ExtremeSaleen

I've gotten the feeling for sometime that Saleen doesn't really care about owners once they've sold the car. I live in Irvine, home of their headquarters, and I see Saleen employees all the time driving near their offices (i know because a lot of the time they have manufacturer's plates), and I have only once actually had one of them acknowledge me in my car. He must have been new. Hello!! [sm=wakeup.gif] I'm driving a fricking Saleen here. I was on the freeway beside one guy in a silver vert for the about 15 minutes and he wouldn't even look over at me. He got off on Bake Parkway, so I'm sure he was with Saleen. What is wrong with even a wave or node, etc? Seems weird when their slogan is "power in the hands of a few" but they don't even care when they see one of us.

I've gotten the same feeling at the car shows that I have attended with Saleen therel. They just don't seem to care about the fact that we are owners. They are just there looking for the next sale.

Their sense of community with the owners and enthusiasts that love these cars could use some work is what I'm saying I guess.

Whatever, I'll get off my soap box now.

Say When

I concur with all of the sentiments. Saleen has not been the same company for a long time now. It's a shame because even with all of the shortcomings and problems Saleen still has a very loyal following. I believe the total number of cars produced since 1984 is around 12,000 now. That's an incredible feat and a true milestone.

Mike, I can see how it would be not even getting a acknowledgement. I don't know how long Carlos has been with Saleen but all of the original crew like Stan Berry and Bob Root are just nice memories now. I feel really fortunate to be able to say I used to get to hang out inside the production area in the facilities and parts dept.before Whatney. Helping hold one end of a rocker panel ground effects while they were being installed. Maybe this is why I still have the most interest in my foxbody cars.

The truth is 99% of the employees at Saleen these days don't even know anything about the company before 2005. They drive those cars around with manufacturer plates but have zero pride because they don't understand or get it.

I think the true end was when they let Liz go. That was it for me. We all know Steve has very little to say about how the company is actually run. He does a great job as it's spokesman but the days of Steve driving to Ford dealers trying to get them to carry his specially prepared mustangs will just be memories.

Honestly, back in the late 80's Saleen was producing cars in the high hundreds and we did not have all of these problems. I know it's easier for everyones voices to be heard now that we have the internet. Mind you back in the day we didn't have motor mods straight from Saleen other than the SSC. Even that car had it's intake and cylinder heads off. While thinking about it Joe Gosinski who owns Chicane Sport Tuning and former long time Saleen employee was the only one I rememebr taking those SSC's apart and then bolting them back together. I know of plenty of 1989 SSC's that are still running strong 18 years later with zero problems. I guess it says something about having a real tech/mechanic work on these mustangs at Saleen before they leave the factory instead of the half assed production line ,floor sweeping guys who install parts at Saleen these days. No wonder there are so many problems with so many things on these cars. Whether they are driving the cars around or bolting down bumpers they just don't care anymore about what they are really doing. I don't knowhow many of you were at the Saleen show in Irvine last September but it sure was funny when a couple of "techs" couldn't get a 2006 S281 S/C started after their "live supercharger" installation show to show all of the spectators how it's done. I guessed they showed me exaclty how it's done. They still didn't have that car started by the time I left late in the afternoon.

I don't blame Sam. I'm sure he is rather new to Saleen and I'm sure had no idea how shoddy things have gotten.

Oh well.It sounds like Saleen ( not Steve himself as he probably does not have much of a say )will **** themselves out to Chevrolet to keep the doors open. I don't blame Ford for losing faith in Saleen over the last few years. Alright. I'm done now.

SALEEN100

**** SALEEN I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS TOO

sowaxeman

Sorry Sam, I wasn't trying to speak on your behalf - I just thought it was pretty encouraging that you still owned a Saleen car.

But (not in the sense of starting an argument by any means) if Saleen really didn't care about their problems would they buy back lemon cars, or even better yet -offer customers the chance to bring their car directly to Irvine or Troy to be examined & fixed [&:] While they definitely have their issues, and may not be the best at quickly solving them (a lot of dealer responsibility in there too) at least they do ultimately take some action.

Sorry....again - not trying to speak on your behalf or keep any "Saleen Service" wars ongoing. I hope the PJ car is treating you MUCH better than the E did.

