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At Vanguard Automotive Design we take pride in the work we perform, no matter how big or small your project is. Here are some testimonials & reviews from some of our clients about their experience with working us on their projects.
“Perfection at it’s best! I’ve watched Nick’s build logs for many years and knew that when the time came, he would absolutely be the one I’d choose to build a top notch SQ system. I had reached out to Nick about a year ago to begin planning for this project. I chose my Genesis G70 as the template for this build.
When I first reached out to Nick, we were on the phone the same day going over what I wanted and what I was looking for. Within an hour of our first conversation, I had received quotes at different tier levels depending on how crazy I was willing to get. It was at this point where I decided that if we’re gonna do this, let’s do it right. Equipment chosen for this build included Accuton Ceramic 3-way components, AE IB15 subs, Illusion Audio 10″ sub in passenger footwell, Helix processor and amps, as well as OEM integration. The exterior of the car was to receive paint correction, ceramic coating and Xpel paint protection.
I had chosen to ship my car to him as I felt it was the easiest route. And it was indeed, it was there in 3 days. Nick’s communciation was fantastic throughout the entire build. Coming down to the design and creation of this masterpiece, I am a firm believer in letting the professionals do what they do best. I gave him only one request, to use two AE IB15’s mounted on a trunk baffle. Everything else was left entirely in he and his team’s hands. They were free to let the creativity flow.
A lot of work went into this build, and they exceeded my expectations in every way. From it’s elegant looks to it’s phenomal sound quality, it ticks every box that one would come to expect from this crew. Even after receiving my car back from him, he was still not done. Nick is a true professional. After having the car for a couple of months for a complete break in, he flew down to my home state for some fine tuning. Climate, environment and even my exact seating position are all taken into account for the final tuning.
And one more important note to add, Nick is a master at tuning. I think he spent about 16hrs in the car over the day and half he was here, going over every nuance and detail. The end result….astonishing! Everything about this build is top notch. The attention to detail, the professionalism and creativity all speak volumes. This was the system that I literally dreamed about having for a long time, and Nick and his crew made it happen. Congrats gents, much appreciated for all of your hard work in making this a reality. And thank you Nick, you are a one of a kind.”
“Recently purchased my dream car, and Nick and his team installed a Radenso radar detector and laser defense system as well as XPEL paint protective film and ceramic coating. Nick and his team expertly crafted interior and exterior fittings for the Radenso – the ultimate in stealth and good looks. Exterior looks 100% better with coating and protection. Nick’s work gives me peace of mind that my baby is fully protected. Nick returns texts and calls immediately. Nick is kind, professional, patient and just a joy to deal with. On this last point, this tends to be an industry with a shady rep, and before I met Nick, I was potentially dealing with guys who I felt very uncomfortable with. Nick is the opposite — an honest, nice guy who really knows what he’s doing. I’d give Vanguard Automotive Design 100 stars if I could and highly recommend them.”
“I was first referred to Vanguard Automotive Design by a local Porsche specialty shop, Torrent Motorworks when I inquired about a few different services for my 718 Spyder. I had originally inquired about doing paint protection film, and eventually a radar detector and laser jammer system, and other cosmetic enhancements.
Being new to all of this, I had known nothing about PPF and radar and laser defense systems when I first spoke to Nick, but he helped walk me through everything and gave me all of the information I needed to help make the right decision without feeling pushed or upsold. Between our emails and phone calls, I felt very comfortable and decided on doing the full vehicle in Xpel Ultimate Paint Protection Film with Xpel Ceramic Coating on the body, glass, and wheels/brakes, and also did a stealth installation of a Radenso RCM Ultimate Edition radar detector and laser jammer with TX sensors in the front and rear.
Before dropping the vehicle off Nick had made sure to go over and be upfront about expectations and time frames, both of which ended up right on target. This was a nice surprise for me as I have been in situations before where expectations were met, but ended up taking much longer than I was prepped for. With Vanguard, that was not an issue.
When dropping the vehicle off I was greeted by both Nick and Chris and we went over the vehicle together, and then went over the whole install one more time to show me exactly how everything would be installed. We also decided to add some matching pin stripping and painting to color-match emblems. They had a really good sense of what was appropriate for the vehicle and were able to keep me from possibly making some bad decisions.
