 What is reasonable?, I have been very patient |
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| keske968 |
 Nov 2 2011, 02:14 PM
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#1
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Member  Group: Members Posts: 132 Joined: 5-September 06 From: Papillion, Ne Member No.: 6,778 Region Association: None  |
So here is the story *sigh* I bought a 914 with a "rebuilt" engine in it. Well the rebuild was not done propperly and low and behold it dies on me. I take it to a mechanic that is highly recommended by the local Porsche Club for aircooled engines and such. I tell him that I would like him to find out what is wrong (turns out it spun a bearing as it only had 2 of the 5 bearing dowles installed) and to fix it for me. This was in April of 2010. I wanted to drive teh car to my wedding in June and made him aware of this. I paid him $800 up front and then called or stopped by every week to see what kind of progress was being made. Let's just say that it was not ready in time for the wedding. Or even a year after that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ar15.gif) After he had the vehicle for a YEAR and three or four months my Dad and I collected the engine and have it rebuilt. We recently called him and told him that we will be picking up the rest of the parts and the car in a few day.
He respondes by telling me that he will get a bill together for me. Now to be fair he did purchase a new flywheel, new main bearings, and did take the engine apart. On the flip side I know that we will not get all the nuts and bolts etc. What is a reasonanble amount for this kind of work or rather the lack thereof? I do not want to run this guy through the mud (hence no name is given) but as I see it has has taken an engine apart, bought a flywheel, and some meain bearings and nothing else. To me this sounds like a small amount for $800. So what would a reasonable person do in this case? I know I have been more than patient. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) |
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Replies(1 - 19)
| mepstein |
Nov 2 2011, 02:39 PM
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#2
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914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,876 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region 
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I would do your best to get all the nuts, bolts, ect. Some parts could be very expensive to replace later.
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| keske968 |
Nov 2 2011, 02:42 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 132 Joined: 5-September 06 From: Papillion, Ne Member No.: 6,778 Region Association: None |
I have been. So far I think that we have everything except the screws for the engine tin and the three bolts that hold the impeller fan onto the crankshaft hub. However, we have ahd to purchase several other bolts and nuts to get it to this point.
Man am I wee bit frustrated.... |
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| VaccaRabite |
Nov 2 2011, 03:40 PM
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#4
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En Garde! Group: Admin Posts: 13,729 Joined: 15-December 03 From: Dallastown, PA Member No.: 1,435 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
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Fair: Pay him for the parts he bought and whatever labor he actually put into it.
The engine tin screws are cheap, as are the bolts that hold the fan to the crank. |
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| keske968 |
Nov 2 2011, 03:53 PM
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#5
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Member Group: Members Posts: 132 Joined: 5-September 06 From: Papillion, Ne Member No.: 6,778 Region Association: None |
Thanks. That was my thought as well. Just wanted to hear it from someone else.
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| davidj |
Nov 2 2011, 04:01 PM
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#6
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 41 Joined: 19-November 08 From: Ventura, Ca Member No.: 9,771 Region Association: Southern California |
QUOTE(Vacca Rabite @ Nov 2 2011, 02:40 PM)  Fair: Pay him for the parts he bought and whatever labor he actually put into it. The engine tin screws are cheap, as are the bolts that hold the fan to the crank. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) And for future reference. I would be concerned if I was asked to pay up front for work on your car. I can see it if there building a custom engine only, but not if they have your car. In my 30 years owning cars Ive never had to. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) |
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| Cevan |
Nov 2 2011, 04:08 PM
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#7
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,079 Joined: 11-December 06 From: Western Massachusetts Member No.: 7,351 |
What about the guy you bought the car from? Forgeting the dowels is grossly negligent.
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| jcd914 |
Nov 2 2011, 04:20 PM
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#8
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,092 Joined: 7-February 08 From: Sacramento, CA Member No.: 8,684 Region Association: Northern California |
I agree: "Fair: Pay him for the parts he bought and whatever labor he actually put into it."
When I worked in a shop there were times we asked for a deposit on the work and a 914 would have been a good candidate for that. If we thought the customer might walk away from the car after we invested time in disassembly/inspection/diagnosis and the car was not going to be worth anything we might ask for a deposit. It was rare but some cars we were going to lose money on if we had to process a lean and sell the car because no one was going to buy it. Back then there was no market for 914's with a dead engine or maybe a 924 needing a clutch. Jim |
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| VaccaRabite |
Nov 2 2011, 04:21 PM
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#9
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En Garde! Group: Admin Posts: 13,729 Joined: 15-December 03 From: Dallastown, PA Member No.: 1,435 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
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QUOTE(Cevan @ Nov 2 2011, 05:08 PM) What about the guy you bought the car from? Forgeting the dowels is grossly negligent. Life and old cars... |
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| keske968 |
Nov 2 2011, 04:44 PM
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#10
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Member Group: Members Posts: 132 Joined: 5-September 06 From: Papillion, Ne Member No.: 6,778 Region Association: None |
The guy I bought the car from did not do the build. It was one of his many Sunday drivers. It is a 72 that he has owned since 76. I'm ok with doing the rebuild. I am learning a lot and it is good time spent with my Dad on my days off
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| Scott S |
Nov 2 2011, 04:59 PM
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#11
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Small Member Group: Members Posts: 1,698 Joined: 30-April 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 633 |
I am curious as to what his reasoning was for sittin gon the thing for so long - especially when it sounds like you gave him an end date for completion (your wedding). Whats the deal?
