Ricer - Definition and Overview

The term rice burner refers to automobiles that have the appearance of high performance but possibly with little or no functional mechanical modifications. The "rice" refers to the fact that many of these modified cars are of Japanese origin and owners or drivers are often but not necessarily Asian. Drivers of rice burners are known as "ricers" or "rice boys". These terms are often used as a pejorative or ethnic slur.

Meant to emulate the work of independent automotive tuning companies who modify more than just appearance, modifications can include aerodynamic-looking body kits, wings and spoilers, excessively large chrome rims ("dubs"), bright paint, decals and stickers for non-existent aftermarket parts, badging from other higher performance vehicles (Honda Type R being the most common), neon and LED lighting, interior parts painted in contrasting colors, a loud, free-flowing exhaust system with a large cylindrical resonator at the rear of the car (often referred to as a "fart can", "coffee can exhaust" or "bee fart exhaust") and high-powered stereo equipment. Not all automobiles displaying these traits are rice burners, nor are all merely cosmetic. A tremendous aftermarket industry has sprung up around engine and drivetrain modifications.

Sometimes rice can cross from manufacturer to manufacturer when the particular vechicle doesn't have what they want; see the picture below to see an Impreza WRX owner wishing he had VTEC technology:
Vtec.jpg
Image:Vtec.jpg

See also

• Import Scene - the scene associated with this term
• show car
• low rider
• boy racer
• sleeper
• rice rocket
• crotch rocket