[Grady Clay]

The ideal shop.

Most of us DIY for one of two reasons: It saves labor costs or you feel YOU can do what YOU want better than anyone else. Occasionally almost everyone takes their Porsche into a shop for something. The reasons may be specialized skills or tools (alignment, A/C, etc.), you just don’t want to deal with it (new baby, new job, etc.), you have exhausted your diagnostic or mechanical skills (what the he!! is going on here?), and many more.

Of course everyone would like to pay less money. Generally you get what you pay for. Shop owners, authorized dealers, and techs all need to make an acceptable living and return on their investment. You can’t run your Porsche on their backs and then expect them to be there for you.



If you were to take your prize Porsche to a shop, what kind of shop would you want?


I think everyone agrees with:
Careful – no new dings and no moly lube leather.
Technically knowledgably – you want professional expertise.
Honest – unfortunately there are people in the auto industry who are otherwise.
Good communication – it’s your car; you want to know and make decisions.


Here are my questions:

How large or small?
Owner–mechanic, owner–manager with good techs, or well run, savvy Dealer?
Lots of equipment & high-tech stuff or a mechanic’s tool box?
Prime location or off in some obscure industrial location?
Is appearance and cleanliness important?
Owner/crew involved with PCA, POC, SCCA, NASA, etc. or not?
Just mechanical service or more (alignment, tire mounting, engine/trans rebuilding, dyno ….)?
Parts and accessory sales important or not?
Upholstery and convertible top/Targa service or not?
Paint and body or not?
Buy and sell used Porsches or not?
An authorized Porsche dealer or not?
Social; is being able to “hang around” important?


What is important to you?


If I had the stamina, I would inspect and interview many shops around the world.
There are some that have earned a poor reputation. Why is that?
There are many that are well respected. Why is that?

What is the ideal shop for you?

Best,
Grady