Anyone that's interested this part is fairly hard to find.

Rare JDM 06-08 Honda Fit J Style GD3 Front Grill - eBay (item 290572150274 end time Jun-07-11 22:41:14 PDT)

 

A replica =/= Rare.

Especially when the original is still in production.

 

It's easy to offer arrogant responses. I never said it was rare. "hard to find" which it is. The original is pushing $400! I was just putting out options for people like me who aren't swimming in cash. Hell $120's iffy for a purely aesthetic part that still has to be painted (another 75 to $100?)! I just thought the look was quite nice on the GD3. Not for everybody I'm sure.

 

It's still in production thus not hard to find. Google J's Racing USA.

And for some people they'd rather support the innovators than just buy some cheap, poorly fitting, replica

 

I saw this yesterday as I was surfing e-bay. Its definitely hard to find this replica, I was originally looking for it. After I found out that the original was $400 before shipping. I'm heading a different route now but it was a good find.

Mike - I'm curious about the JDM vs. replica debate. I know they fit better and were originally designed for the car. I just can't justify paying $400+ for something that was JDM and is designed for high speed aero, when it really isn't safe to hit the speeds that the aero is designed for.

I'm not trying to stir the pot. So to speak...I'm just curious if its just a decorative piece for the exterior that meets OE standards, why is it so highly "hated" on in the JDM community?

 

This piece is not highly hated on in the "JDM" world. J's racing is "JDM" by pure definition. This grille in particular is USA made, otherwise it would not fit our USDM front end. "JDM" is a way of modifing a car and a lifestyle we live. No part particular is "JDM" by the stereotype. As we use it : any part made and coming from Japan is JDM. Example: Skunk 2 would be an exceptable part, however Tein is true JDM. Skunk is made in US, Tein in Japan. Get it?

Now for Ebay replicas: these parts hardly ever fit well. Not like the OEM will fit. J's Racing did alot of work making this grille fit right. Ebay versions will have gaps in the areas around hood, lights and bumper. Hence not fitting right.

Many people on this forum have used this replica grille and were pleased. So that is your choice, and your choice only. Let no one decide for you how to mod your car, but dont get butt hurt when someone calls you out.

 

Junk2 is only acceptable if you don't want the best for your car. And there is a us specific version from J's........

 

UMM, did you read my post? I said there is J's racing US. So in realness this is not JDM by pure definition correct? However J's was founded and mainly ran out of Japan. Soo that explains that.

Junk2 ? Thats funny. I do recall them offering quality parts for ALL Hondas way before our fits came out. Junk I hardly think so. Cams, Retainers, Gears, shall I continue?

Nice JUNK on your sig pic too. Maybe you should Edit that post or perhaps new pic?

 

LOL my friend having Skunk2 = me supporting it whole heartedly?

GTFO with this JDM v. USDM bs. J's Racing parts are made in Japan, designed in Japan too. I don't care where they are designed/made so long as they are original and built with quality in mind.

And you think they offered quality, original parts for ALL hondas? So their replica ITR intake manifold but with poorer build quality = quality parts?
-Cams that are known to cause chain slap in K-Series
-The springs on the coilovers vary by as much as 30-40 lbs/in from side to side
-The upper control arms have balljoints that are beyond saving as soon they touch the car
-Their products aren't good so they must make attacks at:
-Other companies
-Honda-Tech moderators

-Here's a good example of how Skunk2 cheaps out:

Mugen looks to Showa to make their shocks/coilovers. Showa is a top-quality company and they build suspension to Mugen's specs. And anyone who has had Mugen suspension (from their street to their N1) knows that all of it is quality.

Along comes Skunk2, and instead of going to Koni, Bilstein or KYB or something, they farm their coilovers out to Taiwan and some no-name company.

Yeah I think Junk2 sucks.

