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Advanced Autowerks
Rating Details »
Category: Auto Repair [Edit]
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill1218 Michigan St
(between 24th St & 25th St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 901-7270
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
142 reviews for Advanced Autowerks
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
Updated - 3/26/2009
11/20/2009
11/3/2009
9/21/2009
11/4/2009
Updated - 10/11/2009
10/2/2009
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Updated - 6/30/2009
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Updated - 9/8/2009
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Updated - 9/13/2008
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11/21/2007
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
Every time I come here, I find a new reason to like these guys.
Seriously, its almost comical.
They find issues that the dealer never seems to know about, and they have never screwed anything up for me.
I even run into these guys when I'm out on the town!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/11/2007
I can finally say that there is a VW place in SF that doesn't suck, and isn't run by morons. These… Read more »
Ok, before i star my story, i have to say these guy are clean, smart and give good service, but they are not cheap. If you are looking for a deal, this is not the place for you, but if you need to keep your Euro car running for longer than 10 years you need a good mechanic who knows what to look for in your particular car.
So i bought my girlfriend a car for her new job in the south bay and since i got it off of Craigslist i decided to get it checked over. Let me first say, i have not owned a car since 94 and have been either using public transport, motorcycle or my trusty bike. so when i had to find a place i did a lot of research.
Advanced Autowerks came highly recommended by several people and yes, the Yelp reviews helped.
I brought it in and had them give me a once over and told them about a few issues i wanted them to check. Breaks, transmission and alignment. I think you get the picture.
Anyway, they found fuids were low in the transmission, back light was out, AC hose out and the fuel injector was not properly distributing O2 into the fuel mix. Well, that was unexpected, but it made sense due to the way the car was behaving.
I liked that they were through and looked for issues and were cool to look and not charge. I know most shops do that, but they were cool about it and it made me feel well serviced.
Anyway, they made the fixes and teh car is running much better. =)
Extremely professional and down to earth guys who run a very tight ship over there in Potrero.
My car died on me last week and having serviced it myself for the last couple of years I simply hadn't got the time so decided to drop it off here after a recommendation by a friend. A day later they called me and explained exactly what was wrong with my car after spending what I would guess at least 1.5 hrs diagnosing everything that was wrong with it.
After returning to the shop I was brought out to my car and was shown exactly what each issue was and they explained to me in detail on what it would take to fix each item. As I stated above I have spent a great deal of time servicing this car in the past myself, and was able to see that his evaluation of the car was bang on. Simply put, it's the first time I've left a car in somewhere and received honest feedback about what is wrong and what needs to be fixed. The prices they were charging for each item to be fixed seemed very fair and it was broken up into "parts + labor", which made it easier to see where the major expense was.
Unfortunately my car wasn't worth repairing but these guys listed everything that was wrong with it. They could have easily just got me back on the road and not listed the other major problems with the car. Instead I received a thorough evaluation of all issues with my car.
Best of all about these guys is that I wasn't charged a single penny for they work they carried out. I felt bad not giving them any business, but they can be assured that I'll be back with my next car and will recommend them to all my VW & Audi friends, and being European I have quite a few of those.
In summary, if you want hassle, large repair bills, bullshit repair salesmen then take your car over to Royal Motors....... If you're looking for honesty and a pleasurable experience I highly recommend these guys.
I promise I'll be back guys,
Thanks,
Paul.
Very disappointed with their last 'service'. We've been taking our Audi A4 Avant to Advanced Autowerks since we bought it over two years ago. All good so far - although we never bothered to compare prices for their services.
This time, my husband and I were debating to fix the A/C in our car. They quoted us approx $800. Which was a lot for us considering that you hardly need A/C in S.F.. We agreed to do it anyways.
The final invoice turned out to be $1,300! They 'forgot' to quote the labor. We'd never agreed to get a new A/C for that price and are bummed that there's nothing we can do besides taking our car to another shop where a quote includes ALL the costs involved to fix the car's problem.
I have known Randy for years. I still come
Here for service when it's not under warranty. These guys will not bs you. Audi and VWs break - these guys fix em and unlike royal motors won't bullshit you and overcharge. They also will give you a ride, which royal will not. I've had three audi cars and I wouldn't take my car anywhere else for work (although now it's just oil changes as my car is new).
