Tuner Cars are often mistaken for rice burners. However, a tuner car is usually built by someone with a real knowledge of car performance and aerodynamics (as opposed to a ricer, who knows how to make his car handle like crap and attract police attention)

Tuner cars usually have the latest performance enhancing devices, such as a Turbocharger, Sports Exhaust System, Performance ECU, Upgraded Engine/Suspension/Audio Systems, and the babe to go with it all.

These cars are driven by tuners, probably the best people you will ever meet (if you can stand their constant garble about car performance :P)

At one time, a tuner did indeed mean someone who actually focused on performance for thier automobiles. now its a byword for riceboy extreme, used by those who are attempting to pull themselves out of the mire of trashy, goofy crud that the "import scene" has become. this is quite evident in the article above, where the schmuck mentions "audio" when discussing "performance upgrades". race cars dont have subwoofers, jackoff. have fun driving around whatever piece of shit ricemobile you happen to have.

noun, an economy car bought off craigslist by a financially misguided young man that is "tuned" to achieve slightly greater straight line acceleration and maximum potential lateral acceleration. notable features 1. are exhaust modifications that are loud yet particulary "untuned," as in creating various unpleasant low frequencies in steady, droning disharmony 2. disproportiately large rims bearing "low profile" tires 3. the hood of vehicle is often a different color than that of the other body panels 4. ride height of vehicle often altered. watch for scraping upon exit of hamburger drive-in.

Primary reason for good used honda civics being priced astronomically high, tuner cars have become an icon for the continued irresponsibility, entitlement, and egomaniacal behavior on the public road system of the US today. They have replaced muscle cars as a locus of blame in the grand scheme of percieved danger on the highway. While tuner cars, as inanimate object are obviously not at fault, they do symbolize effectively the continuation of the american inability to reconcile the conflict of ego versus landscape where the young man choses an ideal of control in response to deep seated emotional ignorance. see also motorcycle in regards to this part of def

Tuner Cars are usually imports that have been modified after delivery from the factory to deliver increased performance or enhanced looks

a true high-performance sport compact car, as opposed to economy cars. these cars actually perform, or have potential to be tuned to such a state. they usually are more expensive. they might be domestic or imported.

visually customizing these cars actually holds water because they perform.