Originally Posted by CCA-Dave
Well, you asked for advice and a solution...can't help it if you don't like the solution. Dropping the car off for a full day may be inconvenient, but it is typical.
You aren't driving a modern-day car with plug-and-play solutions. If you're looking for the honda-under-warranty experience, buy a Honda that is under warranty. Add to the fact that your car has been swapped to e-power, and you're in for a hell of a ride when it comes to getting it maintained "conveniently." That car also has suspension modifications which are not factory, adding to the potential issues you might find at an alignment.
That E-Beetle was lowered in the front circa 2009/2010, and I'm not sure by what method. It could have a lowering beam in it, it could be drop spindles. The car was given an inspection order back in 2010, and the height may have been 'corrected' to pass...but I'm not sure, your photo isn't at an angle that helps me determine. The thing is, if it wasn't set back to factory height front and rear, or if the front is lowered and the rear isn't, the factory alignment settings are almost impossible to hit. If the front and rear are lowered a light amount, you can hit the factory settings.
I won't be at all surprised to find out that they cannot get the correct camber settings in for the alignment, and you'll also find the caster is wrong if it doesn't have castor shims installed. The wheels that car has are the wrong offset and width, which combined with your photo angle make it really difficult for me to make any further assessments.
Unless you know what settings you _want_, be prepared for two alignment visits. One to determine the car can't be set to factory numbers, and a second to return with the parts and knowledge that might help correct it. This presumes that ball joints, bearings, and tie-rod ends are all in good shape (if they aren't, you can't even get the first "how close can we get" assessment).
I'd fully expect that you're going to experience the following:
1) We can't align it, your ____ are worn out.
2) You get the parts, and return to the shop. We can't align it, the car is too out of spec for ____ setting.
3) You PM me, tell me that they can't hit the caster/camber/other setting, and I tell you how to fix it.
4) You return, with parts and/or knowledge, and they get the car within spec, or within an acceptable margin.
...which is why I suggested Dales. You drop the car off, they discover #1. Take an educated guess that #3 will happen (since Jason knows the cars), and call you up with a list of parts and an extra day they need the car. Repair parts and modification parts show up, and you leave in good shape. Any other shop, and you'll be doing two or three visits.
This is life with classic cars, and especially life with modified classic cars.
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