SAW

SO GENTLEMEN HOW GOES THE NEW SAW CARS, CAN'T BE MORE ANXIOUS THAN YOU LUCKY GUYS.

Slow.

slooooooooooooow, veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery sloooooooooooow!

Think it's time for a mass visit? I can't even get a reply from email or phone messages....It's been 18 months and only one picture of my motor nothing else. Let me know what you fellow waiters are up for. Mike

Gessh it sems like a no brainer, if I were in a transaction that was on going for 18 months, the company doesn't respond to emails and calls, I would have huge concerns and would drive away most new businesss prospects....wouldn't you ?
My first move would be to contact the local PD and ask that they do a drive by to see if the company was still there and operating.

For any business with an advance deposit on the order, there should be clear timelines and follow-up when those commitments are not held to. Perhaps they are awaiting more order$ for additional operating capital!

....Perhaps they are awaiting more order$ for additional operating capital....
Just a thought and no malice intended but that is how CMC aka Classic Motor Carriages started to go belly up.

Perhaps one of the SAW owners has a way of making contact and could help out.

Doesn't SAW build many different cars, maybe there is more money (profit) in the Hot Rods or Jags or other models. Hang in there guys, I am sure it will be worth the wait.

It seems to me that there are several issues raised here that perhaps complicate the issue of late delivery. I have waited a long time for an SAW car and while I am not happy about it, I have looked at the alternatives and SAW's production rates for several years and from different perspectives. I believe each of us enters into a separate transaction with SAW and must deal with it as we see fit. I will address a couple of issues raised thus far:

1. SAW has been producing specialty cars for about 30 years and many of its deliveries have been late. Steve will probably tell you that this is the nature of the specialty car business. Nonetheless, SAW seems to have strong supporters and some detractors.
2. Mass action? What does that mean? Are you saying that if a group of us show up in Knoxville, SAW will build cars faster with his 4-6-man crew? This would not appear to be the remedy. I have chosen to be patient and wait my turn. I suspect if you pressured Steve to terminate your contract, he would return your money and some lucky guy down the road will jump the queue and get a car (your car) very early.
3. Call the PD? Why not call AARP? Not very helpful. There are several owners of SAW cars on the forum that will assure you that SAW is in business and working six days a week. Maybe not working on my car but on a car for someone in the forum family.
4. More profit in street rods? I doubt it. But remember, all of the street rod orders were taken before SAW turned its attention to the Speedster family, so these deliveries are late as well and ahead of yours.
5. Profit in Jags? I own the only XK120 DHC that SAW has ever built and it is a fine piece of work but Steve did not get rich off me. And I waited a very long time. I believe he has two XK140 commissions underway, one that may be nearing completion. These are all FFP contracts. Rare in the industry for true unique specialty cars.
6. CMC comparison? From my perspective, CMC pressured you to buy their product

It's nice to read the support of a particular company. However, my point being that know one hears back from any company and or contractor, doesn't that raise just a bit of a question as to their present status ?
I would be somewhat concerned. but if you truely believe that they are just too busy to answer a phone or return an email perhaps ....I'm just a tad too cautious.

Top-notch work is worth the wait. I hope SAW doesn't tank like CMC did.

I just receive an answer from SAW to an email I sent yesterday evening. Steve assured me that everything is on track but was somewhat delayed by some car shows that required his attention. The flared bodies are now in house and he said my chassis and frame is complete and assembly for painting is now in progress. As Charles clearly explained that SAW is a custom car manufacturer similar to IM but with a lot less staffing and does not produce cookie-cutter cars. And yes SAW build other cars beside Speedsters which the other companies do not.There does seem to be a lot of critical remarks from members that do not own or have not ordered a car from SAW which really aren't warranted but this is America and you can still speak freely. But until SAW defaults or produce a piece of crap as some other owners have complained about I'll reserve my right to any bad mouthing. As for the wait, it would have taken me more time and effort to build the car SAW is building for me; ask Cory how long he's been working on Hoopty and when he expects it to be completed. The final comments on the good and bad of SAW rest with owners(there are no second-hand SAW vehicles) who's opinions I accept over owners of other makes.

