lets remember that it is their car BTW) But putting them all in one group calling them all rice because of the bad seeds or "wannabies" is like putting all of us Fiero owners in a group saying that all of our Fieros are fire traps because of those that actually had fires.

Rice is a slang word. Usually meant by those who say it as a not so nice term aimed at the custom compact owners who mod their cars as they like. Maybe not so different then us in many ways. I guess if we get "firetrap" thrown in our face often when some see a Fiero we can't really complain now can we?

I guess if you really wanted to think about it, "all show no go" would be the best definition of rice. Where did the word rice come from? I personally think it was when some little import cars that couldn't beat a minivan in a race got all the attention at the shows and on the streets and some guys in a muscle car wanted to spread the word that there is something wrong with expressing oneself. Some people dont see the need for speed, if they live in the city, don't normally speed, whats the point of going fast? Just for bragging rights? All of you can really say what you want, since for the most part I am with you. I am tired of honda owners calling me a "hick" or some other bs for driving around in my camaro, nova, or mustang. People express themselves, and people have different tastes. Why heckle someone else when its just going to come back atcha in different forms. Some people call me a ricer, and let them. Simply because I am trying to create a market for bodykits on our cars. Thats terrific if some young guy / girl buys my kit, and tosses it on a fiero with a stock 2.5. Am I simply suppose to ask everyone what they have under the hood and if they dont have the fastest fiero I've seen yet, to be able to sell it to them? When some of you call me or fiero5 a ricer, might want to take in some history. Most of us on here didn't start with fieros, we have been through many types of cars. Personally I love muscle cars, but this is my chance to try new things. I can always drive muscle cars, since my whole family has them.

In my view, a "Ricer" is just someone that expresses themselves, regardless of what other opinions of them are. Maybe they would choose to have a car that looks good, before making it a sleeper.

End Rant

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Custom Fiero 2M4 - 3800 Swap Coming Soon?....

IMHO, rice is simply the attitude that some of these people have. They seem to think that they are so much better than anyone else and unless you drive a Honda/etc you are not worth talking to.

...as for the rest of the stuff - come on, it's just customizing your car. Be it a bolt on wing, LED lug nuts or what ever. It just happens that today's triple decker wings are what some people think is 'cool'.

People have been 'customizing' cars since the very beginning. Look at the Duesenberg, that is a completely custom body, or how about any George Barris creation amoung others. Technically the Batmobile could be called rice, as per previously meantioned: it's looks fast but isn't anywhere near as fast as it looks.

Tim

hahaha Gook Tube, never heard that one b4.
Ricer has been well explaind here...
Its a slow car, with all the money used to customise it, thrown into useless mods. Mods that just add looks, and most of the time make the car slower.
Ricer can even go into the way someone drives. That is self explainatory.

Dont hate, just laugh.

[rant]
I believe that the making the car look good, while not doing anything to the engine, and thinking it's faster because of it. Also people who think putting a cold air intake on their car's going to add 10+ hp to a 4 banger. I also would like to add the people who put a cat-back exhaust system, and a could air intake on their cars, and think they're the fastest thing on the road. Also the mindset of the person driving the car has alot to do with when the term is used too. And fiero5, trying to defend your kids car by in the end making all of us seem like ricers just doesn't put you one up on my list . Oh, and just adding smileys doesn't make a bad post turn good, it just contradicts the whole thing .
[/rant]

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96k Miles, 2nd owner

Rice or muscle car wannabe?

answer: yes

alot of people think my car is rice and that i am a ricer. alot of members of this very board discount my opinion on unrelated things because i "pimp out station wagons" i think these people are just as stupid as the ricers they make fun of.

other people think that a ricer is any modified japanese car. again i disagree.

