Superformance Design Problem

[larryar]

Mulv, I don't think you should sugar coat it, tell us what you really think! BTW I wholeheartedly agree with you.
Larry
PS I got my car last night! WOW

[frankym]

play nice boys, everyone here is just trying to help one another out, if some feelings come out on a more personal note, just shrug it off. A design flaw has nothing to do with the assemblers in SA, it has to do with the engineers. Similarly, if you use a cast spinner and expect it to absorb a crushing blow from a lead hammer and not break, don't shoot the foundry, shoot the guy that ordered it in the first place, wouldn't matter what country a cast spinner came from. I too understand Agro's position, when you expose something that is inherently flawed and then try to bring it to the attention of the founding fathers, only to be told that it's fine, it's a little troubling. And I think that's what Mulv is finding, and he's just a little upset, we all understand. Look, there are many poor features and inherently weak design flaws on all the manufacturers. If you spend some time under the chassis of any replica, you'll see many impressive things that are then diminished by a poor choice hardware, or spotty welding or inferior guage steel etc. Why do they do it? well, engineers fully believe, and there is lots of truth to it, that a superior design can outweigh the effects of weaker materials. Look at contemporary furniture today, they have machines that can punch out dovetail joints on a dresser drawer made of particle board and it will probably outlast the butt joined oak drawer at your grandma's. But the design is a one time thing, after you make the first 1500 units, the initial cost of the design and R&D has been fully amortized. That said, as you watch the move to cheaper parts, it's a little dishearening. On the differential support, it seems they have corrected the problem and are now making a better moustrap. I for one don't mind seeing a company make some minor changes along the way that lessen their expense and boost profits, but only so far as it doen't compromise safety and durability. I also applaud SPF for their improvements made to the brakes and shocks on the SPF cars and have no problem with a commensurate increase in the price of the roller. I have a laundry list of things that I would like the SPF to improve upon and for these things, I think most would agree that they would be willing to pay for. I won't go into it here because people tend to get a little bent out of shape. Overall, the SPF is a superbly executed replica, with a dealer network of dealers that are extremely helpful and supportive. Everyone and every thing in the world has room for improvement, so any suggestions or feedback should always be provided with the best intentions and without any unwarranted venom.

[agro1]

Originally posted by Mulv



Oh and AGRO, you are obviuosly unfamiliar with the manufacturing capabilities of SA. They are capable of very high quality products that last a long time. Heard of DeBeer's? Don't forget theywere cut off by the rest of the world and managed to keep a modern society going for years..... I guess you have the unfortunate misconception that the only people capable of making high quality products are from the northern hemisphere. One last shot - 500 horsepower is not really all that much in a light car, my previous commuter car had this much and weighed 3500 pounds. I never snapped the frame on that one either. I don't think of the frame as part of the drivelne, old chap.....

Mulv [/b]

Mulv - pull your head out of your a$$ "chap". Just about any country IS "capable" of manufacturing high quality products - most do not. Don't get me wrong, SPF's are great. However, as FRANKYM stated, there are great design features and characteristics under the skin of the SPF; but there are also many places they use "poor choice hardware, or spotty welding or inferior guage steel etc."...So, yeah they CAN make a high quality product otherwise I wouldn't have bought one - but IMO they skimp on stuff they shouldn't - like dif. mounting...Kind of an inportant component don't ya think ? Also, here in the US, we have higher standards for manufacturing and welding and use of certain quality steel componets - in SA they do not. That is why they can build a Cobra replica at the price point they do and still make money. If it were built in the US, it would cost as much as probably an ERA or a Shelby, or somewhere in between.

One more thing, remember WHY SA was cut off from the rest of the world buddy, it wasn't because they were a freedom loving nation like us here in North America...And furthermore, DeBeers mines diamonds and sends them to Israel to be cut, they don't manufacture anything smartguy. Good old Mother Earth produces those "high quality" diamonds you referred to, the DeBeers group just plucks them out...Get your facts straight.

[agro1]

Frankym - Very well said...

[sambrozy]

When I contacted Mark at Dynamic I felt like I had to continue to press him for some answers. Frankly I thought my question was direct but...... I left this comment off on my first post because I only wanted to write what I was told by Mark. If Mark told Mulv that from #400 the problem was corrected ok. But why did Mark tell me the correction was made starting with 1200?


Stan

If SPF knows there may be a problem let me know and tell me how to fix it.

[Mr.Fixit]

I used to do a lot of work on SPF's and I can't remember at what car number all the changes were implemented. They have made a lot of little changes, not at the same time. The diff mount issue is not a big deal. It is not very very weak, the failure rate is small, but it has been corrected by SPF.

