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Advanced Autowerks
Category: Automotive Auto Repair Auto Repair [Edit]
1218 Michigan St(between 24th St & 25th St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
(415) 901-7270
Announcement
Advanced Autowerks now provides the same high quality level of service for Mini Cooper automobiles as we do for Audi and Volkswagen !
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 7 am - 6 pm
236 reviews for Advanced Autowerks
236 reviews in English
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Review from daten s.
San Francisco, CA
4/25/2012
I've not written a ton of reviews of late on Yelp however I am going to give you the scoop on Advanced Autowerks. My car needed a pair of oxygen sensors installed and some other routine service done on it. The dealer cost estimates were a little off-putting which resulted in me letting a couple of little repairs pile up as well. Enter Toby, a technician at Advanced. I met him in a non-business setting and started to ask questions after he said he worked here.
Cut to the chase, I bring my car in. The next day ALL the service was done for a whole lot less than the dealer was going to charge me. It was done right and now I get about 15% better gas mileage that before the work was done. Given the current price of fule I should have come here sooner.
The shop is clean, everyone who works here is friendly. I've referred several of my friends who have also gone in for brakes, exhaust work and general "engine light comes on" stuff. They all report a similar experience - no hassle, quality work at affordable prices. Dealers make me cringe because I'm always afraid of getting taken to the cleaners. I don't worry about that here!
Thanks guys! -
Review from Sharp T.
San Francisco, CA
5/3/2012
They only thing advanced is the price.
I called Advanced Autowerks based on the great reviews other yelpers have left. I'm glad I did, so I could avoid being ripped off. The alternator in my 2000 Jetta (2.0L 4 cyl.) died. I called and talked to a friendly sounding individual. He then proceeded to tell me that the alternator alone costs over $400, and that the alternator would have to be matched to a very specific type based off the VIN number. WTF?!?! The over the phone estimate was around $800. The good news is that I could bring the car in the next morning! Umm, no, pass, I'm a good enough grease monkey to know that an alternator isn't that big a deal. I only called to avoid laying on the cold ground and getting greasy. (Okay, I'm lazy.) So I order a replacement Bosch alternator online (probably the same one they were going to charge me over $400 for) and picked up a serpentine belt too, may as well change that while I'm at it. Total for the two (with tax and shipping) less then $300. These are Bosch parts, same supplier VW uses, so I'm not going cheap. Once they arrive, it takes all of an hour and a half with basic hand tools and we're good. So to recap, if you're okay with giving these fine folks an extra, say $500 dollars, then call them up. They'll be happy to squeeze you.. in right away. -
Review from Shawn C.
San Francisco, CA
2/11/2012
I'm not in the habit of writing positive reviews. Any reviews for that matter....
After a half dozen or so appointments with these cats, each one of them better than the last... I can tell you that my next vehicle is going to have to be another Audi or Volkswagen, just so that I can have these guys work on my car!
I could go into detail about all of the great ways these guy's do there job with sincerity and professionalism but others here have given you enough reason to drop your mechanic and start using these folks... I'll just leave you with a little story that happened to me yesterday:
Me: "Hey Randy, do you guy's sell those (Advanced Autowerks) sweatshirts?"
Randy: "No, but I'll give you one, XL right? Here try on mine.?
Me: "No shit ! for real?"
Yep. it's like that over there. I waited for my car to have some minor work done on a coolish San Francisco day in a cozy new sweatshirt and went home with a smile on my face.
Best customer service I have seen in years.
Thumbs up Jason
Thumbs up Randy
A+ guys.
Shawn C. -
Review from Zander F.
San Francisco, CA
1/4/2012
Simply awesome!
These guys are so professional. I don't review often, but they deserve Ten Stars.
Jason is always super informative, never salsey, and knows his cars inside and out.
They even gave me cab fare to get back to my destination!
