Need everyone's opinion

[WWhittle]

I have a buddy that is considering going on his own and opening a performance shop. I personally think that there is a need in the lowcountry area. This particular person is very picky, does very good work, has alot of racing experience, etc.
He would be capable of working on every aspect of a performance car from motors, to suspension, to wiring, cages and everything else. And of course all the little jobs (exhaust, installing NOS systems, etc) He would also go to the track with people to make sure things work, etc.
I really think that this would work good in our area.

Please give me your opinions, suggestions or whatever you think is relevant.

[Darryl Buckner]

If its the person I am thinking, that you are refering to, he would be pretty good, that is for sure. I just don't know how good a performance business would be, with the current economy. Performance cars, are generally the first things to get cut out of the budget. Maybe he could do general repairs and stuff also, to help keep the business going, until he had the clientel to support an all performance shop. The economy is starting to turn, but we still have 6 months to a year to deal with this stuff, and I am afraid it will never go back to the way it was a few years back. Sometimes you just have to do it, no balls no blue chips!

[Mike]

Maybe wait until after the election, make sure the RIGHT party gets put into office.....

[WWhittle]

Originally Posted by Darryl Buckner

If its the person I am thinking, that you are refering to, he would be pretty good, that is for sure. I just don't know how good a performance business would be, with the current economy. Performance cars, are generally the first things to get cut out of the budget. Maybe he could do general repairs and stuff also, to help keep the business going, until he had the clientel to support an all performance shop. The economy is starting to turn, but we still have 6 months to a year to deal with this stuff, and I am afraid it will never go back to the way it was a few years back. Sometimes you just have to do it, no balls no blue chips!

yes, you are thinking of the right person.

i agree the economy sucks right now, but i personally think there is still a need. i feel like a man could make a living and if he was smart about how he ran his business, it could turn into something more later. He could, and would, do general repairs when starting up- i just think you have to be careful that you don't end up with the reputation of a "general automotive repair" business when you ultimately want to deal exclusively in the performance side of automotive.

Is it just me, or does everyone else feel like there is a need for it in this area?

If you wanted to get all new suspension put on your car, have the car scaled out, and a nitrous system installed and then go to the track with the guy to make sure it all works.........who do you go to around here?

Or you blow a head gasket on your hotrod and you can't fix it yourself?

Or you want to swap motors in your car? Or just want some exhaust put on? Or you just built a new car yourself but need someone to wire it? The list goes on and on.

[Bradleyrj]

I dont know... I mean here in Myrtle there a few guys who do performance work and I wouldnt let any of them wash my car much less work on it. I think we can all agree us "car guys" are a different breed. Having someone that can do some specialized stuff, Chassis, custom work, custom suspension stuff. It might work, I dont know. I think if the economy was better and there were still lots of people paying to have cars built. I'd say go for it. I think the economy is such now that anyone that is building a car..is doing the work themselves. Just my opinion.

[WWhittle]

Originally Posted by Bradleyrj

I dont know... I mean here in Myrtle there a few guys who do performance work and I wouldnt let any of them wash my car much less work on it. I think we can all agree us "car guys" are a different breed. Having someone that can do some specialized stuff, Chassis, custom work, custom suspension stuff. It might work, I dont know. I think if the economy was better and there were still lots of people paying to have cars built. I'd say go for it. I think the economy is such now that anyone that is building a car..is doing the work themselves. Just my opinion.

The first part of what you said is why i think there is a need. I think there are some clowns around, but nobody that actually does "good" work.

The last part of what you said has plenty of truth too.

When you add the two together, that is what makes it a tough decision.

[LXtasy]

I think there has always been a need in the area. BUT in my opinion, the shop needs to be more than just a one kind of car place. i.e just mustangs or just f-body's or just import. Of course, the shop should have people/technicians that know more than just fuel injection or plugging it into a computer and tinkering around.

Of course an on site dyno is a must for tuning purposes.

I also think that the shop should have people that know how to build custom items besides a roll cage. I.e. custom subframe connectors, motor plates-mid plates, transmission crossmembers, turbo/sc piping, custom suspension components etc.

