primax nailing the vip wheel????

wat do you all think..
[img]http://www.powerzamcam.com/images/sema3/90.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fabulous.co.jp/products/wheel/profound/images/img_main_profound.jpg[/img]
kinda sad..but it looks like were going to be seeing alot more vip "style" wheels...like when the konig monsoon came out and killed it for the volk av3. its coming..so beware of what you're buying. not saying they are bad, but primax took over the drifters with the 002 panasport style wheel..now vip...is it going to be as accepted as well as it is with the drifters and the 002??
[img]http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/704000-704999/704461_24_full.jpg[/img]

where's the guy who posted the question if rota would ever start making vip wheels...here the closest answer for now.
[url]http://vipstylecars.com/forum/index.php?topic=3977.30[/url]

Bitters.
Need to be Regulated. :knuppel2:

you can tell they are cheap by looking at them. i bet theyll be popping up on scion's like crazy, as theyre a cheap route to VIPstyle IMO. 

and i just need to let out how much i hate bolt on fender flares. that looks like shiiit.

This is badd...

People are gonna be like oooh.
Look my Car is Vip. i Have Wheels that look like Fabulous Wheels.
i have Vip Wanna-Be wheels on.
Am i VIP?
 :-\


We had that one post.
Its all about the Real Deal.
not that fake s***.
Cause thats not the Vip Route.
We like the Authentic Shit.

WOW..I am very suprised to see this...personally I would still go with the 2 or 3 piece fabulous..alot lighter stronger and
well the finish is better.. and of course fabulous are "VIP"........wheels.................This will be the new tickle me elmo for the civics and scion guys....
the ones that dont do or didnt do thier homwork like me before jumping into some new shoes.........

honestly, I like 'em. They're like a mix of Fab Profound and Euro FS

[quote=firelizard ]
honestly, I like 'em. They're like a mix of Fab Profound and Euro FS
[/quote]
Yeah but I bet you cant get them in crazy or custom off sets...so you will be running what they 
want you to run and now what you want...maybe I am wrong and they are two piece wheels that are custom offsets I dunno, but from my past 
expierence those wheels have been generic wheels and the quality of the aluminum was horrible..They tarnish very fast so those mix of fabs and Euro Fs will
be destroyed in a matter if a couple of missed car washes or armoral getting on the lips...like I said maybe they have made a big
improvement and we will all see in time...

It was just a matter of time. :'(

they can think they are cool, but lets just not accept them? anybody with fake wheels should be social outcasts in the vip community.

[quote=jonja ]
they can think they are cool, but lets just not accept them? anybody with fake wheels should be social outcasts in the vip community.
[/quote]
Agreed
 :coolsmiley:

I have to hand it to sportmax for providing copies of popular style wheels in aggressive offsets. 

There are many people who just want the look and don't care about the quality or fit and finish. The are just happy that it's cheap.  

^ I do admit the quality and finish look much better compared to all the rest of the replicas out there. 





But I am never getting any type of crap like that, and I will do anything in my power to stop others as well.


Stop the copy!! :knuppel2:

Ive seen imitation/fake/replica/knockoff wheels accepted in everyother car community except VIP. I hope it stays that way. IMHO and im sure almost everyone on here believes you cannot have a true vip car with cheap knockoff wheels. Maybe other small things, but not wheels. ;) 8)

[quote=nizzan4u2nv ]
Ive seen imitation/fake/replica/knockoff wheels accepted in everyother car community except VIP. I hope it stays that way. IMHO and im sure almost everyone on here believes you cannot have a true vip car with cheap knockoff wheels. Maybe other small things, but not wheels. ;) 8)
[/quote]

Well, coming from the drift/240 scene, I can affirm that this is PARTIALLY true. Take Zilvia.net for example, 75% of the people on there thought FN's are the hottest shit ever to grace an S chassis a year ago. Now, that same poor, broke ass crowd with used Tein coilovers, a knockoff bodykit, and aspirations of a red top in their 90 SOHC S13 w/ 4 different paint colors aspires to attain the new hot shit... Sportmax wheels hell yes!

