VIPcar trend a dud here in the states ?

it's seems to have gotten no where other than the small niche following.

I don't see it anywhere close to how big drifting has become. 

from a business and industry point of view, I see a lot of growth potential in this VIP trend, but it seems to be growing very slow and nowhere near the big monster drifting has become.

(please no pointless, lame, long winded comments. Comments from grown up, industry people would be appreciated)

I don't think VIP will be as big as Drifting has become. Hands down. But i don't see a problem with that. I can careless if VIP blows up or not, i like it for what it is, not how popular it is. It's just like back in 98 when people used to do crazy ass conversions, they were sick at the time but it was never a big thing.

drifting took a long time to gain notoriety over here, i expect the same with vip.

"drifting" was a small niche scene for a long time, until it recently blew up back in what, 2000? Even then it was still seen as something not a lot of people got into. Events didn't start happening until, what, 2003? 

I remember people talking about how they had been into drifting before it was big, saying they discovered that scene in the early to mid 90's, when 240's were fairly new cars here, and they had discovered it by people that lived on base in japan, stuff like that. 

This 'scene' has only been around for what, 5 years? This site first started in 2003. Give it another 5 years to really blow up and catch on. It's still not something everyone can afford to do, hence why it tends to be slow also. 

Look at the honda scene...took a long time to blow too, then everyone and their mother were driving a honda afterwards.

i think the 2 biggest reason its taking so long to catch on is it mostly appeals to and older crowd or at least older tastes; in the amount of money ive dropped on my rims and sound system i could have built a pretty sick ass 240. and 2, there is no sport to go with it, i mean drift cars have well..... drifting and we have the sport of "how the fuck am i going to get this low ass shit over that big ass speed bump?!"

[quote=Caoboy;134709]"drifting" was a small niche scene for a long time, until it recently blew up back in what, 2000? Even then it was still seen as something not a lot of people got into. Events didn't start happening until, what, 2003? 

I remember people talking about how they had been into drifting before it was big, saying they discovered that scene in the early to mid 90's, when 240's were fairly new cars here, and they had discovered it by people that lived on base in japan, stuff like that. 

This 'scene' has only been around for what, 5 years? This site first started in 2003. Give it another 5 years to really blow up and catch on. It's still not something everyone can afford to do, hence why it tends to be slow also. 

Look at the honda scene...took a long time to blow too, then everyone and their mother were driving a honda afterwards.[/quote]

ahhhhh i remember many a drift event held in a parking lot in the middle of fucking no where with me my boys and maybe like 50 other people..........memories lol

VIP is expensive.  there is actually a large amount of VIP rides in the shows in CA

just wait, when the knockoffs explode you may see more rides poppin up.  i hope that doesnt happen though.  i would like VIP to get bigger but not with knockoffs and cheap wheels

Amen to that Norman.

Honestly, I really don't care if it gets popular. Things usually go bad when they hit the mainstream.

IMO, it's too soon to for anyone to make that kind assumption. This is an exclusive industry. Parts and availibility aren't mainstream (which I like, to a degree).

I am very comfortable w/ the current state of this scene!

[QUOTE=vip tint+glass;134772]VIP is expensive.  there is actually a large amount of VIP rides in the shows in CA

just wait, when the knockoffs explode you may see more rides poppin up.  i hope that doesnt happen though.  i would like VIP to get bigger but not with knockoffs and cheap wheels[/QUOTE]

+1. VIP wont get big until companies that mass produce horrible amounts of replica kits make a few molds of the really popular kits.

IMO JP is going to be the first company copied by a US knock off company. it will sell like hotcakes on CL and will ruin the kit for me. thats just my opinion.

THe only way I see VIP exploding is if it is mainstreamed in the Hip Hop industry. I mean It did not take long at all for DUb style..Back when 17" wheels where the biggest thing was like in mid early 90's then 18" wheels 19" got passed up and whent straight to 20" my the late 90's and from that point on 21-22-23-24-26-28 in a blink of any eye. Then Donk becuase of hip hop and rap. I am 32 going on 33 and something at least here in Tucson that seems to allways be cool is Lowriders..not so much now as it was back in the 90's but it has not totaly gone away..matter of fact I would love to start a 87 montecarlo lowrider project with switches..but that is besides the point.
 
I get alot of attention for my ride mainly from older people and thats whats crazy. Some brotha the other day was checking out my ride and  could not believe the size of my rear and front lips especially the rear..he said your car is sick..what kind of car is that. I told him and this time had a VIP mag with me to show him..That dude started luaghing his ass off and could not believe the way that they are rolling in JP. HE siad why is the lexus have a toyota sign??? That shiat right der is just stupid!!!! I tried explaining to him but he was like
 
 "mayng your shit tight as he gave me back the magazine and siad but My shit right over der is straight baller. I need the biggest wheels I can fit mayng. I'm talking about some trackter tires size wheels..."
 
