Stance Rant

[Stephen]

it says hes online


ben incoming

[Oxer]

it says hes online


ben incoming

Cant get Missile lock, Switching to guns!

[Petis]

^ Ben has made his 'arguments' on this topic time and time again. There is no need to echo himself yet again, when everyone knows his feelings on the topic.

That being said... Sure there are a lot of bandwagoners out, but don't neglect new members because you think they are most-likely a bandwagoner. That mentality drives the scene down even more. Innovaters will come from anywhere and everywhere.

btw, I have a Miata on Diamond Racing wheels. (with stickers all over my finish panel... due to it cracking, me fixing it and painting it, and it still looking like piss. lol). Does that make me one of your so called 'bandwagoners?'



Not disagreeing at all with Sean though. I hold people to a higher standard as well. I am usually the first to say things like "lower more" or "get better wheels/fitment." I guess you can cal me an 'elitist' in that reguard. But I would call myself a 'stance snob' because I settle for nothing less than perfection.

[BreakMyWallet]

this thread is way overdue.

i would hope people could take the time and effort to build something they are proud of.

this whole "stance" scene is getting played as fuck because people are getting cheaper by the day.and the days of keeping a vehicle "clean" are over.

i appreciate what you have built, sean, and anyone else who takes the time to build something, and not buy it built.

[Jedidiah]

It's not really snobbery as much as it's morality.

Lets consider Volk, one of the most copied companies. They spend ridiculous amounts of money to R&D their wheel designs. They pay engineers and artists to design them, they test them for quality and durability. They put money into developing new manufacturing techniques. They do everything they can to produce a QUALITY wheel with interesting designs. Because of all these costs, the cost of their wheels are a bit higher. For your money you get a quality wheel though.

Now look at Rota. They spend very little money in the design phase as they simply STEAL the designs of other companies. They do little to no testing and cut corners left and right in the manufacturing process. Because they've stolen and produced lower quality products they can sell their wheels for cheaper and more people can buy them.

Because of this, the name of the original company is somewhat tarnished. Their wheel design is now related to the cheap wheels being produced and they lose their exclusivity. Buyers are tempted away by the cheaper products. This hurts the sales and income of the big name companies and only damages the work being done to improve the wheel industry.

Does a car on fake wheels still look alright? Sure. Will the wheels stand up to simple daily driving? Yah probably. Is it right to support a company that steals from others? No, not in my opinion. It's only the legit wheel companies that are doing anything to move the wheel industry forward and I'd support them any day over companies that thrive by stealing and cutting corners. I'd much rather wait a few extra months to afford real wheels and support the legit companies.

Quoted for Truth. The issue isn't price, looks or style when it comes to the products we support. The issue comes down to originality and innovation. Andrew summed it up impeccably so I'm not going to re-hash, but this is all about supporting companies that take the time to originate and innovate. If the minority of us are doing this while the majority is supporting the companies that don't, then we will have no one to blame but ourselves when quality part companies cease to exist. No, they aren't going away tomorrow, but we as influencers, dictate the direction of a market. Companies build products around what the market dictates. There is a reason why there are more "replica" wheel companies then ever before. Simple Macro economics in effect. Your buying decision carries more weight then you consider... choose wisely.



I don't know that I have any "wisdom" to add as I'm just one opinion. As a whole, I agree with Sean. The way to change mindsets is both through your own actions and how you communicate with those who think differently. We can throw around intense speech about the dislike of something, but that only solidifies the mindsets of those who think it. Imagine instead if we positively "encouraged" each other to think differently and be open minded. People would then welcome the idea of considering different approaches.

As a example, and not to get political, but what happens when someone states they are a Republican and openly engages in conversation with a stated Democrat? 9 out of 10 times it turns ugly quick. That's because we have created a stereotype for each that are completely polarizing. Now take the same two people and instead of starting the conversation stating your party affiliation, you talk about crime, healthcare, the deficit... real issues. All of a sudden people are willing to have a conversation. We choose to listen to the other person's thoughts and opinions because the conversation hasn't been started with pre-conceived notions of what the other person thinks, before they even say it.

That might be a terrible example, but the point is that we need to neutralize the way in which we communicate with one another. Only then can meaningful conversation and change occur. You don't like the term "*****?" Then quit throwing around strong language and devisive speech. Encourage and be kind to one another and you will be shocked at how well your thoughts and opinions are received.

