Fake VS Real?!
08-30-2014, 10:11 PM
#1
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Fake VS Real?!
Whats the big deal with buying replica rims? Seems like half the people like em, the other half want to kill the replica rim owners. If i were to daily drive a say a 350z, have some fun, maybe take it to a track or autox even once per summer, would replica wheels be fine? i usually dont like knock off products at all but $3000 for the wheels i want is a bit too much for me.
The reason i ask is because for my next car i might be looking at a 350z (i have a huge list of cars..) and i'm kinda doing an exterior dream build. Part of that build are volk GTS rims but as i said, their $3000 price tag is way too much so i tried looking into replicas and found a huge arguement. I could understand if you were doing actual racing and going to the track every weekend but for DD, i don't know.
I know there are plenty of threads about this but no definitive answers. So i want real, non biased EXPLANATIONS (NOT "nah cheap **** brah") as so why i should or shouldn't buy replica wheels.
The reason i ask is because for my next car i might be looking at a 350z (i have a huge list of cars..) and i'm kinda doing an exterior dream build. Part of that build are volk GTS rims but as i said, their $3000 price tag is way too much so i tried looking into replicas and found a huge arguement. I could understand if you were doing actual racing and going to the track every weekend but for DD, i don't know.
I know there are plenty of threads about this but no definitive answers. So i want real, non biased EXPLANATIONS (NOT "nah cheap **** brah") as so why i should or shouldn't buy replica wheels.
08-30-2014, 10:52 PM
#3
If your going to track I would look into the materials the wheels are made of as well as whether they are forged or cast. Want to make sure your wheels are strong and reliable
08-31-2014, 09:56 AM
#8
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08-31-2014, 10:24 AM
#11
It's like a status symbol. Some look at it like the rich and poor. Some people buy the real ones just to think they're better cause they can afford them or to laugh others for "FAKE WHEELS". The way I look at it is, does it look good, then who cares...
08-31-2014, 10:35 AM
#12
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And even if I could afford them. ...the streets would tear them up especially driving daily. But to each their own. If it looks good...it looks good.
09-02-2014, 03:42 PM
#13
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For a DD i would rather have reps, because they are cheaper to replace if you curb rash them or bend one with the great pot holes roads have to offer. But thats just me. Just make sure you acknowledge them as fake and don't say they are real. i.e. i have Varrstoen ES2, and i would never tell anyone they are volk TE37s.
09-02-2014, 11:49 PM
#14
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I bought custom drilled FAST wheels 18x9's for under $1000 to my door. I couldn't justify spending $2500 for Forgestar F14's. I'm happy as a pig in **** with my new setup. They balanced up nicely with very little weight and my car pulls harder than it did with my old 19's.
09-03-2014, 12:53 AM
#16
I can see two sides of this, and agree with both. The third side being "I'm going to buy these $4k wheels so I can brag about $4k wheels." I just don't see. Unless you're driving a car like a Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, AMG etc and that's what wheels cost at the entry level. But that's a different story that doesn't really apply here.
The other two sides I can take a stance on both, and agree with both. No business owner or company as a whole wants to see people buying replicas or knock-offs and the money going to the companies who just replicated it via a cheaper process and put a price tag on it at 50% of the original. But at the same time I really don't want to spend $1k/wheel. I drive a Cobalt, that price is absurd. But with that being said I will still try, if I can, to NOT buy a replica wheel and support reproduction companies but instead find a wheel that I like and is within my budget while still buying from the original manufacture.
Unfortunately replica companies and knock-offs will always be out there. You can't put a utility patent on "the wheel" lol that will never be approved. And you can't put a design patent on a generic "split eight spoke wheel with a slight concave" as exampled by the F14 look-a-likes above. There are just too many variants out there even if they are all original.
You also can't completely narrow down all the factors either. Every person's budget, car, what style they like, everything that plays in to what wheel YOU want will always be different. Bottom line is some wheels look like others and cheap, some wheels are the original and made out of a better material but are incredibly expensive. It's your call on what you want to spend and who you want to support.
