I personally do not see anything wrong with replica parts.

I do understand the original design company being a little offended because it is their design that they are not making money on if sold by a knock off brand to a customer but at the same time that customer likely would not have bought it from them anyways because they cannot afford the "real deal."

Us poor people deserve to look good too

 

I'm all for replica rims, like the Varrstoen (sp?) rims, and Rotas! No need to pay a small fortune for a look you like if you aren't tracking the car.
Replica body parts, I'm for those too, provided that they are made with good materials, and have good fitment.
Replica performance parts, not at all! I would never sacrifice quality for price when it comes to the performance of a car.

 

I'm someone who doesnt make a whole hell of alot of money so cheaper replicas sound good to me, but on the other hand if I was someone creating these items I wouldnt want someone else stealing my design and selling it cheaper than me. I'm thinking alot of people really woudn't know the difference between real stuff and knock-offs and these people will obviously go for the cheaper item.

I'm kinda on the fence about this topic even though I voted yes.

 

as above, for look replicas are ok as long as its good quality, for any performance tuning i would prefer proven vendors like eibach, h&r etc.

 

I personally do not purchase replicas or knock-offs if I can help it, but I see them as a good thing for those that can't afford the original design & it helps to keep those original manufacturers in check with their prices. I do however think a replica should at least have a slight difference in design to tell the 2 apart & to avoid infringement of copyright laws.

 

+1 but if I really can't afford them I might resort to those brands but like the other people said, performance I like to go with the best or the best IMO

 

Sometimes a knock off is a good thing. You just have to remember if it falls apart it is a knock off---and that is why the real deal cost so much. Like it has been said there is no need for a three piece racing rim if you do not race. Sometimes you just like the look of something and that is when a knock off is a good thing.

 

Replicas are good to get you started, but you should never settle for it. Especially when it comes down to wheels/suspension.

But FYI, I'd buy a used set of PROPER wheels before buying new replica wheels.

 

Funny thread, when IMO, Hyundai is one of the biggest knock off companies out there

At least they change things up a bit and don't make it tooooo blatant. GC = redesigned G35, 2010 Sonata = redesigned ES350, Veracruz = RX350, Equus = LS, etc...

Personally I won't sport a knock off if it's a direct replica. That's just too blatant IMO. What Import Shark did with their lip is perfectly fine as it's not a direct rip off. Wheels like Varsteon that are 100% replicas get on my nerves though, it's like spitting in the face of the designers. It can't be that hard to change 10% of the design. Cant really vote though as I don't think it's that cut and dry. Replicas with minor tweaks so they don't resemble the original 100% are perfectly fine. Replicas that are 100% stolen/copied are BS, IMO.

 

GC = redesigned G35

Actually, the GC is highly based on the E46 M3.

 

replica's are not a bad thing
simple example can be someone loves the volk te37 design but doesnt wanna pay like 800+ per rim (guesstimate)...
he can just get a simple set of replica varrstoen for like 200-300 a rim! save his ass a lot of money + if he curbs or somehting happens to the wheels he wont be AS upset as losing rims taht cost him 800$+ a pop
either way replica's = great ( not that i prefer replica's ) but just saying they're good

 

Original parts are far to expensive. They have the ability to mark up the price based on a high demand and low supply (aka, no competition). Then the vendor tries to justify the extra cost based on R&D, blah, blah... Half of that is true, and the other half is because theres no competition, so they can increase the price because they know people will still buy.

I have nothing against replica whatsoever. They are making a product, and dropping the price. This creates competition between vendors, which means lower, and lower price. Original Vendors complain about replica's. They don't think it's fair that a similar product is made at half the cost. Well, when is life fair?

As a consumer, your an idiot if you don't like replica companies. Regardless of what brand you prefer (replica or original), competition drives the price down. Economics 101.

 

The questions are longevity and the law (2 different things).

As to the law - many original designers are now registering their designs with the Copyright office and a replica manufacturer could be in some big trouble if the original designer decides to chase after them.

