Alright guys, I told myself I wouldn't make a thread to help make any of my 8-related decisions, but that didn't last very long. I'm looking to purchase a set of wheels for my Whitewater Pearl, and I can't decide. I'm always going back and forth with my choices, and this time it's driving me nuts.

I've basically brought it down to this: I can either purchase Rota D2s (Going to cost about $1200 after shipping), or the Varrstoen TE37 replicas ($850 shipped). Here's the pros and cons of each:

Rota D2:
Pros-
-Looks decent/kind of tacky, but looks pretty good on a white 8
-Available in the offset that I want (+30 all around)
Cons-
-Heavy
-Nearly $400 more expensive than the TE37 replicas
Here's a picture of mikesluv's 8 on Rota D2 wheels

Varrstoen TE37 Replica:
Pros-
-Much cheaper
-A little lighter than stock wheels
Cons-
-Not available in the offset that I want. (Closest offset available is +41, which may still look good, but I have no idea what +41 looks like on the 8)
Here's a picture of a Varrstoen TE37 rep on a 350z

I guess that's about it. Some of you could obviously care less, but I'm sure many of you have been in situations like these, where you just can't make a choice. Help a fellow Mazdabro out. My biggest gripe with the TE37 replicas is that I have no idea what they look like on an RX-8. There's tons of 8s with authentic TE37s, but none of them are white 8s on black TE37s, know what I mean? So it's hard to picture whether or not it would look good.

What would you guys do? What do you think would look best? Keep in mind that my 8 is completely stock as of right now, however, future plans include a dark window tint with a Seibon TS hood. If anyone could direct me to pictures of an 8 with a +41 wheel offset, that'd be swell. Any other wheel recommendations in the ~$1000 range would be nice too!

 

Honestly I would go with the Rota's. Replica aside, they are in the size you want, they are stronger and more reliable than the cheaper alternative, yes they cost more, but are safer to drive on.

However, you mentioned your car is completely stock. I reccomend either getting springs/coilovers BEFORE or with your installation of wheels.

 

I got my wheels for real close to $1200 shipped. 18x9.5 20lb Enkei RP03 so look into some Enkei rims from AutoRnD maybe.

I'd go with the Varrstoen personally as those rims look really nice and are super cheap. 18x9+41 is not that bad of a fitment at all. Later on down the road when you lower the car and get a couple hundred bucks, just throw 10mm spacers all around and you have the fitment you wanted.

Joel, where are you getting they are weak and less reliable from?

 

+1 w/Ross about getting lowered before getting wheels.

+1 w/Jon about shopping around

IMO, nice wheels w/a huge wheel gap looks incomplete. If this is purely for form purposes i would definitely look into getting lowered first then spring for some wheels.

Replica's aren't always a bad choice if you're just looking to make a change in appearance but always shop around before pulling the trigger. Spending $1200 on Rota's when you could have bought Enkei's is like jackin' off when you could be ******'...

just saying. . .don't sell yourself short - Our forum vendors dish out some legit deals.



Vote: Varrstoen's
Reason: They look nicer imo
Suggestion: get a lower offset.

 

ok so much to my surprise, tilla and ross are posting on a wheel thread


that might be the best ******* quote i have read from you tills. ha ha

 

i was lurking around the forums for the past 3 to 4 hours n' finally saw this thread pop up...

i resisted posting in it for as long as i could but after that 5th minute passed...i clicked on it...lol

 

you should TRY to ALWAYS be the FIRST poster on ANY wheel thread lol

 

Jon I just remember reading a thread about those specific Varrstoen wheels on evonet. Some guy was just driving down the highway, hit a pothole, and the rim cracked. The company wouldnt replace the wheel even though it was still under warranty and fit in the description (no defects, etc).

Ive heard nothing but good things about Rota's... it's just my opinion

Also, +1 on teh Enkeis

 

yikes, that's scary!!

+2 on rotas (personal experience)
+2 on enkeis
+2 on continuing to search and maybe picking up used wheels too. actually rota has some other designs that i like better than the one you picked out.

 

Thanks for the opinions, guys. I've looked in to Enkeis previously; they make nice wheels, but they aren't really my style. The only wheel of theirs that I truly like is the RPF1, but I really don't like it so much that I'd spend $1300 on it when I could buy a spot-on TE37 replica for $550 less. Part of why my budget is so limited is because I'm a high-school student with the lovely gas and insurance expenses that we all have come to know and love (Especially with the 8). That extra $500 goes a long way; to me, that's window tint and lowering springs.

I've seen the Varrstoen replicas on other RX-8s, but not on a white one, which is part of why this decision is so difficult. Black wheels on a white car can look great... but it can also look terrible. It's different with each wheel and you don't know until you see it!

Here's a picture of a TE37 replicas that I forgot to include:



Would it look too plain and boring?

 

Well sounds like you want the Varrstoens then. It will definitely look good.