APA King Car Review | These 5 Stories Resonate With Countless Car Enthusiasts — Who Will You Vote For? (Bonus at the End of the Article)

Benefits at the end of the article

Anyone into car modification has heard this line: “Why waste so much money messing around with it? It’s just a daily commuter car anyway.” No one is born understanding how many sleepless nights, how many breakdowns from scrapping and restarting work, and how much misunderstood devotion can be poured into a single vehicle. One week after the launch of the APA King Car Appraisal Contest, over 100 vehicles have signed up, and related topic traffic has exceeded 100,000+. We’ve selected 5 cars with the most touching stories from hundreds of entries. They may not be the priciest or the fastest, yet behind each one lies a car enthusiast’s burning passion. Today, Volume 2 brings you more of these stories.

It is not merely a means of transportation, but a comrade-in-arms that accompanies me to fight everywhere.

Car Modding Story: I’m a National Level 1 Swimmer.

I had poor health as a child and ended up in the hospital every few days. My father gritted his teeth and signed me up for swimming lessons. Unexpectedly, the coach took a liking to me at first sight, and before I knew it, I embarked on a professional swimming career.

Our family didn’t have much money. For over a decade, my father ferried me on his beat-up electric scooter through hailstorms and heavy snow without fail. Leaning against his back, I silently vowed to myself: once I made enough money, I’d buy a car and take the whole family to see the world outside.

Yet fate played a cruel trick on me. At the peak of my athletic career, I was forced to retire due to unforeseen circumstances. During that period, I felt as if I were drowning, completely lost and adrift. After wallowing in despair for a year, I pulled myself together and started working. Year after year—one, two, three—I climbed from an entry-level staff member to department manager.

Right before turning 21, I paid in full for my very first car: a Tesla.

It’s like my first love. At first, I only added a small ducktail spoiler and a subtle front splitter. After all, I still drove my parents around, so I didn’t dare make it too flashy. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t yet the vision I held in my heart.

Later, my father bought his first car too. Watching him drive alone to travel across the country, I finally let go of the weight on my shoulders. I told myself it was time to fulfill that long-held dream: to get my car onto the grandest national stage for auto modification.

I threw myself into work tirelessly, pouring all my best efforts into this car. No matter how late I stayed out, it would always wait faithfully where I left it.

The road of car modification was far bumpier than I’d imagined. The finished look you see today was refined bit by bit, step by step. Every tiny detail went through countless rounds of communication and repeated deliberation. Setbacks and mishaps became a daily occurrence.

I bought a used set of air suspension due to budget constraints, and it broke down within a week. Custom wheels shipped overseas took three months to arrive, only to get scratched mere days after installation; I waited another two months for repairs. When repainting the front bumper, the technician accidentally scraped the carbon fiber panel, leading to another lengthy wait. Tires bulged after stretching, requiring new orders and reinstallation. The mounting holes for the large rear wing didn’t align properly, so I had to drill new holes and order custom titanium bolts. It even got scraped while parked in the residential complex, which meant stripping the wrap, applying putty, carrying out sheet metal work, and ordering brand-new wrapping film all over again…

The car you see standing here today was built drop by drop with sweat and stubborn resolve, forged through countless tow truck rides, breakdowns, unexpected mishaps, agonizing deliberations, and tough decisions. To me, this car has a soul of its own.

A car is never merely a means of transport. It’s your most loyal companion, standing beside you through countless late nights and storms. Of course I’d treat it with all my care—after all, it’s the one that’s going to ride with me to every corner of the land.

Someday, I’ll let every car enthusiast across the country witness you shining bright.

I’ll always love you, my futuristic warship.

One last thought: Car modification isn’t measured by how much money you spend, but by how much heart you pour into it. Every single bit of this journey stems from pure passion.

