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Mods we can’t stand… but also sort of get!

Mods we can’t stand… but also sort of get!

Konig - Behind The Wheel Podcast Jan 07, 2026 35 min
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About this episode

The hosts dive into automotive modifications that often receive criticism but have their own appeal. They discuss their personal dislikes, such as non-functional aero parts and hood exit exhausts, while also acknowledging the cultural significance behind these choices. The conversation touches on the balance between form and function, the evolution of car trends, and the nostalgia associated with certain mods. With humor and insight, they explore how tastes change over time and the reasons behind some of the more contentious modifications in car culture.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

non-functional aero

"...the one that I still have the most trouble with is non-functional arrows. So as a guy who likes to build things that are functional, non-functioning arrow, you know, big GT wings on cars that are never going to, you know, perform at the level necessary..."

Non-functional aero means parts like wings or spoilers that look cool but don't actually help the car go faster or handle better. They're mainly for style, not performance.

Term

GT wings

"...big GT wings on cars that are never going to, you know, perform at the level necessary or things that are just actively slowing the car down..."

GT wings are big wings on the back of cars that help them stick to the ground when going fast. They're great for racing, but some cars don't need them because they're not fast enough to use them properly.

Car

Infiniti G35

"...he track races his G35 and the, and he really goes into detail about like things that add to performance and decrease performance on the track..."

The Infiniti G35 is a sporty car that combines luxury and performance. It's often used for racing because of its powerful engine and good handling.

Term

splitter

"...I just struggle where it's, I'm going to slap a splitter on the front end, canards on it, you know, side skirts on it..."

A splitter is a part added to the front of a car to help it stick to the road better when going fast. It helps control how air moves around the car.

Term

rear wing

"...the massive rear wing, the front splitters and like the, you know, kind of less like tack on canards and stuff like that..."

A rear wing is a part on the back of a car that helps it stick to the road better when going fast. It pushes the car down, making it more stable and easier to control.

Concept

Japanese style

"...comes from trying to emulate a Japanese style or something that was big on a track car, especially in Japan. Taking that, that style and sort of like applying it to a street car is a little bit silly..."

Japanese style in cars means the way some cars are modified to look sporty and perform better, often seen in racing. This includes big wings and other parts that help with speed and handling.

Term

vortex wing

"I have a, you know, a flex fuel tuned VA WRX with a vortex wing on the back of it..."

A vortex wing is a special part on the back of a car that helps it stay stable and stick to the road when going fast.

Car

Subaru WRX

"I have a, you know, a flex fuel tuned VA WRX with a vortex wing on the back of it..."

The Subaru WRX is a sporty car that is great for driving fast and handling well, especially in tough weather conditions like rain or snow.

Concept

Fast and Furious

"...part of the reason is because like, you know, movies like Fast and Furious..."

Fast and Furious is a popular movie series about street racing and fast cars. It has made many people interested in modifying their cars for better performance.

Term

downforce

"...but downforce only applies to the drive wheels that, you know, that's the thought process. And I get, I get the old school thought mentality behind that..."

Downforce is what keeps a car glued to the road when it's going fast. It helps the tires grip better, which is important for going around corners quickly without losing control.

Car

Scion Tc

"...do you remember the gentleman who ran the Scion TC that had the spoiler, the screen? Yeah, exactly. I'm sure Max could find..."

The Scion tC is a small car made by Toyota that was aimed at younger buyers. It has a sporty look and is fun to drive, making it a popular choice for those who want something stylish without spending too much money.

Term

aerodynamics

"...that it was outside the realm of what was possible with normal aerodynamics at that time period. So I mean,..."

Aerodynamics is about how air flows around cars. Good aerodynamics helps cars go faster and use less fuel by reducing air resistance.

Term

front-wheel drive

"...Chris Rito, he held the front wheel drive record track record for many, many years..."

Front-wheel drive means the car's front wheels get the power from the engine. This helps the car move and can make it easier to drive in bad weather.

Car

Honda Civic

"...a guy from Canada, William Ion came out with, I think a nice gen Civic and he beat the record. And it was a big deal when he did that."

The Honda Civic is a small car that many people like because it's dependable and fun to drive. It's often used in racing and can be upgraded to go faster.

Term

Willy bars

"...but it was, it's like when, when they were putting Willy bars on front wheel drive, like civics and CRX's in the early, early drag days and people were just laughing, but they were,..."

Willy bars are special bars that help drag racing cars stay balanced when they speed up quickly. They stop the car from flipping over by keeping the front wheels on the ground.

Car

Honda Crxs

"...like civics and CRX's in the early, early drag days and people were just laughing, but they were,..."

