3S Service Centre guaging interest in the Roadster community

[aaronjb]

After visiting (and working with) 3S on Monday, and talking with the club committee I think it's time for an announcement.

A little background, first
3S Service Centre have been specialists with the 3S-GTE and the Mk2 MR2 for around a year now, and have been (to date) getting all their business through word of mouth and via the IMOC forums. It's a business that was set up to serve the MR2 community, rather than specifically to make people rich.

I went down to their workshop in Hook on Monday with a view to doing some part-time work with them. While I was there working with Jason, he and I got talking about moving them into the Roadster market.

If you want to know more about 3S, I'd recommend doing a search over on the IMOC boards – there have been several threads just recently from satisfied customers, for starters, and it goes without saying that I wouldn't work with people who's abilities I wasn't confident of (not to mention their  integrity).


Now, the actual reason for my post
What we want to know is what you, the owners, would be looking for - indeed, to find out if there is even a market, since the Roadster is still a relatively young car.

To give you a few ideas of what we're thinking of offering (should there be a market for it):

• General servicing (to the service schedule), obviously at a lower price than Toyota.
• Fixed (labour) price pre-CAT gutting.
• Through 3S's manufacturing links we will be able to offer a range of custom exhausts in a similar vein to H&S (lighter than stock, better sounding, choice of tips, full stainless etc) and at a good price.
• Also, custom manufactured cold air intakes similar to the PPE but at a considerably nicer price.

And here's something really interesting  s;) s;)
James already has a good business relationship with the guys at C2 Power over in Hungary, and will be talking to them with a view to bringing over their turbo kit and offering fitting & tuning services (final tuning would actually be handled by Millway, or your choice of tuner).

We also talked about offering a custom Water/Air chargecooler kit, similar to the ST205 based system that's popular on the Mk2, subject to development.

Naturally, there's also other general work such as fitting any parts you've bought yourself, and custom work to your specifications.

Their prices are competitive, and if there seems to be an interest here, we'll be working together to put together a set price plan at least for the standard service schedule and pre-CAT gutting.


And of course, if the business is there, we'll look to support the ROC as a club any way we can.


So.. questions, comments, suggestions, should I go away now, did you get bored and fall asleep after the second paragraph?  s;) s;)

[philster_d]

Had the MK2 serviced with them a few times. They were OK, good prices.

Maybe better now its a full time venture and not just evenings and weekends.

Philster

[Anonymous]

I assume they're down south...    s:roll: :roll: s:roll:


nothing ever happens up here in the north   s:cry: :cry: s:cry:  


  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:wink: :wink: s:wink:    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

[kanujunkie]

think the big Q will be how much for a fully tuned C2 stage 2 turbo kit?

[kanujunkie]

i'd personally like a price on a bought and fitted RPS clutch and some form of lightened flywheel as a package

[aaronjb]

I assume they're down south...    s:roll: :roll: s:roll:

 s:lol: :lol: s:lol:  Yep, they are near Hook, Hampshire (just off the M3 by J5). I'll let James know you want him to move to Sheffield, though  s;) s;)   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

think the big Q will be how much for a fully tuned C2 stage 2 turbo kit?

Agreed - James is due to be speaking to C2, so hopefully we can put a price together on that one soon (is that the sound of your credit card screaming I hear, Stu?  s;) s;) )

i'd personally like a price on a bought and fitted RPS clutch and some form of lightened flywheel as a package

Good one - I hadn't thought of clutch & fly packages, I'll add that one to the list of things to come up with a price on  s:) s:)

Not a huge amount of interest in this thread so far, though  s:( s:(  Perhaps I waffled on too much for people to be bothered to read?  s;) s;)   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

[kanujunkie]

is a bit of a surprise, but then again it is a bank holiday week, really hot, so me thinks people may be in the garden or have gone away

[spit]

I'm wondering if there's sufficient interest to add rolling chassis stuff to the list, like AEM springs & dampers fitting and setup? And some might go for a chip'n'tune package rather than turbo?

While I'm at it, demand for 2zz install might start to pick up in the near future.

Like James though, I'm too far north to take advantage of 3S's services  s:cry: :cry: s:cry:  We'll have to form a splinter group  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

(Aaoron, shouldn't you be working on a presentation  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  ?)

[edward.carter]

Same here all sounds pretty good, but bit of a drive for me, would be interested on seeing the price list you come up with though  s:) s:)

[kanujunkie]

Same here all sounds pretty good, but bit of a drive for me, would be interested on seeing the price list you come up with though  s:) s:)

if you were closer though Ed, what bits would you be looking at?, we need idea's here so that a price list can be created

[edward.carter]

definately liking the sound of the precat gutting (coz ive c**ked mine up!) lighter cheaper custom exhaust, induction kit, and just out of interest, all in price for turbo although dont think my insurance be too keen on that just yet!