Been taking my Audi here 3 years and will keep coming back. -
Review from Gary S.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 4/8/2012
Another good Advanced service story: My car massively overheated on the freeway (alarms, steam streaming from the engine, etc). Had to wait 2 1/2 hrs for the tow truck (obviously not Advanced doing; I complained already to my Insurance company about their crappy towing contractor). During the wait, I called Advanced and told them I'd have my car towed to their shop for repair. They asked whether I wanted a rental, & I said I did. My car & I didn't arrive til after they were closed, but they had the rental car waiting for me with a key in their lock box. The next day, they troubleshot the problem (broken water pump) and had it fixed by the end of the day. Not only was the rental car on the house, but they also replaced my wiper blades for free when I asked about getting new ones. Randy, Jason, & Brett - you have my vote!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/21/2011
This review is definitely warranted and long overdue. I've been taking my Passat to Advanced… Read more »
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Review from bill m.
San Francisco, CA
5/4/2012
Honestly, I feel that Yelp is evil, but if it helps anyone with a Germanic horse-team find Randy & co, it is worth it. They have done work of the highest quality on two different and fussy Audis of mine. Their rates are consistently 25-50% below other good Audi shops, and they are as straight as they are competent; I think they have told me as much NOT to do to my cars as I have paid them to. In 35 years of driving 10 cars, they're the best combination of value and skill I have run across.
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Review from Frederic K.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 11/28/2011
These guys are just awesome.
I wrote previously about some work they'd helped me get covered by Audi Care at the local dealer's shop (!) on my wife's A3. This time I brought my 2008 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro in ten days ago because the "Flat tire" wheel sensor went off after I hit a curb and wouldn't go out.
I took the car in at 7a. By 1p same day they called me saying a/ fixed the sensor; b/ looked at your brakes (which I'd asked about) and they were fine; and of course c/ did a review of the car in general and everything looks fine.
I went down to pick the car up that afternoon and it was ready with a smile .. and a $0 bill. That's right, ZERO DOLLARS. Not even an hour of labor. You could not get better service anywhere for any car, any time.
THESE GUYS ARE THE GOLD STANDARD. No two ways about it. I HIGHLY recommend them to anyone with a VW or Audi. Going anywhere else is a huge mistake.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/18/2011
I have been bringing my cars to Randy and his team for ten years and what can I say, they are the… Read more »
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Review from Michael B.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 11/2/2011
Advanced Autowerks now services Minis!!! I used to take my Audi to Advanced Autowerks and would recommend them to ANYONE with an Audi or VW. Now I have a Mini and recently found out that Advanced Autowerks services Minis when we took my wife's VW in for service... so now I know where I am taking my Mini for future service.
UPDATE: After my first Mini service with Advanced Autowerks I can happily say that they're running the show better than ever. With some shop up-fits and the consisten honest, friendly, experienced staff I am thrilled to keep my cars at Advanced Autowerks.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/9/2007
After taking my wife's VW to Royal to investigate the "Check Engine" light, Royal told us that they… Read more »
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Review from Keane L.
7/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
There are many things that make me a dude. I prefer bourbon straight, I like loud music and I can do about 15 pull-ups in one go. Often, I'm doing all of these things at once.
But when it comes to cars, I'm as clueless as Tim Curry in the library with a candlestick. The only way I'll know if a job is done well is if the car continues to run as it should after being checked. For this reason, I go exclusively to Advanced Autowerks for all my Passat repair needs. The prices are reasonable and, most importantly, I really trust these guys. They are friendly, responsive, smart and professional.
If you've got an Audi or a Volkswagen, go to Advanced Autowerks. If you've got moonshine, Hendrix and monkey bars, you come see me. -
Review from Rick D.
Pleasanton, CA
10/26/2011
These guys are the Cadillac of Mini Cooper repair!
I came in about two weeks ago because I kept having to refill the radiator (about 3 times a week) so I figured I'd take it to two shops, get an estimate, then go with whichever made sense. However, I got two wildly different estimates as each shop believed it to be two very different problems. So, I figured I needed a third estimate.
I heard through a buddy that Advanced was doing Mini's now, so I took it there. They figured that the problem was a cracked water pump and even showed me why they thought that's what it was. He was so sure of it that he told me that, "If that's not the problem, then it's on me."
