Best Vehicle Service/Repair for the Money
Decatur Metro | August 1, 2013 | 10:19 amThis is transport-options-obsessed Decatur, so we ain’t talking just cars, but also scooters, bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, etc.
Heck, we can even throw shoe repair into the mix for the semi-professional walkers among us!
I once went to Pure and told them I needed brakes. They checked ’em out and said something just needed cleaning (and, sure enough, grinding noise gone). That’s money in my pocket and honesty that brings me back (and has me telling this story!).
+1 on Pure, and not just because of the hot dogs.
+2 for Pure.
for Mercedes service, love Revolution on Dekalb Industrial, but just used Jozef’s on College Ave for a recent repair and was very pleased with the service, and more so with the price.
Sport Motoring near Kudzu is the best place for Mini Cooper repair. Super nice and honest. I will NEVER take my Mini back to the dealership to be repaired.
I’ve had nice service at MINI Global Imports on P’tree Ind. …of course it’s been free so,far. And has free Starbucks coffee.
Pure is great, as is Six Star Subaru!!!
Thank you, DM, for putting out this “Best for the Money”. Brilliantly useful. And a little meatier than my last suggestion for spa services (although I used it!) Suggestions for future: variations on “Best Home Renovation/Repair for the Money’, e.g. major renovation, minor renovation (e.g. just bathroom or porch), home repairs.
Quantum Mechanics on Talley Street (for imports). Honest and really nice. Not the cheapest but not the most expensive — and totally worth it to have things done right.
I’ll second Quantum. Evaluating shops on cost is complicated and I tend to put a higher emphasis on trust. And I trust Quantum.
I am a huge fan of Quantum . Smart, fair and very honest.
When I had my Audi, we were very pleased with Quantum Mechanics on Tally Street. My husband is a bit less-happy with them for his BMW and has ended up back at Nalley – and they have done great work for us recently. Luckily my Audi has been retired and I no longer spend countless hours trying to get it repaired….
My 11yr old BMW needs some TLC. I like quantum, but you have to have an appointment for days to weeks to get into the place. I go to Nalley. It cost more, but they usually fix it in less than one day, no appt necessary. They also give me a loaner for free.
LexTechs took care of me – about 30-40% less than the dealership for major repairs. Solid effort, car running well. I have 130k miles, hopefully they can help me get to 200k.
+1 for LexTech — these guys are great. They do outstanding, quality work and are knowledgeable, honest, prompt, thorough, and reasonably priced. They are also committed to our community and run their business as neighbors as well as professionals. I can’t say enough good things about these guys. They service Toyota and Lexus primarily, but they may also be able to work on other makes/models. It’s worth giving them a call to inquire.
++1 for LexTech
+++1
Summit Auto Service on DeKalb Industrial. Fair pricing and honest assessments. I’ve been going there for years.
Another vote for Summit…I’ve used them for 23 years and have recommended countless friends to them, almost all of whom immediately became regulars.
+1 for Summit!
I would trust my house key to Summit. Honest to a fault.
Edit: I am referring to Summit at 173 DeKalb Industrial Way
Decatur, GA 30030
Don’t know about the one in Scottdale….
RDS Automotive in Scottdale. Not sure they are the cheapest, but very honest and our family has used them for years.
+1 on RDS
generally speaking, once your car is out of warranty, it’s very hard to justify using a dealership for repairs–they’re terribly expensive, and typically far less convenient than local mechanics who do equal if not superior work–especially if they’re certified.
I’ll agree with that up to a point, but I will say there are instances when dealerships can be more convenient. Major repairs can take longer at an independent, I’ve found. And the dealership often has loaner cars if a repair is going to take more than half a day.
I have been very happy with Pete’s Import Garage.
Question about “imports”: Does that term refer only to expensive and/or prestigious import brands or does it include any Honda, Toyota, other non-US brand?
Imports means any non-US brand. But, many of these local mechanics have specialties – some primarily work on German cars, some on Subarus, etc.
True, but it’s an increasingly meaningless distinction give the number of “imports” built on US soil.
So would an “import” place sneer if I brought in an ordinary, low end Toyota or Honda? Would it be an appropriate place to bring one?