The owner, Randy, tried contacting me to make things right. Nice of him to offer, however I sold the car months ago.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/15/2009
What a terrible experience. After a simple oil change these monkeys failed to secure the engine… Read more »
Love this place! Fantastic customer service. They never take advantage of a clueless car owner with dumb questions and imaginary car problems (me). Totally helpful and totally normal people.
All I can say is, when I know I have to take my car into the shop, I throw up in my mouth a little bit. I HATE dealing with my car and it's issues. As a single woman who knows nothing about cars, I turn into a one year old when I walk into a car shop. Completely vulnerable and insecure. Basically speechless with a little bit of drool.
Then one day I walked into Advanced Audi-Volkswagen and my car shop fears disappeared. It's a very nice feeling to find a place that you feel comfortable in, trust and actually like going to. Everyone, especially Randy, is really friendly, down to earth, professional and helpful. Their customer service is great. They offered to pick me up at home and even offered me a rental car.
Plus, they have mini cupcakes and free keychains. Rad!
Thanks guys!
This my new benchmark for customer service. Fantastic experience, good prices and helpful people. New home for the my v-dub.
My experience here was excellent. They answered all of my questions and were very helpful and professional. They fixed my car in a timely manner and didn't try to sell me on a bunch of other repairs. They did point out some things that I probably want to have done in the future but they were not pushy about it.
Finding a mechanic that you feel is competent and honest is difficult but essential. I would recommend these guys wholeheartedly and I will go back again with complete confidence.
Randy and team are very knowledgeable, dedicated, and extremely communicative. Great folks to know and I'd recommend them to anyone with an Audi or VW.
Advanced I love you, but what's up with not being able to fit me in for a simple oil change until 7/8!? I always call a day ahead and Randy gets my car right in, no problems. Called today, and Rick said he could maybe squeeze me in on 7/7. Problem is, I'm driving up to the Sierras for a 4th of July weekend getaway.
I really don't trust anyone else with my car, but you've forced me to get my oil changed at another mechanic.
Sorry dudes, -1 star.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/22/2008
The guys at Advanced Audi keep my high millage A4 (140,000 miles!) running like it was just driven… Read more »
Still awesome! I am seriously thankful to have these guys around and my 12 yr old Jetta is too. I recommend them to all my VW and Audi driving friends.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/20/2007
Yelpers were right on here! Good guys, good care and fair prices. I actually paid less than they… Read more »
I think these guys might have bailed me out of a helluva problem with my Passat. One of those lurking electrical shorts, very tough to sort out. Anyway, they told me they spent 9 hours tracing down the problem, but only charged me for 5.5hr since I was a new customer. Cool.
I was a little annoyed tho, when I found a $150 charge for a car battery on the invoice. I didn't know car batteries could cost that much. If I had been them, I'd have charged 6hrs, and halved the battery cost. They also called me the second day to tell me they forgot to replace an engine panel. Kinda odd.
That said, I agree with most of the postings here. The shop is run by pros, no doubt.
I found these guys through Google maps and called in for an estimate, where I had a horrible experience. Imagine my surprise when I look them up on Yelp after the call, and find out they had 4.5 stars?
I called to get a quote on replacing the door handle of my 97 Jetta b/c the lock had broken and I needed to get the entire door handle/lock replaced. When I asked whether they were able to give out estimates, the person on the phone flatly said "No." They said they needed more information before quoting a cost. I described exactly what had happened and also what 4 other repair shops told me that needed to be fixed. He said that I would still need to bring it in. I was getting a little frustrated at this point, as I was just looking to get a number, so I asked for a BALLPARK figure or tell me what's the worst case scenario for a job of this nature, to which he replied "one million dollars." Nonetheless, I thanked him for his (albeit useless) time, and hung up.
At the conclusion of this call, I was thinking, ok, I guess they don't give out phone estimates. Then imagine my surprise when I pull up their Yelp reviews, where various users not only have received phone estimates, but they've actually completed them on coming in UNDER budget?!
I understand where he's coming from in that he's hesitant to give out estimates over the phone b/c customers usually hold garages to it, and it may provide a nasty situation later on if the cost of repairs is over the estimate. On the flip side, for customers that know exactly what is wrong w/ their car, calling in is the BEST way for them to get a variety of estimates on the job to be done. I know what's wrong w/ my car, and I know exactly what I need to fix. I don't even have keyless on my car, I just need the door handle w/ lock replaced.
