Originally Posted by phunk

In a short-sighted sense, consumers do benefit from the race-to-the-bottom pricing that is sparked by copy cats like Z1... but it is not the sort of competition you are thinking of.

It isn't like they are bringing competition in regards to development and progress to the platform. They are merely providing mildly reinterpreted versions of products you already had access to. They have contributed virtually nothing as far as performance achievements, problem solving, or innovation. Especially when you consider the scale of that company and their resources.

Compare them to businesses of a similar scale that specialize in other platforms such as Supras or GTRs or etc, and Z1 suddenly looks pretty weak sauce. With every other platform, the big heavy hitters are dropping innovation left and right; new/unique power adders, highly engineered intake manifolds, engine programs that solve problems, drivetrain engineering, etc etc. Meanwhile over here we have Z1, 20 years in on the VQ and they are releasing catback exhausts, cold air intakes, strut tower bars, cheap chinese coilovers, and copying anything they can get their hands on from small businesses.