Unhappy Unique Owner:CAR SOLD

[tcrist]

The problem that I see is that if you were not the one that first built the car then you do not know of any modifications that was done. How would you or most importantly the manufacture (does not matter who the manufacture is) know what modiications were made. How do you know that this area was not modified by a previous owner.

As far as the manufacture, how do they know that you (or someone else) did not modify the mounting locations?

Just a thought.

[decooney]

Dave,
No disrespect, but I read your thread about the prop rod, and you were unable locate the part and did something else instead. Again, things can become lost in translation or some times you need to keep looking until you find what you really want or need. Finding the right bits and parts for these cars makes a difference in the outcome. In your prop-rod example, you did what you had to do with what you could find. This is no different on a Unique or ERA in making something custom like this even if its a simple screw, nutzert, or rubber strap contraption. No offense, but this type example is at the most basic level of building one of these cars. I see in Unique's recommendation, they provided you a recommendation and you ended up doing something else. If you could not find it at Home Depot or even Advanced Auto, there is the internet and a million places that sell fittings, fasteners, and more. There is a Home Depot source bits version of a Unique, and there there is a version built with quality bits. Its up to the builder to choose of course. No matter how anyone chooses to characterize it, its a custom built car. If possible, and its a consideration, you can also have ERA build your car for you. When its done, there is no guessing. Most people take 1-2 years to build their ERAs. After I sold my Unique, I built my first ERA in 2-1/4 months, to the day, and I was working 40 hours a week in my regular job. To do this, all the bits were all mapped out in advance. Having all the right parts measured and prepared for the job makes all the difference in the world. I learned a lot from my Unique build and upgrades. Its not a simple thing to do, but its not that complicated for someone who has built "custom" cars before. Custom meaning "some fabrication", not bolt on parts. I will say an ERA does have the edge a bit on build instructions and quality bit, but you need to buy the right bits from ERA directly if you want everything to come out seamlessly the first time. If not, you are right back to figuring it out yourself, some fabrication, and hunting for the right bits and parts just as you were on your Unique. Some times things do not fit exactly, especially when there has been change of owners and one person customized the original build maybe in a different way than what Unique originally provided in their deluxe pallet kit. This happens too when multiple people work on a car and make little tweaks here and there.

quote: "That is where I was, I scoured that aisle, nothing like that at all. I picked up some stainless theft proof license plate fasteners at Advance Auto, but I like yours much better, looks more finished!"

Question:
Comparing Apples-to-Apples with ERA and your example of onsite customer service, did you take your car to Unique with the parts they sold you and give them a first hand chance to look at it and fix it? Or was all of this done over the phone to try and resolve it?

[davids2toys]

Also no disrespect Duane, but o rings and screen door screws after 30 years of being in business with a known problem with the wind blowing the hood off the prop rod. Do you know another quality company that has this problem? I don't, not ERA, not Superformance. After looking at many cars I made what i made for the prop rod and it came out great. It was not because I could not find the little bits and pieces. I did find them and still have them. I did not do it because it was a stupid, redneck BS fix that A) does not look good on a quality car and B) does not work(see the thread for another Unique owner that did it). there was a poster that said something like Unique should adapt my fix the their cars.
Duane, you act like I made these side-pipes myself! I did order it from the manufacturer and paid good money for them. You even say this in your reply"but you need to buy the right bits from ERA directly if you want everything to come out seamlessly the first time" I did buy it from them directly???
As far as the fix, I live in CT and Unique is in Alabama. I did everything I could, numerous very polite phone calls , pictures, etc.

