When did wheels get so expensive?
 

I am a 43 year old guy that has finally been able to afford a Z. Back in my younger days I drove nothing but hot rods. In the last 15 years since I have been married I had sort of gotten out of the sport car market. When I got my Z, I started pricing wheels. You are talking about $2000 for a set of nice wheels. For $2000 I can get a very nice 50" HD ready TV, You could get a pretty nice riding lawn mower. I dont see where a set of chrome rims are worth $2000. There has to be some high mark ups. Thats my opinion.

I agree.. when the import tuning this first came about, a set of Konigs used to run around $1000 for 18" rims. Now, they probably costs close to twice that. What the hell!

yup, it does seem more expensive than a few years ago....

That's because wheels today are made from unobtanium instead of aluminum. ;)

No seriously, back in "the old days," wheel weight wasn't so much of an issue, now some of the most popular wheels are also very light -- and big. I remember when I got the SpecV in 2002, people were commenting about "how big" 17" wheels were. Now three years later, 17" are considered "small" -- almost tiny. Look at what has happened to the Z wheels as well -- 2003, 17" and 18" -- 2006, 18" and 19".

(Congrats on finally getting a Z -- I'm in basically the same boat, 40+ finally getting their dream car after wanting one for 30+ years)

I don't know why, but I didn't relate it like that (usually I do). I didn't like the 17's that came with the car, though they aren't terrible. I try not to think about what they cost, and kinda lump it in with the cost of the car. My base cost me $33K. Better to think of it that way.

$2000 is consider cheap for a set of wheel nowadays.

Wake up and drive old man...

I don't know, I have always had a formula to spend about 10-15% of the total vehicle cost on a set of rims. Do that, and the wheels stay in the right range for the car.

Capitalism at its best.

Wheels are such a huge part of how the car performs.......I cheaped out and bought a really bad set of wheels the first time around, now with a quality set its like driving a new car. Sure they cost and arm and a leg but in the long run I will enjoy my ride far more.

2 years ago I spent 3k on wheels and looking at spending more than that this time around. Yes they are expensive.

Forged sports wheels from Japan do not even come close to prices of Draglites.

Plus don't get chrome or cheap Konigs for your car :( Just my opinion.

Volks/Rays seem cheap compared to what the dealer asks for a cast OEM 18" wheel.

Yeah, I really want some TE/LE or Advans.. but everytime I have an unallocated 3K laying around, other priorities snatch it up.. :( Its a lot of dough..

I dont know where you shop but $2000 is not cheap for anything...wheels, or anything else for that matter.

A set of Konigs is still well under $1000....even in 19 inch :)

For many out there, they have no need for a riding mower, and since modding your car is as much a form of self expression as anything else, it's $2k well spent.

I mean, lots of people drop $10k, $20k on a watch; others spend $1M for a house here on LI when they could literally buy the same house in Virginia or PA for $450k - it's all relative.

the BuddyClub P 1 Racing II Plus wheels look real nice, fairly light wieght, and are very strong for cast wheels

I paid 400-500 (i forgot) for them from a guy, brand new in the box

That f'in rocks that you've wanted a Z for 30 yrs and now you have one. That kicks @ss!

yea rims are dough. these days rims are made with top notch material and the sizes that go on the z are exactly financially friendly. i remember when i had my civic si i bought a set of 16 inch white volk TE's and with tires it only cost me around $1000. now im lookin at LMGT4's and im lookin at about 2500-3000 for rims on the z

yeah, you are banned.

LOL i said the same thing, I really need a TV haha

Really just depends on what you want. You can get cast wheels for your Z for about 1500.00 with tires. Do a search on ebay. OR you can spring for some forged wheels. My last set without tires was 2800.00 my new set without tires are 4200.00 It just depends on what you want.