i have been realizing that too.
i guess it is where your intention is with the car (as its owner) and what you see it as.
for example if your car looks rice and you think it's going to blow an Evo X out of the water but really can't, then you're rice.
on the other hand, if your car looks rice and you admit it and know it won't beat a VW GTi, you're not rice to me.

rice to me is a state of mind where the car and its driver don't coincide.

i admit some shit i did and do to my car is fairly mildly rice, but i still hang out with guys that drive WRX, Z28s, and what have you with no bashing because i'm not striving to think a fucking exhaust is going to give me +25 WHP.
i just do it because it gives me a more fun car to drive and it tells me what i should and should not do on the next car.