Thread: Venaci Wheels?
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Old 05-24-2011, 07:02 PM   #135 (permalink)
phelan
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Are people on long waits ordering custom rims, i.e. custom widths and offsets that aren't typical for our cars? I'm just curious if there is a manufacturing reason for this. I know there's already a list of people waiting, what would be really interesting is to get more samples to do a data analysis on. For example, did people who receive their rim around the same time order similar type wheel configurations? Are the outliers ordering crazy setups?

Consider that Volks, etc. are 3 month to 4 month waits if you order. Keep in mind, though, that you're ordering a wheel of which they make a big set of - I don't think you custom offset a Volk rim very often, if you do you paid up the arse to do it. The most you can do is custom coloring, and that's easy, it's the forging that's hard. I think ordering a 'Works wheel' also...heh, works the same way. Prescribed widths and offsets, and have at it.

But to manufacture a one-off custom wheel offset the way Venaci offers, the cost is really, really high. I wouldn't be surprised if the manufacturer waited a while to see if anybody else made a similar request so they can reduce manufacturing costs a bit. Of course, information like this should be known up front, so the buyer knows exactly what they're getting into. It really isn't as simple as you think to set up the CNC machines correctly.

Also, shipping from Japan is insane, and by ocean freight is the most cost effective thing to do. I was dying for months waiting for my amuse stuff to arrive piecemeal. Furthermore, and I hate to bring up bad memories, but keep in mind Japan did just get walloped by an earthquake, NOTHING is shipping out of Japan in an expedited fashion...hell, Subaru won't even let me know where my car is.

Not to defend the constant ETA updates and what not, and one year plus is getting excessive, but I'm saying that you still have to consider the engineering costs and time required to build a true 'custom' wheel. It's not as easy as flipping a switch in the machine.

Anyway, hopefully everybody arrives at a...er...peaceful solution that works for all parties involved.

To those who are already resorting to name calling in this thread again - that helps nobody. Stop it.
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Last edited by phelan; 05-24-2011 at 07:11 PM.
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