$600 for.an alignment?!!

[mmasse]

HI
Just checking how much are you guys paying for alignment. I took my 2015 GT3 for tech inspection for the track and also did an alignment. The shop charged me 600 for the alignment. I thought it was crazy. I called the dealer and they quoted 259+tax.
I feel the local Porsche shop ripped me off.

He said it took 3 and 1/2 hours to align the GT3. That's for just normal alignment with no shims changes

Any thoughts?

[shadowjack1]

Seems very high to me.

[75 911s]

$250 ish is typical. The track inspection is the x factor here, was that on top of the 600?

[mmasse]

Yes Tech inspection was.on top!!!

[timmy2]

Were you paying them to learn how to do it?

[NYNick]

Ludicrous. Tech inspections are supposed to be free. Did you take it to one of the local approved MetroPCA shops?

If not, you got ripped.

[creaturecat]

i paid over 600
won't be going back to that place in North Vancouver.

[mmasse]

It's a Porsche specialized shop close to me. It was recommended to me.some time ago, but I am not coming back
Tech inspection was another 200

[Marc Bixen]

We don't charge for a "Track Inspection", although there a a few "local" shops who do! So.
Cal. track guys know who the rip off shops are. My theory, it introduces people to the shop, if your a competent shop people recognize this so you'll get work out of it, and last, BE AN ENTHUSIAST, help others get started at track days. Some shops are so "nickel & dime" annoying.

[NYNick]

Originally Posted by mmasse

It's a Porsche specialized shop close to me. It was recommended to me.some time ago, but I am not coming back
Tech inspection was another 200

Sending you a PM

[Mark Salvetti]

What about corner balancing? Did they do that?

I thought an alignment with corner balance for a torsion bar car was in the $600 range. Would a 2015 GT3 be easier?

Mark

[mmasse]

Originally Posted by NYNick

Sending you a PM

Replied. thanks

[mmasse]

Originally Posted by Mark Salvetti

What about corner balancing? Did they do that?

I thought an alignment with corner balance for a torsion bar car was in the $600 range. Would a 2015 GT3 be easier?

Mark

No corner balance. Just alignment

[eastbay]

Okay, we know what you paid, but what did you get?
ex. Back in the 80s a local P dealer offered a $70 alignment, but also had a 'must ask for' track alignment for $300+. Back then they justified the cost as 3-4 hours shop time.
I thought it was a lot, but it took seconds off my track times and made the car great. Had to have it to try to keep up with the 'boys' on the track.

[Cory M]

The track alignment cost doesn't seem abnormal to me from a Porsche specialty shop, the tech inspection does. Most street alignments only adjust the toe in the front. Measurements are taken and if your camber and caster are within the factory range, which is pretty wide, they don't touch it. Changing things like ride height is typically an extra cost. Track alignments by contrast typically adjust and optimize everything, starting with ride height, then camber/caster, and finally toe. Usually more adjustments are then made to get it corner balanced. The optimal track settings are typically at the extremes of any factory adjustments and it is an iterative process. Typical to take 3-5 hours, likely more if you have other issues like worn out parts. Did they give you a print of the before and after settings? that may shed some light.

[PFNog]

As an additional data point -
I'm in the SF Bay Area, so costs are likely comparable to NY.
Last year I had a, very well respected, local shop (that also does a lot of race prep) do a corner balance and alignment on my '87, after I had done a suspension refresh (bushings, shocks, etc.)... so there was no way to 'phone it in' ... they had to do the full job. Charged me $335 - that included print out of final weights/scales and before/after alignment angles.
They did an excellent job!

But I know nothing abut the GT3 suspension adjustments - maybe different enough?

[Dan J]

At my shop on the edge of NY metro full alignment is 3 hours at 135 per
alignment with ride height and corner balance is 5
The rear toe adjustment on that car is a bit of a bear

[Cdnone1]

To properly set up the alignment on a 2015 GT3 it should take about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. This is a full alignment and not just setting the toe.
Depending on the shop rate $600 does not seem like a rip off at all.

[mmasse]

Thank you for.all the replies.
I understand that a full track alignment is time consuming and can be expensive. But just to be clear, my car did not get a full track alignment. No corner balance and no change of shims, only adjustment of camber and toe

I was really surprised when the dealer quoted me half of the price. I felt a bit cheated, to be honest

But based on the feedback it seems it was not that bad

[sugarwood]

The dealer quote may not be the same level of alignment that Dan J cited. Make sure you are comparing apples to oranges.

Tech DE inspection cost varies by shop. When I first started DE, a popular local P-shop billed me a full hour for a tech inspection. After that, I found a much smaller shop which did it for free, for years, and I never went back to the big shop again. Agree with Bixen's comments above.

Do you know what they did for the tech out for $200 ? That's like 1.5 hours. Seems like they scammed you, so I would not go back there again. I will PM you some info.