VERY public Apology and Thank You

 It still should have been cleaned up properly before being sent to you, but good to hear. And nice catch, Troy! Al

You have had to put up with quite a lot with this car, so no one would have expected this post.  Regardless of the fact that the paint is not as bad as you had thought, no car should leave the 'factory' in the condition that yours did.

 

As many have said, what would you expect from Honda, GM, etc. in terms of quality and readiness to drive?  You would have expected the best, and that is what you should have gotten with this purchase.

 

You have no need to apologize, but it does show that you are a genuine gentleman.

 

 

Im just surprised They didnt give discuss that with me as well.  They saw the same pics as the soc site?  Doesnt matter though.  Any newbie building will hopefully see this thread and know what to do moving forward...

Thats really great news! Drips/runs in the clear coat will be a breeze to take care of and just about any shop can easily do it.

 

I bought a new M3 about 5 years ago and at certain angles you could see just a few flaws in the paint so I wetsanded, buffed and polished the entire car and it looked better than any other factory paint job that I've ever seen.

 

A friend at work is considering the same with his 2010 Vette as the GM paint job could really use some massaging.

So, there you go Todd. How simple is that? Just get out there and start sanding and it will be as good as new.

Well, you learned something important and passed it along so the rest of us could benefit from it as well.  The apology, under the circumstances, was well intentioned and will (I hope) be accepted by your builder in good faith.  You've been through a trying time.

 

I've started on a build/acceptance checklist to publish on here and will add this lesson to that list as well.

 

gn

haha He did not even know what polishing compound looks like and now you want him sanding his paint? 

I know what it looks like...i did not know what it looks like when it is left undone and completely dried on a new car. See - it shouldnt have been there in the first place... I know what it looks like going on and coming iff completely like what happens on most normal well buffed and cleaned cars...

Oh and me with sand paper...not a good thing. I will be finding a specialist next week to take offthe orange peel in spots they didnt then having the car completely detailed...by a pro!!!

Great idea Gordon.  Uf you want any help let me know what I can do...

Why should anyone expect to find that crap on a brand new vehicle???

 

Get a life.  He's had enough sh*t to deal with on this car.

Relax dude I was just busting his chops. Plus most people should not start out wet sanding on a brand new car.  

Most people should not receive a new car in the condition that he did, dude.  He's gone through a lot of crap with this purchase.

Taking it to a pro is exactly what I meant when I mentioned that any shop could do it. If they're not pros, they shouldn't have or be running a shop. Never meant for you to do it yourself or to cause any pissing contests so please accept my apologies if that's how it came across. 

Well, Rich started it all.

 

Todd started this, he bought it.

I blame it on Dr Porsce!

Hey look - i can not be more happy about today and what happened.  I feel i am close to a sorted car and that makes me extremely happy.  I beleive there are issues to come and there are some small items to be addressed but this paint thing has really been bugging me.  Thanks again for any insight and help.  This is the reason for the site.  I am close to bring sorted!!!

Now that you discovered your error  he only thing left is to call Kirt and apoligize  Then proceed to wash your car carefully  with someting like Duragloss car wash solevent. its good at removing Mirrorglaze resedue

Let me ask a question. Im the one who aplogized this morning.  What do you think my apology should be to VS?  Just curious.

"What do you think my apology should be to VS?"

 

Nonexistent.

IMHO Kirk owes you an apology. 

Todd, what you did or said just keeps the playing fields even.  I had my VS for just under three years.  Lots of fun, but no amount polish would have fixed the 8/10th's paint job that it came with.   

You can't go wrong apologizing. The car you got wasn't what you expected, but publicly overreacting to dried buffing compound wasn't your finest hour, either.

 

The street runs both ways. He owes you an apology (which he may or may not be trying to make by paying for the repairs you are getting), but you owe him one as well.

 

Making a public statement is good, I'd recommend making a private one in addition.

Lets make sure we remember while it is easy to jump in here...my paint went from a 7/10 to an 8/10. Some compund i got off is an embarrasing mistake...for me...but paint runs and drips, scratches and areas all over not color sanded is embarrasing for them. I have apologized. I have apologized to them for asking for a can of paint and bitching about missing paint that wasnt missing, but i wont apologize for the fact that the paint is still not Perfect. I apologized to the community for bringing you in on it and for taking up time discussing it. I could have just as easily not said a word to anyone or apologize for anything...i beleive I HAVE earned an apology, but i learned a lesson that I hope helps the next guy. My paint conversations were spawn from all my other issues I am having. I am getting her sorted. I am looking forward to it. VS has dine a real good job of getting me what I need to fix. VS is making my sorting issues right because rhey have to...i paid for it and it is under warranty so lets not kid ourselves them paying to fix a car he built under warranty is anything but that. An apology it isnt. But they are doing everything they can to make it right...its my time and effort but they are not giving me any hassle to fix anything.