 

"I bought my first Skunk2 product in 1999, and for the next 3 years or so i was a bit of a S2 fanboy. That was until the continual problems with their products and customer service drove me to try Japanese and other American companies, and i never looked back. The first big problem with their products was the cam gears. The first time i used them they slipped at idle when i first started the car up. I hadnt adjusted them at all, just took them out of the box and put them on the motor. Turns out one of the screws galled the threads, loosened up, and the added stress on the other ones caused it to slip. Took a week to get in touch with them, but they finally sent me another set for free. Two weeks later they broke on the dyno, and this time i lost my motor. Bought SRR gears and never had another problem. I have 5 other similar stories i could share, but the point is that i got fed up with their products and lack of customer support so i simply stopped using them. Hell, i have a 6-7 year old S2 IM sitting in the shop because i cant sell it. Once everyone figured out it was just an ITR IM with a B18a/b flange they started looking elsewhere for their manifolds. I know that theyve improved their design now, but shouldnt they have done that to begin with?

btw-My final foray with them was when my S2 throttle body stuck open 3 times a VIR, and when i talked to S2 about it they pretty much made it seem like it was my fault and that id installed it wrong, which infuriated me. There were no binds in the throttle cable so it had to be the tb. In fact, that same cable was still in the car when i sold it last year and it never caused a problem."

Ahhh more great experiences with Junk2

 

Some were displeased as well. It's a matter of cost benefit analysis. ANY purchase is a risk. Will this fit as well as the "real" $400 version, unlikely. Many were interested in the J's replica as an alternative to the more expensive version. I posted for their benefit. Ways to debadge the GD3's front end have been discussed extensively. This is one possible option.

 

Yeah I just wanted to put you on blast for trolling on others threads. When you yourself do not own a fit. A college student with all those cars and parts, and shop? Also a little hard for me to grasp. Sorry I could not let it go. I had Skunk springs on my Fit. They were OK. Not disappointed, But I went with Tein now. Skunk is not great, but not Junk. Megan,yeah.

Mugen is another thread all together. Talk about replicas. They have the most made after their parts.

Holla at us when you buy a Fit for under 10k, and actually start to modify it. If you cant even afford to buy one my guess is you will roll reps..........

 

LOL. I'd roll stock before buying reps. My previous cars will stand for my supporting of a couple quality/authentic parts over a bunch of cheap/rep garbage.

 

So you "really" don't own a fit

 

Correct. I sold my Integra yesterday and am in the process of finding a Fit to buy.

The Fit in my sig and avi belong to Mike410 (eliminate the b)

 

^^^No he does not, and he made me put him on blast. The internet is a great thing is it not. JDM nut with no cash?

My point was let people do what they want to their own cars. Dont bash them for it. You do you. He just cant afford to do him so he suggests his dreams to others.

Even stole anothers avaitar,sig,and screen name....Damn

 

Thanks man, I understand the difference between knock offs and JDM stuff. I don't think I was clear on what I was trying to understand.

A lot of people hate on a car that has rotas, instead of the real JDM wheels such as volks, works, bbs, advan. I'm coming from the mustang world and I went the legit route and instead of getting replicas I bought the original Steeda light weight rims. But Most people go with ebay knock off wheels and grilles. I'm just coming from one world and trying to understand the other.

Is it the "poshness" of owning a JDM product (spoon, J's, mugen, T1R?) I didn't try to de-rail a thread or start a bashing on anyone, I'm just trying to learn more about the culture.

I was just wondering why people frown on knockoffs that are made with good quality.

 

If only you knew the story behind this then you'd get it.

And by no saying I have no cash without knowing the whole story you, once again, come off as a tool. I'm not going to pay what people are asking for their Fits because frankly its retarded.

These cars sold for 16k at most when new, dealerships are asking that same price for an 07 base; and in the used, private party market people are asking 13k which is stupid.

Almost any other car loses 50% of its value in the first 3-4 years, and I'm not going to pay 80-100% of what a car cost new when its almost 5 years old (which some 07's are).

I'm not poor, I don't overpay for things.

And if it helps you believe that I'm not a brokeass I'll list the brands of parts my cars have featured:
-Volk (x3)
-SSR
-Enkei
-BBS
-J's Racing N1 Suspension
-HKS
-Mugen
-ARC Magic

 

I got a replica j's grill on my ride, and compaired it to a buddy of mine that has a real one. It looks the damn same to me. Me and the other guy couldn't tell the difference.

 

If it makes you feel better I picked up my '08 SSM Sport A/T w/ 40K for $12,750 out the door, without a down payment. You just have to bargain and go hard on the dealers.