I certainly agree that phone calls and emails should receive immediate attention and am pleased to hear that perhaps responses from SAW are getting back on track. I am also a "say what you think guy" and believe in free speech and honest exchange. I also choose not to comment when I think that a thread is going nowhere and my comments would not be helpful. I was not trying to support or defend SAW as much as to provide a perspective on specialty car builders. My guess is that SAW turns down 4 of every 5 persons that apply for a car in an effort not to over commit SAW (which he does anyway).

I will tell you that no one has been on Steve

Right on, Nolan. Talk about foibles -- but I'll stand by the Wrench's work for as long as he's in business. It's just unfortunate I need an annual calendar to plot the milestones on instead of a weekly log.
Charles, I really do think you'll get what you're paying for. I have watched the Suby threads and seen the last couple years' commentary, and I have to say that that car will be so completely different from anything else out there that it probably won't leave your hands for years. I can't see you being bored with it, so unless you're eighty or older, the wait time for something exactly perfect for you will be worth it.
What's the wait time on a custom ride from Detroit or Italy? How about that Coddington fellow with the aluminum cars?

Glad to hear that you heard from SAW. My previous thoughts were not to imply but to give a heads up.

I wasn't try to chastize anyone but I do have to admit I'm too patient with people at times. I had to get my city's building permit department to sign a form so I could get a discount on my hurricane insurance. I had new impact windows, doors and shutters installed and my insurance company needed to have an engineer sign off on a needed form. I dropped off the form along with my approved and inspected permit sheets two months ago for review and signature, so far they haven't signned. I guess I got into this condition from being stationed in England for nearly five years. At the time I was over there if you went to a furniture store and ordered a dining room set, or anything of that sort, they would take your order and then have it manufactured. It kept down inventory storage but your delivery date was usually six to eight months after ordering.

Anyone who has talked to Steve at SAW knows that it is very difficult for him to have a quick conversation. It is just his personality and because of this telephone calls can really eat up his day. I know most of you who have talked to Steve can attest that you have probably never had a phone call with Steve last less then a half an hour, it is his weakness and his strength.

I know for a fact, he is feeling the pressure, and rather then talk to people and make excuses, he is working hard to get things done. I know it doesn't make the people who have waited, way longer then they should have to, feel any better, but rest assured he is working hard at getting things done.

I hope things start rolling out of the SAW building soon for several of you and I can feel your pain. It just gets harder and harder to wait, the week your waiting for the car to be delivered is actually a relief compared to the long wait.

What is the current thru-put time for SAW (from order to delivery)?

I'm sure it may depend on body style. I've ordered a flared fendered cabriolet and have been waiting since June of last year. I was told that it should be soon since a lot of other events, weather and other stuff caused the delay. Otherwise I'm still collect 5% on a CD in which I deposited the rest of the money.

Nolan,

I have to go up to Florida on business quite frequently. At the risk of jumping the gun, might I be able to get a ride in your car when you get it? You'll be the closet SAW owner I'm aware of (I'm SE of the Bahamas).

-Jeff

Sure thing Jeff, I only ask you keep in touch with this forum as to when I get delivery of the car. I made a list of the locals that want to check it out a few months ago but mislaid it. Just ring in when you see the birth anouncement. It's worst than waiting for my daughter's birth.

It is a real shame, I was really decided to order my car from SAW but after read a lot of the delay I just change my mind, I will probably go with JPS. I don

While I'm pretty confident that you can get a JPS faster then a SAW, I am equallly confident that it won't be built on time. It is the unfortunate nature of this business, and owners will chime in about getting their car from their builder on time, but the truth is a far majority, if not most of these cars are not delivered on time by any of the manufacturers.

No magic builders, no magic cars, no magic parts, no magic drivetrain. The builders all share faults, and they all have their own drawbacks and shortcomings.

Putting a watercooled drivetrain in a spyder is much simpler and much more natural setup for the drivetrain then a speedster, even in a Vintage.

Any good news?

Yeah, delivery day and that first drive. Every drive afterwards too.

Nolan,

I was on that list of locals to check out your new ride. I will be back in Florida in late March...are there any update on your new, new delivery date?

