$900, couple grand, several grand... what's up with that? does anyone else feel it's kinda stupid to pay $1000 or more for pieces of metal that don't give your car anymore power? it gives it some style (and only to people who care, don't try picking up girls by getting custom rims because no one other that people who care about rims gives a f*ck) but in reality cost the manufacturers $30 to make??

 

BLING BLING

 

just don't buy expensive rims then....

 

i highly doubt high quality light weight racing rims that weigh less than 20 lbs. each while being 18x8 inches are only $30 to make.

quality, workmanship, materials used, and the weight savings in rotational mass is all considerable into the pricing

 

i dont think rims are stupid, good rims can make a car. but i cant justify spending over a grand for a nice looking rim, and if you want a nice looking, and light weight rim, your looking at a couple grand with tires.

i am perfectly happy with my 5-point SE rims!











but i would mind some evo 5 rims

 

I have two sets for sale. 16" and 17" check the sig and in the for sale sections

 

save $...buying used rims/tires own
you have the funniest "bumps"

 

I was able to buy my lightweight 18's for under $500 shipped to my house. Personally I don't think its very practical to spend thousands of dollars on wheels (at least for a family sedan), when you can shop around and find something better priced. But then again its all about what you want and what you can afford.

 

Same reason you can walk into a chain store eyeglass place and order frames for $329 and lenses for another $350--fashion. I have 18x8 TGF rims that I got closeout at $129 a year ago. Look in a fall '99 Road & Track, the same rims were over $320 each. When style changes, they get sold at 1/2 price. You think they still weren't making a 100% markup at $129? Sure they were.

 

those heavy 50 pound 5th rims is what makes the 5th gen maxima fall behind in acceleration with the 4th and 3rd gens. Just read STEVTEC's 3rd vs. 4th vs. 5th gen spread

 

is it really that bad?

 

17 inch 5h gen wheels are 5 lbs heavier than my 19's and my car even rides smoother, imo (placebo effect)

 

You have to understand what it takes to make wheels and the difference between high quality cold-forged rims and then just cast wheels. Cast wheels are relatively cheap and there are many out there. But they are usually remakes, sometimes are of low quality(not always) and can fail. But quality forged wheels which are usually lower in weight, take a long time to produce with very expensive machines producing tons of force to produce. If you really knew what went behind making a wheel you would understand why they cost what they do. But I do admit, supply and demand always makes a difference in price.

 

so you're telling me quality and workmanship is the reason why some rims will cost more than the car's engine itself? and not because of outrageous mark-ups because stupid people are willing to put up with the prices? for cryin' aloud...

 

its hard to compare the cost of rims with the engine. If you want to be fair you should also include all the costs to R&D the design of the engine and the engineering work also.

some people like to pay more for quality and workmanship, some don't... its just an opinion. A ferrari costs so much more cause there is so much more quality and workmanship and engineering into the car.

So if your comparing cheap rims vs. expensive rims, the quality and workmanship is a good standard for the reason of the difference in price

 

although i'm not a fan of 16" rims, the stock 97-99 maxima SE has the best stock rims i have ever seen. A lot of people use them with their kits and it doesnt look bad as long as your dropped. And they are light compared to most other rims out there since they are smaller and stock...

 

You really have no concept of business do you?

A lot of the cost in rims is markup, but that's just how it is. If the companies weren't making a decent amount, then they wouldn't make the rims, simple as that.

But you have to realize that it probably does cost Nissan less to make an engine than it costs some of these companies to make their wheels. It's all about economies of scale. Nissan makes hundreds of thousands of engines, when you do that, your R&D, tooling, raw materials, and labor costs are significantly reduced per unit.

A lot of these expensive wheels are low volume production runs. Notice how it takes up to 6 months to get some of these high end wheels? They can't make them fast enough. When you have to pay for the tooling, R&D, materials and labor for limited volume production, then the costs skyrocket. If they sold hundreds of thousands of each rim, then the price probably would drop a ton. But they don't. Every size, ever diameter, offset, and so on requires different tooling. All that costs. It may only cost a company $50 to make a rim, but then there's the R&D and tooling investments as well as overhead and other budgets that have to be recouped. You can't just factor in the actual cost of production, there are a lot of other costs associated with making a rim.

