Flybye

If it fits well, then I certainly wouldn't mind purchasing one.

JoeD, leave my other thread alone and write your comments, suggestions, and personal experiences in here

dclin

iTrader: (4)

I personally have no problems with a good quality replica. If it fits well - I certainly don't care. 99% of the people you encouter with your FD will give you a blank stare if you tell them its a Feed (or whatever) bumper - if you've got the original. All they know is that its a damn good looking car. (Speaking of which, I took my car out for my errands today for the first time in months, and I had two cars pull up next to my car and turn and stare. Embarrassing, as that I don't like that much attention normally. Wrong car to own, huh?)

What they will notice is uneven lines and parts that dont match up.

When we think of replicas, we tend to think of cheap knock offs - and that simply does not have to be the case. Given that Chuck history with aftermarket bodywork, and is specializing in RX7s - the odds are greater that he will produce higher quality kits. He's got his name on the line and I'm sure just like most everyone here, he does not want to ruin it.

There is a reason that companies like Erebruni have a less then stellar rep. They are 'mass producers' interested in getting as many different kits for as many differnt cars as possible.

Also, just because it's the original does not mean it's going to fit perfectly. Like anything else, quality will vary among 'original' manufacturers. Name value simply means less to me then good quality parts.

I recently bought a set of Apex sideskirts, and I am completely amazed at it's fit. (I know what you think of them Flybye! ) I heard how well the Apex skirts fit, and that's why I bought them (plus I like the way they look the best!).

It had nothing to do with the name. If a replica fit better then the original, guess which one I'd buy?

BTW, for the sake of antagonizing Flybye, here are pics of my Apexi skirts.







Keep in mind that these pic were taken w/o the skirts actually fastened to the sheetmetal -it's such a snug fit, it's clinging to the rockers. BTW, I know the paint does not match perfectly - it's temp until I get a new paint job in a few months.:p

Johnny

Personally I would rather have the real thing...but if ppl want to charge $1700 for a bumper made of FG...instead of polyurethane...sign me up for the replica... FG Scoot hood for $2K+...come on now...that is crazy..

Flybye

LOL
At least yours are color matched :p
I was eyeing the apex skirts for a while, but didn't like how they cut off at the top.

dclin

iTrader: (4)

That's the thing - all the aftermarket body kits are FG anyways. The only polyur bumper I know of is the stock 93-95 and the 99+. I would buy polyur over FG too. Luck for me, I like the 99 front end, hehe.

JoeD

JoeD

hey dclin...what kind of rims you got?? they look pretty slick. from what i can see, im guessin VOLK GT-N?? maybe not?

dclin

iTrader: (4)

Gewalt Evolution custom painted gunmetal, 18X10 +44 and 18X8.5 +44. If I'd to do it over again, I'd do 18X8.5 +40 ( or there abouts) as that the front wheels look set into the wheel well a bit too much, and makes no difference in fit. Also cause I've got temporary 225/40/18s Pirelli Pzeros. Was waiting for 245/35 Directional PZeros, but want to try out S03s now, so praying Bridgestone comes out in those sizes.





Makin Ind stopped importing them a year or so ago, and now available thru Hiro at http://shop.store.yahoo.com/lexuspar...ev18insil.html

I'll take better pics after I get my Konis in and lower it a bit more...
:p

Bacon

iTrader: (12)

personaly if i had the $ id buy a feed replica now..replicas everone calls rice are cheap mass produced ones, not like the feed replica chucks gonns make...its ****** fiberglss--chucks quality is as good if not better than the original and people say for piece of mind theyd buy the original..ok so spend 1700 on a original wich is gonns be thinner fg than the coppies...fiberglass is gonna crack its a question of when not if...so ill save the 1200 buy the replica and if i ever get in dinger..ill go buy another while youll be s.o.l and 1200 poorer still


bottom line if the quality is there ill buy it...but never a veliside ar ebruni crap



btw dclin nice rims

i dont know if i ever told u but i finally opend up a stock ast(i know this was from like a year ago) but i got some decent pics...if u want ill e-mail em 2 u

HedgeHog

From my brief and recent experience, replicas can be good and authentic can have fitment issues. My replica part was from Long/Huy's CF hood group buy. I must say the fit was very nice. Having not seen a real MS CF hood, I can't say how close it is to the real thing. There are some areas of deficiency but for 1/3 the price, it's more than acceptable.

The real bits I got were a mixed bag. The MazdaSpeed stuff fits like a charm and seems to be of high quality and tolerance. Comes w/ everything needed to install. The RE Amemiya part snugged in and everything lined up as expected. That diffuse wobbled and flapped like crazy before the install and is well secured after the install. The R-Magic skirts had no instructions nor hardware. One side snugged in perfectly and the other fit well except for a mild warpage where the skit rises up towards the rear wheel well (leaving a 1mm or less gap). The R-Magic kit also seems to have very few layers of fiberglass as light can shine through them.

So the question is would you pay $1250 for the front + lights, $825 for the wing, $690 for the skirts and $680 for the diffuser? I'm sure a well manufactured copied can be had for less at a better price. I suppose what we're paying for w/ authentic is the design fee not manufacturing cost as that can be amortized over a period of time.

If Chuck can reproduce them at the same or better quality at a fraction of the cost, go get them. No one will know (the only part that had a label was a metal sticker from RE-Amemiay for my diffuser).