The other two sides I can take a stance on both, and agree with both. No business owner or company as a whole wants to see people buying replicas or knock-offs and the money going to the companies who just replicated it via a cheaper process and put a price tag on it at 50% of the original. But at the same time I really don't want to spend $1k/wheel. I drive a Cobalt, that price is absurd. But with that being said I will still try, if I can, to NOT buy a replica wheel and support reproduction companies but instead find a wheel that I like and is within my budget while still buying from the original manufacture.
Unfortunately replica companies and knock-offs will always be out there. You can't put a utility patent on "the wheel" lol that will never be approved. And you can't put a design patent on a generic "split eight spoke wheel with a slight concave" as exampled by the F14 look-a-likes above. There are just too many variants out there even if they are all original.
You also can't completely narrow down all the factors either. Every person's budget, car, what style they like, everything that plays in to what wheel YOU want will always be different. Bottom line is some wheels look like others and cheap, some wheels are the original and made out of a better material but are incredibly expensive. It's your call on what you want to spend and who you want to support.
Last edited by EXsoccer1921; 09-03-2014 at 01:01 AM.
09-03-2014, 01:10 AM
#17
I can side with that. I have certainly considered buying reps for quite some time and if i see the right wheel at the right price i will probably go with it. I definately cant see myself dropping more than 600 bucks for a set of wheels. What worries me, if anything, is the possible weight, balance, and longevity of reps. Ive heard a good few stories of them breaking, which is obviously not something anyone wants while going 140 down the highway, or taking a sharp turn around a bend. And also that would be a waste of money then for cheaping out. Also balancing. Theres nothing worse than having to feel a vibration the whole time youre going over 20 mph. Which all of my OEM wheels have had that problem so whatever kinda? But reps i feel could have that issue more over time if they were made cheaply. Also the finish may not be that good, id gaurantee it. Which id simply work aroubd by getting the wheels powdercoated, which i would probably do anyway.
All risks, but im going to take the plunge one day.
All risks, but im going to take the plunge one day.
09-03-2014, 10:14 AM
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In the end you're paying for quality. You guys have probably seen multiple pics of bent to hell te37's but never shattered, split, etc. that reps do.
It's probably overkill for 99% of people, yeah, but that's the price you pay.
Not saying you won't get lucky with reps and never bend/break them, but it's a higher chance.
A lot of these designs were made in mind of being forged.
It's probably overkill for 99% of people, yeah, but that's the price you pay.
Not saying you won't get lucky with reps and never bend/break them, but it's a higher chance.
A lot of these designs were made in mind of being forged.
09-03-2014, 10:30 AM
#19
you get what you pay for ... bottom line.
if you buy cheap wheels, that fine, who gives a flying Fack, but when you hit a pot hole or w.e and they crack dont complain.
You want quality, you gotta pay for it.
If you get caught up in the stance game it all becomes a status game ....
if you buy cheap wheels, that fine, who gives a flying Fack, but when you hit a pot hole or w.e and they crack dont complain.
You want quality, you gotta pay for it.
If you get caught up in the stance game it all becomes a status game ....
09-03-2014, 10:46 AM
#20
I bought custom drilled FAST wheels 18x9's for under $1000 to my door. I couldn't justify spending $2500 for Forgestar F14's. I'm happy as a pig in **** with my new setup. They balanced up nicely with very little weight and my car pulls harder than it did with my old 19's.
but im not sure they will clear brembos.
09-03-2014, 11:13 AM
#21
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Fake or real I wouldn't care as far as knowing it, as long as they dont break... I want these, dont know what they are but that car just looks so nice I'm a sucker for 5 spoke rims
09-03-2014, 03:17 PM
#23
because theyre normally built pretty shitty and sometimes try to pass themselves off as being the real deal. and stealing other peoples ideas and marketing them as your own is a dick thing to do.
09-03-2014, 04:12 PM
#24
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09-03-2014, 08:34 PM
#25
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