Function vs. Style — what actually drives your build decisions?

[ORACLElights]

It's truly inspiring that your R&D department has so much free time to screw with AI instead of quality control.

Who lets the R&D department type on a keyboard?? I thought we had marketing for that nonsense!

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[AmericanPatriot100]

All those guys out there saying function over style better post up your pics of mag lights duct taped to the hood.

 

[av8or]

Love the look, but i am nervous for those wheel weights. 🫣

 

[Heimkehr]

Function vs. Style — what actually drives your build decisions?

Function, every time. That's just the pragmatist in me wanting to extract the maximum value from my investment.

"Style" is neither good nor bad, but as an intangible it has no chance of ever being my first priority. That's not to say that I don't want my vehicles to look good, or that they don't receive the proper care. Rather, I'm much less willing to chase my tail over a certain look that won't put food on the table, so to speak, as easily as would a series of utilitarian upgrades.

I will say that it's very easy to discern the difference between those of us who prefer function versus the folks who prioritize a certain manner of appearance.

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

Love the look, but i am nervous for those wheel weights. 🫣

Man, I know. I said the same thing to DT. I’m not sure what to do. They said that’s what is helping g with the balance. Cause they road force great!

 

[etoften]

Your question is really invalid. Everyone chooses some level of appeal even on a fully function driven build. Noone says let me get the cheapest ugliest part that will get the job done.

 

[Aonar]

Function vs. Style — what actually drives your build decisions?

Your question is really invalid. Everyone chooses some level of appeal even on a fully function driven build. Noone says let me get the cheapest ugliest part that will get the job done.

I am going to add a mandatory THIRD criteria which ALWAYS drives my build decisions:
Customer Service!

I always shoot for function AND style.
I had 2 or 3 choices in mind for most if not all my mods. If we are being honest with ourselves/myself, I will not use a product that is not visually appealing to me.

Let's use the color choice of the JP as an extreme example. Here in Iowa:

If I remember correctly, I paid a slight premium in 2021 to get the color Snazzberry. It was between that and the olive-green color if I remember correctly. I chose the color SOLELY on what style/color spoke to me.

Now to get more into a fairer comparison which would include style AND function. My choice of aftermarket Rock Rails as well as the Rear Bumper began as a function choice, but I narrowed down those choices using style. If I wasn't psyched buy their appearance, I would not have purchased.

FINALLY, I researched reviews of the Companies, their Products AND their Customer Service.

Then I made my final decision.

That is one reason I have @Metalcloak Rock Rails and their JL Wrangler Crawler Rear Bumper, Narrow Edition. LOVED that each fixed a problem inherent with my JP. Loved how they looked. And the customer service reviews were extraordinary. When I did use their service after my purchase, it was phenomenal! You can search my name and the word @Metalcloak to find my reviews of their customer service.

However there have been times where the fix was solely based on function. Two examples would be:
My @ASFIR4X4 Fuel Filter Skid https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...ce-diesel-skids-installed.105690/post-2949141

And my:
@Redline Tuning Wrangler Hood QuickLIFT systems
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...black-friday-cyber-monday.160261/post-3295166

Both have functioned flawlessly to date!

Since both of these choices are not something I necessarily see daily (with the exception of the hood struts, because I do open my hood nightly in the colder months) I purchased using the following criteria in this order:
Function, then Customer Service/Reviews.

There is that pesky customer service thing rearing its ugly head again

Yep, now that I think about it, I am 100% comfortable acknowledging that style is 1 arm of my purchasing decision.

@Redline Tuning hood struts

Tough to tell but this is the @ASFIR4X4 Fuel Filter Skid which saved my but on the trails.

@Metalcloak Rock Rails

 

[etoften]

I am going to add a mandatory THIRD criteria which ALWAYS drives my build decisions:
Customer Service!

I always shoot for function AND style.
I had 2 or 3 choices in mind for most if not all my mods. If we are being honest with ourselves/myself, I will not use a product that is not visually appealing to me.

Let's use the color choice of the JP as an extreme example. Here in Iowa:

If I remember correctly, I paid a slight premium in 2021 to get the color Snazzberry. It was between that and the olive-green color if I remember correctly. I chose the color SOLELY on what style/color spoke to me.

Now to get more into a fairer comparison which would include style AND function. My choice of aftermarket Rock Rails as well as the Rear Bumper began as a function choice, but I narrowed down those choices using style. If I wasn't psyched buy their appearance, I would not have purchased.

FINALLY, I researched reviews of the Companies, their Products AND their Customer Service.

Then I made my final decision.

That is one reason I have @Metalcloak Rock Rails and their JL Wrangler Crawler Rear Bumper, Narrow Edition. LOVED that each fixed a problem inherent with my JP. Loved how they looked. And the customer service reviews were extraordinary. When I did use their service after my purchase, it was phenomenal! You can search my name and the word @Metalcloak to find my reviews of their customer service.

However there have been times where the fix was solely based on function. Two examples would be:
My @ASFIR4X4 Fuel Filter Skid https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...ce-diesel-skids-installed.105690/post-2949141

And my:
@Redline Tuning Wrangler Hood QuickLIFT systems
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...black-friday-cyber-monday.160261/post-3295166

Both have functioned flawlessly to date!

Since both of these choices are not something I necessarily see daily (with the exception of the hood struts, because I do open my hood nightly in the colder months) I purchased using the following criteria in this order:
Function, then Customer Service/Reviews.

There is that pesky customer service thing rearing its ugly head again

Yep, now that I think about it, I am 100% comfortable acknowledging that style is 1 arm of my purchasing decision.

@Redline Tuning hood struts

Tough to tell but this is the @ASFIR4X4 Fuel Filter Skid which saved my but on the trails.

@Metalcloak Rock Rails

Fun fact... vehicles with wire paint have dominated new car registrations for years. Someone in the 80s did a study that determined white was the least offensive color to new car shoppers whose first color choice was unavailable. Dealers stock white because it's the easiest color to flip a shopper into.

 

[flick2614]

Your question is really invalid. Everyone chooses some level of appeal even on a fully function driven build. Noone says let me get the cheapest ugliest part that will get the job done.

Exactly why I said post up those pics of Mag Lights taped to your hood. Cheapest, easiest and most functional.

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