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Finally got my Speedy and not too happy

nickhassonnickhasson
Well, yesterday I finally got to pick up my new widebody from vintage speedster. The car is great except one major thing. PAINT! I am very disappointed in quality of the paint finishing. When i first saw the car and was told it was done, i saw it and front 30 feet away i could see the swirls in the clear. Tons of scratches and you could tell after the car was not buffed out to the point that the sanding marks were gone.

The Porsche emblems had been drilled wrong and the holes were left in the body. I actually had to point that out. COME ON! There was 1/4 inch holes, one right in the middle of the O in porsche. SLOPPY

When I asked to have all this fixed I was told that it would be taked care of. Upon returning I saw the paint was not that much better and the emblems were not removed to fix the holes, the hole were patched and touched up with touchup paint. Very noticeable. Half the car still looks like it had sand paper dragged all over it. There is a run in the clear and allot of deep scratches that might not sand out.

I am now having to take this car to a body shop and spend more money to have it fixed.
I'm guessing in the 1000-2000 dollar range to have the paint completed.

WHAT A SHAFT! I AM NOT HAPPY WITH IT FOR THE MONEY I SPENT.

Overall I dont get how everyone says kirk is the best. He was very nice, but the lack of attention the finishing details was crazy. One the second trip, when i pointed out the scratches, they said there guy would hand glaze it again. WTF? This needs more than hand glaze.

Kirk seems to have too many cars being built at once and tool much shoved into one shop.


I love this car, but i recommend you buy one used and fix it up.




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nickhassonnickhasson
Well, yesterday I finally got to pick up my new widebody from vintage speedster. The car is great except one major thing. PAINT! I am very disappointed in quality of the paint finishing. When i first saw the car and was told it was done, i saw it and front 30 feet away i could see the swirls in the clear. Tons of scratches and you could tell after the car was not buffed out to the point that the sanding marks were gone.

The Porsche emblems had been drilled wrong and the holes were left in the body. I actually had to point that out. COME ON! There was 1/4 inch holes, one right in the middle of the O in porsche. SLOPPY

When I asked to have all this fixed I was told that it would be taked care of. Upon returning I saw the paint was not that much better and the emblems were not removed to fix the holes, the hole were patched and touched up with touchup paint. Very noticeable. Half the car still looks like it had sand paper dragged all over it. There is a run in the clear and allot of deep scratches that might not sand out.

I am now having to take this car to a body shop and spend more money to have it fixed.
I'm guessing in the 1000-2000 dollar range to have the paint completed.

WHAT A SHAFT! I AM NOT HAPPY WITH IT FOR THE MONEY I SPENT.

Overall I dont get how everyone says kirk is the best. He was very nice, but the lack of attention the finishing details was crazy. One the second trip, when i pointed out the scratches, they said there guy would hand glaze it again. WTF? This needs more than hand glaze.

Kirk seems to have too many cars being built at once and tool much shoved into one shop.


I love this car, but i recommend you buy one used and fix it up.




coolrydecoolryde
I wold say the same thing as Vinny. I've heard nothing but good about VS and Kirk. Having run a few shops and still being in this type of business I know that at times no matter how hard we try we miss things. I'm sure if you give him a chance and get his full attention, he'll make it right. Have you set up a time with him over the phone to come in and sit down with him? If not try that then let us know what happens. I look forward to reading about the outcome. You have to atleast give him a chance.
nickhassonnickhasson
That's the problem, I gave him two tries to fix it and over a week. Still no good results. I was stunned when the second time i went to pick up the car and it was still almost as bad as the first time.

At that point i decide to drive away and deal with the issues myself because I gave him the chance to fix it.

After two tries, should I have to ask more? I took pictures of the problem areas and also gave him a list of things to look at. I tried to make fixing this easy for him. Still was no fixed.
Cuzn Vinny 90264Cuzn Vinny 90264
Perhaps you didn't read my post...I will repeat..

Kirk builds more than any of the other builders, and I'm sure once in a while one falls thru the cracks, which sounds like yours did unfortunetly, but he is a stand up guy, let him fix it....
I wouldn't be taking it somewhere else just yet....

Giving him 2 tries and a week, makes you sound unreasonable...
and having a friend who agrees with you, don't mean squat...
Taking your tub somewhere else will only cost you more money..
Let him fix it...

