tomk86

Hello all,

A couple of years ago my 1993 wrx went to a well known specialist for an engine build. To cut a long story short 6k later I had the engine I wanted, and the specialist was good enough to let me pay in installments having gone bankrupt and losing my business.

Now it has taken a while due to bodywork and rebuilding my life, but I finally managed to get 1000 miles on the car and take it for a re-map and its 1000 mile service. It also needed a fuel pump.

The specialist had my car for no less than 5 weeks, before yesterday I decided I needed it back to save on taxi fares getting around. I was assured it had been serviced and was ready to go, however would be mapped at a later date as the ecu provider had not sent a patch yet and wad hard to get hold of.

Fair enough I thought we can sort it later. Upon seeing my car, covered in bird poo and with a fresh small dink in the driver's door, I felt a bit uneasy. Especially when the car wouldn't start as the battery had gone dead. They hadnt been running it at all.

I'm the type that's a bit scared to say anything so I just wanted to get out of there and get my car home. I paid what I owed for the fuel pump and left.

When I got home I had a bad feeling. So I got my jack out and had a look under the car. It still has the same oil filter on it. It has not been serviced. I know this because of a sticker I put on it just to be sure before it went in. Looking at the oil, it's not filthy but it's certainly not fresh by any means.

I will check today if the fuel pump was actually changed, but I still have no receipt given either. The service and remap were all included in the price of the build.

In short I feel cheated. I am upset and have no idea where I stand ot what to do. The specialist ignored me for 7 whole days od constantly trying to contact, but when I used my wife's phone yesterday morning he answered right away, and was like a rabbit in the headlights.

I'm not very good at mechanics but I think I'll have to try and service it myself as I cant afford specialist prices for this. What do I do now?

Brun

Do not name and shame. Go to the specialist and talk it through. You have to give them a chance. If the result isn't satisfactory then other measures may be required!

TypeR99

iTrader: (2)

I'll retract my comment as initially I thought it was another name and shame post where the OP was looking for sympathy but not naming said company.

As the post has progressed I can see who it was and the situation warrants support so my appologies for being rather blunt.

Hope you get it sorted and can move forward, to me it sounds like you'd benefit from a 2nd pair of eyes on the car so you know what you've received for your £ and have a case going forward.

Best of luck, and humble apologies.

tomk86

Thanks for your helpful and constructive comment.

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

No need to name and shame,if you've read the build thread then we all know who the specialist is.
I would defiantly give them a chance to sort things out tho,just because you had to pay in instalments it doesn't give them the right to treat your car badly and not make sure it's safe whilst in their care.

As for servicing the car yourself,it's very easy even for a relative noob,and if you get stuck there is always plenty of help on here

Hope everything works out for you mate.

b20sx

You have a few diffrent options depending on the outcome of what the garage/specialist says!
Personally if I had spent 6k I wouldn't be desperate to just get the car home...I would assertively challenge them over the various things that haven't been completed and the lack of care shown to your car!
I also think it's very difficult when deals etc are made with garages....As let's be honest if they have carried out work and haven't been paid in full your car certainly isn't a priority....however it's shouldn't be mistreated!

jayallen

iTrader: (31)

I have no idea how the company is still trading, all I've seen posted about them over the last 2 years is negative......

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

As I've been away from the Subaru scene for a while did this company have a problem with access to their workshops earlier this year?

jayallen

iTrader: (31)

Yes Ty and landline....................Apparently.

If only people carried out research, this kind of garage would fail to exist.

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

Not good then, personally given my limited experience with them (Perrin parts) I wouldn't touch them with a very long barge pole.

tomk86

Yes fair enough but the company was owned by someone else when my build was done.

I can't help the timeline I have had alot of grief in my life since then.

They dont have a landline and seem to only answer to people they care about.

I have serviced the car myself today successfully, and have had the fuel pump out to find it is still the original from 1993. Pics can be included.

I have driven so many miles on 99 Ron for absolutely nothing. I have since text the man in question and guess what? Ignored. Called so many times I lost count - even though this mobile number is their said source of communication.

All I want is my map. The money for wasted fuel and the oil and filter I had to get today and change myself.