Bottom line, if you're not willing to pay, don't. But don't ***** about it and call others stupid for buying them. Just because you can't afford it, or aren't willing to pay it doesn't mean someone else is stupid for buying them. You bought a Maxima, you could have easily bought a Kia. They're both cars right? How do you know the Kia owner isn't calling you an idiot for paying so much for a car, they do the same job don't they?

 

I think that there is also somewhat of an Art factor involved.

A unique design that is eye-catching and thought-provoking will always bring the $

 

just remember you get what you pay for kinda like these RVM UDP's cheap but the biggest POS and most expensive paper weight on the market.

 

every thing cost a fortune, my friend just spent 7 grand on a custom fiberglass widebody, that alot of money to extend a car a couple of inches. rims make the car and if you dont like the prices get out of the game but dont hate on us by calling us idiots just becuase you cant afford it. i h8 cheap peeps that always b1tch about prices

 

Yep ,that pretty much sums it up. Since I don't race I am more into rims for the overall visual appeal it gives to the car. Talking about that , I need to get some 19's in Gunmetal or Hyperblack

 

no offense but you're full of ****. here's an example of R&D legitly bringing up the cost of something. Take microsoft's visual studio, which costs around $1000. for them to create that software, it took hundreds or thousands of programmers, project managers, coordinators, scripters, technicians, etc. and it took them thousands of hours of hard work, over several months. that's why a copy of their software costs $1000. now let's take $1000 rims. for them to research and develop them, it did NOT take thousands of people working together thousands of hours. It took a few guys that know what they're doing a hundred hours at the most. It's not that hard when you have software that tells you everything about how a new rim design will act, it doesn't take THAT long or that much effort for R&D then. but according to you, to recoup the costs of that R&D, they mark up their rims to $1000. that's bullsh!t, the ONLY reason why they cost so much is because stupid people will pay for them, like I said earlier. It's not that they don't have enough machines or tools. That reason, which by the way is a popular excuse for THEM to tell you when asked why they take so long to make or cost so much, is analogous to when the PS2 or new game systems come out. At first they come at slowly, claiming that they can't be produced fast enough. It's just a ploy to get demand to a fever pitch and have people paying all sorts of money for them. Why do you think when the PS2 came out people were selling them on eBay for $700? Because Japan didn't have enough machines or tools to make PS2s fast enough????? Hahahahahaha, ignorance. And why do you think the rims cost $1000 then? Well apparently, you DO think it's because of a lack of machines and tools. Ok, fine, clearly ignore how with all the money they make they could easily buy more machines, and ignore how limiting the number of machines they have would be hugely advantageous to their business, giving them further incentive to do so, and also ignore how the R&D doesn't take that long at all. If you ignore all those things, then you would be right. A while ago I saw a show on the Discovery Channel about Jesse James building an all new motorcycle design and building it for himself, and they showed the process of making the rims. The rims he created were EXTREMELY unique, complicated, and by your logic would take R&D so much time to come up with that they'd sell for $5000. But do you know how long it took? It took Jesse a few hours to draw the designs, and then working with another specialist (who used computer software to analyze the rim design) a week at the very most (the show made it look like it only took a day or two, though). So again, the only reason why they cost so much is because people will pay for them. I guess my original question should've been "why are the people who paid this much for rims so stupid?" but then I would've had all the stupid people that already paid for them blindly defend what they did in a superficial attempt at saving their pride. Which is what is happening in this thread...


The "it's art" idea makes the most sense I guess, after all famous painintgs can go for millions, but these are rims, guys. They are mass produced. When a van gogh painting is mass re-produced they will then only sell for $10. Similarily, if only ONE set of rims for a specific design was ever sold, then several grand or even $10K grand would be reasonable. But since they are mass-produced, just like $10 van gogh paintings...

 

Nice rims are luxury items. The money spent is worth one's own personal satisfaction and enjoyment. Why buy Gucci when Gap serves the same purpose? If you don't want to spend that money, then good for you.

 

I'm just curious why the starter of this thread has such a chip on his shoulder with regards to aftermarket wheels? If you don't like it don't buy it. Sure they are a waste of money, my father tells me all the time I'm wasting my money on my car. And it's the truth, I am wasting ALOT of money modifying my car. Money that I could put towards the downpayment on a house, or invested. But I modify my car because I ENJOY it. That's it, plain and simple. It brings me joy. I love to race, I love to make my car better. My lightweight wheels make my car better at what it is I enjoy, they make it faster, they make it lighter, and they look better (subjective opinion) than what came on the car originally.