The Honda CRX is a small, sporty car that many people loved in the 1980s and 1990s. It's known for being fun to drive and good on gas.

Term

hood exit exhaust

"...now I'm starting to shy away from it was like hood exits and fender exit exhaust. Also one, I just, I can't stand that so much of the time you're getting the car absolutely filthy..."

Hood exit exhaust is when the exhaust pipe comes out of the hood instead of the back of the car. This is done for performance reasons, but it can make the car dirty and cause problems while driving.

Term

fender exit exhaust

"...hood exits and fender exit exhaust. Also one, I just, I can't stand that so much of the time you're getting the car absolutely filthy..."

Fender exit exhaust means the exhaust pipe comes out of the side of the car, near the fender. It's used to improve performance, but it can make the car dirty and cause visibility issues.

Term

2J

"...I swapped this 2J into this crazy chassis, but I didn't do any of the work to get the exhaust out the back of the car..."

The 2J is a powerful engine from Toyota that many car enthusiasts love to use in different cars because it can be modified to produce a lot of horsepower.

Concept

engine swap

"...I feel like you should be part of that whole engine swap mentality should be compartmentalizing everything..."

An engine swap is when you take out the engine that came with a car and put in a different one, usually to make the car faster or better in some way.

Term

O2 sensor

"...the way the exhaust pulses are going out. It might be scavenging a little bit of fresh air back in and your roading is not..."

An O2 sensor checks how much oxygen is in the exhaust. This helps the car's computer make sure the engine runs efficiently and cleanly.

Term

turbo kit

"putting like a turbo kit on a, let's say a Honda..."

A turbo kit is a set of parts that helps make a car's engine more powerful by adding a turbocharger, which pushes extra air into the engine.

Term

all-wheel drive

"...you have to remember, too, would like a lot of cars coming in now that are converted to all wheel drive. It's very difficult to get the exhaust to route properly with..."

All-wheel drive means that power goes to all four wheels of the car, which helps it grip the road better, especially in rain or snow.

Term

drag car

"...I would prefer to see the exhaust come out the back unless it's a drag car or, you know, an all out race car."

A drag car is a car that is specially made for racing in a straight line as fast as possible. They are built to go really fast in a short distance.

Term

external wastegate

"want to have an external wastegate or something like that to shoot for us. And that actually, that brings me into one of my favorite topics..."

An external wastegate helps control how much power a turbo engine produces by letting some exhaust gases escape instead of going through the turbo. This keeps the engine safe from too much pressure.

Brand

Nissan

"you guys all, you know, throughout the chat have all figured out over time that I'm a VQ head, I'm a Nissan guy through and through."

Nissan is a car company from Japan that makes many types of vehicles. They are especially popular for their sporty cars.

Car

Toyota Supras

"...a lot of, there's a good amount of BMWs and newer Supras and they all have that run here. Like I hear it ..."

The Toyota Supra is a fast and stylish sports car that many people love for its speed and cool looks. It's known for being fun to drive and has a strong following among car fans, especially since it was recently redesigned with some help from BMW.

Term

high performance engines

"But the big part of it also with the cars that do it naturally, it's you have more high performance engines where things are tuned..."

High performance engines are special types of engines that make more power than regular ones. They have upgrades that help them run better and faster.

Part

cams

"You usually will have cams, things like that, where the duration of the cam causes the valves to stay open a little bit longer..."

Cams are parts inside an engine that help control when the valves open and close. This is important for how well the engine runs.

Car

Honda Civic Type-R

"... We were driving home. He at the time had an EK9 Civic Type R, and it had a fully built V-Series stroke to two ..."

The Honda Civic Type-R is a special version of the regular Honda Civic that is designed for speed and fun driving. It has a powerful engine and sporty features, making it a favorite among people who enjoy driving fast cars.

Term

injector cooling

"Well, from what I understand, that also has a lot to do with using injector cooling. So you'll find that a lot of tuners will build in a slight overrun..."

Injector cooling is when extra fuel is sprayed into the engine to help keep it cool. This is important because it prevents the engine from getting too hot and causing problems.

Term

AFR gauge

"If you watch your AFR gauge, a lot of you guys will see this where it will rich in up for a split second..."

An AFR gauge is a tool that shows how much air and fuel are being mixed in the engine. It's important for making sure the engine runs well and doesn't have problems.

Term

detonation

"we don't get detonation right when you get back into throttle, because if you get on throttle back incorrectly and that piston is hot..."

Detonation is when the fuel in the engine explodes too early, which can cause knocking sounds and damage the engine. It's something that tuners try to avoid.

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