Does anyone know of an good performance shop to get things installed on the RX8. Any shop expect for RP Performance?

 

hhahaaha

 

Thats not a joke! lol I've had a bad experience with them for the last 2 months and I refuse to take my car back to them!

 

i totally understand, given the whole mess you've dealt with them

did you at least get your money back?

you can try PBC Automotive in Chantilly VA, they are also a Mazda shop, but I have heard some good/some not so good experiences with them as well, at least give them a call and see what they say?

 

their website:

http://www.pbcauto.com/pbcauto/main.html

edit: ok apparently that's their coupon site, here's their main site:

http://www.performancebuyers.com/home.html?carLineID=90

 

Finally after 2 months!

 

Just to give a little insight to this problem. We installed a Racing Beat Clutch and Flywheel on this RX-8. The problem was bad clutch chatter when engaged. We reinstalled the old stock parts at no charge to the customer and returned the parts to racing beat for inspection. During this time no money was asked to be refunded until we decided if the Racing Beat parts where going to be reinstalled. The customer at during this time decided that he did not want the clutch reinstalled. We came up with a compromise and we would install the Racing Beat cat-back exhaust and intake at no charge to the customer. We where going to install these parts at no charge. After this agreement was met and we where going to set up a date for the install he changed his mind and wanted a refund which we agreed to with no problem or questions. We have installed many ACT clutch kits as well as turbo kits and many other RX-8 parts with no problems at all. We have been in the Mazda business for over 10 years.

 

Sorry I forgot to add that the customer only asked for a full refund about one week ago. Up unitl that point we where going to install the other parts on the car for him.

RP Performance
703-257-5108

 

I will post emails if you like that will tell the whole story? Its up to you?

I was going to install other parts until I found out that your shop lied to me and said that it was Racing Beats fault. I refuse to deal with a shop that lies to its customers! The shop still wont admit it was an installation error. Racing Beat did several diagnostics test on the parts, found nothing wrong and then they even put a fresh Racing Beat Setup on a RX8 just to prove that it wasn't their products fault.

I'm still waiting for my refund, in which we talk about over a week ago. I didn't know it took that long to do a electronic refund!

 

More lies Again? The clutch did not only have batter chatter when engaged but a very noticeable vibration between 4-6k. Your guys did not align the clutch right. We have people on this site that have had the same problem and had to realign it. Just admit it was a mistake in move on!

Now he states that they were going to install the Racing Beat Exhaust and Intake at no charge. That's another lie(I have all the email to prove it). He told me he would refund my parts money but not the installation. So he would just exchange the clutch parts for the exhaust and intake but charge me $338 for installation. I did not accept that and not until a couple email after and talking to Racing Beat did he decide to the installation for free. Now I refuse to do business with a shop that deals with its customers in such a manor! Like I said in the post above, I can post emails to prove my side of the story if you like. Its up to you?

 

The saga continues........ I'd like to see a reply from RP. I live in the area, and was wondering the same as you.........about any good shops in the area. Where do you go for basic services and warranty work? I've heard decent things about Rosenthal in Arlington. I know their parts guys are great.

 

I've heard only good things about Rosenthal as well. I'm waiting for the user RP_Performance to reply back. I would like to know if he wants me to show everyone the emails I have saved. It will show that RP Performance is not a shop that I would give my money to ever again(I've saved every single email, all the way from the first time I've talked to him). I'm still waiting for my $1,172.34 to refunded to me. I want to see how long this electronic refund actually takes................... Its going on 1 1/2 weeks now!

 

I am only going to address this one last time. I hope that now since the customer has been refunded the full amount that we can move on. If the clutch problem was from the install then we made a mistake. We have refunded the full amount which is more then some shops would have done. For anyone that knows me understands that if I made a mistake I will admit it and if this is the case I am sorry. As for the other questions on the post I am not sure about them. What I am sure about is that we did offer to install the exhaust and intake at no charge to the customer, it might not have been at the beginning of this. We had been all set to install those parts until the customer changed his mind which is his option. As for the refund that has been processed and would have been done last but the customer had not supplied us with the CC # until Friday. We have a very large customer base and that is because of the good work that we do and reasonable pricing. A large number of our customers have come from other shops after not being satisfied with the work or service the received. If any problem comes up we always do everything in our power to fix it and make it right. For anyone that would like to see one of turbocharged RX-8's it will be at the Hyper-Fest event July 16th at Summit Point along we some other customer cars and race cars.

Bret de Pedro
RP Performance
703-257-5108

 

ok, back to the original question... any other good performace shops in Maryland or Virginia?

 

This is the 1st time I've ever heard you at least admit that your shop made a mistake. Good Job in at least doing that. I don't believe you refunding the full amount is more than most shops would do. I believe that most shops would have done that ASAP, just like Racing Beat told me they would do if they found a problem with their product. They even said if they found something wrong on their side, they would give me my money back for the installation. Remember I had the clutch setup put in on 04/29/05 and I'm just now receiving an email from you this morning(07/05/05) telling me that I have been refunded my full amount. The first email I receive about an "CC" number was on the 6/29/05. I then replied back with the wrong information because I thought you needed the confirmation # from the receipt and the invoice #. But I did reply back with my credit card on 07/01/05. I don't think that's too far apart, that's only 2 days! Hopefully this was just a bad experience I've had at your shop and I hope no one else has to deal with what I went through. I paid $1,172.34 to have something put in my car and it took 2 months to get something resolved. That's NOT good!

 

do it yourself :D

 

hehe, you're a funny guy. I just got my car back after an accident and the mechanic loves me. After reading this forum I can recite pretty much any spec on the car but wouldn't know how to change my own oil.

Therefore my interest in having other people do it for me, are at least show me how to do it.

 

PF Supercars
4995 Winchester Blvd.
Frederick, MD. 21703
301-874-0611
www.pfsupercars.com

We would be happy to address all of your performance needs. Feel free to call the shop.

-Ray

 

Hey Ray!

Dave here. Ryan (aka broke apex seal) recommended you to me. I spoke with you about 2 weeks ago about the Greddy kit install and I'm scheduled to receive my last parts shipment from UPS today. I'll be giving you a call to set things up! Good to see you on here!

Dave
aka drifter d

 

I know there is one that I drive past on 140 leaving Westminster, MD right past the MVA - just can't remember the name right this second - it's a really big shop though with lots of different sports cars sitting in the front. I can't vouch for them because I haven't used them though. I think it's EAP, EAS or something... will have to look again when I am over there.

 

^it's EIP, they specialize in VW's IIRC, they have a chassis dyno onsite...

they may be good for things that aren't rotary engine-specific (suspension, exhaust, clutch, etc)

good luck

 

Random question, but how do you know when you have broken an Apex Seal?

 

Thanks, I most likely will be contacting you guys some time soon. Hope you all treat me better than RP Performance did.

 

No problem, we look forward to having you as a new customer. BTW, we do have a chassis dyno (Dynojet) if you guys were wondering;-)

 

Broke Apex Seal is a guy on the forum. :D