HST mexico CLOSED

RichardCSX6000 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-16-2010, 06:32 AM

Looks like all CSX glass cars will be coming via Hi-Tech.

mickmate · #2 (**permalink**) 10-16-2010, 06:37 AM

Where is that info from?

RichardCSX6000 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-16-2010, 07:27 AM

A couple of CSX dealers verified it. Just happened.

gsharapa · #4 (**permalink**) 10-16-2010, 07:35 AM

The drug dealers pretty much taking over the country anyway,,,

rodneym · #5 (**permalink**) 10-16-2010, 11:09 AM

These guys have had trouble for years now. Quality fluctuated. Having a facility in Mexico isn't easy, especially if production is close to the border but that's neither here nor there. Plenty of people had issues with their cars, and after Hi-Tech some customers flat out refused a HST.

Also, I tried for 2 years (once every 4-5 months) to buy some tow hooks from them. They either:
1. Didn't answer the phone (phone wouldn't go to machine)
2. Answering machine picked up but never got a call back
3. Spoke to someone on the phone and was told I'd be called back (but didn't)
4. Finally told about a month ago that they haven't made them in a while and didn't know when they'd be made again.

I wasn't trying to be a pest but hey, they advertised them on their website!

Personally, I like the idea of a carbon fiber Cobra. Shame, really.

rodneym

cobrakalas427 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-16-2010, 02:17 PM

Wow...I'm surprised based on what I thought was HST's rumored "high quality" and "relatively close" operation...I guess maybe the dangers south of the border are too much for the Mexican government to handle or address.

rodneym · #7 (**permalink**) 10-16-2010, 02:48 PM

I don't know how close HST's facility was in Mexico but I don't think the problem was 'danger'. I know from experience that opening a maquila in Mexico (near TJ) isn't nearly as bountiful as promised. They did have plenty of labor and it was cheap but they would play companies against each other. If a new company moved into the business park that paid more, the workers left during a shift. Plus, production was so slow and quality bad enough that we lost big time. 2 years of hell. No loyalty and a bad feeling towards American companies. And before people get on their high horse about foreign production, we were making items for the Post Office. Purely price driven GSA. If it wasn't made in Mexico it would be made in China and that's worse. Our government can be as cheap as the American public.
Some companies manage to do well, like Fender Musical Instruments but those first few years produced rough instruments. I could see going to Mexico for enviro reasons but not for labor.
The problems I heard about HST were slightly different architecture in the cockpit and some rough areas that needed to be addressed. If I was buying a CSX glass car I'd take a Hi-Tech but wouldn't deny a carbon car if I wanted one. Just may be a bit more 'finishing'.
rodneym

cobrakiwi · #8 (**permalink**) 10-16-2010, 05:36 PM

I have also heard the Hi Tech cars where better finished.

twobjshelbys · #9 (**permalink**) 10-16-2010, 06:57 PM

I had an early indication of this on Thursday from a usually reliable source. The closing of HST most likely also means the end of the carbon fiber cars (all whopping 6 so far). Mine, CSX4005LA, is one. According to the registry book I saw at Shelby when I was in Vegas for the auction (trying to find info on the other LA cars) one of the other LA cars (CSX4004LA) is also carbon fiber. Searching the registry for the other CF cars was more work than I wanted to put in.

twobjshelbys · #10 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodneym

These guys have had trouble for years now. Quality fluctuated. Having a facility in Mexico isn't easy, especially if production is close to the border but that's neither here nor there. Plenty of people had issues with their cars, and after Hi-Tech some customers flat out refused a HST.

Also, I tried for 2 years (once every 4-5 months) to buy some tow hooks from them. They either:
1. Didn't answer the phone (phone wouldn't go to machine)
2. Answering machine picked up but never got a call back
3. Spoke to someone on the phone and was told I'd be called back (but didn't)
4. Finally told about a month ago that they haven't made them in a while and didn't know when they'd be made again.

I wasn't trying to be a pest but hey, they advertised them on their website!

Personally, I like the idea of a carbon fiber Cobra. Shame, really.

rodneym

I had some similar issues. The rollers for the CSX4000LA cars were built by HST but also equipped with power trains by them. I've described my fuel injection problems here in some detail, suffice it to say they weren't properly trained in the art of installing and setting up the 427IR system. Now the clutch slave appears to be overextending. They should have set up all of this properly. I attribute it to lack of skills for the assigned installers.

On the good side within a month or so after I got the car I had some fairly significant rock damage from a twit that decided he had to go faster than me (passing instead of merging behind me) and threw up road rocks. It hit the driver door and windshield. The one rock was big enough that it created cracks in the clear finish on the inside of the door (good thing it didn't hit me in the head). Noone locally would touch the carbon fiber. The door comes off in 5 minutes so I called HST to see if they could repair it. Sure, ship it down. Not only do we have the paint, but we have YOUR paint. How much? $350 plus return shipping. So color matching and blending were not an issue. To this day you can't tell. Later when the clutch master went out [Shelby did change manufacturers] they reminded me that I'd never paid for the repair. Well, I'd never gotten an invoice of any kind, and I told the VP and their finance guy just to email me the amount and address and I'd send a check. Never heard from them.

I was also trying to get them to tell me what clutch slave so I could order one, but now I know why I never heard anything else from them.

dcdoug · #11 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010, 05:00 PM

I spoke with one of the Shelby dealers and he told me that Shelby bought the CSX (only) assets of HST and moved the manufacturing and production of the "HST" cars to the main plant in Las Vegas. So the cars will now be built in LV and also by Hi-Tech.

As for whether HST or Hi-Tech cars are better finished, that depends on who you ask.

RichardCSX6000 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010, 05:29 PM

Looks like it will require more research but Mexico must be out. I really am suprised that they have enough volume of cars sold for two plants, but then I don't know really how many are sold each year.

mickmate · #13 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010, 08:46 PM

If Dougs right and they're going back to Vegas that's where the best ones are made. They have lost a key guy or two on the Cobras in the meantime but I think that would still benefit us for them to do that. I know there are differences in the cars structurally and have seen quality differences in both and in the same cars! Viva Las Vegas!

Al G · #14 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010, 09:45 AM

Since I've been waiting for CSX 6045 to be completed by HST I got very nervous when I read this last night. I just spoke to my dealer who confirmed my body and chassis are accounted for and safe in Las Vegas, along with an assortment of other bodies, chassis and parts. They're still working on inventorying just what they have for parts and how to get them all completed. Mine might actually be assembled by my dealer. That idea actually appeals to me and could speed up delivery.

cobrakalas427 · #15 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010, 11:03 AM

Al...That's great to hear...I hope the build gets finished soon for you!

Got the Bug · #16 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010, 11:35 AM

It seems like Shelby's manufacturing strategy shifts with the wind. They've been doing this long enough, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that HST in South Africa can probably build a more consistent car at a fair price than Mexico or Las Vegas.

It's probably just pride that they continue to even build cars themselves.

dcdoug · #17 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al G

Since I've been waiting for CSX 6045 to be completed by HST I got very nervous when I read this last night. I just spoke to my dealer who confirmed my body and chassis are accounted for and safe in Las Vegas, along with an assortment of other bodies, chassis and parts. They're still working on inventorying just what they have for parts and how to get them all completed. Mine might actually be assembled by my dealer. That idea actually appeals to me and could speed up delivery.

Maybe you'll get it done in time for the CACC frostbite cruise....It was nice to meet you on Sat by the way. Hope you get it done soon and can join us.