I picked up my Mini the next day and I haven't refilled the radiator since!
These guys obviously know their stuff and now have me as a customer forever. I plan to even do regular maintenance there.
I love my Mini and it's great to have a spot I know I can rely on now. Thanks guys! -
Review from ZenRunner -.
San Francisco, CA
3/3/2012
I have a 12 yr old Audi and have always had it serviced at Royal Motors, from whom I bought the car. After my last maintenance service I was told that the car needed additional repairs which would run about $1,800. I found Advanced Autowerks on Yelp and brought my car in for a second opinion. They found that the car did not need all the repairs that were recommended by RM. One of the parts that Royal Motors said needs to be replaced, in fact, was working just fine. The Advanced Autowerks guys repaired what was needed and it came to $560.00. These guys are great and they are super friendly and really take care of their customers.
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Review from sara j.
San Francisco, CA
2/11/2012
I've been bringing my VWs and Audis to Advanced for maybe 8 years now. They are the best in the business and I have referred a lot of friends there, always with glowing reviews.
Personally, they've serviced
- 1997 VW Jetta GLX
- 2001 Audi A4 quattro
- 2007 Audi A3
- 2008 Audi A4 quattro
Randy, Brett, Jason and team are excellent. Very responsive, friendly, expert advice, competitively priced, excellent service and I could go on and on.
A+ -
Review from Ryan L.
San Francisco, CA
8/16/2011
My new favorite mechanic -- I've had pretty good luck from dealer service, but now that I've exhausted Audi Care and am paying out of pocket, I tried this independent shop, and am really impressed.
I knew I needed brakes, and they did a brake replacement in a few hours. They also found a couple minor issues which were going to become major, and resolved them before I got stuck on the road somewhere.
It's a fairly convenient location now that the T runs down third street; they'll even give you change for the trip (both ways) from a huge jar of dollar coins, or will take you to caltrain.
I'll definitely be using this shop for all my Audi service needs in the future. -
Review from Cleveland B.
Vallejo, CA
10/26/2011
Hello all my mini cooper troopers! Best tip of the day...If you love your Mini you need to take him/or her to Advanced Autowerks for servicing. Very knowlegable and friendly staff. I had my mini worked on last week. From start to finish the service was amazing. I didnt feel like I was being handled. You know how it is with most mechanics,once you let on that you do not know about cars, the list of issues expand. I shared information that i found online and they talked me through it. Advanced Autowerks was the second shop I called on my list, I am glad I found them.
One of the very few ethical shops out there. Two thumbs up!!
Ask for Brett, (415) 901-7270 -
Review from J H.
Menlo Park, CA
Updated - 10/20/2011
Okay, I hope this updates my previous review. If not, that is okay since I am sticking with a 5 star performance. Last time I wrote about my satisfaction with their work with my Audi (2001 A6 & 2004 A4 avant) and now... low and behold they have just started to work on Mini Coopers.
So far I have just used them for a service, but will most certainly use them for repairs too (based on my past Audi history with them). They were quick and more cost effective than the dealer.
Keep up the good work and I like the new look at the shop.
J.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/29/2011
I am an Audi guy and when I moved back to the Bay Area, the local shop I used in Menlo Park had… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer F.
San Francisco, CA
10/26/2011
I love this shop!! I took my mini cooper here yesterday and was dreaadddding having the usual tricks played on me by mechanics for all the "fixes" that magically appear. But these guys were totally honest with me . They performed the usual service and showed me a few things that could be fixed and told me how much time I had before really needing to do anything about it. They even gave me taxi tokens to get home so I wouldn't have to wait!
I will definatly be coming back to this shop from now on.
Added plus- adorable dog named diamond hangs at the shop. -
Review from Ali R.
Fairfield, CA
6/22/2011
I thought I was lucky to win my car "Rosie" (Audi TT Roadster) at a fundraiser event a few years ago, but the maintenance cost that accompanies an Audi is another story for a school teacher's salary. But my luck continued when I was referred to AA through a fellow Audi driver, and I wouldn't go anywhere else from now on--much better deal than the dealership.
