Dodgey Restorations Western Australia Warning!!

[Flogginit]

Hi All, A mate from the Charger club of WA sent me a link to this Video as a warning to anyone in WA looking to have a restoration done. Think twice and do your research before committing and or handing over any dollars.

[Yellow_Festiva]

After experiencing first hand the absolute rubbish work 'Tradespeople' can do I feel the whole industry needs a shakeup.

Hows this for an idea? All work over $X,XXX dollars needs to go through a process where 20% of the cost of work is held by a 3rd party (earning interest).

Work is done, customer is happy, signs off on work and tradie gets money in full and a little bit more from earnings.

Or..

Work is done, customer isn't happy and tries to sort it out with tradie. If no resolution an external inspector comes out and depending on outcome the party at fault pays.

Repairs are done or 20% is kept as compensation to go towards repairs with balance being paid back to original tradie if any.

The only people that need to worry are the ones that do rubbish work.

Don't see why it shouldn't work. Bit like how rental bonds are held by bond agency and the tribunal helps with disagreements regarding its return for a nominal fee.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

After experiencing first hand the absolute rubbish work 'Tradespeople' can do I feel the whole industry needs a shakeup.

Hows this for an idea? All work over $X,XXX dollars needs to go through a process where 20% of the cost of work is held by a 3rd party (earning interest).

Work is done, customer is happy, signs off on work and tradie gets money in full and a little bit more from earnings.

Or..

Work is done, customer isn't happy and tries to sort it out with tradie. If no resolution an external inspector comes out and depending on outcome the party at fault pays.

Repairs are done or 20% is kept as compensation to go towards repairs with balance being paid back to original tradie if any.

The only people that need to worry are the ones that do rubbish work.

Don't see why it shouldn't work. Bit like how rental bonds are held by bond agency and the tribunal helps with disagreements regarding its return for a nominal fee.

There is pretty much no regulation or standards in the auto repair industry, thats how a lot of these dodgy joins exist.

But customers don't help the situation either because they're always after work done yesterday and at the cheapest price.

[Trump]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

There is pretty much no regulation or standards in the auto repair industry, thats how a lot of these dodgy joins exist.

But customers don't help the situation either because they're always after work done yesterday and at the cheapest price.

And they want a top quality job using the best parts.

[mike_nofx]

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

And they want a top quality job using the best parts.

Originally Posted by Big Damo

There is pretty much no regulation or standards in the auto repair industry, thats how a lot of these dodgy joins exist.

But customers don't help the situation either because they're always after work done yesterday and at the cheapest price.

In all fairness, who doesn't want a quality job for a good price, done asap?

And since there IS so many dodgy joints around how do you tell the good from the dodge as a first time customer? Hard to fork out top dollar on a workshop you can't be certain on quality of work.

Personally though, I do all the work on my own cars (and house) that way its a known quality. I kind of find it strange when people buy a car to restore but pay others to do it all, maybe that's just me?

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

In all fairness, who doesn't want a quality job for a good price, done asap?

Everyone the difference is many are being unrealistic in their expectations

Eg a $100k resto for 30 and time frames inline with what they see on thse fox tell shows

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

And since there IS so many dodgy joints around how do you tell the good from the dodge as a first time customer? Hard to fork out top dollar on a workshop you can't be certain on quality of work.

Personally though, I do all the work on my own cars (and house) that way its a known quality. I kind of find it strange when people buy a car to restore but pay others to do it all, maybe that's just me?

There are a few I not know about a lot but shonky shops exist, the only way I know is to use word of mouth, I personally don't pay a lot of attention to magazine articles recommending bill bob & Ben the restoration men as I see these as little more than advertorials, and personal experience is the dodgiest work often comes out of the high profile shops.

[Stefan]

Restoration of an old car is a minefield of disasters.

I've completed one and it was a headf&%$k from start to finish that I will never embark on again.

In defence of restorers. If you want a "full" restoration on car like above completed by others for you and you are not prepared to drop somewhere in the vicinity of $100K IMO you will have issues and compromises in the end product. A full restoration address every component of the car and that takes countless hours.

[jimt3te50]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Restoration of an old car is a minefield of disasters.

I've completed one and it was a headf&%$k from start to finish that I will never embark on again.

