Automobile Enthusiasm: What's it mean to you?

[nykwhy]

this is pretty much becoming a discussion on morals.

some people know where to find used wheels on classifieds, some don't.


am I "not" supporting BBS by buying a USED set from a private dealer?

[MrJereMoose]

its like saying people should wear highend clothes. If you dont rock a $100 Tee you aint shit. $300 jeans. $150 sweater.

That's just it, it is like saying that... but withing a context.

Go to an upper crust country club, people will be wearing high end clothing, and they will look down on people wearing "knock off" clothing. That's the way life is. I'm sure there isn't a conversation like this at upper crust parties...
"Lovey, I know we are in exclusive club for people who have expensive tastes, but I think we need to start letting the rednecks in, even if their ties are made from duct tape..."
(I'm part preppy and part redneck, so hopefully I didn't offend anyone)

I also play guitar, and even though fender makes squire, I still wouldn't want to rock a squire...

[kramerbuccs24]

This is a good thread, overall level-headed discussion. In my personal opinion there is no need to buy new knockoffs, I found used 15x7 Koseis in literally perfect condition with 80% tread Falken Azenis RT-615s 20 minutes from my house for less than the price of 4 brand new Rotas (http://www.racinglab.com/rota-grid-0002.html).

I also got my RSs for not much more than what some people pay for knockoff. I personally view anyone rolling around on reps as lazy and slightly ignorant. At the end of the day, my ride looks better in comparison (a "slow" OEM+ build) so it's no sweat off my back.

[dubtruk36]

Stop supporting knockoff wheels.
If you can't afford the style you want, you simply don't buy it. That's how life is.
I can't afford a ferrari. It doesn't mean I go buy a stolen one.

Point taken and I'm sure everyone who loves Automobiles and the direction the enthusiast scene is taking on all fronts would agree with you.

The problem with the fake wheels debacle is that it could rage on for years if not decades because of the current ecomonic climate and the authorities inability (worldwide) to prevent intellectual property from being cloned and distributed. So even though your voice is one which is heard and listened to on this forum and which ever ones you decided to preach to, it'll never be loud enough to be heard by and taken heed of by the people who really matter.

In this case, those folk would be students on seriously tight budgets and low-income individuals, who even though they would agree with you, are not in the position to compromise there ideal style purely on the premise that they're buying what is essentially stolen property.

You should be directing your attention to an audience who can make a difference. You should be shouting at the guys who are responsible for ensuring that the intellectual property of the forward-thinking design houses, who produce such awesome quality designs, are protected from the wheel cloning mafia. You have the platform and imo the persona to take this on to the next level.

You seem fairly passionate about this matter, I for one think you're the perfect candidate to take this forward.

Anyone else agree?

[Tuck&Poke]

I would never be able to buy a set of rota grids, simply for that fact that i know that they're fake wheels. I just couldnt rock something like that. Just like i could never buy a knock-off rolex and rock that. I'm not rolex rich yet, but im not going to pretend to be.

[firelizard]

am I "not" supporting BBS by buying a USED set from a private dealer?

Magikarp uses Splash.

The existence of the rep companies is what hurts the originals. Not just their bottom line, but their image.
Sure, the kind of person who'd buy a "Rolex" off a street vendor would never have bought a real Rolex anyways. But if anybody can get a watch that looks like a Rolex, what's the point of Rolex?

I have two cheap watches, but neither are knockoffs. I have cheap graphic tees, but the graphics aren't a copy of another company's.

Yeah, it's absolutely about scruples. And that's the most important thing, in my opinion.

[1badg35]

I am going to attempt to keep my thought on this short. Automotive enthusiasm as a topic is the love of the craft imo. It is not just about the parts, but rather the potential that one sees on a project, and the lengths at which one goes to build a project. A build is just that, A BUILD. not slapping on a few parts and calling it a car.

With that said, fake or replica parts do very much hurt the industry. Pay to play is the only way around in this industry. Quality and reliability in a product is very important, and the companies that do not do the R&D do not only put out a garbage product, and hurt a real market which is full of people who are passionate about creating new products, pushing boundaries, and bringing ideas to a market to better the industry. In addition they also put people, and their projects at risk.

Fakes can fu*k off. strongly agree with this statement.

Buy a quality used product and put some time into refurbishment if there is a financial burden. the rewards are much greater then buying a pos product, slapping it on your car, and attempting to validate it on what you call a "build thread" on a forum full of enthusiasts

[M.Burroughs]

this is pretty much becoming a discussion on morals.

some people know where to find used wheels on classifieds, some don't.


am I "not" supporting BBS by buying a USED set from a private dealer?

You may not be supporting BBS, but someone did at one point. You're also not supporting the replica companies.

Point taken and I'm sure everyone who loves Automobiles and the direction the enthusiast scene is taking on all fronts would agree with you.

The problem with the fake wheels debacle is that it could rage on for years if not decades because of the current ecomonic climate and the authorities inability (worldwide) to prevent intellectual property from being cloned and distributed. So even though your voice is one which is heard and listened to on this forum and which ever ones you decided to preach to, it'll never be loud enough to be heard by and taken heed of by the people who really matter.

In this case, those folk would be students on seriously tight budgets and low-income individuals, who even though they would agree with you, are not in the position to compromise there ideal style purely on the premise that they're buying what is essentially stolen property.

You should be directing your attention to an audience who can make a difference. You should be shouting at the guys who are responsible for ensuring that the intellectual property of the forward-thinking design houses, who produce such awesome quality designs, are protected from the wheel cloning mafia. You have the platform and imo the persona to take this on to the next level.

You seem fairly passionate about this matter, I for one think you're the perfect candidate to take this forward.

Anyone else agree?

I appreciate the kind words, and this is certainly a subject I am extremely passionate about, but my words carry no more weight than anyone else's.

[nykwhy]

I wonder what BBS thinks about all this.

or any wheel company...

anyone care to disclose any knowledge from an inside opinion?

[Kielan]

I remember Rays making an announcement saying that they were pulling their wheels from anywhere that was also selling replica's over their wheels as well.

[firelizard]

Not wheel companies, but still very much relevant:

http://www.vertex-usa.com/no-knockoffs

http://www.hksusa.com/info/?id=3646

http://www.tein.com/counterfeit/

http://greddy-usa.blogspot.com/2009/03/counterfeit-type-rs-blow-off-valve.html

[jasonklee]

I remember Rays making an announcement saying that they were pulling their wheels from anywhere that was also selling replica's over their wheels as well.

[M.Burroughs]

http://www.tunersgroup.com/TunerWire_Live/AC_Schnitzer_Destroys_Counterfeit_Wheels.html

[nykwhy]

well we live in a capitalist economy, they are just trying to keep their dick in the water.

now in terms of 16th century English silk compared to Chinese silk.

REAL ____az will always know which is the better.


i feel that the $$$ in all of this is more of a social standard than anything else.

edit, im done in this thread. this goes alot deeper then "your rotas will break cuz dey copys son"

[M.Burroughs]

well we live in a capitalist economy, they are just trying to keep their dick in the water.

now in terms of 16th century English silk compared to Chinese silk.

REAL ____az will always know which is the better.


i feel that the $$$ in all of this is more of a social standard than anything else.

Stop it with the "____az" shit. Seriously. Last warning.