But in the end who really cares? There are the actual trend setters (who rocked FN's as spares 4 years ago or something) who will just sit back and deal with all the lame kids running out to buy a beat ass car to be drifter cool. So while your comment is true that knockoff wheels have been accepted in other communities, you really need to think which parts of those communities have accepted them. It's always going to be the poor ass poser rocking the same played out shit.

What "community" are you guys talking about? Who regulates "acceptance"? Besides, what do "major props" from the "real heads" mean anyway? ;D 

personally to me, the style will be there, but the quality never will be

[quote=gmckey ]
Well, coming from the drift/240 scene, I can affirm that this is PARTIALLY true. Take Zilvia.net for example, 75% of the people on there thought FN's are the hottest s*** ever to grace an S chassis a year ago. Now, that same poor, broke ass crowd with used Tein coilovers, a knockoff bodykit, and aspirations of a red top in their 90 SOHC S13 w/ 4 different paint colors aspires to attain the new hot s***... Sportmax wheels hell yes!

But in the end who really cares? There are the actual trend setters (who rocked FN's as spares 4 years ago or something) who will just sit back and deal with all the lame kids running out to buy a beat ass car to be drifter cool. So while your comment is true that knockoff wheels have been accepted in other communities, you really need to think which parts of those communities have accepted them. It's always going to be the poor ass poser rocking the same played out s***.
[/quote]

i remember way back in 03 buying my FN's for my s14 when it cost me only $450!!!!!! 17x8+30 bronze, then to 17x9+15 17x10+12 matte black. on cwest aero... shit those were the days LOL. 

to this day, i still have to admit i am lookin at my budget and the wheels i can compromise with. def not fakes though.

they look ok but you would never see them on my ride.

I don't think FN's are knockoffs, but they are REALLY played out. I'd get tehm as spares if they were cheap, but i don't get how people can support fake wheels. its piracy. music is one thing, because they don't actually make much of their money on actual CD sales beleive it or not. (my family used to be in the record business) but wheels, ahh...its just low. i wonder if the people who buy these cheap wheels ever wonder why you can buy 15 year old "old school" wheels in fairly good condition, but rarely see a set of these cheap wheels without any rust or deterioration after only a few years.

my friend has this great bumper sticker that says "I *heart* your fake wheels!"

[quote=gmckey ]
Well, coming from the drift/240 scene, I can affirm that this is PARTIALLY true. Take Zilvia.net for example, 75% of the people on there thought FN's are the hottest s*** ever to grace an S chassis a year ago. Now, that same poor, broke ass crowd with used Tein coilovers, a knockoff bodykit, and aspirations of a red top in their 90 SOHC S13 w/ 4 different paint colors aspires to attain the new hot s***... Sportmax wheels hell yes!

But in the end who really cares? There are the actual trend setters (who rocked FN's as spares 4 years ago or something) who will just sit back and deal with all the lame kids running out to buy a beat ass car to be drifter cool. So while your comment is true that knockoff wheels have been accepted in other communities, you really need to think which parts of those communities have accepted them. It's always going to be the poor ass poser rocking the same played out s***.
[/quote]

That's some funny ish right there! :) I can totally relate- I showed my 18" Avus AF-501s on the MR2 board a while back- there were some haters (my car is the first-gen MR2) "oh, those are too big, to aggressive..." (They are 18x8 +28 and 18x9 +38 with a 3.5" lip on the rear). I have more in my [i]wheels and tires[/i] than most of these guys have in their entire rusty MR2s. Frankly, my forged three-piece wheels are lighter than the cast 16" crap these guys are using anyway...

