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      02-17-2014, 07:04 AM   #1
mccandless
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What Is With The Tow Hooks!!!

OK, so this is a bit of a rant, but i just couldn't hold back any longer.

WHAT IS WITH THE TOW HOOKS!!!

Can someone explain it to me? I see some cars with cheap aluminum tow hooks sticking out of the front bumper.

Is it because race cars have them? Are they pretending to be race drivers, or do you think they actually see track time?

Do they plan on crashing their car and getting towed out of a ditch? Do they crash so often that is saves time to just leave the hook in the bumper?
I don't think it's even legal to leave them in on the street.

Why do they buy cheap aluminum ones when there is a perfectly good tow hook in the trunk? If they actually need to be pulled out of a ditch, i know some tow truck drivers will not pull on those aftermarket hooks, so they're going to have to get the one from the trunk anyway.

I'm not judging, people can do whatever they want with their cars, I'm just wondering why.
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      02-17-2014, 07:23 AM   #2
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2009 135i  [8.00]
I blame inbreeding.
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      02-17-2014, 08:20 AM   #3
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One of my biggest pet peeves, people who run tow hooks when they are not on the track.

If you're going to run a tow hook, something proper like this is a lot better, and functional on the track

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-27...lue-black.aspx
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      02-17-2014, 11:34 AM   #4
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Looks like a tongue hanging out.^^
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      02-17-2014, 11:53 AM   #5
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Some people put the tow hook in because often times the covers get stolen...
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      02-17-2014, 12:19 PM   #6
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It's definitely grown into a hipster thing when I see it in pictures. Kind of like, all those people that were hanging those little plush toys from the under rears of their car.


I would say that most cars on the road that have it, are on there merely for looks, which I think looks pretty silly.
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      02-17-2014, 12:28 PM   #7
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It's just as dumb as you think it is. My favorite is when it paired to some awful "cambro" "dapper" stanceworks POS. They really have the ricers beat these days for the lowest tier of car ruiners.
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      02-17-2014, 01:55 PM   #8
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Let's not turn this into "I hate the stance scene cuz..." thread, but let's get this straight. Yes, in most cases you see those tow hooks on lowered (stanced) vehicles with some wannabe race theme. So it's there just for aesthetics purpose. What I don't understand more than tow hooks are roll cages in street-driven, slammed cars. Like a Golf, or hell, there's now even a stanced 135 on here with it.

FYI, I'm not a stance-hater.
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      02-17-2014, 03:06 PM   #9
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Always surprises me the degree to which people get bothered by what other people do to their cars…but anyways, I agree it looks a bit silly and have no plans to have one on my cars. With that said..it’s a tow hook. If you don’t like it, get over it.
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      02-17-2014, 03:36 PM   #10
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lol - I would agree. I often see things people have done to their cars as I am driving around and think "I would never do that, but to each his own". I know others don't always agree with what I have done with my cars. The tow hook thing is one of those things I would not do to a street car, but again - to each his own. :-)
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      02-17-2014, 03:43 PM   #11
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Yeah, exactly. To each his own.

Still better than donks and FnF ricers, huh.
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      02-17-2014, 03:48 PM   #12
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So i guess it's just a fad that has no real purpose other than personal style (which is fine and totally subjective).

But one good thing about it, once the fad is over, it's easy to remove with no scars. Not like 10 years ago when the kids drilled holes in their trunk to mount huge wings.

Last edited by mccandless; 02-17-2014 at 04:08 PM..
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      02-17-2014, 03:57 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mccandless View Post
But one good thing about it, once the fad is over, it's easy to remove with no scars. Not like 10 years ago when to kids drilled holes in their trunk to mount huge wings.
Oh darn, I was about to order one.
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      02-17-2014, 04:15 PM   #14
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"To each their own" is what everyone types after they really mean to say.

I think XXxXxX looks like crap, but to each their own.
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      02-17-2014, 07:13 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kgolf31 View Post
One of my biggest pet peeves, people who run tow hooks when they are not on the track.

If you're going to run a tow hook, something proper like this is a lot better, and functional on the track

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-27...lue-black.aspx
Because racecar


But seriously it does look stupid leaving it in on the street.