Scott

Scott: I haven't checked with SAW lately as I'm laid up with a torn Achilles tendon. Hopefully I'll be mobile by the end of March as we have relatives visiting from England. We'll be driving up to Graceland and since we will be close to Knoxville we'll look in on SAW and try to get some updates. It may be wishful thinking but I have a feeling Steve from SAW will be contacting me soon for final detail and painting scheme. Did hear from another South Florida member that bought the contract from a guy that got tired of waiting, his ride is about two months behind mine so we should have a couple of Tubaros in South Florida this year.

Michael G.: How's you're turbo coming?

"close to Knoxville" is relative, Nolan. Memphis is 6+ hours away at the other end of a very long state. Still, it'd be worth it to check out your ride.

I didn't do a mapquest to verify this, but it looks like the best way to get to Memphis would be to take I-75 through Atlanta (ugh!) and Chattanooga, picking put I-24 there and heading for Nashville. Then you could take I-40 all the way to Memphis. That's what I would do after taking a fast cut at it.

However, to go by way of Knoxville, I would think you would take
I-95 to I-26 in South Carolina until it runs into I-40 in North Carolina and continue west towards Knoxville. After visiting SAS (ne. SAW) just continue west to Memphis. Once again, this is taking a fast cut at it.

Obviously, the trip by way of Knoxville is longer, but I don't think it would be too terrible. BTW, you will let me know when you are coming, right? ;-)
Hoss

Sorry guys, I didn't mention our route to Memphis. We plan to hit Savannah, Ga first. Then onto Stone Mountain, Helen Ga, Gatlinburg to cruise Cades Cove in the Smokey Mountain State Park and shoot on over to Memphis. We haven't decide which route we'll take to get back to South Florida so if anyone has any ideas let me know. Hoss, I'll give you a call if your phone number (xxx xxx-xx55) hasn't changed, to let you know when we're in the area.

Nolan, xxx xxx-xx55 is unchanged. Do call and keep me posted. Do you have a ballpark date as to when this might happen?

The best ball park figure I can give now is around the 29th or 30th of March. It all depends on how long we stay in Savannah. We want to make this a leisurely road trip without any strict deadlines.

Nolan No word.... left phone and email messages I don't feel good about the situation.....Steve mentioned the first of the year as a delivery date but....The last update and pictures were in Nov.... now we are moving on to almost 23 months...I sure hope others don't have this long delivery time......Still waiting Michael

Michael: I spoke with Steve at SAW/SAS this morning. He's asking for my color scheme, so my car's body is being prepped for color. Asked him about yours and it seems that the new engine you're having installed comes with a lot of security items designed into it by Subaru. The following items must match: computer, keys, sensors and other various electronics. This has sent Steve back to the drawing board to determine what needs to be installed and what can be bypassed. This installation is major different from the Green Turbo since its engine was an older version of the WRX. Sounds like a nightmare but he has been in touch with the engine supplier and has been making some progress on it. Sorry I couldn't pin him down any completion dates but I still have confidence in the final output.

Nolan.....Thanks for the update. I will move on to other projects... sounds like I have some time to kill.....Michael

John,

Let's give Nolan a taste of the dragon. Nolan, let us know as the dates get closer. Gatlinburg is 30-45 minutes from Knoxville. If you have not been there before, be prepared for bumper to bumper traffic amongst a neon overload. On the other hand the new aquarium is very nice.

Tom Raymond
2006 IM

Sounds like a plan! A great, fun drive.

I'd love to, depends on a couple of factors. If the car's ready after our road trip then I get to come up to Knoxville on my own (wife is not too keen on the way I like to drive Sport Cars in general). Second factor is how soon my tendon heals so I can drive without straining it. During the March/April road trip my nephew from England will be doing most of the driving (Hope he stays in the right hand lane and doesn't slip over to the other side like I did in London but that's another story, something about English traffic law requiring you to drive on parking lights((side lights))while in a built up area (((anywhere there's street lights))) at night).

These days I run my headlites whenever I drive, whatever I drive. Perhaps it will help the morons see me.
ed