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| keske968 |
Nov 2 2011, 05:13 PM
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#12
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Member Group: Members Posts: 132 Joined: 5-September 06 From: Papillion, Ne Member No.: 6,778 Region Association: None |
Hell wish I knew. He has a reputation for being slow but not this slow. Every time I would go to check in he would have the same excuse. "Well I've got one or two ahead of yours so I should be getting to it next week." Funny. The one or two were always different cars.
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| hot_shoe914 |
Nov 2 2011, 10:05 PM
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#13
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on ramp passer Group: Members Posts: 3,806 Joined: 20-November 07 From: Earle, Ar. Member No.: 8,354 Region Association: None |
QUOTE(keske968 @ Nov 2 2011, 06:13 PM) Hell wish I knew. He has a reputation for being slow but not this slow. Every time I would go to check in he would have the same excuse. "Well I've got one or two ahead of yours so I should be getting to it next week." Funny. The one or two were always different cars. Sounds like a guy from Lincoln, Ne. |
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| Valy |
Nov 2 2011, 10:56 PM
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#14
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 6-April 10 From: Sunnyvale, CA Member No.: 11,573 Region Association: Northern California |
Reasonable for me would be to take back all the parts you need and then let him run after your money for a year or so.
And since we all give you free advice, I'm sure everybody will appreciate a fair warning not to approach this guy so, POST HIS NAME |
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| mikea100 |
Nov 3 2011, 07:26 AM
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#15
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Member Group: Members Posts: 180 Joined: 28-December 09 From: Edison, NJ Member No.: 11,182 Region Association: North East States |
QUOTE(Valy @ Nov 3 2011, 12:56 AM) Reasonable for me would be to take back all the parts you need and then let him run after your money for a year or so. And since we all give you free advice, I'm sure everybody will appreciate a fair warning not to approach this guy so, POST HIS NAME (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) I couldn’t have said better myself. I hate to say it, but it sounds like no win situation for you. Get everything you need and THEN negotiate the payment. Good luck, I hope that everything works out for you. |
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| Scott S |
Nov 3 2011, 09:18 AM
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#16
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Small Member Group: Members Posts: 1,698 Joined: 30-April 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 633 |
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| Jasfsmith |
Nov 3 2011, 09:39 AM
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#17
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 556 Joined: 4-October 04 From: Bangor, ME Member No.: 2,882 Region Association: North East States  |
I'd request copies of his invoices for the parts and pay it only. I would not pay him for his time if he gave you a completion date, and failed to show sufficient progress towards that date.
Collect everything and move on. If he doesn't agree to the terms, I'd go to the Better Business Bureau and file a complaint. The only kicker is the failure on your part to let time pass without giving him due notice. I suspect he would agree to save his rep. Yes, I'm a hardass when it comes to this type of thing. |
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| keske968 |
Nov 3 2011, 10:04 AM
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#18
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Member Group: Members Posts: 132 Joined: 5-September 06 From: Papillion, Ne Member No.: 6,778 Region Association: None |
Not Lincoln but Omaha. Anderson Certified Auto Repair. It's run by one of the local club members and driving instructors named Larry Anderson. His policy is "Race Cars Come First" but I know that these were not race cars in his shop that were always the one or two. I've used him before on my 968 with great results and he is highly recommened by the local club members.
I think I'll put together my own bill for the missing parts if I don't get them. I have already started putting it together. Update tomorrow after I pick it up. |
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| 70_914 |
Nov 3 2011, 01:41 PM
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#19
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Member Group: Members Posts: 395 Joined: 4-December 09 From: Roy, WA Member No.: 11,096 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Be careful on the hardass approach-
Did you sign a written estimate with a total on the bottom? That is a legal binding agreement. The results of not following through with that legal agreement is a mechanics lien. A time estimate is most likely not on the document. Shops all have a sign that says they can charge you storage. If you try the hardass approach, he may also do the same. The sign at my shop says $30 per day. I am sure that if it comes down to litigation there will be a lot of valid reasons why an over 30 year old collector car had some time delays on a major repair. I know it sucks, and I have been in that situation before. The only difference is that after 1 week of delay past the agreed time frame my car was out of the shop... |
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| JRust |
Nov 3 2011, 02:08 PM
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#20
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 6,316 Joined: 10-January 03 From: Albany Oregon Member No.: 129 Region Association: Pacific Northwest
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Holy crap have I been there. Although I was out no real cash for the year to speak of. I have had alot of extra work I shouldn't have had. Having my freshly painted car sitting outside for a year did not do it much good. I am dealing with some misc surface rust because of it. Just a big huge PITA but stuff I can fix myself. Best thing I ever did was just go pick it up. A year wasted & not much to show for it but some rust (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)
Unless the guy give's you some insane bill. Try to work with him & just pay it. It's not worth the hassle. Especially after him having it for a year. Just move on |
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