— From Zhou’s Car Stories, Hefei LANDIAN Fluorescent Garage

From Ordinary to Faith, My Modification Journey

Car Modding Story: Hi everyone, I’m Benson. This Mitsubishi Lancer EX is no luxury vehicle, yet it holds the fiercest passion of my youth, a companion I’ve refined with my own hands and poured all my heart into. From the moment I laid eyes on it and felt an instant spark to every modification step by step, it has witnessed my growth and embodies my purest obsession with JDM culture.

Long ago, I was deeply captivated by the legendary tales and rugged silhouette of the EVO, especially the EVO IV from Initial D with its massive rear wing and blistering four-wheel drifts. Before getting this car, I’d modified three separate Lancer models to replicate the EVO lineup one after another. However, the steep price tag of the EVO X put that dream far out of reach. That was until I met the Mitsubishi Lancer EX—its affordable, accessible counterpart to the EVO, sharing nearly identical body lines and giving me a glimmer of hope to fulfill my dream.

In 2020, I made up my mind and bought this 2.0-liter manual Lancer EX. Some people around me were confused and asked, “Why waste time messing around with an ordinary family sedan?” But only I knew this was far more than a basic daily driver; it marked the starting point of my car modification dream. It lacked fancy factory features, yet boasted a chassis perfectly built for customization. Every curve of its body seemed to tell me it could be transformed into exactly the machine I envisioned.

1. Right After Taking Delivery, I Dived Straight Into Modifications

My initial goal was simple: strip away the bland, utilitarian vibe of a family car and inject an aggressive race-ready aesthetic. I fitted a full set of aftermarket replica EVO X body kit, and cycled through countless sets of wheels and suspension components… I obsessed over crafting an exact 1:1 visual copy of the EVO X, swapping factory body panels, studying every tiny design detail, and scouring countless online forums and posts to research different model generations and their histories. Later, I pondered how to refine the car’s proportions without altering the original chassis or installing widebody EVO fenders—and that’s how it took on its current form.

2. Dissatisfaction With Stock Power Output

I hit plenty of dead ends in the early stages and even fitted cheap, counterfeit turbo kits to the vehicle. The car became unbelievably difficult to drive; honestly, I spent nearly all my time fixing breakdowns instead of enjoying drives. At that point, I’d practically ruined the car with shoddy, ill-suited modifications.

3. Full EVO X 4B11T Powertrain Swap

Before opening my garage, I crossed paths with Brother Gang from Dongguan by chance. Impressed by his unparalleled expertise, I entrusted him with a complete 4B11T powertrain swap build. Reaching this milestone meant I’d finally hit a major long-term goal. The final power figures clock in at 290 wheel horsepower on low boost (1.0 Bar), and 350 wheel horsepower on high boost (1.5 Bar).

After years of modifying my Lancer EX, many people ask me: “Is it really worth sinking so much money into an old car?” My answer is always a resounding yes.

The modification journey has been full of setbacks: I’ve purchased shoddy aftermarket parts, dealt with mechanical malfunctions during tuning, and gone through endless hassle filing paperwork for legal modification inspections. There were also times tight budgets left me hesitating endlessly over coveted performance parts. Yet every time I fixed an issue and watched the car evolve closer to my vision, all exhaustion melted away.

I’ve also faced plenty of skepticism. Some say, “No matter how much you tweak it, it’ll never be a real EVO,” while others claim I’m just throwing money down the drain. Their words never bother me. I’ve owned a fully built EVO X before with equally impressive power numbers, but it was a pre-finished, ready-made car that never stirred genuine affection in me. Deep down, I’ve always loved building a vehicle piece by piece to match my personal taste. That’s why I chose to keep the Lancer EX and keep evolving it instead. At the end of the day, a Lancer EX is a Lancer EX—it’s not a cheap substitute for an EVO, but my one-of-a-kind Lancer. The true meaning of car modification is never copying someone else’s build; it’s etching your own passion into every inch of the car, molding it into something uniquely yours.

Over the years, this Lancer EX has stood by me through my lowest lows and celebrated all my happiest moments. It’s far more than metal and machinery; it’s an old friend carrying my youth, my perseverance, and my unbridled adrenaline. Every time I slip into the driver’s seat, turn the ignition key, and hear its familiar exhaust note roar to life, all stress fades away, leaving nothing but pure, unfiltered driving joy.

