BEWARE of Batlground Motorsports in Atlanta!

[Scenic Driver]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Ah sorry I must have missed that part. That's too bad, they did $15k worth of upgrades on my friend's (track) TT-RS and he was happy with the work.

I was surprised to see that too but then again I know someone that had APR try to do a big job and there were issues with them too.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by Scenic Driver

I was surprised to see that too but then again I know someone that had APR try to do a big job and there were issues with them too.

That's interesting. Given their experience building full-out race cars based on GTIs and other VAG platforms, I didn't think there would be any job too big for them. I guess you never know though.

[JMoore412]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

That's interesting. Given their experience building full-out race cars based on GTIs and other VAG platforms, I didn't think there would be any job too big for them. I guess you never know though.

They did some restructuring and are no longer doing builds they are focusing on R&D from what I have been told.

[JMoore412]

Originally Posted by kuidaore

I don't know where you got his wife's name since the Secretary of State database in GA shows it is under his own name...

https://cgov.sos.state.ga.us/Account...tityId=2238367

https://cgov.sos.state.ga.us/Account...tityId=2365132

https://cgov.sos.state.ga.us/Account...tityId=3608133

You need to lawyer up and get this resolved. The photos you've shared and sending it to another shop or two for a professional opinion will go a long way.

The guy that owns Batlground has been out of the country for years. This guy pretty much operates under his shops name but does not own it and the owner is no longer around. From what I know he is operating under his name yet makes people pay him via BG Import Garage, LLC. Batlground is an old company that doesn't even exist anymore this kid uses him shop for the most part.

[Defuser]

Send the guy to North Korea with a box full of bibles. Problem solved.

[JMoore412]

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath

I'm more curious what the OP does with his time lol

If he is dropping 50k to mod new cars and he sounds like he owns a shop. If it's not worth his time to do 7k of labor, I'd love to see the work he puts out

Or maybe he just makes that much money, either way props OP hope everything work out for you

I do very nice work but not performance work on cars I do the stereo side of things and have learned in going to shows fully built cars bring in more attention than half done cars. I build LED panels, LED speaker rings and custom boxes/ panels for shops along with other items that are not car related. I would have done some of this work on my own but I have a CNC machine in my garage and to busy with orders to stop running for a week to do the car.

[IMG][/IMG]

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[Target70]

While I am too cheap to pay anyone to install anything, I appreciate the heads up. Just 2 years ago I spent hours researching and calling shops in my area for a basic engine machining so I could rebuild my ka24de. Even with all the research I did, I still ended up getting screwed as he ordered a cheap ass rebuild kit and rebuilt it without my permission. I thought I fixed all the minor stuff (no sealant on the valve cover.. etc) before I decided to install it, only find that the timing was screwed, parts were not installed properly, and some moron used the wrong oil seal on the timing chain cover which left a 1/16'' crack between the cover and the block. This stuff only became very apparent when started the car for the first time. Anyway after pulling my engine giving it back to him to fix and reinstalling the engine myself two more times, did I finally get a refund on the labor. And only after this 60+ year old guy got permission from his MOM, who owned the company. This was with good reviews, and calling and talking about his personal experience with the motor (He may be great on that motor but it doesn't really matter if he lets someone else do all the work) my only closer option was Atlanta. And could have ended up being the same situation with a longer drive.

anyway I hope you get some satisfaction OP.

[JMoore412]

Originally Posted by Target70

While I am too cheap to pay anyone to install anything, I appreciate the heads up. Just 2 years ago I spent hours researching and calling shops in my area for a basic engine machining so I could rebuild my ka24de. Even with all the research I did, I still ended up getting screwed as he ordered a cheap ass rebuild kit and rebuilt it without my permission. I thought I fixed all the minor stuff (no sealant on the valve cover.. etc) before I decided to install it, only find that the timing was screwed, parts were not installed properly, and some moron used the wrong oil seal on the timing chain cover which left a 1/16'' crack between the cover and the block. This stuff only became very apparent when started the car for the first time. Anyway after pulling my engine giving it back to him to fix and reinstalling the engine myself two more times, did I finally get a refund on the labor. And only after this 60+ year old guy got permission from his MOM, who owned the company. This was with good reviews, and calling and talking about his personal experience with the motor (He may be great on that motor but it doesn't really matter if he lets someone else do all the work) my only closer option was Atlanta. And could have ended up being the same situation with a longer drive.

anyway I hope you get some satisfaction OP.

