True dat.... I remember ordering a Tanabe exhaust when the brand had just hit the states for my 95 Turbo Eclipse in 1995. Had to overnight it from Japon... It was a mere $1050 ...

 

Not to poke the bear more than it's already been poked, but why did no one get on this guys case for very clearly buying his authentic Volks to simply brag about it to others and not be content with his purchase of a quality product because someone else can get a visually similar looking product for a 1/4 the price. I mean if that's not snobbery/ elitist then I don't know what is.

Oh, and poke.

 

Lol. I got into a debate with someone over Facebook. They posted about the Rota article and I was like, "Ummm, aren't you on XXR?" He kept insisting that it's a different type a replica. That it is better quality somehow. I just kept saying but you're still support replicas and hurting the industry. The big name companies are the ones who test each wheel before they go ahead and release it. Then some cheap no-name company comes along and just steals a design. All his friends kept siding with him, saying not everyone can afford expensive wheels.

 

Well, that's true. 3-4k wheels isn't in everyone's budget nor does it make sense all of the time. The issue isn't whether or not you're buying replicas. We buy replicas all the time in one form or another. We go aftermarket instead of the dealership. We download free music and movies. We grab "lite" versions of games out of app stores. I mean, it is what it is. It forces companies to make their extra product WORTH it. The issue is buying a replica and trying to pass it off as the real thing. I have friends with rep wheels whose cars still look like a bowl of bad@$$. And they don't try to pass them off as anything other than what they are. Even if we're all at a show and they get asked, they tell the truth about it. That's honorable and respectable and they shouldn't be penalized because of their budget. However, those with the fake stickers quickly willing to lie about their products are the ones that are doing this for the wrong reasons. And THOSE are the people hurting the industry. Not companies who make replica designs of expensive wheels.

 

I laughed out loud when I read that article for the first time.

 

Jimmies have been rustled up in here...