As to longevity - A rip-off replica company is usually a hit-n-run affair. They'll pop out a batch of copies and then close up shop and prepare for the next replica.

However, there is a gray area where replica designers actually work with the original designer to produce a higher production run, lower-quality or lower-spec product for a market where the original designer wouldn't sell or wouldn't want to sell.

Personally, I prefer originals because I'm a brand-name kind-of guy. But, I'm still waiting for Armani to come out with a new set of GC sport seats and a matching dinner jacket .

 

the only replicas i would really get would be replica wheels, because the quality depends on how you treat it, replica body parts now thats a no no, because replica parts are made of less quality, most likely its going to show its poor quality sooner than later

 

I prefer originals, but replicas don't bother me. I'd much rather a replica part that costs 75% less take the daily driving abuse. Maybe if I had a lot more income it wouldn't bother me as much.

Though honestly, it does suck if there's a brand new part that just hit the market and less than a week goes by and there's already a replica out. I guess there should be some kind of agreement on timeframe before you rip off a design.

 

I welcome replica parts. I don't buy crap just b/c of a name/badge on it. There are a TON of replica parts out there that are just as good as the original.

 

if it works and it's stupid, and a knock-off, its not stupid, nor do I care that its a knock-off

 

I agree with most of the points here, but the old saying goes

"you get what you pay for."

But +1 for wheels, body parts ect
-1 for motor related replicas

 

I don't know what people mean by replica parts, they're called knockoffs.

Its sad really, companies pay for the R&D, and then someone knocks off the part and everyone loses. Companies stop making new designs, the industry gets stale, things stop growing and people turn away from tuning cars.

If you want an example, Rays is now producing all of their TE37 wheels with stamps of authenticity, and branding all of their boxes as well. If they didn't have to waste money protecting an old design, they'd be keeping the industry fresh with new wheels.

I'm tired of people faking the funk. If you can't afford the legit part, you shouldn't be spending your money. Save up a little longer and rep the companies that care about making quality products.

 

The problem is that there is a ****-ton of money to me made in replicating or "knocking-off" a name-brand item. The other problem is that companies like Rota spend a ****-ton of time duplicating existing designs rather than making something fresh. The question is, how much of the extra money spent on Rays over a "knockoff" brand goes to Rays' R&D, how much goes into better materials, and how much is just brand-name pricing hike? For example, can Rota design something original just with slightly lower quality materials and still afford to price it so much lower than Rays? I doubt it, because of the money they would spend on R&D and design. Once again, there is a market for people who will drop $500-600 on a set of wheels, and it's much larger than the market for people willing to spend $2000+ on a set. Someone is going to cater.

I'm fine with paying more for better materials or a product that has more thought put into design and engineering. I'm not fine with paying more because there's a name brand label on it.

All of that said, I agree that direct "rip-off" style products are disgraceful. If you are going to reverse-engineer someone's product or duplicate their design, at least do something to make it your own intellectual property. Imitation and copying are not to be confused; one is the highest form of admiration, the other is cheap and wrong.

 

Honestly, for all the people who say knockoff wheels are too expensive or knockoff parts cost too much, then you people shouldn't be modding a car and should be focusing your money on rent, utilities, or something a little more important than a car.

Rota is made from a cheaper material than the name brand wheels, the rely solely on the name brand companies designing new wheels. If Volk, SSR, Advan, Work, HRE, etc etc were to go under, then Rota and Drag and other fake wheel companies would follow. How could they stay afloat with no real wheels to copy. If you have the mentality to buy fake car parts, then why buy anything that's original and real?

If you're wife has a diamond ring, why not buy cubic zirconia? It's cheaper, looks the same and cost 1/4 the price. She won't know, right?

 

Disingenuous to say what other people can or should do with their money. Someone said there is a market to fill and someone is going to fill it. Usually someone does. As for the Rotas vs, Volks then simply the market will bare what it can. In other words Rota builds a wheel that is usually 3 to 4 pounds heavier than the wheels they replicate at 1/2 the cost. If Rota wheel broke, (they did early on) their reputation would falter (it did until they improved quality) and they would fail as the customer would stop buying and buy another alternative or the original.