Many people say they wouldn't touch this company with a barge pole. I wouldn't either but the previous owner was much more a better person

jayallen

iTrader: (31)

So you paid for a service and a fuel pump and received neither?

Can I also ask what was done to the engine that warranted a £6k bill?

RAGGY DOO

iTrader: (1)

Scumbags I been shafted myself over the years that's why I get my mates to do all the work and get the mapping done by a specialist if you can call them that glorified gangsters 95 percent of them fact

RAGGY DOO

iTrader: (1)

Chances are your engine is untouched
And you paid 6 k for **** all

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

To the OP I wasn't having a go at you, far from it I've been in a similar position in the past and just had to walk away from it in the end.

I wish you the best of luck in trying to sort all this out.

mikey_w50

I just read your build thread. I geniuenly feel terrible for you bud. No one deserves that.

I really hope this ends well. At the end of the day maybe you should pop it up for sale? Cut losses.

You should call the garage and Explain to them and ask them what they are going to do. If that does not get a good result then you could contact citizens advice to understand your rights.

Hope your ok.

tomk86

Hi all thanks for the responses,

I text the builder earlier as he is avoiding me like vd, and he has shown nothing but contempt stating that I am bothering him during a family crisis.
I replied saying that if I had known there was a family crisis I would be more than understanding, only to be told to basically go away until tomorrow.

My car is supposed to have mahle pistons, sti 9 rods, Apr castings whatever that means and an alcatek ecu
It already had some 440 injectors and a td05 16g turbo.

I dont know much about these machines but he did say originally that it would be on a running in map.
It wont go above 7 psi turbo wise - but will go above 4000 rpm which he said it wouldn't.
I am starting to worry I don't have the ECU I was charged for and have invoices and receipts for....

As for the type r poster saying I need my head checked - this was my dad's car. I wont part with it.

jayallen

iTrader: (31)

Peel back the passenger carpet, remove the foot plate and take a pic of the Ecu if you're worried about it.

£6k is an awful lot of money for what you had done. I don't want to sound like a **** but it sounds like you may of had your pants pulled down.

rob ellard

Indeed, the previous owner was a much better person when your build was done... Since then though, he has departed from this certain "specialist", mainly down to ongoing circumstances that have led to customers like yourself (and several others) being mistreated and fobbed-off by the current owner.
I wish you all the best, and hope that you get a satisfactory conclusion from all of this

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

API i presume ?? The place is a joke and it always has been. I wouldn't allow them anywhere near the car, your best bet is to pursue legal action.

tomk86

Thanks for all help off genuine people. With all this going on and the trolls that are giving me grief in other threads and other ways I have asked the admin to delete my account here. I'm done. Wish I had never got involved with anything Subaru at all. I only did it in memory of my dad who was screwed over before he died.
For all genuine people here - many thanks.
To all trolls and keyboard warriors who have made it worse - you know who you are - **** you.
Cut my losses, **** the car and **** the bullies.

gpssti4

iTrader: (6)

A very sad story and a poor display by several members.

hodgy0_2

+1

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Same few spoiling it for the rest.

rmsturbod

Once again a perfect display from the so called bigger boys in the play ground..... Forums full of Big I Am's. No wonder the post counts go down as people don't want to come on here and be flamed...
To Tomk86, mate I feel your pain. Do yourself a favour don't get involved in running around calling people and getting involved with legal battles it will only dent your pocket. Wipe your mouth clean and tick it off the list of lessons learnt. Keep your chin up and get it sorted yourself. There is plenty of decent people on here that will help you. All the best mate.

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

What's the 'poor show from certain members' all about ?? I don't see any poor comments above .

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Presumably the bumping of the old thread, it was in bad taste and uncalled for.

mjp02wrx

If your still reading these Tom, I'm in leicester you can pop over and we can have a look at any concerns, I have an alcatek fitted and know what to look for.

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

I think all Glanza was trying to do was point out the 'specialist' in question... which I see no harm in whatsoever. Companies like this should be shown up in public, it helps stop other people like the OP getting shafted.
And to be fair, it didn't take rocket science to work out who the OP was talking about after his other threads.

rmsturbod

Well done mate, very good of you.