Larry Johnson's Buckhead Auto Center

There are precious few businesses in this world that appreciate the customer. Sure, all of them say they do. But Larry backs up what he says with action. He and his team get the job done the correct way, then charge a fair price. If there is ever a problem, they make it right. As long as I live in Atlanta, I will never use another auto shop.

Posted 10/20/09

Woke up early on a Saturday morning to take the car in. We told them what we thought was wrong & the trouble we were having. The shop did not contact us once all day even though they had 2 phone numbers for us. 20 minutes before closing, we called to find out the status of the diagnosis & repair. They still did not have a diagnosis. Since they're closed on Sunday & we needed the car on Monday, we came to pick up the car. As they handed over the keys, they confirmed the diagnosis we had given at 8am that morning. We will not be going back.

Pros: open on Saturday

Cons: poor customer service

Posted 09/11/09

I have been using Buckhead Auto for about a year now for all of my car servicing. I have a 10 year old car, so it does have to go in for some of the larger maintenance jobs from time to time. They have been great with explaining to me what needs to be done and if there are things that I am able to safely put off a little longer if I have to. Prices are very reasonable and the service is of great quality. I highly recommend making them your usual mechanic, which is a great thing to have.

Pros: Great service, good prices, explain what they are doing,

Posted 08/07/09

We went to Larry Johnson's after being quoted repairs needed for more than our car was worth. He fixed our AC for half the price, said the brakes still had half their pad and the other things could just be fixed as needed. We were more than pleased and recommend them to anyone. They were great about calling us and letting us know the status as they determined what needed to be done and for how much.

Pros: Saved us money

Posted 07/28/09

This is a total win. Great job, efficient, friendly, nice people. A great experience! I will definitely go back and they will be doing work on my car. I like their style!

They brightened my day!

Pros: $2.99 for oil change

Cons: none

Posted 04/27/09

These guys are great. I had a problem with my car and took it to another place and it was double the cost to fix it! They are efficient, affordable, knowledgeable and friendly. I definitely recommend them!

Pros: Easy, Reliable and Friendly

Posted 03/12/09

I've taken my car to Larry's twice. The guys there are so nice and easy to work with. The first visit was to check out an indicator light that came on biefly. They checked my car out even the light wan't on anymore. The second time, I needed a tail light changed. I just left my car with them, came back a few hours later and they didn't even charge me to change it. I felt like I was back in a small town. I'll definitely be back!

Pros: So easy to work with..

Cons: ??

Posted 03/12/09

My husband and I moved to Atlanta 2 years ago, we both had older cars that were constantly needing help. When the AC went out in my car just before a road trip in the middle of the summer I looked online for someone near my office to fix it. I ran across Larry's website, I called and told him I was leaving the town in an hour and a half and asked if he could fix my AC before I left and he said he could. I wasn't sure if I believed him or not but sure enough I picked up my car on my way out of town with ice cold ac. I was pleased with the fast service and the affordability of his service, not to mention Larry and his crew are always happy and pleasant to do business with.

Since then Larry has handled all the issues with our cars honestly and we are sorry to be moving from the state! (maybe he wants to go with us ;) )

I recomend him to everyone I know and thank him for all his help.

Posted 02/26/09

As a busy single mom, I can see the value of saving a dollar but being without a car for so long is tough. Not very good at answering your calls, seems it will always be ready tomorrow. I did try calling the owner but he doesnt' work on Mondays according to he staff.

Posted 02/03/09

I'm 23 and my car is a 14 year-old Cadillac. I love that thing. Which means I've been searching Buckhead for the right shop for a while now.

Larry Johnson's Buckhead Auto Center is that place.

I found the shop through a Google search, and was convinced after reading the reviews. The service exceeded my expectations...by far.

I called on a Saturday afternoon, got my car in an hour later, and was done by 1:30PM that same day. Sure, I only needed my coolant level checked, but Larry topped it off, checked for leaks, and even made sure my old car was running like it should.

And here's the kicker -- he did it for no charge.

This was 3 months after a different Buckhead shop suggested $400 worth of work after giving me a $20 oil change.

Look, I hate going to the mechanic like most other people. But this is actually an experience I can look forward to when I need my car fixed. It's the kind of service that gets me to come online and write a review like this.

You can't go wrong with Larry. Go there.

Pros: Comfortable experience, convenient location, shuttle service

Posted 02/02/09

Have a strange sound in your car? I've taken it to other mechanics who have tried to rip me off, telling me it costs $800 to fix along with how serious and dangerous it is.... I've taken it to Larry, he's diagnosed it correctly, and told me that it is not anything to worry about and I don't need to pay for anything. Often times, I've gone in there and he's done work for free. He is a great guy and stands by his work. But the best thing is HONESTY. Knowing that if you gotta pay for something, you're not getting ripped off.