Don't even get me started on the broke-ass Club 4AG guys... bunch of punk 19 year olds with visions of "20v BlackTop" grandeur in their heads. Hope Christmas is good to you, fellas. Get a job!

We set the trends... we don't follow them.

we all knew it was coming to bad it came this soon... :(

No point in talking about how gay fake rims are...as long as we true enthsiasts keep the hope alive, I'm sure we can influence others that the real thing is the way to go.

I'm glad the majority crowd on this forum is into the real thing.

lol at the fake veilside sakura blossom vinyl except they couldnt figure out how to make the flower so they just put an explosion thing

[quote=chmercer ]
lol at the fake veilside sakura blossom vinyl except they couldnt figure out how to make the flower so they just put an explosion thing
[/quote]

LOL. i noticed that too ;D

Looks like Primax completely missed the nail, and actually smashed their thumb.

Well my opinions differ..

Before I was part of this community, I was a member of planetminis; a pitbike forum..They used to all hate the "KNOCKOFFS" due to it being made cheap, inferior quality, etc., etc., etc...You used to have all this hardcore pitbke racers saying hondas the best yada, yada, yada..There is no replacement for honda power, japan built power..They would brag about having 10 grand into thier bikes and look what I got. It cost this much..

Well a year or 2 later, these "chinese/knockoffs" that cost 1/4 the price of the "quaility japan name brand" are spanking or even keeping up with the name brand ones. Some of these "hardcore honda boys" even jumped the bandwagon or even used some or most of these "knockoff parts" on their bikes...Actuall , people now even modify these "inferior quality" bikes into real monsters..

My point is, rock what the hell you want..Do your reasearch and see.. Don't just "TALK" just to jump on the band wagon..I have a "knock off" body kit..I have seen the quality of other kits and all I can say that this particular kit that I have is the same quality of the Japan kits that I have seen.. And yes, I too run "knock off wheels"...Sterns to be specific..

 I buy what I CAN AFFORD..Do I regret.. No.. Do I consider my "wagon" vip styled?? No. I just decided to buld something that is different from every others ride in my area....I even ordered everything before I found this site or even knew about VIP/VIPstyle..I didn't even know that there was a VIP protocol/police...

Think what you want..Love me or hate me...

And for the others that talk and don't even own a car....... :uglystupid2:...

LIke it or not, knockoff VIP/VIPstyle will soon flood the market and all you guys will do is JUDGE people by what they have..No need for all the HATE and ANIMOSITY..So long the look is RIGHT and done TASTEFULLY, it would work..We are all here for a reason..WE ALL enjoy custom automobiles and have respect for those whe paved the way for us..No need to diss someone becasue they don't have what you have..Let them rock what they want..No need to make a big thing out of it.. 


PEACE and have a nice day...

i dont care if somthing is knockoff or not. but. thoes sport max are ugly. the fabulous are not. if you are down with running ugly wheels, then, whatever. haha

remember when KONIG MONSOONS HIT?
and volk av3's turned to shit..
and that was it.. down hill spiral..

lol then came the fakes..
ADR bitting off blitz wheels...

then came ROTA...
first it was the RH CP035 knock off's..
then it was the spoon sw388's..
then it was rim after rim..
and ASA biting BBS..

there will always be a customer base for crap wheels
and there will be always a customer base for quality wheels.

u can look at that blue xb all u want.. those wheels are gross..
weather they have 3" or 5".. those wheels are nasty..

If they were genuine Fabulous you guys would probably like 'em I bet.

I say NO to Knockoff Wheels!

i dont get why people rock knock-off's espcially when your driving a luxry car? It just to show how cheap you are and cut corners. I mean you can afford a $30,000 + car and can't even afford to buy some $5000 rims when you have $30k car. I'd rather pay quality and assurance that I get my money worth when comes to car parts. I look at this way when you ever fix up your think about this "FUNCTION OVER FASHION" . That's the way how I always see things.

