Who cares?

<------ Not this guy !!!!

So does Megan, but no one would ever want to say they are basically the same company...

This is pretty accurate! However, with regard to Zele and Amuse, it's a bit more than this actually. Zele in particular has no interest in making any new aero anytime soon. This is what they told me directly earlier this year when I was hanging out with them at Tokyo Auto Salon. Their reasoning is that while their sales are slow to fair domestically, they're afraid of the amount of replica parts companies out there. Even though Zele is cautious of export markets due to knock-offs, they still have to export because they need the revenues. As one of the biggest Zele dealers outside of Japan, we bring in quite a lot of it, but for every customer, we try to do our due-diligence to make sure parts don't end up in the hands of somebody that's going knock them off.

The same goes for Amuse. Matsui (the new president of Amuse) earlier this year told me directly that he very much wants to make new aero. However, it's a double-edged sword... Since the export markets are becoming much more important to Amuse's survival than even the domestic Japanese market, they need to sell here. However, they're afraid to make new body parts because they don't want their pieces to end up being copied abroad (the US is actually the biggest source of replica automotive aero companies, even more-so than China or Taiwan). This is especially true because of the high sunk costs in producing aero parts in Japan. It's virtually impossible to copy an Amuse exhaust exactly versus copying a fiberglass body panel, so that's where their main revenue stream is going towards.

As for the companies that produces replicas of high quality; why don't they start designing their own, completely original parts? Not "inspired by," not a modification to a kit that already exists from another manufacturer, but something totally original. It's most definitely cheaper to make aero in the US than in Japan, so if these companies produce their own designs that look good, they'll capitalize on the market because the parts will be affordable and good looking. However, this is not the case; these companies knock-off other designs because it's just "easier" than doing their own work.

-Kris

Well said!!!!:iagree:

part of the reason these companies produce replica's instead of making original designs in my opinion is this: They are copying designs they KNOW will sell, versus making something cool and original on the chance it won't sell.

I have been designing aero for a few years now, and I have only had one kit produced.. and bites on alot of my ideas... and unfortunatly for me, I didn't have the funds up front to buy stake in it, now, it's being sold, and I see nothing from it.

I have a few designed for the 370z and even a hood, but i need a company who wants to be original to help me out.

Contact us. We're currently producing aero for GT-R and Evo X, I'd be interested in seeing what kind of designs you have and if we can work together.

If they are for the 370, I would support original designs and such from you guys!

w00t!

Ok..I'm going to put my opinion in here just so's it can be shared. Keep in mind, that this is merely an opinion.

I personally do not see any issues with companies here in the states reproducing items that originated elsewhere. This activity has been going on for a long time, and not just here in the states. Asian countries copy American products ALL THE TIME. Back in the 60's and 70's Japanese-produced copies of Gibson and Fender were pretty prevalent. Hell, the top items copied today that were originally made in the states include toys, jewelry, watches, pharmaceuticals, clothing, shoes, electronics, handbags and etc. It's called commerce, and it's what makes the world go 'round. Right or wrong, makes no matter. It's going on every day and will continue irregardless of whether we choose (as consumers) to buy replica kits or not.

Either way....spend your money as you please, but just keep these facts in mind when you consider criticizing someone because they made a choice to purchase something that's not original.

I'm just sayin'. :)

:iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree:
well said..

true, but when you support replica makers... you end up hurting the community because the original manufacturers loose out... alot of money wasted on R&D. all because they don't make the money back.. which in turn means they won't make more parts for the cloners to clone

To me, buying replica stuff is the same as buying stolen items from a pawn shop. Its still theft (of intellectual property in the case of replicas), and you are still saving money in both cases.

Like another poster here stated...JDM isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. I for one had not 1 but 2 cars with complete (REAL) JDM kits and the fit was just OK. Nothing special...it always needed to have the average body prep done from the shop. Then you come across a company like Shine or others that take the original and get the fitment even better, with about equal quality, what are people supposed to do???

I can certainly appreciate both sides of this, really I do...but let’s take the America vs. Japan thing out of here and take a step back and look at the copy cat of the world, CHINA...let’s talk about how EVERYTHING IS A KIRF there. I just came back from Shenzhen (why I’ve been mia for so long) and its kind-of disgusting...but you know what? Just like here there are a few that go above and beyond in actually putting real quality behind a replica and it happens to be just as good or in some cases (I'm in technology) better!

I think that’s what’s happening here...If it quacks and walks like a duck, it’s a ******* duck. Other than freight (which is what people should be concentrating on) none of these kits for sub-40k cars are worth 10k. Where is the Aero/wind tunnel testing, where is the OEM grade paper work that goes into proving this will be beneficial to the car? Wake up people...Everything is about good marketing. That's a fact!

So in closing, I don’t give a ****. It’s a Z; enjoy the car for what it is and if spending more on perf outweighs paying for a crazy cool JDM kit, good...do it, who cares. If you want to be a show-queen and light up the eyes of all the kiddies wearing I <3 JDM shirts - more power to you. There is a place for both to coexist.

i havent read all 4 pages bc im lazy but everytime i think of cheap bodykits, i think of those 5-6yr old cars with bodykits that are afalling apart, chipping, ect... definately look cheap. Im staying with oem or high quality parts to avoid that down the road. Just my 2 cents

I think the issue is getting clouded; it's not JDM versus everything, it's about real versus knock-off. Copying someone else's hard work and making money off it, thus hurting their business is just plain wrong. People can bring up analogies from other industries regarding copies, but honestly, they're not relevant in the aftermarket parts industry. Revenues are too just low for these companies, due to the size of the enthusiast base.

:tup: repped