No one is going to DRIVE around to 5-10 diff shops and wait at each one, until a tech can look at the problem. Who has that sort of time?
I was under the impression that they would provide excellent customer service over the phone, but I received everything but. His answers were short, curt, filled with sarcasm, and he had absolutely no desire to actually want to help me resolve my issue. They definitely need to be taught a thing or two in customer service, or at least have someone who is able to answer the phone in a professional manner.
1 star is harsh, yeah, but judging from the short 2 min conversation I had w/ the gentleman (overstatement) on the other line, it was well deserved. The comment of "one million dollars" definitely pushed me over the line. I'd be fine if he was joking, but, sadly, he wasn't. How can you even get a customer to bring their car in the shop if you can't even convince them over the phone?
Another satisfied experience from start to finish. A little more expensive repair than I anticipated on my Audi Allroad but I NEVER feel like I am being gouged or being taken advantage of. The guys in the office and in the shop are first class. See you for my 60K check up.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/6/2009
I remember my first yelp of Advanced Audi...I said I thought I should play the lottery.
Dateline:… Read more »
Sunday 12:30pm: Intersection Folsom/Fremont, the alternator in my 2004 VW Jetta takes its last spin, and kaput there goes my battery with it. After the nice men roll me and my dog, Q, through the intersection to safety, I call for help.
My insurance company recommended towing to Advanced Audi VW, and I obliged, crossing my fingers hoping that it was the right decision. I left my keys in the drop-box in what honestly seemed like somewhat of a sketchy area, and got a reassuring, professional call first thing Monday morning. Randy was honest and upfront about what my car needed and what it would cost.
At this point I'm stoked that I bought that extended warranty! I even call the VW dealer to confirm how warranties work and am so relieved to hear the reassurance that I have to be covered. Randy's nice voice still makes my heart break when he tells me my extended warranty expired 12 days ago. 12 F'ING DAYS?!!! Ouch that hurt; me and my bank account. Side note- Seriously, go figure..right? I'm convinced manufacturers have this down to a science. That was just too ironic and timely.
Luckily my friend's dad was able to get me an alternator at cost and my bank account is grateful that Randy was so cool about it, even if it meant less markup for him.
After checking the Yelp ratings and reviews for Advanced Audi/VW, I felt that much more confident that my car was in the right hands and I wasn't getting ripped off.
Since my car was towed during a time when they were closed, I took the Muni T line to meet these "hot" men who the rest of you have yelped about...and yep, I'll be going back to Advanced Audi-VW again.
Next time, however, my keys aren't going in the drop-box, I'm handing them to the hot men myself ;)
I previously took my car to Royal Motors and received an estimate for almost $600. Royal Motors couldn't fix it and had me wait 2 weeks to order the part from overseas. In the meantime, I called Advanced Audi and schedule an appointment the next day. They fixed the problem in one day day for less than $250 and it turns out that none of the parts Royal Motors claimed needed replacing actually did.
These guys are a class act and know what they're doing. From now on, I'm going to Advanced Audi for any future car repairs. With so many import car garages ripping people off, its nice to finally find a garage I can actually trust!!
Complimentary shuttle service to and from work, friendly and expert service (they didn't even charge me when they checked out my problematic catalytic converter), and CUPCAKES! They even made an appointment with the VW dealer because the catalytic converter warranty was extended so I didn't get charged for that either.
I was very impressed with the high level of customer service, honesty and generosity exhibited by Advanced Audi & Volkswagen. I have already referred a friend to use them.
Advanced Audi is "a breath of fresh air", "the complete polar opposite", "the good twin", "the angel"...compared to Royal Motors...
I've finally switched over after my 80k service with them. Here's why:
1. They don't treat you like a number and rush you out. RATHER, they take their time with you and make you feel very welcomed.
2. They don't spew out auto terminology at you followed by $$$$$. RATHER, they are open and honest about what your car needs and what it doesn't need.
3. They don't give you a $10 cab refund which only lasts halfway downtown. RATHER, they have a shuttle that takes you from the shop to anywhere in the city and BACK.
