Rear-ended

[bngl3rt]

I have some good news and some bad news, both relating to Bay Area NSX shops.

Bad news first: I honestly would caution anyone to stay away from Hilltop Auto. I know they are much beloved on this forum, but the deeper I get into my car, the more little things I have noticed that seem to have been careless oversight on their part. For example, after my tb/wp/hose job, a hose clamp in the tunnel was about 1" out of place, causing a coolant leak (this is documented in another thread). After my recent head gasket job, all the freon is gone and my a/c doesn't work anymore, the gasket for the shifter cables running into the tunnel is torn from dropping the transmission, and my brand new oil pan gasket is crushed to hell and leaking again. Combine all this with unreliable communication and a brusque bedside manner and I'm starting to question why I have given them over 8000 of my dollars in the past few months since I got my car.

Good news now: there is a wealth of other options. From personal experience, Jim Russell at Cologne Auto Body and John and Justin at Acura Sunnyvale. They will take the time to actually take good care of your car and stand behind their work. Plus, they don't talk down to you like you're an idiot, nor does it feel like they're trying to get you off the phone as quickly as possible. I have also heard from Jim that Wilson at Acura Fremont is good but have not tried him yet.

While my car is at Cologne for body work I am having Jim do some other fixes (mostly stuff that Hilltop broke) and the experience of dealing with them so far has been exceedingly positive.

I am typically very reluctant to call anyone out on the internet because I know these posts are permanent for better or worse. But I will no longer take my car to a shop that breaks as many things as it fixes every time, now that I have seen the light. In retrospect I should have turned around and driven away from Hilltop when I first got out of the car there and Don said, "You're too young." Granted that is the same attitude I got from flight attendants on Delta in first class, but guess what - I don't fly Delta anymore.

Anyway, pictures are coming soon...

 

[02#154]

I have some good news and some bad news, both relating to Bay Area NSX shops.

Bad news first: I honestly would caution anyone to stay away from Hilltop Auto. I know they are much beloved on this forum, but the deeper I get into my car, the more little things I have noticed that seem to have been careless oversight on their part. For example, after my tb/wp/hose job, a hose clamp in the tunnel was about 1" out of place, causing a coolant leak (this is documented in another thread). After my recent head gasket job, all the freon is gone and my a/c doesn't work anymore, the gasket for the shifter cables running into the tunnel is torn from dropping the transmission, and my brand new oil pan gasket is crushed to hell and leaking again. Combine all this with unreliable communication and a brusque bedside manner and I'm starting to question why I have given them over 8000 of my dollars in the past few months since I got my car.

Good news now: there is a wealth of other options. From personal experience, Jim Russell at Cologne Auto Body and John and Justin at Acura Sunnyvale. They will take the time to actually take good care of your car and stand behind their work. Plus, they don't talk down to you like you're an idiot, nor does it feel like they're trying to get you off the phone as quickly as possible. I have also heard from Jim that Wilson at Acura Fremont is good but have not tried him yet.

While my car is at Cologne for body work I am having Jim do some other fixes (mostly stuff that Hilltop broke) and the experience of dealing with them so far has been exceedingly positive.

I am typically very reluctant to call anyone out on the internet because I know these posts are permanent for better or worse. But I will no longer take my car to a shop that breaks as many things as it fixes every time, now that I have seen the light. In retrospect I should have turned around and driven away from Hilltop when I first got out of the car there and Don said, "You're too young." Granted that is the same attitude I got from flight attendants on Delta in first class, but guess what - I don't fly Delta anymore.

Anyway, pictures are coming soon...

There is a handful of owners who realized this already and, like you, have decided to go to other trusted specialists. It's a shame because Hilltop used to be one of the premier locations to bring an NSX in the bay area.

J

 

[bngl3rt]

That is too bad. We should stop recommending them to new owners...

 

[Coconut]

It is strange. Prime members have always recommended going to Don and I've read nothing but good things about him, up until a few weeks ago. I gave him a call recently asking about a few services and some general questions. He was very rushed in his responses and he was quite rude. After hearing how he overlooked a few things on bngl3rt's car I would not be comfortable leaving my car with Don.

