Posted by Troy Rudolph on August 02, 1999 at 16:51:48:
In Reply to: Re: Rear Rear Stress Bar / Korman Autoworks / Top-End Performance Part 3 posted by Steve Nelson Top-End Performance on August 02, 1999 at 16:04:15:
Reported the facts available to you. I see.
Does that include asking us if we had a pending order with Korman for a brace
for your vehicle before trashing us ?
You are correct. I did not ask. I assumed that Shane and Bob were both telling me the truth. This is indeed my error. In my defense, I can only say that while they were as inefficient as I have ever seen, they did not strike me as liars. Even when I expressed my displeasure they did not react as you have.
Does that include using a public forum to conclude that neither us nor Korman
knows anything about anything ?
In short, neither Korman nor Top-End, in this particular case, know anything about anything.
Read the above sentence carefully this time. It's very strong but very narrow. I would guess it's the part you found objectionable.
Does that include researching the practical applications of mounting the brace
the way you suggested before concluding that we do not know what we are talking
about ? Or is is just that you have an opinion that you are entitled to that
does not agree with ours (Which we are entitled to. ) It was optional to ask us
to make you a rear brace and battery kit that utilized those mounting studs as
the location for the top mounts even though we do not feel it is the strongest
possible method. We could have done that on a custom basis for you.
You didn't say that it wasn't the best place. What you said was that the top of the tower wasn't a load point. Those were your exact words. But, it is certain that the top of the shock towers in the back hold up the rear of the car and thus are load points. And, there is a load differential under cornering.
Note that you did not offer your custom service. As a Sales VP once said to me, "You can't sell what you don't present."
I think you are entitled to your opinion. You'll notice I didn't argue about it with you. But, when I expressed my opinion, how did you react?
I do dearly care about my customers and their opinions and I have gleaned many
good ideas from creative and technically adept customers that have found their
way into our product line. I do not pretend to know everything but I do know we
have a very successful product line with many hundreds of satisfied customers.
How you feel about us at this point I cannot change. Just remember that you are
the one that undertook to slander us online in a public forum with out all the
facts at your disposal and you seem taken aback that we might respond with a
bit of indignation.
If you think I slandered you, I welcome a call from your attorney. But, I don't think I did and I don't think you really do either.
If the whole of the First Fives list feels the same as you then there is
nothing that I can do about that. My response was professional and not filled
with the uncalled for vehemence and rancor of your original posting. I would
not have even known that it was an issue except one of the other members
alerted me to it via e-mail stating that he felt that it should be responded
to.
I have had enough of this topic. I will post both of these responses and let
the good people of the First Fives group draw their own conclusions. I hope
most of them will be positive conclusions as I look forward to developing a
complete line of E12 upgrades and packages. It is my favorite chassis and I
will always feel it is the very best BMW that has ever been made. It is a
drivers car that can handle all the practical jobs needed from a car every day.
I too have had enough. If you'll let go, I will too.
I suspect that we have more in common than not. I love E12 cars. Other than the E36, I don't think BMW has ever made a better car.
I can see your side of the issue. I wish that you had tried to see mine. There was a complete lack of information and follow up on someone's part and an incorrect (or misspoken) statement about the structure of the car. It became impossible to know who to trust on an issue that is fairly important to me. That is what I reported.
Lastly, I have not ruled out buying from you. That's why I said "in this particular case". I would love to see a picture of the rear stress bar you are working on and may buy one when it becomes readily available. (I'm still not sure about introducing new rust points on the shock towers.) I hope that you do develop a lot of E12 upgrades so I can buy them. There seems to be a growing interest in the car and someone should profit from it. I plan to improve and drive my car until someone makes me stop.
Call me if you'd like to talk. I'd be happy to hear from you. I'm really a reasonable person and I'm sure we can patch this up. I know I'd like that. I hope you would.
Troy Rudolph