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JPS & the Green Coupe #2

I know John Steele (JPS) has painted me as unreasonable and expecting too much to some folks.

The fact is I cannot legally drive the car after 6 months due to defects (mostly minor individually, but major in aggregate). This is despite a trip back to JPS for repairs.

I contracted with JPS to build me a TURNKEY car. To me that means one that should work at least well enough to pass PA inspection and be capable of being registered and driven legally on the road. AND one I do not have to spend more time and money on to get it into legal condition.

In addition I expected a coupe to not leak.

If these are unreasonable expectations, I am unreasonable.

I am no novice. I own a 2006 Beck Speedster and am willing to do some tinkering and deal with some issues. I thought I knew what to expect from a replica and a replica builder. Even from JPS Coupe #2 . . . As an early iteration I was willing to give some leeway, but 6 months is way past reasonable, well into ridiculous.

JPS is working on a solution. Slowly. Unfortunately I am in PA and JPS is in California.

Most of the recent Coupe buyers are also in California and JPS is close enough to do the sorting work. Wish I was there too.

My advice to any JPS Coupe buyer would be to go to JPS and drive the car at least 1000 miles (some of it in the rain, probably hard to do in CA) before accepting it and shipping it home.

Gotta say I love the car. Once these issues are ironed out it will truly be one super sweet ride capable of being driven most of the year.

The other advice I would give to anyone dealing with JPS is be sure you have all you agreed to in a written contract. John tends to be overly optimistic and over promise and under deliver on what he says. He also seems very forgetful and not well organized. He genuinely wants to do well for the buyer, but his own disorganization and lack of documentation, together with his optimism gets in his way. Be sure you document everything. If you are close enough - check in often.

JPS has not abandoned me and has been working on a solution. Unfortunately it has taken some angry negotiations at times to get anything done. And it is slow. I am certainly not a top priority. It has not been fun. John would certainly like me to go away and never hear from me again.

What would I have done differently? - I wish I had done more research on JPS on the SOC forum before I had gone ahead, as I have learned my experience is not unique. I wish I had gone to CA to inspect and drive the car (preferably in the rain) before I had it shipped to me (twice).

I am posting this not to say do not deal with JPS. I simply want those interested to have the benefit of my experience. Bottom line is I love the product and what it is and can be, but I am dissatisfied with the support and performance of the builder.

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