[quote=firelizard ]
If they were genuine Fabulous you guys would probably like 'em I bet.
[/quote]

If the pictures were to show Fabulous rims, I would've liked the Fabulous rims (most likely, depends on what they chose)

the xB? I still wouldn't like it, don't know what you're talking about.

[quote=firelizard ]
If they were genuine Fabulous you guys would probably like 'em I bet.
[/quote]

Ah... the old "brand-whore" insult ..lol 

[quote=most_faded ]
i dont get why people rock knock-off's espcially when your driving a luxry car?  It just to show how cheap you are and cut corners.  I mean you can afford a $30,000 + car and can't even afford to buy some $5000 rims when you have $30k car.  I'd rather pay quality and assurance that I get my money worth when comes to car parts.  I look at this way when you ever fix up your think about this "FUNCTION OVER FASHION" . That's the way how I always see things.
[/quote]

so true why put crap on a 30,000 dollar car you already paid good money for it why not spend a little more for some nice wheels... ???

Well, as I was looking at how ugly my steelies were, it occured to me I had the perfect use for cheap wheels: stylish-er winter rollers. I wouldn't feel bad rockin' the Sportmax Whatevers in winter instead of steelies or ruining nice rims.

so these wheels sportmax or primax..or...are they the same company???? I have not 
been able to find out nathen about these wheels. Rereading the thread and I agree when it 
come down to a $30k + car..needs some nice VIP wheels....but you see this is why have said about
staying true to the style at all costs however more and more you people are welcoming 
non VIp platform cars and saying they are VIP inspired or styled..these cars are usually cheaper priced cars right...
so based of the above statemen how can you justify spending $5k for wheels on a $15k-$18K car.... :idiot2: if you ask me.

THis is what happens when we start accepting non VIP cars and just call them INspired or styled it lowers the
value as they do their modding acoriding to thier car and budget......as a business owner I give them props they have
found a target market that do not care what I or anyother people have to say and will see these wheels and druel..
NOw many of you may have been read my post and though I am not from JApan and am still new to the whole VIP scene..
I hope now U understand why I say whay I say..I other cultures modding to the fullest and if I am going to follow a stlye well 
then I am going to fallow the sytle verbatem . This ensures a true VIP car or true Lowrider or Dub or 4X4 or what ever...

The wheels arnt bad looking whats bad is that they are most likely are not made with quality in mind they probably are not high grade aluminum and 
they arnt 2-3 piece constuction which all these takes away from a true VIP wheel..So in reality when you are at a car show and you are parked 
next to a car with real VIP parts your s*** will look so PEPBOYS it wont even be funny......

[quote=firelizard ]
Well, as I was looking at how ugly my steelies were, it occured to me I had the perfect use for cheap wheels: stylish-er winter rollers. I wouldn't feel bad rockin' the Sportmax Whatevers in winter instead of steelies or ruining nice rims.
[/quote]

i agree.. i wouldn't mind some knock off's as my stocks.. u know? better than my stock stocks!
lol..

but in regards to.. what if a name brand like fabulous made it.. 
naww.. i dont care what brand is what.. if i dont like it.. it can be fab, jp, or work..
don't matter.. like i prefer rezax over vs-xx.. 
i dont dink gt-u... i prefer sf winning..
i dont like scara.. i like andrew dish better..
thats just my view.. and id ont care what brand is what...

axis has some alright looking knock off's.
so does LUFF and R1

Ya know what makes me mad is that someone like that could actually win a show with replica wheels.

For example here in houston best jdm aftermarket civic (i dunno if that was the actuall catagory) 2nd place went to a car with Rotas.

If you like the primax wheel, you don't actually like the knockoff. you are liking the original fabulous design, but giving credit to the imposter. if they made their own design i woudl have no problem with it. it would just be an affordable VIPish wheel. but they copied. they copied the people who make this scene what it is.

[quote=J Stuff ]
Ya know what makes me mad is that someone like that could actually win a show with replica wheels.