[Bill Wells]

mulv, you make it sound like this is a widespread catastrophic failure on spf's . its not . my lord man, your car must be at least 7 yrs old. my 156 was made in summer 1996 and you are car 136 so it is undoubtedly older than mine and it just failed after all this time ? spf continues to improve the breed from evolution vs revolution, and improvements have been made . that area is now reinforced due to the advent of so many folks jamming 600 hp and 600 # trq into these lightwieights vs what was expected to be the engine range/ hp range back when your car and mine were built. the fix is not that big a deal for the few that have had to do it, and not many have . i only have 10,000 miles on my 7 yr old spf and no failure . if it goes, i fix it. settle down, you fixed it, on a 7 yr old car, now go and enjoy the ride. geez, i bet you drive the dealers nuts with your newer civilian cars and warranty issues. peace. bill

[sambrozy]

I just spoke to Craig at TOTH and he said that he does check all cars. He says you should be able to hear the noise if there is a problem. He also said it depends on how hard a car is driven.

Call him if you have any questions.

Stan

[shaps]

sambrozy,
I'm pretty new here, so please excuse me if this is a stupid question, but what what is TOTH?

[Tinker51]

TOTH=Top Of The Hill Racing. Livermore, Ca.

[BILL WARREN]

good answer Bill Wells!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the spf's are great cobras!!! and they DO care about the owners!!!!!!


Bill "Not the mayor, but still a cobra owner" Warren

[juanone]

Bill Wells:

Great answer and great attitude and professional good will. I am relatively new here and comments like yours are heart warming, possitive and constructive. Thanks,

juanone

[ToyCollector]

I saw this originally, and after re-reading it 2 weeks later I must say Bill is right on [like that's a surprise]. All these cars are what in aviation would be considered "experimental" and need to be treated with respect. If you find a problem, notify manufacturer, swap notes with fellow owners, ask manufacturer for advice on fix, fix it, enjoy it, circle back with manufacturer on what is fair for your "discovery", and ensure communication with currect owners to prevent the same. I owned SPF250 after a renowned engine builder did with a 484 CID FE motor, with no troubles. I did check for the above mentioned issue evey few months, but it was a non-issue.

[Hal Copple]

Auto manufacturers have talented teams of engineers and fabricators working for years on the design and production of their cars, and test drive them millions of miles before they are put into production.

Then they quickly find a vareity of things that need to be changed, or "recalled", and go forth to do that.

So a company as small as Superformance, "ie", Hi Tech in SA, also finds things along the way that need to be changed on their cars.

Every new car i have bought in the past decade has had recalls for one thing or another. If you want to read a litany of problems with cars, go read the Porsche forums, or the BMW forums.

The exhaust manifold fell off my daugher's Wrangler, the cylinder head cracked on my Chrysler minivan, the tranny failed, the Liberty was found to roll over too easily, and if i want, i can spend a lot of my money having the suspension lowered. The Nissan's torsion bars have sagged past all possible adjustment, i am on my third (my cost) fuel pump in the Wrangler, just put ANOTHER $2k in the minivan's tranny, and so forth.

On the other hand, my simple SPF, #673, with about 60K hard hard miles on it, has required minimal adjustments and changes thru its life.

I never have had such a reliable car, nor such service as i have from my regional dealer.

What other manufacturer would meet me at his shop at midnight, when i stripped a gear on my distributor speedshifting recently, and had my car flatbedded to his shop, and have it fixed by 8AM the next morning, like a month ago? Or drive the 77 miles to my house when i had mal-adjusted my Holley so badly it would not run at all, tune it, advise me to be more careful next time, and not charge me a cent.

Or when i had my recent 50K service done, and have since found a number of modifications and upgrades to my car, that i did not even know about, or was even asked to pay for.

Saw a Diablo on a flatbed up in Charlotte last week, i am sure its owner is frustrated too.

I will be off this forum for a week, going to the beach in the AM.

My son and I flipped a coin, take my SPF or his Boxster.

We are taking the German car. But you better be sure i am exceedingly pleased with my car, and its service and reliability, even when my life depends on it at 150+ mph down the straight at VIR.

[xlr8or]

Hal it sounds like it is time for you to quit buying Chrysler and Jeep products.

[Hal Copple]

i suppose that is one path, but when i talk with my friends, owners of other makes, they have all sorts of things happen with their cars, too.

thus far, my wife's new X Jag has been perfect for the first four thousand miles.

fast, too.

all the best, and now off to the beach!!!

hal