forged alu (big $$) vs chrome ????????

[65-to-00]

Still on the hunt for wheels and it seems that alu are out except for a few sets of forged for much more than I wanted to spend .... about $2,000 without tires and $3,000 with.

The few chrome that I did chase down were in "OK" condition but the area behind the spokes wasn't polished ..... (my 5 spoke OEM alu are) .... and worse ..... one had something like a dozen of those stick on weights on the back.

Am I being a "Cheap Charlie" .... who just doesn't appreciate the finer things in life? ..... Hell, I realllllllllllllllllly like those forge wheels.

But the dealer down'a road has new uns' for .... pretty sure he said OEcreations ....... for a bit over $250 mounted. But as he warned, they are chrome and not the highest quality.

What would you do ..... :cool ..... I figure I may flash (what wife will give me) .... $1,200 at the guy who wants $2,000.

but .... the ones for $3.000 come with new Yokahama's ..... hnoes but, they a for a base line C6 that he claims will fit a C5 .... but both (front & rear) are the same size???

Are these fancy forged wheels worth it .... aside from the look .. which I love .... is the quality that much better?

 

[Toms007]

Man I really like the looks of the CCW, HRE and Fikse wheels, but are they pricey. Are they worth the price? Boy, I hope so for those who have them. I think I'll keep my thin spokes. If I start to have problems like you've experienced, then I'll have to make that tough decision you're facing.

 

[Pac-man]

It's all about the weight when it comes to paying big money for wheels. Rolling resistance of unsprung weight kills performance. The opposite is also true. If you mount wheels that are lighter than stock you will notice a difference. While your at it, going a little wider (Z06 sizes) is a great upgrade. I have HRE's in Z sizes and boy, what a difference in handling. I also lowered the car on the stock bolts. The lighter, forged aluminum wheels are awsome but expensive. You will be happy if you take the plunge. Just don't buy heavy, cheap wheels. You will regret it. Wheels make the car. Cheap wheels look cheap. Stock wheels are better than cheap aftermarket garbage.

 

[Jistari]

I have cheap repos on mine (there when I got it) which are peeling on the barrels. Outsides look pristine (chrome).

If/when I figure out what to do, and then free up the money, I will be putting on the lightest, highest quality I can afford/find.

Problem is, I like chrome

May wind up getting a set of stock aluminum thinspokes and having them done by the best place I can find.

Yes, I know, the best ones are probably brushed/polished aluminum...not shiney enough for me :L

 

[jrose7004]

I too liked those forged wheels but didn't feel that I could spend $3,000.00 plus either. So I was really patient and kept searching parts for sale threads and E-Bay and came up with a set of i-Forged Swifts. When I got them they weren't in the best of shape so I took them to a wheel shop and had them polished and repaired. I ended up having $1,200.00 in them and look what I ended up with!

 

[Toms007]

When I posted I thought of you jrose. That was a really good deal.

 

[c5y2k]

I took the plunge into those high pricey wheels and ya the bite at the bank hurt some but IMHO they look fantastic. If for some reason down the road I don't want them I can sell-um' for not much less than what I paid for them.

 

[Toms007]

I like them Shan. Just can't afford them.

 

[Fullback32]

Mine has the chrome C6 wheels on it. I just need to put the C5 decals in the center, though I can't decide if I really want to do that. Those rims look great. But, they were on there when I bought it, so that kind of made it easy.