Authentic vs. Replicated Parts

so what do you people think? i'm curious to know since there are companies who make replicas of parts, mostly of body kits. i've seen replicated kits from japan that are of very high quality.

Alex

I think high quality replica kits are very hard to find. If you could find one with the same materials and workmanship, I doubt there will a very big difference in price.

Wheels gotta be authentic...the other knick knacks can be replication of the real thing.

I think wheels and kits should be the real deal... as well as most other items because it promotes the new concept designs in the industry. If everyone just made copies of the others where would the automotive industry be today. The idea is new and fresh and always changing.

i dont do replica parts. ive built about +/- 5 cars and from my experience you get what you pay for. back in 98ish i got a replica black widow rear bumper bc mine broke. i had it refiberglassed bc the quality was horrid from the manufacterer. even after that, there was waves, fitment issues, etc. ever since i dont even bother with replica parts. wheels have to be real unless im in a 9 sec car where i was looking for weight only. its just a personal thing. i dont rock fake watches and i dont let my girl wear fake LV. i just have a hate for it all. 

be proud of what you have, regardless of the level it's at.
don't fake the funk.
don't spend money you don't have.
at the end of the day, the only person you need to justify anything to is yourself (and your spouse i suppose).

Or dont buy fake/replicated parts and try to pass them on for a real thing.

FAKE VIP parts? is it really VIP? 

VIP style, culture or whatever emphasizes on a higher level of tuning and a higher level of class. Having a knockoff part doesn't really bring true of the essence of VIP or general tuning for that matter (regardless of the motorsports genre). 

My opinion is this. Why buy fake when you can buy real. I have fixed up alot of vehicles in my life time and taking shortcuts is not the way to go.
If there is a part for your ride that you want but cant afford it, either do without or save up for it. WHy put something on that is fake on your nice VIP car waiste of money and time and 
when people ask about it do you mention that it is fake? Isn't VIP beyond fake? I think of VIP top of the line cars with top of the line parts. Plain and simple.

[quote=zion_97 ]
I think of VIP top of the line cars with top of the line parts. Plain and simple.


[/quote]

niceeee 8)

knock offs are bad.

I guess it really depends on what the item is right? If it has functionality and there are neccessary requirments that you can't compromise on then go original. things like curtains, shift knobs, and floor mats, who cares? Just don't go pretending they are some other brand. As for wheels i guess its subjective, cause there are only so many designs you can make within a circle, so there maybe subtle differences between two wheels, and that is fine by me, but any blatent rip offs are gay in my book. 

For some things it matters, for others, if the quality is the same, I don't care at all. Pretty much as long as it's not a counterfeit, I'm fine with it, if it's of satisfactory quality. Example: shift knobs....I have every intention of buying a knock-off JDM style Type-R knob...but it's still properly weighted and threaded so what do I care?

But for something like....seats...I would never buy those Bride knock-offs; they're not even safe.

Authenticity is key

ok so for the people who are opposed to replicated parts. buying "jdm style taillights" and "jdm style corner lights" from places like ebay would be considered a no-no? in essence, they are replicated parts of the oem parts of japan.

so it would only be right to spend $600+ for a set of junction produce ones or order from japan for $400+?

[quote=nadreams ]
I think wheels and kits should be the real deal... as well as most other items because it promotes the new concept designs in the industry. If everyone just made copies of the others where would the automotive industry be today. The idea is new and fresh and always changing.
[/quote]

I would not mind some of the smaller items being "jdm style" or replicated oem parts but the larger items should be the real deal.

[quote=LSPinoy ]
ok so for the people who are opposed to replicated parts. buying "jdm style taillights" and "jdm style corner lights" from places like ebay would be considered a no-no? in essence, they are replicated parts of the oem parts of japan.
[/quote]
I wouldn't buy "JDM style" lights unless there was something about them that I liked better than the OEM because usually the quality just isn't there. For things like that, it matters to me, it's just for little knick knacks that I don't care. (Rays tire valve caps or WalMart OoOoo big difference)

Well its not like there is VIP police. Buy what you want. Its your money. I just think that if you are doing up your ride to VIP style or something along the lines 
then stick with authentic parts. Just for your own satisfaction. Just dont be swapmeet vip.