Having the ability to powder coat parts is a good idea as well, but custom parts and customer parts.

Things that I say would help a Performance shop in Charleston is a combination of the following if not all.

1. Automotive knowledge
2. Performance knowledge
3. CUSTOMER SERVICE
4. Fair/competitive pricing
5. LOCATION-accessiblity
6. Events coverage (displays with customer/shop cars both racing and on display and even at carshows, sometimes it has to be done)
7. More than one brand loyal
8. More than "mail order and install" shop


Of course IMO, all of this does not come overnight. But with knowledge, willfullness, and a staff that is willing to stand out from being someone besides a wrench turner will help big time.

Last thing, NO HACK JOBS! At the same time taking care of customers vehicle as if it was your own.

[LXtasy]

Oh and why in the world is this in PICTURES and VIDEOS? I see no picture or a video.

[chrisheltra]

Originally Posted by LXtasy

Things that I say would help a Performance shop in Charleston is a combination of the following if not all.

1. Automotive knowledge
2. Performance knowledge
3. CUSTOMER SERVICE
4. Fair/competitive pricing
5. LOCATION-accessiblity
6. Events coverage (displays with customer/shop cars both racing and on display and even at carshows, sometimes it has to be done)
7. More than one brand loyal
8. More than "mail order and install" shop

I agree with all this but would also add this

9. More high profile 1/4 tacks in the area (which we dont really have)

I hate to say it but a shop like what your talking about is dedicated to the hardcore racer and I just dont see the need or "fan base" around here.

Then there are the street racers who might patronize said shop.

Would I like one in town? Yes! But I would wait until they built a reputation to use them.

[Darryl Buckner]

I am not saying I wouldn't like to see one in this area. What I am saying is, I believe general automotive repair, would be the bread and butter. I mean Gerald does pretty good on the side, with transmissions and rearend jobs, and he offers a fair price, and is very good. But he wouldn't quit his full time job, because sometimes he is real busy, and sometimes he is dead for a month or so. And Hal is right, you would have to be multibrand, Ford or GM only, and you are done. I see the market around here, like Wes does, and as a business owner, times are tight for everyone. I can honestly say, I wouldn't want to be starting a business right now, but he has my support if he wants to give it a try...

[WWhittle]

Originally Posted by LXtasy

I think there has always been a need in the area. BUT in my opinion, the shop needs to be more than just a one kind of car place. i.e just mustangs or just f-body's or just import. Of course, the shop should have people/technicians that know more than just fuel injection or plugging it into a computer and tinkering around.

Of course an on site dyno is a must for tuning purposes.

I also think that the shop should have people that know how to build custom items besides a roll cage. I.e. custom subframe connectors, motor plates-mid plates, transmission crossmembers, turbo/sc piping, custom suspension components etc.

Having the ability to powder coat parts is a good idea as well, but custom parts and customer parts.

Things that I say would help a Performance shop in Charleston is a combination of the following if not all.

1. Automotive knowledge
2. Performance knowledge
3. CUSTOMER SERVICE
4. Fair/competitive pricing
5. LOCATION-accessiblity
6. Events coverage (displays with customer/shop cars both racing and on display and even at carshows, sometimes it has to be done)
7. More than one brand loyal
8. More than "mail order and install" shop


Of course IMO, all of this does not come overnight. But with knowledge, willfullness, and a staff that is willing to stand out from being someone besides a wrench turner will help big time.

Last thing, NO HACK JOBS! At the same time taking care of customers vehicle as if it was your own.

This shop would actually meet all of your criteria with the exception to a powder coating booth and probably not (i think) a dyno right out of the gate.

