I tend to see a lot of this on post, most military bases have kids who have a little bit of money for the first time.
To each their own but if you put Pirelli's on a Jeep Wrangler (seen it) or 5K worth of ground effects on a Dodge Neon then you are an idiot IMHO. Ground effects on a Civic just add weight. I personally have never understood why kids put that much money into a car like that when they can get an Acura at around the same price. Plus the Acura won't lose value if you tune it some.
Some of the add ons and upgrades to some of these cars are somewhat impressive. Personally, I have always gone for understated. I have a 65 Fairlane HiPo Sport's Coupe (not an original K code if anyone knows what that is, basically made mine one though) as well as an 85 RX7 GSL-SE. In all honesty, the RX7 probably would take the Hipo in the 1/4 mile but after that it is all over.
I'm not sure what that makes me, a ricer wannabe or an old school guy. I guess I am just a guy who likes cars.