Survey, who here actually received a car on time

And if you did get your car on time or it was late, give us a short explanation of why.

I'll go first, my car was ordered in the first week of December and was suppose to be done on the third week of May. It was completed 8 weeks later.

Delays were caused by some product development time, making the overrider reproductions. Hind sight being 20/20 it could have been avoided, but still would have been at least a couple of weeks late. I also then waited about a week for the truck to pick it up and deliver it, because I was unable to go get it.

My VS was done pretty much on time; it left the shop probably a couple of days later than scheduled but shipping took less than expected such that it got here a week earlier than originally scheduled....

On time, maybe even a bit early.

My first VS was early.
-=theron

My Roadster was ordered late Feb 2002. Vehicle arrived Dec 2002. I wasn't in a hurry for the vehicle, but shipping from Vancouver B.C. to my address was a major problem. Every time a date for delivery and who was tansporting the vehicle came available another obstacle happen. It finally came across the border I believe under clandestine circumstances. Still worth the wait.

I guess I don't get "the point" of this thread. Is it really important to anyone that someone hand-building a car for them delivers it precisely "on schedule?"

If your builder tells you 12 weeks and it winds up taking 14, so what?

If you're quoted five-and-a-half months and it takes two months longer than that, but you're still happy with what you got, great!

I was hoping to have my SAW Cabriolet for Carlisle 2004 which was my target date. It had been ordered in January of that year. As the date approached, Steve tried valiantly to complete the project, as well as the many other (mostly rod) projects he had in the hopper. It was not to be. After the pressure was off (ie. the date missed) it took an additional two months to complete the car.

Being the first of its kind, the car had some teething problems. I suspect this is common with all the manufacturers in the beginning of a model run; even IM must have experienced this with their first cars, or at least I would wager that they did. I became a defacto field R&D person for the product line, something I didn't count on. It has been exciting, sometimes frustrating, but the end result has been very worthwhile.

All of the serious issues have been resolved and the updates are finding their way into subsequent cars. I receive tweeks and upgrades on a continuing basis, all of which are now minor. I probably would not do something like this again, but it has been quite a ride, the project and the car ;-)

The last time I visited the shop, which is always a hive of activity and packed to the rafters with parts and supplies, I saw three 356 model cars in a row, including a turbo version. I hope to get a ride in that one before it leaves. Exciting stuff!
Hoss
ps. I just read John's post and agree completely.

I agree, in the end, its how good the car is and how happy you are with the build. It was eluded to on another thread that most cars are not late, while I contend that most are late. I could be wrong so I thought I would take a survey and see what the results are like.

I don't claim to always be right, but it seems to me that they are usually late. I am saying this of all manufacturers and I thought maybe I should actually get some poll information to see if I'm wrong.

Please don't mistake my post as bitching....I believe its important to provide a realistic expectation for people and what is normal in this industry.

Actually, I think this is a very good question. We have a fellow on the spyder site that has been waiting three years for his vehicle. Don't know the details - and the car will be EXCEPTIONAL. But 3 years?

The difference in the time that the car was AGREED to be delivered an the time that it was actually DELIVERED are important. When we ordered our TR owner-assemble kit, it seems to me that there was only a few weeks of difference in the delivery time promised. And the communication during that time was very good and straight forward. angela

Generally (and I realize it's nuts to generalize), VS cars are going to be "on time" most of the time. Kirk has a slick, high-volume operation and he's seldom off-the-mark on timing.
JPS takes much longer to build a car, and since they're all custom jobs, the time it takes varies from car-to-car.
IM is much like JPS in that regard, but I believe Henry is more organized and consequently delivers "on time" probably more often than not.
I'm not familiar with any of the other builders, but the long, long lead time of SAW has been documented here...at least twice, as well as their difficulties in meeting a deadline.
I think anyone with enough cash and gumption to order a hand-built toy car, should be able to deal with a builder's promises, broken or otherwise. Like I said in an earlier post, if you wind up with what you wanted, the schedule on which it was built is irrelevant.

Very well said, John L.

Really don't have a problem with the builder being on time or not, but do expect when they tell you it will be done, that it is, and that
"everything" is done, and done right. Not so with BSC, but really don't think I was asking to much. In answer to the question, the
Car was ready on time, Done? that is another question.

Jerry, thanks that is a perfect example. None of us count a car that needs work as being done....well said!!!!

Well, as old GB would say about this thread - 'horse pucky'.

Who cares? The only time I really worried about something being late was when I was in high school, and sowing a few 'wild seeds'.

Jim, are you listening??????? It seems my question has brought out an answer that I didn't expect, most people think its not even a worthy issue.

Bob, am I detecting a new IM in your future?

Steven, what does Jim have to do with your making an issue of delivery dates?

Steve it's your thread. I told you I was done with it, I told you that you did not (nor I) want to debate these issues. Go drive your Cabriowet. That's where I'm heading (to drive my Speedster).

Now that's the best idea I've heard all day. Uh oh, it's getting dark and I'm afraid of the boogie man. Guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow. My next door neighbor just passed me some information that if I wait until Tuesday, I might be driving in a Cabriosnow, which would be a Cabriono and would really Cabrioblow. WHAT?!!!! Damn it, this is the South, the Vols lost to Vandy this afternoon and now I have to think about that white stuff the get up in Minny-Sota???
Speedster...Speedster...Cabrio.

I recieved my VS early, Kirk did all the legwork finding and shipping the speedster to Anchorage, Alaska. I personally was and still am amazed by VS superior customer service.

