----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Grego" <wgregory@cfl.rr.com>
To: "Terry L. Thompson" <tlt@digex.net>
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2000 11:02 PM
Subject: Re: LBC prejuduce sure stings
> Terry, I don't understand your buying that mustard yellow painted
> Spit--after viewing it. Did someone have a gun to your head? Also, maybe
> your dad likes being screwed by his "regular mechanic." We are living in a
> "getting ripped-off-age." Have you purchased prescription drugs recently?
If
> not, you are missing getting ripped-off in the highest possible way. How
> about the cost of gasoline? How about the cost of insurance? How about the
> cost of seeing your favorite doctor? You have joined the many people-who
> have been ripped-off !!! Welcome to the club.
>
> Bill G
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Terry L. Thompson" <tlt@digex.net>
> To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Friday, March 17, 2000 10:22 PM
> Subject: Re: LBC prejuduce sure stings
>
>
> >
> > Getting ripped-off by mechanics isn't a Sexist thing. It's a "most
> > mechanics are a*sholes" thing. When I first bought my spitfire back in
> '96,
> > I didn't even know how to change the spark plugs...So I took to my dad's
> > mechanic.
> >
> > Within 3 months, I'd totaled $2000 in bills. In month six, I threw a
rod,
> > killed the engine and searched for a new mechanic. After I started
> > replacing items on the car, I realized....What the hell did I spend
$2000
> > on? Nothing was ever replaced!...
> >
> > Well, lets see here...
> > -$75 to replace the valve cover gasket.
> > -Hmmm..$90 to "re-hang" the muffler...(That was the piece of rubber tire
> > they had screwed into the rear tub of my Spitfire with machine
> > screws....Man those machine screws weren't the onlything getting
screwed)
> > -Ah yes...$140 to replace my front brake pads. Must have been the gold
> > plated ones I asked for.
> > -Oh...here we go...3 months later (took it in for an oil change) $89 to
> > replace ANOTHER valve cover gasket (must be a known defect in
> > Spitfires..Anyone got a service notice on that?).
> > -And this my favorite bill...$280 to replace the timing chain and timing
> > chain cover gasket.....And I had to supply them with the gasket and
chain.
> >
> > (I figure I've paid my "stupidity tax" and a few other's share as well.)
> >
> > This place is still my father's regular mechanic shop.
> >
> > People are just a-holes in general. They'll screw you any way they can
if
> > you give them half a chance.
> >
> > I've also had difficulty looking for body shops. I heard of a member on
> the
> > Triumph mailing list that had his TR6 painted by his local high
> > school/college shop class. I believe it cost him about $200 for the
paint
> > and some other "supplies". But it was perfect. If any of the students
> > flubbed anything, the teacher made them redo it. I seem to remeber it
> > taking about 6 months, but $200 for a perfect down to the metal repaint
> > isn't too bad.
> > Wouldn't hurt to inquire at your local schools to see if they have shop
> > classes in need of projects.
> >
> > I have the added difficulty on my car of it being previously "painted"
by
> > the PO. In a beautiful mustard yellow (which almost passes for Inca...I
> > think he stole it from the trucks that paints the yellow lines on the
> > roads). Atleast it would be beautiful if it weren't for all of the runs
> and
> > paint chipping off (where he sprayed the laquer directly ontop of the
> > enamel.....and on the chrome!)
> >
> > If you think it's difficult to get someone to paint your car for under
> > $5000...just for grins, throw in that it has laquor on it and you want
it
> > back to enamel.
> > I'm perfectly willing to pay $2500 for a half decent paintjob. But I get
> > laughed out of every shop when I say the magic word "laquer". None of
the
> > "insurance" shops want to have to sand down all of that metal. Talk
about
> > time consuming.
> >
> > You can't even just go out and buy all new major body panels and have
them
> > painted, because you'll still need someone to weld them all onto your
tub
> > and align them correctly. You're right back to the $10,000 "restoration"
> > shop prices when all is said and done.
> >
> > I think I'm just going to drive my car the way it is. And when the rust
> > holes start to appear, just use a little bondo and grey primer. (It'll
> > blend with all the 80's cameros in town) When you see the "sort-of inca
> > yellow" spitfire at the car shows with the Panasport rims and primer
grey
> > spots all over, you can go.."Hey! That's Terry's car!"
> >
> > Terry L. Thompson
> > '76 spit 1500 ("oh...those aren't rust spots..the color is roan")
> > Maryland
> >
> > P.S. I go away for 3 days and there's 280 messages on here! You people
> need
> > to cut down on the caffeine!
> >
> > >LBC, after all!
> > >
> > >So, at least you're a guy going around with the car...
> > >
> > >Hang in there!
> > >
> > >Laura
> > >
> > >Vita brevis est: rapide agite, vigore strigate!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
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