Originally posted by FromTheBottom
In all fairness to Kabooki...
There's really 2 camps for the import scene. The first is exibited on this board, mostly function over form, with emphasis on clean looks and practical mods.
The 2nd camp is the F&F influenced, "ricer" crowd, who mod their cars for looks and little to no go.
So while I definitely hate graphics, big wings, etc, there's a market for them, and most people who aren't into cars that comment on them, tend to like the blinging sh!t more. Take my ex for example, who couldn't tell at all that I had lowered the car 2.5" and painted my sideskirts. The only thing she noticed was tint. So outside of the 1st group of practical tuners who prefer clean looks and function, is mostly "wow that looks fast, what a great car" mentality.
Ok that was a bad example, but you have to be fair to people with different tastes in "mods."
To answer the rim question, I'd say get a set of clean 15" rims. Since you're new to the black rims crowd, maybe a nice set of silver rims? Get something you like, not what others like. I'd say 15's though, as they're much more practical for our econoboxes.
Ok I'm done. Later on.
Originally posted by westcoaststyle
A comment to that:
The people that think the "flashy, bling-bling" sh!t is cool, don't know crap about cars. It's a fact. I'd rather some moron looks at my car and says "what's done to it?"
That's why I love JDM stuff so much, the average ricer doesn't even see it... has no clue that it's even a mod.
Just like the idiots that put Type-R on their cars.... the only people that know what a Type-R is are those that know that his isn't.
See where I'm going??
If you're trying to get the attention of people that don't know the first thing about cars and what it takes to mod them, then you're headed in the right direction.
I personally... will go the other way. 
ok, HERE I COME!
i have to argue w/ this....ready? good, i thought so...
ok, so what--i have altezzas and few other things that put me in the "ricer" category... that means that i dont know anything when it comes to cars? ALRIGHT! whatever u fellows say!
yea, i might not know as much as some of u, but thats b/c i dont sit and research the shit...i havent worked under the hood of a car...the most ive done is help my boyfriend put his exhaust on...but theres times when i know something that he doesnt know. those altezzas dont compansate as my brain....and i dont give a shit that i have an auto, b/c u CAN do shit to autos! so dont try to come back at me saying "oh u have an auto blah blah blah"
as for u all referring my taste and a lot of other peoples' tastes to tfntf...shut the hell up! rice DID exist before that movie came out!! and i was into cars for about 3 years before that movie was even thought of! i love cars! i love making cars stand out from others and it amazes me what u can do to a stock engine to give it x more hp! yea, i loved that movie, but NOTHING what - so - ever infulenced what i have spent my money on so far...
and around here, where i live....it's the cars that catch ur eye that have performance mods...u see a car around here that has a nice body kit and wing and a few stickers, and ur going to ask "hey, what do u have done?"...for instance, my boyfriends one friend bought a red gen 5 civic from some old lady who had wrecked it...now...now its yellow, w/ a similar wing to the yellow civic that was shown on this thread....it has a huge "Weapon r" decal on both sides and altezzas.....i LOVE his car....but i know most of u would see it and say "Rice" and wouldnt think that there's even an intake on it....wrong! i dont know exactly what he has, b/c he wont tell us, he just says it's stock and laughs....he's full of shit b/c a stock civic ex isnt going to keep up w/ a celica gt-s...and he does.
anyway, my point. stop comparing my taste and everyone else who has altezzas to tfntf...the people who saw that movie and ran to the nearest auto zone, advanced auto parts or pep boys to get APC exhausts and altezzas are the people who have like 91 chevy caveliers or neons and such...NOT ME!
u guys are so sterotypical its unbelievable!