[bagwel2]

I wanted to tell my story about my experience at a shop in Orange Park Florida called HP Performance. I'm not bashing the shop but potential customers need to be aware. I dont want someone else to go through what I'm going through. It all started while I was deployed (non-military) in Iraq. I always wanted a high horsepower machine. The only way I can search for a shop was through the magazines I've bought. So HP Performance was doing a lot of tech articles for a magazine so I said they must do good work. I gave HP Performance a call in June of '09 and spoke with a guy named Tom. Great sales guy and we've talked about my build over the phone and tons of emails. The end result was a 1,000hp twin turbo street machine. The cost? Over 35K. So I said cool let's do it. Remember I'm overseas. I told my parents and and they were excited. Not more than me though. I had them drop off the car from Tampa to Orange Park (3hr ride) in August so they will have enough time to complete the build by the time I came home in November. Everything was supposed to be brand new. Here is when the things go south. I have plenty of emails saying they can complete the job in approx. 4 weeks and I thought that was a reasonable time. As time moved on, Tom and I kept in contact alot and my departure from Iraq was approaching, the car was not being worked on. I was asking when but couldn't get an answer. Then I was told later in September early October that my car was just getting worked on. I said ok they sould have enough time. I was coming home in November. Boy was I wrong there. When I got back to the states and called, expecting my car to be done, they said they need another week until completion. At that time I spoke with Kevin Fiscus. One of the owners. Josh Kluger being the other. I was so pissed. I do not have a second car so I had to rent one. All that time and no car. Well it doesn't stop there. If they were to take a week to do a section of the car at a time, the car would have been done! So 1 week goes by. 2 weeks. 3 weeks go by and I said enough with the phone calls, let me drive up there and see what the deal was. When I got there and saw my car, I was furious. So much work still needed to get done. Me being no stranger to working on cars, I knew how long it takes to do this job but I played dumb to see what quality of work was going to be done. Now remember, everything was supposed to be brand new or so I was told. I saw the Incon turbo kit. It's supposed to be brand new and it's not. The intercooler was used, missing parts and the duct work was worn. My differential was the wrong one, the sub-frames were not welded (parts of it was but not good), fuel tank was from another car, I got scratches on my door, the rear axles were installed wrong and leaking, the turbos were clocked wrong, intercooler was installed in the wrong place, oil leaking from the bung on the oil pan, coolant leaking from the cross over tube, the bell housing threads were cross-threaded with the wrong bolts(all of them) the brake duct covers are still missing, oil pan bolts missing, the engine was resting on the steering rack (no offset rack bushings) even the stock fuel filter was still on the car and was left there. Now they tried to fix the leaks with RTV! Not the way to do it. At this time I needed my car out of that shop. They could not perform the work correctly. So after 3 trips to HP Performance and getting pissed with Kevin Fiscus, my car finally started, still leaking oil, coolant and rear diff fluid, it goes to the dyno. And it gets better. It will not build boost and no one could figure out why. I was told to drive it around like this, break in the motor and bring it back by so we can figure it out. What?! Figure out the problem now right? No they did not and when they told me that, I fully lost confidence that they can ever fix what they have done. I said I have to take my car to another shop. And I did. THE WHOLE BUILD HAD TO BE REDONE! Engine had to removed, axles back out, fuel system redone etc. Over 35K I gave to them and this is what I got in return. I've called Kevin and Josh to resolve the situation but my phone calls are ignored. Since then I've heard about a black Cobra with bule flames had a problem like mine. And I saw that car in the shop when mine was there and a few more unsatisfied customers. I have an attorney, plenty of emails and pictures and I'm going to seek retribution. Does anyone here would like to contact me about their experience with this shop? Feel free to respond. No one should go throgh this!

[ReverendDexter]

Wow... I read that whole thing, and it sucks, but you need to break that stuff into paragraphs man. As it sits that post is just a wall of text.

[trent2590]

hard to read i agree but i have been hearing bad things about HP since i have been on the lookout for a turbo and now I will never take my car to them thnx for the warning and i hope you get compensated for the damage and so forth

[Smoothgrandmama]

That sucks so hard

[Goblin]

This really sucks, but this is definately NOT the first time ive seen a negative testimonial from a customer about this shop. Even more interesting.. this is probably the 100th time ive read about the SAME problem. These guys are ripoffs. Kevin Fiscus owns this shop now? I remember back when Tony Gonyon and Sherry owned the shop.. and even back then, they were a bullshit shop. I dont understand why magazines stand behind these clowns.

Sorry this happened you. Do us and yourself a favor, and take this matter to furthest extent of the law. Do NOT let these morons get away with this shit.

[sharkbait]

and sucks man like sue there asses off. Also remember to get the money back for the rental car aswell.

[Trick Tuners]

wow! that sucks. For that kind of money i would expect perfection and brand new everything!

[bagwel2]

Thanks guys and yes I'm going to take this all the way! So many stories about this shop and I going to do something about it. Thanks for the replies and keep them coming. I'll keep you guys updated on the situation.

[M.P. Cobra Fan]

This is not the first time I have heard bad things about that shop. I have been looking for a shop in the Tampa and I know which one it will NOT be.

Good luck with everything.

[bagwel2]

Thanks. Give Lamotta Performance a call in Longwood Orlando. Not in Tampa but I've heard he does great work and honest!

[XectriK]

That's a lot of money to have nothing to show for it. I'd be up there ass looking for reimbursement for every penny.

[tyzride]

I am so sorry to hear about what you went through bro. I hate the feeling of being ripped off. Especially when it comes to our cars and the fact you were fighting for our country. I love learning more about cars and working on mine myself. Hope everything turns out ok. Good luck to you.

[bagwel2]

Thanks guys. And they are going to have a fight on thier hands. I'm definatly going to seek retribution. I'll keep posting to update my results. Oh and my car is done. Waiting to hit the dyno tomorrow!

[P45X4F]

Originally Posted by bagwel2 Thanks. Give Lamotta Performance a call in Longwood Orlando. Not in Tampa but I've heard he does great work and honest!

In 2002 I used Lamotta's shop to run a dyno on a car. They had a portable dyno that they hauled around to various events. Probably got one in shop now. I was very impressed with the cleanliness and friendliness of Lamotta's. There were, also, some impressive mustangs sitting around

Please let us know about the dyno, and keep us informed of the legal battle. Is this a job for Morgan & Morgan