Epilogue: Passion Never Fades, The Lancer EX Is More Than Just A Car

This Lancer EX has been by my side for years. I brought it home when I was 24, and it’s stayed with me all the way to age 30. Its rugged, fiery spirit hasn’t changed one bit—and neither has my relentless passion for it.

My modification journey will carry on into the future. I’ll keep refining every small detail to keep the car running at its absolute peak. To me, this Lancer EX stopped being a simple commuter vehicle long ago. It represents my faith, my nostalgia, and the blazing passion that lights up my ordinary life.

I’m Benson. This is my Mitsubishi Lancer EX, and my modification story is far from over…

Benson Garage, Zhangpu, Fujian

Founder: Yang Baoshen

We specialize in modification, maintenance and repair for Mitsubishi Lancer EX, EVO and Japanese JDM performance vehicles. We provide one-stop classic car restoration services covering chassis overhaul, power tuning and fully personalized custom builds.

The BRZ that balances stylish stance and practicality is exactly the perfect car in my heart.

Car Modding Story: When I first laid eyes on the stock 2.4L BRZ, its pure rear-wheel-drive driving feel instantly stole my heart. To build a one-of-a-kind ride, I upgraded and modified it step by step. I fitted a Flash Scale widebody kit to craft an aggressive race-inspired look, swapped in Master Air suspension that balances a sleek low-slung stance with daily driving comfort, paired it with custom self-developed forged B501 wheels to leave my unique mark, and flashed a custom ECU tune for sharper power response. Every tweak made along the way stems from pure passion, and this BRZ that nails both show stance and practicality is exactly my ideal ride.

This vehicle comes from JPM Auto Workshop in Wuxi, Jiangsu, founded by its principal operator Xindi in 2019. The shop specializes in stance modifications including air suspension and body kits, and is an authorized dealer for brands such as Robot, Master Air, AirBFT, Lavizer and Mod Forever.

This car carried my fiercest passion and holds the most regretful youth deep within it.

Car Story: I’ve always believed every man should own a car of his own in his lifetime. Back when I was in my early twenties, I was stubborn, passionate, yet had nothing to my name. While everyone around me settled for steady office jobs and saved up to buy houses, I threw myself headfirst into the world of car tuning. My family and friends all thought I was wasting money, being impractical and foolhardy—only my partner understood my passion for cars.

This very car carried the softest chapter of my love story. She would always sit in the passenger seat beside me, windows rolled halfway down as evening breezes swept into the cabin and ruffled her hair. She knew nothing about horsepower, handling or modification specs; she couldn’t make sense of the suspension data I stayed up late researching, nor tell the difference between high and low exhaust notes. Still, she’d always smile and say to me, “Your car is gorgeous, and you look so cool when you’re focused on modifying it!!!”

Back then, my ambitions were simple. I wanted to perfect my car and cherish the one I loved, chasing my passion while guarding my gentle happiness. I upgraded the car’s wide body bit by bit, pouring endless thought into every tweak—from wheels and suspension to lighting and exhaust systems. I treated this relationship the same way: patient, earnest, and determined to make everything flawless, clinging tightly to both my passion and my beloved.

Life with my modified car was never easy. There were constant fuel costs, hefty modification investments, and endless repair troubles. Sometimes strangers judged me on mountain drives, calling me idle and irresponsible. But with her sitting beside me in the passenger seat, all hardships and grievances faded away. I pursued my love amid mounting pressure, and she stood by me through every trivial struggle. I was certain back then that the car would always stay, and so would she. I later learned that the greatest illusion of youth is believing all beautiful things last forever.