So here's to you Royal Motors...ADIOS...I found a new friend...
First off, at the risk of sounding rational... I don't care what my mechanic looks like.
I guess I'm just not like the other reviewers; I'm not a desperate housewife with no idea how a car works. Before moving to the city, I used to do all the regular maintenance on my cars (oil changes, brakes, fluids, etc.). Now that I don't have a garage to work in, I'm a bit stuck, so I wouldn't mind paying for a shop to do the work.
However, I do mind when an independent shop that has a 4.5 star rating on yelp charges me 2 hours @ $120 / hr when I know the work takes an hour at maximum!
I go in for front brake service since the brake indicator light is on. They say I need to change pads and rotors (which I know is not true. even if the rotors are scored, they can be turned quickly with a lathe, which any decent shop should probably have). Fine, you want to give me new rotors, that's cool.
The part I'm not cool with is that: 1. they treat me like I'm an idiot (maybe that's what most of their customers are) 2. they charge insane prices and don't admit it, and 3. first they say "audi recommends replacing pads and rotors, that's how all audi brake jobs are done" then they say "oh, actually, audi dealers usually just replace the pads."
Uh oh, I actually called the audi dealer. And they quoted me the same price for brake service (yes pads and rotors) as these guys - so why would I go to these guys?
I called Sokol over at http://euro-motor-cars.../ and he gave me a much more reasonable estimate for the same service - $100 cheaper. And he told me the truth: I don't need new rotors, I can get them simply resurfaced if they're really bad.
So, at the end of the day, I don't care who looks like who from Dawson's Creek. I just want good HONEST service from a well trained mechanic who doesn't try to BS customers. Looks like I'll be going elsewhere in the future - maybe I can find a place where the mechanics are hot chicks. Yeah, that'll be worth an instant 5 stars :P
UPDATE 9/3/2008 (upgraded from 1 star to 3 stars):
Aaron, one of the owners of the shop, gave me a call (after reading this review) and we talked about my experience. He was pretty nice on the phone and it's pretty clear these guys do care about customer service.
So, I'm going to give these guys another try next time I need service; hopefully you'll see another update upgrading my rating again. We'll see :)
These guys are knowledgeable and extremely helpful. They answered all my questions and went above and beyond to try to diagnose an intermittent issue with my transmission. Awesome!
Randy and the team at Advanced are a godsend. They were able to quickly diagnose my VW New Beetle that had suffered through multiple failed repairs at another shop in town, and had the expertise and relationships to bring everything to a great conclusion. I couldn't recommend them more highly.
The single best service experience I've had to date in California period. I wish every business I interact with was as service oriented as Advanced.
Estimates are fair. Explanation of service, mechanics, etc. are thorough. If you're on a budget they'll point out the essentials versus the items that can wait for another day. Employees at courteous, friendly and sharp.
Courtesy shuttles are available as are free tokens for MUNI.
In past experiences they've stayed late for me to pick up my car. On another occasion they not only fixed my car so I could get my smog check done on time later in the week, they took it to be smogged for me... all in the same day before I picked i up.
Fantastic service!
So I'm cruising along after picking a friend up from the airport when I notice, to my consternation, that my Jetta's battery warning light has come on. This is concerning because, although I have seen a veritable christmas tree on my dash before, this particular light is new. We get to our other friend's house and as we're over in the parking lane idling, waiting for her to come out - the car just putters out and dies. Turns off. Won't crank.
Fuck.
Mind you, it's Saturday night and I've got two girls here waiting to go out and my car, my baby machine that has my own blood mixed in between the threads along with Loctite Blue and who knows what else, has just shut off with no indication of why.
Well that's not entirely true. I had the battery light and the other symptoms, from which I deduced my alternator had had the gall to up and die on me.
I brought my crippled stallion into Advanced and in short time they set her right. Replaced my alternator, and at my request refreshed her oil and raised the front suspension 1/2". Reasonable rates, really cool guys, and no problems.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/26/2008
Advanced did a really thorough job on my one-time best friend, an '03 Jetta 1.8T. I say "one-time"… Read more »
Based on the great Yelp reviews I took my Volkswagen Passat to Advanced Audi & VW. The service there has been good on both visits I have had.
