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Skye
Well-Known Member
Cast Block Auto Parts re-sells two things: headlights and body kits. They are a Chinese re-seller.
If one looks at the photos on-line of people who have purchased Cast Block body kits, the fit often leaves something to be desired.
If one studies the building pictures associated with the address, Cast Block is either a modest storefront or an entire building. I consider the photos deceptive.
Studying the people who have left positive reviews, maybe they are genuine buyers. Maybe they're someone else, somewhere else, putting in a plug for the company.
Pass.
If one looks at the photos on-line of people who have purchased Cast Block body kits, the fit often leaves something to be desired.
If one studies the building pictures associated with the address, Cast Block is either a modest storefront or an entire building. I consider the photos deceptive.
Studying the people who have left positive reviews, maybe they are genuine buyers. Maybe they're someone else, somewhere else, putting in a plug for the company.
Pass.
Skye
Well-Known Member
One of the benefits of this site and others is people can spitball questions of companies and their catalogs. Maybe it's a great buy. Maybe not. Better alternatives might be available.
I read a bit more of body kits and the companies that sell them this morning. The aftermarket body kit market seems divided into three camps:
- At the upper end, established businesses who design and build professional-level kits. Not many people are buying these. They're expensive. Can be one-offs. There's a distinct difference in price versus other tiers
- In the middle, companies you know of that produce different pieces for body styling, but not necessarily a complete kit. A wing here. A fender there. Fair pricing. This seems to be what most gravitate to: not an entire kit, but a few custom pieces, in black or maybe carbon. An easy install that makes the car unique. Something someone can do in their garage with hand tools
- In the lower tier, companies you've not heard of. Web sites that are not coherent. Business names that sound like established or upper-tier. Limited customer service contacts. In some examples, photos of local storage rooms, the places people rent when moving, that are used to hold inventory. A re-seller with an overseas connect that does the manufacturing as-needed
Because of the wide range of businesses and products on offer, very few real-world examples, even in their own business catalogs. Am I looking at a real image? Or a rendering? At many sites, I had a difficult time determining that. For any of these companies, the expense of making one of everything, fitting it to a car, photographing it and then keeping it in inventory would be extremely expensive.
Thinking of body kits, I think these are best handled by someone with body experience or actively working in a body shop. Even OEM panels need some fitment and adjusting when installing. The person who buys the kit, it's probably best to have a connect in the industry or a place to install it, if they don't have experience themselves.
Finally, the feedback loop. If any of these items are purchased and they don't work out, how willing is that company willing to accept a return? Many companies selling anything these days have very specific return policies. For the lower-tier companies mentioned above, crickets. I wouldn't expect them to accept anything back, even if their web site says otherwise.
I can think of one person on the 6G forum that had a widebody kit installed. It was a Shelby setup, installed by Shelby America. Two year wait. $$$$$. Otherwise, it's been people installing splitters, spoilers, a hood. Sometimes removing a GT front facia and installing a GT500 one.
I read a bit more of body kits and the companies that sell them this morning. The aftermarket body kit market seems divided into three camps:
- At the upper end, established businesses who design and build professional-level kits. Not many people are buying these. They're expensive. Can be one-offs. There's a distinct difference in price versus other tiers
- In the middle, companies you know of that produce different pieces for body styling, but not necessarily a complete kit. A wing here. A fender there. Fair pricing. This seems to be what most gravitate to: not an entire kit, but a few custom pieces, in black or maybe carbon. An easy install that makes the car unique. Something someone can do in their garage with hand tools
- In the lower tier, companies you've not heard of. Web sites that are not coherent. Business names that sound like established or upper-tier. Limited customer service contacts. In some examples, photos of local storage rooms, the places people rent when moving, that are used to hold inventory. A re-seller with an overseas connect that does the manufacturing as-needed
Because of the wide range of businesses and products on offer, very few real-world examples, even in their own business catalogs. Am I looking at a real image? Or a rendering? At many sites, I had a difficult time determining that. For any of these companies, the expense of making one of everything, fitting it to a car, photographing it and then keeping it in inventory would be extremely expensive.
Thinking of body kits, I think these are best handled by someone with body experience or actively working in a body shop. Even OEM panels need some fitment and adjusting when installing. The person who buys the kit, it's probably best to have a connect in the industry or a place to install it, if they don't have experience themselves.
Finally, the feedback loop. If any of these items are purchased and they don't work out, how willing is that company willing to accept a return? Many companies selling anything these days have very specific return policies. For the lower-tier companies mentioned above, crickets. I wouldn't expect them to accept anything back, even if their web site says otherwise.
I can think of one person on the 6G forum that had a widebody kit installed. It was a Shelby setup, installed by Shelby America. Two year wait. $$$$$. Otherwise, it's been people installing splitters, spoilers, a hood. Sometimes removing a GT front facia and installing a GT500 one.
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