The king is back again for a second time!

[RacingHartS2000]

Yeah that's right! With a whole new look.

p.s. I miss Jen. :(

http://www.stephenvincelhonda.com/s2kweb/tomscar2.jpg

http://www.stephenvincelhonda.com/s2kweb/tomscar1.jpg

[Keith]

Hey Tom... how goes? Car looks great... (minus the red headlight housing). :)

I read on S2Ki.com that you had problems with a particular bodyshop. Where did you end up bring it to be fixed?

Keith

[RacingHartS2000]

The headlights are something you have to see in person.

The guy fixed the mechanical stuff on the car fine i guess. Except for it needing a new ABS sensor and not having any ABS. But the paint is absolute **** and I will be repainting it when I get back in town from my cross country trip, The AKA Rally.

http://www.akarally.com


But I'll do a little copy and paste job that tells the whole story about the drama and bull**** I went through this winter.
Here let me tell you my long story.....

Back in October, I had a friend moving back in town from LA where he was at on business. I had no room to put his bags in my car. So I switched cars with a friend (SlowWRX on STLSR) who had an M3 (backseat and trunk is larger) We we're too have the car's traded for 3 hours. I get a call from my friend while I was on the way to the airport telling me that a control arm (randomly) broke while his boss was driving my car (unauthorized) and that the car was in a minor accident. Well, actually it was a pretty bad accident. Unfortunately, his insurance doesn't cover my car. AND no one was there to see if it was really the cars fault or if he was trying to do a power slide and went over a curb. So I have all the questions in my head about whether or not it was his fault. Can I trust him? Was it really the car's fault? So now I'm stuck with this situation that I didn't create.

I went to go see my car. All body panels except for the doors and hood needed to be replaced. So, in my own ignorance, I thought my RacingHart wheels would not be covered by my insurance, so I took the car to a small body shop down in the city where we knew the owner (who I thought was going to hook up the estimate). This is the same body shop that my dad used to take his cars to. The body shop consisted of the owner and two employees. He used to always do my dad's car right. Well. My dad passed away 3 years ago and I guess he didn't feel the need to do it right this time.

I brought my car to him on October 29th. I would keep contact with him and he would tell me what he was doing. "Oh yeah. I have the tail light ordered and the control arm ordered." "We already have the body panels ready to paint.".... I drive out there finally a month after when I brought it there. I'm thinking I can't wait to see what everything looks like now.... I get there and the car is still sitting in the lot. It's been over a month and he hasn't even brought it in the garage to do any work.

I was furious. So I called my insurance company telling them that I wanted my car out of there. Well. They told me that I had already signed the check over and that the work was complete. I was like WTF? I never signed anything. So now, I'm really pissed. This guy forged my signature on the check. So ask the insurance company what they're gonna do about it? They told "Well, since he forged your signature on your check, it's really your problem."

SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH AN UNCOMPLETED CAR NO MONEY NO HELP FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND I WASN'T EVEN ANYWHERE NEAR THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED.

So it turns out that this guy was the worst body repairman ever. His shop was going in to the ground and he didn't have enough money to pay for the parts that he never ordered. Meanwhile my rental car coverage expired 3 weeks ago and lied to me and told me that the insurance company OKd the extension. Which they didn't so enterprise now tries to stick me with a bill for over $1000.

Well. I finally got my car back (after I came with the stock wheels and put them on) the saturday of Mardi Gras (don't remember what the date was) it was gone for 3 and a half months. And the paint is missing clear coat all over. Body panels weren't replaced. Just dents pulled out. The paint is chipping off and I have over spray all over the parts that weren't damaged.


So in the end, we have a law suit in the works against the body guy (which we probably won't get anything from) and American Family (since they never should have sent this guy the check anyways) and I'm left with a ****ty paint job on a nice car.

I plan on having the car completely repainted by a reputable body shop within the next month or two. (As soon as I have time to be without a car for a week)

So in conclusion. Don't trust people you hardly know with things that are very important to you. Because if something happens they won't take responsibility for it. Also if you try to save Fifty cents it will probably end up costing you $100. Oh and those wheels, I found out after everything had happened... would have been covered by insurance and that I didn't even need to take my car to that guy.

[grlielude]

That sucks Tom. I heard about the delimma but didn't know the details first hand. Your car looked pretty good on Cinco De Mayo from what I can remember....lol

as you know my suggestion for a body shop/paint is going to be Greg's..... Good luck!

