I'm going to disagree with Jadebox and say that both shops DO NOT have similar prices. Z1 has the best prices I've seen for any Z shop in GA. Frankly, there's no way you should be quoted 3-4 more by Forged to do the same job. Don't do the spacers yourself if you don't have the tools. Take them to Z1 and they will take care of you. I guarantee you will not regret the trip.

Many of us 370Z owners in the Metro Atlanta area are at Z1 at least every other weekend sometimes more. We can make a trip out of it. Last but not least, I would say that the fact that people are taking their cars to Forged and are choosing not to post on the forum about their experience says it all. Almost everyone I've sent to Z1 or who's visited them has posted on the forum about their experience.

We all have our preferences because of comfort and friendships, etc. However, if you want great customer service at a great cost go to Z1. PM me you number and I'll let you know when we will be at Z1 next month.

Forged has similar prices to Z1? Uhm..... maybe if you know what something should cost you and they dont overcharge you in particular, but if you dont, bending over would be the next step after you get there.

I recall an unknowing 370Z guy going to Forged and being charged upwards of $400 just for a Stillen Intake install. Yes they installed it properly, but at what labor rate? Either they charge a regular $85-$95 an hour and take 15-20 smoke breaks so it took them four hours to put intakes on..... or they overcharge on labor rates. It's a two to two and a quarter hour job to do it right so figure on around $180-200/hour for basic labor at Forged if you dont know any better than to ask up front for estimated costs / labor rates.

For reference, Z1 was around $215 for the same two and a quarter hour install on a 370Z, which I saw the bill for myself (which is about normal) and it was done perfectly there as well.

Also, the Forged guys are nice but their dyno is a retarded. Be prepared to take home a dyno slip of your 332 crank horsepower 370Z putting down about 250 to the wheels stock if you want to pay for that garbage. Apparently drivetrain loss on a 370Z manual is around 25% these days........

I live at 20 mins from Z1 and have yet to go lmao... its not the car, its me. SOmething about me driving a stock 370z to a place with big turbos and other z's... Now i know how it feels to have a small pecker LOL

well it's my luck then. honestly, when i first bought my 370Z before most of you owners... i called both shops for quotes on my spring install, and Z1 quoted me higher than Forged. so since Forged was closer to me, almost naturally, i go to their shop.

it's not hard to install spacers, wheels, exhausts, springs, and other bolt-on parts to a car. i'm just at the point in life where i can afford to pay someone else to do it for me. i don't like rolling up onto low slope ramps and using slim jacks to lift up my car at home.

i've been working with "tuner" cars for 15 years now, so i have a fair idea of what things should cost. there's no need to exaggerate and say that one shop is going to charge 3-4 times more. if anything there's a $50-200 difference between the two local shops that i have seen. now being a car owner, you would have to also consider transportation costs such as gas and towing if needed.

at Z1 you'll see primarily Z's, and that's probably what attracts other Z owners to their shop. at Forged, there's cars from all over the US and even overseas that are being worked on each time i visit, and they're not the same car that's just been sitting there but different ones. Forged deals with various makes and models, although Z's make up the majority of cars being worked on, you'll see many other makes. so if you want, check the subaru, evo, gt-r, and other forums if you want other opinions about them.

Z1 has a 2WD dynojet, and dynojets are known to produce higher numbers. Forged has a 2WD/4WD dyno dynamics that is notorious for lower numbers. when it comes to dynos, i'm more concerned about the power curve. i dyno'd at both shops, and i did have higher numbers on the Z1 dynojet. then there were some cars that dyno'd the night before on Forged's dyno, and produced lower number on Z1's dyno the following day. now some say there's many factors in a dyno, they way the car is strapped down, temps, humidity etc. in either case, when dyno tuning, just pick one and stay with one dyno. like weighing yourself in the morning and using your same bathroom scale each time.

i'm not here to bash either shop, because i do think they are both decent shops. so i don't think the bashing of Z1 or Forged in this thread is necessary. both are sponsors to this forum, and that shouldn't be allowed in the first place. but you as the customer have the right to form your own opinion and take your money to whichever business you prefer.

BRE Datsun
 

When I was in Graduate school in Atlanta and had a new 1970 240Z, I used to take my care to BRE Datsun in Marietta......They are really the People that made the Z famous......At the time they were the only ones in the US that "Built" the Z racing car......The BRE RACING TEAM

Does anyone know what Happened to BRE in Marietta?

That guy was me that paid 400 for install haha yeah way to much but they did a good job and everything else i have gotten done there was a good price. I've been around both shops and it really doesnt matter which one you use because they price match but yes Z1's dyno is much much better

I have never heard of this? What years were they around? I have lived in the Smyrna/Marietta nearly all of my life.

The current BRE team is based out west Washington State. I am curious to hear more about this.

I still don't think it's right to be charged $175 more for the same job. I see that as taking advantage of your customer. Jadebox, I have to disagree with you once again. Some of us are more fortunate than others, but for many people a $50-$200 mark up makes a huge difference on whether or not they get the mod or work done. I agree with you on the fact that Forged does not only work on Z cars. Personally, I prefer to take my car to those who specialize in that specific model. For example, I spoke to someone at Forged about installing a GTM TT kit and was told that they do not install those kits.

Regardless, at the end of the day we should all go where we feel most comfortable. However, let's make sure we get our information straight. It's obvious that we both have our biases. Perhaps it's best to let some other Metro Atlanta 370Z owners chime in.

The BRE Datsun place was in Marietta on the right side of I-75 if you were going south.....They really turned my 240Z into beast....it was at a Datsun dealership;......I cant remember the name of the Dealership...but I am sure I would know it if I heard it........Sure seems funny that nobody remembers this......they were very famous and I was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

Yeah, I am rich too but I choose not to overpay for stuff when the more reasonably priced shop has professional service and more direct experience with your car too, just saying...

Very difficult to find people to trust with your car,That's why I do all my own work(body & mechanical)
But with that said I would let the guys @ Z1 work on my car:tiphat:

I generally try to do my own work on my car but have bought from Z1 and they have treated me great!

I have a great suggestion.

Shop shootout. I will judge.

Winner will be based on who cooks me better food. thats it. nothing to do with cars. someone just feed me.

:-D

I like Forged's hammers, appropriate per their name as their install tool of choice for turbo downpipes.

I like that Z1's high ceilings allow hummingbirds to get trapped and commit hummingcide.