Quoting mikus:
They're a solid, well-reputed shop and charge a competitive rate for their level of skill & quality. Most DSM owners frankly either 1) can't afford it or 2) want their leaky, poorly-maintained ride to get the ubertune.
This regurgitated butthurt sentiment is old. You want their attention? You want them to grill you a burger? Then your auto demographic needs to do enough business to merit it. If 100 random DSM kids parked their leaky shitbox in my driveway I'm not going to cook them a goddamn thing unless they make it worth my while, and neither would you. The few who are spending real money found good homes with other good, competitive shops, that's business.
This doesn't matter to VR4 owners anyway right? Don't you guys invoke the riot act if someone calls your car a DSM, now they're your community? Except for Mark.. and he's not on the board ever since he got hella rich and made that video with T-Pain on his yacht
/rant
Lol you mad bro?? Sounds like you're mad? Look I'm sorry if my statement offended you, as it clearly has. I'm not sure about you, but I have spent my fair share of cash at AMS under the impression they were "A solid, well-reputed shop and charge a competitive rate for their level of skill & quality." So I'm not spewing anything, just speaking from experience. And because I have actually spent money there, dealt with their customer service, and have seen first had how their work has turned out, I can say whatever I want about them. Small events like having meets and BBQ's at their shop alluded to a time where AMS welcomed all the "Kids in leaky shitboxes" because that's where they started doing business, working on said shitboxes and building a strong customer base there. So even though it seems to you that "spending real money" is some kind of qualification to the level of service one should receive at a shop or any established business for that matter, the rest of us who live in the real world know that's BS, and doesn't count for anything. However, if by spending "real money" you mean dropping 30K on your EVO in an attempt to make it just like AMS's shop car then yes, you are absolutely right that a job worth 30K to AMS will get the extra attention it needs to be done perfectly. And If it doesn't get done perfectly, you better believe AMS will be kissing ass and making sure that 30K investor sticks around for another 30K investment in the future. That's not called business, that's called sh*t customer service. Because if you are the little guy spending 4k for you motor rebuild, (because you heard AMS is so awesome and they do perfect work and they are expensive because they are so awesome and they have this super fast shop EVO and my friend said they are awesome and Bill got a sweet turbo from them and I LOVE AMS *takes a breath*!!!) good luck with getting the attention you need or the customer service you deserve as a paying customer, because I'm saying from experience it won't be there. I believe 4K IS "real money" to most members here and probably to you as well, but again, I don't think the money you spend somewhere should determine how equally you are treated as a paying customer. Here's my auto demographic for you: I drive an automobile...like 99.99% of the rest of the people here. How does anything but that merit how much business, or the quality of work a shop should do with its customers?
VR4s, DSMs, EVOs, they are all the same to me. They are cars, plain and simple. I have better things to waste my time with than bitching at someone for mislabeling any of the for-mentioned vehicles. And seeing as I own both a 1G DSM and a VR4, I could really care less about the differences. The OP asked about reputable shops in the area and this is my 2 cents from experience. And although I wouldn't ever argue that AMS is indeed reputable, I do think there are much better shops in the area. So if you have something positive to say about AMS from some experience or dealings with them to counter what I have said , feel free to add it here, otherwise quit defending them because I doubt anyone cares how much you love AMS or hate those who don't.
/FACTS