Inspection in Venice, CA

bsaffin · 03-02-2003, 09:30 AM

Can anyone recommend somewhere to get an independent inspection in Venice, CA?

Also, if anyone has any experience with Westside Motor Sports or 911PCC, I'd appreciate feedback. I'm in the SF Bay area, and need to arrange a long-distance inspection.

Thanks...Bruce

RJ Gilliam · 03-02-2003, 09:55 AM

I can only speek from a single experience I have with Westside motorsports...

STAY AWAY. I flew from Phoenix to LA to look at a "perfect" car and within 10 minutes was scrambling back to the airport to get a flight back instead of driving a car back... Not as honest as I thought they where. They are one of the places along Venice blvd that buy junk from dealers and sparkle them up for sale.

What kind of car are you looking at?

maxnine11 · maxnine11's Garage

OTTO'S if it isn't a 996. As for Westside Motorsports: be afraid, be very afraid!

max

maxnine11 · maxnine11's Garage

Bruce, sent you a PM, max

speeder · speeder's Garage

"Westside Motorsports", is that the one on Lincoln, (not Venice), Blvd.? A junk dealer. You would be better off having a blind person bid on ebay for you. At least there would be a (very slim) chance of getting a good car.

Halm · 03-02-2003, 01:46 PM

A second vote for Otto's. Very good people.

bsaffin · 03-02-2003, 01:57 PM

Thanks guys, I'll check out Otto's.

Richard, I'm not actually looking at buying from Westside. Just looking for an independent inspection. I already heard back from them that they just work with their own inventory.

I'm looking at a private party sale of an '86 Targa that's been servicedby , and is on display at 911PCC.

MaxNine11, did you send me an email? I haven't seen anything yet.

...Bruce

bsaffin · 03-02-2003, 04:19 PM

maxnine11 - sent you an email.

Thanks...Bruce

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Redline in Santa Monica is another PPI place. They used to be very good, but I think there have been some changes in the past few years. Haven't heard anything bad though. Callas Rennsport is a ways south of Venice, has been highly recommended and they seem very thorough. That's a shorter trip from Venice than out to TRE (another good choice).

campbellcj · 07:57 PM

If it's a water car (986/996) then I'd lean towards Callas; otherwise, for anything between a 356 and 993 I would have no hesitation recommending Ottos.

Another shop in that area that I have used in the past is Specialists Inc on Lincoln & Navy. They also focus on earlier cars (356 and 911 as well as older BMW's). If you go there, be sure you speak with Fred and have him do the PPI himself if possible.

Pete Zimmerman, the original proprietor of Redline, retired several years ago. I have heard very little about the shop since then. I think they're still around, but I'm not even sure about that.

targa89 · 03-03-2003, 09:57 AM

Bruce,

I live 1/2 a mile from West Side Motors and all I can do is echo what the others say..run! Westside has a bodyshop on venice where they piece 911's together. Otto is a great guy...good luck!

-paul

RoninLB · 03-03-2003, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nostatic
Redline in Santa Monica is another PPI place. They used to be very good, but I think there have been some changes in the past few years.

yep.. the ole' man sold to one of his mechanics.. among other changes that happened there.. but their business cards have always looked real nice

Otto · 03-18-2003, 04:17 PM

Ok, that's it! We do all types of Porsches, except the ones we know we can't fix. Didn't the crew that won class @ Daytona in '02 and LeMans class winner in '02 and the Daytona 24 Overall this year work here before I told Buckler that I didn't want him to borrow my crew anymore, just hire them full time? Do you remember last year when I was looking for mechanics, that was because Buckler took my last guy(Mike Kuzela). 911PCC used to own Westside and now is scaming others, only at a different location. He advertises on the Howard Stern show, has breakfasts and parties and free food and such to try to build this scam. Someone from his shop came by my shop to get a clutch set up for one of his customers, so I went to the parts and came out with a new clutch kit, and they said they didn't want to put on new they just wanted to do a patch job. I asked why they didn't want to do it right and they walked out of my shop and haven't been back yet. The new owner of Westside came in last year, sat down in my office and asked me quite bluntly "why don't you ever say anything good about the cars that I send to you for pre-inspection?" I told him I haven't a good car yet.