We drifted apart eventually. There were no explosive fights or hysterical goodbyes—just the helpless, gradual separation common to adults. Life sped up, our viewpoints diverged, and the futures we strived for no longer aligned. The last time I drove her home was in this same car. Silence filled the cabin; no more laughter or playful chatter, only the familiar hum of the engine amplifying the cold, empty atmosphere. She stepped out of the car without glancing back. I sat behind the wheel, watching her figure vanish beneath the streetlights, my grip on the steering wheel feeling emptier than ever before. That night, I drove alone around the ring road three full loops.

The same familiar routes, cool evening winds and engine roars surrounded me, yet the passenger seat sat vacant—no longer occupied by the girl who once rode beside me to chat and feel the breeze. The joy and liveliness we shared once gave way to overwhelming loneliness and emptiness afterward.

No woman has ridden in the passenger seat of my car ever since. Most days, the vehicle sits at my shop, where I work part-time as the shop foreman. My passion for car tuning never faded; I still spend hours refining and maintaining it, and occasionally hit mountain roads or scenic drives with fellow car enthusiasts. The car grows more polished, its handling smoother, its exhaust tone richer—but I can never recapture that fiery rush of emotion I once felt.

Many people ask if obsessing over one car is truly worth it, given how much money and time it devours, and how little understanding I receive from others. I only smile and stay silent.

They fail to grasp that car enthusiasts do not crave sheer speed; we cling to a unique sense of belonging. This car witnessed my bold, fiery younger self, my tender, joyful affection, and my silent breakdowns deep into the night. It stood with me through my overlooked, lonely days, watching me gain love and then lose it.

As I grew older, I outgrew youthful recklessness and came to understand life’s impermanence. I no longer make impulsive modifications driven by fleeting passion, nor cling desperately to people who are meant to leave. My love for this car remains, tempered now with calm acceptance. Life is much like driving: you accelerate, take turns, face gusts of wind, and bid farewell along the way. Some landscapes astound you for a moment yet stay etched in your memory for life; some people walk beside you for a chapter, making them the finest gift of youth.

Now, every time I drive late at night to the low rumble of the engine and soft wind brushing my face, I still picture that girl in the passenger seat with crinkled smiling eyes, recalling those quiet, tender days when it was just the two of us in the car. The vehicle remains, my passion undimmed, yet my youth has come to an end, and she is no longer by my side. I can race down the road at breakneck speeds, yet memories unfold slowly, lingering endlessly.

This car carries my blazing passion and holds the softest, most regretful memories of my youth.

No.1 Auto Workshop, Xingyi City, Guizhou Province

Founder: Fang Wen

Established in May 2000, the shop has specialized in auto modification and repair for over two decades. Its core services include performance modification upgrades, original factory component upgrades, paint protection film and color change wrapping, as well as vehicle maintenance and repair. Authorized dealer of the AIRBFT brand, the shop excels in suspension tuning, air suspension wide-body fabrication and supercar maintenance, standing as a leading comprehensive auto service provider with decades of experience across southwest Guizhou’s Qianxinan Prefecture.

No widebody kit, no high-power engine, yet this Integra means everything to me

Car Modding Story: I’m Hua Yi, and my ride is the 2023 GAC Honda Integra manual variant. What draws me to this car most is its sheer driving pleasure. I’ve taken it to multiple race tracks and mountain roads, and every spirited drive fills me with immense confidence. However, the stock chassis felt lacking, so I upgraded to a set of DCTS coilovers with 10k front springs and 7k rear springs, paired with chassis components from Cusco and Hardrace.

For exterior modifications, since this generation Integra is a China-exclusive model, aftermarket parts options are quite limited, so I customized everything to my own vision. For the front bumper, I fused the lower section from its sibling model—the 11th-generation Civic—with the stock upper half. Others online have tried this modification too, but I went for it for two reasons: first, I prefer the Civic’s front bumper styling, and second, the Civic’s fog light openings are perfect for installing brake cooling ducts. On the lower section of the driver-side headlight, I added the front bumper lettering seen on the DC2-generation Integra. This design was featured on both the DC2 and DC5 Integras (as well as the current Acura Integra and the latest models), and I used the exact font from the DC2 Integra. I applied putty to that area and pressed a custom stencil into the putty before it fully cured to create the marking.

