Mobile Auto Repair- Austin

Like your reliable best friend... only with expertise in areas more useful than belching and beer pong!

I was going to be lending my car to my girlfriend to tote her family to Houston for the week (my SUV trumped her hatchback for space), but it had been having problems starting reliably. Problems escalated late in the evening before I was supposed to hand it over, and at 1am I was faced with the entirely UNromantic options of reneging on the trade or potentially stranding her in Houston (or worse, halfway in between) without reliable transportation. Frantic calls to advertised 24-hour part shops netted me no response. Stumbled across this listing and figured "couldn't hurt". Within several minutes of an answering machine message I left, I was talking specifics, discussing options, and getting a quote (pending on-site review to see if our estimation of the problem was right).

He arrived at 8:30am, tested and removed the part, and drove me to the parts shop to grab a replacement. By 9:45 he was finished, even providing a few helpful tweaks along the way. Despite the repair taking longer than his quoted 1 hour (mostly due to traffic heading to the parts shop during rush hour), he reaffirmed his quoted price, saying "that was mostly just driving around". I had to ASK him to accept more.

Not the easiest to find nor the most well-marketted operation, but if word of mouth still travels in these disconnected times I hope this business thrives. I'd strongly recommend to anyone facing car uncertainty or problem. They're fast, friendly, amazingly flexible and convenient, and they give verbose, detailed, and understandable explanation the entire way through the process. It's been years since I felt this level of customer loyalty for ANY type of business. Even if they can't actually help your car, I am certain you'll have a much better understanding of the situation and a clearer plan on how to address it after you call. Local, inventive, unique. This is an Austin sort of service!

Pros: Fast turnaround, open and visible process, and still thrifty

Cons: No real online presence

Posted 07/26/09

I called Ken on a Saturday morning for our car that we couldn't get to start, we had a mechanic speculate to us that it was the alternator and not the battery since they couldn't even get it to start by jumping it. Ken found the real problem, a corroded connection, within 3 minutes and was able to fix it all for a very reasonable price considering that he came out to us and got our car running within an hour and a half of calling him our there. Even came back later free of charge when we, the least savvy of car people, were having trouble with it idling even though the car ended up being fine and just needed to sort of figure out its idling spot again after having replaced the dead battery. Great service, will definitely use again and tell everyone I know.

Pros: Fair pricing and quick service

Posted 06/28/09

I called around and got all kinds of opinions and quotes, finally I chose the mobile service because of their reputation. They did me right and I want everyone to know it! They come out fast, prepared and get you fixed up without any extra fluff or up selling!

Posted 10/22/08

Thanks for everything! You were so helpful and kind. We made our flight on time! Frankly,I don't think you charged us enough, it wasa worth so much more! God Bless You!

Posted 10/08/08

My car was dead at the grocery store. I had my 2 kids with me. Ken came right out and harldy charged me for his time. I think my story is self explanatory. Thanks a million!!

Posted 07/15/08

I never really write reviews...so here goes! I called about my chevy that wouldn't start. I had a shop in town look at it, and was quoted a price of $1050 for the work because the fuel pump supposedly was bad. In addition, I was informed there would be a shop disposal fee of $75 for the gasoline in my tank. It was my luck that I'd filled it up the day before, like all the way...and I was not getting it back! Not having that much money(student, go figure), and appalled that I wouldn't be getting my gas back, I started investigating other options. Ken's price for a fuel pump job was significantly less, and I didn't have to get it towed AGAIN. He was going to arrive at the car to look at it! When he looked at the vehicle, to my surprise, he told me that the fuel pump was NOT broken it was the wires leading to it that were messed up! The parts were only about $20, he charged me $275 for the labor AND I got to keep most of my gas!! I know that you get what you pay for when it comes to car work, but this was ridiculous. As a single female I know that repair places "see me coming" but I couldn't believe the nerve of this shop! They flat out LIED to me! Ken treated me with respect, I was not spoken down to,and allowed to ask questions which he answered deftly. I saved SOOO much money, and Ken had the job done the same day I called him(the shop told me to budget about a week before I'd get my car back). I'd recommend him to ANYONE over any other mechanic in town, hands down. Send your wife, girlfriend, son/daughter get ACCURATE information and SAVE your money!

Pros: On the spot service, decent prices, knowledgeable,

Cons: no waiting area I guess...it get's hot outside in the summer if you want to watch him

Posted 05/05/08

I was a little sceptical about someone being able to come right out to my job and change my cv axles,especially after trhe shop made it soyund like such a big job. I decided to give Midnite a go, and not only did they complete the axles in less than 2hrs but they talked me into getting my brakes done to save labor later-and did it all for half as much as the shop! Thanks guys, I will be calling you from now on!