As I remember, you also complained about the whole build taking to long, and it was only a month, most of which was waiting for the motor and Exhaust which must have been a special order in the first place...I suggest you take a deep breathe and work this out with Kirk.
nickhassonnickhasson
Vin,

Deep Breath,

ok,

I dont think having a week to buff a car is unreasonable. Maybe it is. I have a detail guy going at it right now and he said in 4 hours 95 percent of the problems will be gone. If he could do it in 4 hours kirk could too.

And for the record my build was almost 4 months. Never complained or harassed anyone about it. I called once a week to check in and that was it. That does not seem unreasonable, especially when i was told one month. I sat very patient for 3 months.

I'm not here to bash on kirk. The car is great! I love it. I have had it two days and it already has 150 miles on it. I was just bummed that the last details were not carried thru to the standard I have seen on many of his cars.
Cuzn Vinny 90264Cuzn Vinny 90264
Nick, it is customary that when a new tub is born, we do a shakedown cruise....you can either pick the destination, or we will pick one for you.....
so far your only complaint has been paint, perhaps we can find something else that will need attention.....
Remember one thing, Kirk takes responsibility up to a certain point on his new tubs, so lets shake it out and see what gives...
I had carb issues for a while, it was taken care of and my tub runs great now....
Gerd and I have clear bra's which you may want to consider, Desi did both our cars....
Lane AndersonLane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member
I've been fighting a similar issue in my car around 60 mph for a couple of years. Enough to be annoying, but not really too bad. I think that the lightness of these cars in the front makes minor imbalances seem more significant. Those fancy rims you have require stick on weights or none at all on the outside, making balancing them more difficult. First get a good four-wheel alignment, preferably from a hot rod shop that doesn't require computer settings.

Don't get too discouraged. I seriously doubt that a Speedster has been made that doesn't require some sorting.
Alan MerklinAlan MerklinDrclock - Elkins, West Virginia Supporting Member
I don't get it, it does no one any good to publically blow off steam about something until all avenues of resolution have been exhausted.
Kirk has an extensive history of making things right and going above and beyond to please a VS owner. Driving off into the sunset and laying out additional bucks is far from the right answer. However as I write this I am reminded that there is always two sides to every situation.
Cuzn Vinny 90264Cuzn Vinny 90264
Thank you Alan, I didn't want to come off like I was defending Vintage to strongly, I do consider Kirk & Mary good friends, but the real issue is that these cars are hand made and will sometime need some tweeking, I do believe Kirk is as good as any builder, and better than most when it comes to follow-up service....
Patience is a vertue.....(which I don't posses either)
Dave (Speedster "D") GalvanDave (Speedster "D") Galvan
Hello Nick, I hope you're getting everything handled that you need fixed or repaired... I totally agree with the guys here in that you need to let Kirk handle it, no matter how long it takes... I understand your position and frustration too, and I feel for you here just wanting to get your hands on that bad boy and drive baby drive... am sure he'll come through for you.. He always has in the past, this is NOT a 5 month relationship...

Now when we say Kirk you understand he and Mary OWN the shop and he is probably not the guy trying to fix the holes with touch-up paint... Based on his work load and the simple number of sweet cars this guy produces on a regular basis, I am very surprised that we do not hear more about things that go wrong on delivery.. simply stated, these are hand made cars... period.. I am sure the Sistine chapel needed some touch-up's too and there is only one of those...

Bottom line, get the work done and pick out your "break-in" cruise so we can meet, talk, drive and EAT in person!

Speedster "D" "everybody has a story..."

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nickhassonnickhasson
Thanks Guys,

I have enjoyed the car! The paint is done and did not cost me much to do so. I'm glad I took the car and am now enjoying it. If anything does come up with the car, it will be dealt with by kirk.

Today I wet sanded the last of the scratches out and am almost done with a complete detail. It looks sweet.

All of this, i guess, is part of the madness! Sorting out the car, right? So far paint is the only sorting I have had to do. Other than that, an alignment check will be the next step.

Now onto cruising this baby!
Willy PWilly P
I think that we are planning a Malibu/Rudder Room run Aug. 28th? Sounds like a great time to see your new car, and get to know you. I'm sorry that your car delivery was not just as expected, but a little patience goes a long way when dealing with these cars, and people too. Not taking sides here, just presenting my way of dealing with handmade cars.
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