Jim Matson Automotive
Category: Auto Repair [Edit]
Neighborhood: Mid-City4320 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90019 (323) 939-2171
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
5 reviews
Los Angeles, CA
"This place is the real deal. 5 FIVE 5 FIVE fantastic YELPTASTIC stars for ...well....a team of great mechanics that would prob knock out…" read more »
26 Reviews for Jim Matson Automotive
I went in for a starter repair. He seems fair and has a very good customer approach of working in steps. He doesn't look to repair more than necessary, even if it brings in more dough. So far so good. Although I think the rebuilt starter could be better, that's more on his supplier. I'd use him again, he's way above average.
Found this guy on Yelp and I must say everything people say about him is true. Give him a ring, he's a real guy. Jim answers the phone, he's there when you walk in. When you have repairs he'll walk you around your car and show you exactly what isn't working, how it should be working, and what they are going to do to fix it.
It's nice to know your mechanic thinks $400 is a lot of money. I asked him how much it would be to replace some parts on my suspension and he was like "well thats a lot" and I'm thinking $1,200 $2,000, and he was like $400 to which I was like, wow. That was half of the figure I had in my head. It is a lot of money but remember the last time your mechanic said "A lot of money."
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Jim Matson: Best Mechanic in Los Angeles, or Mechanical Medicine Man? You decide.
Like other people who have been referred to Jim Matson, I've been burned by shiesters who call themselves mechanics when they're truly matchstick men. Jim is honest, upfront about the issues that need immediate fixing on your vehicle and dead on about maintenance issues that you might want to consider for future motoring.
Make an appointment by calling ahead, and do yourself a favor by having him do an overall diagnostic on your vehicle: This is a trustworthy mechanic, who looks at motoring from all angles.
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You know a place has to be good if it has more than 20 reviews and every one of them is a 5-star rave. Let me just add to the chorus.
I was told by another mechanic my car's problems were bad enough that labor alone would cost $900 (and that mechanic took all day to finally say that to me, even though it was a highly recommended mechanic). It made some seriously loud noises that were scary and made me dread going above 40 mph.
I called ahead and brought my car in at 8am, right when they opened (which is a good idea b/c he's very popular). At least three other cars showed up right before me. Despite that, Jim personally got to me within a few minutes, and asked if I could wait while he drove my car around the block to check out the noise. He did and immediately came back and identified the specific problem that was causing the noise and told me about what it would cost to fix it. Already, I'm very happy, cause the last place made me wait all day for an answer, and here he figured it out within ten minutes of me getting there.
He fixed that and another problem that affected the handling for about $300, everything included. That's a third what the other place said they'd charge for just the labor! And on top of that, he got the car back to me on the same day. Then I drive it, and the noise it made is completely gone, and it handles much better than it did before. It's a world of difference, and he did it really quickly and really cheaply. I was prepared to spend upwards of $1000 and have to rent a car while it was in the shop, so I think he saved me a huge amount of money and did a better job than another place would have, and faster. Highly, highly recommended and I will never go to another mechanic as long as I can go to Jim Matson.
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I moved to the area about a year ago. While I've never been happy with a mechanic before (I don't know if they were just trying to scam me or they just weren't good mechanics and couldn't diagnose a problem--but thank goodness I have a dad and brothers that know cars to let me know when the mechanic is full of bs), Jim is pretty much my savior. Since I now live too far for my brothers and father to come to my rescue, I looked to Yelp to guide me to a mechanic when I needed a new radiator. Jim was highly recommended and in my area of town. I got estimates from two other mechanics, and Jim was at least $100 cheaper. It was done within the day, he didn't try to charge me for anything else or talk me into more work (i've had mechanice replace things that didn't need replacing without getting permission, and of course I was charged). I called him another day when my car was acting a little off. He diagnosed the problem over the phone, got me in right away, checked it out, showed me the problem, explained what needed to be done and fixed it within an hour (slight electrical problem). I've never had a more honest mechanic, and he really is an expert at his job. Helping me find such an incredible mechanic also really made me love Yelp. Jim has been the best find so far!
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The man truly is the Allah of auto repair. Alway on time, at the right price, totally honest, if you say you can find a better mechanic you're lying, cause there isn't one.
GO JIM GO!
