GT-R Services
We get asked a lot by our GTR customers what exactly the difference is in bringing your GTR to Kaizen Tuning vs a local dealership, or any other shop in New England for that matter. I wanted to discuss this here as we are seeing an influx of new GTR owners in New England as the 2012 gets more established, and a new generation of 2009 / 2011 GTR owners pick up nice deals on used cars.
Kaizen Tuning - The Difference
Some of the main differences between ourselves in the dealer are pretty clear:
1. Know How. We started on the Nissan GTR as soon as they were introduced to the marketplace in 2008. We immediately started modifying local GTRs and purchased one of the first ones available on the east coast to start our R&D into what works and what does not on this platform. All of our techs work on GTRs every week, so unlike the dealerships in the area, we have know how into the inner working of these cars. OUr in house tuner tunes GTR's every week as well, can that be said for other tuners in New Englnd? No it cant. A "GTR Tech" at a Nissan dealer is nothing more than a flat rate tech that went on a 4 day training course. They don't own these cars, nor do they work on them every day. So with choosing an independent shop, you can have confidence that your GTR will be in capable hands. This cannot be said for many Nissan dealerships. Do you want someone tuning your 90K+ GTR that has not touched one in months?
2. Level of care. We know that as dealership customers at one point we saw the level of care given to our cars at Nissan dealerships decline. The GTR is not a Sentra or Maxima, and should not be treated like it. Unfortunately, this is not the case in the USA. We have seen the difference between dealerships in the USA and those in Japan. The level of care that is given overseas far exceeds that of a USA dealership. We wanted to bring that level of care to GTR owners, that you won't find at a dealership. Want to be treated like you own a piece of heritage? Kaizen Tuning is the right choice for you.
3. Enthusiast operated. Kaizen Tuning is owned and operated by Nissan fanatics, who own GTRs, Silvias and Z cars. We know the history of the GTR, from the tracks in the 60's and 70's to modern GTR Ring times, and apply that know how to our customers cars. You won't find that kind of love for all things GTR at any dealership that is only concerned about the bottom line. We also service Ferrari, Porsche BMW and Audi (as well as Suby and Mitsubishi). Do you really want someone that works on a dealership level working on your car, or someone that actually knows how to work on your GTR?
3. We are not flat rate. This point is critical to the level of care given to your car at Kaizen Tuning. At a dealership, all techs are paid per job. The faster your car is on and off the lift, the more they are paid, therefore the more the dealership can put in their pocket. At Kaizen Tuning, our techs are paid hourly. We take our time on the cars that come to us to make sure that our level of care exceeds your expectation. That cannot be said for a dealership tech that is rushing to get your car on and off the lift so he can put more in his pocket. This is a critical difference in how high end cars are serviced through Porsche, Ferrari, and other high end car service departments. We follow how a high end car SHOULD be serviced and pay our techs, who, as explained above, are more experienced than a dealership tech, accordingly. This is an ugly truth and why on so many occasions, GTR owners are treated like one of the herd.
4. We use what works. We have years of know how on the R35, on the street, on the track, and at the strip. We recommend parts and fluids on the GTR that are not forced down our throats. We test everything we use on our own GTR before signing it off for use on our customers cars. We have tested, and re-tested, and then come to a conclusion that what we offer to you is right for your application. We have partnered with the best shops from around the world, and can call on these experts if a problem comes up, or if a recommendation is needed.
5. One size does not fit all. Each GTR application is different. Each customer has a different use in mind. At Kaizen Tuning, we can recommend the products that are going to work right for you. From street driven daily drivers to track prepped cars, the choices are very different. You will not find that flexibility in a dealership. This is critical to you, as an owner, as we can recommend and work with a huge array of products from all over the world, to fit your application.
6. The right tools. Kaizen Tuning uses the right tools for getting the job done right. What this means to you as a customer is that we do not need to outsource your car. We can do GTR alignments in house, dyno tune in house, do motor and trans builds in house... We have the tools to tackle any job in our shop.
In addition to these 6 points, it should also be brought up that we offer a host of aftermarket products and services that the dealership can't.
Dyno Tuning - Dyno tuning with Cobb to get the most out of your modifications.
Suspension Tuning - Custom alignment specifications and corner balancing.
Aftermarket Parts - A huge array of aftermarket products, from the best JDM and US brands. AMS, Amuse, Whiteline, HKS, Greddy, AQ Motorsports, Forge, Cobb, CBRD... To name just a few of our partners.
Fabrication - In house custom fabrication.
Track inspection services.
And much much more....
So there you have it, 6 big points on what makes Kaizen Tuning a better choice to work on your Nissan GTR, than the dealership. This should also work for those of you that are in other areas of the country that are trying to decide on if you want to send your car to a local dealership, or a high end aftermarket shop like Forged performance, SPE or AMS.
Any questions, don't hesitate to ask. We are looking forward to servicing you needs.