Again, it shouldn't necessarily be a matter of name and status etc. What it should come down to is quality. BUT, for some straaaaannnngggeee reason, knockoff/cheap parts are usually pretty shitty quality. I wonder why..........

I like to use authentic parts and i also like to see other people use authentic parts mainly because it supports the hard work of the companies. But you also have to remember that not everyone makes tons of money, so knocks offs is all they can afford, which sucks, but i would rather people have knock offs than nothing.

I couldn't care less
as long as it looks good it's as good as the real thing IMO

don't get me wrong
big props to those who use authentic parts
but reps are just as good as the real thing as far as I concern, or to most of the people who spotteed your car on the road

do you think people can tell the difference?
I think not...
maybe at most 5% of people on the street who sighted your car can tell
let alone VIP is not a well - known style yet
replica is not a bad thing if you are on limited budget
especially when damage is bound to happen sooner or later

Just like Music,

If you respect and value the company/artist that designs and produces those products please go and buy the original stuff.

I have a few friends that have bought original items and the quality is more shabby than the copies. It all depends on who makes the part and how they make it. Even some original wheels are worse than copies... bad assembly vs single cast, offtopic. But you do see where this is going.

It's is like whether you should buy a cd or get a mp3 that is same quality or less... do you respect the artist and company behind the product?

Buy things YOU can AFFORD and make YOU happy.. Screw what everyone thinks. G.D.M. (generic domestic market) or not, so long YOU can live with the good/bad desicion and investment YOU made.

 I buy generic all the time from meds to clothes. But I also buy name brand, from parts for my custom chopper and appliances for my house.. Nothings wrong with being frugal. Money saved and more money to spend on other things..

My "wagon" is GDM..Bodykit to wheels. To me, the quality is the same. You just need to do research and be a smart consumer. Items costing alot does not necesarily mean better quality. 

Big props to people who can affford it and do it..People who talk the talk and walk the walk.. 8)

Well

You gotta pay the cost

To be the boss


Real everything for me

[quote=J Stuff ]
Well

You gotta pay the cost

To be the boss


Real everything for me
[/quote]

On most things that is true, 
but will it really matter if you buy authentic curtains or replicated ones?
Does it matter if you buy authentic "puddle lights" or replicated ones?

Like I said, with the little knick knacks replicated parts or even DIY modders are fine..
wheels and suspension are a whole different story though cuz that usually seals the deal!

[quote=PagongLS ]
On most things that is true, 
but will it really matter if you buy authentic curtains or replicated ones?
Does it matter if you buy authentic "puddle lights" or replicated ones?

Like I said, with the little knick knacks replicated parts or even DIY modders are fine..
wheels and suspension are a whole different story though cuz that usually seals the deal!
[/quote]

Ya youre right about that. I meant on the lines of wheels and body kits. But yea little things like puddle lamps or diy mods are okay.

i agree......the little knick knack's arent a real big ideas for the companies that make them, they usually are aero companies accessories but knock off aero and wheels are basicallt stealing from the company that made the design. for me its not about the status of "real" parts its supporting the companies i like.

Ok i know everyone saying its ok to do nick nacks here and there and Curtains but i dont think i would even do those but thats just me. I always buy the real thing like Shirts from Mugen and there little nick nack things and go as far as getting the real Emblems just because i know. Its like the saying where the rich person wears fake diamond earings but has the real ones at home!!!!! Why ? I mean if you have the real thing sport it. I dont even use burn CD's why because i like the quality of the original CD and it just comes out cleaner. I would no use no name screens that i buy off ebay or some cheap stereo shop i would end up paying for the real one so i know the quality is there. Everyone has there own personal things and I give u guys credit for that and this is just my feelings about real or fake because even though they sell fake Jordans i would still pay for the real ones :D

used to work at a shop. and installing real cwest and bomex kits vs vis or knockoffs was night and day. real stuff would pop right on. where knockoffs had to be cut, stretched, grinded down, and sometimes cracked during fitment.

yeah you get what you pay for these days. On a VIP car no no no knowck offs..on any other style 
it just does not matter, but with a TRUE VIP platform no no no..no knock offs,,its better to save for the 
real deal than the cheap shit..like I said you get what you pay for..maybe we should start another thread
 Poser VIP vs Real VIP..ha ha ha ..lol

i agree with most ppl
small stuff, it doesnt have to be the real stuff.
the wheels for me is a must though. it has to be real
but in reality, there are quite a lot of cheap wheels in japan just like here.
look at an autobacs wheel sales chart, a few are no name, knock off wheels.
i was going to go that route, but since i was in japan, might as well go large and bought some works

Well some things you cant really say replicated or what.
For example..
JP FUSA vs 'OTHER' JAPANESE/ASIAN HANGY ITEM that looks like a fusa
Is the Other item fake? 