The shop is meticulously organized and interlaced with humorous additives, including the friendly shop dog. But it's the guys behind it all that generate the atmosphere of trust. Rosie needed some (tons of) love, but I was reassured on the phone that the repairs were all normal wear-and-tear--nothing I had caused. I did not feel at all like they were playing games with me as a female driver (I do my own Audi research to make sure). The staff is fabulous and the repairs were done wonderfully. I even got a tour of my old car parts to show me just how bad they were. Car was returned sparkling too!
I had a follow-up concern with my electronics after the work was done, but I was scheduled for surgery and couldn't bring the car back for a month. I was contacted immediately and it worked out that Randy was coming through my city soon on business and was able to stop by to check out my concern. The point is, great customer service is rare to come by, and I appreciate all the help so much. I sing your praises! Thank you! -
Review from A.J. T.
San Francisco, CA
7/14/2011
Hands down best mechanics I've ever met. These guys are incredibly honest. They will show you the damaged parts they've replaced and break down every item on your bill with you. They've worked on my car several times and even helped me over the phone when I was stranded in Sacramento.
I only wish they worked over the weekend. Love Advanced Autowerks. -
Review from estelle s.
Amherst, MA
3/23/2011
Like the other yelpers who gave one or two stars, I found Advanced Autowerks to be initially very friendly and professional, but left feeling ABSOLUTELY overwhelmed and untrustworthy of their word.
I dropped off my car for some very minor maintenance I knew I needed, but I got a phone call later in the day saying there were three major mechanical problems (leaking oil pan, transmission gasket, and leaking fuel injection pump). I called a couple other places so I could compare Advance's estimate. Advance's estimate was at least $150 more in each repair! Total, labor and parts would add up to be just short of $3k which was just so far from what I could afford. Who knows they might do a good repair job and that's why they charge so much, but I'm not going back to find out.
I'm super disappointed in how much pressure was put on me to address the mechanical issues immediately, as if I had money to throw at them (AKA Scare tactic?). Also, I made it clear that I could not afford these repairs immediately and I was interested in what alternative solutions were available to me (such as used parts or just topping off the oil) until I could afford to fix it. Their response undermined me and was definitely spoken in a tone of irritation and condescendance (which alas, included personal remarks on the consequences of/my interest in having a green car). Is it that strange that a twenty something girl who works as a waitress part time can't afford to fix her car?
He didn't charge me for looking at my car, which was nice, but it doesn't really take the bitterness off the tongue. The principle of assessing the customer's needs was far from met, and it was clear they were hoping to just squeeze me for what I was worth. They could care less that I'm not giving them money to fix my car because they are ideally looking for a customer who can fork the money over time and time again.
It took me a week and a half to stop panicking from my visit/their "professional advice" and to learn that there were definitely more cost efficient alternative solutions (a few!!) and far more reliable and honest people in this industry. I would refer folks with VWs to Moss Motors. So helpful, approachable, reasonable... I'm paying a sliver of the estimate Advanced gave me.
UPDATE:
Randy called me the day after I posted my yelp review to apologize, which I semi expected as he gave me apology and box-of-suggestion speech mirroring the ones he has given to other 1 star reviewers. Which is fine, but where they will improve is contingent on if they apply anything.
True, I am one customer, and it seems as though others have had much better experiences, but as it stands I am really pissed off. Especially since I've come back from Moss Motors to hear that there actually isn't anything leaking from my oil pan or transmission gasket, which Advanced wanted me to replace completely. And my fuel injection pump isn't leaking after adding a fuel additive. WTF. Advanced told me my car wasn't safe to drive around. And yes, they will advise you unnecessary work because they only want to "guarantee quality repairs". There's a saying in Thai for people who don't do business right and they call them men with hanging jaws that drag in the dirt. -
Review from Brian C.
