Updated August 2020: When this story first ran in 2013, a lot of people got triggered! Cool your jets! We're only having fun—who cares what we think? Modifying your car should always be a personal choice that expresses your own tastes; never mind what the haters think. But with that said, be wary about doing any of the things on this list, questionable trends that have surprisingly held up over the last seven years.

*All views expressed are not exclusively shared by the Super Street staff.

The import scene has come a long way from what it was when it started and what it became after The Fast and the Furious. Everyone witnessed a fair share of the good, the bad, and the absolutely heinous within the tuner community; admittedly, some of us (probably most of us) even took part in the bad choices in some way. From outrageously loud fart-can exhausts and wings the size of diving boards on stock motored cars to overused underglow inside and out, we somewhat nostalgically look back at these trends and find ourselves asking, "What were we thinking?"

Before you start sending us hate mail, we agree that once upon a time a few of these fads were cool, and even today, when done correctly, some of them are still acceptable. We're old enough to have seen even dead trends become vogue again. We know that anything cool or uncool is completely subjective, and that's why we've provided examples of when it's acceptable, as well as some perspective as to how these trends have held up over time. But for the most part these looks are gone for a good reason. Check out the 10 worst trends to hit the import community.

Body Conversions

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Originating in the early 2000s, body conversions were a big hit. Fabricating Toyota Supra taillights on Mitsubishi Eclipses or Nissan 240SX headlights on Honda CRX was a pretty common practice back in the day. We didn't think it would be possible for cars to have an identity crisis, but they sure did with those that took the Frankenstein route.

Acceptable: When converting a USDM car to have a JDM appearance; here in the U.S. we never received the better-looking one-piece headlights for the Integra, for example. Another car that never made it stateside was the Toyota Levin. If you own a Toyota Corolla AE86 and pop-up headlights isn't your thing, a Levin front-end conversion is the way to go.

Conversions when done right can even give your car an updated look. For example, if you want to get rid of the bug eye headlights on a 2000 WRX, slap on 2005 headlights. Same can be said for the DC5 Acura RSX. Then there are, of course, the many popular JDM conversions for 240SX taillights and front end. Special cases exist, too, where a car can use a different automaker's parts, such as the "Odyvia," which is a Nissan S13 fitted with Honda Odyssey headlights.

2020 Update: Body kits from Rocket Bunny/Pandem, Liberty Walk and others have made widebody conversions high fashion, and while 9 times out of 10 the execution is decent to good, we feel like the scene has reached max saturation.

Underglow Neon Kits

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If a loud exhaust isn't a big enough target for the police, underglow neon lights are sure to gain you unwanted attention. Possibly popularized by the O.G. Fast and Furious film back in 2001, these LED light tubes have been seen fitted underneath the perimeter of cars, behind grilles and venting, and even as an interior accent. When done properly and tastefully, the night glow look can appear pretty cool, but do it wrong and it'll look more like a mobile dance club gone wrong.

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Acceptable: If you are part of the "bosozuku" culture or a member of the Japanese mafia and own a Lamborghini. Only then can you rock the neon - if you choose this path, do it tastefully.

Note: Super Street's own Sam Du decided to add some under glow to the Project Corolla XSE just to see what people would say. As you might expect, it wasn't overwhelmingly positive...

2020 Update: Out of all the trends on this list, this is the one that has seen the greatest resurgence among the younger generation of modifier. While we originally mocked it, we may be coming around. That's all we'll say.

Roof Racks

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We don't mind promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, but many of the stanced out cars with roof racks have never even carried bikes, surfboards or snowboards. What's the point? Poor aerodynamic efficiency? Usual suspects are Hondas and Volkswagens with Yakima or Thule roof racks.

Acceptable: On cars that are meant to go off-road such as a Subaru or if you are really about that active lifestyle and can't transport gear without the addition than by all means but otherwise it is like owning a gym membership without ever going.

2020 Update: Overlanding nerds are springing up everywhere with these things, but they actually use them, so no harm no foul there.

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Installed and Unpainted Aero

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You've seen these guys around town. We understand that money can slow down or temporarily sideline a project, but instead of cruising with mismatched bodywork, why not wait until you have your entire aero painted before installing it? Your car will be a bigger hit and you won't get laughed at when you roll through car meets.

Acceptable: If you're driving to the body shop for paint because you installed it yourself and have no other means of transporting the kit.

