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Thom's Four Wheel Drive
Rating Details »
Category: Auto Repair [Edit]
Neighborhood: Irving Park4118 N Pulaski Road
Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 577-5701
Help Us Feed The Hungry
Bring in a bag of non-perishable food items and receive a certificate for a free oil change for helpingng us feed the hungry.
Announced 4 days ago- Nearest Transit:
-
Irving Park (Blue)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
9 reviews for Thom's Four Wheel Drive
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
5/16/2009
8/26/2009
6/21/2009
8/27/2009
6/5/2009
10/22/2007
9/16/2008
8/26/2008
9/16/2008
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
Thom's Four-Wheel Drive diagnosed my problem as a $3 part and saved me from a $2300 repair!
After receiving an exorbitantly high and suspicious quote from another mechanic (see my review for Eliot's) for my car's recent overheating issue, I took my car in to Thom's and it could not have been a more 5-star experience from start to finish. I first called Thom for a second opinion and he was more helpful on the phone than the previous mechanic had been in-person. He made me feel 100% comfortable from the first time I talked to him so I brought my car in for the complete second-opinion evaluation. The diagnosis: a $3 radiator fuse replacement when the previous mechanic had wanted to crack my engine open and replace my head gasket and engine head. Thom's saved me from unnecessary repairs and did it with class and expediency.
In addition, I brought my car back to Thom's right before leaving for a cross-country roadtrip when the rims installed by the previous owner starting causing problems for my little Civic's wheel wells due to my overloaded car. This was late on Friday afternoon and Thom's shop was closing but he stayed with me anyway for at least an hour and set me up with one of his mechanics who agreed to do the work I needed the very next morning - a Saturday - so I could hit the road and not lose much time. He even recommended a mechanic in Phoenix, AZ where I was moving. Incredible.
Thom's really went above and beyond the call of duty for me and I cannot recommend this shop highly enough! Any car repair shop with all 5-star reviews on Yelp is rare - you can take that as a sign of this shop's superior quality and service. Anyone looking for a knowledgeable, skilled and HONEST mechanic would be wise to go to Thom's Four-Wheel Drive.
I have been driving VW Cabriolets & Cabrio's for 15 years- I adore them but its hard to find someone who can work on them well...
Thom's are my newest heroes! I was searching Yelp for someone that could take care of my 2000 VW Cabrio- not an easy find. Thom's had so many great reviews & were close by so when my muffler decided to fall off in I went...
I knew it was fate when Greg was behind the counter!- Greg had managed the old repair shop we went to 5 years ago, before they were sold, and had always given great service at fair prices.
Greg gave me a couple of choices of repairs, at different price points, which was great because I could get what I could afford (which was the cheaper alternative) but Greg assured me that the less expensive option would still be quality.
They fixed my muffler and brake light, gave me some estimates for work I wanted to do in the future (when I had more $) and cleaned & shined my baby up proud! It was so quiet when I started her up I thought she didn't start!
They also have an in-house discount program which I've never seen at an auto repair shop before- and very handy for someone who drives a 'vintage' (old ;) car.
I spoke to several of the staff both times I was there, and each person was friendly-even if they were just passing thru the office.
I am SO happy to have re-found Greg & found Thom's!!!!
Volkswagens are, in a word, special. You can't just take them to any mechanic and hope for the best--you need someone who knows them and their idiosyncrasies.
Luckily, Thom knows Volkswagens!
I've visited Thom a few times since I moved to Chicago last year with my 1998 Jetta GLS, both for routine maintenance and the occasional emergency, and he has always treated me fairly and done great work on my car. Once I dropped in unexpectedly on a snowy December evening with a blown engine hose that he cheerfully repaired on the spot. One particular job must have been a nightmare--I was trying to change a flat tire and the key for the locking wheel bolt snapped off INSIDE THE LOCK ITSELF, making the wheel impossible to remove! I had my poor Jetta towed to Thom and he spent a few days not only carving out the offending bolt but removing and replacing the other 3--and charged me only for the new bolts and an hour of labor. There have been times when he could have easily talked me into more expensive repairs and I wouldn't have been the wiser, thus earning my trust.
As for the reviewer who says that the repairs on his car weren't effective, I have to ask: Did you tell Thom about it? He is definitely someone who stands by his work.
Also, I love the monthly newsletter Thom sends out and the rewards program that earns you credit based on the money you spend there. It's a nice touch!
If you have a "special" Volkswagen like mine, I would definitely recommend Thom's services.