San Francisco, CA
11/20/2011
Hats off to Randy and the crew at Advanced! I've been taking my 1996 Jetta to this top-notch shop for years. Always professional, courteous and honest. They offer pickup and dropoff service which makes dropping off your car for service a breeze. Their prices are very reasonable and much lower than other VW repair shops in the area. On one occasion they even performed a additional complimentary service on top of what I brought my car in for. In my book, it doesn't get any better than that for an auto repair shop!
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Review from Rondi K.
San Francisco, CA
11/22/2011
I have been taking my car for about 4 years and Randy and the team always pull thru for me.
About a month ago my car started smoking while in rush hour traffic on 101. I called advanced immediately and Randy picked up the call within the first few rings as they always do. After a quick check in he let me know he wouldn't feel safe with me trying to drive the car any further with fluids leaking out of it. He gave me a couple tow truck numbers to call and i got help within an hour or so.
It was great having someone to trust on the other end of the line to reassure me that i shouldn't drive and to help me get a tow truck that i new wasn't going to charge me the maximum rate.
Thanks guys! -
Review from Naitsirk S.
San Francisco, CA
10/27/2011
I have been coming here since 2005 when they were a two-man shop in the middle of nowhere. They have always been super attentive, and it has been wonderful to see Randy's amazing care and customer service shine in the age of Yelp to make this place into stellar professional repair shop.
I drive a custom "supped" up biodiesel TDI, and Advanced has not only worked with my car, but helped me work out weird bugs specific to my vehicle. In addition, when VW had a recall on a repair AA had done earlier, they re-formatted the receipt two times to help me submit for reimbursement to VW; I needed to separate the charges from other repairs and combine specific repairs from different visits.
Advanced is far from the cheapest shop in town by hour, however they are many times better than the VW dealer others I have been to in both quality, speed and attitude. I am happy to pay for customer service and quality repairs. They are great, I send everyone with a VW there. I have been repairing cars since I was a teenager, consider myself pretty car savvy and don't feel I have ever been steered wrong.
I will be sad when I no longer own a VAG car and stop coming here. -
Review from Sage S.
San Francisco, CA
3/10/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Simply Awesome!
I had originally got a quote from Royal which was way too high. So I went on yelp and found Advanced Autowerks. They ended up charging me about half of what Royal quoted me. The people here at Advanced are extremely nice and did a great job! And I when I paid cash they gave me a 10% discount! Definitely bringing my car here in the future for sure. Thank you Advanced! -
Review from John M.
San Mateo, CA
7/19/2011
Back in the day when I first started coming here ('04) it was Aaron and Randy and a couple of lifts. Now it's Randy, Brett, Jason, a bunch of experienced techs, and a shop full of lifts.
These guys are nothing short of superstars. They are straight-forward with the work that is necessary to get your vehicle running perfectly.
True story: A buddy of mine recommended that I have my timing belt service performed by a friend. I went for it, since it was a great deal and I was helping a friend. Hindsight being 20/20 now, this was a huge mistake. Not only did I cheat on my guys at Advanced, but I had to tell them about it when something went wrong -- and it seemed related to my TB service.
Brett took care of it and didn't break up with me afterward.
If you're looking for solid service for your German, look no further than these guys. Everything about them is awesome. -
Review from Renee T.
San Francisco, CA
2/25/2011
I can't speak highly enough about Advanced. Also for being a woman, they are incredibly great and not intimidating. I've had several repairs with my Jetta, and just recently got into an accident. I had my car dropped off there, but found out later when they called that they don't do body work. By the time I had called back, they already had one of their recommended body shops having someone looking at my car. They had done the next steps for me. That's really above and beyond. This also saved me the hassle of having to figure out where to go and how to get my car there.
Absolutely, wonderfully 5 stars. I will be coming to them for a long time. -
Review from Kirill N.
San Francisco, CA
5/10/2011
After 8 years on warranty with Royal Motors took my A6 here for the first time. Overall - very positive experience.
Yes, they did find more issues than what I brought it in for and yes it was costly; however, that was my expectation for an 8-year-old car. The repairs were done within a day, all the problems I had were fixed, and guys were very professional.