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make it 2 dozen smoking reviews. i got a tight budget and a beater car, and jim & co made it work quick and clean, prioritizing what needed to happen and what could slide for a minute. super clear and honest....
I must first say I hate dealerships. I always feel like I'm getting hosed and have always been treated like my business wasn't important and that I'm just another number to them. So faced w/ an impending road trip w/ a car that is getting ready to turn the big 1-0 I knew I needed to take it in to make sure she would get me there and back. I also had a few little things that had been bothering me for awhile- a rattling noise coming from my passenger side front tire and my steering wheel shaking a bit when I brake. I really did not want to take it to the dealership but forced w/ striking out on my own, especially as a woman, auto repair shops look at me and see $$$$, I really didn't know who to trust.
Thank god for yelp. I noticed a review of Jim's while reading through a contacts reviews. After reading what she had to say, as well as all of the others, also 5 stars, I decided Jim was a safe bet. I called a week in advance talked w/ Jim and set up an appointment. Dealing w/ Jim was a real pleasure. He was everything all the other reviewers have said and more. Friendly, knowledgeable, down to earth and honest. I had to wait a bit for a friend to come pick me up while Jim worked on my car and let me tell you this place is busy! Jim seemed to know everyone who walked in the door and you could tell they've been bringing their cars to him for quite awhile.
Jim had my car ready by the end of the day as promised, fixed my few issues and had the car given the once over to look for any potential issues that could come up over a long road trip. He told me things I could wait on (struts) and what I needed immediately (rear tires). He even recommended a tire guy. I left feeling great, something that never happens when I pick up my car at the dealership, and will definitely be coming back.
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Best mechanic ever! Honest, trustworthy, and doesn't overcharge you. Only place I'll take my car in LA EVER!
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I brought in my car ( I know nothing about cars) and I talked to jim personally.
Who actually talks to a mechanic that actually owns his own place?
anyways, he told me exactly what was going on, scheduled me more months into the future, checked everything with my car engine, fluids, etc and decided that the maintenance check up I thought I was gonna get, was not necessary for another 3000 or so miles.
I left happy, reassured, and didn't pay a penny.
That place sure knows how to earn and keep its business.
That reassurance I got from him, as well as the honesty, will keep me going back and sharing this place to all my friends
It's true what they say about Jim Matson. He's awesome. I'm a lifer as long as I live in LA. I've been ripped off one too many times as a female and never again (with fist shaking in the air). Jim Matson saved my life. =)
Yey for Jim Matson and the few honest mechanics out there in this harsh ripping you off if you don't know about cars world.
part i
my relationship with my gf has been going on 12 years now...
she was my first gf. i've been with her since high school. she was my first love. my first everything. and now shes dying...
what kind of guy would i be, to leave her at her darkest hour... i am loyal and a man of my word if nothing else. together to the end! forever means forever and love is not something you find every day.
she's been sick for years and only been getting worse. most recently she got hurt in an accident with a drunk driver....
her name is honda. honda accord. not to be mistaken for lafonda shazard, we were only just friends...
jim matson's like a doctor. he diagnosed her, and after a few days he made her get better.
new axle bearings.
new rear brakes.
new wipers.
new bulb for front headlight.
new hoses.
new fluids.
he also made referrals to specialists to get new tires. and i still need to go get my alignment done.
even with the bad alignment, the car is running like... like the first time i drove her. she may not look the same as before, but she still rides the same, cough cough.
he showed me all the old parts, explained everything he did, and what the purpose was, and he guarantees all his work. and he levels with you about everything and only makes suggestions and does not try to hard sell you.
i didn't have to get everything done, he even told me that, but i am going on a country wide trip so i needed to take care of everything. no excuses.
part ii
i will write the 2nd part of this review after my trip cuz the true test of his work will be the open road. who knows how well rehab went until you go out and play a season right?
part iii
70 days later. my car still intact in one piece. possibly driven around 20,000 miles. and still trucking... so far haha.
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Jim is the man. Nicest, most honest mechanic ever. I'm new to LA and I'm definitely going to go to Jim whenever I have car troubles (which hopefully won't be that often!)
This guy is great. I was referred to him by a friend (thank you Max M.), and I will never take a car elsewhere (unless I buy a new one and have warranty repairs). He doesn't do oil changes, but he does everything else, and dirt cheap.