[roger]

TBH having somebody around who would do anything out of the ordinary (or in the ordinary, come to that) would IMO be great for the club members.

It might be very difficult for many to do a wish list at present, because most of these things just happen when we get the urge, but if 3S can produce a menu of costs and have it posted, it is bound to make us pro-active in getting something done. It would also be nice where possible to have labour only and also supply and fit.

The item at the top of my list is fitting Goodridge brake hoses, mine have been with Markiii for some time now, and I have a feeling he is not too keen on fitting - which definitely puts me off big-time doing it myself   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  

to start the list just think of all the mods that members have carried out, engine, body, suspension, braking, ICE, electrical, the detail could go on for ever   s:D s:D

[edward.carter]

I will 2nd that if i see some good prices go up i usually find it hard to resist!   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

[kanujunkie]

fair point Roger, i expect Aaron will be haveing a word and we'll see what we get, they wont do ICE though, i saw it was in your list, you'll need to go to a specialist for that

[Anonymous]

The idea of cheaper fitting for suspension springs and other work appeals to me, the a massive drive down to hampshire doesn't.

The c2power kit sales sounds great though   s8) s8)

[Anonymous]

You know what I'd like?  The simplest thing of them all: someone who knows what the best wheel alignment is for the roadster.

I definatelly like the idea of a specialist garage.  I would be loyal to them (especially since the '2 is now three years old) as long as they learn the car as well as the dealers (which shouldn't be hard).

[Anonymous]

just to dig up an earlier comment, if the pre-cat gutting was reasonably priced i'd even consider driving down there for that...  s:) s:)  

I know it may not be that difficult, technically, but it's still not something i'd feel confident about doing myself. s:oops: :oops: s:oops:  (partly due to lack of tools!!   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:  )

[Anonymous]

Any news on this subject aaron?

[philster_d]

Make sure you know the condition of your car I had minor damage appear there and they said we didnt do it *shrug*

If they were to offer Gas' turbo conversion (they might be) I am not confident I would take her to them.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you know the condition of your car I had minor damage appear there and they said we didnt do it *shrug*

If they were to offer Gas' turbo conversion (they might be) I am not confident I would take her to them.

Firstly, hello all, nice to be here   s:D s:D  

Now aaron is working well to begin something specialist for us all and is to be commended, as he says search the imoc forum and you wil find a impeccable history of our work, unfortunately i need to step in here and make things perfectly clear about the above outrageous comments by phil as aaron knows nothing on it.

More than lies what i really disslike in a individual is stupidity and ungratefullness.

Phil bear in mind these points and perhaps reconsider your damaging untrue comments.

1) the minor damage you refer to is i believe a scratch on one alloy, you are the only person to believe this took place while the car was in our posession and is not confirmed either way,and is slanderous to so say it was. There was no such "shrug" infact a very grown up conversation.
2) we travelled to your house and continued with work as you required the car for your work (as a favour)
3) we delivered your car to your hourse at your request
4) there was approximately 10 hours  work carried out on your car that was not invoiced.
5) there was work carried out on your car, parts replaced, and small works done that were again not charged for.

All of the above you seem to have forgotten since happilly and willingly handing over money, it is therefor very odd and bang slap out of order that your make damming comments about things which are not fact.

It is common knowledge to over 100 of our previous mr2 customers that we bend over backwards to help. Its unfortunate one unreasonable individual is able to wrongly influence others.


Sorry to the rest to have to enter conversation under these terms, i had no intention and was happy with aarons progress.

James
3S service centre

[alancdavis]

I am interested in a twin pipe exuast that sounds nice but not like a boy racers Nova,at the right price that will warranrt the long drive.  s8) s8)

[Anonymous]

 s:D s:D  hello Alan, we are putting together a list, and the exhaust is right at the top   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  bear with us for the pricing and pics as these things take a fair bit of development work.

Thanks for your patience.

James
  s:) s:)

[kanujunkie]

James,

at this point in things, i was just wondering if there is anything we can do for you to get things proceding??

Stu

[Anonymous]

Hello   s:) s:)  

Yes sir! in the development process of making exhausts etc, its quicker and easier if we have the originals to work with, so if there is anyone here with original parts that are collecting dust, why not send them over to us. and we will offer a nice disscount to those persons when the new products are on offer, and of course the originals will be returned.

Thanks once again for your encouragement.

Regards
James

[kanujunkie]

whats your address??