When too walk away from a performance shop

Makobra

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Let me tell you a story. I used to run a store called RSI (Racing Solutions) and by run I mean I was hired as the IT guy and after literally everybody remaining at this newly bought company was lured/hired by none other than John Hennessy I was offered the challenge/adventure/dream job to take care of the store.

Cards on the table, I knew enough to be dangerous but not enough to know I was an idiot. This sort of thing happens ALL the time in the performance shop industry but not at good shops. I really tried to do everything right but its just unbelievably difficult to juggle all those balls, man. So, people get distracted and lose sight of what is important: moving the project to done.

This is why I don't like other people working on my stuff. I know how long it should take to run some wires or hack a piggy back unit into a harness. I also know that anybody who agrees to do a job that will require one part (like a return style system) without making sure you have it on the build sheet or on the car already is learning as they go or just doesn't really care that much.

If you smell smoke grab your stuff and go because something is prolly on fire.
 

budman5023

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The shop is PPG cars in madisonville, LA. I got the car back earlier this week. After looking over the car, there were pieces of cut wire and connectors all over the car and cowl, the exhaust was loose and missing hardware, and this plastic block was left on top the gas tank. I dont even know where it goes. I think it is a irs frame braket block. I googled the part number with no success. I was hesitant to release their name do to repercussions and the fact they are very involved with nasa and the NOLA track as well. But after what I found so far, I will take my chances. I have to go over the entire car with a fine tooth comb.
 

budman5023

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I’m more shocked that people dump 5K+ into SN95/New Edge GT’s. Maybe for the complete cost of a build but for one part of it?o_O
Damn. The kennebell and install was more than the car was worth. But I could walk coyotes all day for less than half the cost of a new stock mustang. You think $5k is a lot. Please. I have probably $15-20k in it so far. Probably gonna be around $40k when done. Building a full blown race car is very different than a fast street car. Building a full blown racer (GT spec)out of an old m3 or sn95 is a lot cheaper than building a z06 or something similar. I am just glad I dont have kids.
 

blk02edge

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Damn. The kennebell and install was more than the car was worth. But I could walk coyotes all day for less than half the cost of a new stock mustang. You think $5k is a lot. Please. I have probably $15-20k in it so far. Probably gonna be around $40k when done. Building a full blown race car is very different than a fast street car. Building a full blown racer (GT spec)out of an old m3 or sn95 is a lot cheaper than building a z06 or something similar. I am just glad I dont have kids.
c'mon lets see pics of this thing..
 

budman5023

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If you don’t name the shop this thread is worthless. You were either lying or have not guts.
Wow. No it's not worthless. If I named the shop or not, someone else can learn from my experience. Just because I dont name em I am a coward or lying, whatever man.
 

budman5023

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Screenshot_20190825-114050_Samsung Internet.jpg
a sceen shot from a couple years ago.
 

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budman5023

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I really dont appreciate people attacking me for being a liar, or a coward, and pouncing on me for paying to much. This thread was made for advice and to help others in my situation. This is classic blame the victim rhetoric. If you dont believe me, that's fine. This was about an experience with a shop that didnt go well. I gain nothing lying about this shop. I will be competing against them. Thanks to those that actually helped.
 

blk02edge

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budman5023

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Cheap car built right is the only way to go for what you are doing. Funny how it ends up not being cheap though. People dont realize but to build a competitive spec miata is like 40-50k through a shop.
It is also the maintenance items. I bought 4 bfg r1. $1500. Holy crap
 

blk02edge

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It is also the maintenance items. I bought 4 bfg r1. $1500. Holy crap
Yea, I hate how expensive tires are. Im running Nankang AR1's now because they are half the price of hoosiers. About 2.5 seconds slower though...
 

LostM

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Best advice I can give- trust your gut. If something feels off, get your car out of there. Even if it's a reputable shop, most places don't like the liability of hanging onto someone's car for too long.

The cars that "grow roots" are usually the victims of work scope creep, or are continually pushed out of the way for a quick buck. Some get into a problem where the shop bit off more than they wish to chew.

I'd try to have a talk with the owner. Simply explain the situation, sometimes that's all it takes to resolve an issue. If you don't get the response you'd like, get the car out, but be prepared for smoke and mirrors when it comes to itemizing costs on a non-complete car.

Name of shop..

Sent from my SM-G892A using the svtperformance.com mobile app


Both of these. Ive seen in person scamming that goes on behind the scenes, and how shops push cars back indefinitely.

Usually its from places that offer bargain pricing.

I will say this, ive dealt with maybe 20 different shops over the years on various platforms, and 1 thing i have learned, if YOU can get them bump you into an earlier scheduling, so can everyone else, amd they will.

Case in point, Honda S2000, built motors, turbo etc etc. T1race and IMW would NOT budge on their windows, but did say if something opened up, they will try, since the car was sitting their with them. They kept their word within a day or of all work that was done.

Conversely, the s2k shops that i could push ahead of the line, would end up weeks, even months delayed if i wasnt physically there to oversee work on the scheduled day.

Race Proven Motorsport, i know people have mixed reviews of Fran, but I can trll you, same thing, his schedule is his schedule and he sticks to it.

Undercover performance, now defunct, some due to shoddy work, others because some outsourced work ****ed other guys, but also willing to bump me in, but also weeks /months delayed if i wasmt physically there.

So, thats all the advice i feel like typing out right now, but i feel its history based and most would agree.

In the end, the shops that wouldnt budge also cost a tiny amount more, but you got the desired results, on or extremely close to the agreed time. You get what you pay for
 

gt347mustang

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Both of these. Ive seen in person scamming that goes on behind the scenes, and how shops push cars back indefinitely.

Usually its from places that offer bargain pricing.

I will say this, ive dealt with maybe 20 different shops over the years on various platforms, and 1 thing i have learned, if YOU can get them bump you into an earlier scheduling, so can everyone else, amd they will.

Case in point, Honda S2000, built motors, turbo etc etc. T1race and IMW would NOT budge on their windows, but did say if something opened up, they will try, since the car was sitting their with them. They kept their word within a day or of all work that was done.

Conversely, the s2k shops that i could push ahead of the line, would end up weeks, even months delayed if i wasnt physically there to oversee work on the scheduled day.

Race Proven Motorsport, i know people have mixed reviews of Fran, but I can trll you, same thing, his schedule is his schedule and he sticks to it.

Undercover performance, now defunct, some due to shoddy work, others because some outsourced work ****ed other guys, but also willing to bump me in, but also weeks /months delayed if i wasmt physically there.

So, thats all the advice i feel like typing out right now, but i feel its history based and most would agree.

In the end, the shops that wouldnt budge also cost a tiny amount more, but you got the desired results, on or extremely close to the agreed time. You get what you pay for

I agree with this.

OP actually PM'd me asking not to post in his thread if I was going to keep pushing for the shops name... i thought he was joking at first. Lol
 

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