As we all know, shop referrals are dime in a dozen here on Rx8club versus other boards such as NASIOC for Subaru and AudiWorld for Audi. I visited the aforementioned sites in search of a shop that will accommodate custom spec request for competition. Therefore, I have taken on the task of compiling a list of reputable alignment shops all located within North/Central New Jersey. Without further ado, here is the rundown with address/phone/price quoted/my $.02:

EuroTire
500 Route 46 East
Fairfield, NJ
(973) 575-0080
$125
Widely known and respected for all motorheads in TriState-area. Knowledgeable staff with immaculate service/waiting area. White-glove attention all around that is backed by the equally phenomenal price tag. Saturday appointment is available. Chris, a seasoned alignment technician, was courteous and quick. Total job took about 1.4hr. He also offered me to sit in the car to check on the settings toward the end.

Unfortunately, customer service at EuroTire is not its strongest suit. Request for driver ballast was met with the generic response of "We compensate for driver's weight" without actually asking for my weight or how they compensate exactly. As it turned out during my brief sit-in followed by Chris' invitation, all corners except LF did change about -0.1 degree. Additionally, final price was raised without my consent or notification from the initially quoted $105. Reason: "All settings on RX-8 are adjustable like Porsche race cars we set-up. From now on, it will be $145." Feel free to draw your own conclusion.

Lightning Automotive
2047 Route 22 West
Union, NJ
(908)688-3996
$65 (ex. $10 for rotation)
Honest mom-and-pop auto garage with very reasonable pricing. AZP Install out on NASIOC always sends Subarus to this no-nonsense-and-no-frill place for 4-wheel alignments. Apparently, my car was the first Rx8 seen by them so it took some time (approx 2.5hrs) for the technicians, Paul and Nick, to get thru the learning curve tirelessly. Please note the time consists of tire rotation with proper lug nut torque at 80 ft/lb, 2004 Hunter machine setup (an re-setup due to difference between standard vs. sport suspension), and me sitting in the driver seat during the entire process.

Update: I CANNOT recommend this shop any longer due to the two negative consequences following the alignment performed by Lightning. 1st: TPMS warning came on the day after the job and I found the air pressure to be off the acceptable range. The shop took the air out since I always checked them. 2nd: All nuts were loose as found out by EuroTire, as none of them are torqued down or tight. To my horror, camber cam nut on RF is completely missing, thereby rendering the lower control arm free movement under load. The lock-nut on tie-rod was also loose, which brought my front to 1/2'' toe-in total! Stay away from this shop!

Tire & Wheel Performance Center
(aka Precision Tire & Wheel)
500 Route 17 South
Ridgewood, NJ
(201) 652-2300
$70
Praised and liked by many that I was enticed to try though just a bit out of the way for me. Shop tidiness and Rx8 familiarity are unknown. Please report back here if you have used or plan on going to the shop so we may expand our information. No Saturday appointment. Driver ballast ok'd on the phone.

Hope it is of help to other Rx8 enthusiasts. Happy autocrossing! :D

 

hands down #1 i would of reccomended them even if you werent aware of it.
plus i live 5 min from there so me and my friends have taken our cars there.

 

To Kel Rx8:

I have used EuroTire on many occasions for both tire/alignment in the past 10 or so years. I have nothing but great to say about the outfit as you can read from my $.02. The reality is that the business has really transformed itself into a high-end shop with pricing that can be hard to swallow in price comparison, no matter what you drive. I wish to share my research and experience here so others can have options.

ps. Used to live and goto Montville HS.... Nice meeting you.

 

Hey Kel, is Eurotire good with lowered cars? I need an alignment/camber adjustment in the next week, and i'm really close, in fact, my new job is located right across the highway on 46 west....

thanks, Marc

 

nice to meet you too crx(i drive a crx now)hehe and the montville cops love seeing me driving down the road.i agree price is up there but worth it in a way there work is next to none.

hey marc yeah i just lowered my boyz audi a8 and they did the front and rear adjustments to specs with no problem.

 

Good info

 

Info updated after my second alignment in '05. Refer to 1st post.

 

Went last Friday to the Tire & Wheel Performance Center (500 Route 17 South, Ridgewood, NJ) and had a positive experience. They seem familiar with the RX-8, will do your own specs (if within the car spec, of course), the alignment takes about 1 hour, and you can sit in the car if you wish.
They are open Saturdays (but you'll need appointment, as it's busy).
The price quoted above is correct and is about half of what a dealer charges.

Note: if your car tends to drift under hard acceleration with lane change, or you hit some major potholes last winter - do yourself (and your tires) a favour and align the wheels :o)

 

just got off the phone with tire & wheel on rt 17
very good customer service on the phone, there tech is out sick so I am planing a saturday
visit.they seem to have knowledge of the rx8 and my setup isnt a problem
steve call me I think you mentioned you need a alignment also.

 

EG Tire & Auto Center
2276 U. S.HIGHWAY 130
Dayton, NJ 08810
(732) 329-6300
Ask for Jeff Yatsko

Here is a quick blurb my friend Tony wrote about him on the autox4u.com site.

follow link
http://autox4u.com/egtire/index.htm

 

Seems like this place is experiencing technical difficulties
there tech is no longer with them so...
he sad call next week to see if the new guy knows what he is doing
thats not very assuring so I may just have to go to Wayne Mazda unless anybody else have a place near parsippany or north Jersey

 

I took mine to Lightning Automotive when i put my coil over and 19 inch rims and they did a perfect job ...

 

I know this thread is old as hell but I need to post that I had an alignment done today at Euro Tire and they did a great job. I would recommend these guys to anyone.

$130.00 for a full alignment--- I know is a little more then the average joe, but you know what your getting without the worries.

EuroTire
500 Route 46 East
Fairfield, NJ

Go there, DO IT!

 

I use this shop normally

Tire & Wheel Performance Center
(aka Precision Tire & Wheel)
500 Route 17 South
Ridgewood, NJ
(201) 652-2300
$70

and never had an issue