Doin' It Right

When people choose to purchase replica aero over the authentic parts there is often a "Well, the replica part is better than the authentic..." absolution that follows. This misguided rationale is born as a result of replica companies doing something to "improve" the original - they may use different materials or add different "trim" ornamentation or aesthetic adornments. A prime example of this can be seen with the replica company that has pilfered (among other JDM tuning companies) Zele Performance's aero kit for the V36 platform. They have added an option of carbon fiber accenting on their "Z-Style" rip-off. These types of alterations are appealing to some and provide a justification for their corner-cutting practices. A warped justification, in my opinion, but a justification nonetheless. Now, please bear in mind that I have never once stated that all replica parts are inferior quality or have poor fitment. I have not. Do not get me wrong, there are MANY cheap, shoddy, poor-fitting replica parts out there, but there is also a handful of replica companies that produce decent-quality parts with minimal fitment issues. My main dispute in the replica/authentic debate is not about quality. It is about the unscrupulous piracy of the product of someone else's ingenuity and hard work. It is about taking credit for something; credit that has not been earned. Simply, it is about theft. Furthermore, no matter how it is presented, no matter what "enhancements" are made, the replica companies are still basing their product on the design of the true talent of the industry, the real pioneers of the Japanese tuning world. It does not matter if the "improved" replica version is bulletproof or indestructible - it is still, at its core, an unoriginal, stolen design.

There are some enthusiasts out there who refuse to compromise on their builds, even if the replica variant may be more aesthetically attractive. Below are a couple shots of an authentic Zele Performance front bumper. (Of course, an authentic bumper is not available from Zele with carbon fiber trim.) However, the owner decided to have certain portions of it wrapped in carbon fiber before having it painted and clear-coated. Now, he could have easily opted to purchase the hack replica version of this bumper, complete with the carbon already done, for a fraction of the price of the authentic, but, instead, he decided to keep within the theme of the rest of his build: legitimacy. 

In a social media world in which build mediocrity and faking the funk are praised and rewarded on a daily basis, JDMphasis would like to take a second and applaud those enthusiasts who refuse to cut corners. Respect.

JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation

The one less traveled by...

The Road Not Taken

By Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence;

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Conflict of interest?

I recently came across a vendor's Facebook page advertising Volk Racing replica wheels. A few days later they were advertising Rays Engineering and Volk Racing stickers and decals. Not only did this annoy me a bit, but it reminded me of the following memo regarding Rays Authorized Dealers issued by Mackin a few years back... (Yes, I have posted this before.)

For all I know, everything could be on the up-and-up here (which is why I have refrained from referencing the name of this vendor). On top of that, this particular issue is not exactly the same as the scenario outlined in the memo above. However, I do not think it is an irrational stretch to suggest that Rays Engineering would not be overjoyed with the practice of a company knowingly selling authentic decals to replica wheel owners. According to the Rays website, this particular company is not a R.A.D., which, I assume is, sadly, the reason that not much can be done about this. Que sera, sera.

JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation

A VarStolen Proposal

Equivalent to proposing with a cubic zirconia?

(Source: The Facebook page of a replica wheel company)

Corner-cutting. Every girl's dream...

JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation

Made in China.

Convincing.

Except not really...

JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation