Louis Foreign Auto Repair

I bought a 1975 Volkswagen van, and it came with referrals in the glove box for a repair shop called Louis Foreign Auto Repair. I could not be more pleased with this shop or the person who runs it. His name is Dan and he has done every repair on my vehicle since 2002, from a transmission replacement to normal everyday maintenance, with skill and dedication. Moreover, he fixes only what is broken and doesn't replace what can be repaired or put back together again inexpensively. He is honest and clear in his dealings with me, and has helped me avoid big repair bills. On several occasions, he has refused to perform an expensive job when a simpler solution made more sense. Louis Foreign Auto Repair will continue to get all my repair business, and I recommend him to others. The only bad thing about him is that he won't do any bodywork or painting! more

I'm a hard core NPR listener and a big fan of the Car Talk show, and I tend to trust the show's listeners' opinions. So when I just moved here and my GTI needed service, I didn't hesitate to go to the Car Talk web site's Mechanics Files (used to be called Mechani-X Files or something, but must have had copyright issues). And it delivered. I went to the highest rated neighborhood mechanic, Louis Foreign Auto Repair shop, which used to be owned by Louis but now run by Dan Richardson who bought it from Louis after years of working there. This is an old school shop with the sign you can barely read, so if you want a shop that's shiny with donuts and coffee machine, it isn't for you. What the shop does is take care of your car. Dan is not an overly chatty guy and is not into fluff, but he knows his stuff. He always seems to estimate a little higher than what you would actually pay, so there's no surprise, and it's usually a good estimate. He looks out for you (your car) and wouldn't do things that are not necessary, so you know you're not getting ripped off. When there are multiple options, he would explain them to you along with pros and cons and lets you choose. They are also super quick. I dropped my car off for service the other day, and I swear Dan called me back within an hour. I trust this man completely - he's honest and competent, as simple as that, but that seems hard to come by in today's auto industry. P.S. Apparently he's an expert in older VW engine rebuild, if you have an older bus, etc., he's the man. more