Dc5888 said:
How much better is genuine is what you should be asking...
perfect fit, wont need test fitting, alterations, adjustments to make it fit, made from abs as oem bumpers and skirts are, just paint and fit..
these cars are now at a price where lots of people can afford to buy and insure them, just... and when it comes to maintenance and mods everything is done on the cheap, my opinion of course.. way too much fakery around now. i would rather save up a few months more and buy genuine every time..
extracted from the net about why genuine is more expensive...
The brands that invest heavily into Research and Design do so because like us they love cars. They love racing. They want to push the boundaries and do better than the next guy. It's built into our DNA - survival of the fittest. But the brands face some real challenges - the global credit crunch limits capital they can draw from, raw material costs are only going up and raw materials are being used extensively by other industries - placing limitations on what can be produced and when they can be produced. But a far greater threat exists - illegal styled, replica or themed parts which either garnish from a brands good name or copy directly a brands products. Whilst capital and raw materials can be found elsewhere, illegal products have the power to completely collapse a brand on their own.
Fact: Replica products in any shape, form or description are illegal - it's as simple as that.
Brands invest into Research and Development with the income generated from sales. As a result of this Research and Development new products are produced to better the automotive experience. With new parts comes increased sales - and given that their products are not being copied (a crucial aspect of the cycle) - the increased sales result in lower part costs (a positive with many customers) because of the increased volumes. From this income more and more time and effort can be dedicated to producing new parts via Research and Design - and the cycle continues.
The pivot of the system relies on customers seeking only authentic products and rewarding the brands by purchasing them. If market share is being directed towards illegal replicas or styled parts the brands cannot afford to keep producing new parts and the market dries up (see Trust and Apexi for recent examples).
Aside from the economics of this issue, a more concerning matter exists and that is the safety of the consumer. The majority of authentic parts come with various manufacturing standards ratings, quality control ratings or sanctioned approvals (such as FIA, Jasma etc) so that you are sure the part can perform as specified without safety issues. Illegal replicas and styled parts live off the authentic brands' good name and place people at risk with inferior materials and false endorsements.
rant over :xhappy: