What's the consensus on "red-out" taillights?

"Mathias Rios" (Mars478)
08/18/2014 at 00:06 • Filed to: None

I am considering doing this to my blue 944. What's the consensus on this?

DISCUSSION (30)

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 00:08

looks a hell of a lot cleaner. Even if you made the top two segments clear/reflective and have colored LED bulbs that'd look much cleaner and give a nice red L look

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 00:09

On a blue 944.... I think it would look good, it would look better on a black car though

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 00:11

I like it on guards/india red. Blue would no doubt be quite a good match with red-out taillights.

XJDano > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 00:13

I think in Europe they are required amber turn signals.

In US the don't have to. So do what you want. I did a amber delete on my XJ. I think it looks better. Clear lenses amber bulbs. I like it.

Although you'll need clear reverse lights somewhere.

Nibby > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 00:14

see http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/mathias-do-thi…

SteyrTMP > XJDano
08/18/2014 at 00:18

Not really. At least, not in Ohio. The Seven doesn't have reverse lights, as they are not required in the Ohio State Code.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 00:20

Ambers > *

Rainbow > SteyrTMP
08/18/2014 at 00:23

They're still super useful and stupid not to have. (assuming you had them in the first place, that is)

Rows His Own > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 00:34

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/thanks-i-looks… top pic. my old car. do it

Rows His Own > XJDano
08/18/2014 at 00:35

theyll still blink amber, and the reverse will still be white, if you use vinyl instead of spray

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 00:40

I like amber turns, but that's because the ambers shout "I AM A FUCKING TURN SIGNAL AND I AM TURNING THIS WAY" while the reds are "LOLWHUT? OH YEAH, I'M TURNING NOW. DERP."

That's my $0.02, though.

JGrabowMSt > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 00:44

Smoke them instead, it breaks up that ass anyway, in a good way.

Mathias Rios > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
08/18/2014 at 00:44

I get what you mean, but nowadays tons of cars have red signals. I'm talking from an aesthetic point of view.

Mathias Rios > Nibby
08/18/2014 at 00:45

I think I like it

Mathias Rios > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
08/18/2014 at 00:46

I love LEDs but I don't really like them on an older car like this

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 00:47

I personally think red indicators are the work of the devil, but that's just me.. Of course, keep in mind that I converted my Mazda 3 from the standard to the LED tails, just so I could have amber turn signals in the rear.

Mathias Rios > JGrabowMSt
08/18/2014 at 00:47

I've seen a few done like that and I've never liked the way it looks.

JGrabowMSt > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 00:50

Then do what nibbles suggested. I think the white reverse lights really make the back end look good. Taking those out just doesn't look good to me.

Mathias Rios > JGrabowMSt
08/18/2014 at 01:00

Yeah I looked at that GIF he posted and it sort of convinced me that the reverse lights need to be there. Otherwise it just looks really merpy back there. Maybe I can put some thin red stripes in the reverse light "square". hmmm time to buy myself some red vinyl spray

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 01:01

I'd *only* do it so you can get the super clean look, no yolk effect with the yellow turn signal. But you're right, old school cars need the slow faded and light up look that regular bulbs give, that's for sure. The instant on/off is too harsh for a classic

Mathias Rios > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
08/18/2014 at 01:03

How did you accomplish it? Did you use diffusers and stuff? I think it's part of the soul of the car and getting rid of that sort of makes it blander. I find that cars like these have a personality that later cars don't... if that makes any sense.

I have LED's on my late 90's SUV and they're cheap-o ebay ones which are a little too "pixelated" for my taste. If I was resto-modding a 944 I would definitely consider LEDs.

JGrabowMSt > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 01:04

lol, plastidip your lights bro

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 01:11

SMDs look great, super bright, but you're going to get that pixelated look:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/tail-…

Personally I'd go this route if you want LED benefits but the clean look

http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/tail-…

I've ordered all sorts of LEDs and such from them plenty of times and everything came quick and has never failed. (But be mindful of you do go LED on the turn signals you'll need a low current blinker relay or else you'll end up with hyper blinker)

Jobjoris > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 02:58

Nope.

D > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 03:06

When it comes to details, I always say stock. Mods should be substantial IMO

duurtlang > XJDano
08/18/2014 at 04:52

They only need to light up amber in Europe, the housing itself doesn't need to be amber. Lots of EU market cars without amber housings.

Kanaric > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 12:07

idk, i like 80s style multi-colored tail lights more and am not a fan of light-mods. Probably due to my getting into cars in the era of altezza lights.

Saf1 > Mathias Rios
08/18/2014 at 18:08

I'd say do it because if you looked into and considered it then I'd say you were inclined to go through with it. As for the consensus you'll have many on both sides so I wouldn't worry much about others think and go for what you want!! My opinion is it gives a cleaner more cohesive look (a neutral point) but I can't say if I would do it and I had a car because it depends if I feel there's nostalgic value in the original taillights plus how it would go with the rest of the car (which I can't answer unless I not even saw, but owned, a car for a little while)

SteyrTMP > Rainbow
08/19/2014 at 00:14

To consider I don't have the transmission wired up for reverse lights, nor clutch neutral sensor, no, I don't have any.

Stef Schrader > Kanaric
08/27/2014 at 07:46

Ha, same. It looks pretty clean on that red 944, but yeah—there's just something 80s-tastic about the originals.