This week, they were excellent about letting me know what my options were. Unlike some places they don't find something wrong with your car just to rack up your bill.
They only have one shuttle run to drop you off in the morning so if you want a ride you have to get there early or you are SOL. I find the T line on the muni at 23rd is very convenient to them so I can avoid the whole suppershuttle effect of going all over town when I need to get to work.
My jetta is officially a piece of crap after getting hit by a bus last year. As I am a poor starving grad student and AC Transit has declined to pay me for their driver's idiocy, I am on a tight budget when it comes to car repairs.
When the poor car needed new spark plug wires to pass smog, I called around to get quotes for the part. The guys at Advanced Audi & VW were friendly and helpful on the phone, gave me a cheaper price than I could find even on the internet, and set aside the part for me and had it waiting when I came to pick it up (unlike Karmakanix in Berkeley, where half the time I showed up and the part they said they had wasn't even there...)
Best of all, they didn't bat an eyelash at me doing the work myself. They didn't try to convince me that they should do it, or ask to see my fingernails first (to make sure I wouldn't break a nail?? Karmakanix, I'm talking to you.), or talk to me like a three year old.
I'm planning on going back to get a replacement for the broken part inside the driver's side door that makes my alarm go off every time I start the car, and would happily pay them to fix anything I couldn't do myself. Well, maybe I wouldn't be THAT happy about it. But I'd trust them.
Would it be wrong to patronize a repair/service shop because they owners and guys who work there are hot? If so, I don't ever want to be right.
But seriously, these guys seem to know their stuff, are straightforward, honest, (and yes, dammit, nice to look at).
I can't believe I've been taking my car to Royal Motors for so long and never bothered to check Yelp. Could've saved tons of time and money had I done my research. The biggest plus of bringing my car to Advanced is that they don't simply plug your car into that "diagnostic computer system" and then charge $300 to tell you your gas cap is loose. I had a number of issues with my car and decided I had enough of Royal Motors- and tried Advanced. Aaron was very friendly and personable and immediately gave his thoughts on what may be wrong with my car (strange wax smell in my car...he thought a plastic bag may have melted in the exhaust)... In anycase, they treat you well and speak to you in layman's terms as opposed to trying to pretend that there are lots of technical issues with your car.
Their billing is easy to understand- and I was happy to give them my money as they fixed a number of problems and didn't charge me for things that were no-brainers (loose gas cap causing engine check light to come on).
They also have a shuttle that will drop you off where ever you need to go in the morning- this is very helpful, and the drivers are really nice, which I appreciate.
One thing I would suggest to Advanced is to offer a basic vacuum/car wash, as I'm sure most customers would pay extra for that just so they can come back and pick up a nice clean car. (Although I'm not a fan of Royal Motors- I guess they were able to clean my car "for free" because they were overcharging me on everything else).
Thank you Advanced, thank you Yelp.
after figuring out the error code that was making me fail smog, googling to figure out how to fix it, staring blankly under the hood of my car and then crying because i am not the competent woman i thought i was, i called randy and told him what i needed. he assured me he'd try his hardest to do the cheap repair. i hate b.s. my family members were mostly blue-collar auto workers. as the "rebel" i drive a volkswagen. i maybe should've listened to my grandpa, however chevrolet cars aren't much better. but i digress...
i ended up needing the costly new part but they explained WHY the old part didn't work - nobody in my past mechanic experience has ever done that! their customer service was awesome, i didn't feel weird leaving my car there overnight and they have a shuttle service that picked me up at work. i didn't leave with 6 other repairs i didn't want and the shop was SO clean.
if you're a VW or audi owner and want a mechanic you can trust, give these guys a call!
They fixed the mystery problem with my car and were helpful, accommodating and friendly -- alllll qualities I look for when dropping half a mortgage payment on something that I'd rather not need.
Bonus: One of the mechanics looks like Pacey from Dawson's Creek. But, like, hot. And for the record, I wasn't a Pacey fan (or a Dawson fan, for that matter), but there's something about Pacey + mechanic that = YES PLEASE.
But blah blah blah...enough with the objectifying of men. This is a serious review, I swear.
Five stars for giving me a warm, fuzzy feeling about driving my car for another six years.