Jim is the classic kinda grungy old mechanic, and you totally trust him. He's not just the guy sitting behind the desk, but he's usually running around the repair bays. His prices are miniscule. I had a belt on something somewhere snap and come off, and I tried to get vague quotes from a few different places. One place quoted me $300, one place said $500, another place said $200, but they weren't sure because they couldn't figure out if that was the right part or not. I wound up paying $130 with Jim.
He's really good about telling you what to look for, and what you need to have done too. I have a little bit of an engine rattle, and he checked it out after replacing my brakes (which would not have lasted another week), and said my engine mount is sagging a little. Many other mechanics would have used the opportunity to bring in the $5-600 repair, but he said unless it starts making lots and lots of noise, it's nothing to worry about.
Jim's is not the place you go if you want to 'Pimp Your Ride' or put on spinners, or even to change your tires, but if you have anything wrong with your car, need it back by the end of tomorrow, call Jim, tell him you're coming, and save a butt-load of cash.
PS. check out nothing but 5star reviews!!!
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It was truly a pleasure meeting Mr. Jim Matson.
I brought in my 2000 Chrysler 300M to Mr. Matson to fix a fan gone bad in my engine, the brakes, and a tail light. It had been much, much too long that I'd had these problems with my car, but there's something about the usual dealership service department attitude of "bend over, boy" that had me a little less than enthusiastic to spend my hard earned money. Even at risk of my safety and/or police contact!
What a refreshing change of experience Jim provided me. Jim is a straight talkin' wise guy with a spiritual side that he doesn't even make prevalent, but is definitely visible for those open to see it. He does what you ask, nothing more, and innovatively works to do it all at a price cheaper than you would expect.
Jim has become my car guy for life. Or at least until I leave Los Angeles. And I plan to be rich by that time, so when the time comes, I may just fly my cars into him. He's that good.
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Ocassionally I dropped off my truck with Jim and basically leave an open checkbook, go to it Jim, do whatever needs to be done. He's amazing, his work is exceptional and he's honest. He won't fix something that doesn't need to be fixed, and he'll tell me if I can squeeze another 5,000. miles out of a future problem. I have three friends who have Fords and we all go to Jim, we joke about Jim being an automotive God, he's the answers to our prayers when it comes to our cars. How many times have you called a machanic back after driving off of his lot and told him that he did a terrific job? I've done that a few times, Matson is the best machanic I have ever come across.
Jim is so honest he'll actually tell you when you don't need to fix things. Examples:
Told a friend he thought his car braked more safely without the antilock system in place due to the design when the friend saw the brake light go on (after testing it).
Fixed a belt that the dealer mechanic had installed and told me I didn't need a new one, it just wasn't put in snug enough.
I had a battery that shorted out once. I thought it died. He tested it, said it was fine, reinstalled it, and the problem was that it didn't quite fit and the previous owner probably just bought the cheapest thing he could find and tossed it in. He then said I could get a new one if I wanted, or I could just make sure I had jumper cables. That was a no-brainer since I already had the cables, and I've been fine for the past 8 months.
He also told me when my old car was too unsafe to drive any farther than to a junkyard (which it was) since the engine was burnt. It would've cost more to replace than the pile of junk was worth. He then offered to find me an ultracheap rental at something like $13 a day.
I'd wonder how he stays in business, but everyone in my office uses him, as does half of L.A., yet he still manages to get your car out fairly fast. Not only does he help broke souls like me, but some of my co-workers w/ hybrids and luxury cars will only go to him, and they live way out in the valley.
Do him a favor though and call ahead before bringing in your car if you can.
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I found Jim by way of a referral and have had such great experiences with him I try to tell everyone about him. Jim is everything you want in a mechanic: honest, up front, affordable, and extremely competent. His shop is in a sketchy (but still safe) area because he likes having multiple bays and many mechanics working at once and rent is freakin' expensive everywhere else.
I've brought four cars to Jim over the years and he's taken exceptional care of each one. When you bring a car to Jim with a problem he fixes the problem, and perhaps the only strange part is that he doesn't upsell any other services - or go looking for other issues if you don't tell him. I got in the habit of asking him to do a full inspection each time I brought in my cars - just in case there was something going on I missed. This is something that can be seen up or down, since some people want a proactive mechanic who will run down a list of all the things that need to be done. Personally, I appreciate Jim's approach. "What's wrong? OK. That's fixed now." And then he charges you a fraction of what you expected.