In defence of restorers. If you want a "full" restoration on car like above completed by others for you and you are not prepared to drop somewhere in the vicinity of $100K IMO you will have issues and compromises in the end product. A full restoration address every component of the car and that takes countless hours.

Exactly the reason a 40 year old restored "faker" is considered a relative bargain under $100k

[Bosko]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Restoration of an old car is a minefield of disasters.

I've completed one and it was a headf&%$k from start to finish that I will never embark on again.

In defence of restorers. If you want a "full" restoration on car like above completed by others for you and you are not prepared to drop somewhere in the vicinity of $100K IMO you will have issues and compromises in the end product. A full restoration address every component of the car and that takes countless hours.

And double that $100K and then some!

[mike_nofx]

While the video is a good idea and I am interested to watch it, is there a cut down 2-3 minute video for someone like me who doesn't want to see 23 minutes of someone elses misfortune?

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Flogginit

Hi All, A mate from the Charger club of WA sent me a link to this Video as a warning to anyone in WA looking to have a restoration done. Think twice and do your research before committing and or handing over any dollars.

Any idea on how much they paid?

[Boosh Brus]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Any idea on how much they paid?

She says in the first minute of the video. $37000 + messing around trying to find all the parts. Around $40,000 in the end.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Any idea on how much they paid?

I think she says around $37k plus $2-3k in costs.

[bangm001]

I agree Stefan, its when people DO drop the 100K (I have many family members who have) and the job is still average... Eg I have a rellie who has a original 71 challenger R/T. (original bblock car but it now has a 426 hemi!). Anyway after two workshops and more than 30K in paint/body alone its still average at best.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by bangm001

I agree Stefan, its when people DO drop the 100K (I have many family members who have) and the job is still average... Eg I have a rellie who has a original 71 challenger R/T. (original bblock car but it now has a 426 hemi!). Anyway after two workshops and more than 30K in paint/body alone its still average at best.

Agree 100% this is were the headf%&#k begins....paying top dollar and getting crap work. Doing things two or three times and getting excuses for poor work.

[blackf6]

Rock the originality. Save the pretty boy stuff for new cars. Keep your money.

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by blackf6

Rock the originality. Save the pretty boy stuff for new cars. Keep your money.

^^^ It's horror stories like this that leave me happy to punt around in my scuffed and faded GT coupe.

[Gothefalcon]

No matter what amount this chick did/didn't spend... or what the "true value" of a proper resto is... nothing on her car should have come back in worse condition than it was when she handed it over !

It should either have been improved.. or left as is ! Payments for what work did occur, should be a fair amount, equal to the level of workmanship given.

The best way to avoid future disputes over what should/shouldn't have happened... is to get what work and to what level... and in what timeframe, in writing... before you hand over the vehicle, and/or any cash !
Much easier to prove a breach of any agreement... if its in writing and signed by all parties.

D

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

^^^ It's horror stories like this that leave me happy to punt around in my scuffed and faded GT coupe.

Wish I still had my Falcon coupe .. but I'm happy to regularly drive my scuffed older cars (2x AMC Javelins and 1x Chev Corvair) whenever/where-ever I can. All of them have less than $10K invested (each) and they get just as many looks as anything else ... because they are unusual. None will will any awards and people will develop a hoarse throat telling me all the things wrong with them ... but I'm driving them, enjoying them and not worrying about $$$ being spent.

I've owned too many old cars that cost me maybe a few thousand $$$ ... I can't comprehend the $$$ people pay for and spend on stuff these days?

[Chopped]

Damn, that poor lady got ripped off hard.

[NTF6]

What about striking a deal on progress payments. In order for the next step of the resto to proceed the existing costs are finalised and paid upon the owners satisfaction. I did that with a builder, paid for a certain amount of work, signed off on the work and made changes or rectification to mistakes/errors and then forked out more cash when I was happy with the work already done. 7 or 8 progress payments later job was done to perfection.

[STINKY NINJA]

Not surprising at all,i live in perth and you pay top dollar for average/crap work at best,you have to be in the know about where to go for decent/good work.
They expect you to pay for their stuff ups/mistakes too.
A lot of places will spend a lot of time perfecting big dollar cars they personally own to have as poster cars to suck people in and treat customers cars like crap and do rubbish work on them.
There is good places in perth I just don't know who they are?
I still say there should be a dedicated name and shame thread to save people from being screwed over!
Most people are too scared to open up about it which is not good for others that may get done over.

