To All,
Really not looking for a popcorn event here at all. I am entitled to my opinion and of course everybody else is to. I learned my lesson, sold my problem and now moving on.
The name of this thread is
consumer watch and that is all I am doing,. I shared my experience and if I can save someone else the same heartache, that is the point of the whole thing isn't it?
I really don't want a carryover of the thread from the Unique forum at all. I put the link there to give the history rather than have to re-explain everything all over again.
Regarding some of the comments. you may want to re-read the thread. No custom install at all.
1. stock motor mounts, stock locations
2. frame threaded holes are from Unique.
3. side-pipes are are made in a jig from Unique?
4. Followed Unique's instruction to the letter and they knew exactly what year car they were building for.
5. 20 year old car, so what, what is your point?
I could have accepted the brackets having to be bent up or down and tweaked a bit for angles. Unique even told me to put them on before jet coating because I would probably have to elongate the holes a little to match up to the holes in the frame. That is all fine and that is what I expected, what I got was nothing like that at all. The brackets were way beyond tweaking or elongating, they were totally mislocated. They needed total rework to relocate, modify and reweld. I do not weld so where does that leave me? If you can't build the part as promised, then why not just sell it as a kit for a lower price and let the customer have the brackets located to the pipes as they fall on the car and then have them welded at the perfect location. I will post pics of the finished product after rework. Actually there is an ad on the forum with Pics.
This is the link:
http://www.uniquecobra.com/forums/sh...Flow-sidepipes
This also was not the first time I have had this type of problem with them, my rear shocks upgrade purchase was pretty much the same thing. The letter I had to right to get them to do the right thing was totally uncalled for and ridiculous! So this was just the straw that broke the camels back for me.
I never said the Unique car was junk as some are implying. I know there are some really bad kits out there and that is not what I am saying about Unique's car at all. My complaint is not with the car, it is with the manufacturer!
I am most probably going to buy a ERA next. I have heard nothing but great things about them and one of the things I have heard consistently is when they have a problem they correct it it with the customer and do the right thing. That fact all by itself is worth the loftier price of an ERA car.
A note about me. I have been building helicopters for 34 years. I am a licensed A&P mechanic and for the last 6 of the 34 years I have been a Technical Instructor for the company I work for.
I have owned many classic and hot rod cars and bikes. This would also include 3 Corvettes 1960, 1964, and 1965. I am also not young and not rich.
I will say, this was my first replica kit car, hey, maybe I am expecting to much!!!
In closing, the owners that have agreed with me and have had similar experiences with Unique have PMed me and I have spoke with them at length on the phone. It is not only me who feels as I do. In fact, I heard some other stories that were really interesting. I decided to sell the car rather than have to continue dealing with them. Others are stuck with their cars for various reasons and have to continue to deal with Unique so they can't post for fear of being blackballed...very understandable, but as long as the Unique customers put up with it, Unique will continue to have the attitude and do the things they do!
I am putting this behind me and look forward to my next car
Dave
PS: There is no spell checker so sorry about any typos. Is there a way to turn on the spell checker?