Thats the mentallity of US market...you got the whites/orientals into race style cars and drifters and the Brothas/Mexicans into Donk's Dubs and lowriders on the other end. 
 
I guarantee you that if one of these big as Rap stars was to start using VIP cars in their videos VIP would pick up fast...
 
but another reason is VIP unlike most anyother car modding out there is very unfunctional and folks dont want to be messin with a car they can't drive every where. I used to drive My Q everywhere...now its so low and tire wear goes so fast do to camber that I try to use the LX470 as much as possible unless I feel like flossin...

I hope it never goes mainstream. Don't get me wrong, I will always admire the people who execute VIP style cleanly. 

Always have, always will.

But if it ever does go mainstream, it will no longer be "set apart from the rest" it will never be "exclusive"...

And isn't that the whole point...

I disagree isnt it mainstream in Japan..why not here???

[quote=vegasy33;134798]

But if it ever does go mainstream, it will no longer be "set apart from the rest" it will never be "exclusive"...

[/quote]

Very true.

BUT isnt that what this forum is for TRYING TO PUSH THE SCENE????

[quote=zion_97;134808]BUT isnt that what this forum is for TRYING TO PUSH THE SCENE????[/quote]

Not really, IMO.... I believe the forum is a head quarters for the VIP enthusiast, a place where we can all share stuff, talk & discuss about the scene. I don't think we advertise the trend, people have interest then they join the forum to learn more. Nobody is out to recruit folks to do up their ride. .. I mean without it, we'd be scattered everywhere. Remember when VSC was down for weeks? Life was pretty depressing without it.

I did some searching around the internet, and i saw that people have a general distaste for this site for the most part. VIPstyling is associated with this website...kinda ties in why some people would rather just forgo it if they're going to bash the site...That said, regardless, it's a good site, and a great resource, and for the true VIP lover it's indispensable.

Going on to The Hi-siders (incorrectly called Donk) Were popular LONG before the hiphop Industry took notice of them. I have some pictures from North Carolina, in later 2003 early 2004, These cars were BIG down here, but nobody had ever heard of them elsewhere.

FYI, a Donk is specifically an early to mid 70s Chevrolet Impala or Caprice Classic. the Style itself is called [B]Hi-siding[/B] in the southeast because as the term "Hi-side" can mean to Ignore and to snub your nose at all who approach you. That is the car's purpose, to "look down" on you hence being so high...Hi-Side. that's why It's so competitive, who's got the biggest wheels so you can be "King of the Streets" That's why they have so much horsepower most of the time (400, 500 SBCs sometimes even 600hp bigblocks). Spinning tires and "stunting" on people hahaha.


It's just gonna take a minute for VIP to catch on, but you all have to be willing to allow it to. with growth comes pain...if something becomes for the masses, it loses its "realness"

So you have to ask yourself this question Jim, do you want VIPstyling to be an American Phenomenon with magazine covers, or are you happy with its grass root styling and realistic players in America...

just wait till you see my car in the next 50 video

[QUOTE=chrispy;134777]Honestly, I really don't care if it gets popular. Things usually go bad when they hit the mainstream.[/QUOTE]
Ok, I posted and my post disappeared.  So I'll type what I can remember of what I said.

Chrispy hit the nail on the head.  I've been in this industry for over 10 years and have observed things come and go.  The USA has a way of destroying everything it embraces.  The problem is that businesses want to make money and the general "enthusiast" wants to spend less and get more.  I hope this keeps things more on the underground side since the parts cost more.  I will love vip whether 5 guys like it or 5,000 do.  To me it doesn't matter.  But people try to take advantage of any new "trend" that hits so they can make their money from it and then move on to the next big thing.  They care more about the money than what they're actually selling.  So a quick buck appeals to them, the trend does not...and quality goes down hill.  This is why I will always love the Concours d'Elegance events...all real deal quality excellence...

[QUOTE=zion_97;134808]BUT isnt that what this forum is for TRYING TO PUSH THE SCENE????[/QUOTE]
This forum is about educating new enthusiasts and helping to mold the scene in the proper direction.  To keep things from going astray and to show and discuss vip with like minded individuals across the globe.

[quote=vip tint+glass;134822]just wait till you see my car in the next 50 video[/quote]

Maybe we can ask Jin if he can do a video and put some Vip cars in it.
I mean he did have some tuner cars in his "learn Chinese" video :smiley-rofl:

The thing that really disappointed about the aftermarket industry to me was the rim industry.    Rota especially....fuck you.

It did grow alot already.  Did we ever have server issues before?? No.
 
Just look at the join dates from members.  Most of the people that post, joined like in 07.

<- but if you argue enough you can still be an og! :smiley-rofl: 
 
my take on it is that vip will always appeal only to a special breed. most people that want a baller ride will float towards dub cars/trucks/suvs. most people that are into imports will float towards some sort of performance related styling. only a select few will make the connection of baller and japanese cars imo.

going more mainstream could only help as a buyer and enthusiast of the vip movement! it would bring many more vendors and parts more readily available. as with drifting and it's popularity alot of companies started to sell good and bad parts.  it's up to the buyer to stay "true" to what each individual feals is right for there car. so for every 50 people that buy crap it may help you get a part you didn't have access to before!