Pros: Most Honest, Most Qualified, Will Fit you in at a moment's notice, polite, professional

Cons: can't think of any

Posted 02/01/09

I am glad I found Larry. I almost took my car to Just Brakes but after reading the reviews here I decided to give Larry a chance.

I was in and out of their fairly easily and was given a lift after dropping off my car.

The only negative is that while I took my car in for brakes, I was told I needed other fixes to my car costing around $250.00. Since I had seen the other comments here I trusted them and had them perform some of the additional work.

I will be a return customer

Pros: professional

Cons: trying to upsell other services

Posted 01/26/09

A coworker of mine suggested I try Larry Johnson when I mentioned needing my brakes fixed.

I had already gotten a quote from Pep Boys and just assumed that Larry Johnson would be much more expensive (I know they take car of some really nice cars, and mine is not of the calibure). However, I'm VERY thankful I ended up stopping in anyway.

Larry was extremely friendly and helpful and took the time to explain exactly what they would be doing (and how it would be at a VERY reasonable price). In fact, everyone I came in contact with was very professional and helpful and for a female who never knows what kind of ride she's being taken for when it comes to car repair, it was a very welcomed change.

Then to make matters even more refreshing, Larry called me after they had looked at my brakes and told me that he couldn't take my money because my brakes would be fine for awhile. I couldn't believe it! I asked if I could pay for their time and energy spent looking at them, but he said no, just come back this summer and we'll look at them again.

Needless to say, I'll be going back.

Additionally, my cowoker (who suggested them to me) had the same experience where LJ only repaired what was necessary in his car.

If you are looking for a very honest, professional and quality car repair experience, I wouldn't go anywhere else.

Pros: Very Honest, Professional and very clean/organized facilities

Posted 01/25/09

After researching numerous other auto repair centers and being disappointed by high prices and pushy mechanics, I decided to call Larry Johnson's based on the excellent reviews on this site. I'm glad I made that call because they went above and beyond my expectations.

From the first phone call on, Gary was very polite and honest. I took my car in to get new brakes and they were done by close of business. When they gave me my car back, they told me the battery was dead (I already had to jump it that morning in order to get to the shop). Larry let me borrow the jump box so I could return to the shop the next morning to have it taken care of.

As some of you may know, it's a little intimidating for a woman to go into a repair shop by herself in fear of being haggled. Larry and Gary never tried to sell me things I didn't need and I never felt like I was being talked down to.

I highly recommend Larry Johnson's. I promise you that you won't be disappointed.

Pros: Friendly staff, customer service, reliable mechanics

Cons: Waiting area

Posted 01/14/09

You get what you pay for. May be the cheapest in town but there is a reson for that. Long waits, crappy service and an owner that lets you know he is doing YOU a favor. Would never give him business again.

Pros: NONE

Cons: cusotmer service, long waits, bad attitude, crappy service

Posted 01/07/09

We recently relocated from MN and our '96 VW needed service. After calling for appointments at several locations without success, we called and they took us in and serviced our car the same day (Saturday). Friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, polite. A great experience and excellent service. We will return.

Pros: location, flexibility, service, knowledge, experience

Cons: none known

Posted 12/29/08

Hey said he could work on my car and did, he did more for me than my dealer ever did (Jim Ellis).

BTW, Jim Ellis isn't very honest, never has been.

Pros: love their staff

Cons: shop's bathroom needs fixing up.

Posted 12/10/08

I usually drive an hour and a half to get my car fixed and decided to check this place out based off of the reviews. I can honestly say, that I was not disappointed. As long as I'm in Atlanta, or near Atlanta, this is who will take care of my car. They are so professional and I have nothing but kind words for Larry and the crew.

Posted 11/28/08

This place looks like it is either closed or out of business. But don't let looks fool you. Larry has been there when it was a dealership and he took his crew with him. I think he said he was there like 12 years or something. He is from NJ and so am I. Gave me a great price. Really nice guy. And, I know he knows his stuff. Did a great job on time too. I would go back recommend him to others. Help support local businesses like this!

Pros: nice guy, awesome service, great prices

Cons: waiting room needs amenities. Go for a walk instead

Posted 11/18/08

I found Mr. Johnson's Auto Center after hearing the dreaded words,"You need brakes, and it'll cost you at least $625", from an oil change place that I usually patronize. I should have been suspicious when they uncharacteristically offered a free tire rotation. So my search for an honest mechanic began. I bought the needed brakes and found a place not far from where I live that did brake jobs. I changed my mind after the labor cost changed from the posted price. I searched on the internet and was shocked to find a website for an auto repair place that got raves! So I decided to give them a try. Mr. Johnson has to be the last honest mechanic. He is also unfailingly nice and good humored. The brake job was done for a very reasonable price and I wound up coming back a week later for an oil change. I told Mr. Johnson that coming to his auto shop didn't provoke the usual feeling of dread that I get when my car needs service. I think that I can finally remain calm when my car needs maintenance! Thanks, Mr. Johnson!