The fender design draws inspiration from the game GTA V. I’ve long admired this fender style, yet it’s almost exclusively found on widebody kits. This car doesn’t have powerful stock power output, and a full widebody setup would sap performance. While playing GTA V, I came across a concept that retains the original wheel track width, which I adapted for this vehicle. This year, I also fitted a carbon fiber trim piece to the recessed section of the fenders.

The hood takes styling cues from Varis aftermarket parts made for the Civic FL5. Replica versions are available for sale, but I disliked the side contours, so I redesigned it myself. It boasts distinctive sculpting while also boosting the car’s heat dissipation performance.

This car granted me my first chance to display it as an exhibit at GAC Honda’s new car launch event, earned me an invitation to drive at the Shanghai International Circuit, and allowed me to fulfill my long-held dream of road-tripping to explore the wider world. To me, it’s just like a member of my family.

Zhuhai Z1GARAGE, managed by Jingxiang and Dacheng, opened in 2022. It specializes in full-range JDM modifications, dedicated to providing professional, authentic modification services and parts support for enthusiasts of Japanese performance vehicles.

Event Period: October 16 – October 18, 2026

Venue: Hall 1, Foshan Tanzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center

Event Reward Setup: The total prize pool reaches 100,000 RMB! The champion, runner-up, third-place finisher and the top 50 participating vehicles nationwide will all receive corresponding cash prizes and exclusive physical gifts.

Exclusive Grand Prize for Champion: 30,000 RMB cash prize + one set of CAMMUS professional racing simulator + one set of AIRMASTER electronic control system.

Call for Brand Sponsorship

Additional Rewards for Top 10 Participants: One roll of LBFILM automotive window film

APAxpo 2026 is building a top-tier resource matrix for China’s automotive modification industry. With over 500 city lead operators and tens of thousands of high-net-worth enthusiasts on board, “APA King Car Appraisal” is far more than a competition arena—it serves as a premium channel for brands to engage directly with core consumer groups. Official partners for “APA King Car Appraisal” are now being recruited worldwide.

Core Highlights of the Competition Set a New Benchmark of Professionalism — The APA King Auto Appraisal Contest Officially Kicks Off!
The competition follows this format: the top 50 entries from online voting qualify for the on-site round, and multiple judges will score the entries on-site to select the top three winners. The online registration portal will open in June, allowing vehicle owners to independently upload their modified car cases to sign up. The top 50 qualifiers will advance to the contest, receive cash prizes for ranking among the top 50, and attend the APAxpo venue.

The top three winners will be chosen on-site at APAxpo by a jury of renowned domestic and international automotive authorities, who will select benchmark modified vehicles through multi-dimensional evaluation. Both paid-entry and specially invited vehicles will compete on the same stage. Your one-of-a-kind modified ride could be the next legend!

Competition Registration Rules: 1. Registration Method: All vehicle owners intending to participate in this event must contact the organizer in advance. After information verification, owners shall independently submit personal information, vehicle information and modified case materials online to complete pre-registration. (Direct self-submission without prior contact will not pass review.) 2. Qualification Review: All registered vehicles and participation information are subject to official review by the organizer. Only those who pass the review and receive the participation notice will obtain official competition eligibility. Vehicles that fail to undergo review or do not pass review are not allowed to enter the venue for competition. 3. Venue Participation Requirements: All officially registered competition vehicles must be stationed at the designated exhibition area in Hall 1 of Foshan Tanzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center throughout the event period, and stay on-site for evaluation during the entire exhibition duration. Vehicles absent from the venue will be deemed to have voluntarily withdrawn from the competition.

Great benefits are coming! How to participate: Like this article and leave a comment stating your favorite championship-winning car in your mind. Sharing this post to car enthusiast groups or Moments will boost your odds of winning! Prizes: One exclusive discontinued car model from the Hong Kong IMXpo Exhibition (random model). Winners selection rule: The top 3 comments with the most likes will receive the prizes.