I've been here a few times because he is right beside my house. Whenever I have gone and the owner wasn't there, the experience was great. The guys who work there are knowledgeable and honest. and give prices that aren't bad. However, when I have dealt with the owner it has been the same thing every time. He is always trying to convince me to do things that don't need to be done.
The first instance was him saying I needed new tires, shocks, and struts. I had just bought this car used about 2 months prior. Before I purchased I brought it here to have the guys look it over. The owner was not there at the time. The guys were great they looked at everything and said it was fine and didn't even charge me. Then when I got back 2 months later and the owner was there suddenly the shocks weren't "safe to drive on." To be safe I did take it to another mechanic I had used in Belmont who said they were as worn as you would expect a car that age to be, and he wouldn't change them for maybe 150000 miles.
The second problem was his insistence about oil changes. I follow my manufacturer's recommendation. When I went in today he said he would "let it slide, but if I kept going over my sticker (which was 3000 miles) he might have to charge me more" I told him I would keep following what the engineers who designed the car said to do. After finishing he tried to convince me that the oil he used is worthless after 3000 miles. This sounded like BS to me so I went to Mobile 1's website and found the oil he used. According to the maker of the oil the life is up to 15000 miles not 3000. So he was either wrong by a factor of 5 or lying by a factor of 5. Not to mention a simple oil change was 35 dollars. It is like you are getting the service of a cheap hole in the wall mechanic who tries to swindle you with out even getting any of the cheap prices.
Close or not I am personally never going back here. I would encourage anyone who is taking his word that he is helping you out or not charging you for something you don't need. Get a second opinion. He will try to make you do uneeded and expensive services. That is unless you find out which days the owner isn't working and go in then. The guys who work there are awesome. I really wish they owned it.