Nick and his team were able to keep me updated along the way without spoiling the end result, all while keeping in communication with Tico at Torrent Motorworks to make sure everything was on time to get the performance work done that I had scheduled with them. Once they were done with all of the paint protection film, ceramic coating, radar/laser, and cosmetic work they were able to coordinate with Tico to get the car to Torrent for the finishing touches, an installation of an Akropovic exhaust system.
The day had finally come to pick the vehicle up, and I met both Nick and Tico at Torrent Motorworks, which was nice to go over everything with both of them at the same time. I could not be happier with the end result. The paint protection film installation is flawless and is amazing at how invisible it is. I haven’t found any imperfections on the entire vehicle. The radar and laser system installation blends in so well and looks as if it were an original part of the vehicle. The controller for the radar and laser system is probably my favorite part. They had integrated it into the original ashtray in a way that makes it fully appear as a factory option and even has an engraved “Spyder” logo that very subtly lights up when the car is on. This was really an amazing touch that I totally did not expect.
Once I had the opportunity to go over everything visually, Nick walked me through the Radenso system and how to use it, and how to care for the paint protection film and took care of any questions I had. The price, while not the cheapest in town, I feel was appropriate for the level of work that was completed. In the end, I am very happy with the end result and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Vanguard Automotive Design to anyone else for their paint protection film and radar and laser system needs. “
“The best audio shop around, in fact I drive 2hrs just to have them work on my cars. Some were simple some were not, job was always done with the highest craftsmanship and has always exceeded my expectations.”
“..the detail in the music and craftsmanship and music detail is amazing. You really killed this system. Thanks so much.”
“Finally after 1 year of frustration with my EVO stereo.
First I changed speakers to Focal ISU200 tweeters & Door speakers using adaptors for doors. Sound quality improved but still wasn’t that good. Next I know I needed an amp but didn’t wanted splice into the factory harness unless I was able to reverse the install. So I tried to find a Plug and Play harness for the EVO.
Unfortunately, most manufacturers would not make one for me because in the EVO, Lambo uses a proprietary connector, which wasn’t available. After countless days of research I did find the proprietary connectors. But the Manufacturer I contacted for a Plug & Play Harness, just keep jerking me around. Finally by a fluke, I found a post initially on facebook for a custom volume controller for the EVO. A nice dial to adjust volume without driving off the road using my touch screen infotainment center. And even when I got good at fondling my touch screen, there still was a delay in audio adjustments. Which sucked!
So, I called up Vanguard Automotive Design for info on there volume controller. Spoke to Nick, one of the owners, who was a world of knowledge on the EVO infotainment system. He patiently answered all my questions and there were a ton of them and I finally got a sense of reassurance on proceeding with an install. Nick would set me up with a custom made Plug & Play Harness, a dial LED volume control which would also utilize a hidden amp, all totally reversible.
This would give me great sound and total control of the stereo system. The best part was Nick’s shop was only a 2 hour drive. I was able to get an appointment, When i got to the shop it was better than the pictures I had seen. His partner Chris was also extremely knowledgeable and impressed me and I’m not easy to impress. After a tour of the shop and meeting the other workers, the project was started. But enough with my rambling. The finish install was more than I every expected. The sound for there Stage 1 install was Awesome, again I wasn’t looking to shatter my windows, just a great clean sound with more bass and volume. The only complaint I had was not being able to find out about these guys last year. It would have same me a lot of Valium. Hopefully advertising and customer word of mouth will spread for these guys, they deserve it. They were uniquely qualified in different areas of expertise. It was basically a high end shop for a variety of automotive needs, which you can check out on Facebook and their website.
I will definitely be returning there real soon for some more goodies and I really enjoyed hanging out with these guys. They are the real deal, no BS or overselling. Special thanks to Nick and Chris for there hospitality.”
“Hi All,
So I am the person that dd’s this evo and while the potholes cause me to wince, the joy I experience each morning at start up and accelerating onto the parkway make it worth it!
I dont post too often, but the work performed by Vanguard was outstanding.