Also what about curtains? Yes you can go get yourself some "REAL" Garson curtains. But what happens if you make your own? Or buy some pre-made that is not branded because its custom. Thats also a different story.

Its a given as to what items we would scream fake at, for example wheels, kits, and electronics but everything else would be kinda hazy

Hand made or custom does not = fake. It ='s more pimp because it's unique and most times "one-off". I love doing one-off stuff. I have done my interior in the Z the last 5 times. And I made several aero parts that aren't a copy of anything. I think wheels & aero must be authentic. They are the most notable visual items on the car. Lots of parts that some people think are authentic are made in the same factory side by side with the "generic" ones. In essence they are identical. So just be educated in what's what and you should be fine. STOP THE COPY!~

[quote=J Stuff ]
Well some things you cant really say replicated or what.
For example..
JP FUSA vs 'OTHER' JAPANESE/ASIAN HANGY ITEM that looks like a fusa
Is the Other item fake? 

Also what about curtains? Yes you can go get yourself some "REAL" Garson curtains. But what happens if you make your own? Or buy some pre-made that is not branded because its custom. Thats also a different story.

Its a given as to what items we would scream fake at, for example wheels, kits, and electronics but everything else would be kinda hazy

[/quote]

the fusa is a knot, cant really replicate a knot :P
theyre everywhere in japan. as for me, i rep that vietnam.. nga.

FUSA shouldn't matter, but yah personally I wouldn't run a FUSA, unless i were shinto. 

I would go on authentic aerokits since the technicality of work by these japanese companies are way off the charts compared to the knock off's that you see in Yahoo japan. C'mon if you guys love these sweet companies and want to support them, i would spend money on legit stuff vs the knock off that does not fit right. If you were on their shoes, i would push the authentic aero VIP kits, just my IMHO

Herb

I say it dosen't matter, but if you got the okane do it big, and get the real thing. But if you don't and you have to stay in budget do what you have to do. So if you can't afford the top notch product, should you not follow your goals? nah, buy what you can afford. but DO NOT, try to pass it off as the top notch joint.

junction produce Style or Authentic Junction Produce...thats a clear decision to me...its sort of like giving your wife a fake diamond...depending on the person..if your on a really tight budget...reps is a alternative...personally i have never been a fan of reps...for me its like a fake rolex, fake gold chain, or for those that were into bball cards...a fake lebron james rookie card. but again everyone is in a different situation in terms of funds so to each his own IMO

Body kit and wheels, gotta be the real deal just look at the quality of the knock off stuff, you bought an expensive car why not invest in good quality parts... :coolsmiley:

Dont fake the Funk!! Buy quality first that way you dont have to replace it later. The only time i would go against my own advice is when i know for a fact they are built in the same exact factory. DYI or one off stuff is by far the most impressive since it is usually exactly what YOU want. 

Fake parts bring down the value of your vehicle. Its just something you dont do if you own a High end luxary car. If you cant afford the real thing, leave it stock. You will be much happier at the end. If you dont think you will ever be able to afford the real thing then maybe it would be best to switch to a more affordable platform. 

if you even consider replicated parts then your not in the VIP mind state.

Heh, got into a debate on a local auto forum, I came down hard on a guy shopping at WheelsNext.com and wanted to buy these!
[img]http://wheelsnext.com/images/%5Cwheels%5CKOBE_LITERACE_BLK_2_W.jpg[/img]
Winnipeg isn't ready for Vip, that's for sure!
Makes me want real Fab Expands even more! *drool*

[quote=GodsgifttoVIP ]
VIP mind state.
[/quote]

lol... what the hell is that?