On the plus side I contacted Jim and he was VERY helpful in answering my questions. I think I'll be sending my car to him for all the preventive maintenance. I think I'll be sending my car to Shad to Dynotune my CTSC. Shad seems super busy though as it's hard to reach him on the phone and through email.

 

[02#154]

In my experience, I've found that if it's hard to reach Shad it turns out he's been busy with a race team at an event. Last weekend he was at the track supporting a team and I'm sure the week(s) leading up to then he was busy prepping the car in one way or another.

I consider this him expanding his already broad knowledge base. :smile: All the more reason for me to take my simple low-boost car to him.

J

 

[Keahistight]

I deal exclusively with Shad. Well, he is also close to me living in Sacramento so its a no-brainer ... Anyway, I went declared value on my insurance which will avoid all of these problems in diminished value. Has anyone else done that?

 

[SFNSXguy]

Re: Hill Top Auto Service... not my experience for many, many years... much more than a decade. Generally 100% happy (nobody's perfect).
Just sayin'.

 

[bngl3rt]

Re: Hill Top Auto Service... not my experience for many, many years... much more than a decade. Generally 100% happy (nobody's perfect).
Just sayin'.

I get the impression that there are two classes of customers at Hilltop. Perhaps because you've had the NSX for a long time you are in the good class. I feel like because Don thinks I'm too young, or because he's annoyed by how many problems my car has (like I'm not), I'm in the bad class.

 

[02#154]

I get the impression that there are two classes of customers at Hilltop. Perhaps because you've had the NSX for a long time you are in the good class. I feel like because Don thinks I'm too young, or because he's annoyed by how many problems my car has (like I'm not), I'm in the bad class.

The owners I know who no longer go there were loyal customers since before they got their NSXs, well over ten years ago. They brought their special cars as well as their daily cars. I'm sure he has the expertise still, but it appears that mistakes are occurring more often, customer service is diminishing.

J

 

[SFNSXguy]

The owners I know who no longer go there..

Their loss IMHO.

 

[Dhalsim]

Their loss IMHO.

ummmm......actually it's Don at Hilltop's loss..........loss of business that is

 

[liftnot]

... Anyway, I went declared value on my insurance which will avoid all of these problems in diminished value. Has anyone else done that?

plz explain what declared value is and how it suppose to work.

 

[SFNSXguy]

ummmm......actually it's Don at Hilltop's loss..........loss of business that is

Don't think he needs/wants customers like that... I wouldn't. Life's too short.

 

[Dhalsim]

Don't think he needs/wants customers like that... I wouldn't. Life's too short.

WTF!? What do you mean "customers like that".

So you speak for Don at Hilltop now?

 

[SFNSXguy]

WTF!? What do you mean "customers like that".

Blame for an air-con problem after a head gasket replacement? That sounds reasonable to you?

 

[sidwac]

I have some good news and some bad news, both relating to Bay Area NSX shops.

Bad news first: I honestly would caution anyone to stay away from Hilltop Auto. I know they are much beloved on this forum, but the deeper I get into my car, the more little things I have noticed that seem to have been careless oversight on their part. For example, after my tb/wp/hose job, a hose clamp in the tunnel was about 1" out of place, causing a coolant leak (this is documented in another thread). After my recent head gasket job, all the freon is gone and my a/c doesn't work anymore, the gasket for the shifter cables running into the tunnel is torn from dropping the transmission, and my brand new oil pan gasket is crushed to hell and leaking again. Combine all this with unreliable communication and a brusque bedside manner and I'm starting to question why I have given them over 8000 of my dollars in the past few months since I got my car.

Good news now: there is a wealth of other options. From personal experience, Jim Russell at Cologne Auto Body and John and Justin at Acura Sunnyvale. They will take the time to actually take good care of your car and stand behind their work. Plus, they don't talk down to you like you're an idiot, nor does it feel like they're trying to get you off the phone as quickly as possible. I have also heard from Jim that Wilson at Acura Fremont is good but have not tried him yet.

While my car is at Cologne for body work I am having Jim do some other fixes (mostly stuff that Hilltop broke) and the experience of dealing with them so far has been exceedingly positive.

