Powdercoat Gloss Black RX-8 Wheels

Learjet45 · Postby **Learjet45** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:14

hcbr929rr2 wrote:meh, I like the look, I just can't justify paying $400 for factory wheels, for a couple of hundred more I could have aftermarket wheels, I've never understood everybody's draw to factory wheels. I can't believe factory MS3 wheels sell for even more then this

Stock RX-8s can go for over $400 easily. The RX-8 wheel is popular on the 6, and there was a set for sale on 6crew for $450+shpping. (Just want to note: the wheels he's selling are from a Shinka 8, but he didn't realize that at first, so the $450 price tag is for what he thought were stock 8 wheels.) The look like they're in excellent condition from the pictures, and add in the cost of powdercoating them and they are worth more than what Eric is asking.

GR-8 · Postby **GR-8** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:14

hcbr929rr2 wrote:meh, I like the look, I just can't justify paying $400 for factory wheels, for a couple of hundred more I could have aftermarket wheels, I've never understood everybody's draw to factory wheels. I can't believe factory MS3 wheels sell for even more then this

The thing is the factory wheels on our RX-8s and Speeds a pretty "high performance" for factory wheels. They probably weigh less than most Aftermarket sets. The RX--8 wheels are like 20lbs or something and that's pretty light for 18s. If you want to buy them from Mazda they are like $1k a peice. So getting a set at 90% off is a steal.

I havn't wieghed my Gram Lights without tires on them but when I weighed them compared to my stock ones with tires the 8 wheels were a little lighter. I attribute that to the smaller tire size I had on so yeah. And those Gram Lights cost well over $400 for them used with tires.

hcbr929rr2 · Postby **hcbr929rr2** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:14

I agree its probably a great deal for what they are (being over $1k new), in no way shape or form was I bagging him for the price being to high, I was just commenting on the whole factory wheel price in general, we all know it didn't cost Mazda 800 bucks a wheel to make these things, the designs of factory wheels (IMO) are mediocre at best when compared to aftermarket wheels, and I'd be willing to bet there is a ton of more R & D that goes into some aftermarket wheels that are a 1/4 of the price when compared New/Unused to New/Unused factory wheels, just doesn't make sense to me is all lol

GR-8 · Postby **GR-8** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:14

hcbr929rr2 wrote:I agree its probably a great deal for what they are (being over $1k new), in no way shape or form was I bagging him for the price being to high, I was just commenting on the whole factory wheel price in general, we all know it didn't cost Mazda 800 bucks a wheel to make these things, the designs of factory wheels (IMO) are mediocre at best when compared to aftermarket wheels, and I'd be willing to bet there is a ton of more R & D that goes into some aftermarket wheels that are a 1/4 of the price when compared New/Unused to New/Unused factory wheels, just doesn't make sense to me is all lol

I forget who it is that manufactured the wheels for Mazda but lets say it was Enkei. You're saying that the high performance wheel Mazda contracted Enkei to make is not worth more than a cheap, heavy, wheel that they sell at auto zone for $300 a piece? Why make a shotty wheel for Mazda and not put more R & D into wheels than their own cheap ones. What sounds better a deal with Mazda to make wheels for 10yrs or sell your own cheap rims here or there?

IMHO a fair amount of aftermarket wheels are not that nice. In fact most of the ones I think are nice and worth the money are the light weight ones that cost as much and more than the ones Mazda gave us. Finding lighter wheels than our factory ones is difficult when considering price and style. Especially if your wanting to stay with the same wheel size.

Now if we were sitting here talking about say...... a lower end mazda, or any economy car that is not "high performance" I'd agree with you. Why would you want stock rims from a Chevy cavalier to put on our base 3 or WRX? If you want something equal or greater than what you have you have to pay.

And yes the prices are ridiculous. But that's how things work and people make money. Mazda had to buy the wheels to, who knows what it cost them, but it probably didn't cost Enkei $400 to make a wheel for mazda.

Anywho, these wheels definitely are way nicer than any aftermarket set for the price. That's the whole point. $100 a piece is practically giving them away.

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:14

I can vouch for these wheels. They did a great job on the powdercoat, they look really good.

And I know Enkei made the spare wheel for the FD, BALLIN SON! lol

AuroraAxela · Postby **AuroraAxela** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:14

Factory wheels also tend to be made better than aftermarket, hence the price. They can take a bit more abuse than aftermarket, like a curb-check.

ProjectBlack · Postby **ProjectBlack** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:14

Would those fit on a 2003 P5 without too much rub?? I know there are a couple RX-8 models or years that would, but I don't think they were 18's. Not sure. If so, I would be slightly interested...

hcbr929rr2 · Postby **hcbr929rr2** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:14

meh agree to disagree buddy, it is Enkei that manufactures wheels for Mazda (they are actually the 3rd largest wheel supplier in the world, chances are if a vehicle is made in Japan, or is Japanese to some nature Enkei had something to do with the wheels) However, I would have a hard time believing they are putting as much R & D into the factory Mazda wheel contract that they are into their own line up (PF-01's, RPF-1's, RP03's, etc.) which are not heavy cheap rims at auto zone, but they are still a quarter the price of a New/Unused wheel from Mazda. The reason factory wheels are so atrociously expensive is because of demand, Mazda (and other automakers) know for the most part people are only going to buy a "factory" wheel in 1 or 2 quantity at a time, therefore marking that wheel at $800.00+ allows them to make a significant profit on it (you would laugh if you saw what the actual profit percentage is on something like a factory wheel), were people to buy factory wheels in sets of 4 like they do aftermarket the prices would have to start getting in line with some of the aftermarket stuff.

Again I'm not bagging the quality or price of this guys wheels for sale, I just think automakers as a whole have pulled the wool over most of your guys eyes and have got everybody buying and selling an inferior product for premium prices (inferior I guess is my opinion lol, from working in the automotive/power sports world as in depth and long as I did)

~Barn~ · Postby **~Barn~** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:14

I find questioning the motives of others - especially when regarding that which is inconseqential - to be trite.

Website · Postby **Shadowden** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:14

~Barn~ wrote:I find questioning the motives of others - especially when regarding that which is inconseqential - to be trite.

So did you buy these wheels yet? The silver ring would actually match the sunlight silver very well and is pretty heavy duty (not a cheap sticker), I just don't want black wheels (or 18s).

~Barn~ · Postby **~Barn~** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:14

Still on the fence about them. I actually like the contrast of "silver" wheels against the darker color of my 6. I'm sure I would like how these look, no doubt, but then I'd have the hassle of swapping the tires from/to, and then selling off mine.

Somebody wanna photochop for me?

Website · Postby **Shadowden** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:14

new tires, so you have winter and non-winter wheels?

~Barn~ · Postby **~Barn~** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:14

Yeah, but I don't drive this car in the Winter, so no real need.

geo2maz · Postby **geo2maz** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:14

Website · Postby **Shadowden** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:14

Did you change the one way sign?

Looks good geo (the photoshopping work).

I played with painter some, but I couldn't make it do what I wanted exactly. I'll get it figured out though.

Powdercoat Gloss Black RX-8 Wheels

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