...have you read the thread at all? I said nothing about income/money being an issue here. I specifically stated that my problem with the hobby was empty promises and missed deadlines. Motorsport companies do not manufacture their own parts for the most part and certainly, like in my case, they are not building their own engines. I did not take my car apart to save a buck, more or less I took it apart to save time (for installation).

I keep hearing people type that if you don't have the skill to manufacture the parts you should not be in this hobby. This could not be further from the truth, I can tell you that most industries do not manufacture every single part that they design. If you don't understand this then I suggest speaking to someone who works in industry. I am a customer, I am at the mercy of shops, all I ask is for a lot of honesty and a lot of communication IF something goes wrong.

A few people said it early under promise and overwhelm; this is what I want. Results speak louder than words and that's how I expect a company to treat me. I'm not whining looking for sympathy or anything else, but I am hoping that more people stand-up to these shops, manufacturers, etc. and speak their mind. Again it almost pains me to look at the car and I'm reserving further judgement until the final dealings are done. If I need to throw said shop under the bus I will, but if they find a way to resolve the headaches that I've acquired from this build I will simply type up a warning for said parts manufacturer.

I'm going to take the grown-up approach being that I will eventually receive my parts. I will write a review in this thread and it will give a detailed outline of what happened. However, I can't predict the future so I have to see what explanations/compensations are given to me before I start bashing XXX engine builder and XXX part machinist.

P.S. I didn't start calling back to back until over 4 weeks past deadline. I was pretty patient with everyone because I know business can pick up and things happen. I would have been more accepting of the 2 month date if I were quoted 3 months and received parts early rather than 3 weeks.

 

Also this is not a "way of life" for me this is something I do on the side. My way of life is my family, friends, income, and things I care more about than almost life itself. A car is fun, its material, it can be acquitted like any other hobby. If you put a hobby before the more important things in life then you are doing life all wrong. I'll always be a "gearhead" whether its from the sideline or just enjoying a drive; being a gearhead doesn't mean spending $40,000 on a $35,000 car. If that's the case I'm probably more of a "gearhead" than you'll ever be.

 

Well said my friend well said,

Although I've experienced every little in this so called "hobby" and "way of life" I've to had good turn outs and bad turn outs, but in the end he is right, it needs to stop, to those of you that do your own work, that's great. But what about me, and other people that spend 15 months or more down range and get shot at and work our *** off just so we can come home and see our wife and kids, do we have the ******* time to take our engines out port everything build it from the bottom up and have it all ready to go for the season or things we want to do, **** no we don't, and I'm sure there are more people that believe that then "if you don't have the money or time" then get out, **** you and your ignorant beliefs.

When will it end no one is going to know, but it's like he stated, he won't mention said shops because there working with him/against him on the topic, and seeing how he wants to be mature I won't, I've modified almost every car I own in some shape or form and have spent thousands on thousands just to be blown off or be told oh it's a worn part it's not our fault when it worked perfect before it EVER went into the shop,

This kind of **** makes me want to **** alot of the ignorant people up just because there talking out there *** and haven't ran into that one shop or company yet or have so much money they don't care as to when or how they get there car back because they can "fix it them self" that's the wrong answer in my book,

Because I don't have the time to do it I should get out while I'm ahead and because I barely clear 24k a year in my job profession I should just call it quits and get the **** out while I can,

Maybe you should listen to yourself and get out and our "hobby" wouldn't be as bad, maybe if everyone who is anyone gave a damn this kind of crap would have stopped at the moment it started to happen, instead you gave in and bought into it and now look where we are,

I'm done with my rant and op I will 100% have your back on this issue, at least someone had the ***** to speak out against it and look what it's gotten him, the same excuses the shops give him.

I love this sport/hobby/way of life whatever you decide to call it but. Because of shops and people that have money so far up there *** it makes it so hard for us that don't have the time or money to do any of it,

Now I'm done. (with rant)

 

I agree with everyone that said you need to find the RIGHT shop. I am lucky being in norcal because we have an abundance of good quality shops. I think if I lived in some Podunk town I wouldn't feel as comfortable modding as far as I have.

It's all about the shop. It's what makes or breaks it honestly. In the car modifying scene I think there good shops are definitely hard to find and even those with good intentions sometimes lack the skill and attention to detail to really perform the quality of work that I expect.

I think most shops would probably think of me as nitpicky, demanding etc. but the right shop will understand that if we didn't care this much we wouldn't even bother modifying the car at all. So I do feel bad for any of you guys that don't have a quality shop nearby.

