javyLSU

iTrader: (21)

While I agree that there are only so many rimes you can reinvent the wheel, most companies at least try to carry designs that are unique. Then there are companies that SPECIALIZE in copying popular wheel designs and capitalizing on the hard work and success of others. To compare a company like Work to Linea Corsa is a complete joke, and is a complete slap in the face to the companies who actually put in the R&D money as well as the marketing dollars to make their products successful. Everyone is more than welcome to spend their dollars however they like, but don't buy knockoff wheels and expect to get any compliments from anyone who actually cares about the automotive aftermarket industry. Get them because YOU like them and you don't care what other people think, because that's the hill you'll have to climb.

Javier

jns350

iTrader: (7)

+1...LCD never set out to duplicate the t1s in the first place. To even the playing field then you must say that Work set out to duplicate HRE's 891r because that is where I first seen this design style. All these wheels have a difference to set them apart but none make the "exact same mirror design". If LCD intentions were to duplicate then they should have made the wheel exactly like the t1s to a tee. Then stamp their wheel with a fake work logo...that is a replica in my book. The same as my wife wouldn't buy a fake LV bag I wouldn't buy a fake Work wheel.

As for the wheel choice...I really like both styles. Really different in design so you gotta base your decision on what kind of look you are after. But both wheels will compliment your car. Plus they are both priced affordable

JVT

This is actually a good discussion/topic.

On my end, when I bought my reps. the last thing I had in mind, "how will people react or will I get compliments?" I don't give a damn is what I said! Its not going to any show, its a freakn car to drive from point A to point B.

But if you guys want to pay for my daughters Stanford University tuition, along with my mortgage payment, put more money into my company, etc...then fine, I'll buy the real BBS wheels while you guys pay for my other bills.

And I saw a sig from ROMINI (I believe) "you should be embarass/ashame for rocking reps" My reply, the only time you should be embarass/ashame is when you do something wrong, such as talk back to your parents, hurt someone you love, ignore your child, light up a crackpipe, etc... PERIOD!!!
There is nothing to be embarass/ashame when it comes to saving money...in fact you should be proud. I'm sorry there are companies that make replicas, but at the same time I'm thankful as well.

FACT: I put over $75k (car and parts) on my M3. I sold it for $30k. I never felt so ashame the day I sold it...all that money down the drain. And guess what, I'm starting all over again, but this time around I'm trying to be a lot wiser...not sure its working though.

IS-SV

I too can't get excited about the replica thing. I like the LCD just because it looks better IMO.

GiantsFan

iTrader: (9)

I LOL'ed

JVT

I guess I didn't sound to convincing...I gotta drop the bottle and get back to work.

rebs

I think you can go back even further then the HRE's 891r. I know a lot of people think Volk, Work, etc. are putting out original designs and therefore everyone else is stealing or replicating their work.

However, the truth is almost everyone is looking or imitating wheel designs that came out years or decades ago. Yes some of the manufacturing process and materials have changed over the years, but a lot of the designs are completely recycled from decades ago. The fact that companies with dedicated R&D departments come out with these "new" designs "first" definitely doesn't make them original. I definitely give them props for modernizing a design and/or developing a new manufacturing technique and even making the design popular, but to call them original....well that is a huge stretch.

To not expect other companies to imitate that success or design would be like getting rid of all pc's except IBM, etc.

Kevin.IS

iTrader: (6)

5axis for me. Maybe it's the pic, the 5axis wheel looks so good on it.

jns350

iTrader: (7)

Haha +2....Your comment just reminded me to open a second CD account....I'm glad I still have a way to go..but it's never too soon
is it 2010 yet??? I wanna see that GTR man

redline201

iTrader: (13)

id rock the linea corse. i was in the same boat. i wanted nice wheels for a low price. i lucked out and got my fsports when sewell had them for like 1400. the way i see it is they both weigh about the same. both are cast and both are made not in japan. get whatever looks better to you.

JVT

It's true, we got other important business to handle. Just because people rock replicas don't make them losers.

I'll PM you about my GT-R. Don't want to derail a hot topic.

funnie

iTrader: (14)

dang i regret not jumping on the wheels when it was apart of the f-sport summer promo. fsport wheels are sweet!, but five axis comes in a close second

creemail

WOW nice responses guys! Looks like 5A's has the lead.....

Keep em coming

Cree

javyLSU

iTrader: (21)

Looking at Linea Corsa's ENTIRE wheel lineup it's hard to argue that their entire focus on is copying popular wheels. There's not a single "unique" or "original" design, and they frequently appear on one of my favorite websites, fakewheels.com.

"Modifying" your car with aftermarket parts is not "wise" in the least. The "wise" thing would be to leave it in stock form. You bought Linea Corsa wheels because YOU liked them, and YOU don't care what other people think. There's nothing wrong with that - that's exactly what I said in my post above. But when these same people are buying fake body kits that they're passing off as "INGs" kits, and Linea Corsa wheels with BBS center caps, that's where I get disturbed. I still don't like Linea Corsa employing the business model that they have, but I understand that there are different products for different people with different budgets. And like I said before, we're all adults here and free to spend our own money on whatever we like.

That's a tremendous oversimplification of a problem that is driving LEGITIMATE aftermarket companies into the ground. BBS and RAYS make wheels that have been used in REAL competition for years. Did they invent the mesh and the 7-spoke design? Of course not, but they made superior QUALITY products, spent the money to prove them in F1, JGTC, Indy Car, ALMS, etc... and infused design elements that made it their own. The copies of these wheels very conveniently include these subtle design cues, so to say that just because "they're not the first makes it okay" is a bit naive. As I said before, we're all free to spend our money however we like, but I'm not going to give money to companies who steal designs, name it something else, and pass it off as their own.

Agreed. I don't think anyone here is calling a replica buyer a "loser," but you should buy them for the right reasons (see my first post). By the same token, you shouldn't expect to buy some replicas, come to a luxury automotive enthusiast forum, and expect to "show off" your replicas and get ooohs and ahhhs.

I knew when I posted my first reply I knew that this was a lighting-rod topic, and many people have strong feelings one way or the other. This is how I feel - I accept that other individuals do not feel as I do, and appreciate the opposing points of view.

Javier

mvlbr

^^^^^What he said^^^^^