Originally Posted by streetsk8er757

Another thing I can see wrong with that is tools just come up missing and the shop would be losing more money replaceing tools. Now renting lifts out and having people bring in there own tools would be better, not everyone has their own tools though. Just a thought.

Originally Posted by Grease Monkey

I think the biggest problem with most of the shops in the area is that they do not have a good full time secretary.

If you don't have someone who is clean, well dressed, polite, mildly knowledgeable, and there all day to answer the phones/run the front desk than it comes off as being very unprofessional. I work on cars for a living, and have been doing it for 8 years, and I hate being called away when I am in the middle of a job, and thats when things get over looked/forgotten about. But not answering the phones is far worse because 9 times out of 10 it means lost business.

I think there could be a good market for a local shop on the penn. There are a few of them on the southside already and they do a pretty good job for the most part. I agree with Fran 110% on keeping parts in stock. Basic parts, upgrade parts etc. I'm talking ignitions, BOV's, wastegates, head gaskets, injectors, etc. etc. Not terribly expensive parts but something that someone with a few extra bucks could buy on a whim. Not to mention if your offering dyno/tuning services having things like ignitons and injectors could open the door for immediate upgrades on a car thats just in the shop for tuning etc.

I personally (for the most part) do all my own work. I built my hatch in my single car garage at home, and between my garage and the shop I work at, I have most of the tools/equipment to do whatever I need done. I think another good idea would be to offer like a "Hobby Shop" type of thing where someone could pay to rent a lift/tools to do their own work, but to be able to have access to a lift, press, tire machine, etc. But I don't know how that whole liability thing comes into play on that.

Originally Posted by streetsk8er757

How many sq ft is it?

Originally Posted by blah

First of all, there are quite a few good shops around here. Just because you don't see their name plastered throughout this site doesn't mean they don't exist.

Could the area use a really good performance shop, sure. But a 'one stop shop that does everything'...... I don't see it happening. I'd rather take my time and go to a place that does the one specific thing exceptional, rather than a place that does it on the side every now and then. You want a roll cage? Go to Matt Wert. You want machine work? Go to Abacus. Audio? Go to Audiocrafters. etc....

Are these places the cheapest? Nope. They're not cheap because they are the best around at what they do, and can charge for it. But you know what you'll get before you even walk in the door. The big problem is that most young people on here (and into cars in general) don't want to pay for a professional to do a job when 'their boy' can 'hook it up for them'. And then sometimes 'their boy' opens up a shop and starts doing things off the books. This is where everything becomes shifty and all of the bullshit comes spewing out.

And some say that some places are not as performance oriented. Realize that the performance part of a shop is just for shits and giggles. Shops around here keep their lights on by putting brakes on 95 Buicks and replacing blown motors in mid 90s Isuzu Troopers. It’s not always fun and it’s not always easy because if it was, then everyone would do it.

Originally Posted by VR-4ever

I was about to post something along this line, but you hit the nail on the head.

First and foremost, a shop needs three VITAL things:

professionalism. (generally keeping a tight ship, finances, checks and balances in order. Always, ALWAYS, ALWAYS write a work order and have it signed before taking in a job.)
communication. (yes, during working hours you HAVE TO drop your wrench and answer the damn phone.)
customer service. (Make them feel as though they are number one. Answer all questions. Go into detail. Be polite. Ask them if they have any other questions. Tell them to call you at any time during working hours for anything. Did you fuck something up on a customer car? Be a responsible business and make it right. Is there something that you didn't touch that could be a potential problem? Notify the customer. You cater to THEM. Not the other way around.)

Next in priority comes the shop's direction. I would rather a shop do one specific thing well than be a "jack" of all trades. Work relationships with other shops to trade work referrals between your different specialties. (one side note, it should not be import or domestic. Cars are cars, engines are engines. Open up your market to both.)

Next comes the qualities of the technicians. Personally, I'd take skill over speed. Someone that has OCD preferrably. Someone with the correct specialty tools that could be needed. Someone that can be counted on, when he says something is going to be done, you don't have to second guess. You KNOW it will be done.

On a personal note, if I won the lottery, I'd open a shop. (Or work for Ray Pampena in Long Island.) As it stands, my day job pays the bills reliably. There are too few people in this area that I see meeting these requirements to open a successful shop with me, so I will continue to work out of my garage/travel.

btw, VR-4ever Auto-electronics has been established for one year on the 22nd. Thanks for allowing me to modify/troubleshoot/install your cars. I'm happy to continue offering top notch work.

/shameless plug.