AmyVCTexas

It is interesting how many posts take this turn. Mind you, the original post here was about a problem, but there are many others that started on a neutral topic and wound up where this one is now. I got most ofthe rants out my system last fall but still look with an interested eye at threads like this.

I think Steve Saleen has more control and power than some give him credit for. Just look at the PJ: it's still early, but it's becoming very clear that it is a better product than the SC or Extreme. This is because PJ himself insisted on involvement if his name was going on the car! Why wouldn't Steve do the same thing?! Regardless, here's my take on the Saleen conundrum: Steve Saleen is a car guy, not a customer service/operations/business guy. Just because he knows how to build a great car, it doesn't make him a great business man. If he were a good business man (and truly concerned about what it means to have one's name on a product),at the very least he would put great people in high places within manufacturing (QC) and customer care. I've seen no evidence of this.

In my line of work, this problem is very common. I work with veterinarians. People bring their pets to a vet because they want medical care. But in truth, what they value is CLIENT CARE. Most folks don't know a good doc from a quack so their opinionof the vet is basedon the care they got and the care they PERCEIVE their pet got. However, vets (like many other specialists) get zero education in business, operations, customer service. Most vets own their own practice and though medically they may be phenomenal, from the business perspective they're seriously lacking. They put their spouses or receptionists with no business background in "management" positions where they are essentially check writers and baby-sitters. Who's standing on the helm of the ship looking at where it's going? Who's holding everyone in the hospital accountable to the mission? Have they even drafted a mission? The answer is no and no one. It's not the vet's fault -- they don't know what they don't know and they've probably never seen or worked in a well-run practice. Clients come and go and no one has asked why they came in the first place, or why they either choose to leave or to stay. The business struggles and the doc barely gets by financially even when working an 80 hour week. It's crazy.

I think this is the primary issue at Saleen; there doesn't seem to be anyone at the top (in equal partnership to Steve) who's looking out for the business (or at least anyone*qualified* to do so).And Steve would be in much better shape if there were! The business person could focus on the business and Steve would be freed to focus on his passion: making amazing cars. Everyone would win, including employees and customers!

Okay, off the soap box.

SAR

Just as a heads up I will say that I have PM many of the people who have had issues to try and help, in actuality less then 50% answer me back or give me the info needed to help! While Saleen is not perfect, this many times is a 2 way street.

AmyVCTexas

Touche SAR! You are absolutely right and this must be a real frustration for you. We Saleen owners have to be just as quick to accept the help offered by Saleen and equally as quick to compliment as we are to critisize. Many have said and I'll say again, you are one of the bright stars in the Saleen experience. We wish there were more just like you!

Bob D.

Agree, except that it may not even have to be someone in equal partnership to Steve Saleen. In fact, it could just as easily be young, hungry folks with even a small sense of the heritage—and potential marketing power that is currently being squandered and sullied—of the Saleen name. For example, adding three individuals with some passion for their work and who had “the buck stops here” responsibilities for QC, branding and customer service, respectively, would go a long way towards solving many of the vexing and long-standing problems that take up so much space in what should be a happier forum.

Choose whatever management structure you want, but this is not rocket science.Saleen is facing some common problems to which there are common—and effective—responses used by other businesses/industries every day. I dearly hope someone at Saleen will address these problems soon. As enthusiast owners, it is frustrating and disheartening to be unwitting passengers on the slow downhill slide of a great, innovative company otherwise so full of potential and promise.

OK, off my soapbox too.

Bob D.

I too just have to say again *thank you* to SAR for serving as a fantastic resource and for so often taking the time to help. I have learned a tremendous amount from your posts and greatly appreciate the time you took to help me sort out a minor problem I had a few months ago. I know many others feel the same way. Thanks again (and please consider a cloning procedure)!

Nitehawk422

I have had nothing but great service from Saleen, and to date no major problems with my S281 SC minus the steering wheel badge, which SAR sent me after a quick PM. Of coarse my car being an early 2006, I need to have the recall completed for the 14 inch brake system. My orginal Saleen dealer was attempting to charge me for the recall, so I took it to another dealer and I have been more then happy with Saleens efforts solve my problems. Igive themthere credit and I give my best effort to help them out when I want things done.

Cheers!