Originally Posted by decooney

Dave,
No disrespect, but I read your thread about the prop rod, and you were unable locate the part and did something else instead. Again, things can become lost in translation or some times you need to keep looking until you find what you really want or need. Finding the right bits and parts for these cars makes a difference in the outcome. In your prop-rod example, you did what you had to do with what you could find. This is no different on a Unique or ERA in making something custom like this even if its a simple screw, nutzert, or rubber strap contraption. No offense, but this type example is at the most basic level of building one of these cars. I see in Unique's recommendation, they provided you a recommendation and you ended up doing something else. If you could not find it at Home Depot or even Advanced Auto, there is the internet and a million places that sell fittings, fasteners, and more. There is a Home Depot source bits version of a Unique, and there there is a version built with quality bits. Its up to the builder to choose of course. No matter how anyone chooses to characterize it, its a custom built car. If possible, and its a consideration, you can also have ERA build your car for you. When its done, there is no guessing. Most people take 1-2 years to build their ERAs. After I sold my Unique, I built my first ERA in 2-1/4 months, to the day, and I was working 40 hours a week in my regular job. To do this, all the bits were all mapped out in advance. Having all the right parts measured and prepared for the job makes all the difference in the world. I learned a lot from my Unique build and upgrades. Its not a simple thing to do, but its not that complicated for someone who has built "custom" cars before. Custom meaning "some fabrication", not bolt on parts. I will say an ERA does have the edge a bit on build instructions and quality bit, but you need to buy the right bits from ERA directly if you want everything to come out seamlessly the first time. If not, you are right back to figuring it out yourself, some fabrication, and hunting for the right bits and parts just as you were on your Unique. Some times things do not fit exactly, especially when there has been change of owners and one person customized the original build maybe in a different way than what Unique originally provided in their deluxe pallet kit. This happens too when multiple people work on a car and make little tweaks here and there.

quote: "That is where I was, I scoured that aisle, nothing like that at all. I picked up some stainless theft proof license plate fasteners at Advance Auto, but I like yours much better, looks more finished!"

Question:
Comparing Apples-to-Apples with ERA and your example of onsite customer service, did you take your car to Unique with the parts they sold you and give them a first hand chance to look at it and fix it? Or was all of this done over the phone to try and resolve it?

[davids2toys]

Originally Posted by tcrist

The problem that I see is that if you were not the one that first built the car then you do not know of any modifications that was done. How would you or most importantly the manufacture (does not matter who the manufacture is) know what modiications were made. How do you know that this area was not modified by a previous owner.

As far as the manufacture, how do they know that you (or someone else) did not modify the mounting locations?

Just a thought.

In this case there was nothing that was modified that would have done this. I even ran this by Unique and they agreed. Stock motor mounts in the Unique locations. Stock side-pipe frame locations put in by Unique. stock Unique primary pipes. Unique later said said their jig has been modified a few times over the years. That is not my fault or concern. At my job, when we modify jigs we mark it for the aircraft number and forward and configure it so we can use the same jig for earlier and later configurations. The whole purpose of a jig is so you can build a part accurately and consistently the same way every time! Trust me, Unique knew my car and year clearly when I was ordering them. They told me what to expect and that is all I wanted or expected!

[JustOne]

Maurice, at Unique, is building a new set of headers for my car now. He insisted that I send him the current set as a jig, so that they will be correct. These are custom cars and the only way to know if a part will match up is to have the car there while building exhaust parts. Unique has always built a quality product and I am happy to do business with them.

Justin

[davids2toys]

Originally Posted by JustOne

Maurice, at Unique, is building a new set of headers for my car now. He insisted that I send him the current set as a jig, so that they will be correct. These are custom cars and the only way to know if a part will match up is to have the car there while building exhaust parts. Unique has always built a quality product and I am happy to do business with them.

Justin

I cant comment to this because this is apples and oranges. I had side-pipes made not headers. they never asked me for my old pipes. They assured me there would be no problem because they are made in the jig, except I may have to elongate the hole in the bracket for the frame location.

[jolsen42]

David, thank God you didn't have a Factory Five.

John O

[davids2toys]

Originally Posted by jolsen42

David, thank God you didn't have a Factory Five.

John O

They are not my bag, except the MKIV was a needed improvement. I have heard pretty good things about them. A lot of people I have met on Cobra events own them and seem to be happy enough. I actually have heard good things about the customer service.
No personal experience though...I'm afraid to ask

[decooney]

David,
Without having to re-read two different threads on two different sites, were you finally able to get the side pipes to work, or did you have to buy a whole new set to make them work? What was involved to fix it in the end?

[CHANMADD]

The real point of owning these cars is for fun........all the different parts of ownership, including coming up with your own "Unique" solutions to problems . These , as far as I have ever percieved , are the little stamps of personal ownership that we all put on our cars.
You......, us, all.....should be happy that there is a Cobra "kit" world out there affording all of us the chance to be able to drive such a supercar at all.......
Quit *****ing and get on with the joys of ownership......
If you want a car that you can go to Pep boys and buy parts for, buy a Hyundai......