Definitely will continue using them for any major repair work needed in the future.
They are a bit off the way but T-line makes it suck less and they happily give you 4 coins for a round trip MUNI ride.
One wish for improvement (if you guys do read these) is to have the car washed when it's handed back. It's a nice touch - easy to do and goes a long way: "here is your car - all fixed and clean and ready to be loved". Perhaps you just didn't have time; I'm still a happy customer and definitely recommend this shop to Audi owners. -
Review from Michael S.
San Francisco, CA
2/26/2011
Come on... 5 Stars you ask? Can't say I've ever done this before, but AA really brought me back to Jesus yesterday as I slogged around town trying to find a F%$#!King gas cap for my beloved bio-diesel Jetta Wagon. To be fair, I am the one who lost the cap earlier that day as I filled up at Dogpatch Biofuels, but that's a different story...
Anyway, I called AA out of the blue from the road, 10 minutes before they were going to close on a Fri, and they actually had the item (hard to find part - they were the only folks in the city who actually had one; the VW dealer said it would have to be ordered) and the desk jockey actually encouraged me that it would be cool to make it to the shop in 15 minutes.
When I got there, Jason helped me right away, and since it was after closing time by the time we got done, he sent me on my way -- free of charge.
If I was more metro sexual, Jason would have gotten hugs & kisses, but I'm guessing that this Yelp review is way more appreciated by us both.
Point is, AA seems pretty much tops in customer service & giving a good deal, so take your ride there if your into that type of stuff... -
Review from Bandwagon F.
San Francisco, CA
3/25/2011
These guys are legit.
I took my Audi Allroad there to have it serviced (often). They provided me with good service and sound advice. And, they are a better value than taking it to the dealer.
When I sold my car, they gave me good advice and connected me with the right people.
There are always going to be those folks that feel cheated (one star givers) but, I trust these guys and that's important because I'm not a mechanic. They tell you what you need to have done and give you alternatives. -
Review from Katie O.
San Francisco, CA
11/3/2011
My first review on Yelp couldn't be for a finer establishment...
I have a--lets say--complicated relationship with my little blue mini cooper. Every girl, gay man, metro sexual adores their mini cooper, well... at least up to that moment when things go south. My dreaded moment arrived recently, when my mini took on the alter-ego of a psychotic, epileptic man with a turbo-charged leaf-blower, every time I'd take her for a spin for more than a block or two. I was dreading this, not because of the countless possibilities of what it could be, but because the auto shop ranks pretty high on my least favorite things to do, right behind getting my eyebrows waxed and having blood drawn at the doctors.
I came to Advanced Autowerks after having been taken for a ride by another highly-rated garage, the undeservedly Mini Dealership. The Autowerks guys, on the other hand, deserve every star they've got. Efficient, knowledgeable and honest, they diagnosed the problem with my mini in no time, and clearly laid out my options and their recommendation without being pushy about it. They know their stuff (the various, um, werks of autos) and they've got solid skills when it comes to customer satisfaction. I couldn't ask for anything more (and it definitely doesn't hurt that all of the mechanics are super cute in the "I'm A Manly Man Who Can Handle A Big Engine" kind of way).
I'm thrilled to have found my new go-to garage--as is my happy mini--and I can't stop recommending them to everyone I know!!
I'll be back here again in 3,000 miles. But hopefully not all too much sooner. -
Review from Jennifer C.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 10/6/2010 1 photo
Although my Brooke (1999 Jetta, 104k miles) is no young'n, and I've entrusted her livelihood to AA for years, I'm not gonna lie - I was beginning to feel like Advanced Autowerks (AA) was raping me as of late - and not in a good way.
The ABS light came on, so I took her in. $300 later, her faulty wheel sensors were cured! For a week. I call AA to inquire about this, and they tell me to bring the car in to plug into the computer to see if the car is okay to drive, or to set up a subsequent appointment if faults are discovered. I work across the Bay and I didn't have time, so I roughed it on BART and carpool til I had a chance to work in the city for a day. Even though I ended up having to set up another appointment, Randy let me leave the car there to be assessed while I did my own thing. THANK YOU. That was all I wanted to hear. And they comped my cab ride Downtown.