[RacingHartS2000]

Yeah. I think I'm going to do most of the prep work myself and leave it to a professional to paint it when I get back. But, that's always been my biggest problem. I trust people too much. That was a fun time at Hacienda that night, it was funny running in to you while we were driving down that back street.

p.s. Look's like someone's attitude about the king has changed. (They all come around eventually.;) )
http://www.hondaprelude.to/forums/showthread.php?t=27204

[grlielude]

naaa youre still a bish, a homosexual one at that.

[RacingHartS2000]

I don't think my sexual preference should cause you to discriminate against me.

[ksprelude01]

Looks great Tom!

[grlielude]

I don't think my sexual preference should cause you to discriminate against me.


It doesn't its a special case just for you.

[ShadowDancer]

dang, you got served.

[RacingHartS2000]

dang, you got served.
Dude can I join your mafia. I'm looking for friends.

[Laura]

Well if thats the case Tom, you don't just have to post on a thread you started.

btw, I am sorry to hear about your dilema. Hopefully it all gets straightened out to your benefit.

[Reverend]

Tom, I love you.

[RacingHartS2000]

Thanks. YOU ALL ARE GREAT! B)

[Keith]

Tom, I just like you. Give me a few beers and maybe that might change. :D

[Chris]

Going a bit OT, so I'm moving.

[Reverend]

Oh great... now this mess is my responsibility.:rolleyes:

lol :thumbup:

[Preyluder]

Dude can I join your mafia. I'm looking for friends.

I don't mean to interrupt your highness, but Brandon I'm thinking AGAINST the whole "mafia" part, it just sounds a little...eh... iffy. :shrug: :thumbup:

[ShadowDancer]

Dude can I join your mafia. I'm looking for friends.
sorry josh. what do you think about the red faction?sound better?
its cool man. as long as you give me a ride in the S2K. i think we're gonna change the name from the Milano Mafia, to The Red Faction. josh didn't think we should have the word "mafia" in our name. let me know what you think.

[Preyluder]

Oh I get it now, Brandon. You're just playing along with this guys sarcastic remark.

I don't think we should really have a name for us 3. I say we just represent by turning them into 3 badass MR 4th gens. :thumbup: It will be neat though once Me, you and Ryan have extensive mods on our cars and we go cruising together. I was just thinking about that last night as a matter of factly.

[ShadowDancer]

i guess I can't sense his sarcasm in his post seeing as its written and not spoken. I didn't know he was being sarcastic. Ok josh, no name for us 3. Just 3 badass MR 4th gens. I plan on getting my octane front bumper when I get back from the bahamas. Then she's getting repainted. Once Ryan gets wheels and lowers his car, I think we should go out for a cruise. Funny you mention about thinking about that because I was just driving home thinking about how cool it would be to see a whole bunch of the same cars that were modded drive by not real fast but not slow, but just enough for the car next to you to get a glimpse before they speed off. I liked doing fly-bys on 270 when we were headed to Ted Drew's. NOTE: your wheels looked nice when you flew-by.

[Preyluder]

Thanks bro', yours too. Your exhaust sounds better going by though. :bang: :shrug:

One sure way to tell that s2k boy (sorry, don't know his name) was being sarcastic is that his s2k isn't MR either, it's got a different name for it. Plus, he only said that to try to make you feel stupid because you tried to make him feel stupid in saying, "Dang, you got served" after Jen's remark... Damn, I've been on car forums for too long. :D

[marcsmt]

Yes, I think 99% of Tom's posts are sarcastic.

[Jacques]

Tom, the s2K looks dead sexy! I remember when you drove next to me on Eastbound 40 on my way to work...the repaint and wheels looks great.:)

[Midnight Speed]

Tom you crack me up my car is still tighter than your hahaha j/k
jaslow

[PolishLude99]

Real nice ride man ........any future plans?

[RacingHartS2000]

Real nice ride man ........any future plans?
Yeah. Sell it since I got an Evo!

[Jacques]

Yeah. Sell it since I got an Evo!

Tom, all the more reason to make your s2000 a track-dedicated ride! :thumbup:

[Cory]

Tom, all the more reason to make your s2000 a track-dedicated ride! :thumbup:

that's what the evo is for.

[Jacques]

that's what the evo is for.

If that's the case, then what about the wintertime, smartypants? When I mean track-dedicated, I mean the car would be gutted, has a rollbar/rollcage, all unneeded weight is removed, etc. It would basically be no longer streetable. I can't see the Evo being used for track-only, and the s2k be the daily-driver, but that's me.

[Cory]

well if he has the garage space, and wants to put in the time and money to make a all road and track car that would be great.

[JMT-Z]

well if he has the garage space, and wants to put in the time and money to make a all road and track car that would be great.
The S2000 is going for trade in for either the EVO or the Q45 w/dubs.