Tony

Steven,
Your issue is WORTHY. We consider our cars toys and if a toy is late coming, for many people, that's okay because its just a toy. Lets put it in another perspective.

You are building a house and are the general on the house. It's your house and you are going to live in it. You arrange for tradesman to deliver their work and materials on a timely basis. Let's say the fellow who you arranged to purchase the framing material did not deliver it when agreed. Nor did he call and explain that he would be late. Your framing team is standing by having made a "slot" to frame your house. They can't work. Next slot won't be for several weeks or a month. Then that screws up the top out pluming contractor. When his schedule is interrupted, it will be two months before he can get back to you.

All of a sudden, all of your carefully laid plans have rolled backwards. Tradespeople are very unhappy with you and several of them refuse to come back at all (or if they do - it's really delayed). You must take your "second" choice trades people and pay them more money or accept poorer quality work.

In the meantime, guess who is making the construction loan payment? YOU!!! Guess who does not have a house to live in (as you've probably sold your old one). YOU!!

In the event of building a house, responsible tradespeople do not get payment up front, though they sometimes get payment at certain stages of completion (progress payments).

When these little cars, there is usually a very hefty up front deposit. I believe we put down $5,000 for our unassembled kit as just the deposit. A progress payment was negotiated and final payment given prior to the kit being shipped.

If you pay somebody money for goods or service, those should be delivered in a timely fashion. If they cannot be delivered when agreed, then all moneys should be returned.

If you are going to make a promise, no matter what it is or who you are, you should keep it. angela

This thread is to a long and painful post. After 3 years, the motor blew up in the shop before it could be driven. Engine builder is taking care of fixing it which is good, because as we all painfully know, high performance air cooled motors do not exactly come with a warranty.

Anyway, here's an example of an exceptional wait period: Hope the thread works.

http://www.spyderclub.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=7269&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

angela

The "companies" building our replicas are all small businesses, some with only one or two employees. They are not coming off assembly lines supplied by warehouses full of parts and accessories. It is unrealistic to demand such projects adhere to a strict schedule of completion.

While I personally found the long delay Steven O'Brien endured (SAW) to be excessive and unprofessional, he is happy with his car - and that's what is really important. I'd imagine his well-documented "experience" will help others considering SAW make up their minds.

What I don't like about this thread is that it may give Newbies unrealistic expectations about how these cars are built. Other than Kirk at VS, who else will crank out a new Speedster in a matter of a few weeks? And when it comes to the construction of a hand-built, custom car, do you really want your builder to speed things up? Or do you want the car built right?

My point is - and I do have one - a couple of weeks off schedule is nothing to get upset about, or even make an issue of. But when a builder delays you an extra 8 weeks(!), then I think it's legitimate to demand your money back or at least a financial break for the extreme inconvenience. Other than Steven O'Brien, who else has suffered through that kind of delay? No one else who's posted here.

Angela's analogy about building a house, while well stated, just doesn't match up with the process of building a replicar. It's apples and oranges.

I just don't want those new to the hobby to feel the builders of these cars are in any way like GM or Ford. They aren't. And isn't that really a good thing?

I'll say it this time; Very well said John L. If a specific completion date is essential, make it part of the build contract, which I expect would add some to the price if any builder would even consider agreeing to such. Besides doesn't it sound cool to be telling your friends how the builder of your custom made sportscar had to postpone delivery in order to get every little detail just right, tisk, tisk.

John H, sorry pal, but that was one heck of a game! I was on the edge of my seat, down to the last second. I was glad to see Jay Cutler go out with a big win.

I appreciate what John L. is saying, and I'm very happy with my car.

This thread was started to satisfy my curiousity after the issue of build times of different manufacturers came up in another thread.

And the house example is very appropriate for my specific case. My guy that was suppose to supply the overrider tubes really screwed up things by not shipping the front overrider tube and then by the time the reproductions were made we ran right into an issue with the chromer being back logged with the big hot rod show coming up.

Like I said, it would still have been a couple of weeks behind, but not as late as it ended up.

I refuse to give future buyers of custom cars an unrealistic expectation about how simple and quick things will be. Well except, maybe if you get a Vintage which is set up to pump them out. Although Jim G. was several weeks late on his.

I don't understand why builders don't just add 3 weeks to the estimated delivery date and have customers who are appreciative to have their car done 4 days early?

I've been trying to stay out of these arguments, but I agree with Steve. I wish, as a new owner/newbie this year, that I would have know that delays are to be expected. You would think that if you

There's a saying in the Tv industry : " We don't need it good, we need it Tuesday ". Sometimes we also say that we don't want the Christmas Special in January.... and for whatever reason I've done a lot of Christmas movies. But our cars are different and I think many of us are willing to wait past Tuesday for a car that has fewer bugs, has been road tested and ready to go. I am.



Good
/ Fast - Cheap


Pick any two.


Gz

Well my point was to try and give people a realistic expectation and not to get too caught up on delivery dates. I think the expectation should be that it will be late, and a few people saying "MY CAR WAS ON TIME" gives an unrealistic expectation within this industry. I think that most on time deliveries do end up sacrificing the other two criteria in order to make the date, or they are the exception and not the norm.

Thats just the way it is, in my opinion. And I think my point has been made.

Delivery expectatins are tough. As a new buyer of a kit car I was clueless. The important issue for me is "being done" as I was also clueless about getting the bugs out. I am happy that SAW has helped me work through the issues we have had but if I were to buy another kit car my buyer vales would remian the same but my expectations would be significantly modified to being more realistic.