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JC Automotive Specialist
Rating Details »
Category: Auto Repair
350 Old West DrRound Rock, TX 78681
(512) 472-4977
New Customer Coupon
$15.00 OFF Entire Bill for First Time Customers
Print coupon & give it to our friendly service writers. Not valid on State Inspections
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
11 reviews for JC Automotive Specialist
Dan, the service writer, and the guys at JC's know how to keep customers. I've been there three times, and I can't see taking my vehicles anywhere else.
First trip was a dead starter. I had the car towed in, and went home. Less than 30 minutes and they were calling with a conformation and a quote. Hmmm... reasonable price. Okay. Two - three hours later they called and said the car was ready. Cool Beans.
Second trip: over 100,000 miles and I knew that timing belt needed replacement so I took it in. I told Dan what I wanted, and he asked if I was hearing any noises or anything. I told him, "Nope... just regular maintenance stuff." He grinned and said, "Well, I'll replace it if you want me to, but you don't need to replace it." He then spent some time explaining to me that my car was different (timing chain vs. timing belt) and that there was no need to go digging around in my engine. I wonder how many mechanics would have done the work knowing it didn't need to be done, but that they could make some money.
Third trip: Alignment. In-and-out in about an hour, and I liked Dan's demonstration of camber, toe, and caster using the maroon staplers. :)
While I was there I listened to how they were treating their other customers over the phone and in the shop. They were professional, courteous, and always explained things pretty well. I'm convinced these guys know what they are doing and want to make relationships with their customers, not just make money. If you are anywhere near Round Rock take your car here for maintenance.
Ever since I purchased my miata, I've been taking her to JC, which was highly recommended by the previous owner. My overall experience (2+years) with them is indeed satisfying.
My miata is sorta old so she has problems on and off. John, the head mechanic of JC, is an expert of miata so I don't need to worry any "unskillful issue". Unlike other shady car shops that are all over the city and ready for every second to rip you off, JC is different. They are professional and friendly enough to explain what is going on with my car (in the language that I can understand), how I can keep my expense low, and more importantly, my miata would still run smoothly.
Yes, it's in Round Rock but hey, good service is hard to come by. Treat yourself with some famous Round Rock Donuts on your way, problem solved.
WWJCD? There is no other question where my Miata is concerned.
Some asshole slashed the top on my poor, defenseless Yuki as she slept.
(I will find you, you sloppy, heartless motherfucker and saw the horns off of your goat-father, grind them up, and feed them to your pig-mother. I hope you're reading this right now. I really do.)
After about two weeks of further slashing through insurance-induced red tape, I was finally able to fix the roof. It's a good thing I didn't have a gash there during all this record-setting rainfall. Oh, wait...
Moving on...
JC AutoSpec is located way-y-y up in Round Rock, but their reputation in Miata circles is sterling, so I inconvenienced myself to make sure the job was done right.
And done right it was. With smiles, friendly service, on time and for 25% less than the other place I had considered.
When you find something this good, you tell other people about it. You want the shop to succeed.
And you want them to open a shop less than 20 miles from your house.
We moved back to Texas last year, and I knew it was only a matter of time before my wife's 1999 Alero (with 130K) would require attention that I couldn't provide myself. Over the years, we've learned the hard way that finding a good auto shop is harder than finding a good doctor (and almost as important).
Thank you, internet. After reading the reviews on yelp and citysearch, we rolled the dice on John and Corky's. From the first call to set up an appointment for our rough-running car, I knew this experience was going to be different from those in the past. Dan, the service manager, actually made the effort to carefully listen to the problems and advise me BEFORE I brought the car to them.
After their shop had analyzed the car, Dan called me and clearly explained the work that could be done, and what I could expect from the car following the work. He didn't dumb it down, or try to talk in oblique garage-speak. and no high pressure, "Your car will burst into flames during rush hour if you don't have this done" sales crap. The exact costs were quoted, and I gave them the go-ahead to work on the engine.
The work was completed within a couple of hours, exactly as described. And best of all, my wife is happy with her car again - and getting much better mileage to boot.
Overall, the shop was clean, the employees polite, and the waiting area was nice - not just a couple of greasy chairs and a battered coke machine like some places. Trust is hard-won in their business, but they've earned a lot from our first experience. We will be back to see them again - just not too soon, hopefully.
After my very first experience with JC Automotive, I knew that I wasn't going to take my car anywhere else. While sitting in their waiting area (with free wi-fi!), I saw two separate people come in and be told, "There's nothing wrong with your car. It looks to be working just fine." That would have been all I needed to hear to know that JC was my place, but there's so much more to them than that.
Yes, JC is in Round Rock, but don't fret. They'll drive you home and then pick you up when your car's ready--at no extra charge.
They'll explain things to you in ways that you'll understand, even if you don't know cars. I trust them enough to ask straight out, "Do I need to get this done now, or can I put it off?"
And, yes, getting your car fixed is expensive. JC makes it ridiculously easy, however. They have a 90-days-same-as-cash program, so you can spread out that expense. When I was there I was even told, "If you have trouble making a payment on the expected date, give us a call and we'll see what we can do."
I think it's really important to find a good mechanic and stick with them, especially if you don't know cars, and I'll be sticking with JC.
New in town and not to sure where to take our cars to get fixed. Make a long story short, my wife's PT was having some issues. So, I did some research on yelp and found JC Automotive Specialist, Round Rock.
They're very good and friendly. They even offered to drop off if I didn't want to wait there. They finished the job in the promised time frame, and I've been very pleased with the result.
What impressed me the most was their follow-up phone call and a thank you card. It's awesome. Take your car there!
