Import Discrimination - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

thelinja · 08-02-2003, 08:36 PM

Well, I got my new clutch this week and I called around to a few shops to see if I could get a quote for installation. The only place that would actually install the thing was the dealer, and they wanted $600 and 2 days.

All of the other places I contacted said "Oh, we don't "do" imports." I stopped at a place on my way home from work the other day and they told me the same thing. However, as I was walking out, I saw a Benz, and a Camry in the garage on lifts. I walked back in and asked the guy why he turned my business down if he has two foreign cars in the garage. He said they were in for just a basic maintainence. By the looks of it, the Benz was getting a full brake job, and I'm not sure about the Toyota.
My question is :
Why does it seem that you almost have to go to an "import specialist" if you want any kind of work done on a foreign car? Are imports and domestics really THAT different? Granted, the 240 is the first car I have actually WORKED on and I have never had experience working on a domestic car before. But then again, this is Indiana where nearly every other car on the road is either a 5.0 or an F-body and I can understand if there is a lack of knowledge when it comes to RWD I4's.

btw : I've decided to save the money and install the clutch with the help of a friend who has experience.

KiDyNomiTe · 08-02-2003, 08:50 PM

I don't see why they can't install a stinking clutch. I never thought you would have problems with that. Afterall its a car with a tranny, can't be that different.

Bbandit · 08-02-2003, 08:58 PM

screw them
do it yourself
get a friend or two to help you out
not really hard... but it will consume a lot of times

hell if i live near you, i'll help

thx247 · 08-03-2003, 01:40 AM

its because the domestic shops dont have tools in metric

S14TiNMAN · 08-03-2003, 01:55 AM

do it yourself. save big bucks!

FRpilot · 08-03-2003, 02:27 AM

yea do it yourself. if its your first time, it might take you a while to take out everything. but after your first time, changing a clutch will be like a cakewalk. acutally, i changed my entire clutch and redid the lines all by myself. you probably only need a few friends to help you reallign the tranny. it would help to have someone hand you tools and stuff too but you can do it all by yourself.

thelinja · 08-03-2003, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by thx247
its because the domestic shops dont have tools in metric

Nah, I just think it's because they are biased. All three of the other cars we have are domestic and they use a lot of metric sockets.

misnomer · 08-03-2003, 01:35 PM

Meh, they likely have enough domestics to fill the garages with. It is the businesses choice what they work on (whether it's good business for them or not is their decision). So suck it up and bust out your tools :P

*weirdstyles.net* · 08-03-2003, 01:56 PM

Iv'e gotten that all over the place. Theres a place around my way Kaspers Korner, 7 second stang, 9 sec Mark VIII and what have you... their fast ****. Their only suggestion to me was low profile rims and nitrious.

My plan, by the time I am thrity, to know everything about cars. Including body work, paint, mechanics, electronics and shizzle so I only have to hand my keys over for alignments, a/c evap. recov. recharge and other bs that requires overly exspensive tools. Other than that I wanna do it all on my lonesome..

Downfall · 08-03-2003, 06:59 PM

I work at a dealership. Free labor and all the tools you need. I dont make a lot of money their due to the fact im only 18 and mostly just change oil but ive saved tons of money on stuff i would have had to pay for. Plus ive got access to OBDII scanners when my CEL comes on.

08-02-2003, 08:36 PM	#1
thelinja Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,466 Trader Rating: (3) Rides Gallery: thelinja Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Import Discrimination Well, I got my new clutch this week and I called around to a few shops to see if I could get a quote for installation. The only place that would actually install the thing was the dealer, and they wanted $600 and 2 days. All of the other places I contacted said "Oh, we don't "do" imports." I stopped at a place on my way home from work the other day and they told me the same thing. However, as I was walking out, I saw a Benz, and a Camry in the garage on lifts. I walked back in and asked the guy why he turned my business down if he has two foreign cars in the garage. He said they were in for just a basic maintainence. By the looks of it, the Benz was getting a full brake job, and I'm not sure about the Toyota. My question is : Why does it seem that you almost have to go to an "import specialist" if you want any kind of work done on a foreign car? Are imports and domestics really THAT different? Granted, the 240 is the first car I have actually WORKED on and I have never had experience working on a domestic car before. But then again, this is Indiana where nearly every other car on the road is either a 5.0 or an F-body and I can understand if there is a lack of knowledge when it comes to RWD I4's. btw : I've decided to save the money and install the clutch with the help of a friend who has experience.

08-02-2003, 08:50 PM	#2
KiDyNomiTe Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Chicago Age: 38 Posts: 6,296 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: KiDyNomiTe Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I don't see why they can't install a stinking clutch. I never thought you would have problems with that. Afterall its a car with a tranny, can't be that different. __________________ PROCEED Grip Gambler

08-02-2003, 08:58 PM	#3
Bbandit Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Texas and now Jakarta Age: 43 Posts: 2,674 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Bbandit Feedback Score: 0 reviews	screw them do it yourself get a friend or two to help you out not really hard... but it will consume a lot of times hell if i live near you, i'll help __________________ ==>>TGL GARAGE<<==.. RIP! S13 coupe KA-T @ 0.5 Bar = SOLD! A31 Cefiro + SR = Current

08-03-2003, 01:55 AM	#5
S14TiNMAN Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: san francisco bay area Age: 39 Posts: 240 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	do it yourself. save big bucks! __________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ RIP JAM 31902 K.I.S. [keepin' it sideways] 95'SE 91' BASE--->NEW PROJECT

08-03-2003, 01:35 PM	#8
misnomer Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 2,293 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Meh, they likely have enough domestics to fill the garages with. It is the businesses choice what they work on (whether it's good business for them or not is their decision). So suck it up and bust out your tools :P __________________ Rowsdower saves us and saves all the world!

08-03-2003, 01:40 AM	#4
thx247 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: bay area Posts: 1,455 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	its because the domestic shops dont have tools in metric

08-03-2003, 01:56 PM	#9
weirdstyles.net This guy... Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South Jersey Age: 41 Posts: 889 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: weirdstyles.net Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Iv'e gotten that all over the place. Theres a place around my way Kaspers Korner, 7 second stang, 9 sec Mark VIII and what have you... their fast **. Their only suggestion to me was low profile rims and nitrious. My plan, by the time I am thrity, to know everything about cars. Including body work, paint, mechanics, electronics and shizzle so I only have to hand my keys over for alignments, a/c evap. recov. recharge and other bs that requires overly exspensive tools. Other than that I wanna do it all on my lonesome.. __________________ My project car... From dust you were born, And to the ashes you return ~ Kill Switch Engage Family Guy Quagmire: Hey, how old are you sweet thang? Connie: 16. Quagmire: 18? Alllll-right! Connie: Mommmm! Quagmire:** I like where this is going, Giggidy giggidy gig-gi-dy!

08-03-2003, 06:59 PM	#10
Downfall Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Florida Age: 39 Posts: 8 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I work at a dealership. Free labor and all the tools you need. I dont make a lot of money their due to the fact im only 18 and mostly just change oil but ive saved tons of money on stuff i would have had to pay for. Plus ive got access to OBDII scanners when my CEL comes on.