I doubt anyone would sneer at you but as DawgFan says, they often specialize in certain makes. An Audi specialist might refer you to a Honda specialist for your repair.
By the way, does anyone know where I can get my Buagatti Veyron looked at? It seemed to hesitate a bit the last time I accelerated past 220 mph.
Broderick’s Foreign Car Service (AKA Frank) has taken care of several generations of Hondas and Toyotas with fantastic value.
I’ll give a plug to Intown Autocare in Oakhurst. I took the truck in for new brakes and a look at the front end. Brian, the owner, called to let me know I didn’t need brakes and things looked good. I did get two new tires and an alignment but the brakes are good enough to get my 16 year old truck into its 17th year. I’m happy the price for the tires and alignment and the honest answer about my brakes.
+1
+2
Yep, Intown Auto in Oakhurst is fantastic. Highly recommended. And convenient as heck.
I use these 4. All are off Ponce or College in Avondale.All are honest and competent.
Karma VW for our 20+ yo van.
Six Star Subaru.
Summit Auto Service for all makes of Asian imports (taken the Subie there too)
Mobley Tire and Auto for tires.
I was rear-ended last year and received excellent service from Gerber Collision. They even gave my car the best detail job it’s ever had — inside and out — for free!
If you own a Subaru and you don’t use Six Star Service, you’re missing one of Decatur’s best. Nobody anywhere knows Subies better than they do.
+1
Love these guys…
I wonder if they can fix the annoying rattling coming from the hatch on my Forester. Apparently this is a notorious problem with newer model Foresters and the dealership (Stivers) had no idea how to fix it or what is causing it.
The light on the clock in my Forester went out. Went to the dealer, was told it would require tearing apart the dashboard to fix it — at a cost of $400. Went to an independent mechanic (not a Subie specialist) and was told it would be a $600 job. So I drove around with it that way for three years. When Six Star opened, I went there for another problem and mentioned the clock light in passing. The owner showed me where the (apparently secret) bulb-replacement access is, then popped a new one in and didn’t charge me a dime. He also tightened up the gussets around my windows (I didn’t even know what they were) and eliminated an annoying wind noise problem. Also free. Yes, I had to pay for him to replace the leaking seals on my brake master cylinder, but I walked out of there feeling like I’d gotten more than my money’s worth. I betcha he can fix that rattle — and that it’s simpler than you would ever imagine.
PS — Are you ex-Sycamore Square Jeff? He had a Forester…
No, that’s not me. I have been to Six Star for oil changes and scheduled service, and they were excellent. I forget why I stopped going there…probably had a coupon at the dealership or something, or maybe a recall issue for the dealer to fix.
I’ve also used Pure for small jobs like oil changes and have been very pleased. For larger jobs, I recommend a different Summit Auto, further down the road at 3484 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. in Scottdale, 404-294-8504. I heard about this shop about 12 years ago during an episode of NPR’s CarTalk in which a woman called in to see if the advice of her mechanic was sound. According to Click and Clack, the advice was spot-on and they were surprised at how honest the mechanic was because his advice was to wait to fix something. At the time, I needed brakes and so I took my car there. I’ve been going there ever since for any major repairs and have always been delighted with the service and the price. If appearances matter, it won’t be the shop for you because it looks like a dump and it’s located behind a tattoo parlor. At one time, they even had some chickens. But the service is good and the prices are quite reasonable.
So Summit Auto is a chain?
No – just similar names. Interesting – what sold me about the “Avondale Summit” was the owner (Mark?)’s tendency to suggest waiting and see-Ing vs fixing.
+1 for Summit in Scottsdale. Mr. Mossavi has been very honest and kind to us over the years.
3484 E. Ponce is his address.
Has anyone found a non-dealer shop that’s knowledgeable and skilled with a Prius?
I have used Atlanta Hybrid Repair on Peachtree Industrial – was very pleased with their service at the old Toyotech location before I bought the Prius, and the new branch is also working out well.
Toyotechs in Chamblee is advertising as a Prius service center now. They are solid on Toyota/Lexus repair and service.
Quantum Mechanics on Talley street have serviced my Prius for years. They love the Prius.
