San Francisco Auto Repair Center

06/05/2008 Posted by mb46

My interaction with this place sent up a big red flag. I called to get a quote for a fairly significant repair. I explained that I had already received a diagnosis of the problem by a dealer service center here in the city, had a quote, and was shopping for the best price. Instead of simply giving me a quote, the guy on the phone played the game of first wanting me to name the quote given by the dealer. I told him that I wasn't going to negotiate that way, and that he should simply give me the best quote he could and still make a reasonable profit. He refused unless I would give him the other quote. After going back and forth like this 3 times, he told me, "It's customers like you we don't need." And hung up on me. No joke. The ironic thing is that I actually have been a customer in the past. Needless to say, that's the end of that relationship. I called 3-4 other places the same day to shop around (with a resulting price spread of several hundred dollars) and, perhaps not surprisingly, everyone was quite straightforward about giving me a quote. It's the sort of thing auto repair shops and potential customers do hundreds of times every day. I think the episode was quite telling; it evidences a business philosophy that values looking for some angle to play (albeit in a rather unsophisticated way) instead of basic candor and respect. There are many, many auto shops in this city; I wouldn't deal with guys like this.

02/23/2007 Posted by xzeezeex

These guys are out to take your money. I've had an overheating problem with my 92 VW and have had to take it back to them three times. They still haven't figured it out and every time I bring my car in, the make a laundry list of parts that need replacing. Guys, my car is a '92, of course sh**t needs replacing. But do I look like I want to pump $1000 into my car every month? The clincher for me was the last time I brought it in after it started to overheat on the way back from their shop. The guy calls me and tells me that my water pump is making noise and that I should replace it. Also that since they have to go in through this certain way, that I should replace the timing belt while I'm at it (it's only 3 yrs, 7,000 miles old).... for a total of $1200. After a ten minute conversation I finally got out of them that all I really needed was a new thermostat. It's like pulling teeth with them... To top it, the water pump is NOW making noise. It wasn't when I brought it in.... They also took 6 days just to get my car back to me.... These guys are either grossly incompetent or blatantly crooks. They are the mechanic equivalent of vampires. Don't trust them. ---- update 2/23/07 my car ended up having a cracked engine, and i had to donate it to charity b/c it was unfixable. the crooks at SF auto repair mentioned in passing that this "might be a possibility" while suggesting a list of other things i should think about fixing first. what kind of dishonest people would recommended getting new freakin' brakes on a car that might well be ready to be junked?

Pros: Nice guys, on the surface.

Cons: Dishonest, disingenuous, disgraceful.

05/25/2006 Posted by gos377

Made an appointment & dropped the car off for routine maintenance. They charged an hour labor ($112) for each item. emmisions control, coolant flush, steering flush, remove rotors for resurfacing, front brake pads. and cost of "kits" ($49.95) for each flush. they said they called to give me a total. no record on my phone of message or call. Wiper-blades needed changing. I said I'd change them myself. He charged me $39 & argued when I wanted the money & the wipers back. They put in the wrong coolant, and insisted that it'd be fine even if I put water in. (My car now overheats in traffic.) The brakes became spongey--he said that's "new brake pads settling." I ride an old motorbike, I know what air in brakelines feels like. After over $900, fixing "nothing wrong with the brakes" and bad attitude, I was offered a free oil change. right.

Pros: Jerry might be ok, easy to get to by bus

Cons: expensive, crowded, jerk manager

05/25/2006 Posted by artmac

A cool little shop hidden in one of the last industrial sections of the Mission. The shop used to be hidden behind some great art covered walls but the city made them paint over the "grafitti". Behind the door is an eclectic mix of modern diagnostic equipment and post '60s chic. They area GOLD SHIELD smog station, meaning they can certify gross polluters. That's how I found them, when my old Dodge failed smog BADLY. Jerry and his gang had me fixed up and smogged in 1 day. Sometimes things take longer, like my brakes took overnight....but I got a bagle on Friday for my troubles! I will never go anywhere else!

Pros: open 7 days, friendly, BAGELS!

Cons: not cheap

04/20/2006 Posted by mel9440

I have an '02 Chrysler and the air bag light has flashed since I got the car a year ago. Dealer looked at it a few times and charged me for it but couldn't make the light go away. SF Auto Repair fixed it! It took a few days but they figgered it out! And then they told me about two other problems on my car that were covered by the factory even though I am past my warranty. They could have sold me this other stuff but they sent me to the dealer to get it fixed free! Very cool of them.

Pros: Ride to Work, Pick up FROM work, Capapble

Cons: Busy Busy shop

03/09/2006 Posted by aweedman

I am mid-level on this garage. I brought my car in there and spent several thousand dollars on it. They did a good job but I can't get rid of the feeling that I was being taken advantage of. I never have gotten that feeling at my favorite shop in town (Cole Garage).

01/10/2006 Posted by blang

Just got back from this shop and my smog passed. They run a sale on the weekend for a smog test: $29.95 including smog certificate. My car needed a new gas cap (oops I left it at Gas City when I filled it up! duh...) But I was in and out in 25 minutes with a passed smog for less than $30 bucks! I am definitely gonna try them when I need work on my car.

Pros: fast, nice, interesting business

Cons: small sign

12/10/2005 Posted by drhenrywu

I had two experiences with these guys - both bad. The first involved an old muscle car that needed a drum brake overhaul. The quality of the work was fine but the bill was heavily padded. I was charged for parts I supplied and overbilled on other parts. The bill also contained misc. items that were clearly inaccurate like four cans of Brake-kleen. Who on earth uses four cans of Brake-clean for a drum replacement?!! My second experience was while getting my car smogged. It was Sunday and they were the only ones open. They told me that my Porsche would cost 2x as much to test because the spark plugs were hidden. You do not have to access the spark plugs for a smog test. It was just another excuse to pad the bill. What a bunch of liars.

Pros: Always open, Never busy

Cons: Dishonest

06/07/2005 Posted by jdejoya

Very professional, friendly service. They even delivered my car to my house!

11/18/2003 Posted by tahoebjd

The good news is that when I found the place, I did feel like these guys knew what they were talking about. This time I went in for a smog, and the wait was a little longer than stated (par for the course with shops). They do not guarantee that you'll pass and they do not offer you a refund if you don't. The price for the smog was $93 after tax - be sure to use their online coupon for $10 off a smog if that's out of your budget.

Pros: Friendly, Knowledgeable

Cons: Tad bit expensive