All about replicas: Corner-Cutting Commentary

[AznKirby]

I stumbled upon this today, and I must say, I agree with a lot of it.

Discuss.

Also, let's not forget

They (replicas) cost money, too. So, whether a person earns $7 an hour or $700 an hour, he must allocate funds to buy parts. This is where the 'I have to have it now and I don't want to work for it' mentality of the tuning scene takes over. Some people are willing to save for a little longer to buy legitimate parts. Those are the people who deserve the recognition. Those are the enthusiasts with the builds that earn the respect of the page moderator who sparked some of the comments above

http://jdmphasis.blogspot.ca/2014/03...ommentary.html

[wheelhaus]

I've never been a huge proponent in the wheel argument, but I wish this was something that was allowed to be laid to rest.

Authentic original wheels are the best. Nobody is arguing this. They however, are typically quite expensive. For that guy who loves cars, but makes $7/hr, is he not allowed to enjoy modifying his car unless he saves for 8 years to afford a $2800 set of wheels? No. This is the only way. He is a terrible person who has made bad decisions in life if he can't simply save to buy the expensive stuff. He is a genuine piece of shit and should be labelled a criminal.

Seriously?

If that were the case, why don't we all just save longer and buy GTR's and Ferraris? Who wants a cheap ass budget sports car when there's something REALLY real like an Aston Martin. We're all hacks and should be arrested.

If a company making replicas makes a good, high quality replica for half the price, that should raise a BIG red flag that the original part may be GROSSLY overpriced. This isn't always the case, but sometimes it is. "You pay for what you get" is often very applicable, but not the hard rule.

edit-
I'm not personally endorsing every single replica out there, there is a LOT of garbage, I'm just making the counterpoint.

[AznKirby]

I don't think anybody is pointing fingers at the guy who loves cars, and can't afford genuine wheels. But there is something to be said about "do it right the first time". I liked what the blog said about saving up money to buy the right parts.

If you're gonna go ahead and spend 1000$ on a replica brand, why not spend a little more, for used original wheels?

I think what bothers me the most are the people who call us elitists.

[Whitigir]

Elitlist ? To me Elitlist are those who can afford Magneism Carbonited Gold Forged Alloy wheels. Basically a wheel that cost several millions to develope, and exclusively for you. Now that is Elitlist.

Ofcourse you pay for what you get. People choose to do what they want, and in all cases, there are consequences. Higher quality, the consequences is to pay with an arm and a leg. Cheaper quality, you pay with a broken wheel. I dont see a problem here.

People do what they want, that is what make them human

[LSxJunkie]

Not this shit again. Some of us drive in the real world, where we deal with things like potholes and road debris and road work. I'd rather have a good looking wheel that won't cost 900 dollars to replace. Save your 9lb forged unobtanium wheels for gaining that extra .3 seconds per lap in the wheel to wheel driving you don't do.

[TylerLieberman]

^ Never seen a quality forged wheel get damaged from a simple pothole. Furthermore, within my 7 years of driving in numerous states, I've yet to even hit a pot hole. I've always been able to avoid them. Maybe people should pay more attention and allow space in traffic to allow themselves room to avoid the hazards...

I'll gladly buy my $900/piece forged wheels for daily driving and occasional track use. Wheels can be fixed. I don't know why people act like they can't...

Some knockoff wheel that shatters into 3 pieces is done and can't be fixed. Sure the wheel itself only cost $150 but, hopefully the rest of the car didn't sustain additional damage to the wheel flying off. Yeah, there are legit wheels that are cast as well that have suffered similar damage as well. I've never seen a quality cast wheel just fully separate into two separate pieces though... A quality forged wheel that get a small bend in it can be fixed, re coated, and thrown back on the car. Sure it may cost $300+ to do it, but it's an option people seem to forget.

[AznKirby]

I don't think we're talking about HRE wheels or anything like that - there are affordable, good-looking, genuine wheels. Even in the real world.

That being said, it's more than just "brand loyalty". I really do believe it's more of a question of quality than anything else.

Like I've said before, do it right the first time. Spend a little more money on your wheels, and you won't have any problems with potholes and such.

[XanRules]

Originally Posted by AznKirby

I don't think we're talking about HRE wheels or anything like that - there are affordable, good-looking, genuine wheels. Even in the real world.

That being said, it's more than just "brand loyalty". I really do believe it's more of a question of quality than anything else.

Like I've said before, do it right the first time. Spend a little more money on your wheels, and you won't have any problems with potholes and such.

Pretty much. I used to be on the anti-knockoff side of the fence, and in many ways I still am, but I don't think I'll ever be at the point in my life where I can justify $2000+ on wheels.

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by XanRules

Pretty much. I used to be on the anti-knockoff side of the fence, and in many ways I still am, but I don't think I'll ever be at the point in my life where I can justify $2000+ on wheels.

How much do you spend on a set of tires?

[Calum]

I love these threads. I get to update my ignore list without venturing into the general section.

[johnnie]

Judging other people just because they can't or won't spend as much as you is really just dumb. Don't they teach that in church ffs?

Are rotiform replicas? Fifteen52?

Discuss.

[zenki_levin]

How many times is this discussed already?

[ZionsWrath]

I wonder if there is a thread like this in the Porsche Cayman forum for people that buy GT86 over Cayman...

[Dimman]

This is NOT a cheap vs expensive argument.

It is about intellectual property and poseurs.

Rota and other knock off wheel companies only exist because of their continuous rip off of successful wheel designs.

There are other wheel companies that produce inexpensive cast wheels but they do not have a zillion internet discussions about them. Why? Because they don't look like Rays/Volk etc... And don't have Rota's internet bullshit propaganda machine spewing massive misrepresentations of their products.

ASA is a Korean company that had BBS set up their casting facilities. They are a good, inexpensive cast wheel. But nobody cares because they don't knock off top level companies' style.

It's funny how the same people that can laugh at and dismiss the blatant Chinese knock off companies cars, Apple products, restaurants like MacRonald's and KFG Chicken. But as soon as money interferes with their car style, it's off to Rota and create delusional self-justifying excuses.

Show some respect for the companies that are driving, respecting and advancing the industry by not promoting knock offs.