Stratosphere Skateboards in L5P supports SkaterAid, the annual skateboarding, art and music festival, so they are my go-to local board shop.
Bicycle South for bike repairs and parts. Owner Fred Boykin has been an advocate for safe bicycling in Decatur for many years.
+1, have used them many, many times and very satisfied.
++1
For cycling, to my chagrin, I’ve had some spotty experiences with Outback (some good/great, some less so), and pretty much consistently outstanding service from Atlanta Cycling (Ansley). Vargas and Chris are both pretty consistently excellent.
Mobley Tire on East Ponce…. source: I’m a girl who know’s nuthin ’bout cars and have been ripped off more times by car service centers than I care to admit. But Mobley I TRUST and recommend to anyone!
Auto Air Plus on Lawrenceville Highway. These guys are honest, hard-working, and advocates if there is an insurance issue. Fair price for great work. (They do all kinds of auto repair.)
About that shoe repair – you can’t beat Bob’s, 2179 Lawrenceville Highway near North Druid Hills intersection. He has saved several pairs for me at a reasonabe price. 404- 315-9311
Buying parts from rockauto.com and repairing our cars myself is the best deal for the money.
But when the job is too big, I like Six Star (they work on Mazdas, too).
Anyone have a car wash / detail recommendation now that Cactus Car Wash has moved on? The new place (Mr Hot Shine) is not getting good reviews online. Too bad…
Cactus by Ponce City Market? I was just there a week or two ago and didn’t see any changes afoot.
That’s a good sign. It hasn’t been a Cactus Car Wash for at least a few, if not several, months. Do they still have lattes? It seemed decadent to have a California style car wash with lattes and computers with internet access but I have to admit that it was handy.
Dang. I must have really been in my own world that morning. Pretty sure the cacti was still there, along with the Flintstones adobe. I guess that’s where I stopped paying attention.
Ha, ha, fake adobe. I kind of liked the pseudo-Southwestern look for a…….car wash. Does it still have a horno (corner fireplace) going, even in the summer time?
thought you wrote “homo” when referring to the fireplace and was about to get rabidly PC on you.
then i increased my font size
#asabat
#nevermind
More ha, ha. I’ve been learning the “accessibility” features on all my devices to try to magnify things so I don’t have to take out my contact lenses or fish around for my bent “reading” (aka magnifying) glasses all the time. Evidently homo sapiens was evolved to only need close up vision until middle age. After that, the younger members of the tribe were supposed to wait on the presbyopic adults, reading scrolls to them, doing their sewing, picking out the nits from young’uns hair etc.
This is an important question, now that I have a new car which I’ve been using like a third-hand pickup truck for the past month. Would appreciate solid recommendations, willing to travel anywhere from Westside to Scottdale, preferably staying south of Buckhead. Is that place at Scott/Dekalb Ind any good?
I relied on the Ponce/Glen Iris Cactus for years, many years ago (when old car was new and I gave a hoot). But over time, it seemed to go down hill — I used to wonder if they only gave top-tier service to new cars. Then I had a really negative experience at the Cactus on Piedmont about 2 1/2 years ago. Took my car in for detailing and asked them to be sure and clean the trunk, at the end discovered they had sprayed the inside of the trunk with water (but hadn’t cleaned the dead leaves out from around the door), which gave me a fit because the high-end CD changer was located in the trunk–ultimately turned out it was not damaged, but only through sheer luck. Most irksome was that the manager acted like I was being unreasonable to object.
For Mazdas you can’t beat VolMaz just past Suburban Plaza across N. Decatur Rd. David and Jonathan are super as is Lily, the desk important person. Speaking as decades customers – no complaints only compliments. Also they work on BMWs and I’ll take my MINI there when it gets old enough.
Joe Besal, master mechanic at Stiver Subaru. Local boy, PiHi grad. Thirty six years of experience.
(an actual phone conversation, kinda) “Joe,my Check Engine light is showing. I can’t spend much on this repair because my health insurance is about to quadruple thanks to you know who. Can you keep it under $1,000? Joe called me the next day. “Faulty switch. No charge”.
Trust your mechanic (not that other guy).
Yep, it’s all Obama’s fault. Bet he was also behind that faulty switch. Just ask Fox News.