I am typically very reluctant to call anyone out on the internet because I know these posts are permanent for better or worse. But I will no longer take my car to a shop that breaks as many things as it fixes every time, now that I have seen the light. In retrospect I should have turned around and driven away from Hilltop when I first got out of the car there and Don said, "You're too young." Granted that is the same attitude I got from flight attendants on Delta in first class, but guess what - I don't fly Delta anymore.

Anyway, pictures are coming soon...

Did you talk to Don about this and, if yes, what did he say?

 

[02#154]

Quoted to indicate this off topic discussion...

The owners I know who no longer go there were loyal customers since before they got their NSXs, well over ten years ago. They brought their special cars as well as their daily cars. I'm sure he has the expertise still, but it appears that mistakes are occurring more often, customer service is diminishing.

J

Their loss IMHO.

You are welcome to your opinion, and I take no issue with it

ummmm......actually it's Don at Hilltop's loss..........loss of business that is

This is a statement of fact, as they no longer bring any of their cars there for service

Don't think he needs/wants customers like that... I wouldn't. Life's too short.

You are saying that you don't think Don wants customers who bring all of their cars there for all service, daily drivers as well as their special cars like the NSX? That he doesn't want customers who gave glowing reviews and referred many to him, myself included?

Sfnsxguy, I'm not here to argue with anyone. I just want to understand what it is you are really saying.

J

Edit: you later refer to the customer (OP) who stated his dissatisfaction with his experience with Don and his suspicion that his current issues might be related, which is not what this side conversation was referring to.

 

[bngl3rt]

Did you talk to Don about this and, if yes, what did he say?

I did but didn't feel like I got a straight answer. Poor communication is one reason for my dissatisfaction with Hilltop.

Blame for an air-con problem after a head gasket replacement? That sounds reasonable to you?

If it was working before, and stopped working after...

I called Driving Ambition and they confirmed that it is possible to vent the freon from the a/c system during an engine removal. They also stated that they learned this the hard way by having it happen ONCE but have taken care never to let it happen again.

 

[bngl3rt]

Well, the paperwork is done, i's are dotted, t's are crossed, so I think it's probably okay at this point to share some pictures.

Here is the VIN for any future owner's reference: JH4NA1181TT000359

Scene of the accident. Savvy locals will recognize the merge from Hwy 9 W onto Hwy 35 N... that's right, folks, I got rear-ended while sitting still pointing uphill.

The long, sloping nose of the S2000 wedged itself between my exhaust and my rear valence...

The other Honda what done it:

Driver side quarter panel got fucked up good:

Taillight popped out:

I have a Ferrari-sized panel gap on the left of my trunk lid now...

There was a tiny kink in the passenger side rear quarter panel too, but it's very hard to photograph.

What you can't see in these pictures is a tiny bit of damage to the left rear corner of the frame - I've been assured that the suspension cradle was not affected and that only the tiniest little bit of pulling was necessary. It turns out the exhaust system took the majority of the impact. The lower headers were bent all the way back against the rear firewall so those are definitely getting replaced. Luckily the (recently repaired!) head and motor mounts were not affected.

So, the damage right now is at about $10k for...

-Frame measure and pull
-Repair and repaint both rear quarter panels
-Repair and repaint rear bumper
-Install new CT headers
-Install new exhaust
-Install new rear valence

Supposedly my baby was 55% of the way to being written off. Scary!

The repair is under way in the capable hands of NSX master Jim Russell at Cologne Auto Body in Belmont, CA. These are the "before" pictures. Hopefully I get to share some "after" pictures with you soon.

 

[PATCHEZ]

Blame for an air-con problem after a head gasket replacement? That sounds reasonable to you?

It's sounds reasonable to me since you must remove the A/C COMPRESSOR to remove the engine. Plus Don did his coolant hoses and the center channel hose was leaking after. That right there may have cause the head gasket to blow if air was leaking into the system. That sound reasonable to you?

 

[BATMANs]

I recommend these guys and they did work on my NSX, RX7, GTO, etc.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-works-auto-body-santa-clara

I sent friends there and all of them are still my friends.

They have done multiple NSXs.