- Jay

Originally Posted by RPRacing

I have mixed feelings about this subject. Many people know that i work out of my garage. no, i'm not a cut throat garage kid doing clutches for $100 or swaps for $300. I do charge similar to a shop minus the overhead they have to charge for. I charge this because i respect the shops in the area, and take pride in the work I do for people. I work at home for myself because i know there is a market for people to have their car worked on for a good price and have someone they can go to anytime (7 days a week and pretty much call me or AIM me any time of day or night for questions, advice, info, whatever).

I have most of my experience with southside shops. In my opinion, the kids in this area may want a nice shop strictly performance oriented with a dyno, that does motor builds, tunes, cages, exhaust, etc. But in reality, shops like that do not cater to kids. They cater to racers who spend money. These kids out here on the street arent racers, they are people having fun, enjoying a hobby in the time and current lifestyle they are living. This isn't there life long passion, its their way to pass the time. The people who keep performance shops alive are the people who need their race cars prepped, refreshed, fixed, tuned, etc. Sure, there are people on the street who use their services, but as Matt stated earlier, mom and pop work pays the bills for the shops you think are performance shops.

Southside has many shops, and they have even more people who do their own work and are friends with the shops. The cars most of you modify or own have readily available info online on most of the mods you do.

From an outsider's opinion of the Penn, i feel like a small shop with a dyno and 3bays, 2 of which are lift bays and a stocked showroom will do well. this shop would have to have 3 full time techs with at least one of those being a very knowledgeable tuner.Also, a secretary, aprentice/bitch boy (once a week clean up boy) and manager/salesman would be a must. Finances would be handled by an outside profession accountant service who comes once a week to ensure proper paperwork is being handled.

This shop's focus would be moreso in the performance cars area, domestic/import alike. Performance work would be what their passion is, but doing a transmission rebuild on a honda, changing a clutch on an evo, doing headgaskets on nissans would be the stabilizers of the shop with put food on the table. No, the shop wouldnt profit for a couple years, but as the years progress, they will be able to cater to what they feel is paying their bills as their environment develops.

A showroom is neccessary because it brings people in who need the MSD 7-8000 pill series for their 2step that weekend. It brings backyard mechanics in a bind into the shop to get that ARP flywheel bolt set because their customer didnt mention they were all stripped out when they tried to do it last time. It brings passerbys in who see the lights/seats/shiiny parts in the showroom display. It lets you bring in potential customers and helps your service shop have access to the parts for their customers.

Having a Hampton/Newport News location would benefit IMO because you will be somewhat centralized to the area in terms of Williamsburg, Gloucester, Norfolk (military), even Richmond or virginia beach (even though we all know that beach kids are spoiled and hate driving anywhere for a shop).

take all this with a grain of salt if you will. It is my opinion and my recipe for a potentially successful shop of the caliber that you all seem to be discussing.
-Francisco

Originally Posted by HISSN

They see the money coming in and keep accepting jobs and are not able to turn cars around like they promised. Then they start in with excuses, but all they should have done was tell the customer they'd love to do the work but they are slammed and it will have to wait. People will understand, they might go somewhere else, but they'll understand. I guarantee it will bring you more money in the future.

Originally Posted by blah

First of all, there are quite a few good shops around here. Just because you don't see their name plastered throughout this site doesn't mean they don't exist.

Could the area use a really good performance shop, sure. But a 'one stop shop that does everything'...... I don't see it happening. I'd rather take my time and go to a place that does the one specific thing exceptional, rather than a place that does it on the side every now and then. You want a roll cage? Go to Matt Wert. You want machine work? Go to Abacus. Audio? Go to Audiocrafters. etc....

Are these places the cheapest? Nope. They're not cheap because they are the best around at what they do, and can charge for it. But you know what you'll get before you even walk in the door. The big problem is that most young people on here (and into cars in general) don't want to pay for a professional to do a job when 'their boy' can 'hook it up for them'. And then sometimes 'their boy' opens up a shop and starts doing things off the books. This is where everything becomes shifty and all of the bullshit comes spewing out.

And some say that some places are not as performance oriented. Realize that the performance part of a shop is just for shits and giggles. Shops around here keep their lights on by putting brakes on 95 Buicks and replacing blown motors in mid 90s Isuzu Troopers. It’s not always fun and it’s not always easy because if it was, then everyone would do it.

Originally Posted by MR2 2NER

For the people that said No, is there a reason you said No?

Originally Posted by Jarrod

I've gone to all of the peopel listed.



I order parts from a select group. I have one tuner that I like. I already have my machinist. I don't need another shop, thats just me.

I do all my own work, minus paint.

BUT. If your opening a shop, best of luck to you. .

Originally Posted by MR2 2NER

For the people who are voting yes, are there shops that you go to now that do not do that you need or is there work that you need done that you need a shop to do?