Experience with TRE Motorsports Van nuys

[captainlewis]

original post here update bottom of pageI am a retired Service and Parts Director of a new car dealership automotive group. The group I worked for is one of the top groups in the country, employing more than six hundred service and parts employees and operating fourteen new car franchises, whose principal owner is a man who demands excellence. I started as a Porsche tech in the late sixties, working in the South Bay area. I was an average tech who was good with product knowledge but not as strong in technical skills. I was in the right place at the right time and very lucky to work my way into management. I was from a poor family and driven to be successful. I am a natural “control freak” who wants all the details of what is happening and wants them now.

I have owned six Porsches over the years and have done all the maintenance and repairs myself (with exception of things over my head). TRE Motorsports is close to where I have lived for the last fifteen years and I have had them attend to what else was necessary. Over the years, Dave & Jeremy have always led me in the right direction of what needed to be done.
Dave, the quintessential gentleman of the Porsche world, has been gracious and spent a lot of time answering my endless questions.

I decided it was time for a top-end overhaul on my 1987 Carrera, as oil consumption due to worn valve guides was becoming a real problem. Over the last few years I had discussed this situation with Dave many times, taking way too much of his valuable time. I dropped the car off with Dave. The engine top-end was disassembled and Dave asked me to come down and take a look. Dave and his fantastic tech Bobby went over every piece of the top-end parts and made well-found recommendations. Due to my control freak affliction, I think this was an arduous task for them, but they stayed positive during my endless questions.

Dave said that the process would take about six weeks to complete depending on availability of parts and sublet services necessary. I added things I wanted done after they started the work a few times and checked in frequently (probably more than I should have).

There were a few hiccups during the hundred or so operations and procedures necessary, but David was quick to remedy all of these. I could not be happier with the way the process was handled: their professionalism, their technical expertise, their attention to detail, their tireless thorough answers to my endless questions, and Dave & Bobby’s overall knowledge of the Porsche technical world.

In my world, getting work done to something that is priceless to me is all about confidence and satisfaction with the process and the peace of mind that the work was not ‘just done’ but done to a standard of excellence. I spent 25 years attempting to instill this standard of excellence in my service employees and I know that the task is monumental.

I know that my Carrera is in the best possible condition after Dave & Bobby did what they do best to my car, despite the distractions I caused along the way. I have met people who bring their Porsches to Dave who drive hundreds of miles to do so; they have to pass many other shops to come to Van Nuys.

In today’s world of the disappearing old guardians of technical skills from the past, it is difficult to find the right man for the job. And even if you are lucky enough to find one he may have an attitude problem from being driven to distraction by customers over the years. Dave’s patience and gentlemanly demeanor put him at the very top tier of Porsche professional service providers.

NEW UPDATE 9/13Returned to Tre today, for complimentary 1000 mile service after top end overhaul. Bobby, the tech who did the overhaul, torqued the heads, adjusted the valves and changed the oil an filter. I also asked to have the brake hoses replaced and Bobby who normally does engine, transmission, and complex retoration work was nice enough to do the brake hoses himself. At a vantage point a distance away, not wanting to be leaning over his shoulder, I watched him. Completing each task and then rechecking his work, which included a detailed cleaning of the area he had repaired, and also the floor below it of any fluid or debris. He was on the top of his game as usual. When finished he explained the individual valve clearance adjustments to me. I was not surprised, after all, the engine he had overhualed had performed flawlessly, and not leaked a drop after being driven very hard for a 1,000 miles, during it's break in, to polish the cam lobes.

The TRE Experience just keeps getting better, David and company take care of business!

[Jack Stands]

Nice to hear of a great experience. It's folks like these that let us continue to enjoy these fine old cars!

[dicklague]

Great that you took the time to write this long post.

I agree with you. Dave is the best. I have known him for over 17 years and he is the best in my opinion. He did lots of work on my 1973 911 and he has always been on top of things.

I do lots of my own work and Dave is always there to give me advice.

