How Long Does Your Shop Take???

[JC]

Just out of curiosity. How long has your car been in the shop, or the longest it has been in the shop???

The Eclipse:

Feb 2004- Sept 2004 **Quoted 4 months**
Sept 2004- Oct 2004 **They finished in 2 1/2 weeks**
March 2005- May 2005 **Quoted 2 weeks**
June 2005 - Dec 2005 ** Quoted 2 months**
Dec 2005 - April 2006 ** Quoted 2 months**

Since Feb 2004, I have only had the car in my possesion for 6 months. Why dont shops ever finish when they say they will???? I have used 5 different types of shops and only 1 of those shops finished in the time they quoted me. However, The car always looks amazing after it gets out and I have never once been dissapointed in the quality.

Anyway, just curious if everybody else has the same problem. I am not naming shop names because I dont think it is neccesary because from what I hear from other people, it is a very common thing around all shops. But why?? :confused:

[IndianStig]

thats fucked up

what are the delay's?

[JC]

^^ The common thing I have seen at 4 of the 5 shops is that they don't even start on the car until after it has sat at the shop for about 2 months. I understand, there are cars there they are already working on but you should be told that upfront.

[JustinSane110™]

I think the general concensus in this thread is gonna be "Too fuckin long!"

[CSquared]

wtf are you getting done to this car that takes 4 months? or that you can't do yourself?

[HyPer50]

Well, the shop I go to is busy as shit and only has pretty much 1 main mechanic... so ya, it can take awhile lol... but it's worth it.

[JC]

wtf are you getting done to this car that takes 4 months? or that you can't do yourself?

Well the stuff I have going on right now, is gonna make the Eclipse look sick and take it to that next level of uniqueness and orginality, so I know it is a timely process. However, my car should be done this week. I was just speaking more in general to anyone who has ever had to take thier car to a shop.

[IndianStig]

if they dont even start for a while, why not give the car back to you, then take it back when they are ready to start

[2.0civic]

^^^TRUE. my shit is normally in and out in a day, two tops though. very good friend of mine has came in on sundays and pulled MANY late nights just so i could drive to work the next day.

[Hulud]

well because:
1. they dont know any problems they will run into
2. they might get another "emergency" job while working on your cars
3. parts might be outta stock
the list goes on

i see this same thing at my job, i work in a pharmacy and tell people it will be about 15-20 mins to get your rx ready. they come back and its not ready and get mad at me because i quoted the time too short. i cant determine when we get phone calls or insurance problems

[4dmin]

the motor swap in the cabby took nearly 6 months... and it still wasn't done right or clean for that matter.

[tony]

Man... great question because that is what made me lost interest in my car, it was in the shop just as long as I had it in my possession.

Transmission - 1 month (Stealership)
Blown Engine - 1 month (Stealership)
Body Kit - over a month (Stay away from Matchbox Customs)
Twin Turbo kit (3-4 weeks installed right after the new engine)
Completely repainted and body kit done right - 2 months (D&D Kustoms took a minute but they do extremely good work in my opinion)

Most of the time as it was said before there are delays and people get in front of you. With the blown engine my new one had to come straight from Japan so that was the delay there.

With the transmission it was the same thing, twin turbo kit took a minute because the kit wasn't even available for the G35 yet so they had to figure that one out. It was always something..

[civic95]

It does always take longer than expected, but from my experience DO NOT RUSH THEM or quality will be sacrificed.

[Nitro]

It does always take longer than expected, but from my experience DO NOT RUSH THEM or quality will be sacrificed.

very good point there...................+1

[nautiboi73]

i know that an hour aint' much of a mis quote, but if it takes us longer to get your car done right then it takes longer.

put it this way, it will take less time to get it right the first time. any time that you have to redo work it is going to take much longer then doing it right the first time. IMO

[B16a2 Civic]

since 4-5-06.
quoted it would be done by 4-11-06
its now 4-17-06, no car
and its only getting painted....
*frustrated*

[lowjack]

Hmmm I guess I will pipe in here and say that is "far too long" and to find a better shop.

My for the masses
* If you are getting a "deal" persay, they might be addressing other fully paid work rather than doing yours. (Sadly that happens at some places.)

