That's exactly what I said when I saw your response.

I understand your role as a moderator, and I respect it. My issue comes when you say the people who are going against the replica trend have to "get over it." That's all. I don't think anyone should have to get over it. If we all get over it, then this industry goes down the sh!tter. The responses in this thread up to this point were not inappropriate or rude. The OP acknowledged that his car is sitting on replica wheels, asked for opinions, and then used the popular justification that his decision was based on price, but that he loves authentic parts. To each his own. As I've said many times, no one can tell another person how to spend their money, but we can try to educate. That's all I am trying to do with my response. I know some people don't like my opinions, but I'm not going to apologize for them. I have nothing against the OP and I have not insulted him personally and neither has anyone else - he asked for opinions and he got some. My opinion I think if he actually "loved" authentic parts, then he would save a few weeks longer, take advantage of a discount working for a parts company, and buy a real set of TE37s, instead of contributing to the destruction of the industry by putting money into the pocket of a company that, frankly, doesn't deserve it.

 

I have to wholeheartedly disagree with your viewpoint Sam. The guys who rock fakes seem to crave constant validation of the community by displaying them and always asking "what do you think?" If I think your choice is poor and that you are a part of a huge and growing problem by choosing to support knockoffs, I should be able to say so as long as I am respectful. It's a valid opinion. I don't see any of the guys on this forum who support authenticity come into threads and act like a-holes. They express their opinions that fake garbage like this hurts the industry as a whole, is most definitely illegal and unethical (there's not valid argument otherwise), and that they don't like them. If people don't want that, then they shouldn't ask what everyone thinks about them or be sure to specify that you only want people's comments who hold a positive opinion of what you've done. Then people who don't like it should stay out of the thread and I'll be the first to enforce that. But if you ask for everyone's opinions, then you will likely have to accept hearing some that you don't like. The alternative is to mod your car and not seek validation of your choices by popular opinion and do what suits you.

 

Look guys I did ask for your opinions so people are allowed to bash me all they want. As it is their opinion. Im not here to argue with anyone, only here to let you see a new wheel on the market. Some people will like them, some will not. However I have been working in the after market auto industry for many years and have seen a lot of new brands develop and I can tell you from personal experience, replica wheels do NOT hurt the industry. I have seen several wheel manufacturers start off as mere replica wheels and have become something great, such as Avant Garde, with original designs that have shaped an entirely new part of the industry.

These new Sportline TE.6 wheels are not junk knock offs. I do not disagree that Sportline could have made a new original design, however people do like replicas. This allows people that do not have the money for $4000 Volks to have a killer looking set of wheels. I do believe companies like Sportline, help the industry grow. They are doing something that no other replica manufacturer is doing; making rotary forged wheels.
Replica or not, take away the design aspect and these wheels are built stronger and lighter than a huge percentage of original wheel designs on the market, at a fraction of the price.

I also understand a lot of people may have had bad experience with certain replica wheel manufacturers, but I can tell you that Sportline is a replica wheel company that stands behind their brand. I believe this wheel will help change the bad rap towards replica JDM wheels just like VMR did with the CSL wheel in the euro industry.

As for loving authentic parts, I do as much as the next person. Infact, most of my parts are authentic. I put Sportline wheels on my car because I believe in the company and what they are doing. Im tired of seeing people buy replicas wheels that break or crack on them. The replica wheel and parts industry will never leave, however if they are here to stay shouldn't we make these parts with higher standards?

 

You are just plain wrong Bluestick G. There is no way possible that you can make me (or any other reasonable person) believe that one company stealing and counterfeiting another company's product is in any way good for any industry. If you want to tell yourself that to feel better about buying something stolen, I can't stop you but I wont tell you it's right. It's not a situation like prescription drugs, where the generics are exactly the same thing as the original drug. Even in that example, the original product developer who has spent millions of dollars in development and testing is protected by patents that are enforced for a number of years until it expires so that they can make profits and recoup their R&D money. Then generic companies can make the exact same drug and sell it cheaper. Because all they have to do is use the exact same ingredients and processes but don't have to pay to research to find out what that is. You are getting the exact same quality of product, not an inferior cheaper made copy. And it is legal. Fake wheels are more like illegally downloading a poor digital copy of your favorite artist's new album without paying for it. The sound quality may be poor but you still get to hear the song, right? Only the artist who created the music doesn't get paid for their intellectual property that they probably worked very hard on. Nor their record company that spent millions promoting it and shooting videos so that you even know about it. But as long as you get to hear the tunes you like what do you care if the person who created it or owns the rights to it gets screwed or not? You got what you wanted.

Why don't we take it a step further and say that if everyone purchased counterfeit money for .25 on the dollar that would be great for the economy. The counterfeiter would get rich by providing something that people want. People would have 4 times the buying power they had before. Everyone would have what they want and only have to pay a quarter as much. If it tanks the entire monetary system of the United States, so what? You still got some awesome shoes and cool car parts, right? Obviously this example is apples and oranges but it shows an example that saturation of any market with inferior and illegally counterfeited product is never a good thing. In what way can stealing ever be OK?

 

I dont think we are debating the US economy over here Again not here to argue just to educate. If you don't agree that's perfectly fine

 

Wow. I guess my logic and analogy weren't very convincing to you. If that's being educated, I will bow out of this thread gracefuly and intentionally choose to remain ignorant. It's clear that we are on different sides of things and it doesn't seem that my viewpoint is likely to sway you and yours is definitely not going to sway me. Sorry to have bothered you with reason and logic.

Enjoy your new wheels.

 

I just don't think an analogy about creating hyperinflation or downloading music illegally has anything to do this the replica wheel industry. I do understand where your coming from but in this case it has nothing to do this Sportline. Replica or not they are supplying the industry with a high quality wheel.