I know there are lots of good shops in LA, but Dave has never let me down, he and Jeremy and the crew are just great.

[impactbumper]

I only spoke with him once over the phone and i was blown away with how attentive he was to my questions.




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[kinein]

I went to TRE today to look at their 911R kit. It was my 2nd time visiting the shop in van nuys. This time it was for me and my project. Dave is very patient and answered all my questions.

[kevin930t]

Someone you can trust with your porsche needs.Kevin

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[RNajarian]

+1

Pillars of the community. They have saved my bacon several times

[993 770]

"Dave/Jerrmy" is exactly how I have it on my speed dial favorites... Enough said!

[captainlewis]

Bump

[captainlewis]

Bump

[KTL]

Good on you for taking the time to put up a detailed summary of your dealings with Dave & co. at TRE Motorsports. Seems nowadays most posts are more about gripes than positive experiences.

Dave is a regular contributor here (TRE Cup) and has always been forthcoming with great advice & feedback. I've had the pleasure of buying a number of things from Dave over the years, be it new or used parts, and everything has been of great quality and as described. Dave always strives to be a great help & provides services that produce positive results. TRE is top notch in my experiences

[super9064]

Could not have said it better myself. If my cars need any extensive work I send them to him....from Maryland!!

[RSBob]

I was fortunate enough to have dinner with Dave and his wife over ten years ago and his warmth, knowledge and stories is something I will always cherish. I also had the opportunity to sell a 911 to Dave 3 years ago, which didn't happen, but we spent an enjoyable 55 mins talking cars anyway. He is a class act and his wife is a pistol.

[Cajundaddy]

One of the good ones for sure. If I lived on the west side I would use them but the Emerald city stands between us and creates a fierce traffic barrier most days.

[mreid]

I sent mine to him from Texas.

[Randy W]

Great guy, great shop!

[911 jared]

i just stopped by the shop this past Thursday to get a quote for my 87 carrera rebuild. Dave was super nice! Very patient and professional. Glad to hear such great things about this shop.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Dave also supports the Baja Targa event each year, its about as old school as an Porsche event can be.

Also come out to ACS in Fontana on 9-10/11 to see the POC tribute to LeMans event and all the FAST cars he supports.

[captainlewis]

Bump

[Todge]

In September '15, my beloved 911 was t-boned by a big rig. Car was going to be totaled. It was towed to local tow yard and the arguments with the insurance began. Long story short, if I was going to keep the car, I'd need to remove it from the tow yard. Not having a personal relationship with Dave, but being a participant of a few Targa's, Dave let me know, through a few other Targa guys to call him. I did, and he asked me about the car. I sent him pics and he told me that although the chassis is gone, the drivetrain was probably still good. This is where Dave steps up big time. He tells me to have the car towed to his shop!!! At this point, I don't even have a plan to purchase another chassis or even a date that I can give him to let him know when I will be able to remove the carcass. So he gives me essentially free storage while I figure out what's going on. It should be said at this point, that I don't operate in the same tax bracket as most on here.

Dave checks the car, tells me the drivetrain is in fact good, and salvageable, even telling me that he could probably use parts of the chassis if I was interested in selling. In steps super9064, Rob. Another one of Dave's loyal followers. Through a series of events, an incredible deal was struck for his chassis, sans drivetrain. This is the best part. Rob's chassis is parked next to my carcass in Dave's lot. Before Dave does the swap, he allows me to come up for a few days to go crazy on the chassis and motor, power washing them. This is all done in his lot, still not being charged for storage mind you. He would come out periodically, check if the thorough cleaning was going well, and take inventory of what was going to be needed for the swap, constantly updating me on the budget.

I pick up the finished product with about a month to go for Targa California. My carcass has now been at TRE for 5 months. No storage fee. Car runs perfect and I couldn't be happier. I'm not immune to the fact that he has some high dollar customers in there, and I am absolutely not one of these, but to be treated like I was, was a great experience.

-Todge