I remember 10-11 years ago i had my super tuned mondeo with custom twin exits and the like, no one could touch it, even my bosses tuned mr2 g limited, it was something special. Then came mint a mint escort that my dad and i fixed up when a diddy hit my mondeo, at a red light going 60. That again although not as fast and responsive as my mondeo kicked ass. Traded that for a 3 series, which was the business, fast, clean and fast lol.
Although not really interested in the cruise scene up here as is still populated by 1 litre wanabees with Halfords sport badges, my cars have always been more than capable in the early years to merit the many club invites i received.
Gone, perhaps, are the days of fast and the furious stereotypes that people want to add crap and imitate rather than add power and prove. Although its all about the drivers/ cars / personas instead of a tack on neon.
Subaru and dare i day it mitsubishi/ other performance brands/ models are league's ahead of the generic 1.2/ 1.6 SRI or laterly the ST/ VXR that push the boundaries of standard productions to try and achieve close to basic spec for us, makes our clubs that little bit special.
In conclusion now car clubs are perhaps more focused to love, power and perfection as opposed to love and double sided tape, the pre 1990s cars however are something else.