Ok I am sure that many people can point out a ricer just by looking at them and/or there car. But the definition seems to be a little out of reach. To me a ricer is Someone who does something to there car to make it look ridiculously to flashy or make it look like it has something it doesnt. Also things that are very tacky and look like a 4 yr. old added it to the persons car. Examples then:

Someone takes a stock civic/corolla/cavalier, it doesnt really matter the make or model, any car can fall victim, and puts a huge FAA approved wing on the back with 40 decals and vinal and an bright orange paintjob. Its just tacky and ugly, this is rice because those were originally done on cars in japan way back and they all actually had a use and/or the decals were of things in the car. And the paintjob was done to make the $120,000 car get the attention it clearly deserved. Now most people dont even bother with the power just the looks, aka rice

The 4in. walmart tips on a stock exhaust or even a fart cannon added to the back of a stock exhaust to increase flow while keeping the stock cat. Clearly retarded, we have all seen them, but these stick off the back 3 or 4 inches and as we can tell were slapped on and not mounted correctly because it doesnt fit. I know that this started also back in japan when the parts used looked like that except were under the car and the body molded around it to make it look good, unlike now where they slap it on and say they added 35 hp.

Any car can be made to look beautiful, a great looking sports monster. Also any car can be made to look like our so called "rice". the term itself refers to a car that is trying to only do the cosmetic look of the japanese monsters of past and present, and most times the people attempting this butcher it or go overboard and make you just want to cry. That is just my opinion.

quote Originally posted by JamesCurtis: [rant] And fiero5, trying to defend your kids car by in the end making all of us seem like ricers just doesn't put you one up on my list . Oh, and just adding smileys doesn't make a bad post turn good, it just contradicts the whole thing . [/rant]

Your adding things changing what I said. Where did I ever mention a specific car like Jordans?? I was not at all defending any of our familes Fieros by saying that we could easily call all Fieros rice. I said that you could easily call Fieros rice if we use the same definitions that many on here are using to justify calling another car a ricer. Read some of the reasons why many people say they would call a car a ricer. Following the same reasons and definitions many Fieros are no different.
Lets look at just a few of the very common aftermarket goodies that we see added to many Fieros that do not in anyway make the Fiero go any faster at all:
Many Fiero owners put bigger aftermarket chrome rims on their Fieros. Does that make those Fiero owners ricers?
Many Fiero owners put fancier louder stereo setups in their Fieros, many times being worth more than the rest of the car. Does that make those Fiero owners ricers?
Many Fiero owners put taller wing stands on the spoilers of thier Fieros. Does that make those Fiero owners ricers?
Many Fiero owners put aftermarket side scoops on their Fieros. Does that make those Fiero owners ricers?
Many Fiero owners put aftermarket chrome exhaust tips on their Fieros. Does that make those Fiero owners ricers?
Many Fiero owners put in car and underbody neons on their Fieros. Does that make those Fiero owners ricers?
Many Fiero owners put large Pegasus hood decals, body length stripes or other non factory decals on their Fieros. Does that make those Fiero owners ricers?
Many Fiero owners detail a fairly stock engine and even have painted/powder coated certain parts on their Fieros. Does that make those Fiero owners ricers?
Many Fiero owners put aftermarket steering wheels on their Fieros. Does that make those Fiero owners ricers?
I think you get the idea.
Now of course you can also plop in a bigger better more performance oriented engine too along the way. Nothing wrong with that either. The only thing is that adding style to a car and customizing it to his or her own taste is usually done first being that it usually costs a lot less to do that then to go drop 3 or 4 G's or more into a better fancier engine. Some can afford the go fast goodies right off while usually many more have to wait and save and so will settle with some of the look good goodies in the meantime. Some can afford both at the same time.
Fiero owners as we all know like to take what is already a great looking car and make it look even better. Adding scoops, raised wings and other look good goodies may not make the car any faster but in so doing they make it more unique, more their own. It's not a bad thing at all. People have been doing that to cars for many many years. Not all cars made are Enzo Ferraris or Lamborghini Countachs, but that doesn't stop many in trying to make theirs look, if only in their eyes, just a teeny bit closer to a fancier and sportier looking car

Lastly, remember that e-mail and internet text does not convey a persons feelings at all. My responses here are just that, responses with my observations. There is no anger or bad feelings in any of my replies

[This message has been edited by Fiero5 (edited 01-20-2005).]