I bring her back. "It's not the sensors after all. The control arms have exhausted their life span." Ohh...okay. The car goes into the operating room again.
"Ooh...you know what? Your car was just about done, but when we sent it to alignment, they found that the inner tie rod is bent, so we'd like to keep it for another day." You've got to be kidding me. Remember the "whack-a-mole" thing I talked about in my last review? A free cab ride in exchange for a repair in the hundreds certainly works out swell for them. I began to wonder...
"We'll get you a rental. We'll take care of it, and you can pick it up even after we're closed. We'll put the key in one of the lock boxes near the entrance." Ooh, so they're upping the perks. Alright, I'll bite.
I show up around 7pm, open the lock box they told me it would be in: nothing. I look and feel up that lock box all over just to be sure. Still nothing. Alright, well maybe it's in one of the other boxes. I open ALL of the boxes. MULTIPLE TIMES. To find NOTHING. ARE YOU SERIOUS?! At that point, the sun was setting, I began to hear a cussing crazy person closing in on me, and I really had to use the restroom, so I gave up and went home. I felt so duped and betrayed.
The next morning, I call AA to tell them what happened. Partially to express my discontent, and also because I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe someone got to the key and car before me and drove off with it? Or maybe I was too stupid to figure out the lock box situation, and the key was there the whole time? They apologize for the internal miscommunication, and offer to get me the rental I was promised. Meh, I'm over it. I just wanted to see what the explanation was, if there was one. I was already en route to work via transit. I can wait until later to get my own car back.
Afternoon rolls around and I'm scrambling to finish my work in order to leave early and hope to make it back to the City on time. I arrive at the Embarcadero Station at 5:45pm. F*CK. I'M NEVER GOING TO MAKE IT. I phone in another distress call to AA, and Randy tells me he'll stick around for a while after 6 to close up, and he'll give me a call if he's going to leave before I get there. Praise the T - Third Line Lord, I was able to catch it right after getting off BART.
It was a roller coaster ride that ended on a high note, and I swoon for AA again. Their professionalism and customer service are top notch.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/1/2010
Advanced Autowerks is where I've been taking my Volkswagen for its regular checkups and emergency… Read more »
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Review from Melinda T.
Los Angeles, CA
12/29/2011
Jason and co were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. They gave us an immediate walk in appointment for our vw passat (which had been making funny noises, which was especially concerning because we are on the road from LA) . Then they reassured us that the issue was minor and non -urgent and wouldn't even charge us for the service, though we tried repeatedly to give them money. I wish these guys had a shop in LA - I would become a regular for sure.
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Review from Jonny P.
San Francisco, CA
8/10/2011
These guys are very knowledgeable and friendly. But I have two main problems with them. Firstly, they are SUPER expensive. And secondly, they did not fix the main problem on my car. Will not be coming back.
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Review from Matthew B.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2012
This is what every mechanic should be like. I have been bringing my Audi here since I bought it 5 years ago. We all know how difficult it is to find someone you can trust with your car, and with a German car it's even harder. These guys are the most friendly, helpful and fair mechanics I have ever dealt with. I was lucky enough to find them via a friends recommendation and I hope all the positive reviews will help others to give them a try. Much love to Randy and the crew!
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Review from Hope A.
San Francisco, CA
9/23/2011
These guys are really great. I have been here (sadly) numerous times and: 1) they have never pressured me into getting additional work done that I didn't need right that second by scaring me into having it done (ahem...Stevens Creek Audi, I am looking at you); 2) they sent me to the dealership when they knew something my car needed was covered by the manufacturer, even though I was at the shop and ready to get the work done there; and 3) they charge approximately half of what the dealership charges, but they still know their s**t about these cars. As a girl who gets slightly hysterical over car problems but knows very little about cars, I am ever so appreciative.
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Review from Tai K.