For example here in houston best jdm aftermarket civic (i dunno if that was the actuall catagory) 2nd place went to a car with Rotas.
[/quote]

This is the problem. The average joe doesn't know a quality wheel from a knockoff. Nor do they care.

An enthusiast will recognize a quality wheel so make your choice.

I don't by any mean wish to wage a war hear, but according to some people (which i completely agree with) that if you can afford a 30+k car to go into a style that requires the same budget, to cheap out on wheels is completely wrong and shows how fake you personally are. but, for the ratio you provided (30-5) as far as car to wheels, I would be spending 500 on my wheels. Now it is an S-chassis, which I know will never be VIP, but I like the qualities that are shown by VIP cars and enthusiasts. Big, Baller and Comfortable w/ lots of amenities. I have never been for fake wheels, but I actually like these, would I be cruicified for having these on an S-chassis? (start the hating...)

I couldn't hold anything against you stylistically, I think single curve between spokes as opposed to the soft angles of the Profound make a difference that distinguish the two but they both look good.

I actually don't see why people are so riled up about this model of wheel being similar to the Fab Profound when the DH and Vienna Dish and Wald Duchalet EX all look the same. Primax isn't retailing this wheel as a Fab or Fab replica wheel, it could be a lot worse. Is the Euroline FS a Profound knockoff too?

Anyways, cheap wheels (not referring to replicas/knockoffs) [i]do[/i] have their place, it just isn't on a Vip car. The quality isn't there, the brand power isn't there, usually the size customization is often absent too.

However, if you were aiming to build a car that Vip guys would appreciate, you'd have to spring for the FS or the Profound. 
If you just want some nice looking wheels but can't/don't want to spend more than $2,000 on wheels, you could rock the Primaxes, it's not like they'll explode, and they are nice looking thanks to the inspiration.

Just personal opinion, if I were in your position, I would save up for the good ones, since I'll only get 1 set of wheels, I might as well get the good ones, they're not disposable after all. This is just my philosophy.

I wouldn't hesitate to pick up something cheap like Rotas or Primaxes as road trip, racing, or winter wheels though, since they'd get beat on anyways.

i definately respect ur wonderful outlook on life firelizard ;D i will eventually upgrade, i jus want/need something to satify my hatrid of OEM wheels, but these dont seem to be available to the public yet, or are extremely hard to find, i wouldn't mind seein atleast a price, but size and offset listing would be nice too

[quote=firelizard ]
I wouldn't hesitate to pick up something cheap like Rotas or Primaxes as road trip, racing, or winter wheels though, since they'd get beat on anyways.
[/quote]

Here's a thought though: why not just get wheels you really want (which, in most cases, probably are not cheapy doo dong wheels), and just beat on them, too? There's nothing stopping you from doing so... and if you ruin them, you have no one else to blame but yourself, and just chalk it up to experience and get replacements. It's sorta like having the money to buy a Ferrari, but never driving it even semi-hard just because you're scared you'll break something if you revved over 7000rpm. That's not the right way to enjoy life (and the Ferrari)!! Of course, it all boils down to $$$... so you get what you can afford, and enjoy it to its max, whether it be an F430, or something 1/10th the cost

road trip and autocross maybe not so bad, but have you see our streets in winter? Or worse, spring? Imagine the surface of the moon, covered in a salty, sandy slurpee.
I'd rather keep the wheels I worked hard for, for summer where they can stay nice and I can enjoy them for years to come, nobody leaves their good rims on in winter here, for a good reason.

