[P-51]

Wow, I honestly didn't expect that type of response. Basically, you confirmed what I felt. They just *design* a part, not engineer it, and figure out how to make it at a cost that 90% of the people in this market will accept.

I agree, that's what most of the companies do.

But, you asked why we don't buy FC stuff... well, that's *my* reason, as well as a number of others.

You'll notice I don't have any parts from Steeda, FS, FC, etc. on my car. I really don't have that many mods at all. Just a few key ones. TCE, Pectel, Aerocharger, Quaife, Bilstein, Autopower, Autometer, Motec, Borla. Yeah, I'm in the minority.

I don't buy "Boutique" parts. You asked for my opinion, that's it.

I don't think it's fair to say that proper engineering on a part will increase it's cost however. Really, how much would it cost to have a quick look at the throttle cam on the TB, and make it into a snail instead of a half-moon? 10lbs of E70S2 filler rod costs $20, compared to $2 for some junk filler. How much would it cost to use a better filler rod? Say you use 1 lb per header, that's $2 extra.

How much have they spent on warranty repairs?

That's really my main point. I think the cost of NOT engineering parts is WAY higher than the cost of doing it right.

I think this is the difference between FC and FS. Sure, both make parts that are equally ineffective. The FS STB is pretty useless. But at least they made it to a high quality. They also managed their shipping department BEFORE it got a bad reputation. Not after.

FC seems to crank things out, and only respond AFTER there is a significant problem. That is what is causing their lack of reputation compared to other boutique shops. Just as you know with Fords, recalls are a PITA, customers don't like them. Nobody likes to go to the shop, nobody wants to have to take defective parts off and replace them.

Speaking of reputation... the hood thing... I can kind of understand their position. Mind you, I would never handle it the way they did... not when it was on a public forum.... But the way he handled it at the end, basically telling all his customers "blow me" "I don't need you"... that kind of attitude, he would have been better off to say *nothing*.

Being unresponsive is one thing. Being unresponsive and INSULTING your customers is suicide.

The control arm issue is in a whole other league...

Not making a good header is one thing. Selling control arms that are not designed right is absolute lunacy. Killing your customers is NOT cool. This, more than anything, is what leads me to this... active attack on a company. He should be out of business. In my opinion.

That's just the way I am. If you can't do it right, don't do it at all. And those arms are so, so wrong.

I don't think they're a good deal either.

$300.

They don't weigh any less than stock.

They're weaker than stock.

They fracture, instead of bend.

Why are they on the market? There is no reason for their existence.

You don't see FS making parts like this. Nobody else is. Again, that's particular to FC. If they would make a part that is not only ineffective, but could actually KILL you... why would any customer feel comfortable buying anything from them?

Again leads into their reputation.

And you can't compare FC to Ford. Yeah, the Focus had a couple recalls. How many parts are on the car? 10,000? If FC built the Focus, you'd expect 20,000 recalls, not 10.

Nobody who races has broken a Ford arm, that I am aware of. They bend when you HIT something, but they don't even break. I hope you can see the difference there. Gary did not hit a wall, he hit curbing. Curbing that 100's of people with Ford arms drive over all the time.

Why is FC still selling them? Why didn't they recall them, or at least take them off the market? Why?

Because they don't care about their customers. Anything to make a buck. He's got 12 more to sell, better move them!

I throw out about 5% of my shims, because I didnt' cut them right. Pretty simple part, not much to it, the defects wouldn't affect function at all. They just didn't stand up to my high standards.

Why doesn't FC throw out those arms becuase they could KILL their customers?

5x as much to build better arms? No, I don't think so. Griggs light duty arms, similar in design, but with much more attention to detail (selection of material, processes):

$440

Then they have heavy duty arms for racing, $700:

<a href='http://www.griggsracing.com/ART/MFA4000x.jpg'>

How many parts has FS even had to recall?

Just a bunch of random thoughts here.