My beef with this thread is not the fact that wheels are a waste of money, which they truely are, but the fact that you are calling people stupid for buying them. Since when does one's choice in material purchases make one stupid? Call me stupid when I fail out of an aeronautical engineering curriculum (which isn't going to happen). Not when I purchase a set of wheels to make my car faster

 

if i loved to kill people, could i justify an otherwise ignorant idea by saying I enjoy it and it bring me joy?

I'm not cheap, or poor, so quit blindly assuming, max1ma97se. I just think it's stupid. If there were a bunch of people that liked collecting and buying designer pencils that cost $5 to produce, but were sold for thousands of dollars, they might very well enjoy what they're doing and it's their right to do what they want, but everyone else around them would see how stupid they are some might try to make them aware of this. I'm trying to bring the same insight here...

it's not a big deal though, i was just curious, and i have my answers from you guys.

 

Good lord. You missed most of the point of my post. Ok, MS Visual Studio took thousands of programmers, thousands of hours, true. It costs $1K, true. But they sell how many tens of thousands of copies. Economies of scale. If they only sold say 1000 copies, how much would it cost? A lot of these expensive rims only sell a few thousand sets if that. Scale that down, and R&D becomes an issue. And do you know how much it costs to make rims? Doesn't look like it. In most manufacturing processes, the actual cost of production is rather small compared to the selling price of the item. I'm very familiar with equipment/tooling costs and manufacturing processes, and it's not as easy as just buying a new machine when demand rises. If it were that easy, I'd be a lot richer.

Tell you what, you start a company. That produces rims. make them for the $30 a set you claim it costs. And sell them for say $60, a 100% markup is rather generous isn't it? Anything more is just outrageous according to your logic. I mean you'd make a killing wouldn't you? Undercutting everyone else in the market by 90%, you'd be richer than Bill Gates right?

You killed your own argument with your own analogy. When you look at the markup, you're saying $1K rims that cost maybe $30 to make. You're ignoring all other costs. But when you bring up the MS argument, how much does that actually cost Microsoft to manufacturer. Maybe $1 for the software? The rest of the cost is to cover R&D, overhead, marketing, and profits isnt' it? But a rim company isn't justified in doing the same thing because you don't happen to think they should? Is everyone who pays $1K for MS Visual stupid for paying it? I mean MS just made $999 pure profit on each of them.

Your original argument freaking hinged on that point, and you just contradicted it. Why don't you just admit you don't like rims? You don't, that's your opinion. But calling others stupid for having another opinion is just plain ignorant. If you were just curious, why the chip? It's like you're mad at people for buying rims or something.

And one final thing, and this is going to be really profound, so you guys may want to write this down.

"LOOKS ARE IMPORTANT TO MOST PEOPLE!"

You don't like the way aftermarket rims look, great. Plenty of people like the way they look and are willing to pay to get that look. Just because it doesn't add any performance is beside the point, they want their car to look nice. It's not any less valid a reason than buying a turbo so their car is faster.

Based on your logic, everyone should drive ugly cars that only go fast. Would people buy a car that performs like a Ferrarri, but looks like an AMC Gremlin? Probably not.

 

Let's not get into an argument of Moral Relativism here, because that's what you're doing. Killing people is inherently wrong. Purchasing wheels for your car is not.

Are you trying to reform those of us who enjoy modifying our cars? You still didn't answer my question about why you have the chip on your shoulder for aftermarket wheels. And you didn't answer the other person's question about why you purchased a Maxima instead of an $8000 Kia. You are trying to pass judgement on people because they bought something that you felt was unneccessary. And yet this thread is unneccessary. Why not do something more constructive with your time than chastise other people for purchases they have made with their own money. This thread is getting very redundant. I'm not an intelligent person because I purchased some wheels for my car, I guess that nullifies all the education I've recieved in my lifetime.

Here's a thought, sell your car and walk everywhere, because cars are a waste of money, all they do is depreciate.

This thread is completely pointless and I'm ashamed of myself for posting on it honestly, but what's done is done.

 

People. Either start making sense like Neal/Shadow mentioned or it's gone.