Minus one star for the patchouli incense they have going on in the waiting area. Seriously you guys...if I wanted my hair to smell like hippies I'd spend more time in the Haight.
Plus one star for being so damn nice and explaining everything for me eighty seven times.
Grand Total = 5 stars
Bottom line: GOD FORBID anything else happens to my car any time soon, but if it does, I'd definitely go back.
Last summer, I bought an old school Jetta banger. The car was in a pretty good state but the guy sold it for only one grand since it was vibrating between 56MPH and 61 MPH. My initial plan was to invest another grand in mechanic to get rid of these vibration and have a revision.
So i yelped and was quickly attracted by that place displayed on the very top of my results. The outstanding number of positive reviews sounded attractive, and when I called to take a reservation, they were fully booked for the next two weeks! That sounded pretty promising ..
A sunny morning, 3 weeks later, I finally got there and briefed the technician about my issues. They'd call me during the day to give me a quote, I'd either give the GO or pay the quote. The deal sounded good! They even gave me a free ride back to the city, At that point, comfortably seated in their van, I remember closing my eyes, imagining this banger transporting my ass at substandard speed, across the 30-miles strip mall that separates my office to SF, with a noise level that wouldn't cover my music ... freedom! american dream!
Well, they never called me, so I called them, and they said in a weird way "oh yeah, it's ready, you can take it this evening". When I came, the car was still parked at the same place (the meter displayed exactly the same mileage, floating point portion included) and the guy said "so ... dont fix it .. dont spend the dollar .. just drive it till it dies or buy a new car". I asked how much i owed them and they said zero!
At the beginning, I thought that this free advice was the result of the technique I always use when I deal with services whose prices are highly volatiles (mechanic, locksmith, car glass ..). In fact, since prices are virtual on these markets, you usually have a better quote if you appear non-wealthy. An old adage says that one of the few benefits of poverty is that it preserves you from the thieves.
Well, I was kinda wrong anyways, a month later, my father gave me a lesson of aerodynamics and explained me that removing that ugly ski rack I had on the top would not only improve my mileage, but would radically modify the equilibrium of the car, thus could theoretically fix the problem. My father was right, and all the vibrations vanished!
So why do I give them 3 stars instead of 1?
* they were friendly
* they gave me a free ride back to the city
* they were semi-honest in the sense that they lied to me but didn't take a single dollar.
I have dealt with mechanics in various parts of the world, the only thing that actually vary is their skills and the way they achieve their goals. And for me the most impressive mechanics are the ones you find in the middle-east and south asia. Now there is something absolutely constant in that business (and most services where as a customer, you have no technical insight), the absence of honesty and integrity and virtual prices. So as a conclusion, I recommend Advanced Audi because they are semi-honest.
Randy is always super helpful every time I've brought my car in. He's even comp a few small things as a thank you for my business. In this current economy I totally appreciate him doing that. These guys rock and are always super reliable! Oh and one of their clients brings in mini sample goodies to advertise her new bakery business so you get to knosh on yummy chocolate cupcakes while you wait!
Thoroughly disappointed.
I went in to get an oil change. Just an oil change. Randy was very cool on the phone. However, when I got there, some other dude checked me in. And when I told him the model year of my car (pretty OLD), he started salivating and I could see the dollar signs in his eyes.
He was condescending and smarmy and immediately started listing all the things I needed for my car--starting with an 80K mile service.
Um, no, my car had nowhere near 80K miles on it. (And yeah, I try to take public transportation when I can.) He was totally deflated when I told him the actual mileage and that I was updated on all service. He literally swallowed his tongue at this point.
When I left my car there, I was actually concerned something might go "wrong" with the car in their care, costing much more than an oil change. It was a pleasant surprise that the garage wasn't THAT dishonest, I got a really bad vibe from the guy.
When I picked up my car, the same guy had toned down a bit, probably due to my 6'6 husband accompanying me. But he did tell me that the timing belt looked a bit worn. Fair enough.
I asked him for a quote. I was strongly leaning against ever patronizing the place again, but with the high Yelp ratings I was considering giving them a second chance.
The quote was EXTREMELY HIGH. But his cheap scare tactics of how my car could be ruined if I didn't get it fixed SOON ended the deal. Also, their quote was 4 TIMES MORE than what I eventually paid for the repair.
