Fake Cars (M3 GTS)

[Carcharodon]

Today I saw a bright orange M3 GTS in Newcastle, but when it drove closer I noticed that the interior was that of a standard M3, and it was also on 08 plates. The exhaust looked different, and after checking up on the car I found out that it was a BMW 330i.

I have no problem with people who make replicas, but I'm quite curious how people manage to do stuff like this without it costing more than what the car the replica is trying to copy costs?

Does insurance and all the parts not add up to loads more? Especially as it is "modified."

People who make replicas are obviously into their cars, but don't they realise that others who are also into their cars are able to spot that is not genuine from a mile off?

[MGZRod]

It'd be a good effort to make it cost more in total than a real GTS!

[y2blade]

There is a thread somewhere full of people bhing about missbadged/represented cars.....might be worth commenting on there.


Personally if the driver likes it and it makes him happy what is the issue you have with it?

[Carcharodon]

Good point! I realise maybe the GTS isn't the best example. But I imagine all the carbon fibre parts will still cost a fair bit. I've seen loads of fake s3's and they don't cost a fortune.

[Carcharodon]

I don't have a problem with it, I just recently noticed quite a few replicas and was curious what the mind-set was behind it. Badges are a bit different as they don't cost much and you don't have insurance implications etc.

[Betty Cumberdale]

At least it wasn't a 330d.

[Carcharodon]

It didn't sound too bad actually. Still no M3. the S3 I saw was a diesel and you could hear it clattering away. It was quite amusing.

[Mastodon2]

I've never understood the whole faking it thing. As you say, those who would care would spot it as a fake, and those who wouldnt spot it as a fake wouldn't know or care what it was supposed to be anyway.

[deltashad]

I was admiring a c63 saloon for days in the city im working in. I walked past it every day. Then i noticed it had no bonnet bulges. Very disappointed. I waa duped!!!

[Slow]

Carcharodon said:

I don't have a problem with it, I just recently noticed quite a few replicas and was curious what the mind-set was behind it. Badges are a bit different as they don't cost much and you don't have insurance implications etc.

Technically you do have to declare changing the badges.

[christofmccracke]

I had a corsa vxr replica when I was 19 I could have bought a real vxr but I didn't want to pay the horrific insurance or running costs compared to the 1.2

[big_boz]

There is a Fake B7 RS4 in Dewsbury, however.....on closer inspection its a TDI...not only that, but its a B6 (I can tell from the nasty blue SE interior), that has had the front and rear end facelifted with B7 lights, so its a 1.9 TDI, and its only got one exhaust pipe, so not even a Quatrro.....MADNESS!

[Effortless]

Ha ha!!

I don't understand the concept of turning things into something they're not.

We had an E39 M5 come into the dealership for a service. I heard a load of the techies laughing, wandered over to have a look. Underneath the perfect bodykit, the M5 was in fact... a 520i SE... auto!!

Why do people bother??

Cheers,
Effortless.

[deltashad]

Have to admit when i was 18 i had Delta 1.3 LX. I bought it as a turbo replica. Then i did the twin headlamps and hf4wd look. God i was cool.

[big_boz]

Effortless said:

Ha ha!!

I don't understand the concept of turning things into something they're not.

We had an E39 M5 come into the dealership for a service. I heard a load of the techies laughing, wandered over to have a look. Underneath the perfect bodykit, the M5 was in fact... a 520i SE... auto!!

Why do people bother??

Cheers,
Effortless.

There was a guy in the late 90's somewhere around Silverstone that down graded an M5 to look like a 518 complete with badges, even had Steelies with plastic trims........

[Mastodon2]

christofmccracke said:

I had a corsa vxr replica when I was 19 I could have bought a real vxr but I didn't want to pay the horrific insurance or running costs compared to the 1.2

So did you badge it as a VXR? And did you tell people it was a VXR?

I'm interested as I know Vauxhall do the regular stbox Corsa with the "VXR styling pack" that has a few of the slats and bulges but doesn't have the central exhaust, nor any VXR badging.

[Pablo68]

Who cares? It's no different to women with fake tits/facelifts/false teeth/dressing up like 18 year olds, or blokes with pretend muscles/hair etc. It's just cosmetic st. Best to ignore IMHO.

[Baz Tench]

Mastodon2 said:

christofmccracke said:

I had a corsa vxr replica when I was 19 I could have bought a real vxr but I didn't want to pay the horrific insurance or running costs compared to the 1.2

So did you badge it as a VXR? And did you tell people it was a VXR?

I'm interested as I know Vauxhall do the regular stbox Corsa with the "VXR styling pack" that has a few of the slats and bulges but doesn't have the central exhaust, nor any VXR badging.

Vauxhall are just giving kids what they want then shirley?

[vxr1]

They could have at least had an M3 and made it into a GTS replica.
The one they have is normal to drive but looks like a GTS from a distance... People who know what a GTS is will think it's good until they find out it's a replica and other people won't care.

[skoze]

Girlfriend's mate has a BMW 120d dressed up as an M-Sport, complete with quad pipes. All in all it's actually a pretty nice car, just find the 4-exhausts-diesel thing incredible