THSCC Forums

I have heard in the past several members reccomend this shop for alignments. When I needed one a few months ago, I decided to go with them because their prices seemed reasonable and Mike Mack seemed to know what he was talking about. Additionally, I wanted an out of factory spec (race) alignment, and had a full page of instructions on the desired settings.

On the phone, I told him that I have adjustable camber ball joints that needed tweaking (about which he said no problem). After I arrived, he basically refused to do so. When I pressed the issue, he started talking about adding additional (unreasonable) cost. That pissed me off.

When Mike came back out, he announced that he had set my settings with factory spec, and everything was ok. When I asked him about setting the toe to toe out, he refused (which is why I was there in the first place). He then quoted me a price that was higher than my phone quote.

So I ended up paying more than phone quote for an essentially factory spec alignment that was higher than the "special" alignment pricing. Needless to say I will never go back there again.

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2000 Honda Prelude

I've used Mike Mack before and had excellent results.

I've never tried to get a phone quote before, since my requirements (rally car) as such that I wouldn't imagine they could make an accurate quote without seeing the equipment I'm using. I too had a sheet with the specs I needed.

I think I paid $70 or $80 for my last alignment there. I'm curious as to what he charged you and what the "excessive" amount was.

During both of the times I've been there, I've been out at the alignment machine with Mike, watching him work. I really appreciate this, as you can see the precision involved. He also keeps all the past alignment settings stored in the machine, so you can compare to the previous times you were there.

Anders

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Lina Racing: As Seen On Radio

Sorry to hear about Automasters in Cary. They quoted me $89 then wanted
to charge me $120 because it took a hour to do the job but they did do
what I requested and I held firm and ended up paying the $89.

Contact Philip Whaley in
either the Apex or Garnder Colony Tire, and let him make "arrangements for you". He usually will have a assorment of discounts and coupons to
make the price reasonable. Their alignment guy in Wakefield is good and did not give me a hard time about doing either my Corvette to my spec or the race car, and did not flinch when I aked to be seated inthe car when he did the settings. I had no problem getting either car on or off the rack at
Wakefield.

If anyone know the place in Durham that opened recently to cater
to the BMWCCA folks in the are please contact them.

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Mark Vitacco
THSCC TT Chairman
mvitacco@bellsouth.net

Sorry to hear about that Ken. I have to agree with Anders. I paid $70 for my first visit and $80 on my second visit. I have no complaints about either alignment. I brought in my own specs. He had to adjust toe and camber on all 4 wheels. I stood right there and talked to him while he was doing it. It took almost an hour. He has all my specs stored in the computer. About 2 weeks after the 2nd visit I thought I lost some of the camber in the rear and asked him to check it. Both he and his manager hemmed and hawwed a little. I told them I just wanted him to verify it was still where it was supposed to be. So he did it at no charge and it was in fact still where I asked it to be set. I get along fine with Mike and can't complain about his work or knowledge. His boss is a little sticky about costs. I also tried to talk him into letting me pay him 1 time and get adjustments during the season without paying $80 a pop. They would not even hear of that. Worth trying though

I did mention to them that I was a member of THSCC and that if he was cool about doing custom alignments he would get recommended to others in the club. He seemed really happy about it. So I'm surprised you had a hard time. Now his boss just likes the quick stuff to factory specs because he can knock out alignments faster...

Graham

That's exactly what I experienced. Quoted price was $89 on the phone, and Mike started to break out the "oh wow this is so hard" spiel on me and wanted to charge me $120 for the job. He wouldn't even let me come out and watch, although I don't consider it a big deal because I've never convinced a mechanic to let me do that anyways. I told him I was a THSCC member, and the car will be used for auto-x on weekends. His reaction was something like watching grass grow. I think at the register I ended up paying close to $100.

Screw all of them anyways. I now align my own car with the help of a good friend on the Hunter alignment machine down at Wake Tech. Nothing about any of my gear is difficult to do, considering neither one of us had ever done my car before and we knocked it off in like 2 hours. For all those concerned, my new alignment rocks, and the difference is night and day on course.

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2000 Honda Prelude

Weird. I got three alignments on the race car this season over there. Every time it was 70 bucks, they never complained about the settings or the cage or any of it, and the alignment was good.