Some pix of the stuff that I took off my car, I'm gonna miss dearly...

 

I want those lug nuts.

 

I have them for sale

 

In light of yet another recent myg37.com "Look at my super cool knockoff wheels! They were cheaper than Volks! Tell me you like them!" thread recently, may I present this.

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Some guys (and companies) will never ever get it no matter what anyone says. The worst part of it is not that they're doing it the wrong way, but that they are screwing it up for the rest of us. There's precious few enough quality choices as it is for our cars and they are running companies away form the platform and out of business. When all the quality choices are gone and the knockoff crap is all that's left, they'll be the first to moan and groan about no cool innovative designs.

If

 

Amen.

Another appropriate addition:

 

I think yo got it wrong Bill. The cool flow chart you posted is for people who may not know how to tell the difference between TE37 and garbage or who may be fooled by fakes. Those faking the funk these days actually know they are buying fake wheels and intentionally buy them and are proud to tell others and have them on their car. There's not the stigma attached to being a knockoff buying poser that there used to be. They even try to convince you that they are made to similar standards of quality. After all, they look the same don't they? The logic used is astounding. I know your head is about to explode after reading the latest replay actually stating (and I think he was serious) that counterfeits actually help the industry, not hurt it. Probably a guy who would buy fake Christian Louboutin's or Hermes purses for his girlfriend and not feel the slightest bit bad about it.

 

Not a fan of blatant knock off parts either but let's not be silly and assume all authentic parts poop out rainbows.

 

So that we're completely clear, that's not my contention. I'm saying people who intentionally or knowingly support knockoffs are no different than the guy who buys your brand new flawless stolen OEM wheels and tires on Craigslist for $500. He didn't steal them himself did he? But he knows the guy selling them stole them form somebody because the tires alone cost twice that much. But he doesn't care about you or the fact that they were stolen. He just wants cool wheels no matter who has to suffer or take a loss. His actions show no integrity or moral turpitude.

Completely different than someone who buys something that they have no way of knowing is counterfeit. And in this instance I'm not debating the quality of the authentic parts, just the right of the owner to sell them without getting ripped off by scumbags stealing his work.

 

Totally agree Jeremy and I can't stand when people sport their knockoff's like they are the real thing. To further expound, I'm also not a fan of people who buy the reps and then contend they are just as good as the real thing. To go even further, I am not a fan of people buying reps KNOWING they are a compete ripoff of another wheel (I made this mistake a while back and I wasn't happy with myself so I sold them 3 months later). I also can't stand some of the justifications. Just admit you don't have money for the real thing (or are not comfortable spending that amount) and be done with it.

 

^ Agree with this ... people shouldn't be trash talking authentic just because they can't or don't want to afford it.

I'm not at all ashamed to say I bought some of my authentic parts second hand... However I would be ashamed if I bought knock off parts and tried to pass them off as the 'real deal'.

 

haha i guess you had to take it to another thread huh? I never said repicas were right nor wrong. Only that Sportline is a quality brand. I dont know if you are aware of different ways wheels are manufactured. Those "imitation" wheels are gravity cast. Making them weak and brittle. OEM wheels and wheels like vossens are low pressure cast. Sportlines are flow formed, which is the process forgestar uses. Lastly is fully forged, wheels like Volks, iForged, and BBS.

 

I can't afford some of the wheels I like. I either save up longer or buy a used set. I am not the least bit ashamed that my Volk GTC wheels and my Top Secret Aero parts had previous owners. But I feel 100% better buying used authentic parts than a set of knockoff R1 GTR-5 s or the AIT or 180 counterfeits.

 

Agreed 100%. I got mine second hand and i could not be happier. Im also on GT-Cs and i love those girls every time i see them.

 

IMO "quality brands" have never been, are not, and will never be brands that only produce replicas of other original designs, no matter how good you may feel the quality of them to be. When Sportline can sell wheels that are not blatant ripoffs of a wildly popular proven wheel model, you 'll have a lot easier time convincing me of their quality. If they are so great, why not simply bring this quality into the marketplace with something that's original and belongs to them and not ride the coattails of Volk? It's not hard to design a wheel. It's because they are new and an unknown quantity and they want to associate themselves with a renowned manufacturer by bringing an exact copy of their product (even down to the name) to confuse buyers or to cater to those who lust after Volk status and name value but can't afford it. The company and it's customers don't care that the are ripping off the company that they envy and that bothers me a lot. That clearly doesn't matter to you or anyone else who thinks knockoffs are cool but it does to me. And to some others.

Enjoy your wheels.

 

Noooo!!! I was counting on this thread staying to the point of showing authentic parts. Bill and Black Betty will be more than happy to talk very calmly to anyone wanting an educated, articulate conversation about Authentic vs. replica parts. There are also numerous other threads discussing this very topic.

Can we please bring it back to topic? BB you are a major advocate for threads remaining on topic and for those of you who have never had the privilege of speaking with Bill WPPJR30 regarding his passion for the JDM, you should definitely PM him regarding this. That or checkout his blog "JDMphasis"

Thanks guys!