New member. Tried out a AE86 shop and had a bad experience

[ejcabrera]

Hey club4ag, new member here. Just picked up a really clean 86 gts on ebay of all places. I have been a lurker on this forum for some years but only found one i wanted to buy recently. I am not new to cars or forums as I have owned a fd rx7 for nearly 11 years now. I am mechanically inclined, and also an engineer by trade, but brand new to corollas and wanted an expert to look over my car and see what was wrong with it. My friend recommended DB Auto Care and I also found positive reviews on this site about it.



I met the Dee and Ray. Both really cool people. They went over my car did an oil change and the only two things that needed to be replaced were the hatch struts and air filter. The hatch struts arrived but the left one was missing hardware. So this mechanic working there, Bernie, started dismantling the original left hatch strut to reuse the hardware. I should of said something but they told me it was going to work. The right one has like a black nut and washer. the left original hardware is not black and no washer. Is this acceptable to you guys? To me it looks off.





I had to go there again the next day because they ordered the wrong air filter. Same mechanic again working on my car pops the hood and places the brand new air filter on top of airbox area. As he is pulling the mass air flow sensor out he knocks the brand new air filter into a puddle of water. Just picks it up and continues to put it in. I mean like its a filter and meant to get dirty but really? I should have said something but I just did not want to flip out at the shop. Anyone have any recommendations for AE86 shops around the southern california area. I'm willing to drive out of the way.

[aukword1]

um well, that sounds like a shitty mechanic in general...I dont know of any good ae86 mechanics in socal and i live here...I tend to just learn things and figure them out myself. I don't really trust other people with my cars...since you are mechanically inclined, you should be able to do the simple stuff that they are doing to it the right way...replacing dampers and oil change is cake...you gotta remember though, the parts for these cars are hard to find now. Simple gaskets and rubber pieces are hard to find..that is probably why he tried to reuse them. It looks bad but performance wise it wont matter...if you take the time you can find a suitable replacement i am sure.

[totta crolla]

Rear hatch strut ? I guess they can only work with what they are given.
Air filter ? No excuse but yeah, you should have said something

[yoshimitsuspeed]

It can be hard to remember that there is a whole spectrum in between biting your tongue and completely loosing it.
I am pretty sure I would have said something either to the mechanic or the owner/supervisor. If I didn't get good vibes from the mechanic it would probably be the latter.
I do know that as a shop owner I would want to know if my mechanic was doing something to put my customers off.
I would also be pretty pissed if the first way I learned about it was by it being posted online.
In my book it's a much more respectful first step to try to take it up with the shop and see if you can find people who do give a S. In a well respected shop generally you will. If that doesn't work out and if you feel people should know or if you want input on how to proceed I believe it's perfectly acceptable to post it online.

You never know. Maybe the mechanic is a great guy and great at his job and was just having a tough week. Maybe the shop had him on a trial period and would appreciate input.
The rear strut doesn't look bad from what I can tell from the pics. It would have been better to have done it right but sometimes that isn't the best option right then.
For the air filter again it really depends. Was it a small puddle of pretty clean water? Did a couple drops of clear clean water splash on the filter?
Or was this a 2 foot deep pot hole in a dirt parking lot filled with mud and clay?

[burdickjp]

Do I spy an E30 M3 in your garage?
Checking things off your bucket list?

[ejcabrera]

You're right I should have just done the work myself

Well I posted it online because I wanted to know from other fellow AE86 owners if having mismatching hardware would be adequate. Puddle was stagnant water on the the driveway of the shop. clear but still dirty. I think its more of the fact that it happened right in front of me and he didn't say anything or acknowledge it.

yes it is an e30 m3. I found it like 3 years ago before the value really went up on these cars. It's been resprayed poorly but has a rebuilt engine with perfect compression, rebuilt transmission, and was fixed up nicely already. Just a restoration away from being really nice. Bucket list? still only 27. I just cant pass on great deals when I find them.

[idreamofdrifting]

You're right I should have just done the work myself

Indeed. When you want something done right, the first time. IMO.

I wanted to know from other fellow AE86 owners if having mismatching hardware would be adequate....

No. In the AE86 life, there is no room for inadequacy, nor mismatching parts. Ever. IMO

the fact that it happened right in front of me and he didn't say anything or acknowledge it....

You only have yourself to blame on this. IMO

Bucket list? still only 27...

You're never too young to start. IMO

I just cant pass on great deals when I find them....

Likewise. IMO

Suggestion, if you're in El Monte,CA go see Mitsu, at

MITSU'S GARAGE

and call it a day.

[TORPARTS]

let us know if we can help....

our work speaks for itself!

[tiprock]

...My friend recommended DB Auto Care...I met the Dee and Ray.

racetoys?