[WWhittle]

Originally Posted by LXtasy

Oh and why in the world is this in PICTURES and VIDEOS? I see no picture or a video.

i'm not sure how the hell i did that- someone please move to General Discussion

[badgt]

Wouldn't make much of a difference to me whether there was a performance shop here or not, I buy my performance parts through work at cost and install it all myself. For someone who may not be able to do it then yes it would probably be pretty successful. There are in fact tools in this town that couldn't install a cold air intake if it wasn't for a serious sit down and read of the directions. Other then gear swaps, I wouldn't honestly have a use for one. If he's that good though then I may have to take a look if he opens up. Also I do know of some other people planning on opening up a couple different performance shops in charleston, so we may be flooded in no time with shops.

[WWhittle]

Originally Posted by chrisheltra

I agree with all this but would also add this

9. More high profile 1/4 tacks in the area (which we dont really have)

I hate to say it but a shop like what your talking about is dedicated to the hardcore racer and I just dont see the need or "fan base" around here.

Then there are the street racers who might patronize said shop.

Would I like one in town? Yes! But I would wait until they built a reputation to use them.

don't forget that there is a whole other group of racers (hardcore grudge racers, street racers) that you probably don't even know about. a shop that will offer their services to these people behind a closed door also goes a long way.

And i wouldn't say it would be only for "hardcore racers". How about the highschool kids that need their flowmasters and vortech's installed-

[badgt]

I don't want to burst your bubble but just graduating from highschool, I don't know of any kid there, unless they had big money, that didn't install there own stuff, successful or unsuccessful as they were, they still did it.

[WWhittle]

i will put it to ya'll this way-
i am paying Sheppard Race Cars (one of the best there is) a shitpile of money to build my new car from a shell to an Outlaw Radial Car, complete with painted cage, interior, everything ready to race.
If this person had their shop open now and running the way it has been discussed, i would feel just as confident dropping my car off to him and getting the same quality of work.

[WWhittle]

Originally Posted by badgt

I don't want to burst your bubble but just graduating from highschool, I don't know of any kid there, unless they had big money, that didn't install there own stuff, successful or unsuccessful as they were, they still did it.

you aren't gonna burst my bubble-
maybe i should rephrase. who is going to fix the highschool kids installs that they phucked up trying to do it themselves?

[badgt]

in your case yes he would bring in the bucks, if I was going to build a protube chassis car or even have a cage installed I would take it to someone. However being a bolt on shop is not realistic, the labor costs involved to the customer would not be worth it in there eyes. Hardcore drag/Road course i'd feel more comfortable taking it to a shop but anything outside of that, I.E. bolt ons, superchargers, etc. most people I know would put it on themselves. Not trying to be a dick but trying to be realistic for your friends sake .

[WWhittle]

Originally Posted by badgt

Wouldn't make much of a difference to me whether there was a performance shop here or not, I buy my performance parts through work at cost and install it all myself. For someone who may not be able to do it then yes it would probably be pretty successful. There are in fact tools in this town that couldn't install a cold air intake if it wasn't for a serious sit down and read of the directions. Other then gear swaps, I wouldn't honestly have a use for one. If he's that good though then I may have to take a look if he opens up. Also I do know of some other people planning on opening up a couple different performance shops in charleston, so we may be flooded in no time with shops.

out of curousity- do these other people that are thinking about opening shops have enough financial backing or personal finances to make a true run at a successful business? it's alot easier to be fly by night than it is to build a successful business. the automotive industry has it's bad wrap because of the fly by nighters.

[WWhittle]

Originally Posted by badgt

in your case yes he would bring in the bucks, if I was going to build a protube chassis car or even have a cage installed I would take it to someone. However being a bolt on shop is not realistic, the labor costs involved to the customer would not be worth it in there eyes. Hardcore drag/Road course i'd feel more comfortable taking it to a shop but anything outside of that, I.E. bolt ons, superchargers, etc. most people I know would put it on themselves. Not trying to be a dick but trying to be realistic for your friends sake .

Tell Amazon, Modular Powerhouse, Fastlane, CPR, ProDyno, LS1 Powertuning, etc that there is no business for "bolt ons". I would be willing to bet that 80-90% if their work is "bolt ons". That's just a few examples of shops around our region- the same goes for shops across the country.

Actually i know for sure that 100% of Modular Powerhouse and Amazon's work is bolt on and tuning.