Auto Elite NJ Service Nightmare

Sure.
I'll keep doing what I'm doing thank you... and if there is an imperfection when I get it back and it's understandable, I'll work with it. I'm reasonable and understanding like that. IMHO there is no perfect repair, there is ALWAYS something that wasn't done to perfection. Even when the car was new. Just another reason to complain about a repair bill IMHO. And you look at the clientele. If everyone regards them very very highly, either you're the exception or there is a massive conspiracy with EVERYONE.

 

We all have our take and opinions. It's all good in the end.

 

I think there's the difference - for a repair, there is no "perfection", I agree with you. However, a repair isn't subjective. It was either done correctly, or it wasn't. You can then break it down further (pun not intended) what failed and why, and chances are very high that in the process, one or more items were not done correctly. It's not chance.

When it comes to the whacky electrical systems (as a twice former Mondial owner), that I wouldn't fault a mechanic with, having lived with the cars. The repair can be done correctly, and the crappy parts and system Ferrari put in the car will just randomly fail. As he once said "this is why the Italians never put anybody on the moon."

Paint matching, e.g. "I want my car this color", that's subjective in how well the color was matched. How well your carpets were cleaned falls more into a subjective camp. But a hose? A clamp? That's no subjective, it's done correctly or it isn't.

I can't believe for a minute I'm the exception, nor that the work falls into perfection.

Anyway, I'm speaking in generalities, I have no experience with the original posters service provider, but I sympathize with him for sure.

 

Impossible to make a judgment without hearing both sides, but, really, if I wrote a $12k check and the car did not run right a block later I'd be pretty upset. And I certainly would not expect to be charged more to make the car right at that point, especially if I gave the shop carte blanche to do it right in the first place. Comes down to pride in your business and wanting to keep a customer happy.

I had a low mileage 88 Porsche 911 years ago that was sluggish. Took it to my local trusted independent, a lot of head scratching, bring it in 2-3 times, adjust the valves, clean the injectors, clean the gas tank, run SeaFoam through the car, here's the bill. Still didn't run right. Took it to the dealer. "Needs a top end rebuild, valve guides are worn, figure $6000." With 18k miles? Doubt it. Took it to a new guy ... he keeps the car for an entire week, tests everything, new fuel filter, new plugs, swaps numerous injection parts with another car, etc. etc. etc. Calls me, says the car is right now. It was. Hands me the bill, I'm cringing thinking 40 hours of labor plus parts ... instead, one hour of labor to clean a clogged fuel rail. I say, "Joe, you worked on the car for an entire week, how can you only charge me $80?" He says, "Why should you pay while we learn?" Guess who got my business thereafter?

 

Nuff said.

 

Agreed. The reason I hire a professional is that I can't do it or I expect a higher level of detail or service than I could do myself.
The argument isn't about being nitpicking but an expected level of service and professionalism.

 

+1

 

That works for you. Not for most people who do not know how to do a clutch job or anything else. Or even if they do, and are paying a professional should not give a "pass" just because they would have made that error. Most people pay a professional to get a job done. If there is a mistake, then the professional should offer some sort of compensation.

 

2 sides to every story but generally speaking, +1.

If I had a Honda Civic and paid "Honda Civic" prices to get similar work done, I'd be very upset if it didn't run properly when I claimed it. The "Ferrari premium" we pay to Ferrari repair shops presumes an expertise about the nature of these cars and how to service and fix them properly.Everyone misses something sometimes, but the idea that you should just "drive the gremlins out of it" seems pretty cavalier, if that's indeed what was said to the OP. Especially if he gave them carte Blanche to look for any possible issue.

Regardless of who did or didn't miss it, the leaking fuel line issue is a dangerous one.

 

These were a recall item. Not sure if it's still active, but a quick call to Ferrari could have saved you 1500.

 

$1500? Having recently built a race car using similar AN fittings, I can tell you that's about $75 worth of parts, using the best available.

Looks like they were over-torqued on reassembly. Even at well-reputed shops, there's no guarantee that the best tech there is going to work on your car. It's like in academic healthcare, the well-reputed surgeon you consulted may not do the actual operation, instead just overseeing the specialty fellows who do most of the operation.

 

Why wouldn't this "reputable" shop not know this?

 

[/QUOTE]

The recall was for the fuel block and dividers, not the hoses
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/139693609-post5.html

The part kit is around $140 from Ricambi, or free ? if done by the dealer under the recall.