MY 355 LTFT IS FIXED!!!!!!!!

First off, I must thank Mark @ Ferrari of Seattle. He has single-handedly erased all of my opinions of Ferrari dealers based on my previous experiences with Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo.

The problem was that the throttle linkages were misaligned. He was able to diagnose AND correct this problem within the initial 2-hour minimum charge.

He is simply one of the most amazing technicians in being able to explain all of the technical jargon in terms that I can understand.

I honestly regret not going to him sooner.

Mark, thank you so very much for everything you have done to make my experience with you and FoS so memorable. You have earned a customer for life--even if I do live 3 hours away.

As for Carlo....guys, there is nothing I can say about him. He is still one of the nicest and honest and genuinely caring people I have ever met. I don't want to get into specifics, but what he charged me for all the hours he put into the car almost made me faint. He wouldn't take more than what was on the receipt. I ordered a nice $300 wine basket for him and Lino that should arrive next week.

I would feel 100% comfortable taking my car to Carlo with things that aren't related to the need of an SD2, to let you all know that he is a very fair person.

So, the long-term fuel trim is running great....the engine is running great....the only problem is that the top sometimes stops on the way down and I have to push the switch to restart it. So, Mark recommended flushing the entire system as that will most likely remedy the problem. It is 9 hours of labor but it is worth a shot because replacing the left ram that is having the problem is $4k.

I will be keeping everybody posted on this. He is doing the flush this week and I will be picking my car up on Sept 30th.

I'm SOOOOOOOO excited!!!!!

THANK YOU MARK AT FERRARI OF SEATTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Great news - congrats!!!

Glad you'll be able to enjoy it some before the nasty weather gets here!

 

Glad to see you got her done.

 

Just curious what happened with Ron Tonkin to have created such a bad impression of dealerships for you?

I'm glad to hear that all is finally solved. Mark has never let me down in the few times I've used him. FoS is lucky to have him on their team.

 

Glad to hear of the success!! What a relief I am sure.

When I had my major service performed by Mark and his crew at Ferrari of Seattle, I recall him saying that is part of the service that would be performed on my car. There is a LOT of attention to details like this at FoS...stuff that you are not going to get done from shops that advertise $4k belt services on F355's.

I should be around at the end of the month, you can Katie call me when you come up.

 

YAHOOOOO!!!

Great to hear. I can just imagine how excited you were when you got off the phone with Mark.

 

I've been following your "adventures". I'm glad to hear you got your car fixed! Congrats.

 

I

AM

SOOOOOOOOO

EFFING

ECSTATIC

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Been following your initial thread. Finally...good for you!!

 

It's time for me to get the 30K engine out svc on my 91 348. I just moved here
(Army medical officer) and finishing up my last few months in Afghanistan. Have
been following your previous thread, and sure by now you know the in's and out's
of who do use for Ferrari service in the Seattle-Portland area.

Can you give advise please.

Trying to decide between Ferrari of Seattle, Carlo, Ron Tonkin, ATD (Portland)
and the Jag Shop (Portland). FoS quoted me a higher price than Carlo. However,
it seems like it's hard to get ahold of Carlo (not sure if he's on vacation, ill, whatever).
Wondering if I should just go with FoS or be patient and wait for Carlo. Also,
any experience with the shops down in Portland (RTGT, ATD or Jag Shop?)

This is just the basic engine out service.

Any advice?

AJ

 

Personally, I'm happy with all three Portland shops that you mentioned. On a 348, I'd probably take it to RTGT, partially because they did such a great job on my recent Boxer engine out service.

 

Welcome to the PNW.
Not sure if you knew, but there is no sales tax in Oregon.
Might add up to quite a sum.

 

I have always had a great experience taking my 355 to RTGT, I would just go there.... Kelly and the boys will take care of you..

 

AJ,
Where do you live? This might make a difference.

 

Live in Tacoma. I'm not opposed to driving her to Portland if there's a better repair shop that charges less.

 

So that's what it was huh? Wow, glad somebody figured it out.

 

If you're in Tacoma, I would def. go to Alfa of Tacoma. Close and Carlo is very good.

 

+1 And worst case your car would winter at Carlos for a bit rather than being tied up in the good weather driving months.

 

I take my car to RTGT. Does ATD and The Jag Shop charge significantly less?

 

Aren't you in Juneau?


Glad to hear the news, Brock... just wonderin'....




Jedi

 

Yes.

Yes, I am in Juneau.


And....just talked to Mark. He flushed the entire convertible top system and the top now works perfectly with NO hesitations! His suggestion of doing this rather than simply replacing the left ram that was hesitating speaks volumes about his knowledge and character.

The car is running PERFECTLY!!!

He noticed a bit of metallic flakes in the F1 system and that it takes a little while to pressurize than it should. Daniel is shipping his supersecret Hill Engineering 355 F1 pump retrofit prototype (the system uses an OEM 360 F1 pump) to FoS on Friday so Mark can get it installed in time for me to pick her up in 2 weeks.

So, she'll have a brand-new F1 pump and I'm so excited!!!!!

 

Living in Tacoma I would start with Carlo. He has worked on several of my cars and I have no complaints what ever. If he can't fix it he will not charge you. As this is just an engine out service it should be a none issue for you. Rumor has it that he is picking up that new engine diag tool from Italy as well. (computer based like Ferrari's only at a third of the cost)

 

Very very very LARGE problem now.....with the parts...

Waiting on Mark @ FoS to call me with a solution....

I sit and wait....and wait....

 

+355

 

What parts are they waiting on?