Im with some of the others I like the fact that its kind of underground or not so mainstream its not a style that would or should ever be mainstream...its definitely gonna grow from where it is now but it'll never be like some of the other scenes...

Y'all are trippin and pipe dreaming if you think VIP will be big in the US......
 
 
if it does.....it will NEVER be as nice and clean as they do in Japan....
 
it takes money...but most importat....it takes STYLE and quite frankly U.S. peeps can't handle the style and boldness it takes to roll VIP.
 
 
Sure theere is a few of us and probably a few more in the works....but thats it. 
who cares, I'll take my exclusivity and laugh inside when i see you roll by in a 1 piece chrome bullsheeet.
 
HIP-HOP, well there is a diffrence in FLASHY and VIP.....Rap artist will never pick up VIP....(no matter how much $$$ they may have) they cant handle the concept. even if 1 out of 50 rappers does it, the rest will not grasp how it works...
 
VIP=STYLE=Boldness.....you either have or you dont:signdammit:

[QUOTE=jbo;134919]Im with some of the others I like the fact that its kind of underground or not so mainstream its not a style that would or should ever be mainstream...its definitely gonna grow from where it is now but it'll never be like some of the other scenes...[/QUOTE]

agreed, I'd be perfectly content with its popularity now. It has grown substantially in the last few years, but it's still relatively foreign to people. It's always good to be different.

EDIT:

Have to disagree with you Gato...

"style" is relative. You think big Chrome/Wood tables, Crystals, Curtains, Pillows and Obscene Camber is any less flashy? It's just different, stretching a tire on a 24" rim is nothing for the guys in the south, same with Lowriders on 13x7s with 195 width tires. I don't know why it's having "style" or not. It's just different. I respect being different.


Takes me back to when I was into lowriding. I remember i saw the wildest thing...(before i knew about VIP) before most of us did lol!
[IMG]http://info.detnews.com/dn/joyrides/1999/show/91nissan.jpg[/IMG]

Check the tire in the bottom right hand corner. I had that magazine...those are 17x9" wheels with 205/40s stretched. That mag was either in 97 or 98.

Having the entire scene get watered down with posers didn't help either.

[QUOTE=Green Grundel;134933]Having the entire scene get watered down with posers didn't help either.[/QUOTE]

quite true. Posers can pretty much ruin anything. If you're going to do something, go all out or don't do it at all. That can be said for everything, and especially VIP styling.

[QUOTE=Avantgarde;134936]quite true. Posers can pretty much ruin anything. If you're going to do something, go all out or don't do it at all. That can be said for everything, and especially VIP styling.[/QUOTE]

i think that's what is going to happen if VIP ever gets mainstream. All these idiots are going to fix any damn car like  Nissan Titans and Kia's with Fusa's and some fake ass wheels  and calling them VIP.

If it goes Main stream it will be Nasty with the US pushing to make money ... the members in here will have the right idea and the rest wont .. at least we have the VIP 101 to help ...

[IMG]http://info.detnews.com/dn/joyrides/1999/show/91nissan.jpg[/IMG]

BFgoodridge tires....crap

[quote=zion_97;134804]I disagree isnt it mainstream in Japan..why not here???[/quote]
have you been in japan?
ever?
 
its sooooo fuckign mainstream
I remember just LAST  YEAR TAS was like 80% drift, 20%VIP etc etc
this year, almost two of the three halls were all VIP....
 
 
god i love you guys that know whats goign on in japan!

[quote=Yokotas13;135259]have you been in japan?
ever?
 
its sooooo fuckign mainstream
I remember just LAST YEAR TAS was like 80% drift, 20%VIP etc etc
this year, almost two of the three halls were all VIP....
 
 
god i love you guys that know whats goign on in japan![/quote]
 
 
Hey jerk off thats what I just said.:slap:

oh no, two back to back post by yokotas and zion means nothing but trouble.

hurry anyone have a fire extinguisher ?   :smiley-rofl:=)

[quote=Yokotas13;135259]have you been in japan?
ever?
 
its sooooo fuckign mainstream
I remember just LAST  YEAR TAS was like 80% drift, 20%VIP etc etc
this year, almost two of the three halls were all VIP....
 
 
god i love you guys that know whats goign on in japan![/quote]

[quote=zion_97;135265]Hey jerk off thats what I just said.:slap:[/quote]

blah, i misread llol

no troubles I all ready understand yokotas13..he just blunt and you can't take offense to what he sias..
 
SORRY guys no shows for you today..kekekekkeke

why blowup? just give thieves another car to put on thieir list and also those that wont wanna put the time and money into building something proper like.
 
watch you'll end up having a whole bunch of sportmax cases going around saying im vip bla bla bla