I hate leaving my car for servicing at any shops... I have had too many incidents whereby when I get back my car, there's always something done to the car that gets me peeved. From Scratches to my windscreen to scratches to my radio/leather....... There was a time when I actually witnessed one of the shop's employee flooring it, tyre screeching and all ...in my car after I have handed over the key and walked a block down for a drink.
This thread definitely made my blood boil - b/c we have all been there in one form or another. I have to say, I couldn't believe at the begining of the thread that the poster thought Abdul was actually going to pay for it - that's not how guys with little p.o.s. businesses like that make their way in the world. Having had a windshield scratched in my 355 by a New Jersey state inspection facility, a scratch in the door of my GT2 by a dealer and a dent in my wife's cab while being serviced, I know the feeling well. There is only two things people like that recognize, someone with less to care about then themselves (not likely if you own a 360) and forcing them to pay lawyer's fees. Hopefully the insurance co. will hit them hard (I would have been tempted to do it myself though, just for the release.) Finally, I do agree USSA is tough, I was hit by someone with USSA once in a parking lot and despite there being nothing to talk about (i.e. their insureds fault), they sent a lawyer to court for an entire day to fight it. They lost, but what an unreasonable effort they put up! They sure went down swinging. -SE
Ferrari Maserati of Silicon Valley ended up replacing pretty much everything. It was just shy of $10,000 for the whole thing. Off the top of my head: flywheel clutch plates springs pressure plate slave cylinder thrust bearing? And some lines, as well. They did a great job and it's held up really well. The end cause was massive overheating of the flywheel, which seized the clutch plate and jarred the thrust bearing. It was locked up tight and the flywheel was dark blue when they peeled the clutch off. As far as Abdul goes, last time I drove by there he had a bunch of speakers and bass boxes out on the sidewalk, with a big hand-written "GARAGE SALE" sign on it. I know my insurance company has served him with notice, but I don't know what-if anything- will come of it. They'll probably recognize that he's insolvent and it won't do any good to chase him down. I learned some very valuable lessons though. 1) Don't get Abdul to install your stereo. 2) FMSV is a great shop that does what they say. 3) USAA is an A++ insurance company. 4) Clutches are expensive, go easy. 5) I learned some technical aspects of clutch use and wear that were valuable to my daily driving. Overall, good experience to be honest. Miserable to deal with, but in retrospect I'm glad Abdul ripped off a guy who could afford to go after him- instead of someone that he could have seriously hurt financially. He'll be gone, soon enough.
Bizz - which insurance company do you use? I am impressed that they were nice enough to pay the bill.
Getting my car back tomorrow with a new clutch too. While mine wasn't quite as much as yours (but approaching the cost), I don't want to go through this again any time soon. Would like to hear some of your learned technical info.
1) Once overheated, the flywheel actually changes structure on a molecular level, becoming much harder. Similar to heat-forging tools, there is nothing that can reverse it. So once a clutch is smoked, even if the friction plates aren't cooked, the hardened flywheel will eat through it at a much higher rate. 2) Keeping the lines flushed and fresh fluid in them can give longer life to the clutch. If air or water pockets exist in the hydraulic lines, clutch heat can expand these pockets and will actually lightly engage the slave cylinder and let small amounts of slipping occur. IT may only be over-revving by a few RPMs, but when it's spinning 7000 revs per minute, that equates to a lot of extra lost energy and friction. 3) Ferrari's have VERY little rotating mass which allows them to rev faster and much more freely, but that lack of mass equates to less material to grip. Less material to grip means you have to be much more careful with your clutch action inputs.
First time poster! I actually only registered for this thread... as I was looking for alarm wiring information on an 05 360 modena I happen to work in a stereo shop and am absolutely appalled at the way you and your car was treated. I just got finished today on a 360 modena. It was my first ferrari to work on, but that just means I took extra care in EVERYTHING that I did. Although I have absolutely no doubts in my install abilities I was wondering why this gentleman took his sexy vehicle to my store (a big box retailer) instead of a more custom, possibly better reputed shop. First thing came to mind was maybe he didnt know better, he was European with a heavy accent and possibly just arrived here. Second thing was INSURANCE. Although painful, if something did occur while working on the vehicle, I may lose my job, but submitting a claim is fairly painless and larger claims than $5k have been submitted through my company (not my location . Everything went great on my install (flipout video w/ navigation + 4 channel amplifier) and I DID take the vehicle for a test drive. First of all I need to take the vehicle for a test drive for reasons already explained in testing the system, navigation, engine noise etc. Secondly in our paperwork that MUST be filled out and signed it states that the vehicle will be operated as neccesaary to perform the required work. Thirdly, although it was my first Ferrari drive, if I had not known HOW to drive it (crazy shifting etc) or felt uncomfortable I WOULD NOT HAVE. Also, if the customer would have asked me not to. Everything went great (was yours a standard manual? or paddleshifting?) and the customer will be bringing it back for an alarm and radar detector. Bottom line is it comes down to the responsibility of the people working on the car. Hard to gauge when just talking to them, but when in doubt, INSURANCE and LIABILITY (paperwork, documentation) should become first. When in doubt, larger companies have more to answer for. Corporate and management can bring the hammer down on us while as a small shop the only route is the courts. Also, I get paid by the hour so although nice, the price of the install doesnt involve personal greed on my part I'm sorry to hear about the outcome, we have many shady mom & pop shops like that around here, and I wish you the best.
Any advice on how to select a shop? Personally, I would never let any service industry person drive my Fcar
Yeah, don't go to anywhere on Veterans Avenue in Redwood City. Seriously that's a big question. My best luck when dealing with any technical vendors (anything more than tires qualifies as technical, in my book) it's best to get personal references, and stay away from having friends do the work. Makes completion of contracts too cumbersome if there is a dispute.
Heart-rending story. I'd be tempted to have them do the work while I wait anyway, I'm a techie and like watching that kind of stuff and also means no problems arranging pick-ups and drop-offs. I'd never expect an issue like that in Switzerland or Japan, but in Britain you can practically count on it. But the REAL question is, why get a stereo in a 360? I haven't turned on the one in my spider yet, much less considered upgrading it. (Though come to think of it I should probably get a sat nav system.)
Because I drive my car every day and I like to listen to music. The factory unit is garbage. When I want to hear the Tubi scream I just turn the radio down.
wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,just got done reading this over two cups of coffee and one pee break,I don't think I'll be turning the keys over to anyone soon,
The vehicle owner should stipulate that no one other than the owner drives his car. Period. The installer can do everything needed by being a passenger and the installer can better concentrate on his test in that manner. All the more reason why no one other than the owner should drive the car. The only one I would let drive my car is Brian Crall.
1) Put two goofy young guys in a Ferrari who neither know or understand the operation of the vehicle 2) push right pedal all the way 3) hang on 4) yell yeeha 5) yell groovy 6) then limp back to the shop.
Greg they do have a legitimate reason to drive the car. Over the years we have had several owners stipulate no one could drive the car at a couple of the dealers I worked at and we refused to work on it. Cannot do our job that way. It just requires finding someone you trust. Not to say it was true in this case but I always find it funny when I hear on this very site why it costs more to get a Ferrari worked on. That is one of the reasons. Good shops, good work and people you can trust cost more. Besides I have a very simple rule, if you do not trust me don't bring me your car.