I had a wonderful experience with Thom's whom I used for a pre-purchase inspection on more than one vehicle, specifically Jeep Cherokees. He not only diagnosed the common Jeep issues but also other specific to the car issues. I feel like they are an honest shop and would happily bring my car to them in the future.
I guess I'll be the first one to cast a strident note here.
In addition to being a 4-wheel drive specialist, this shop is also reputed to be one of the best independent Volkswagen repair shops in the city. So when Thom told me it was time to change the timing belt in my car, I was a bit dismayed because, well, my car does not have a timing belt, it has a chain. It's a mistake that could be forgiven of a general fix-it shop that wouldn't necessarily know off the top of their heads whether it has a chain or a belt. But for a shop that supposedly specializes in Volkswagens, this evinces incompetence at best and deception at worst.
Combine this with the fact that I took my car in once because it was pulling to the one side and he charged me some $400 to replace a faulty part and yet the car still pulls to that side, and I'm just not comfortable taking my car here any more.
OK Normally I go into a mechanic and end up feeling raped due to my lack of knowledge about autos, parts and how much they cost to fix. I'm one of the owners of Weird Chicago Tours and our bus needed some work. Now keep in mind our bus "IS" our livelihood.
If you say the word "bus" to any mechanic they normally smile and get $$ in their eyes, usually jacking up the price 300%. Thom (the owner) and Tom (the manager) not only took time explaining everything to me in detail about what was wrong with our bus "Special Edna" but they went the extra mile by supplying us with parts and labor after they couldn't first solve the problem. Eventually after only 2 short days they solved the dillemna exorcising the Demons from our beloved bus. They then prioritized and gave estimates for the other issues we had with our vehicle and worked within our budget and frantic time schedule!
I will be bringing all my vehicles here from now on and advising all my friends and customers to do so also. They are honest, fast and charge a decent price. Plus they're so nice my partner Adam swears they must be elves and not mechanics at all.
Thom also wrote a book on how to buy a good used car, I don't know the title but will buy one next time I go in for the next service we need done. Thom also gave me great advice on business that had nothing to do with my vehicle, he did it just to help out another small business owner.
Thom offers a ladies car clinic that will explain to ladies who may not know too much about cars what, how and why you need to do stuff to your vehicle.
5 stars!
Ken
I can't remember how I found Thom's, but I'm glad I did. When I moved to Chicago I was having problems with my eleven-year old VW. I took it to a few places for a look-see and the estimates were unbelievable. One place, a foreign car "specialist," even told me that I practically needed the entire engine replaced to fix this one little problem. I was ready to send my car to the junk yard. Finally I went to Thom's and they said, "Oh, it's just a broken [valve thingy]-- here, we'll snap on a new one and you're good to go." I was flabbergasted. Since that time, I have brought the old VW, as well as my newer Honda, in for tune-ups and belt-replacing and all manner of little ticks. Car repair is never a pleasant experience because of the cost, but knowing that these guys are honest makes a world of difference. I would never take my cars anywhere else. Love Thom's!!
So that explains why I saw a Haunted Chicago book in their office....
I'm sold on this place and Thom as a business man. I had quotes from the dealer and other locations on what it would cost and mean to repair my broken window track. I found Thom's thru craigslist just by chance, found they had a coupon on Google, and called and spoke with Thom. I told him the problem, he was a pleasure and explained the time and cost at an appropriate level. By that I mean, he didn't sound pissed at having to explain something that I'd just never understand, and he didn't try and make it sound like it would be a life saving operation where I'd be paying for a repair with my life savings. Appreciated. I called back after thinking about it for 10 minutes, brought my car in yesterday, picked it up, with coupon it cost $25 less than all other offers. He also showed me the part that was broken and showed me how it broke. That has never ever happened in all my years of car repair. I suggest everyone go here with their car issues, you'll be pleasantly surprised that they treat you so well.
I have had my Jeep serviced at Thom's for nearly two years and cannot say enough good things about the quality of their work and the value of their service. Both Thom and Tom are great guys. With an aging vehicle, I have had to get some pretty substantial repairs done, but never felt that I was being taken advantage of, or spoken down to in any way because I am a woman. On the contrary, every aspect of the work was explained thoroughly. What's more, a couple of times when I have done silly things, like trigger the "check engine" light by not tightening the gas cap, they took care of it at no charge. Joining the shop's Rewards program (free I think?) ended up saving me a lot with discount coupons. I recently purchased a Saab and will be taking it there, also. GREAT WORK!