 

[bngl3rt]

I recommend these guys and they did work on my NSX, RX7, GTO, etc.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-works-auto-body-santa-clara

I sent friends there and all of them are still my friends.

They have done multiple NSXs.

As I said the car is at Cologne Auto Body.

But, good to have the other recommendations collected in this thread. Brooks Motor Cars in Oakland has come up a lot as well.

 

[nsxforums]

It's sounds reasonable to me since you must remove the A/C COMPRESSOR to remove the engine. Plus Don did his coolant hoses and the center channel hose was leaking after. That right there may have cause the head gasket to blow if air was leaking into the system. That sound reasonable to you?

In another post: This is how you introduced yourself:
PATCHEZ: Thought I'd jump on here and let you guys know me and Jim are here at Acura Authorized Service to help.Jim is the service manager and is supervising each NSX that is going into the shop.For those that have had the chance to meet me my name is Justin.Ive been on a few drives with some of you.Chip you met me when we took the drive with Ken,James and John off hwy 35 to hwy 1. I'm one of the service advisor and here.If you guys have any question please feel free to ask I know Jimdosen't really get on prime much so I will help in anyway I can.

I am an NSX owner. I am not speaking for anyone. I just don’t know why you have to bad mouth other shop with false information. It’s very unethical & unprofessional.

1. PATCHEZ (Justin), you are a service adviser at Sunnyvale Acura but you are not the NSX Technician. When you tell this to a customer, they might trust you but when you tell that to a NSX Technician, that is NOT true. As a service advisor, you should not give out wrong advice.

2. The A/C compressor doesn’t need to come out with the engine.

3. Working on the coolant & the center hoses does not require removing any a/c components.

4. Everyone does it differently but the truth is when you remove the engine, the a/c compressor doesn’t need to come out with it. It stays inside the car.

5. I have talked to a few NSX Technicians in the East & West Coast & they do have the NSX Training certificates. They said the same & they said they can proof it to you if you are willing to pay for the labor to remove the engine. Btw, I had the same job done before.

6. I believe this forum is for NSX owners to share information but it’s not for business to criticize other business with false information to gain customers or to advertise themselves. That is NOT professional. An ethical & professional business would never do that. I am sure the founder/moderator of the forum would not allow that either.

7. We are highly educated & civilized people in this forum. We need to be logical to evaluate & validate the advice, the information & the motives.

8. I hope we post fair comments & truth not our moment of emotional feeling or based on false advice. I see some folks who posted something like “I will never go back to that place again” but I ran into them getting their cars fix there. The truth speaks for itself.

 

[Dhalsim]

I am an NSX owner. I am not speaking for anyone. I just don’t know why you have to bad mouth other shop with false information. It’s very unethical & unprofessional.

1. PATCHEZ (Justin), you are a service adviser at Sunnyvale Acura but you are not the NSX Technician. When you tell this to a customer, they might trust you but when you tell that to a NSX Technician, that is NOT true. As a service advisor, you should not give out wrong advice.

2. The A/C compressor doesn’t need to come out with the engine.

3. Working on the coolant & the center hoses does not require removing any a/c components.

4. Everyone does it differently but the truth is when you remove the engine, the a/c compressor doesn’t need to come out with it. It stays inside the car.

5. I have talked to a few NSX Technicians in the East & West Coast & they do have the NSX Training certificates. They said the same & they said they can proof it to you if you are willing to pay for the labor to remove the engine. Btw, I had the same job done before.

6. I believe this forum is for NSX owners to share information but it’s not for business to criticize other business with false information to gain customers or to advertise themselves. That is NOT professional. An ethical & professional business would never do that. I am sure the founder/moderator of the forum would not allow that either.

7. We are highly educated & civilized people in this forum. We need to be logical to evaluate & validate the advice, the information & the motives.

8. I hope we post fair comments & truth not our moment of emotional feeling or based on false advice. I see some folks who posted something like “I will never go back to that place again” but I ran into them getting their cars fix there. The truth speaks for itself.

Interesting. You have been registered since 2004 and this is only your 3rd post. Who are you?

 

[bngl3rt]

I am typically very reluctant to call anyone out on the internet because I know these posts are permanent for better or worse.

Like I said...