TwinTurbo.NET: Nissan 300ZX forum - incompetence destroys beauty (seeking VA/DC/MD shops...)
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Subject incompetence destroys beauty (seeking VA/DC/MD shops...)
     
Posted by mysticLegoZ on August 23, 2006 at 11:43 AM
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Message Hello all:

I am a 23 year old soon to be computer engineering graduate. This is my first time posting. Not the way I would have chosen to make my introduction to the community, but circumstances force my hand. Please bear with my mistakes. Thanks in advance.

For several years, I had been reading about and seeking a 94/95 TT. I finally took the plunge two Saturday's ago and bought a 94 TT with ~66.5K miles on it from a local tt.net member. Mr. Bernie Bilski had seen and vouched for the vehicle condition, so I was extremely satisfied. The vehicle was to be a starting point for many years of learning and applying the theory. The ultimate goal: being able to maintain this near stock Z and eventually build up a second TT for the track. (No, I do not want/intend to "trick out" any Z, I am perfectly happy with its beautiful looks that define the sleeper.)

After pickup, everything went fine on the drive back. I stopped to take pictures at the local park and then brought it back home. Early yesterday morning, I was bitten by the bug and went for a nice long cruise. I figured I might as well get the Maryland inspection done before washing and putting the Z away (car cover arrived yesterday). I made my first huge mistake by not checking around for a local Z shop that could do the inspection.

I took the Z to a shop where the owner said he was "familiar" with the Z and could handle the inspection. He did the test drive with me in the passenger seat and then started pulling into the shop. I got a call from one of the companies I do tech support for and had to step out. A quick couple minutes later, I came back in to find the Z already up on the lift. Running around to check the contact points, I was horrified... the rear was alright, but the front was barely hanging on. The front left was just touching the "seam", but pretty solid on the hard point. The front right was horrible. The lift was only touching the "seam" and had already caused a 1.5" upwards indentation. Long story short, after bringing the Z down and then properly back up, we took the plastic completely off and barely pried the panel back down. It was still ugly and not aligned properly. I ended up passing the inspection and coming back home thinking that everything I had wanted to avoid happened within 5 minutes. In the end both my incompetence in finding an appropriate shop and the shop owner's incompetence have caused damage to the pristine condition.

At this point I am talking with the shop's insurance provider. They are receptive to fixing the damage and want an estimate. I would like to find an experienced Z shop that can perform the estimate/repairs. I live in Maryland, but can go anywhere within the Virginia/DC/Maryland region.

While I expect to get the "I told you so" type response from some people, I can only say, "I made a mistake" and am looking for advice from the experts on how to deal with this problem. Local Z shops are the key issue at this point. Of course, any and all ideas are welcome and appreciated. Please take a look at the included pictures and give me your opinions... many thanks...

94TTZ when first purchased two Saturdays ago

Incompetence destroys beauty...






     
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