As some of you know, I got in a pretty nasty accident a few months back, and have had some issues with the shop repairing my car (the one in the title). They gave me the car back, but told me that it wouldn't align since the right front lower control arm is bent. According to them, this was causing the camber, caster, and toe to be extremely out of spec. I have been agonizing over what to do...I wanted the insurance to pay for any repairs I might have to do, since they would obviously be a result of the crash, but they weren't having it.

So, I drive the car home for Spring Break, handling very badly (wandering, pulling, steering effort fluctuating between high and none) and have my Acura dealer look at it. My guy there is a Master Tech and has hooked me up various times. So he says "I can't see anything wrong; let's get this bitch up on the alignment rack". he puts it on the rack, and lo and behold, my numbers were "golden" in his words. Except for some toe-out in the rear, which he fixed, the car seemed to be fine.

So I took it out after the alignment was done and beat the living **** out of it on some country roads. Dean AKA Alexboy was in the car and I basically gave him the cliffnotes of an afternoon at a road course. The car felt great, no pulling. Still doesn't track or handle as well as it did when it had the OEM tires on it, but that's because I am currently on all-season Dunlop SP5000s. When I get back to school I will slap my Falken Azenis back on and I am sure the car will be the #1013 that I know and love.

But for anyone who lives in the DC/MD/VA area...stay away from Pohanka. You can add me to the list of unsatisfied customers. I wouldn't trust them to fix a ******* tricycle.


[Modified by Ross, 9:36 AM 3/20/2002]

 

huh? so your rear alignment was off a touch so your pissed?

a bodyshop doesnt equal an alignment technician.......

 

rofl, one of my friend works at pohanka acura as a mech. all though he don't exactly like the place...

 

I don't know what the problem is. POHANKA is one of the best if not THE BEST ACURA dealership in the area. I know a bunch of people that works there. I've only taken my car to that place and everytime I get great service. They love seeing my car there when I bring it in. It catches so much attention. I don't know about the bodyshop department as for Sales, Parts dept, and Mechanics I would recommend them any day.

 

makes more sense then....thanks george.

 

So I took it out after the alignment was done and beat the living **** out of it on some country roads. Dean AKA Alexboy was in the car and I basically gave him the cliffnotes of an afternoon at a road course. The car felt great, no pulling. Still doesn't track or handle as well as it did when it had the OEM tires on it, but that's because I am currently on all-season Dunlop SP5000s. When I get back to school I will slap my Falken Azenis back on and I am sure the car will be the #1013 that I know and love.

Ross + passenger + speed = **** in pants

I saw the car in person looked good but minor imperfections
My only gripe is that they told him bullshit for what was the problem with the steering

 

hahahaha!!!

Well my take on this is, you will only get the service you want only if you know the guy your dealing with. I've seen too many issues where they try to get you to pay for things that should be covered under warranty or extra things not needed. If I can't do it, I take my R to Radley, I get the best service there. I'll only let my friend touch my R there.

And if you need body work done, there's no substitue for Wagon Works in Arlington!!

Thanks,
Victor Perri II

 

Yeah I already had the insurance check made out to Wagon Works...but the accident was in November, and they said they couldn't take me until after the new year. I was not about to wait that long.

Just to clarify...this is Pohanka Bodyshop in Maryland that I'm complaining about. Not Pohanka Acura in VA. Although I have heard that they suck too, Luis was the first person heard say anything good about them.

Vic...I agree 100% with your assessment. I have a good relationship with my tech here at home, which is why he invited me back into the garage to see my alignment specs on the computer. Pohanka never even offered me a printout, and charged me for a "partial alignment"

The lines they fed me were incredible...when I first started complaining of handling problems, the manager there (who is a very nice guy, incidentally) said to me "it's probably that big ol' spoiler you put on there" referring to my Mugen wing. And they wanted $600+ so they could replace my RF knuckle, bearing, and LCA - when all I needed was a $50 alignment. Morons.


[Modified by Ross, 8:15 PM 3/20/2002]

 

pohanka bodyshop in VA sucks too...they fucked up my friends integra pretty bad and kept making excuses.

 

sounds familiar.

 

I had some work done at the VA body shop too, and was less than impressed. They had to replace the windshield 3 times because they couldn't get it centered, and the paint on the hood has chipped to the origianl layer in a few places.

 

The funny thing is, for a shop that specializes in Honda and Acura cars...they know nothing about imports. They are all old-school domestic guys. Not that that's a bad thing in itself...but they are pretty ignorant of the cars they are supposed to be repairing. Ive taken my car back to them 3 times and they still can't straighten my seat.

 

Ross, I dont know the extent of your damage, but from what i think, whenever u get into a accident your suspension will always be compromised, im pretty sure the people who recommended that you change out the knuckles, bearings, etc was to insure that anything that was weaken in its structural integrity wont break and they'll be at fault if your $50 alignment wasnt enough.

I had a similiar incident, a bodyshop told my friend that his car needed this that this that when all he had to do was change out the shocks and get a new radiator, i guess the shop wanted to play it safe cuz from me looking at it, alot of other things had minor damage to it not worth fixing but all in all, i understand their point of view.

I just think its pretty BS that they couldnt tell you all you needed was a alignment to fix your problem and recommend that you should change your stuff whenever it was convinient to you. So long as its driven like brand new, its all good

 

Victor, you know too many people. You probably know the people in Japan who built your Type R. Do you know God too?

Greg

 

Why yes, he was in town a couple weeks ago and stayed at my place! We all went to Turbo XS for some dyno time. He has a pretty impressive 311.5whp WRX, but I think my civic can still take him!!

Thanks,
Victor Perri II

 

Wait a minute...you aren't fooling me Victor! YOU ARE GOD!

The God of JDM @least.

 

you damn post ******...Victor really does know a ton of people though. it's kind of scary.


[Modified by Ross, 4:49 AM 3/22/2002]

 

Ross,

so what are j00 gonna' end up doing?

 

probably beating the **** out of the turkeys at the shop. The thing is, there's still a laundry list of things that could be causing it. I was just talking to Warren about the tie rods...the Master tech at Acura also said that it's very possible that one or more of the tires is defective.

 

Victor wouldn't know diddly squat if it wasn't for ME!

He was a customer of mine back in the day when i worked at a car stereo shop.
He was all quiet and george michael lookin (hehe). But it's all good, I got him on the right track now (i think) - it only took a few years but he's changed for the better - 100% !