OK so let me start off by saying I used to be a JDM ****. When I had my Type R and my Type R hybrid.....if it wasn't from the motherland....then it wasn't going on my car. I spent a lot of money for the authentic JDM stuff and retrospect I think in some instances I think I spent to much.

I'm older now and have a family and while I like the so called JDM style of things I have to balance that with my love of just purely modifying my car because thats what most of us love doing anyways. I have to decide if its worth taking my spare cash to spend a crap load of money to get the REAL DEAL JDM piece, or do I go with a replica/US equivalent and spend that money elsewhere. Basically my dollar has to stretch a bit more now since i have other obligations and quite frankly getting something authentically JDM isn't as important to me as it once was.

So here is my dilemna. I bought my EVO IX with EVO 8 interior (previous owner got screwed by an evom member...long story). I REALLY like the IX leather and the MR/SE interior even more but I got a good deal on the car so I couldn't pass it up. Also I absolutely love the JDM MR bumper and tail lights.

So on the tail lights there are replica's, people are painting or modifying it on their own so they get the same look. I have agonized over this for a lot longer then I needed to IMO. I love the look and if I can get the look without spending twice the money to get the real deal why do I feel wrong for opting to do it the cheaper way. The replica's are pretty close to the real thing as far as I can tell and don't leak. No different then modifying them yourself (and I would find some way to screw it up).

Next is the bumper.......about the only thing that makes sense to buy even though the price has raised some in the last few months because it comes pre-painted (unless you are BBY) and I do believe body components you can not cheap out on.

Lastly the seats. Probably the one thing I have flip flopped over the most. So I have a few options (I posted up about it a few weeks ago) on what to do to change my seats up (get gouged for some authentic MR/SE interior, Get Recaro to recover the seats, Buy real deal Brides/Sparco's or go with the cheaper Bride Canada/Taiwan, Corbeau's etc). On the one hand no one can confirm the crash worthiness of the Bride Canada seats but I can tell you the Bride Japan seats are uncomfortable for my 6' 4" frame. Also how can I truly justify putting 2000 into seats and I still have other goals with the car. I plan to track it once in a while....maybe a trip down the strip....but honestly I love this hobby and I'm doing it for me mainly.....so why do I need to buy the real ones if the Bride Canada seats perform the same as the Bride Japanese ones.

I'm trying to get some confirmation of the crash ratings for these seats and that will probably be the determining factor (I don't want to die to save a few bux) but I also don't want blow $2000 in seats when I still want to upgrade my turbo and do some other stuff. I'm still leaning towards getting Recaro to recover my seats but by the time I'm done I'm still looking at about $1000 to get it all done with shipping. The color choices they have by default aren't the greatest....and anything customs costs exponentially more, unless I went with something generic (no Recaro emblem).

So I guess the point of this sermon was to gauge how many of you have been in a position where you get the high dollar component (and its high dollar partially because of Name) but there was a cheaper alternative available and you had decide between the authentic or the knock-off/DIY/Cheaper route.

Anyone else in the same predicament......Have any honest (adult) opinions?

 

Why not just buy some stock IX Recaros since you like those? I wouldn't risk it with cheap or knock-off seats. My friend had one break on him, and a failed seat could very easily lead to serious injury or death in an accident.

 

+1 although a set of official Brides would be pretty sweet.

 

The prices are all over the map. I've seen front/rear IX interior goign for as low as 1K (Guy never got back to me) and 2k (Thats whats currently in Private interior forum.....thats seems too high). And I've seen people get screwed here on interior seats so there is the added pressure of getting screwed.

I would jump on a deal for Evo IX MR/SE seats for 1000-1200 in a heartbeat. I love that material/color.

My post started off on the whole fake vs authentic bBride seats but it got me thinkign about the other high dollar JDM stuff we buy (ARC, Top Secret etc) and I started to spiral out of control (hence why the initial post is so damn long).

 

I have got CTR seats they were worth every penny

 

Sometimes, the best product doesn't mean the highest price.

In the end, its your money. You worked for it, you use it as you see fit.

But for me, I'll stick with something thats not as expensive, but works in the same way. =P

 

Thats way I'm starting to feel. While I was waiting for epople to commment I put a WTB post up for stock MR/SE seats.

EVOM is awesome.....I have a deal for some fronts from one member and the rears form another. It'll be a little more then I wanted to spend together but I love the MR seats.

Hopefully this goes through next so my next dilemna is authentic JDM MR tails or the depo knock off's. (200 vs 500-600)

 

why dont you just get the seats recovered i wouldnt think that would be anywhere near 1k i saw on here somewhere you could buy the actualy material from recaro

 

I actually contact Recaro (One Smike's suggestion) and the guy I spoke to there was really helpful. He said they can recover for roughly 250 a seat (Forgot to ask him how much the back seats were). I like the idea of Recaro doing it themselves simply because they are the ones who made the seat and I have yet to find a local custom upholstery shop I like and trust.

The problems I have seen with this are: Down time for the car not having something else I can put in there makes it unattractive esp. since I have spent the last 2 months waiting on my transmission and transfer case to come back from shep. The second problem I had was the patterns/optiosn of fabric were not very much to my liking. There were ok but I want to do something a little different then what they had available if I'm going ot spend the money. Also the Recaro rep was very straight up...he said they would pay attention to my stuff but if they had a big order then mine would be on the back burner. If you count the money for shipping its marginally cheaper minus the inconvenience of having the down time while the the seats are getting upholstered.

Getting stock MR seats looks more and more attractive..... and if you count selling the stock VIII interiror....(Worn I figure i shoud be able to get 2-300 for them) that brings the cost closer to goign the cheaper route of recovering the stock VIII interior....all t=without the hassle of not being able ot drive my car.

 

I have a Bride Ergo driver's seat in my car and as much as I loved it when I first installed the seat, I'm getting older and not into it as much anymore. But, it does hold me in place.
I have seen the fake Brides and they're not bad. Best advice is sit in as many seats as you can.

Marshall