Pros: Trustworthy. Knowledgable.

Cons: The waiting room was a little cold.

Posted 10/23/08

I called around to several places to obtain quotes on servicing my car. I chose Larry because he was close to my job. Although it took several days to complete the work on my car I am completely satisfied with the end result. I had a variety of problems that needed to be addressed - leaking exhaust valve, leaking fuel to name a few - and Larry was able to complete the work to my satisfaction. I would not hesitate to take my car to Larry for any future work. Convenience, competence and cost are all important to me. I will refer my friends to Larry based upon my experiences.

Pros: Excellent customer service

Posted 05/04/08

I can't tell you how happy I am that I found Larry's Buckhead Auto Center. They always have time, are always so kind, explain everything to me, and are so fast getting my car in and out. Car repairs can be such a headache and I've never felt more confident leaving my car with anyone until I found Buckhead Auto Center. They are extremely fair and honest people and I'll never take my car anywhere else in Atlanta!!! Thank you so much Buckhead Auto Center!!!

Posted 05/04/08

Larry Johnson has been servicing our Chrysler's since we arrived from metro-Chicago. Good to see him out on his own and still providing great service and treating customer's cars like his own.

Great crew, great experience! Keep up the great work.

Posted 04/26/08

I found Larry's on City Search and it was convenient b/c i was so close to my house. I had a serious problem with a couple of belts and thought no matter where I went I'd be spending and arm and a leg on repairs. Larry was so nice and explained everything to me, it wasn't even close to what I thought they would've charged me at the dealership and my car was ready within 24hrs. It's so hard to find a trustworthy car repair company that you don't feel is trying to snow you on labor and parts and finally after 3 yrs of being in atlanta, I've found Larry's Buckhead Auto Center. I won't go anywhere else and this is the ONLY place I'll refer my friends too!

Pros: very polite, very quick with repairs and getting back to me

Posted 04/14/08

I went in for my oil change and tire rotation. They took care of my car in a timely manner, didn't overcharge me cause I am female, and when Larry saw my windshield wiper was broke, fixed it at no extra charge! Great service shop!

Posted 02/17/08

I respectfully beg to differ on the below reviews. I have had a working relationship with Larry for 12 years now....first when he worked for the Chrsyer Dealership at the same location and now as the owner of his own Auto Shop. This is a guy who was faced with losing his job and loyal customers when the Chrsyler dealer owners decided to retire, sell the franchise and move locations. He and a handful of the best mechanics from Buckhead Chrysler decided to take a chance at running their own place....and they are doing so successfully. Larry is honest as the day is long....his technicians are top notch. He has retained ALL of his customer base from the previous dealership and has grown quite a large following of new customers thanks to his reputation as being honest and dependable. Don't let one or two people's opinions change YOUR decision to try them out. My Jeep with 300k miles on it, had a ton of issues one of which we couldn't figure out for the longest time. I came in on a Friday to pick it up....only to have it act up again as I was getting ready to leave...Larry gave me HIS car to drive home, took mine, worked on it over the weekend and finally found the problem.....it was NOT any easy diagnosis and I wonder how many mechanics out there would have given up on me? Not Larry....not his team. Okay, so maybe he needs an office manager......you'll get one soon, right Larry!?? Seriously though....this is the best place to take your car, and a great family run business to support in Buckhead.

Posted 02/17/08

Larry was extremely helpful in looking over a car before purchasing it. My brother took a car to him for me and he was quick to get him in and out of there and honest about what work would be needed on the car! I appreciate his opinion, professionalism, and great customer service and my brother appreciated his timeliness!
Thanks!
Leigh Ann