BTW dclin, nice car!

neo_omega

I would rather have the real thing, but it's nearly impossible to get it here. I know buying replica/copycat kit will only make it worst, but we got to get our hands on the kit somehow. If it fits great, I won't mind to have one.

JoeD

and thats exactly my point. no one will know its a knockoff from outside unless you tell them, so who are you fooling other than yourself?? its just like wearing a fake Rolex or CZ diamond ring. it looks good, but who are you really fooling??

i personally will not accept having a knockoff part on my car. i will not feel proud of that. there comes a point where quality and fitment doesnt matter. if a knockoff was of the same quality and fitment as an original, i still would not feel proud of having a knocoff bumper on my car. that is my personal opinion.

same applies to knockoff wheels. look at Katana Racing Concept 5s and Racing Hart C5s. they look almost identical. there is no difference in weight. yet Katanas cost about 1/4 the price of Racing Harts.

also, the same applies to replica cars. an average person can not tell the difference between a real of face Lamborghini Countach, Shelby Cobra, Lamborghini Diablo, Ferrari 512TR or any other common replica kit that you either buy or put on a Fiero or Corvette. your car will look good (kinda)...but who are you really fooling?? would you actually feel proud of the fact that you drive a replica??? this reminds me of a time when i was around 7 or 8. there was a white "Lamborghini Countach" sitting outside my dad's shop. i went crazy! i was soooo happy to get a chance to sit and drive around in a Countach! of course i was a litte kid, and couldnt tell the difference between a real one or replica. a couple years down the line when i found the whole roll of pictures we took, i was told that it was a replica. my face was exactly like this:

the bottom line is that i personally will not feel proud of knowing the fact that my car is a replica of something else. its trying to look like something else. it is a poseur.

Flybye

No WONDER you hate replicas so much!!! You were traumatized as a child!!! :p

JoeD

LOL! i knew someone was gonna say that!

nah...thats not the reason.

widebody2

Not all fd body kits are fg...the mazdaspeed kits are made of polyeurothane. I have the 15th anniversary widebody kit and the sideskirts. I got cheap and decided I didn't want to pay for the real hood though. I bought chuck's replica hood and now totally regret it. My whole car looks perfect except for some waves in the fg hood. Plus when I was waxing it I actually even cracked a little spot on the paint because of how flimsy the hood is...even with a bunch of extra support I had installed. The moral of the story is...you get what you pay for. Replicas look decent but they don't compare to the original's, especially with the mazdaspeed. You have to decide how **** you are about perfection.

HedgeHog

Well, I think what's presented here is CHOICES. Ppl can pay for the real deal and be happy with it. Or pay less and be just as happy or do so w/ caveat emptor! I wouldn't preach which to choose for everyone as their needs and fiscal abilities may be different.

In the end, aren't we who buy kits just trying to do *knockoffs* of the real car? Instead of buying a nice Bomex kit, why not import the real race car from RE Amemiya and have an original item?

Sorry for being long winded....

Flybye

It's funny because, IMO, somethings name brands DO make a differance. Just like when you go to the supermarket. You got the real Kraft Macaroni and cheese and you got the generic macaroni and cheese. Personally, I think the generic one tastes like ****. Some people get a sour taste in their mouth about a knockoff, and some don't care. There are PLENTY of things in my FD that I am proud of by its name. The momo shifter, my Blaupunkt radio, my Borla exhaust, my Arospeed silicone hoses, etc, but there are somethigns that I wouldnt care about if its a name brand or not. Like my custom made gauge holder, my generic "Sold by Pettit" floor mats, etc. Body wise, if it looks as good and functions as good as the original, then I wouldn't mind buying a knockoff.

Simply put, there are some things I am willing to deal with if it is a knockoff, and there are somethings I am NOT willing to deal with unless it is from a namebrand. I feel VERY satisfied in having name brand components, but my satisfaction isn't going to save me money if a similiar item that works and looks JUST as good is available.

It's like buying used products. Some things I would NEVER buy used, like brake rotors, brake pads, electronics, etc, and there are things that I wouldn't mind buying used like body parts, piping, etc.

DomFD3S

Not to be bashing Rotary Extreme, but is the first case (that I have seen) where the customer was not happy w/ the fg replica. All others seemed to be happy w/ fitment, quality, etc.

rotaryextreme

iTrader: (2)

You bought one of the hoods? I don't remeber sending anything to NY. What's your name and what kind of hood did you buy from me? Are you sure you bought it from me? When did you buy it? I really don't recall.

The mazdaspeed authentic bodykits are made of fiberglass except the fender flares are polyurethane.

Chuck

mightyslash

Stock is already nice as hell

MrFreeze

JoeD wheres your FD ?

black99

Oh no, not this question again...

JoeD

still searchin for the right one. 94 or 95 VR R2. i will find one dammit!

rotaryextreme

iTrader: (2)

If you give me $45000, I will import you a 2001 rx-7. You will have the only authentic 2001 rx-7 in the state with authentic 99 bodykit, 99 interior, 99 everything!!! How is that? Only takes about 2-3 months to get it here. Don't get an used 94 or 95, that's not your style.

Chuck

JoeD

if its LHD, ill be writin' a check right now!

didnt think so...ill keep lookin.