 

After reading all this, Its not only in the Evo seen. I owned a Sentra and i did everything in the garage my self and I never took it to a shop to install parts or build things. I bought the tools and learnt, I have done it all from installing bolt ons to building engine and tuning them my self. So i build my motor in my garage tuned it on the street and drove the **** out of it for 2 years. I finally decide to take it to a shop and get a professional to tune it. 3 Months later, after wrong parts, lieing to me about his experience in the ecu system i was using and changed ecu's to what he knew best, they would screen my calls and i just wanted my car back. I am a very patient person. he tells me the car will be ready on a Friday. I get there Friday night after work, he tells me my car is ****ed. I was like wtf he just starts to feed me this things such as ohh u brought me wrong parts and look at the cars i work on we do all the work, you build this in ur garage who knows if it was done right. I told him to give me my car back. I was out x amount of my hard earned dollars and 3 months with no car. Went home and my engine had next to no compression. I brought it there with 185psi avg across the board. and got it back with avg 60psi. So I sold the car and have been happy every since, I rock a mazdaspeed 6 now and looking to get an Evo 8 Rs and just drive it. What I learnt its hard to find a good shop and if you cant do it your self. Yes I had to learn the hard way on somethings, i lost countless hrs of sleep and prob lost 5 years off my life but it was a lot of fun in the process. I learnt a lot and spend a lot, would i trade it for anything no.

But back to my original statement, this happens all over the car seen no matter what you drive. The main reason for this is a lack of proper management and understanding of how to treat customers. I wouldn't wish these things never happen to anyone because it sucks when u spend all this hard earned dollar and never enjoy it.

Good luck and if you find a good shop keep it
rob

 

Yeah it's definitely garbage. You're not asking for the world, just what you paid for.

It's a damn shame that companies think they are doing you a favor by taking your money. I don't blame you for getting out. There comes a point where you are just over it, and it sounds like you are there.

 

To me, the biggest thing are the lies.... Dont tell me you have it in stock, and then when I call for a tracking number tell me the company its being dropped shipped from is behind.
I only frequent two shops. MAP and Buschur

 

Well guys I can honestly say that Shepard Transmissions has been a delight to work with. Honestly I talked with John himself and he was straight up with me, down to earth, and gave me the ends and outs of his installation woes. Trevor is also a really nice guy to work with, I know they only do transmissions but they went out of there way to get my stuff here in A DAY when I was quoted 2-day shipping.

Pics of shep built 6-speed. Also I was quoted 2.5 weeks and thats exactly how long it took. Not an hour more.

 

You should try living in Edmonton Canada, when I was there all the shops charged a ton of $$$ and had 17 year olds as mechanics who didn't know ****. The only way to get things done right is to do it yourself or find a shop you have friends that go to and you can trust. Also if a shop does something wrong call them out on the forums (evom and local), it's a good way for them to wake up and make sure they correct their problems. After all they don't want to lose more customers.

 

Even if your friend, or in my case my brother and friend, works at a shop your not guarenteed anything. To the OP i just got a taste of what happend to you this week. It started off dropping my car off to get brake pads changed and tires. I dropped it off at 7am, was told the car should be done around 12..didnt get done till 3 and ended up being late for work. Then on tuesday I dropped my car off at a shop my bro works at. He did all the prepping and priming this week and the painters should of painted it today, but they we're "busy", now its going be done on Monday, but i doubt it.
DIY FTW

 

if you stick with reputable shops, a lot of this can be avoided....

 

The op's sentiments and experiences match my own exactly. Have to deal with a lot of bull**** to have this as a hobby. I haven't met my limit yet and continue to put up with it because I seem to have no choice to get to my end goal of having a fast track car, but I'm sure one day I too will be done with it all for the same reasons. Sadly, by then yet another generation of fresh meat will come in so shops will continue to give **** poor service like described.

 

I think I have been fortunate enough to live in an area where there aren't a whole lot of shops - but the ones that are in the area are beyond awesome. I see A LOT of people mentioning MAP performance and I chuckle because they are probably about...maybe an hour drive from where I live I personally go to RS Motors for everything and anything I need. They don't do as much as MAP as far as "global" shipping and etc...but I trust every single person at that shop with my car and know they will treat it as their own.

To the OP -
I think the big issue is finding the place, or places, where you can go and actually TRUST the people. I choose local shops and people I know because #1 - I am already friends with them and #2 - if it's local I can just drive there in 40 minutes and SEE what's going on. I know that sometimes you have to go out of your way to get things done - SHEP or TRE for instance in my case - but getting in "good" with people who do this stuff for a living and are GOOD at it is the only way to go!

 

I really understand your pain, I want to say something too... after they take your money, they don't care about you anymore, right at the moment they take your money and that's it. You go your way. You call them back right after the tune and they just totally ignored you and what can you do to them...really nothing.

 

I was working hard on my back so I missed this thread.

I was taught very early on that to be successful in business one must make the customer happy. When you provide a service that makes the customer happy, you end up making money. If you go about business just trying to make money, you usually end up with pissed off customers and a business that fails.

Here's to moving 3x in the last 2 years as my business keeps growing!