Finally, if you don't like the way things are going, then make the effort to change it. Take the time to reach out to people and help them with their buying decisions. Help the noobs who don't know the difference, choose original wheels vs replicas. Take some initative instead of complaining about how things are going to hell in a hand-basket. We can be different from every other car movement out there if we choose to think differently and go against the grain. It's already in our DNA.. just look at the cars we build?

You can choose to look at this as our community going down the drain, or an opportunity to help change things for the better. I choose the latter...hope you all will choose the same.

Ben

[Oxer]

/thread.

[610EURO]

been on nearly all morning and cant believe i missed this.

i couldnt agree with the first post more. i have been thinking and noticing the same exact shit on here since i joined. but i cant say anything like that because peoples butts are so fragile they follow and report my every post.

[NegativeCamber]

/thread.

[Sceanzo]

Hey guys,

First post.


I can understand where OP is coming from. But I feel there is no reason to get out of shape about it. You keep doing you, don't worry about what people are around you are doing. Yes, I saw you say it hurts the OGs and puts them all in the same grouping with guys who have shit wheels or suspension. Fact of the matter is, to the general public, any import they see they think we like "the fast and the furious" (run on). Or any slammed car with wheels is just a kid with a car habit.


This was the same rant I read around 8 years ago when "JDM" started popping off. People were complaining about buying fake or rep parts blah blah blah. So what, fuck it. If you have real ones then YOU are winning. The general public won't know the difference, but guys like you or me, will give props to the guy that has REAL volks or REAL mugen parts.

The beauty of stickers are in the eye of the beholder. I like things with stickers on them if they are properly or interestingly placed.


The "band wagoners" will be gone soon. Until then suck it up, and keep stuntin'.

It even says on it on the sticker. Low is a Lifestyle.

[aar0n.]

I can't wait till the fad part of this passes. For 99% of people this is the new fad, and its diluted the scene. I keep hearing people bitching about not having enough money for real wheels, then they spend $1K on reps. You could have got some real wheels and put some elbow grease into them for that much money. You just got to know what the fuck your doing.

Its part of the reason why I'm on the forums a lot less. It was cool when we had less than 1K members and all the cars (or most) were quality. Now its a bunch of "yo check my miata/civic/etc on sport max's" and shit like that. Fuck that garbage.

Applause .gif applies to you as well

Again for pg 3 haha



edit: oh snap, 700 posts

[SeanDub]

Hey guys,

This was the same rant I read around 8 years ago when "JDM" started popping off. People were complaining about buying fake or rep parts blah blah blah. .

Yea I remember this as well, and look at the Honda scene now. Fucked.

[Sceanzo]

Yea I remember this as well, and look at the Honda scene now. Fucked.

Every scene or style is going to have their members that look like shit.

I attended import alliance this year in tennessee. That trip alone let me know there are still enthusiaist (sp?) in every aspect of automotive that are on their grind and building awesome looking and performing cars, no matter what is the general consensus (sp?) of their scene or style is.


Your BMW is gorgeous Sean. I encourage you to not let this kind of nonsense get you down about your particular hobby. Just keep doing what you are doing, its working.

[Jedidiah]

Every scene or style is going to have their members that look like shit.

I attended import alliance this year in tennessee. That trip alone let me know there are still enthusiaist (sp?) in every aspect of automotive that are on their grind and building awesome looking and performing cars, no matter what is the general consensus (sp?) of their scene or style is.


Your BMW is gorgeous Sean. I encourage you to not let this kind of nonsense get you down about your particular hobby. Just keep doing what you are doing, its working.

2 posts and I like you already.

[Kielan]

Yea I remember this as well, and look at the Honda scene now. Fucked.

The problem is especially with this there are guys out there who are trying to make it better, look at Team SunWorks for example, some of the best looking Honda's, hell best looking cars out there, but for every 1 of those guys there are 653 people with stupid modifications, and cheap fake everything that ruin the scene.

Every scene or style is going to have their members that look like shit.

I attended import alliance this year in tennessee. That trip alone let me know there are still enthusiaist (sp?) in every aspect of automotive that are on their grind and building awesome looking and performing cars, no matter what is the general consensus (sp?) of their scene or style is.


Your BMW is gorgeous Sean. I encourage you to not let this kind of nonsense get you down about your particular hobby. Just keep doing what you are doing, its working.

You sir belong here.

2 posts and I like you already.

This.

[SeanDub]

Your BMW is gorgeous Sean. I encourage you to not let this kind of nonsense get you down about your particular hobby. Just keep doing what you are doing, its working.

Thank you man, I appreciate it. I fully intend to keep on truckin, it just discourages the forum aspect of the scene.

It's people like you who restore my faith in the scene man, glad to have you here.