Posted 02/17/08

I tried this mechanic after doing research and seeing so many great reviews. My experience has been good, but mixed. They're very friendly, and I felt comfortable with their prices. I had some minor issues with my car, and they offered to fix a few for free (saving me over $100). I dropped the car off (on a Wednesday), they let me know that they'd come up with an estimate for the rest of the work and call me back that afternoon. They also offered to shuttle me down to my office, which is very generous. However, I quickly found that they're terrible when it comes to communication. I waited all day for the estimate, and finally called them in the late afternoon. They told me that they hadn't looked at my car (I dropped it off that morning), but would call me with an estimate the next morning. By mid-afternoon the next day, they still hadn't called. I finally called them & they gave me an estimate that beat the dealership by several hundred dollars. I told them to go ahead with the work (they had to order parts), and they told me that the car would be ready by the weekend. On Friday afternoon I hadn't heard from them, so I called again. They told me that the parts had been delayed (I don't fault them), and that the car would be ready Monday morning. On Monday, I called them in mid-afternoon, and they said that they hadn't received the parts, but that the car would be ready the following day. I called them the next day (after continuing to not hear from them); they said that they had just received the parts, but the car would definitely be ready by the next afternoon (a week after I'd dropped it off). The next day, I had to call them again; they pushed the car's readiness to the next day. After a week and a day, I finally received my car. They beat my dealership on price, but they never called me once the entire time. I don't fault them for the delay in the parts, I shouldn't have to constantly call them to find out what the situation is with my car.

Pros: Friendly, knowledgeable staff, fair and honest prices

Cons: Very poor communication, some of the delay could've been avoided

Posted 01/16/08

I went to Larry Johnson when my Ford Explorer had a check engine light come on. He hooked my car up to the diagnostic machine and got a reading that was either nothing or I needed a part replaced. The only way to tell was to turn off the check engine light and see if it came back on. Larry sent me on my way within 10 minutes with no charge. I was shocked, as most mechanics charge for a diagnostic, especially without additional service. He told me that he doesn't need to scam anyone, because the fact is cars need repair. He'd rather be honest and keep people coming back and spreading the word rather than make a few extra bucks doing bogus repairs. The check engine light did come back on, and he replaced the part at a very fair price (much less than I expected). My fiance' has also brought his truck to Larry and received the same service. He also had a check engine light, which turned out to be nothing, and Larry turned it off for him and sent him on his way. I have referred other friends to Larry, and they have all received the same honest and affordable service.

Posted 01/01/08

Larry Johnson was my service advisor at Buckhead Jeep Chrysler and took excellent care of my cars for years. After Buckhead Jeep Chrysler closed, I went to another dealership for service. Thank goodness Larry has reopened since the service I received at the other dealership was lacking. Larry is the best! He does honest work at a fair price. You won't be disappointed with Larry!

Posted 01/01/08

Used Larry's Buckhead Auto for the first time this summer and I was pleased with all aspects of my experience. From customer service, to competative pricing, to quality service Larry came through!

Posted 09/26/07

Larry has been servicing my car for about 7 years and I was so very excited to learn that he had opened Larry Johnson Buckhead Auto Center. He replaced my front brakes, rotors and a leaking water pump. My Jeep is over 10 years old and I always dread repairs. Larry was fair and affordable. He explained everything to me, and there were no surprises. I will continue to take my car to him he is awesome.

Posted 09/23/07

I brought my car in for an oil change. Everyone was so friendly. The oil change took about 20 mins. I'd definitiely recommend Larry Johnon's to anyone.

Pros: Great service. Low Price. Fast!

Cons: Limited waiting area.

Posted 09/20/07

I really liked this place because of it's fair pricing and friendly and speedy service!

Thank you !

Posted 08/24/07

I have brought my car here a few times and will continue to do so. Friendly service, and their price beat my dealer. He might take a while to call you back, though!

Posted 08/12/07

Larry Johnson and his team are GREAT! I've worked with all of them for many years and I was very concerned when the dealership moved. I had built a great relationship with the whole crew. They kept my old car in GREAT shape. So, I was very excited when I was able to locate them after the moved, the thought of having someone else work on my new Jeep was a little disappointing. There are certain things everyone needs in life and one of the most important ones is a auto repair shop that you can trust at a fair price! I plan on bringing my Jeep into them for all future service and I know they will help keep it in top condition for years to come. I appreciate the whole team, they are all very professional! It's really is nice to know that good people are taking care of you car. Thanks Larry and I'll see you all in 3000 miles;->!

Pros: GREAT PRICES

Cons: None

Posted 05/05/07

Larry Johnson was extremely honest about what my car needed and did not need in terms of maintenance. He charged me a small fraction of what I had anticipated paying. Larry also offered a convenient shuttle service so I could wait at a restaurant while my car was being serviced. It was one of the best auto experiences I have ever had! Thanks, Larry!

Pros: convenience, service, price

Posted 03/18/07

I've been taking my vehicles to Larry for the last 6 years. Service is fantastic, honest, and on time. Larry is a delight to deal with, and makes you feel like your vehicle is as important to him as it is to you. My repair bill always feels honest and fair.

I know that my vehicle is in good hands, and it makes me feel safer on the road traveling from dog show to dog show. THANKS, LARRY!!!!!

Pros: Honest, great work, on time, and friendly--explains what needs to be done. Pricing is always fair.

Cons: None!

Posted 01/30/07