Since I was one of the only Chevy guys at work that was going to the West Coast for the Holidays my boss made me a deal. We buy a lot of stuff from Borla and he was very concerned with the posts on the internet. He armed me with some "liquid fruit cake" and sent me to check out the Borla plant in LA.

I was told that they are in a bad way and may be closing down. What a bunch of crap that was. First off it is a very impressive and large plant right off the beach (nice area). Second, they were very nice even while they were very busy.

While I was there they took one order for $175,000 and the total for that day was over $215,000. Yikes, that's a lot of mufflers. They were filling two UPS trucks with forklifts and a semi was being filled with full palletts. Nothing looked strange. About a 100 people were working in the plant and they gave me a full tour. They have about 10 project cars... some where brand new. The R&D was very impressive.

When I left I realized why so many top racers use Borla. They do things right. I even saw some of the new headers for Kenny Bernstein and the C5R vettes that won the 24hours of Lemans. Very cool. I was very sorry to see this site slam Borla and people say such ugly and untrue things. At the same time I can say thanks to the Ric guy who started all the stuff. He got me a free trip to LA for xmas vacation. Too bad he was kind of low class. Guess it wasn't hard to see why Borla gave him his walking papers...

I also saw that Borla makes a lot of great looking headers. All American Made stuff, too. I didn't even know they made stainless steel and titanium headers for so many cars until I saw em. I encourage anyone to take the tour. I can see why my boss does well. He doesn't jump to conclusions. He wanted to know for himself. The internet gives our company a lot of business, but it can be filled with evil as well. In this case a good company was slammed by a fired employee and people took it to be the truth. While I was there I tried to get someone to say something about the guy Ric, but no one said a thing. Now that was class.

Take care and Happy New Year

Jackson

 

thanks for the update and as long as Borla would continue to honor the contract with Troy, there probably wouldn't be the bashing there is.....and btw, welcome to the forum :cheers:


[Modified by Mean Green 2000, 10:06 PM 12/29/2001]

 

Do they allow photographs or video on the tour? Is the welding automated or by hand?

Sounds like a cool trip. :cheers: Now you need a trip to Bowling Green to check out the Corvette factory. ;)

 

Good to hear that Borla isn't going out of business. I wonder if they will pay the invoices now... I guess time will tell.

Welcome to the forum. I see by your IP address that you are posting from Kinkos at 255 W. Stanley Avenue in Ventura, California (near the beach). We don't get a lot of posters from Kinkos. You sure are dedicated. Especially for a first time poster.

btw... since you seem to know a good bit about this and have brought the subject up yourself, I'll make sure that you know a few of the facts. Yes, facts. The fired employee was still using the corporate email system when he let Corvetteforum know that the overdue invoices wouldn't be paid because of financial difficulties at Borla. When I ran a $350 million product line at a large software company we always made sure that anyone that was fired had email access removed ASAP. It's just smart business. It avoids this type of problem.

On a side note, it's smart business to read the emails that you are copied on as an exec. That way if someone makes an advertising deal and copies you on it you know about it. It's difficult to claim that you didn't kinow about it when you were copied on it. ;)

 

no kidding, that is dedication :D

 

427stinger,
welcome :seeya to the forum
nice to see a new :troll hanging around the C5 section.

 

OK...let's get the facts straight!! No one said anything bad about me because I wasn't fired!! I was called to Alex Borla's office and HE told me that due to the financial situation of the company, they could not afford to keep my position of Vice President, and I was being laid off. I did not post anything negative about Borla on this forum, in fact all postings have been very positive as Borla is a good company. I did email Troy to let him know of the situation as I had told him to send me the invoices and I would take care of them. Since I was not going to be there, I would not be able to honor my commitment to him. I believe your poster who told of a trip to Borla is probably the same Borla employee who used this forum to bad mouth other exhaust manufacturers. I at least had the courtesy to join as a supporting vendor, and all of my posts have stated that I had a bias to Borla, and still do. The people at Borla are all a class act, and I have no doubt that they will turn this temporary situation around. Anyone who would like to bash me had best check my credentials first. Fact is, I was the highest paid employee at Borla, and was the easiest to pick off. It doesn't hurt them short term. :boxing

 

I thought it seemed strange that Borla would give someone (unconnected) a complete tour and disclose order and sales numbers.

JohnS

 

Every Camaro and Firebird I have ever seem has a Borla exhaust. As far as going out of buisness I highley doubt it!!!

 

:eek: :lol:

 

Thanks for the update.

 

I too own a large biz. and its been tough for everyone in 01'.I bless us all that we should find financial growth in the year(s) to come.
HAPPY NEW YEAR &LOTS OF LOVE. David S.

 

to me it sounds like a inside [ P R ] work :yesnod:

 

>>>As Troy takes off the Sherlock Holmes hat & lays down the pipe<<< :lol: Great detective work :yesnod:


[Modified by Truck Guy, 11:44 PM 12/30/2001]

 

What??? No response??? Quick, someone get some water, I think he's on fire... :crazy: :yesnod: :lol: :jester :D :cheers:

 

:troll :hat :seeya Yea, everything is dandy at Borla. :rolleyes:

I've been waiting 2 months for an XR-1 system that was supposed to be here in 10 days. Mid America points it's finger at Borla and Borla says :cry . Either they are so damn busy that they can't keep up with production or they're hard pressed to buy supplies to build the systems. I may just switch to the PRTs if I don't get this system soon. :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad

 

This happens more than you think.

RG

 

Having lived in Camarillo, which is on one side of Ventura, I can tell you that Oxnard, the home of Borla, is on the OTHER side of Ventura. Coincidence? Maybe.

I have nothing bad to say about Borla. In fact, I've owned two of their exhaust systems, and I've been to the factory. However, no one can judge what the balance sheet of a company looks like from their daily sales, the size of their building, or the apparent amount of activity. We shouldn't be speculating about it.

 

i love threads like this - the controversy, the suspense, the bashing. this is what makes CF fun sometimes.
[Modified by tattooed, 5:08 PM 12/31/2001]


[Modified by tattooed, 5:10 PM 12/31/2001]

 

I agree unless their are audited financials, nobody can really tell anything about the financial health, unless you see the building padlocked :D