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Old 03-14-2001, 01:24 PM   #1
eastbaysubaru
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Member#: 4110
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: No. So. Co.
Vehicle:
04 FXT
PSM

Question Bay Area Tuners?

Since I will be moving back to the bay in August, I was wondering if there are any good Sube tuners around. I've been in Colorado for the past 4 1/2 years and haven't bothered checking the scene in the bay.

-Brian
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Old 03-14-2001, 02:48 PM   #2
eastbaysubaru
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Member#: 4110
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: BAIC
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04 FXT
PSM

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I guess this means that there are no GOOD tuners in the Bay Area????

-Brian
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Old 03-14-2001, 04:42 PM   #3
anerd
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Location: Rohnert Park, CA
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Blue

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Well I can't help you with good sube tuners per say, but I can tell you I have found some great places for stock work and minor aftermarket work (mechanics). And warn you about 2 places you should never allow to work on any car.
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Old 03-14-2001, 04:49 PM   #4
eastbaysubaru
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PSM

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Please divuldge any info you have. I will be interested in anything that anyone has to offer, especially places to avoid.

-Brian
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Old 03-14-2001, 05:08 PM   #5
Reciprocity
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Thumbs up

I've had great experience with Griffin in Berkeley. There is one guy there, James, that really knows his Subaru stuff. I know he did some real nice suspension work on someones RS (a non-IClub dude). Not only did he install it but he did some structural reinforcement to the car as well.

One thing though, they are a small operation and seem to take on a bit more than they can chew...in other words, they are not exactly fast.

I have their number though. Good people.

D. Neil Crawford
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Old 03-14-2001, 05:09 PM   #6
Matt Monson
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Location: Teh Ghetto Garage, CO
Vehicle:
99 2.5RS, '85 911
'73 914 and 2012 BRZ

Post

I can name a couple of shops for you. BOZZ in Livermore is the only genuine speed shop that comes to mind for Subbies. There are a couple of good shops in Berkeley as well. They are Auto Options and Griffen, about 2 doors apart on San Pablo near Gilman. I have gone to Auto Options for years for all my suspension,brake and wheel/tire needs. They also did 2 AWD tranny replacements on my Civic. It all depends on what kind of work you want. If we're talking headwork, I can't help you. Also, there are a lot of install fests around here in the summer where i-clubber kick in and help each other.
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Old 03-14-2001, 06:46 PM   #7
bluesaint
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Livermore???????? Thought Bozz is in Fremont and I could've swore i was there today.
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Old 03-15-2001, 12:11 AM   #8
wackit
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Hehe Hey Neil the car was mine & I am a member . Anyway's I would recommend Griffin Motorwerke for anyone with an import car no matter what U need done they can do it and then some! Check out my car on the member list in California in Berkeley. I have got to many mods to go into all the work they have done but belive me I spent almost 5 months looking for a shop to work on my car and it was a stroke of luck that I found James @ Griffin Motorwerke my Subaru has never been happier same with my Honda & Volkswagon it is by far the best shop I have found in the Bay Area for what ever type of import U own.

Griffin Motorwerke
1485 San Pablo Ave
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510)524-7447
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Old 03-15-2001, 08:59 AM   #9
bgsntth
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I too would recommend Griffin and James. But stay away from Auto Options. They installed a roll bar on my Miata, but only put one bolt each on the down tubes. It is suppossed to have 3 bolts on each tube. They didn't think I would check-bastards! I was so stunned at this display of irresponsibility that I could barely talk. I just grunted a lot through twitching lips and pointed to the tubes. It was all I could do not to take out the sleazy tech who "worked" on the car.
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Old 03-15-2001, 09:18 AM   #10
eastbaysubaru
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Join Date: Feb 2001
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Location: No. So. Co.
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PSM

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Thanks for all the info. I will definitely check out Griffin the next time I have a chance. I look forward to getting together with everyone once I move back out. The install-fests sound like a lot of fun. I will have three Subbies that will need a lot of work once I get back to the Bay and get a better job.

Me: 93 legacy turbo wagon, WRX (soon)
Girlfriend: '00 RS

-Brian

The reason I asked in the first place is because here in Colorado, I have seen quite a few turbo'd RS's and they have easily been some of the fastest, well-handling cars I have ever ridden in/drove. JC Sports does the majority of these here and they have a lot of knowledge of the Subaru world, especially turbocharging.
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Old 03-15-2001, 11:00 AM   #11
anerd
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2001 2.5 RS Sedan
Blue

Post

(Long post)
The good;

Ace Auto Repair & Tire Ctr (San Ramon) - One of the best. Several people from work thanked me for recommending them. They installed struts on my saturn and did a very good alignment job with print out (I asked for a print out). Very honest and straight forward. 8 people from work highly recommend them for brakes, wheels, tires, suspension work. They are mod friendly, but are not real tuners. Theydo not have the best part prices, but don't care where the parts come from. They only warranty the parts they sell you. I see a lot of very expensive cars/suvs being worked on there (a mercedez S500 owner recommended them to me).

Combs & Dodson Automotive (pleasanton) - they fixed my crappy, POS, mustang, that was incorrectly moded (engine). It ran perfectly afterwards, and the guy was not satified with the work, he wanted to finish tuning it! They are not fond of aftermarket engine add-ons, but they will work with them. Ok pricing.

Minute Muffler Svc (dublin) - Installed my borla turbo muffler in my saturn, plus made a 2.25" crush bent pipe with resonator. very honest, no surprises. Total cost was like $150 (muffler I bought seperately). No good price comparison, but well worth it for me.

Golden Gate Transmissions Inc (pleasanton)- Again an honest mechinc shop. Fixed my mustang's rear main seal the first time. Definately the place to go for stock tranny/clucth work. They also had good things to say about the Tranny place next to Minute Muffler. Good pricing. Fixed part of my exhaust that was messing with the tranny crosmember for $40, cause by the #@$%$# muffler shop below.


Seever and Sons (pleasanton) - Ok. Near to Modacar (modacrap). Resonable prices. Nice people. Nothing special (good or bad). They were a 5 minute walk from my apartment.


The Bad -

Gary's Auto Electric (pleasanton) - Rip off. He didn't like me coming around. Always looked angry. Didn't seem to care if I had to wait a long time. Charge a lot of money for the work. Took a long time because he thought I didn't need the car fixed right away.

Pleasanton Muffler-Sport Truck (pleasanton) - Very good con artist. Charged me $1500 for a $800 dolar exhaust job on my mustang, and screwed it up. Mechanic at Minute muffler knows him, nothing good. Main mechanic at Griggs Racing also knows him, again both agree, stay away from this place. Both wish someone would sue this guy.

Modacar (modacrap) (pleasanton) - May have good prices. Do not listen to them. Went to a recent Honda meet (my cousin invited me), no one had anything good to say about them (56 people showed up). The consesus on the honda boards is buy from them if a good price, otherwise do not touch.

[This message has been edited by anerd (edited March 15, 2001).]
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