Put it another way that is closer to home. The GC was in many ways s clone of the success of the G37, and made to offer 3/4s the car at 5/4s the value.Some Infiniti owners I am sure scoff at the GC owner as copiers. Many GC owner scoff at Infiniti owners as elitist. Those of us on the sidelines look at as people by what they want and spend what they choose to spend. Now I promise if all the GCs cracked up under use (not abuse mind you) then the market for the GC would dry up as well. As for the G37, they either will find a way to make a product cheaper and so much better that they eliminate the GC market or they make something new to bring more buyers to their product.

I have been on both sides of the Spectrum. Most of the bolt ons on my car are from Nismo but the wheels are from Rota. Could I have bought Volks you bet; but since I track neither Z that I have very often, don't see the value in spending 3000 dollars+ for a set of wheels. Others may and that is quite fine since they worked as hard for their money as i worked for mine.

 

I'm against.

Replica parts are just as lame as the people buying fake Jordans, or fake Gucci persons.

 

replica parts are fine imo. because people who buy legit or can spot differences like us can do so quickly, and it becomes a joke. if someone buys replicas and another person buys the legit ****, people who cant tell the difference fail / or aren't worth mentioning in my book. but its their car, they can do what they want with their "hard earned" money. it just helps to elevate the elite individuals who can and will / are determined to drop hard money on the real deal.

its just rice taken to a more sublime level. keen eyes who can see it, know, and feel better about their stuff. people who dont, well, we drop cash on our cars to impress people we dont know :bowdown: :dunno:

 

The only thing that makes replicas bad is certain people who try to lie and say they have Volks or Advans.

I personally have no problem with replicas when it comes to wheels. As far as the guy saying you shouldn't modify a car if you don't buy name brand, you're a tool.

So I shouldn't buy groceries since I buy the store brand cereal and not name brand? Save myself more than a dollar a box for the same taste?

I'll personally never buy Volks, I would be WAY too worried about scratching them.

But when it comes to performance parts, always go with a trusted brand.

 

I think it's kinda like buying generic medicine. The generic is 10 bucks, the name brand is 200. Bioequivalence may be slightly different, but both will cure the same ails. Which do you buy, assuming your insurance won't pay? I guess everyone that ever thought about buying generic medicine should probably be saving their money too, so they can fork out for name brand stuff?

When you buy a watch, do you buy a $30k Rolex, or a $30 Timex? Both are just a means to tell time. From twenty feet back, can you really tell which brand of diver's watch someone's wearing?

Wheels are ultimately just a means to an end as well. They are one of the parts that make the car roll. If spending 25% of the cost of your car on wheels and tires makes you feel better, by all means go for it. At the same time, don't give crap to people that don't want to spend that much money. I'm pretty sure if any of the boutique vendors felt they were hurting so much for money, they could still drop prices significantly and leave a lot of margin left on the wheels. They have to expect that they create a niche product anyway when prices are so high.

The only thing that makes replicas bad is certain people who try to lie and say they have Volks or Advans.

I haven't met anyone yet that said this. I'd probably slap them if they did, haha. If you're gonna rock Rotas, you rock them with pride.

 

i didn't know that wheel companies stole designs. when looking for new rims, i just go for what looks good to me and the weight. i don't care about brand name. i try to go cheap if i can because i've ruined two rims by hitting potholes and lane dividers as well as a little curb action. if i knew something was a replica, i'd probably steer clear of it.

 

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<DIV style="font-style:italic">I haven't met anyone yet that said this. I'd probably slap them if they did, haha. If you're gonna rock Rotas, you rock them with pride. <IMG src="http://www.GenCoupe.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="" class="inlineimg"></DIV>
</DIV>My area is heavily populated with Hispanic males driving Civics, Accords, and Celicas. They buy whatever they can get at PepBoys. Windows filled with high performance brands' stickers on stock cars with body kits and non-functional hoodscoops.

they do that, but, ford did the same thing with the previous mustang with the fake hood scoop and the fake side inlets.