Seriously?

(1) The "function over form" argument is the entire argument FOR buying authentic parts over knockoffs (and we're talking about authentic USDM and EDM parts, too, there just aren't as many). Knockoff parts don't have any engineering behind them, and are usually made from cheaper materials, so they are more likely to break, not fit correctly, etc.

(2) There are no "replica" Hytech headers out there, and nobody has proven yet that any knockoff header makes any power, while Hytech headers have made 10+whp, and are made in the USA, not JDM. Plus, right now Hytech only builds custom one-off headers built for your specific application, so the $1200 is for a piece custom built to make your car perform the best, not some mass-produced part built for everyone w/ an AEM intake and a Megan exhaust.

(3) I think that there are many "prestigious JDM companies" that do satisfy that market. HKS exhausts sell for like $600-800, same with GReddy exhausts, and you can buy a GReddy turbo kit for cheaper than most USDM turbo kits. Apex'i exhausts sell for about the same price, too. All "prestigious JDM companies".

 

he was seriously busy at this function, had to play the role of host, boyfriend and freind he did it pretty well, his girlfriend was an angel. I actually asked her when would be a good time to talk to him. i tried to stress to talk to me when he had some time, I asked for just five minutes. I was a no body. So he did blow me off, telling me to send my questions to his email... but I understood.

 

I agree with everything but i doubt anything will ever change, and it angers me so much when i go to car shows and see all these cars with replica parts getting so much more attention over other cars that have half as many parts but are all authentic that cost twice as much as the winning replica cars. This is why i choose not to go to SEMA, HIN, and other auto shows anymore. I agree it is that these companies try to produce these parts off as copies, (that fit like sh*t) and people buying them to be different, but maybe it is because s2000 can be had for cheap now, so more kids are buying them who have less money, which means nothing to me because I'm a kid who is not a baller I just was raised with morals, values to give respect to people who are original so i save my money and spend it on companies who produce things originally; so maybe one day they can produce more. A lot People say why pay for x bumper that cost $1100, because that company planned, engineered, tested from scratch, and use them while racing (J's Racing race car, Amuse Race car, Spoon Race car which cost a lot of money to sustain) but instead people spend $400 dollars on the replicas which are just copied from original so of course its less money because they don't engineer anything they just copy parts for their own for their own profit. So i always give big thumbs ups to companies that are original JDM and USDM, but threw out the future all i see is the import market getting worse

Sorry for Rant

 

I check back with this thread almost everyday just to see what people are saying. To the OP that was a fantastic letter. And to everyone else who has posted I love the fact that this is being debated extremely well with none of the typical internet bullshit that normally takes place in post(s) like these. So to everyone keep it up. The angle that I want to bring into consideration that I think should be taken into thought is this sort of thing happens everyday and not just in the automotive world. I work for a Furniture retail company and was for many years a buyer. Every furniture market we would see knock offs. We as a company have bought from these vendors. The thing is we know our market and what who are customer is. We target the lower to middle class customer who has had some credit problems in the past (we can offer our own in house financing) so we do not typically carry the "high end" stuff. But our customers want that look so we buy from vendors who have knocked off higher end stuff. Hell when we got a new bedding line in (we were the first in the country to get it in stock) the first 5 sales of the this new line went to a competing manufacture so they could rip them apart and find out how the other company was making them for so cheap and how they could incorporate that into their own line. Now are these knock offs better than the real deal, no. We always run into problems that when we've carried better quality products we do not have. When it comes to car parts I am on the JDM side, I would not purcahse a knock off, but from a business side I see why companies do it and I see why people buy it. If I have a sofa that from a higher end vendor would retail at $1499 and can purchase it from someone who knocked it off and set it as a retail price of $699, we will go with the $699 one because that what our customer base wants.

 

[QUOTE=Boski,Oct 22 2008, 05:31 AM] I check back with this thread almost everyday just to see what people are saying.

 

still no word from Carter.

 

Good points here, but a lot of people seem to have missed out a bi-product of lower priced parts that fit 'ok' but not beautifully, as many of the JDM parts do.

I go to a well respected bodyshop in the uk - so much so i have a direct debit on a monthly basis with them. I know numerous people who have had the great idea of buying non-original brand named products to save money. Only to spend plenty more subsequently modifying these parts to actually fit correctly to the car. Extremely frustrating and obviously an eventual waste of money after all the 'cost saving' - and this is before the financial crisis.

This reason alone makes me want parts from original JDM manufacturers.

Bling might be Bling, but some people do buy a Rolex because it's a bloody good product. Diamond's might be a girl's best friend but top end build quality sorts the men from the boys.

 

Don't worry too much, he is presiding over an empire in decline.

 

would you care to elaborate?

 

I have heard horror stories of poor fitment body parts (J's), Poorly constructed "uber-rare" Ti exhausts (Amuse and J's) and just plain crap parts (ARC's "ice box intake") to name a few.

I guess its something like buying boutique bits: The imperfections or quirks make it original. Because it is made by an independent shop who poured hours of time and heart into its creation it is better, at a cost of course. I'm more of a form over function person myself, I would love to support original manufacturers, but at that price point I cant.