I have personally noticed since this happened trusting reviews doesn't help either. I looked up a paint shop to fix the bumper, researched reviews of the place online and talked to several people before letting them paint the bumper. Long story short the paint didn't match and had a ton of dirt in it.

Personally I think company's just have people post good reviews for them and half are fake. When all this crap happened with the shop that messed up my car my wife posted a review of them only to see not even a day later someone posted a great review of them on a project I highly doubt they did. Also what makes no sense to me most of these sites post the good reviews and hide the bad ones a lot of the time.

The reality is people these days don't care about the work they do and it is very hard and costly to take action against them when they do mess up. Most places operate under a LLC and when crap goes bad close it out only to open a new one.

[Turbo95eg6]

Why I gave up the Honda game, too many shady people.

[ChrisSC300]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune OP. A helpful warning to all members about a shady shop is always appreciated. Just out of curiosity what shop are you using in Jacksonville, FL. I only ask because that is were I am located and knowing of good local shops is always appreciated.

[JMoore412]

Originally Posted by ChrisSC300

Sorry to hear about your misfortune OP. A helpful warning to all members about a shady shop is always appreciated. Just out of curiosity what shop are you using in Jacksonville, FL. I only ask because that is were I am located and knowing of good local shops is always appreciated.

I ended up having it sent to O'Steen VW in Jacksonville, FL after someone at APR that was helping me deal with the mess referred them to me. Garrett has been GREAT to deal with! He has taken tons of pictures and documents the situation for me I couldn't have asked for a better person to handle the mess.

I think there should be a thread dedicated to list of trusted shops that do good working. Still trying to find a shop to work on the FRS as the place in Jacksonville only does VW's. When I pick my GTI up I am going to drop my Golf R with them to upgrade it.

[Noz]

Originally Posted by J_kennington

What assumptions did l make?

That the shop is well known for being crooks and swindlers that put out horrible work? Proven fact with a simple Google search.

Or that the op did no research on the shop, because his friend works there? OP admitted it.

Also never called him an idiot.

Yes, it's cool that he is trying to "warn" people. But as stated, if people did research on a shop BEFORE they get a destroyed car back from it, none of this would have happened.

Fyi, last I heard top speed got rid of doug. Wonder if we could get an official statement about that...

Originally Posted by J_kennington

The shop is well known around ga...and it isn't for good work. You said you read horrible reviews and still took the car to them. As mad as I am about your cars condition. You have to put half the blame on yourself.

Your first assumption is you thought he read these horrible reviews and he still took his car there. If you read the first post carefully, you would have known that the OP was taking it to someone he had trusted.

Then saying you have to put half the blame on yourself is indirectly calling him an idiot.

Originally Posted by J_kennington

So...you spent no time researching a shop you had planned to have install 40k in parts on a near brand new car? Much less a shop that quoted 7k in labor to install 40k in parts already sounds fishy.

Maybe it's just because I'm young and broke...but I at least throw a Google search for ANY purchase over 100 dollars.

Second assumption you made was that the OP just throws money around with no rhyme or reason.

Already sounds fishy. Third assumption.

And you indirectly call him an idiot again saying that the OP should have googled searched, even after he reiterated that he had taken it to some he had trusted.

Like I said, the lesson of this story is obvious and there is no need to rehash it multiple times by kicking him while he's down. I have people that I trust in the industry and I would never even consider the need to google search before taking my car to them, so I get why the OP made the mistake. He even states that he learned his lesson and is just trying to warn and help out the community. And in return, he's not asking for any moral support or anything from us, so the least we can do is not be a prick about it.

[tyrantcf]

Sucks man, sorry to hear.

BTW, did anyone at this shop happen to go by "Toni?"

[JMoore412]

Originally Posted by tyrantcf

Sucks man, sorry to hear.

BTW, did anyone at this shop happen to go by "Toni?"

No one by that name.