San Francisco, CA
7/27/2010
I stopped going to Royal Motors a few years back (they burned me one too many times) and instead gave these guys my business. Time and time again Advanced Autowerks remind me of what a great decision that was. I've done a bunch of work here and they always deliver quality work and straight talk.
Today I dropped in with a tail light out. They fixed it in 10 minutes and when I went to go up to pay, they said "you're good. come back when you have a real problem". You have to love a business run like this. They know I'll come back and do real work with them. -
Review from Chelsea B.
San Francisco, CA
9/27/2010
This is my first review - I've owed it to them for a long time, but unfortunately I am a procrastinator.
You want this mechanic. That's all I can say. They're all reasonable, friendly guys who do everything they can to make things easier for you. And I've never had a single complaint about the results. I used to have a friend who was my mechanic before I moved here, and I thought I'd never get that kind of service and "hook-up" again. But these guys basically act like that. I went to them fairly regularly for minor things, and they always did the opposite of nickel-and-dime me: they took every opportunity to shave minor costs off my bill and communicate with me, while charging a reasonable price for the primary services I went to them for.
The reason why I owe them this review though is that I once had a major repair for which they gave me a quote over the telephone. Unfortunately somehow I misunderstood what they had said, and ended up agreeing to more than I could pay. After speaking with them about it, and I suppose due to the shop/customer relationship we had built, we came to an agreement that not only made me happy, it made me feel incredibly lucky.
I've sold my car now, after having these guys check it out for the new buyer. I even put this shop in my craigslist ad as a selling point: "comes with a friendly reliable mechanic." So I certainly hope, and I'm sure it is, continuing to go there. I want to do all I can to get them more business. GO THERE!! -
Review from Devon C.
San Francisco, CA
11/15/2011
I was super stoked when Advanced started servicing Minis. As long as I have had my mini, I have loathed getting service done because it was always a pain and super expensive. Advanced not only took good care of my car, they were on time, affordable and super professional. They went above and beyond to make sure my car was running in tip top shape and never tried to upsell me on things I didn't really need. I highly recommend them for mini service. I won't be taking my car any place else!
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Review from Sara W.
San Francisco, CA
12/30/2010
I found Advanced on Yelp a few years ago when Royal Motors gave me a quote for a repair on my Beetle that I just couldn't stomach. Advanced did the job (plus a bunch of other related work) for much less. Then, when I had another problem after that in the same general area of the engine they had worked on, they fixed it for free, because there was a chance that they had touched the area that was now broken. That showed me how honest Randy (the owner) was, and I never went back to Royal again.
By 2010, my beloved Beetle had gotten quite old and needed a bunch of repairs. Randy felt bad that I was coming in so often that he started giving me breaks in price, though there was no reason he had to do so (it's not his fault I have an old car). Most recently, an old problem recurred -- the New Beetle sunroof has a design defect in its drainage system that sometimes leads to water getting inside the car. This has happened to my car a few times over the years, and it happened again this month. I brought it in to Advanced, fully expecting to have to shell out a couple hundred bucks for the fix. To my pleasant surprise, though, Advanced fixed it for free, saying that since they had fixed the problem for me before, they wouldn't charge me again this time.
This made me realize, it's about time I write these guys a great Yelp review. Not only do they beat Royal Motors' prices, they are friendly and helpful and they give you breaks where Royal would just find another reason to squeeze more money out of you. If you're in SF and have an Audi or a VW, you're crazy if you take your car anywhere else. -
Review from David V.
San Francisco, CA
11/14/2011
First, I am(was) a mechanic. Sometimes I just don't have the time, tools or space to work on my car. Second I have a diesel VW Golf and you know how finicky we can be about what parts and oil go in to the car.
These guys are the mechanics I recommend to people who hate and distrust mechanics. They are meticulous, honest and up front about everything. They get that in order to keep customers you have to be trustworthy and all of the above. They will not 'get you' with hidden costs or make up repairs- ever. Hands down better service than any stealership I have ever been to.
I'd even recommend that you buy a Audi, VW or Mini just so you can use them. -
Review from Sue L.
9/25/2008
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...
