RADR1732
02-21-2002, 07:26 PM
Okay, I just got back from talking to the owner of Le-Toy Motors here in Bakersfield, CA. I stopped in to find out how much it would cost to swap out my torque converter when I get it done from Level 10. The conversation soon took a completely different course. It turns out that Bin Patel, who's the owner of Le-Toy Motors, wants to open up a speed shop right next to his shop.
Okay, just some background. He used to work for the local Toyota dealership and was there for 10 years. After that he decided to open up a shop focusing on repair and maintanance of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. He services all manufacturer, but specialize in Toyota man vehicles. He and all his staff are very qualified. He himself is a ASE certified master technician or something or other. I can't remember what it said in his certificate. The shop itself has a full bay that can do everything a full service Toyota dealership can do. As far as the place he just acquired next door, it's basically two slots. One is a smaller bay where a shop used to install car stereos in. The other is the car audio shop's sales floor. Okay for the install bay he plans on putting a dyno so that parts he sells next door can properly be tuned. The new store, when it opens, is larger than the two other major speed shop combined. They will be able to keep more stuff in stock, which the other two shops can't say. Because of the speed shop being combined with the repairshop, they will be able to install and like I said before tune all the parts they sell.
He is very excited about opening up the shop. His main motivation for the idea is his frustration with what has happened to perfomance aftermarket industry. He criticized TRD for not supporting their performance vehicles. He hates seeing all the in his words "ricers" who fly by his shop everyday mainly going for show and increasing the noise level in his car. He hates the fact that the industry has placed Honda and Mitsubishi on a pedastel and not caring about Toyota. He knows the potential of our Toyota cars and he is very knowledgable as to how to extract as much power out of Toyota motors as possible.
His ulitimate goal is to show what Toyota vehicles are capable of. To be able to compete and beat all the Hondas and Mitsubishi's around town. This is a great opportunity for all of us here on this board who has been looking for a company who will support our aftermarket. Mr. Patel is very enthusiastic about this project and looking for input as to what our demands are. Now I'm not only talking about accesories to make our cars look pretty. I'm talking about serious power making parts and modification. A great example is his project on attempting to put out a VVT-i/VVTL-i controller. He has very big connections with engineers who are in this field and in Toyota/Lexus design. Two examples he gave me is the head instructor for Lexus maintanance/repair and the engineers that work on guidance systems missiles systems that our military uses. This is no joke guys. I am working with him to get as much feed back as we can to be able to help bring about a change of pace in our aftermarket.
If you have any suggestions or questions, post it here. You can also call Bin Patel at his shop. Here is that information:
Bin Patel
(661)396-8100
3901 Wible Rd. #2
Bakesfield, CA, 93309
I'm so glad I stopped by that shop. I hope you guys can help him get this project off the ground. I will post pics of the progress of the shop and will gladly pass on any questions or suggestion you guys may have. Thank.
Richard
Okay, just some background. He used to work for the local Toyota dealership and was there for 10 years. After that he decided to open up a shop focusing on repair and maintanance of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. He services all manufacturer, but specialize in Toyota man vehicles. He and all his staff are very qualified. He himself is a ASE certified master technician or something or other. I can't remember what it said in his certificate. The shop itself has a full bay that can do everything a full service Toyota dealership can do. As far as the place he just acquired next door, it's basically two slots. One is a smaller bay where a shop used to install car stereos in. The other is the car audio shop's sales floor. Okay for the install bay he plans on putting a dyno so that parts he sells next door can properly be tuned. The new store, when it opens, is larger than the two other major speed shop combined. They will be able to keep more stuff in stock, which the other two shops can't say. Because of the speed shop being combined with the repairshop, they will be able to install and like I said before tune all the parts they sell.
He is very excited about opening up the shop. His main motivation for the idea is his frustration with what has happened to perfomance aftermarket industry. He criticized TRD for not supporting their performance vehicles. He hates seeing all the in his words "ricers" who fly by his shop everyday mainly going for show and increasing the noise level in his car. He hates the fact that the industry has placed Honda and Mitsubishi on a pedastel and not caring about Toyota. He knows the potential of our Toyota cars and he is very knowledgable as to how to extract as much power out of Toyota motors as possible.
His ulitimate goal is to show what Toyota vehicles are capable of. To be able to compete and beat all the Hondas and Mitsubishi's around town. This is a great opportunity for all of us here on this board who has been looking for a company who will support our aftermarket. Mr. Patel is very enthusiastic about this project and looking for input as to what our demands are. Now I'm not only talking about accesories to make our cars look pretty. I'm talking about serious power making parts and modification. A great example is his project on attempting to put out a VVT-i/VVTL-i controller. He has very big connections with engineers who are in this field and in Toyota/Lexus design. Two examples he gave me is the head instructor for Lexus maintanance/repair and the engineers that work on guidance systems missiles systems that our military uses. This is no joke guys. I am working with him to get as much feed back as we can to be able to help bring about a change of pace in our aftermarket.
If you have any suggestions or questions, post it here. You can also call Bin Patel at his shop. Here is that information:
Bin Patel
(661)396-8100
3901 Wible Rd. #2
Bakesfield, CA, 93309
I'm so glad I stopped by that shop. I hope you guys can help him get this project off the ground. I will post pics of the progress of the shop and will gladly pass on any questions or suggestion you guys may have. Thank.
Richard