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Old 04-12-2012, 09:49 PM   #10 (permalink)
cbaber
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Missouri
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Lean and Mean - '98 Honda Civic HX
Team Honda
90 day: 46.69 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
How about...

Systematic desensitization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Start with a relatively small aeromod (something like 100% smooth wheel covers).

You'll be self-conscious about them for a while, just looking at the car will probably feel weird. Driving it, you may feel even a bit weirder. But eventually... eventually you'll desensitize to them. And likely nobody will comment on the moon eye look. (You might even get a compliment from someone who appreciates the old school Bonneville look.)

Next add something else that's small - how about body coloured partial grille block. Hardly anyone will notice that either. You may go back to being a bit self-conscious, but eventually, you'll acclimatize again.

Now add something a bit more "out there" - maybe rear wheel skirts. Somewhat more conspicuous, eh? Someone might even comment on them! (My first wheel skirts comment was shouted from a guy driving a UPS van - "what are those covers for??" Me: "better mileage on the highway" Him: "Oh! Cool - that's what I thought.")
You could write "45 mpg" (or whatever you're getting) on them so they're self-explanatory.

I've had all kinds of people point and chuckle at the mods I've put on my car(s). By the time you're at the "big" ones (kamm back, big-ass air dam, etc.), you probably won't be as self-conscious about the whole thing. And you may be surprised how many people "get it" and want to actually talk about it seriously with you.

Or you could just tint your windows and pull a ball cap low over your face when you walk to your car
This works. When I first took my speed down from 75 MPH to 60 MPH it was really hard to do. I would get nervous about people tailgating. I would want to speed up because I thought everyone was giving me dirty looks as they passed. Eventually though it became the norm. Today, I drive even slower than 60. If people give me dirty looks or pass me violently I seem to laugh more than worry about what they are thinking. You get used to new things and your confidence will grow each day.
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1998 Honda Civic HX - My Project Thread

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