Comment from John L. of
JC Automotive Specialist
6/18/2009
Thank You for your review. Great Customer Service &…
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another happy customer!
i asked around and got the recommendation to go here (my honda had the hiccups... turns out it was a really clogged fuel injector), but i was hesitant because it was way up there in south dallas... er round rock. so i went to the website, poked around a bit and was pleasantly surprised to find that they have car service that will both take you back to home or work, and pick you up when your car is ready. so i requested an appointment... i got an email back from dan almost immediately with a couple more questions about the symptoms. i mailed him back and set up the appointment.
after they got under the hood, they found out just what sort of abusive relationship i have had with my poor honda and brian from the shop called a) to let me know that they had finished the job i had asked them to do and b) make some recommendations, some more immediate in nature than others. he explained exactly what needed to be done and why, and how much each would cost, in order of urgency. i never felt like he was trying to talk me into something i didn't need, nor was he condescending in the way that so many in the industry seem to speak to women. (ask me sometime about when i was shopping for a new vehicle and how many friggin cupholders and vanity mirrors i was shown... i've written a short screenplay that will make millions when other annoyed and frustrated women flock to the theatres to see the film starring janeane garofalo as me...)
anyway, all repairs and suggestions were taken into account, and i did end up spending a chunck of change, but after doing some shopping around, i feel pretty good about the value, and would definitely recommend these guys.
You will not go wrong here. These folks are true experts, are absolutely honest, the work is often far less than the estimates. They're as fast as I'd want them to be, they stay in communication with you, they'll save you money wherever they can without compromising quality. They don't charge for anything they don't have to. They've taken great care of my 11 year old Ford Explorer. Their shuttle service is very handy as well, with very friendly and efficient service. In my nearly 40 years of driving, living in several states, these guys are hands down the best automotive mechanics I've ever encountered. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Offhand, I can't think of any business - in any industry - with which I've been so universally and uniformly pleased as Automotive Specialists. I'm always leery about giving referrals to friends/family/neighbors as in almost all instances with all businesses, your mileage may indeed vary - but with Automotive Specialists, I'll recommend them without reservation to anybody (and have sent them a number of referrals, without even thinking about or considering their generous referral discount program.) These guys rock!
I had taken my car to Jiffy Lube off Parmer and Mopac for an oil change and they had told me I needed to get my transmission fuel changed out as well. A few weeks later my car started acting up and became unable to be driven. I had it towed to JC Automotive Specialists and they diagnosed the problem right away. There was no fuel in my transmission tank so obviously Jiffy Lube had messed up somewhere. JC Automotive Specialists were very professional and not intimidating at all like some places can be. They don't charge you extra for things you don't need done to your car. They immediately diagnosed the problem and checked all the other aspects of my car to make sure nothing else was wrong. I had left my car there for them to inspect and they called frequently to keep me up to date on the status of my car. In the end, they charged about $50 for me to get my transmission tank filled with the correct fuel and for the labor where Jiffy Lube charged me $110 to change out my transmission fuel. I would definitely recommend JC Automotive Specialist to anyone looking for a reliable place with great pricing. I will definitely be bringing my car back to them for any other services.
Comment from John L. of
JC Automotive Specialist
6/18/2009
Thank You for taking the time to let others know about your…
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I've had cars and service experiences for over 20 years, but it wasn't until I found JC's that I found a place that I felt comfortable handing over keys and giving them carte blanche to do what absolutely needs to be done and to inform me about the rest. They've never tried to upsell me something I didnt' need, never speak down to me (as a woman, this happens more than guys realize), are upfront about telling me what needs to happen now versus later, and always present me with a bill that surprises me... in the good way. They are knowledgeable and competent at repairing and maintaining everything from the most ordinary car to the complicated modified sports cars and don't hesitate to research and ask questions if they don't know the resolution to an issue. I've been very happy, as have all of my friends that I've referred there; my cars go nowhere but JC Autospec now.
So I came across this business from word of mouth. I had heard positive things about the honesty and integrity of the work and employees. I was having a dilemma with my 2001 Honda (see also my review for Lamb's Tire and Automotive Centers @ 15909 S. Great Oaks Drive, Round Rock, 78681). I needed a second opinion on the status of my front struts. I called to see if I could make an appointment and a very friendly woman answered to tell me that they do not make appointments during the week, but that they open at 7:30am and I could bring the car by anytime. She also mentioned they offer a shuttle service that takes you home and then picks you back up if you need a ride back to the shop. So I arrived at 7:45am and talked to one of the managers. I told him that I was there to get a second opinion on my struts and that I also wanted to see if they could check the car to see what was needing repair. He mentioned that they offer a 60,000 mile check-up for no cost. I was pleasantly surprised by this and grateful for the service. So I took the shuttle home and left the car there to be picked apart. After a few hours, I called to check in on the progress and was told that my struts were fine and there were only a few minor maintenance issues that the car needed (spark plugs, brake fluid flush and a cleaning of the battery). I was grateful that it wasn't more. I spoke to an employee named Brian who was very courteous and gave me a call back with all of the quotes and grand total before I made the decision to have them complete the work. I gave them the green light and he said that because they needed to order a part, it might not be completed until the next day. I told him that was fine. A few hours later, I received a call back from him saying the my vehicle was ready and I could pick it up that day if I was available. My husband and I were just sitting at home, so we ran up there to pick it up. The cost was exactly what he had quoted on the phone and they were even kind enough to use a $15 new customer Internet coupon on my total. I felt that the professionalism, value of the work and the price were very fair. It's been so frustrating to want to keep my car in good condition, but every time I've taken it into the shop I feel like I'm getting ripped off. I didn't feel like that here. I felt that they were only recommending necessary work and that they were honest when it came to the status of my struts. I would highly recommend this business and I will definitely be back in the future for any further car matters. It's refreshing to hopefully have found a mechanic that I can trust and will no longer fear taking our cars to.
