Good - But Disorganised Workshops

[red964]

I was wondering what people's experiences were of independent workshops. Im wondering if you have a lot of good but disorganised workshops.

I know a lot of you have work done by the small independents, if it is anything like the UK where the work is superb but their organisational skills a nightmare? Team that with poor communication and a 'it will de done when it is done' mentality ( compounded by the cost normally just running wild from day one) Do you get the impression that once your car is through their doors, you are in the dark till you get it back?

Without going on a witch hunt and flaming people, what is the general opinion of the independent Porsche specialists.

[osidak]

Last time my car went to the shop

Had 6 broken head studs - They had my car for 3.5 months (original estimate was 2 weeks) and the cost went up by 2.5 times.

When I blew my engine a few years later I did the rebuild - didn't save me any time but saved some money and I know the quality of work done.

[euro911sc]

I went to a 'reputable' shop for my first pcar repair experience. 6 months later the car was still not fixed and the guy had tried to give it back to me 3 times telling me its fixed... when it VERY obviously was not. The clutch pedal would not return after pushing it down... pretty obvious to me...

Now, the only thing I have done by others are alignments and tires... it takes me longer, but it works when I'm done with it...

*shrug* this guy always had race cars in his shop when I visited and came with a recomendation so I don't know what to tell ya... IMHO, its a crap shoot for smaller shops even with recomendations. The larger shops are more reliable and more expensive, but can handle the occational mistake properly.

Good luck!

-Michael

[red964]

Would you say it is a communication thing, or a priorities things.
Having worked in a Porsche specialists we always found that the customer understood priorities shifting, normally because expectations change as the work unfolds ie, service turning into a major rebuild etc.

The root of all evil (excluding incompetance) was normally communication. If the shop let you know when they were working on your car, what the progress was, and what it was costing you would be less likely to book that road trip or event.

There is nothing worse than an angry customer yelling because they booked the time off work, or hotel or ferry tickets for that Porsche weekend away, when the car just wont be ready.

Nobody likes their cars to be away, but away in an expensive black whole really is the pits.

[wholberg]

When I (rarely) take my care in for something I cannot do myself, or do not have the time for, I take it to an independent shop (European Performance) in Raleigh. Everything they have fixed has always been fixed correctly, and they have always had my car finished when they said they would.

Now, I have only been there 3 times, and have had nothing as major as broken head studs, but so far my experience has been only positive.

[kqw]

While being disorganized is not necessarily an indication of incompetence, it may lend itself prone to other mishaps.

Grease on your leather upholsterly and carpet, scratches and or dents to the body, attention to detail non-existent, little parts such as screws, bolts etc. missing, forgetting to top off you oil tank if an oil changes was performed etc., etc., etc. But.....I was always amazed how meticulious the final bill was tabulated.......

[osidak]

The work was done well he just had no concept of time or money.

Numerous times I was told the car would be ready in a few days. One of those times I was told the car is ready to go except the cross over for the exhaust is cracked. I was on my way to NJ and a friend of mine up there had one for $25 so I told him I would drop off the part the following Monday (1.5 hour drive for me) so I arrived at the shop and saw my car outside ass high (obviously with out the engine in the car) so I walked in and saw my engine scattered across his shop.

So be ready in a few days waiting on a part to damn my engine is every where. Called a few weeks later and was again told will be several days - a cam shaft rolled off his bench and shattered when it hit the ground.......

It was not a matter of "oops didn't expect that", it was more of a ugh I don't feel like doing that so I think I will work on this other car for a while.

[Kmatts]

I am guessing a post like this is going to get a lot of negative feedback. I'm hoping to change that. Just because and independent shop might be a bit messy or unorganized doesn't really dictate the quality of their work. Most of the independents I deal with are a bit messy & somewhat unorganized.......and the reason is because they are extremely busy serving their customer's cars. (ALL of them, like us are massive enthusiasts who are obsessed with Porsches....and they run out of time to deal with their personal projects....and its often those projects that make the shops looks a bit messy).
just my 2 cents.
K.

[Porsche_monkey]

The shop closest to me is always neat and clean. Their work is crap.

On the other hand I have a had a couple of (non-Porsche) engines rebuilt at a local engine rebuild shop. I always thought the guys shop was too small, messy, and disorganized. The last time I went there he had cut his shop space in half and it was unbelievably tight. I could hardly get my engine block through his shop. But, his work is top notch.

I consider the cleanliness vs quality issues unrelated, as they are in my office and my workshop.

[red964]

So how have we all faired in the 'communication' stakes.
Is this the root of it all?

[RG5]

I have had some problems with local independent Porsche specialists in Australia. One place I was going to did good work, but the thing that really frustrated me was the lack of ability to give accurate quotes on parts prices and labour. So when I picked the car up the price would be sometimes double the original verbal quote. its a kind of Porsche customer mentality where they expect us to be able to afford any bill, ie just do whatever needs to be done and then pay whatever it costs.

Now I go to a smaller place : no flash premises, only 2 guys, no loan car etc. But then I get up front quotes which are accurate, and the bills I get are very reasonable, like half the cost what the other place would charge. The biggest problem with the larger place is that they charge you the earth for labour as though they are putting a Porsche Master technician on it, but all you are getting is the workshop lackey and paying top dollar for him.

So I'm not inclined to flag the loan car, the flash permises and the verbal bull**** and just deal with people who can do what I want done in a timely manner and for an agreed price.

RG5

[kqw]

It is truely an exercise in doing some homework and getting to know your shop.

[petrolblue83911]

it's all about trust, I don't care what the shop looks like personally, if you find someone you trust, than follow your head, and let them do the work. Bottom line, I dont want anyone telling me what my office should look like, so I wouldn't do otherwise for someone else..

-i found a great local shop and have him do all the work I don't do, sure it costs more than if I did it, but I really trust his skills and honesty, that's worth it to me. and if you trust the person, than when they find something that needs attending to, you can at least feel good about an honest assessment..

[Zeke]

No two independents alike. I suspect if you did a survey, you would find clean shops that do various levels of quality and messy shops that do the same.