I guess we can agree to disagree on this one

 

Sportline exists to fill a void in the market for enthusiasts who are looking for great quality wheels on a smaller budget and that are available now to purchase without the 3-4 months special order time. Sure, anyone can eventually save up enough money and buy high-end Volks Racing wheels. However, not every G37 enthusiast is looking to spend almost $3,000.00 for a set of wheels.

At the end of the day, the Sportline TE.6 are great wheels at an awesome price point. It's a lightweight/strong flow-formed cast wheel with a durable powdercoated finish. Just because the wheel design is a copy of an original design, it should not discount the wheels as garbage/junk. All Sportline have VALID VIA & JWL certification:



Furthermore, all the weights advertised are accurate, it clears BBK, and accepts OEM TPMS. I'm not here to sell junk to G37 enthusiasts by no means. But take away the fact that the design is a similar/copy of the original, it's still a badass wheel. Perfect for track days!

-Frank

 

So it seems like Sportline wheels have everything going for them. Quality, price, looks. I guess once they get on their feet a little better financially then maybe they might be able to hire a designer who can come up with an attractive design of his own that's not a knockoff of other manufacturers' work. If they are original work that has quality and isn't ripping off an established manufacturer's model I am all for it and would support it 100%. That's what Forgestar seems to be doing. I'm not particularly a fan of any of their designs personally but at least they're not counterfeiting another manufacturer's designs (that I am aware of). Kudos to them.

When Sportline gets their own wheel design that they didn't rip off and can still produce them using a quality process and materials while providing great customer service, then I will be a fan. Call me and we'll discuss me buying a set. I'm partial to 5 spokes. As long as they're just making another TE37 knockoff, I will stick with Volk or if I can't afford them I'll wait to buy a used set of Volks (which is what I did) that I can afford before I'd support a company stealing someone else's work.

 

I don't think its necessarily fair to chastise companies like Sportline for not producing a completely original wheel design. After 75+ years of aftermarket wheel industry existence, there is very little space for originality left, there's only so much you can do within the parameters that hasn't been done before. If someone wants to start a new fork company, they have to offer better price/metal/availability/etc to compete, they might look the same as many other forks out there, and they shouldn't owe a debt to "John W. Fork" for the shape. What Sportline is offering, IMO, IS original...a proven shape people like, in a rotary forging, at a price that is not over done. I come for a muscle car/racing background and forged wheels from US companies like Centerline or Welds can be had at fraction of the cost of Volks, so I could never understand the outrageous amount these companies charge for their wheels, are they made of some space alloy from Mars? People pay for the exclusivity/brand recognition, and for those that value that and can afford it, well great for them. However, I can't fault anyone for exploring more sensible (for them) options. There IS room in the industry for all, some won't survive due to quality, and others will Price themselves out of their market share.

 

Thanks Sharkroy1. Thats what I was getting at. I never said replicas were right. Just that Sportline was a quality wheel. If replicas are here to stay I wish all of them could take the time and precision that sportline takes with their wheels.

 

+1 on WPPJR30 and BB's thoughts on this one...

looks good... but some wheels are made only to look good, some are made to out perform and look good... there is a true and better route for this... true forged and real TE37's... knock-offs dont get my vote... just my .02...

 

So why do you justify rocking replicas?

Since you can save lots of money by rocking some replica wheels, does this mean you rock replica watches, wallets, shades, phones, and etc?

 

Think about it this way. In school when you had a great idea for a paper or project and someone overheard you talking about it and stole your idea, did you not get pissed? Now imagine investing thousands of dollars on your fantastic idea (in this case a great wheel design and manufacturing process) and some other d-bag takes your idea, makes it look the same but cheaper and of inferior quality and outsells you because its more "affordable", wouldn't that T you off just a little? You can't say it wouldn't.

 

Sportline TE.6 look great and perform well too. A fully forged monoblock wheel will always "out perform" a low pressure cast/ rotary forged wheel for obvious reasons - hence the premium price tag. BBS, Forgestars, and Enkie carry flow-formed cast wheels as well. Are they considered inferior? I know tons of people who run BBS and Forgestars all day and they love their wheels - even though it might not be fully forged wheel.

Sportline TE.6 is a great alternative for enthusiast who want a lightweight, strong, rotary forged wheel without having to fork over thousands of dollars for wheels. That's it. It's not here to replace the TE37. It's simply, another great wheel option.

I think BluestickG was pretty clear about this. He loves the wheel design, he loves how light/strong the wheel is made, and he didn't have to spend his whole paycheck on a set of wheels

Your second question seems pretty silly don't you think? So since you owned Volks Racing wheels, you've never bought anything that is copy of something else? Ever downloaded songs for free, instead of buying the "real" CD? I'm willing to bet that almost everyone here has bought something that is a copy of something. I know I did two months ago, I bought 2 sunglasses for $20.00 at a kiosk before leaving from Vegas because I forgot my sunglasses at home

I think it comes down to where your priorities are. You chose Volks Racing wheels for your G37 because you wanted THE best wheel option. I think we can all agree that you made a right choice. But to some people, it's not necessary to rock THE best wheels on the market and pay a premium for it. But just because it isn't the premium option, that does not mean it's a bad option. Am I wrong?

Now I agree on one thing, the quality of most replica stuff in this industry SUCKS. I've been in this industry long enough to know that. However, that's the exact reason why I'm so excited to bring the Sportline TE.6 wheels to Nissan/Infiniti enthusiasts. It used to be either settle and buy cheap crappy replica wheels or save up months and months to buy authentic expensive wheels. Sportline offers the best qualities of both words - same great wheel design that's lightweight/strong and available at great price point.

-Frank