Review: Sterling Hot Rods

Place dialed in my Holly double pumper. Burned some 420 out back with an old dude meanstwile. A+++

Dissapointed with electrical work. Did not use heat shrink or weatherpac connectors. One of mechanics was a kid out barely of high school. Pricing scheme is to say they charge $95hr, but it's $65hr. It should be alot less when no one is a certified mechanic and they pay min. wage to HS kids. Paying $65hr should reflect a certified mechanic. I looked it up and they are NOT a certified VA auto repair shop.

Sterling has worked on two of my cars and I've had good luck with all of their work. They helped finish my '65 Mustang...wiring, suspension, and tune...runs great, stops great, looks great.

Their labor is not guaranteed. If they mess up you pay again to get it right. This shop messed up on some basic stuff. Lower labor rates, but they take twice the time. If they order the wrong parts, you will pay for the return shipping.

Found out the hard and expensive way that sterling hot rods does not back op their labor. If they screw up, the customer pays for the second and third attemps etc. Didn't correctly torque lug nuts, messed up on simple rear break drum job and more.

Tom and his crew did a wonderful job upgrading and improving my street rod. Their quality of work is second to none. All of the guys are very knowledgeable in all that they do. They take their time and do it right. Tom, the owner of Sterling Hot Rods took a final test drive to make sure everything was operating as it should.

The shop was well run and neat and clean so I felt confident that my ride was going to be in good hands. I have some more modifications I want done in the near future and I will be taking her back to Sterling Hot Rods for all my repairs and modifications.

Poor quality work and this place does not warrenty their work! Most of the cars in the place belong to the OWNER. Had to take car back due to poor work several times. Also forgot to torque down 3 lug nuts and tire almost came loose.

PS. The shop was NOT clean. Obviously the review written by "Steve" is most likely the owner.

Very, very expensive.

yep

it was wrote:

yep

No detailed extimate equals no deal! When you are told that the owner has to consult with his profit-sharing employees that is a red flag. I see that this place posts frequently on Craigslist.

Question is where to go?

They have done quite a bit of work on our truck over the last 2 years. The pricing has never gone over estimate. The staff has always been very courteous, knowledgable, and never tries to sell us on unnecessary work. They understand we have a budget and find the best fix to stay within it. The only time we had a problem, it was a faulty part. Tom towed our truck back and ate the cost of the part ($500+) to get us back out to the car shows quickly.

If they order a wrong part, you pay for the return shipping that is if they don't try installing them which then causes you to eat the part cost as well. No warranty or guarantee on labor. Mechanics do get a percentage of the labor in addition to an hourly rate so have a vested interest if a big labor bill. Took a look at their paint place and looks like they do fleet work. Had a job done which took them 50 hours ($2,500) and later two other repair shops told me that they would have only needed 10-13 hours ($1,066) respectively for the same job.

I was ripped-off badly. May they live with stinging scorpions after what they did.

These guys are breaking the law and can be sued. Law mandates that if one requests a written estimate, it must be given and must be detailed.
People...start filing complaints and if you have a good case, hire a private lawyer to work on contigency.
http://www.vlas.org/documents/508731Getting%2...
http://law.justia.com/codes/virginia/2006/toc...
http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/consumers/

What this area needs is a shop that:
1) Honest and accountable
2) Gives a detailed, written estimate including a start/stop date prior to the commensement of any work.
3) If any work exceeds 10% or 20% of the estimate, no work continues without a written OK from the owner and justification from the shop.
4) Has a clean and organized shop
5) Warrentee of parts AND labor
6) A shop that doesn't decorate its workspace with the owner's cars.

Check out All American Street Rods in Manassas, Va.

TommyBoy wrote:

<quoted text>
No detailed extimate equals no deal! When you are told that the owner has to consult with his profit-sharing employees that is a red flag. I see that this place posts frequently on Craigslist.
Question is where to go?