Walk onto a college campus and you will see parking lots heavily speckled with cars displaying fancy paint jobs and drop kits. With the available technology and hunger for uniqueness, college students are turning their garages into their own version of the MTV show "Pimp My Ride." Being at school on a budget, it is surprising how much money and effort some students dedicate to the growing hobby of car customization.
"Simply stated, it's human nature to show off," said Jeremy Bowles, a student and customized car driver at the University of Arkansas.
And showing off is what these young car enthusiasts do best. From dash overlays to shock springs and shift hub pedals, their cars don't merely shine from fancy paint jobs, but from the knowledge and love the mechanic under the hood has put into their "ride."
"We want to be noticed and the easiest way to do that is with our cars," said Nathan Poverud, a student at Tulsa Community College.
Benton Hodges, a senior at Texas A&M University, said this hobby has recently taken off because students are realizing it's attainable. Students see the cars in the media, get interested, and realize they can be a part of the trend. Young adults spend $4.2 billion a year customizing their cars, according to the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association.
For some, this hobby has been a lifelong interest. Poverud began customizing cars before he could drive.
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