OEM Plus is boring and it's killing car culture

Car culture used to be about individuality—building something that reflected you. But lately, the rise of “OEM+” builds has started to blur those lines. In this video, we take a hard look at how social media trends are reshaping the scene, turning once-unique builds into near-identical replicas. From identical wheel setups and suspension choices to the same subtle cosmetic mods, OEM+ has become less about creativity and more about following a formula. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok reward what’s already popular, creating a cycle where builders chase likes instead of originality. The result? Clean cars—but at the cost of personality. We’re not saying OEM+ is bad—it can look incredible when done right. But when everyone is pulling from the same playbook, it raises a bigger question: are we building cars for ourselves, or for approval online? If you’ve ever felt like every build at a meet looks the same lately, this video breaks down why—and what it means for the future of car culture. -Follow me on Instagram @LeadFoot.Society Credit for clips ‪@HazardGarage‬ ‪@americanmuscle‬ #automobile #civic #oem #cartok #car #mustang