They're advertising knockoff Panasports...

Check the price difference between SE and 12A bolt patterns... It's like $150 per wheel versus $600 per wheel...

I have the catalog around here somewhere... I'll get the actual prices later.

 

haha i need to order it. wait if you sign up and already have recieved one, will they keep sending them to you?

 

I think they send them for a year.

I just stopped getting mine, time to reorder.

 

i used to get one but there to expencive in my opinion.

 

It probably has something to do with whether you've purchased anything.

I just see a set of 4 for $600 and single wheels at $160 each in my catalog. Both items are 13x5.5, so they're for the non-SE models.

 

Victoria British is pretty good about pricing things a bit cheaper than the Mazda Factory parts that you get from Mazdatrix. The reason for this is that they're sourcing parts for many different cars, so they can get a better volume discounts on things like tie-rod ends and brake master cylinders and clutch parts.

What you get in return is NOT a Factory part, however - it's usually an import knock-off that may be of lesser quality. When you get your parts order from Mazdatrix, you can see the Mazda Factory emblems and stock tags all over the stuff, and you are getting genuine Mazda parts - this is why some parts have a premium.

For example, recent pricing of brake master cylinder was $165 at Mazdatrix for Factory parts, but only $79 at VB, same for clutch master cylinder at $115 at Mazdatrix for Factory and only $45 at VB. For the reduced cost, VB becomes a viable option if you don't require Factory quality.

 

That was very well put.

The thing people need to bare in mind is that these cars are 19+ years old. Parts are going to eventually become more and more elusive, and we may need to turn to companies like VB to help keep our old cars on the road.

 

Well put Long Duck and Anthrax. I havent gotten the latest VB catalog.

 

I third that! And more specifically, two items I ordered where not close enough: T2 thermostat, and 84 13b left engine mount.

The thermostat did not have the jiggle pin that allows air to bleed by. If felt it was important so I went out and bought an OEM unit.

The left engine mount was about 5/16" smaller in thickness than the 20 year old OEM mount. This resulted in a somewhat crooked installation of my T2 engine. Had to go back and shim it with washers to straighten everything out.

If it is a critical part I would definitely recommend OEM parts.

Scott

 

Well put Long Duck and Anthrax and Rx7carl! I haven't gotten mine either.

 

Oh and Rex4Life, your comment was well put too.

 

I've come really close to buying from the VB catalog on more than one occasion, however, I've been steered away by price every time. The rear control arms are cheaper at Mazdatrix, the sundry trim bits that I need are available on the recycled market, and when it comes to aftermarket OEM equivalents, I prefer to go to my local general auto parts place. The parts I get at my local store (KOI) are high-quality, there are multiple brands from which to choose, and have been priced below VB every time. I'd say that VB is great for those "hard-to-find" parts, except that so far, the parts that other sources don't have aren't available through VB, either!

That having been said, as the Rexes get older and older and their numbers thin out, it will get pretty hard to find good parts for the cars and catalogs, like VB, will be one of the few places from which to source parts. Right now, though, I think they're trying to sell to a specialty market that isn't much of a specialty.

Edit: Oh, and LongDuck... Not to pick nits, but I'm pretty sure that the OEM parts from Mazda are "imports"

 

I like VB. They've got stuff in stock that my local stores (Autozone, Advance, etc) have had to order for me. I just drive down to VB and pick it up at the parts counter. I guess I'm biased since I live a few miles away from the place.

I wouldn't get everything from there, and I agree that quality is important, but VB is a good resource.

 

I got mine!

 

I just ordered the Wallnut gear shift **** and some borwn interior parts for my car from VB.

The gear shift **** was just a lark, I think it will look cool with my brown (OE) interior, and I ordered door pull cups for the car. Because I have the borwn intior I am pritty much screwed for junk yard parts. So some of us are forced to relie on companies like VB.

The long and the short of it is they have there place, we just need to be selective as consumers.

 

In spite of the issues with parts not being as good, I will try to buy from them when possible.

Looks like they added some nice items this time: gages, rims, spoilers, air dams. I'd like to get a spoiler and air dam for my car.

But $400 for an a/c compressor is outrageous. I'll either rebuild it myself or find somewhere else cheaper.

Scott

 

they have great pic's of how parts look. blow them up on a copy machine and you've got some detailed reference pic's.

 

That's the main reason I got the catalog.

 

I just recieved my order, and the Door handel cups I ordered are Mazda factory parts coplete with the blue and white Mazda labesl sealed in the bags.

So not all of their itoms are inexspencive knock offs

 

I just got the catalog and those wheels don't look so good.

 

initab - The wheels don't look bad to me. What don't you like about them?

 

Im still waiting for my VB.

 

i just ordered some stuff from vb, but i didn't have the newest catalog. it seems like the price goes up a lot. i never have the accurate price. i hope they slow it down a bit. i plan on keeping my car forever.

 

I guess the chrome turns me off.

 

Got my catalog today. Have never ordered from them for the 1.5yrs I've received the catalog. Almost thought I was going to have to re-subscribe since I hadn't received one for so long and this showed up in my mailbox today

So far I've been lucky and found the parts at local yards here and up in St. Louis. When those dry up, I'll start looking more seriously at VB.

Anthrax: I am slowly switching over to a brown interior due to a recent dash replacement and there is a full brown interior on a local scrap yard car I'll be stripping real soon. Just thought I'd mention it, eh