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he came highly recomended, and didn't dissapoint.
good, honest and quick.
i will go there in the future fo sho.
I brought my car to Jim Matson at 9am having no idea what was wrong with it other than that pesky suggestive "check engine light" had been on for about 300 miles. I guess i needed a new part so Jim's crew ordered it form the dealer for me (then when they found out the dealer gave them the wrong part, had to go back and get another one) and they still had my car done before I was done with work for the day. Even showed me the part they replaced and what they did. Costs was less than half of what I had expected. So glad I found myself and honest reliable mechanic in LA! WooHOO
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There is something so refreshing about trusting a car mechanic. My dad trusts Jim not only because he is honest and good at his job, but also because he has a clean washroom, which dad is very impressed to see in a garage. We love Jim because he always fixes the problem at hand, is extremely fairly priced, and at worst sometimes needs to be encouraged to be more proactive. He is the best car mechanic we have had.
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I would def. recommend this place! Explained everything they did and why. They did only what what necessary and not a bunch of add ons. Reasonable prices.
UPDATE- A few months ago I needed brakes so i went over to Midas on Wilshire/La Cienega they told me the Black Bomb (my 99 vw jetta) needed brakes/pads/new rotors and quoted me $400. I called Jim and he said vw's do tend to need new rotors pretty often but to bring it by and he'll look. Jim did my brakes and pads for $177. I didn't need rotors. I love Jim's honesty and good work.
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I was referred to Jim Matson Automotive by a Volvo mechanic I couldn't afford. I feel so lucky. Jim Matson kept my 1987 Volvo -- with over 200K -- miles running while I was in grad school. There is nothing like feeling complete trust in your mechanic - that he won't rip you off, that he'll tell you what can wait to be fixed, etc. I never paid more than $300 for repairs to my car - and my poor old mistreated car sure needed a lot of work over the years! One time I came to him with a long list of troubles including blinkers that had mysteriously stopped working. When he called to tell me the car was ready he said that the blinkers had started working again and that they couldn't figure out what might have been wrong with them before. (Maybe he's magic?) I once had my car towed to his shop all the way from Long Beach (thank God for AAA+, okay?!) because I couldn't bear the thought of some unknown mechanic putting his/her mitts on my baby. I recently retired the Volvo, but when my new (to me) car needs service, you better believe I will make a beeline for Jim Matson Automotive. I wouldn't go anywhere else.
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It's actually Jim Matson Automotive, and I never thought these words would come out of my mouth, but I have finally found an honest mechanic in Los Angeles. So honest actually that the LA Weekly voted him the 'Most Honest Mechanic in Los Angeles" in 2004. I don't know if there were recipients in 2005, but my vote for 2006 definitely goes to Jim and his team of fast, friendly and professional mechanics. They serviced my car in a little over two hours, gave me good referrals to other car shops for the work that he couldn't guarantee at his shop and his prices are more than reasonable.
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I brought my car in thinking it had leaking seals and was on the verge of death. Jim's guys saw me immediately and fixed the problem in about 40 minutes by draining the excess oil that a crappy EZ Lube place had put in. Jim was polite, honest, efficient, and explained and showed me the problems without talking down to me. Charged me $17.50. Really a fantastic experience at a mechanic.
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everyone else here has sung his praises admirably. i can only add a couple of things:
1/i've sent many friends to jim and they've never been charged more than a hundred bucks and went away with cars running perfectly! one friend was passing through from tuscon to san fran and had a problem with his car that numerous AZ mechs couldn't fix. jim did it and charged him like $60!
2/if you can call ahead and make an appointment things run smoother. he won't turn you away on an emergency but he'll actually make room for you if you can bring it in on a sched. and i'm only talking like a two or three day lead time.
3/if you have to wait for your car repair, he has an awesome, comfy waiting room with air conditioning, tv and great books. he's an old hippie from santa cruz and he's just got great karma.
he's just the best. he's the first mechanic i've ever trusted and if he can't do it, he'll send you to someone who can -- and whom you can also trust. jim is the absolute best.
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