I have one of those tow straps for the rear tow point, but you can't screw it into the front tow hook while the bumper is on. Next time I have the bumper off I'll screw it in and then I can just pull it out when at the track.
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      02-17-2014, 07:24 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ilikebmxbikes View Post
"To each their own" is what everyone types after they really mean to say.

I think XXxXxX looks like crap, but to each their own.
True but sometimes its meant as: "I don't like that but I don't have the balls to say so."

And sometimes its genuinely meant as "This is my opinion but I am intelligent enough to realise that my opinion should only apply to my car."

I read (or saw) once somewhere that you should always ignore the part of a person's statement that comes before the word "BUT".

That's a fairly bleak way to live though so I try to assume that people are always giving "constructive" criticism and that they would never actually try to tell me what to do with my own car...
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      02-18-2014, 06:06 AM   #17
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This thread has opened up an interesting discussion. I wonder how many people are holding back with cosmetic mods because they are worried about what others might think.

Personally, i really like race stripes. I know not everyone does. And to be honest, I've been holding back because i was worried about other peoples opinion. But screw it, it's my car, i'm putting stripes on it!

Are there any mods you guys are holding back from because of popular opinion?
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      02-18-2014, 07:52 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swagon View Post
Let's not turn this into "I hate the stance scene cuz..." thread
Why not? We get grouped in with them for being "car people". If they are going to besmirch our image, why not call them out for the mouth breathing idiots that they are?

And this is before we get into all the good cars they ruin...
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      02-18-2014, 08:12 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSt|G View Post
Why not? We get grouped in with them for being "car people". If they are going to besmirch our image, why not call them out for the mouth breathing idiots that they are?

And this is before we get into all the good cars they ruin...
I still don't see why there is so much hate towards the 'stance scene'. Are they not car people? What's the difference in the way they choose to modify their car compared to the hotrod scene where people take classic muscle cars and chop them up to fit wider wheels, remove the stock suspension for newer suspension? To some people that would be considered 'ruining' a car because they didn't restore it to factory specs/numbers matching/etc. Just because you don't like the style doesn't mean you have to thrash on it, and you don't have to take every thread that has a hint of talking about the 'stance scene' in that direction.

On topic: Most of the time the tow hooks are for looks. Not too many people track their cars and have a need for a tow hook. It's an additional accessory that can be added to your car and customized to your liking
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      02-18-2014, 09:17 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fifty3bags View Post
I still don't see why there is so much hate towards the 'stance scene'. Are they not car people? What's the difference in the way they choose to modify their car compared to the hotrod scene where people take classic muscle cars and chop them up to fit wider wheels, remove the stock suspension for newer suspension? To some people that would be considered 'ruining' a car because they didn't restore it to factory specs/numbers matching/etc. Just because you don't like the style doesn't mean you have to thrash on it, and you don't have to take every thread that has a hint of talking about the 'stance scene' in that direction.

On topic: Most of the time the tow hooks are for looks. Not too many people track their cars and have a need for a tow hook. It's an additional accessory that can be added to your car and customized to your liking
No, they aren't car people. They are fashion people chasing the current idiotic trend set by the trashiest group of car owners.

Just look at them.


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      02-18-2014, 09:46 AM   #21
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^^^^at least pic a shot with a tow hook installed. lol

My previous weekend/track day car was an S2000 with rollbar, Cobra race seats, Schroth ASM FE harnesses (DOT legal race harnesses). Non staggard track tires (Star specs/RE-11's) brake cooling ducts, suspension, etc. I took that damn tow hook off when I left the track.

But to each their own. If matching the paint on your tow hook, rims, rear view mirrors, and roll bar makes your car a "race car" then go for it. I personally like the sleeper look.
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      02-18-2014, 10:01 AM   #22
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The tow hook in that first pic is a Rennline one and I can vouch for that one being a quality piece. But those shiny aluminum ones from eBay are crap. People prefer fold down style because it protrudes out less from the bumper, call it convenient or safe. I used to have the Rennline piece because it doubled as a GoPro adapter but now that I record from inside the cabin I sold that two hook and now use the OEM one.
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