>>7991
I blame the fast and furious movies. Tuner culture started in Japan because unlike the US where there are straight open roads, Japan has twisting and winding mountain roads, some just built for the hell of it. The movies came along and introduced Japanese tuner culture to the US, the people that watched it never really understood the culture completely outside of flashy import cars, so they ended up mimicking the movies with ricer body kits and fart cans. I think it may of been adopted out of rebellion towards the domestic muscle scene in the US because anyone could afford a Civic and a fart can, whereas muscle cars were for the upper middle class, and most muscle cars during the time also had cultural impacts and social arguments that said, "You're either with us or against us.". With these conditions, you will see Ricers and domestic muscle people get into fights.
Unfortunately, the movie turned any hope of an honest tuner culture scene into dust. It presented the idea of tuners, without any twisting winding roads. Sort of like the family sedans that try to put on the muscle car look, like the Dodge Avenger looking like a try hard, but it had four doors, fuel economy over 20mpg, and cheap insurance.
Also, twingo.