Attention LA SVXers (Long rant)

[Red SVX 92]

If you're into modding your car, do NOT go to Premier Autoworks. I just got the car back from their shop, for the Koni/Ground Control install. Now, I'm somewhat used to the typical business runaround... It's not a perfect world, and generally the time they promise is on the very optimistic side. But my experience with them was plagued with nothing but problems... First, some of you know that installing the Koni/Ground Control combo requires welding. It's the reason why labor is so much more for this setup, as opposed to getting the same kit put in for other cars. Otherwise, this would be a cheap, easy install. I went with Premier on a friend's recommendation, and because they offered a semi-decent price even with welding. They promised it could be done in 3-5 hours. Then the problems began...

After about 4 hours, I call them to see how far they've gotten on the car. First, they tell me that they have to grind the strut housing to unseal it and gut the strut. Immediately they tack on $100 extra labor... I'm not familiar with the SVX struts, I take it at face value, even though I've never heard of anything like this before with other struts.. If this was a normal thing, they should've factored this in to the original estimate... Price is getting to a near-unaffordable range. Now, they tell me that they're not going to do the welding, because it's not necessary. This cuts down a little on the cost, but it doesn't follow the outlined directions provided by Gound Control. After asking them to do it anyway, they insist that I don't do it, and that if I want to do it later, they won't charge extra labor, just the welding, which they say will be a minor cost. I agree to this, since I can go back to get the welding, without paying an arm and a leg. They say it'll be done by that night, so I drive nearly an hour to their shop that night, to pick up the car. After waiting for about 45 minutes just to talk to the guy in charge, he has a 2 minute conversation with me, explaining that it's not completely done, and that I'll have to wait. Of course, all this extra work delayed the completion for a day, something he could've told me 5 minutes after I came by. They promise it will be done the next day.

Next day, I call them up, and I get the typical runaround... they come up with a lame excuse for not finishing it... and they're closed the next day... So one more day. In the meantime, I'm having a hell of a time trying to run errands... I never realized just how hard it is to get around without a car....

Two days later, I call them throughout the day. They keep saying to call back in a few hours, giving random promised completion times, etc... Finally, they say it's done, and I pick it up late at night, after the shop is officially closed (they're usually there for hours after the store's closed, working on cars they didn't do during the day, etc.) I get there, and pay for the work, then I notice that the alignment they did on my car was done to different specs (They aligned the car to specs for a Subaru XT, not the SVX). During this time, I'm asking for a definite price on the welding, if it needs to be done. Now, the guy tells me that if I want it welded, I will have to pay the labor cost which he originally promised I wouldn't have to worry about. Of course, since it's the SVX, not a Honda, it takes more work, and will cost a pretty penny. Not just that, but they screwed up a simple alignment. I tell them my patience is wearing thin, and, instead of being apologetic for botching up such a simple job as an alignment, he tells me that I "can't do anything about it, because I've already paid." (Paying was a big mistake, I should've spotted the bad alignment sooner). In addition, he threatens to NOT do the alignment that night, by simply saying that the shop's closed for the night (even though he always stays later to work on the cars), and making me wait for another day, or week, or however long he wishes, and that I should feel lucky that he's willing to do it right now. So he tells me the alignment will be done in 35 minutes....

2 hours later, after the employees have eaten and talked on the phone for endless hours, they finally finish. AND they didn't even get the whole alignment perfect, the camber on one side is out of the specs provided.

So, 3 days and a buttload of cash later, I'm left with an installation that was improperly done, a heavy charge if I want it done properly, and an utter loss of respect for Premier Autoworks. If I wanted this kit put in without welding, I could have gone to a number of shops who offered cheaper prices, but weren't willing to do the welding. I can understand the nature of business, and I wouldn't have minded an extra day or two, if I hadn't felt like they were trying to give the runaround and just a general screw-over. A simple "We're busy, we'll work on it later" would have worked. Heck, most shops I dealt with have willingly minimized extra labor costs, even after they run into difficulties working with an uncommon car, just to hold true to their word. After an endless stream of false promises, I have no respect for Premier Autoworks, and I would suggest anyone in the LA area steer clear of the shop.