Posted 04/03/08

I had my car broken into, so I went the next day to have an alarm installed. A few days later my car would not start! Convinced it was the alarm installation, I towed it to them. Well they took two hours looking at it and said it wasn't their fault. I did not want to pay for another tow so I called Midnite Auto and Ken came out, got under my car ,started it, and explained to me that one of the wires that the alarm installers installed had been carelessly placed too close to the exhaust and melted. Ken said he sees this all the time and explained it to the installers, who then paid for my tow,my repair,and refunded the money I paid for my alarm. Thanks a million!!!

Pros: Available on a sunday!!

Posted 01/15/08

What a refreshing change of pace: woke up to one flat tire (and the other pretty bald and in need of replacing anyway). Went out and bought tires and called Ken at 10:30 am. He came out the same afternoon, replaced my tires and was done within an hour.

Responsive, great attitude, nice guy. Would absolutely recommend! Thanks Ken--Happy Holidays!

Kelly Rott
Austin, TX

Pros: Flexible, easy-going, same day service, fair price

Cons: None that I can think of.

Posted 12/17/07

I usually don't bother writing reviews for anyone, but these guys really impressed me! I only have one car and my schedule is very demanding, so there is no way I can go without it for long. Midnite Auto came out and fixed my brakes and cv axle for less than $200, which is amazing because my local shop quoted me over $400! As a bonus,the tech even figured out an electrical problem that no one else could find. I wish I knew about these guys years ago!!!!

Pros: They came to my work!!

Posted 11/23/07

After being quoted over $300 for a brake job,I called Midnite Auto and it was like NASCAR showed up at my work! The tech came fully equipped with a van with a huge tool box and even an air compressor in it. Much better than the guy my friend called that showed up in a beat up subaru asking to borrow tools! He ripped my wheel off, and showed me my brakes and explained to me how the brake shop was flat out LYING that I needed all those parts and quite possibly never even checked my brakes at all! I saw with my own eyes that my brake pads had 80% life left on them and the reason that they were making noise was because they were not lubricated correctly by the brake shop that did them last time! He also pointed out that the sensors had been intentionally removed by whoever put the brakes on, and that he sees that ALOT. Why would they do that??
I am so impressed, I will never go to anyone else, cause now they come to me!

Pros: Very Impressive Business!

Posted 11/07/07

Ken was a straight shooter and actually showed me the problem and gave me a few options, not just the one that was most profitable for him! Very knowledgeable and it shows. I don't think they charged me enough, but I am not complaining! Definitely an A+service!! Thanks,
Jack Hall
Austin,Tx.

Pros: They came to my work,understanding I was too busy to take it to the shop!

Cons: Can't think of any!

Posted 11/03/07

Thanks guys you really saved my hide!! I was able to get my son to karate on time an get all my errands done! You turned a nightmare into a small nuisance. My boss was also impressed that I didn't need a tow and it was fixed right in the parking lot. He said he is going to call you when he gets an employee that can't show up because of car troubles. Keep up the good work!

Pros: Fast service, reasonable prices

Cons: No Longer accepting credit cards except thru PayPal

Posted 10/02/07

Midnite Auto Repair is a good name for this "business". They are "Fly By Nite"! They don't show up after agreed date and time. In fact they don't even call to let you know they're not coming at all! They leave you hanging. I have only one vehicle that is not running, and I depend on that vehicle for grocery shopping and doctor appointments. The owner of the "business" has no credibility with me because of the above reasons. He was supposed to show up at my house between 7-8 am, August 20, 2007. Never came by; never called. Don't rely on this guy to get you up and running! His "Business" will GIVE YOU THE BUSINESS, if you know what I mean. Maybe the woman who wrote that "good" review must be the owners wife!?

Pros: Nothin' Good -

Cons: They have NO respect for customers

Posted 08/19/07

Ken diagnosed my car over the phone! I was sceptical at first but decided to give him a shot, and boy was I delightfully surprised! I origionally took my car to a big name shop because they promised me a great deal. When I got the call from the shop,I could not believe that my car was working fine and now it needed $500 worth of work! I was told that because of a few other problems that needed to be fixed first, was the reason for the car not starting. They wanted to install new cables,a battery,an alternator,and starter! I dont have this kind of money budgeted for my car so I called Midnite Auto and explained it all. It was like he just knew instinctivly what to do,and explained that he has "done his time" at shops and knows how they operate. He stated that he was so sure of it,that if he was wrong and I needed all these parts then he would go out of his way to get the parts for cheap and do the labor for next to nothing. He ended up replacing a cable and two terminals and charged me $100! BRAVO! Ken....will you marry me..or at least commit to my car for life?

Pros: No towing,very little waiting

Cons: none!

Posted 07/17/07