* Also NEVER EVER Pay up front. Any shop worth a shit will give you a bill when it is completed. Paying up front invites procrastination.

As for you John, (Keep in mind I have NO IDEA where your ride is at) I'd say get "upset" with them because that is as I said "far too long" and if they care about threads like this becoming negitive, they will get their ass's in gear and get your car completed, and IMPROVE their reputation.

As for the the Z history:

* Full body work and complete repaint with block sanding: 42 days (Peachtree Paint and Body-quoted 3 months)
* Paint and clear interior: 2 days (Peachtree Paint and Body-quoted 7 days)
* Re-clear after airbrushing entire interior including hood: 2 days (Peachtree Paint and Body-quoted 7 days)
* Blown motor replaced: 4 days (Nissan of Athens-quoted 5 days)
* Addition of Alphasonik Audio build: 17 days (In my garage, incl powdercoat)

Hope you can get a fire going under them,

[BTEC]

dnt take no time for me to get shit done when its actually started. I just have to make up my mind to do it. LOL!!
i personally wouldnt leave my car at a sho[ for 2 months b4 they start on my shit unless i was informed it was gonna take that long. I dnt have another car that i can drive so i need my shit asap. As for getting it done after its started, things can come up like parts or problems with the car that could delay it.

I just finished buliding and engine and i got set back 2 weeks bc the block guard distorted the cylinders so bad. I had to reorder pistons, rings, and another block guard which also slowed the process. just letting the car sit or taking forever for no reason is unacceptable IMO. Get it in and get it out is how i like to do shit. Plus i get tired of working on the same car or looking at it after a while.

[CSquared]

Well the stuff I have going on right now, is gonna make the Eclipse look sick and take it to that next level of uniqueness and orginality, so I know it is a timely process. However, my car should be done this week. I was just speaking more in general to anyone who has ever had to take thier car to a shop.

I dont know dude... My general rule of thumb: If you can't do it out of your garage, find a friend who can do it out of your garage.

[Chris Mazda]

Longest was about 5 weeks back in the day for my car. it was repainted and getting lots of repairs on the body work

[Seymour222]

9 mos. As a matter of fact, I believe you visited during construction of my vehicle with the Eclipse. Anyhow, 9 mos., downtime sucks, but what can you do, its the sacrifice you make to get what you want.

[BTEC]

9 mos. As a matter of fact, I believe you visited during construction of my vehicle with the Eclipse. Anyhow, 9 mos., downtime sucks, but what can you do, its the sacrifice you make to get what you want.

ur car still sucks. ill kick its ass right now, meet me tonight at MSPi!! i dnt care how u get it there just bring it. LOL!!!

[JC]

9 mos. As a matter of fact, I believe you visited during construction of my vehicle with the Eclipse. Anyhow, 9 mos., downtime sucks, but what can you do, its the sacrifice you make to get what you want.

I remember the S2000 at the shop, it was good talking to meeting you then too. god I love your car.

[JC]

In regards to the comments about not rushing them or you will lose quality, I agree to that to an extent. For example, the first body shop I ever used. They told me the car would be done in 3 or 4 months. However, the car sat at the shop for 2 months untouched. Then they put the lambo doors on in 1 night. Then they didnt touch it for another month. Then they built it a little, then wouldnt touch it for weeks. I dont think I would mind as much if they worked on it a little bit each day, but when it gets worked on about 8 hours every 2-3 weeks, that is what I dont understand. I would think the shops would want the car out of the shop ASAP in order to get their money out of it. My first body shop almost made me miss my SEMA show debut. IT got out of the shop on a Friday night at 9pm, I had to be at SEMA by Sunday at noon. That was the roughest cross country drive trailering it and barely made it.

Def. DO NOT pay up front. 1/2 is ok, not full. IF they get all your money upfront, then they are in no rush to get it done because they already have thier money.

Scott, all I have to say about is the Z is WOW. That is awesome that all your shops not only finished when they said they would but did in in half the time. That is the way it should be at every shop. I would rather someone over estimate and I get excited if it is done earlier, then be under estimated and get frustrated.

I think the majority of it is they tell you what you want to hear. If they tell you 1-2 months, they get your buis, then if it takes 4-5 months it is too late to switch.