Plus, their prices were not competitive with the dealer (outside SF) I had taken my car to for years until I moved. And I never once worried that something would happen to my can in their care.
Oh, and he would barely tell me where they parked my car--which ended up being at a red curb around the corner. Nice.
One star...because Randy was very professional when I made my appointment. Otherwise, I would never recommend this place to anyone.
What can I say? These guys are keepin' my TDI running solid and damn, they know their stuff. Friendly, professional. Awesome.
Love this place.
We've been taking our Audi and VW to Royal for years and have felt ripped off the entire time. Finally there's a local, honest, detailed and affordable place to take our cars.
I heart Randy, Aaron and Kevin.
I can never stay mad at them for long. Yes, they forgot to call me to give me a status on my car. Yes, they forgot to include me in the shuttle pick-up and I had to wait around for pickup for an extra hour. But as soon as I finally made it to the shuttle and was greeted by Kevin with a warm smile and some ambient toons (Kevin will be buried with his ipod), my surly attitude subsided and I had to go back to loving these guys.
Only 4 stars cause they have, on occasion been a bit flighty. But they are totally above the line and they make taking my car to the shop an adventure. And most importantly, they are all totally hot MILF's (Mechanics I'd like to F*K). The world needs more of that. My world anyway.
And incidentally, they always do a great job fixing my car for a fair price and are honest about what really needs to be fixed vs. dealership "guidelines". I like that in a mechanic. But all other things being equal, the shops overall mojo pushes them over the edge.
To preface this review, I will say that writing about a good mechanic is kind of like writing about finding a good dentist...no matter how good they are, you never want to have to see them.
That being said, I have been going to Aaron, Randy, and the crew at Advanced for about 4 years now for my late 90's A4. I was referred to them by a friend who is a big car buff. They have always been very friendly, accommodating, and have given me good advice--even when it at times meant not spending more money. I do get a bit of sticker shock whenever I go there, but I'm guessing it's as much the fact that it's a foreign car, and not as much that they overcharge. And if they do run a bit pricier than the average garage, I think that the added customer service and professionalism is worth it...and that going the extra mile up front has prevented the "Big" problems on my high-mileage car.
A definite thumbs-up to these guys.
I've been bring my Audi A4 to these guys for years. Sometimes they're a bit gruff, and as much as I love their motto-racing/snowboarding attitude, make no mistake they run a tight ship and are in the business to make money. But that said, they always charge a fair price, tell you like it is, and are as honest as one can expect from your auto mechanic, given that the whole process of fixing your car is a business ripe with potential to bilk you. I've recommended them to 4 others and will continue to do so. You don't get your car washed and there are no roses waiting for you (like Royal Motors) but I trust these guys and that's what counts.
Yes, I own a VW. Yes, it's my second one. Yes, I've owned better cars. Yes, I think they put drugs in the upholstery to keep you coming back for more.
After my first service, I programmed them into my cell. Which came in handy on the way back from Tahoe. Not even 1/3 of the way down the hill, all of the lights came on on the Terminator's dashboard. Brake light, seatbelt light, some triangle arrow with a circle in it, the center readout flashed the word "Stop" in big red letters, then it said "Brake Failure". I saw my life flash in front of me. I was sad that I never finished that macrame toaster cozy. Then I remembered my cell phone and had the Love of My Life dial Advanced.
Snookums: "They probably won't answer"
Me: "Yes they will"
Snookums: "They probably don't speak english"
Me: "Yes they do"
Snookums: "They'll probably say they can't help, and we'll have to bring it in. We're going to die"
Me:"Just call them"
Randy answered right away. Randy speaks English.
Snookums:"Hi, my girlfriend brings her car to you. She has a 2001 Passat"
Pause.
Snookums:"Yeah, Bunny" He looked confused. He told Randy what was happening.
Pause.
Snookums:"So, we're ok? The brakes aren't failing?
Pause.
Snookums:"It's just a fuse? You're sure. Should she come in tomorrow?"
Pause.
Snookums:"Ok man. Thanks. She always says you're great."
The Love of My Life - who doesn't even drive a car - would give Advanced 5 stars too.
They don't up sell. They don't scare you. They are friendly and honest. They speak English as a first language. They are cute.
