according to Heckmann & Thiemann, a 914 isn't a VW OR a Porsche Options

[davesprinkle]

So I've got a rattle from the right front strut. I stop in at an independent service shop in Portland -- Heckmann Thiemann VW Porsche Audi. 2 911s, one early, one late, are in the lot. Up on the lift is a VW van.

I pull up in the 914 and walk into the office. Three guys are there, none of them speak. After a few seconds, I ask if they would be able to tighten the cap on the strut. Simple job, should take less than 15 minutes.

One guy mumbles something about trying to reduce their workload; they're really busy. So I say, OK, when can you work it in?

Then I find the real reason -- "We don't work on 914s."

"Really?", I say, "that 914 front end is identical to that 911 over there." "And the engine is the same as the one in the van, only with Porsche cams and ports."

"Yeah, well, we've never worked on 914s and we're not going to start now."

So there you have it -- not a real Porsche, not a real VW. Bizarre.

[MBowman325]

I paused a bit then told him he didn't have to be such an ass, then I peeled out in his drive way. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

It was funnier when I misread it to say that you peed out in his driveway. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I've not had my car (refering to the 914, though the Impala and the Aero fall into that category) to a shop since I've owned it. All the work thus far has been done by myself or with me assisting Clay / Betty. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Going through high school and college I did most all the work on my cars but would take it to a shop for bizarre things that I couldn't run down. After the LT1 swap on my '78 Monte Carlo I needed the speedo adjusted for a different ratio. My shop that I'd been going to off and on for years told me that he could do it but wouldn't and refused to talk about it anymore. Never took it back since.

Now that I think about it, haven't had any of my vehicles in the shop for anything other than insurance work since then either. (Or a while before)

My problem is that even in respectable shops you've got low paid guys starting off or helping that can booger things up. I figure I'll just do it myself because for the most part, I trust me.