[quote=One Ton VIP ]
Here's a thought though: why not just get wheels you really want (which, in most cases, probably are not cheapy doo dong wheels), and just beat on them, too? There's nothing stopping you from doing so... and if you ruin them, you have no one else to blame but yourself, and just chalk it up to experience and get replacements. It's sorta like having the money to buy a Ferrari, but never driving it even semi-hard just because you're scared you'll break something if you revved over 7000rpm. That's not the right way to enjoy life (and the Ferrari)!! Of course, it all boils down to $$$... so you get what you can afford, and enjoy it to its max, whether it be an F430, or something 1/10th the cost
[/quote]

Well said and I totally agree!! 8)

It's just like owning a Rolex, you bought the really thing because you like it. 

So what are the reasons you think why a person would buy a fake Rolex?

ever heard of the phrase:
fake the funk....

hahahhaa!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D 

fake rolex would be like trying HARD to show people that..
hey i can roll a rolex.. just like those budget ass wheels..
i dunno if they're replica of something or not, but like oneton says..
if money wasn't an object.. FOR SURE that wouldn't be the brand of champions..
lol sportmax.. lol oh god.. thats as bad as how magnaflo and dynomax is now a
TUNING brand which is rating next to greddy, tanabe, hks, and blitz.. lol....

i dont think they decited to go through with producing these anymore... i cant find them on their webpage at all.

They just dont update their site ever.   They do go through with it and it's called the SportMax 504.   Every wannabe VIP Scion owner is rocking them.  Dont get me wrong, I like the looks, Im just not a fan of the Sportmax quality and the amount of people that will be rocking these.   Guess that seperates everyone though from the dedicated, and the not!

scotty

just a side note
The sportmax are only accepted by the people that cant afford the real wheels. I hate on tehm every chance possible. horrible wheels

Eh I dont like to hate on them a lot.   I mean, I understand that people have budgets (I sure as hell do) and that getting a set of upper end wheels, even used, cant be done sometimes.   (700 shipped for a set of new Sportmax 504s is decent).    I only hate on the people that try gettin 700 wheels and say theyre VIP.

scotty

i hate on all sportmax

there are plenty of other wheels i can get for htat price 
hell even FNs are betterq

Saw these at autobacs about a month ago, they really look generic. Id consider them for some beaters but the sizing sucks.

[QUOTE=jstyle;32135]It was just a matter of time. :'([/QUOTE]

exactly  .. I also think it was just a matter of time until a cheap company knock'd-off a VIP wheel ... and so sad that its the fabulous wheel :'(
I believe the true VIP enthusiest will completly regect all the knock-off's and stay true to the VIP scene !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
support 
support
support
someone should send primax this thread and show them that the VIP enthusiest are not going to support this BS ...

You think thatll matter jack-shit?   Sorry but wake up.   I know of at least 5 xBs that got them within the first 2 weeks of release.   The people doing VIP wouldnt do these, but that doesnt matter since the wannabe VIP people who have no clue about the culture will be.   I hate to say it, but theres more wannabes than actually legit followers.     I think it's really idealistic that someone multimillion dollar company would discontinue a wheel based on a 3-page thread on some VIP site.   Theyll make enough to cover the price of the wheels in a month.    I dont think they care what we say honestly.

scotty

i agree ^  no company is gonna stop producing rims that are so popular..in all seriousness I do like sportmax wheels to some extent but just b/c they are cheap and they style is so-so.  I know for a fact that they are a cheapie type of rim but for most out there it is a great bang-for-the-buck.  hell in our family garage we got volk le37's on our g35 but soon im probably gonna be running some sportmax's on my xb.  i dont care what people think of the rims cuz soon enough when i feel like dropping couple grand again for rims i will, but till then these sportmax's will do.

I actually got to meet the guys that own and design the wheels over at Primaxx the parent company of Sportmaxx, and they are cool guys and all even if I don't particularly think they make a viable wheel for the VIP world. I do know for a fact that the actual quality of these wheels aren't as bad as most people would have you believe, they are the OEM wheel manufacturers overseas for a few car manufacturers, and they actually do have very rigorous quality control protocols. Now I know that for a VIP wheel they wouldn't, and yes I agree also shouldn't, be considered seriously. But if you are looking for wheels for your honda, nissan, toyota, or whatever then go ahead but do so knowing it is not a real wheel and that for true recognition from ENTHUSIASTS, you will need to pony up the bucks needed for real wheels. don't ever worry about what the rest of the industry is doing, worry about what you are doing to put the industry to rest. hahahahahahaha FTW! "If it isn't real, it isn't real!"

