TheSamba.com :: View topic - Big let down. no motor for the buggy still!!!

Thu Apr 20, 2006 2:39 pm

called the machine shop to make sure that my engine was ready for my to come pick up today. I droped it of last week told them that I have a show i want to make this weekend. (which i knew that I wasnt going to get it done in time anyway but i wanted to give them a deadline) they havent even started on it yet. I was like what the crap. They told me that it would be done today, i even called to check on it tuesday to make sure and they said yeah it will be done by thursday. Now they said they MIGHT get to it this week. I am so flustered right now. If there was another machine shop in this area that I could just take my stuf ot I would go pick all my crap up tomarrow and do it. That is kind of shady in my book. Sorry I just needed to vent.

Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:19 pm

Patience grasshopper...........

Wax on, wax off.... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:32 pm

patience are for doctors lol

Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:33 pm

that's why they call me DR. MURZ

Thu Apr 20, 2006 6:35 pm

Jeremy, your young, as you build more cars you will keep learning to do more and more yourself. Maybe not because you want to, but because you get so PO'd at some of the trades who do work.

Motor builders, painters, pin stripers, and upholsters are the worst. I know this will affend some of these guys, but as a whole this is the truth.
They work on their own scedules it seems like allot of the time.

My wife and I have built over 30 cars in the last 20yrs, muscle cars, street rods, hot rods, and all forms of vw's including a trike, and this has been our experience over the years.

Now we do everything on our cars except machine work and upholstery.

Ask 90volts about painters :lol:

Hang in there young lad, it will be ok !! by the way, I hated it when people would tell me that :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thu Apr 20, 2006 6:47 pm

I am convinced that all VW mechanics that will take on work on a dune buggy "project" are flakes.

I can't tell you how many times I have tried to get professional help for good money on my dune buggies only to have the mechanic completely screw a timeline, costs or quality.

This despite me working night and day trying to manage them through emails, phone calls, etc.

If I performed my job like that I would be pennyless.

Thu Apr 20, 2006 6:49 pm

10-4 rubber duck lol :lol: :lol:

Thu Apr 20, 2006 7:15 pm

Well, you've never delt with me. I work on all kinds of unique projects. I stick to my prices and deliver when I say. I also work with each costomers budget, working to THEIR pace and ability to pay. No job has ever been too small or too Large.
I also don't take "extra" work just to have it sit at my shop. Some people think they need to get the job in the door to secure the work for themselves. They just don't care about the customers needs and seem to hold the work "hostage".

Thu Apr 20, 2006 7:27 pm

VW,

Whats the name of your company?

How long have you been in business?

Do you have a website?

My previous statement was made in jest, with a whole lot of truth behind it.

I am sure there are great VW mechanics, I (personally) just haven't met many of them yet.

Thu Apr 20, 2006 7:54 pm

I think what "dpg" meant was MOST VW techs view buggies as a secondary play toy that does not need immediate attention. It is not a car that most people need to go to work so it just gets pushed back time after time, so the techs can do the gravy like brake jobs, fuel injection services, or timing belts. The "go to work cars" need to be finished the same day or the customers are pissed. The fact of the matter is that "the buggy guy" is paying the same labor rate as the "timing belt guy", yet the buggy guy is second in line. It is kind of like 90 volts' deal with his paint job. It is not insurance work so he is second in line. It is not right, but such is life.
MURZ

Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:31 am

I agree that many mechanics "triage" the shop projects. They kind of have to unless they don't have any work, which makes you wonder how good they are.

I have had good luck on my end, but I also don't create unrealistic or unneccessary demands.

My daily driver "regular cars" all go to the same shop. Since they are servicing 3 cars plus my one daughters regularly, I seem to get priority, but I always tell them no rush UNLESS it a real issue. I can call anytime and have a car done same day if I really need it (unless that are waiting on parts, which means the following day.)

Now - if I go to a shop that I have never used before, would I expect the same service? Nope.

Bottom line is this - when you take it in, have an honest talk with the shop manager with what you really need to have happen. Making a deadline that you didnt expect to have happen about taking it to a car show does not cut it. You lied to him about your actual need and he lied about when it will be done. You are even.

Of course all of this is only valid with a decent shop - I am having a major hassle with a shop that my Mom took her car to - work is taking forever, but the guy also knows that they really don't need the car bad. They have 2 and Dad doesnt drive anymore. So - this falls under the "triage", plus they had never taken a car to him before.

Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:18 am

My post to Jeremy was reguarding custom cars, I havn't been in a regular mechanic shop for work in 20 years, so I can't speak for how your treated for service.

Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:53 pm

Well being that I am a factory Nissan technitian I can say this from my experence...... Alot of times customers are not very understanding. I have a 2004 altima in my bay right now that I am puting a new long block in. Waranty flat rate time is 18 hours labor. Which in all reality it will take more like 25-30 hours. (if anyone has worked at a dealership they know all about waranty times) I have had the car for one day now and the customer is already calling whating to know when it will be done. We put them in a rental and told them it would be done by tues of next week.

My issue was this......I am not that upset that I dont have the engine back yet, I am more upset about the fact that he told me that he would have it done by thursday I called on tuesday to confirm and I still have not heard anything. I told him that I needed it back by then, I dont feel that it was an unrealistic deadline, it was almost 2 weeks. Here it is fri. they are closed on monday, so it will be at least tuesday or wednesday before I see it now. Almost a whole week later than was agreed. If I did that at my job I wouldnt have a job.

Fri Apr 21, 2006 4:45 pm

This was my wife and I's second to last build, finished last summer. If you take this to a professional street rod builder, get your wallet out !! and if you ship it out to people to do paint, frame, wireing, motor etc... you will be told certain deadlines and they will not be met. What gets me is when you stop by to check on your car and it's already two weeks late, it's thursday, at 2:00 in the afternoon, and all the guys are sitting in the corner having a beer. Were not talking second rate shops here, it happens in some of the best custom car shops of all trades.

The wife and I did everything on this car,except machine work and upholstery, including chassis,gear, tranny paint,wireing, and plumbing.
Start to sale in 5 months, sold at goodguys last summer.

Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:05 pm

I have been there 3 times. was told 2 weeks just to wait 3 months. 2 weeks was twice as much time needed. I needed more work but decided to just do it all myself with help of others on the net. I think i have saved about 600 this month alone.

Sat Apr 22, 2006 11:03 am

I had a VW engine rebuilt last year by a local aircooled specific shop.

I could have had my Toyota 4 Runner engine rebuilt 48 times at the dealership in the amount of time it took. (no joke)

The Toyota engine probably would have ran when the mechanics were done with it. (again, no joke)