[Silver Ghia]

A presentable restoration takes a long time and a lot of patience to accomplish, and I'm afraid $40,000 these days does not represent the work required to achieve that standard.

The only way to achieve the restoration to your high standards is do it yourself. That goes for body restoration and rust repairs, paint, trimming and upholstery, everything. And learn the skills if you don't know how.

It is a labour of love, and really only you will devote the required attention to detail and the time it takes to achieve a high standard of restoration.

[mr smith]

She has a case. Thats bad on any level.

[Crazy Dazz]

And here's the thing. Ultimately there is NO excuse for doing a ****** job. NONE.
If its a $50k job, then quote $50k.
If the customer only has $40k, then AGREE on compromises or items that won't be touched.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

And here's the thing. Ultimately there is NO excuse for doing a ****** job. NONE.
If its a $50k job, then quote $50k.
If the customer only has $40k, then AGREE on compromises or items that won't be touched.

How do you know this is not what happened??

Full drive in drive out restorations run at around 100K plus, whats to say she did not run out of money and said just put it back together as cash has run out??

Who knows??

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Really?
I'd love to hear your explanation for the ****** paint job?

$37K for full restoration should say it all, about 60-80K short of a mint job.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

How do you know this is not what happened??

Yeah, who's to say that her car wasn't abducted by aliens, driven around the galaxy for a few hundred years, then transported back in time.

Nobody is disputing that we only have her story for the dollar amounts involved. That's not the issue here.
What we're saying is that if its true that she paid $37k to Phil, got back that shoddy work, and damaged/missing parts, then she got ripped off.
Whereas **** like you are claiming its all her fault because she didn't pay 3 times as much.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Yeah, who's to say that her car wasn't abducted by aliens, driven around the galaxy for a few hundred years, then transported back in time.

Nobody is disputing that we only have her story for the dollar amounts involved. That's not the issue here.
What we're saying is that if its true that she paid $37k to Phil, got back that shoddy work, and damaged/missing parts, then she got ripped off.
Whereas **** like you are claiming its all her fault because she didn't pay 3 times as much.

Clearly you do not understand what is involved in a restoration or have ever undergone the process.

Anyone that has will understand and know that 37K does not even cover panel-work and paint in most cases, yes you do get what you pay for, you can't go and pay 37K and expect 120K worth of work.

What you need to understand is that a drive in drive out resto of a complete and reasonable car runs into around 100K MINIMUM in some cases well over 100K, you can see that she can only get so much for 37K.

My coupe cost more that 37K just in parts, not counting engine/driveline, trim, assembly and stripping, paint, wheels, etc etc. and that is me doing most of the work and all stripping and assembly.

Unless you have restored an old car your comments are probably pointless as really unless you have been through the process you have no idea of what is involved.

And again we are not privy to the conversations involved, and again anyone that thinks they get a car restored for 37K.....if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. If it was as easy as taking an old car to a restorer and handing over 37 K and picking up a mint restored classic everyone would be doing it. Thats why I been going for around 8 years with my restoration that cost me probably double that and still going....

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Clearly you do not understand what is involved in a restoration or have ever undergone the process.

Anyone that has will understand and know that 37K does not even cover panel-work and paint in most cases, yes you do get what you pay for, you can't go and pay 37K and expect 120K worth of work.

What you need to understand is that a drive in drive out resto of a complete and reasonable car runs into around 100K MINIMUM in some cases well over 100K, you can see that she can only get so much for 37K.

My coupe cost more that 37K just in parts, not counting engine/driveline, trim, assembly and stripping, paint, wheels, etc etc. and that is me doing most of the work and all stripping and assembly.

Unless you have restored an old car your comments are probably pointless as really unless you have been through the process you have no idea of what is involved.

And again we are not privy to the conversations involved, and again anyone that thinks they get a car restored for 37K.....if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. If it was as easy as taking an old car to a restorer and handing over 37 K and picking up a mint restored classic everyone would be doing it. Thats why I been going for around 8 years with my restoration that cost me probably double that and still going....

ease up there turbo

[CoupeKing]

23 minute video but the only 2 pre-resto pics look like they were taken by Jaws.