Imo I think there's a place for everything out there. What's makes a guy a true vip? I hear a lot about true vip and fake vip? Vip is vip for that person the person building their car. Whatever fits in there budget. Why do you have to have 30plus to buy a car another 30k in build and wheels to consider it vip? Do I think its dumb to have a new lexus on sportmaxx oh hell yeah!!! But if got a scion or an old lexus and  /or infinity why not rock the fake ones?? Doesn't make sense to my you'd spend as much on wheels or sometimes more than you did on car? Same can be said about a scion and rocking works, jp's, or fab wheels just doesn't make sense to me. I know I kmow all you scion guys are gonna hate that one but bottomline is that a budget car and I gaurantee you had to save up for every little thing you did to make your rides vip? Don't hate cuz they are trying to make an affordable wheel for people on a budget to buy, hate on the people that think cuz they have money that makes whatever they do right! Where do I personally fit in this rant =0 is I have sportmaxx 962 on my daily driven s13and I have works vs's on a another s13, and ssr's for my q45. its a matter what fits the bill

No matter what you can't ball on a budget. that's like saying your a poor rich guy, it just doesn't make sense. The closest thing I can see happening is you can buy used stuff but even then you will be paying for these items at a much higher rate than any knockoffs and no name brands. execution is everything but quality is just as important.

[QUOTE=hamads;46045]i agree ^  no company is gonna stop producing rims that are so popular..in all seriousness I do like sportmax wheels to some extent but just b/c they are cheap and they style is so-so.  I know for a fact that they are a cheapie type of rim but for most out there it is a great bang-for-the-buck.  hell in our family garage we got volk le37's on our g35 but soon im probably gonna be running some sportmax's on my xb.  i dont care what people think of the rims cuz soon enough when i feel like dropping couple grand again for rims i will, but till then these sportmax's will do.[/QUOTE]

I disagree with your plan. 
I am totally broke, but I'm taking the time to shop, save money, and plan my budget to do it right the first time. No point in just settling for something inferior, then replacing it later.

Im gonna go with Hamads on this.   I would have a nice xB with decent rims and mods, than a stock xB in HOPES of getting something great later.    You can still always upgrade later!

Problem numero uno: there are LOTS of unscrupulous people in socal (yes, it usually is almost always socal) who only care about making the quick buck, and are all about having poorer-quality knockoff replicas made of almost anything that is trendy. They're "smart"... because that's good business; give the masses what they want. But they're not smart, in that they don't think long term. They make the quick buck, but then ultimately hurt their own market in the long run. It's like if your ONLY skill in life was to make knockoff paintings of an existing, live artist's works to undercut him and make a couple hundred a pop instead of, say, 100x that... and then no one buys his paintings anymore, and he feels disillusioned and stops painting completely, and you end up having nothing to copy anymore. Uh oh... now you wish you didn't put him out of business...and you better hope you can paint something original that people will actually want! Things will hardly get that drastic in this industry, but as far as wheels are concerned, note that over the last few years a lot of big players worldwide have been hurtin' bad...and slowly disappearing. I just laugh at those people with questionable morals, cuz in all honesty, yes, they are "smart," but a lot of them aren't even smart enough to be millionaires. Just like backstabbers in the business/corporate world...if you're going to do business in that fashion, you REALLY better be a big baller already...and if you're not, that's actually sorta sad. No morals, AND nothing to show for it...well, except for a car with a hell of a lot of knockoff parts on it. Yaaaay!
Oh socal, how we love you and your car denizens.