I apologize for the "gook tube" comment, i am in no way a skinhead, racist, "rebel" but here in my wisconsin high school thats what people reffer to them as. Please know i used only as a explaination of what the 120$ crhome glasspack i was talking about is incase no one understood it. I am sorry for this please don't talk it like i hate asians, or i worship hitler. my sincere aplogies for the comment i do realize it was a low comment to say, but i wish people wouldn't blow it out of proportion.

SORRY

i was merely trying to explain what people around here in the burbs of wisconsin call rice, i know peopel that even call themselves riice. again i am sorry for the racist like comment

Rice:

quote Subject: Definition of "Rice"

It came from W.W.II

Japanese, Japanese pilots, Mitsubishi aircraft, etc...

The term "ricer" or "rice burner" was just incorporated into the automotive world as the decades went by, starting with the cheap junk in the 70's as viewed by the American public, and into the 90's when people started making performance enhancements to the cars.

It's also important to note, it is and always has been a derogatory statement toward the Japanese people.

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Profile? In 20 years... Auto Detailing, Auto Body, Classic & Antique Restorations, Mechanic, Engine Performance Specialist, Porsche-Jaguar Tech, Wholesaler, Sales, Independent Full Service Repair Shop, Vehicle Vinyl Graphic Design and hard-core auto / aviation enthusiast... now searching for a new career. What a ride!

[This message has been edited by Skybax (edited 01-20-2005).]

quote Originally posted by FieroWannaBe: I apologize for the "gook tube" comment, i am in no way a skinhead, racist, "rebel" but here in my wisconsin high school thats what people reffer to them as. Please know i used only as a explaination of what the 120$ crhome glasspack i was talking about is incase no one understood it. I am sorry for this please don't talk it like i hate asians, or i worship hitler. my sincere aplogies for the comment i do realize it was a low comment to say, but i wish people wouldn't blow it out of proportion. SORRY i was merely trying to explain what people around here in the burbs of wisconsin call rice, i know peopel that even call themselves riice. again i am sorry for the racist like comment

Hey, Don't pull the whole State down with you. Thats the first time I've ever heard that term.

I always thought when a car and/or person was called a "Ricer", it was referring to our younger generation (in their 20's) driving lowered/modified Accords, Civic's, Acura's, Eclipse's and so on. That was my impression anyways....

On a different note...I would like to add that (in my opinion) the way their cars look is a reflection of the generation they grew up in and a reflection of their BUDGET. Sure, who wouldnt want 400+ HP under the hood? In reality, most budget conscious car buffs opt for Choice A) make it look nice first and then B) Go fast goodies.....come later.

As far as the "colors" that they're showing, I think that's OK. Being expressive is OK and it just happens that this particular group of guys chose japanese cars to express themselves.

Im not saying all this because Im into japanese cars myself (far from it...Im crazy about Fieros!!) but I understand (and respect) the desire to express yourself through your car.

Kit (86 GT)

I love this site! Includes the definition of RICE! http://www.riceboypage.com/index.html

Actually this is one of the reasons i got a Fiero. Because everybody has all those imports and crap which im sick of hearing. To me 1 defintition of a ricer is one who makes it look fast only to have a stock motor. But to me anyways a ricer is also a fast car that looks rediculous. Mor people have look fast thatn go fast cars but to me they're still rice. Congrats to them if they can beat my stock Fiero and all but they're still rice wether it's fast or not to me. Just the whole import thing seems rice to me. Although a mustang, Fiero, or camaro also could be turned into rice. I've seen a couple Fieros and alot of V6 Mustangs and Camaros that are " pimped out" and look rediculous. The Fiero looks pretty good stock so im gonna put a little money into the motor before i upgrade the apearance, but thats just me. Whatever you think rice is im sure many can agree that they're sick of hearing the stupid Fart Cans, and i can't wait to someday get a V8 in my Fiero and totally blow them all away.