 

actually if you read my sig, you will se i dont own a 5th gen. i have a 97' maxima. and post states 5-POINT SE rims. i have the stock 5-point se rims for 97' - 99' maximas. i like them, they came with the car and look good for stock in my opinion.

how heavy are they anyways??

 

Delete the thread and save yourself the embarrassment. If I were you, I would change my name and start over as a newbie.

 

this dude is a crackhead. i just read his cool sig.

 

With tires you are looking at about 40 to 45 pounds a piece. I think the rims alone are 24 pounds.

 

You can compare it to tires as well. Would you buy a cheap *** set of tires and risk the low quality build and little R&D that goes into it? Or would you want to pay for a higher quality tire?

 

If people are willing to pay expensive prices for their rims, then its their decision and their money to spend. If you don't think spending $$ on rims is worth it, then don't.

I bought a set of wheels recently and every time I look at my car, I'm happy and satisfied that i bought them. I definitely don't regret getting them at all. Basically, no matter what you argue, it doesn't really matter cause everyone will have their own opinions on what they want to do with their money and what they see as worthwhile.

 

OK...first off thanks to Jeff(Shadow) and Nealoc187 for making some sense of this situation. Jeff knows his stuff especially cuz that's his living. Obviously Allen doesn't do this sort of thing, cuz if he was, he'd be broke.

Aight, you brought up my favorite show and someone I respect, Jesse James and Monster Garage. OK, do you actually know the process of making a wheel or any other metal part for that matter. Custom wheels that West Coast Choppers and other chopper builders have made are custom one off pieces that usually cost about $5,000 a piece, as you stated. But do you know how much a CNC machine cost? What is actually involved in the CNC process? Or even what CNC stands for? You're under the impression that after one program is made, that all the other wheels are made with the same program. Do you know how long that one small motorcycle wheel takes to machine? Looking at the neighborhood of 30-60 hours a piece, under the watchful eye of a CNC operator. If every wheel were made under that same process, every wheel would cost $5000 a piece. Most wheels are cast and the better ones are forged. That means dies and tools have to be created and maintained. And the process of the wheel is long and expensive to. You think that the only cost in making a wheel is the material itself. Well, ever heard of the phrase "time is money?" Well, wheels take time to make hence "time is money." I don't claim to be in an authority of wheel making but I am familiar with the complexities of forming metals. I understand that wheels cost alot of money and I can't wait till the day I can actually buy some, but till then I'll continue studying and not complaining about something I have no clue about.

 

so start shopping at pep boys then

 

Man, when I started reading this thread, I thought you were just venting. Now, it's obvious you're trolling. Or stupid.

Why is it everyone else is so fuggin stupid, when you're the one wearing the logic flak jacket? I mean, every point you brought up in every one of your posts was taken to the ground and beaten like rented mule, over and over and over. Yet you couldn't let it go.

None of this bugged me much, until I got to this jewel:

Nobody should be this stupid. Therefore you're a troll. Or else you need to take a deep breath, and get over yourself. IBTL.

theLoon

 

I know what you're saying, because there is definitely a wide variety of qualities when it comes to tires. But as far as rims go, higher price does not equal more "R&D <ayfkm?>," it's about styling. Like I said, my 18x8 was only $129, so that's cheap ***? It was in the fall '99 Road & Tracks selling for over $320 each. The style changed. Stock rims cost more than double $129, so they're better designed at 6.5 to 7" wide? Is a forged rim better than a cast rim? I should think so, it's not just weight it's strength.

There are times when you get what you pay for, many times. There are times when you must pay for style. My frames cost over $400, and the lenses were another 300, and you must wait 3 months to get them. You think they are really any better than frames that are 2 for $99? I don't, but as long as chicks like it I open up the checkbook.

 

Damn..bringing chicks into this is a whole other matter. There are many ways to land a chick without spending the dough. That's another topic for OT forum.

And yes the price of rims is complex; based on style, quality, amount of time in R&D, and demand.

As far as stock rim pricing you can't even bring that into the picture because the way Nissan or any other car manufacturer sets prices is wacked. For a 2k2 GLE wheel is about $550. I bought a whole set of new rims for $700 and they are better quality, lighter, and in my opinion better style.

 

I just bought a new set of 97 - 99 SE wheels, and I weighed them at about 20 - 21 lbs a piece. Now it was with a fish scale so I don't know how accurate it was.