[bbirrell]

Shout out to anybody with experience with Otto's.

I am a driver, not a racer.

Looking to keep my car trouble free (relatively).

Bill B.
Santa Monica, CA

'94 Guards Red Coupe.
Made rocket by Flash!
(Airbox, chip and exhaust mods do wonders!)

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[PorscheDude]

All I know is they've been in business for along time.
30 years or so.

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[flash]

they are the 914 guys for sure, just like redline is great on the early 911, but i've not heard great things about their experience with the 968

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[josephsc]

Otto is not at all enthusiastic about working on waterpumpers -- a few years ago when I asked if he would service a 968, his reply was basically, "well, I suppose if I have to work on a 968, I would" -- so I told him he doesn't have to work on my 968.

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[flash]

yeah - that's pretty much the impression i got from others as well

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[PorscheDude]

Great attitude, I guess business is good without the waterpumpers.

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[harsh_ride]

Mine dates back to 2000 or so, when I got my 968. I'd heard good things about Otto's and took mine there for brakes, tune-up, etc. He destroyed my C2 Turbo wheels drilling out the keylocks I didn't have keys for (I bought my 968 used), and while I can't directly fault his shop for my transmission failure a few months later, his was the last shop to work on it and they did drain / flush the transmission fluid. The drain plug wasn't properly torqued (when Cutter Automotive checked all of them, one of them were -- I broke down near Santa Barbara).

In a word, I personally wouldn't go back to Otto.

Not as convenient to the Westside, but I've had great results with Robert Wessels' shop Dutch Treat on Inglewood just south of the 405. Mine's there now.

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[bbirrell]

Update, got them on the phone and got the same response: "I really don't know those cars and we really only work on the NEW watercooled cars."

Any other recommendations other than Dutch Treat?

I am sick of Stuttgart Auto.

Bill


In a word, I personally wouldn't go back to Otto.

Not as convenient to the Westside, but I've had great results with Robert Wessels' shop Dutch Treat on Inglewood just south of the 405. Mine's there now.
[/quote]

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[flash]

howard (hwu) seems to have good luck with swiss motors - i think they are in culver city - i would contact him directly for confirmation and more information

if you need a phone number for howard, i have it

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[harsh_ride]

<i>Update, got them on the phone and got the same response: "I really don't know those cars and we really only work on the NEW watercooled cars."</i>


Who said that, Dutch Treat or Otto's? If Dutch Treat, that really surprises me, he has a steady stream of very satisfied 968s in and out of his shop (I'm rarely there when I'm not passing one coming or going), and I've seen 944s there as well.

If Otto, I'd be really surprised if it wasn't a bald-faced lie; last time I was there (Electric Ave. location) the shop was a sh!thole and the cars being worked on all seemed to be 914s, 912s, and 911s up to the 911sc era but not much newer.

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[bbirrell]

It was Ottos.

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[wolfeman]

I can vouch for Swiss Motors. I added the below post to the main mechanic recommendations thread but thought I'd add it here as well:



Swiss Motors

Robert Husser

3929 Sepulveda Ave.

Culver City, CA 90230

310-398-5111



West LA - Between Venice and Washington right by the 405. This guy knows this car. Just had timing and bal shat belts changed (plus water pump, thermostat, etc). He called to tell me that the previous bal shaft belt was installed off by one tooth, and that the previous thermostat (which I had installed last Nov at AutoWerkStat in Manhattan Beach) was also done incorrectly with the wrong seal so it wasn't seating properly. The car now runs cooler, quieter and smoother, and maybe it's just in my head, but I swear it feels quicker too. Don't expect cheap (today's bill: $2433 - also included VarioCam inspection - which he took pictures of for me - compression check, oil change and crankshaft seal replaced) but expect it to be done right. He used the Gates belts and distilled water to replace the coolant. Solid, German dude.

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