| Author | Message | ||
| Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
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FLG was working on getting a spray booth installed. I have seen them do a complete vehicle repaint on premise. Then again they sent my car out. I'm not sure what the real deal is there. just fyi -Ben | ||
| Danny R. West (Dan_West348ts)
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Tom, My car is safe at home in the garage. I did have it there before Thanksgiving. There was a broken wire to the throttle potientometer. Brian fixed it and all seems OK. I just need to drive the car when it stops raining. Dan | ||
| Newcastle (Oneandonly)
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FLG does little touch up work, but they use a body shop in Santa Clara for the bigger issues. | ||
| Tom Antal (Intenso)
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BTW Dan, I thought I saw your car when I dropped mine off. Hope it's not serious. Tom | ||
| Danny R. West (Dan_West348ts)
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David, I believe FLG does their own work. Craig repainted my bumper for me after someone from Nevada bumped it and caused deep scratches. You cannot tell it was ever redone. It blends perfectly with the rest of the car. It took him a week. Dan | ||
| David Harris (Dakharris)
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Tom: Few dealers do their own body and paint work. It isn't necessary to have a factory-trained mechanic paint a car. Does FLG do their own work, or do they send it out like FSF does? Find out who has experience with exotics and cut out the retail markup. FSF was happy to recommend a couple of shops they use in Marin to me for some touch up work I wanted done. | ||
| Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
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Allen - I kinda meant the FLG STAFF... -Ben | ||
| tCoupe (Allen)
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Yeh, I'm listening. They did a full service on my car over 2 years ago and I've had no problems over the 20k mi since. A machanic named Adam did the service. I do recall labor rates being appx. $92hr. Sounds like rates have really changed. I'll be coming up on a 30K service soon, so yes, I am listening. | ||
| Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
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Doesn't leave us with alot of faith in FLG.... Anyone out there listening? I KNOW some of you (FLG folk) read this board! Sorry to hear about your experinces Tom. There are quite a number (>12) of local alternatives (but only one other authorized dealer). Alot of the other local shops/techs have at one point or another worked for Ferrari or an auth. dealer. Once again everyone has someone to love and hate. Part of some of the stuff I'm doing is hearing alot of others opinions of the other local shops, most of which I have yet to have any first hand dealings with. But some of the stories let me tell you.... -Ben | ||
| Tom Antal (Intenso)
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Here's another FLG estimate. I very lightly smacked the front bumper on a curb a few months back. Nothing serious, very low on the bumper, but left a white mark about 2 inches long by 1/2 inch high. Not a huge deal, but I am a bit of a perfectionist. The back bumper has a very small area where the paint pealed. Maybe 1/2 inch my 1/2 inch. This is in the bumper crease that is painted part black. Very hard to see unless you looking for it....but of course I know it's there. So I asked to see if it could be just touched up. I know this would not be perfect, but it would at least blend in. FLG answer.....Can't be touched up, bumpers need to be repainted, $2,000 please. Needless to say a second opinion will be sought. I guess I need to stop walking around with $1,000 bills hanging out of my pockets......  Tom | ||
| Tom Antal (Intenso)
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No need to apologize, I didn't think you were asking me to play that game. It just happens to be a pet peeve of mine where a company will match prices if their pressed especially if the price spread of over $1K. It just galls me to think of the amount of profit they're making. I have no allegiance to LGF other than I live in LG and it is extremely convenient. Driving to Berkley will be a pain in the ass, but it will be worth it if Skelton proves to be reliable, honest and fairly priced. I plan on taking the car to him in January. I'll keep everyone posted. Tom | ||
| Russell Hazarian (Russh)
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Tom, I agree with assessment, I wasn't sure if you really wanted to have Ferrari of Los Gatos perform the work since you contacted them first. I know they seem to be undergoing employee changes since being purchased by Symbolic Motor Car Company. I will not be using their services again in the future, even though they are extremely close to where I live. Sorry if you thought I was playing one against the other, but I wasn't sure if you really wanted Ferrari of Los Gatos performing the service. I haven't used Skelton yet, but I think Skelton is a good choice and I will look to use them in the future because they seem to be very consistent and very fair with whatever they quote. I get the feeling the independent servicing facilities are more customer focused and seem to be working with the customer's best interest in mind. Russell | ||
| Tom Antal (Intenso)
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Interesting. But I would much rather deal with a company that starts out by offering you great service at the best possible price rather than putting the burden on me to call around for pricing and then negotiating with another company to match the price. It doesn't seem fair to a mechanic like Skelton to just use him as a bargaining chip. I don't run my company like that, so I expect the same out of others. Tom | ||
| Danny R. West (Dan_West348ts)
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Tom, Russell is correct. http://www.ferrari-losgatos.com/jpartsnservice.html Dan | ||
| Russell Hazarian (Russh)
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Hi Tom, I don't know if you have ever accessed the website for Ferrari of Los Gatos, but their website indicates the following under "PARTS & SERVICE"; "We will beat anyone's price on parts and services!". It would be interesting to determine if they will beat the price as stated on their own website. I guess they have sold enough new Ferrari models that they are adjusting their prices to become in line with the cost of those $200,000 plus cars. Russell | ||
| Tom Antal (Intenso)
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Well, it is making a rattling sound. Quite frankly I'm not sure I trust what they are telling me. I took it in for an oil service and to track down a "Clicking" noise I keep hearing. They also tell me I need to replace the alternator belt tensioner (might not have the correct name of this part)...might be a part of the noise I'm hearing. Plus I have a loose connection to the bulb for the 5-8 warning lamp. I'm going to have them do the oil change, tensioner, fix the loose connection and then never take the car back their again. Just those three things are going to cost $1,500. As you know I'm not a mechanic and I need service people I can trust. What a rip! P.S. Sorry I missed the last rally, I was out of town. Looks like it was a lot of fun. | ||
| Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
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Tom - Can I ask why you are needing to replace a CAT? -Ben | ||
| Tom Antal (Intenso)
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Ferrari of Los Gatos just quoted me $1,700 to replace one of my cat's. Skelton Ferrari, an independent Ferrari mechanic in Berkley just quoted me around $800. I think I will be driving to Berkley from now on. Tom | ||
| Tom Antal (Intenso)
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This is very disapointing. I'm not sure what other options are avialable. I bought some fliters through Veloce Speed Design about a couple of months ago. I talked to Mark Spencer and he seemed very nice and knowledgeable. I was going to give them a try with my gas tank problem but I had left two messages with him to schedule an appointment and he never called back. So I went back to FLG. | ||
| Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
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I have just learned that the second of the 2 most customer oriented members of the FLG service team has left the building. Most of you know that Thomas McKellar left to Atlanta a few weeks ago. Thomas was (and not just by my accounts) one of the greatest F technicians around. It saddens me to let everyone know that Henry Rojas has also departed. I hope things end up well for him, he has always been very welcoming to all who have ever set foot in that facility. The other news is that Dan Pokarney is back and Brain Keegan (up from SoCal) is still there. As well they have raised their hourly labor rate (2nd time in a year) to $135. My all out faith in FLG is starting to fade fast. -Ben |