I contacted Vanguard after reading about them on the Lamborghini forums. I am thrilled to report that they are awesome and the reviews were not hyperbole! They went out of their way to explain all of my options based on what I wanted to accomplish (kick ass sound with pin drop clarity) and they went out if their way to accommodate my schedule.
While I LOVE the engine note on my evo, I live in the northeast and that means numerous days with bad weather (I use snow tires in the winter months) and also traffic in the summer which requires windows up with the a/c on… and these situations make the music a necessity and high quality music mandatory. For those that have the sensonum upgrade, you know that the $4k sensonum upgrade gets you basic porsche sound.
Vanguard was amazing and I’d highly recommend them to anyone looking to perform any audio upgrade.”
“Nick’s custom fabrication work is leading the car audio industry. Meticulous attention to detail, professionalism and the pursuit of satisfying customers is what makes me very confident in giving Nick, and his business, a full 5 Star Rating. If you want honesty and transparency in service, he is one of the best of the best.”
“I recently picked up my car from Vanguard Automotive Design and I would like to share my experience.
I contacted Nick about doing my Jeep Wrangler after another shop and I became incompatible. Ultimately, I changed my mind and decided to have my car done (2013 Mercedes Benz C250) instead. What I noticed initially about Nick was that he was very matter-of-fact about system design, installation integrity, completion of work, and CUSTOMER SERVICE. I’m hard to please, I know this, but I can be pleased.
I already had AudioControl amps and decided to do the build with them. Nick recently had some tuning experience and begged me not to use the D-6.1200 due to the glitchy interface and limited tuning capabilities. I relented and we settled on the Zapco amps. He suggested Helix amps, but I’m not familiar with that brand and trusted Zapco more. We did, however, go with the Helix DSP.3. Through this process, Nick wasn’t hard-selling me, he was trying to design the best system I could afford. I have 3 amplifiers sitting at my house that I’m not using because of Nick’s recommendations and I’m okay with that. I bought them in the first place – it wasn’t Nick’s fault.
I was going to go with (2) Digital Designs 3510 subwoofers in a ported enclosure firing through the rear deck into the glass. Nick never balked at this and never recommended anything different and his team were more than confident that they could make it look and sound great. I ultimately decided to switch to the Audiofrog GB12D4s in order to have more usable trunk space. I’m glad I did this for two reasons. First, the trunk is totally usable, even for golf clubs. Second, the DD Audio subs would have been wasted in this application. They should be installed in something where they will be used with malice of forethought. I was also worried that they would tear my sunroof assembly apart.
Through all of this, Nick was flexible yet insistent on maintaining the design intent of the system, which is sound quality first. He also helped me decide on the type of source unit that we selected (Kenwood DDX 996XR) and I am very happy with it. We considered double-DIN, a single-DIN with a digital audio player, and even an iPad Mini. I had no previous experience with Android Auto and I must say, it is really good for automotive use.
This build wasn’t cheap and the budget doubled by the time is was all over with. This was the result of direction changes in the build and and does not reflect on Nick’s ability to stick to a quote. As many of you know , these builds are living creatures. Things change. That’s all part of it.
Fabrication quality and fit/finish are excellent. You guys already know Nick and his teams abilities. Seriously, I was in really good hands with them.
Sound deadening really quietened the car while driving. I guess this is a plug for Resonix because I noticed a distinct reduction in road noise and I wasn’t really paying attention.
Nick can tune. Need i say more?
The system sounds great. The stereo separation is great and the midbass-to-bass transition is flawless. I’m shocked by what the GB60s are capable of. Everything is so balanced and the stage width is awesome. The image is really locked in and doesn’t wander. He even created a two-seat tune at my request for demoing for passengers.
Will I go to Vanguard Automotive Design again? Yes.”
“My first hand experience is that Vanguard Automotive Design is a truly rare gem in the often shady world of car audio. Their recommendations are customized to your needs, the equipment is world class and the tuning and fabrication skills are second to none. I’ve tried other so called high end shops before making the switch to Vanguard and in short, I wish I had found them sooner. Professionalism is in short supply, especially in the auto industry, but these guys have it in spades and I’m a customer for life.”
