Aftermarket alloy wheel advise.

[carl1]

As title. I really like my car GTI with PP but the wheels i'm not that keen on (Austins). I don't want to spend thousands on wheels so i done a quick search on Ebay and i came across some 18" Santiago copy's for about £400. Am i best to avoid these copy wheels and stick with what iv'e got or are they ok.
Also are they ET 45 or 49 on the GTI.
Thanks for any advise.

[kenny.c]

OEM Austins are ET49

Myself id avoid copies....most tend to be very heavy and have a poor finish to them. Maybe look around for other OEM wheels from Audi - Seat - Skoda

Ken

[GrahamFR]

whhhhaaaaattt, the Austins are the nicest part of my car lol. However if you wanna change them, may I suggest you put an advert up for a swap, OEM for OEM, i am sure there are similar minded people to me that drive audis, skoda's and seats...

I wouldnt be taking them off for knock-offs.

[GrahamFR]

I dont like the cupra's and youd be hard pushed to find someone wanting to swap 19's for 18's but the 18" ‘Gemini’ anthracite alloys i do like, off the vrs...

[Exonian]

There are a certain amount of replicas sold as "replacement" wheels which are made in Italy and are of good quality with TUV approval.
99% of replica alloy wheels are Chinese knock offs which should be viewed in the same way as any other Chinese knock offs. You'll either be lucky or most likely get something with poor construction and finish, which is fine if it's just a household electrical gadget, but not ideal if it's going to be used at 70mph keeping your heavy car on the road complete with its occupants. And the diamond cut finish just ain't gonna last is it?

There are loads of aftermarket wheels that look far nicer than the Austins.
I've got a set of Rondell 02RZ alloys on my GTI which look pretty OEM and MAK wheels do an 18" wheel that's good quality and looks totally OEM and even takes the original bolts and centre caps called 'WOLF'.

[carl1]

I quite like those Rondel's. Have you got any pics of them on the car?

[carl1]

 Anybody heard of these and do you think they would suit the mk7 or are they too boy racer ?
http://cdn3.wheelbasealloys.com//product-images/productlarge_9585_600.jpg

[golfhappy]

There are a certain amount of replicas sold as "replacement" wheels which are made in Italy and are of good quality with TUV approval.
99% of replica alloy wheels are Chinese knock offs which should be viewed in the same way as any other Chinese knock offs. You'll either be lucky or most likely get something with poor construction and finish, which is fine if it's just a household electrical gadget, but not ideal if it's going to be used at 70mph keeping your heavy car on the road complete with its occupants. And the diamond cut finish just ain't gonna last is it?

There are loads of aftermarket wheels that look far nicer than the Austins.
I've got a set of Rondell 02RZ alloys on my GTI which look pretty OEM and MAK wheels do an 18" wheel that's good quality and looks totally OEM and even takes the original bolts and centre caps called 'WOLF'.

Even if it's a household electrical gadget i'd avoid...i bought a guitar recently with an all singing and dancing Tronical tuner, had to have the proper charger from Germany  at £32 or chinese one from ebay and a burned down house the choice was easy!!!!! i own golf R replicas..i hold my head in shame 

[Exonian]

I quite like those Rondel's. Have you got any pics of them on the car?

Anybody heard of these and do you think they would suit the mk7 or are they too boy racer ?
http://cdn3.wheelbasealloys.com//product-images/productlarge_9585_600.jpg

They'd be more suited to the rounded styling of the mk5/6 I reckon. Nice wheels but the mk7 needs quite angular wheels to match the car's lines

[Exonian]

There are a certain amount of replicas sold as "replacement" wheels which are made in Italy and are of good quality with TUV approval.
99% of replica alloy wheels are Chinese knock offs which should be viewed in the same way as any other Chinese knock offs. You'll either be lucky or most likely get something with poor construction and finish, which is fine if it's just a household electrical gadget, but not ideal if it's going to be used at 70mph keeping your heavy car on the road complete with its occupants. And the diamond cut finish just ain't gonna last is it?

There are loads of aftermarket wheels that look far nicer than the Austins.
I've got a set of Rondell 02RZ alloys on my GTI which look pretty OEM and MAK wheels do an 18" wheel that's good quality and looks totally OEM and even takes the original bolts and centre caps called 'WOLF'.

Even if it's a household electrical gadget i'd avoid...i bought a guitar recently with an all singing and dancing Tronical tuner, had to have the proper charger from Germany  at £32 or chinese one from ebay and a burned down house the choice was easy!!!!! i own golf R replicas..i hold my head in shame 

A point well made!
Now let's see a photo of the car!