2020 Update: While underglow has made a big comeback, we're pleased as punch to say out of all the fashion on this list, this is the one we see least of anymore. Thanks for listening.

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Lambo Doors

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We don't blame you for wanting an exotic car, but Lamborghinis are from Italy and you are most likely driving a car from Japan. Based on our current salary rate, we doubt an exotic will be parked in our garage anytime soon. Quite frankly, putting Lambo doors on a Honda Civic is like shotgunning a White Claw (and spilling most of it on your sleeveless shirt) at a black-tie event. For reasons unknown to man, this trend is still alive. Somebody even put it on a GT86. Seriously? Come on.

Acceptable: When you own a Lamborghini, bro.

2020 Update: Our opinions on this one were pretty much unchanged until we saw Derrick Pompeo's S13—now THAT's how you do Lambo doors.

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Clear or Euro Taillights

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We've said it many times and we'll say it again: in many cases, simplicity is key. Sometimes we strive too hard to be different in the import community. These clear or Euro taillights are not the way to go. Many cars sporting these lights actually look better with OEM units.

Acceptable: This style belongs on the Lexus IS300, a few Lexus SUVs, and that's about it. We're not saying all aftermarket taillights are bad. There are some that actually look better than OEM. The taillights on a Zenki Nissan 240SX, Mitsubishi Evolution VIII, or even the Toyota GT86/Scion FR-S/ Subaru BRZ can actually benefit from aftermarket parts. Also to note, we've seen a slight uprising of clear taillights among the Honda crowd and expect it will fizzle once again in the near future.

2020 Update: Again, you must've been listening, because we hardly see these anymore.

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Racing Stripes

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Originally, these stripes were applied to the hoods of race cars to align with the driver's line of sight. In the event of a spin, the contrasting colors assisted the driver in determining the direction of the car. We're sure that not all but some import cars repping racing stripes rarely ever see any track action.

Acceptable: If you own an American muscle car such as Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet Corvettes, Camaros etc. or if your car is a built track car.

2020 Update: We haven't budged on this one; racing stripes are for domestic muscle, not imports.

Big GT Wings

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A big wing is a big statement. For the most part, any body part you switch out should aid in aerodynamics. A properly engineered wing or spoiler is designed to provide maximum downforce to improve stability at speed. It just looks wrong when a low horsepower car lacking any engine modification but an air filter, intake and low-end pipe sports a GT wing. You don't need it! Instead, put that money into suspension modifications. You know who you are.

Acceptable: It absolutely works on cars built for the track, but there are some show cars that are starting to rock it and rock it well, like Toyota 86/Scion FR-S with Rocket Bunny kits. They have big wings, but more than likely under the hood is a supercharger or turbo setup. If your Evo is going to have a Voltex kit, you better have more horsepower than a stock variant. Our point is, if you're going to have a wing, make sure you have the power to back it up.

2020 Update: Preach! Although to be fair, this is one trend that customizers have mastered over the years. Don't get us wrong—there's a still a lot of aero misappropriation out there, but the balance has tipped toward those who've gotten it right.

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Hood Pins and Tow Hooks on Show Cars

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Hood pins and tow hooks are designed to keep aftermarket hoods latched down in extreme speeds and pull a track car through the pits or out of a crash zone, respectively. Your show queen is lucky if it beats parking lot speeds, so it doesn't need either.

Acceptable: If you drive your car on the track.

2020 Update: Like big wings, hood pins incorporated into a build are actually pretty commonplace and not that gross to look at anymore. But tow hooks—well, we're just waiting for those to go away for all but only the track focused.

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Wannabe JDM Trinkets

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What do we mean by JDM trinkets? Domo, Wakaba badges, dolls, etc. The Domo character many people love isn't even car related. It's actually the official mascot to a Japanese television station; how it came to be considered JDM is beyond us. The Wakaba badges or Soshinoya badges are symbols of driver status. The most famous one, the green and yellow V-shaped mark, signifies that the driver is a beginner. Basically, it's a warning for other drivers to stay away because you are inexperienced. Avoid looking like a noob and take it off.

Acceptable: Domo is acceptable for your kids to play with. If you are really that bad at driving and want to use a Soshinoya badge, a Driver's Education refresher is in order.

2020 Update: The pinnacle of these flair was probably about five years ago, when people were cross pollinating trinkets from divergent or even unrelated backgrounds. When we saw a rising-sun shocker sticker, we tapped out, but thankfully these seem to be on the way out.