Why Rota Wheels Suck

I have to vent here a little bit. Rota ticks me off, not the product quality - the company.

I have winter tires on my stock 2002 WRX rims and Falken rubber on my Rota sub-zeros for summer. Back in Fall 2005, I took a little trip backwards down an embankment and dented one of my Sub-zeros on the curb on the way. I had silver Subzeros at the time. 6 months after I bought the silver sub-zeros, Rota no longer made them. They were only available in a new color - "Polished" silver. So, I ok'd the color change and my insurance company bought me 4 new rims to they would all match. I got shipped 4 "grey" color sub-zeros. Ok. No problem. They look good. I didn't say anything.

This spring, I let my best man drive us home in my car after my bachelor party. He tries to whip it around a street corner, and ends up hitting the opposite side street curb. He gouged the left rear rim and it actually was bent in on the lip. I call around everywhere to find 1 new grey Rota sub-zero in my size. No dice, so I have Vivid Racing order me one from the factory. They said it would take 3 months since it is factory ordered.

Now understand, I used to be a big Vivid Racing customer. But, some years back, they didn't apply a promised discount on my order twice in a row. I stopped buying from them. This Rota order was their chance to win me back. They blew that.

3 months after ordering (and paying) for the new rim, I call them to get a status on the order. They don't have much of an update for me. I then call them every other business day for 5 weeks for a status update. All I get is "Rota in the Philippines is waiting for more orders to ship to the US in bulk." After 5 weeks of calls, I ask to speak to the manager. He says "Rota is waiting for more orders to BUILD the rims in bulk." 4-1/2 months and the rim is not even made yet???

So, I cancelled the order. Now I have 3 "Silver"sub-zeros and 3 "grey" sub-zeros in my basement. None on order. If you own Rota wheels like me because they are cheap, then you are mistaken. My plan was to buy cheap rims should I ever need to replace a broken one - it won't cost much. That doesn't work. I can't find 1 replacement rim of the same color twice within 1 year!

Sorry for the rant, but I am very frustrated.

Vila

 

oh snap!

lol.

 

My point being one of the reasons I bought Rota's was one rim would be cheap and easy to replace. It has been proven to not be eay to replace.

I was planning on using Subey Dude to re-order the grey wheel. That is where I got the 4 grey ones from before.

Vila

 

hey, my car has 4 gunmetal subzeros on it. I know what its like. Maybe if i sell it you can buy the wheels off of it and you'd have enough to last a lifetime

=]

 

Yea, I know a lot of people who buy 5 aftermarket wheels when they order them just incase they damage one.

 

Dan (piddster) did, I haven't ordered mine yet.

 

two silvers on one side, two grey on the other, and you have a spare for each. No one will know the difference except you.

 

I'm looking at some 5Zigens, but they don't have my BRONZE ones in stock...damnits!

so I got this deal on some STi BBS wheels....used '04 Silvers..for $815shipped....neat eh?

 

that's what I was thinking. I bet they'd be hard to tell the difference unless they were side by side. and if you had them matching on either side, you'd never see 2 different colored wheels at once (unless you break a tie-rod...but I doubt that's going to happen :eek3: )