Todd- take a deep breath, man. I'm on your side. You asked what you should do. You've done it.

 

A good body shop might be able to fix the runs, etc. It's never going to be a 10 point paint job, but you've accepted that.

 

Make your car the best it can be, and move on.

Amen...thanks Stan.

A paint shop will use a painter's nib file - best to ensure the paint is hard.

 

http://tinyurl.com/bq5umer

Wait until everything is sorted out and then you can worry about all of this.  You bought the car new because i am sure you did not want to have to worry about all this stuff.  I do not think your expectations are unrealistic as you paid a new car premium for it.  An 8/10 paint job is usually the type of paint job you get from a new car which will have some orange peel and prob a few minor blemishes that can be wet sanded and buffed out to a mirror finish.  Close to a 10/10.  Even a ford focus does not have what you are describing on your car. Most new cars are also test driven to make sure all of the problems are caught before they are shipped to the dealerships and seeing as how simple these cars are I am surprised he did not catch the brake cylinder before he shipped it to you.  It seems like you are having to lower your expectations about buying a new VS in order to be happy with the car so don't worry about apologizing.

TDR-having fun yet?   Seriously, you will be a happy camper when you get that car sorted. Many of the cars supplied by the big builders are works in progress and that is evident from reading various posts from over the years.

 

On the paint--have a good body and paint shop talk to you about color sanding. I had mine done and the paint turned out show quality. Fortunately my car is a solid (not metallic) paint which is easier to touch up than a metallic. The price wasn't too bad and the result was sensational. It's good your paint went from a 7/10 to an 8/10 but Color sanding will get it close to 9.5/10 to maybe even 10/10.        And learn about the Lanka touch up products--Google them.

 

There are things you can do to make that car run great and most are discussed here on this site but I'd start with a front sway bar (Empi pn# 9594,9595,9596,9600--they are all the same).  With hardware about $70.  Next a Camber Compensator from C. B. Performance, pn 2819 about $55.  Next a 3rd brake light in the rear and a loud horn like the WOLO Bad Boy--no relays needed and goes right the original horn is.

 

Get John Muirs "How to keep your VVW alive" book and the Haynes "VW Beetle & Karmann Ghia" book and you will have instant knowledge at your fingertips.

 

A great website is "Rob and Dave's Aircooled Volkswagen Pages and another is The Samba for great tech and "how to info"

 

Your attitude is great about the issues with your car, plus Kirk will help you, as you've already seen plus dozens and dozens of folks on this great site are a wonderful resource.

 

When you are ready to waterproof your car, do a search here about that.  You can get a VS almost as weather and waterproof as an IM.  The operative word is "almost".

 

Good luck--hope to see you at some events!

Not a "body man" but learned a bit about a "nib file"...interesting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxF55aLWDgI

Todd, add the 66-69 Bentley type1 manual. It is a great resource for torque specs, maintenance, and diagrams. I refer to mine often.

I don't think you owe anyone an apology.  You got much less of a car than what you had hoped for and paid for, and all of us would be p*ssed if that happened to us.

 

 

I second Danny's Bentley Manual suggestion...more in depth info than either Muir or Haynes...But, they're hard to find...at a reasonable price that is!

Carl, I paid  $30 ten years ago, I think at Barnes and Noble. Give your local store a try.

 

But also here at $45:http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDe...uctCode=ACC-C10-9650

time to move on to fun,the brakes work,the paint is there,it sounds great dosent it? is the shift sorted yet? also some gear lube is so thick it dosent like to shift easy till warm, thus I use synthetic gearlube,shifts great in all weather.but I dont think this is your issue, but may be after you get the shifting issue fixed. it's time for a nice drive & some coffie& a muffen or two. I wish I could have what you have instead of what I have,who knows when mine will hit the road.I'm ordering parts for the 2387cc motor this week for it.but the car has a lot to do befor it's any where ready for the motor,lots of chasssie work. so yours is starten to look pretty good,as with everything it could be better(if not you wouldnt care what it looks like or does,Im gladd you do.)

Glad it wasn't as serious as you originally thought TR.

Troy

 I agree the car should have been inspected and cleaned more carfully before they let you have it.  It would have prevented all of this..

I know this dont help, but what was that thing forest gump came up with??? **** happens. and it dosent always get cought.... but when when it hits the fan look out, weve all been there in one way or another and we will all be back there some day flaping our lips in the fan making noise. where just human.

I think your builder owes you an apology. A lot of money to still be sorting your "new" car....  Your apology is totally unnecessary.... Good Luck...