quote Originally posted by 865spd: Actually this is one of the reasons i got a Fiero. Because everybody has all those imports and crap which im sick of hearing. To me 1 defintition of a ricer is one who makes it look fast only to have a stock motor. But to me anyways a ricer is also a fast car that looks rediculous. Mor people have look fast thatn go fast cars but to me they're still rice. Congrats to them if they can beat my stock Fiero and all but they're still rice wether it's fast or not to me. Just the whole import thing seems rice to me. Although a mustang, Fiero, or camaro also could be turned into rice. I've seen a couple Fieros and alot of V6 Mustangs and Camaros that are " pimped out" and look rediculous. The Fiero looks pretty good stock so im gonna put a little money into the motor before i upgrade the apearance, but thats just me. Whatever you think rice is im sure many can agree that they're sick of hearing the stupid Fart Cans, and i can't wait to someday get a V8 in my Fiero and totally blow them all away.

For the love of God, can we please close registration on the forum? We've officially got enough idiots.

I remember when I first heard the term rice burner. It was used to descrive Japanese motorcycles in the '70s. I guess the American motorcycle owners didn't like the fact that Japan was able to build motorcyles that had better performance and didn't leak oil, cheaper at the time. The term migrated to Japanese cars in the '80s, maybe for similar issues. As for non-functional add ons making a car rice, American manufacturers have been adding fake scoops, large stickers, huge spoilers, and even fake exhausts to their cars for decades. I think even one of the Mercedes models produced now has a dead end, fake exhaust tip to give the car a dual exhaust look. The bottom line is that the term ricer is meant to be a put down, no matter where the car came from.

this was my rice burner through the late 70s-early '80s. it was fast. faster than any sane person would want to drive it.

Wow, back from the dead

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Malacite, that pic is the SICKEST Civic I've ever seen in my life! I love it, and the Rat loves it:

Granted the rear lift is a bit extreme, but hey....

"gook tubes" That is one I never heard before. (No comment implied here--just a term I never heard before.) I was going to ask that meant but it's been explained.

I think any body kit made out of plywood, cardboard, or "found" materials probably qualifies as "rice" (such as the Supra with the "testarossa" body kit made from supermarket shelving )

I am using the WTF emoticon a LOT in this post...

basically I think "rice" is anything that makes you say

I once saw a Pontiac LeMans--the weird-looking hatchback one made after 1990--with low-rider wheels. That was rice.

I once saw a Tempo with fake side pipes. That was rice.

AND then there was the big Chevy SUV with an 8" lift kit and an anti-roll bar that hung six inches BELOW THE DIFFERENTIAL thus not only negating the utility of the lift kit, but actually giving the vehicle LESS ground clearance. Not rice, but G-D stupid nonetheless...

Ed

PS The efficiency of that lift kit was below zero utility.
PPS IOW It was worse than useless.

I've also seen ground effects made from house gutters!! I've also seen pictures of an actual park bench on the trunk of a car....probably a joke, but still that's what my friends and I call them.....Park benches.

But really, in defense of the fiero.....correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe I read somewhere that a lot of work went into designing the Fiero spoiler. It wasn't just there for looks, or even added downforce....but it also lowered the drag coefficient, which makes the car more aerodynamic. So if this is the case, it's not "rice" at all, but a symbol of good engineering.....

From dictionary.com:
rice ( P ) Pronunciation Key (rs)
n.
A cereal grass (Oryza sativa) that is cultivated extensively in warm climates for its edible grain.
The starchy grain of this plant, used as a staple food throughout the world.

tr.v. riced, ric·ing, ric·es
To sieve (food) to the consistency of rice.