Insider Pages Reviews for Eliot's Complete Auto Repair

5 Stars: Excellent work (by MarthaJB)

MarthaJB — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Our minivan is a 1993 with plenty of miles. Although we were nervous about taking it on our long-distance vacation, we asked Eliot to inspect and repair it beforehand. It drove better than it had for years, even after the 4600+ miles we put on it. (Yes, I know we now need an oil change!)

5 Stars: Good work....Good men (by Latchman69)

Latchman69 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Eliot & his guys have taken care of the several cars I've owned over the past 7-8 years......Simply,....I trust him to accurately & honestly fix my car & charge me correct going rates.....So, that word Trust is BIG when it comes to a mechanic & your car........Give Eliot a try!!

5 Stars: honest and fair (by dachicagoguy)

dachicagoguy — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:00:00 GMT

I've been using Eliot for about10 years. Never had any complaints. Last week took our Pontiac back to the dealer for work only they could preform. They "found" several other items they said needed repair. The bill would have been 3 times what we expected. We had the dealer only do what we brought the car in for.

Next we went to see Eliot. Most of what the dealer said needed fixing didn't -- and what Eliot said needed repair he fixed for 1/3 of the dealer's estimate.

I RECOMMEND ELIOT TO ALL MY FRIENDS, and nobody has ever complained. I'm sure glad he's here in the neighborhood!

5 Stars: Strongly recommended (by KerenD)

KerenD — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:00:00 GMT

I've been taking cars to Eliot for almost 10 years. I take my son's car there, too, and that's the best recommendation I can give: I put my child's life in his hands. Eliot gives you a free loaner, and always phones if he finds something that will make the repair cost more than the original estimate. He generally gives me more than one option and tells me honestly what the pros and cons are of each choice. Very customer-oriented service.

5 Stars: Hones Teliot (by dstein12345)

dstein12345 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:00:00 GMT

I had a problem with my 99 Lexus. It sounded like the engine was going to fall apart. I had had engine problems before. I found Eliot's Auto Repair online. He answers his own phone and you feel comfortable as soon as you hear his voice. I brought my car into his shop on Lincoln Av near Addison in Chicago. He gave me a free loaner car and I was out of there in 15 minutes. He called a few days later and told me what the problem was. He could have told me anything as others have in the past and ripped me off. No. He did not. The cost was very fair and reasonable and it's been about a month since I came to him. No more problem. I highly recommend him. D. Stein Chicago

5 Stars: Very Satisfied (by bethylou10)

bethylou10 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I brought my car to Eliot a couple of weeks ago after I had been involved in a fender bender. He outsourced the body work and handled the internal running of the car. When I got it back, my 12-year-old Honda was running just as well as before the collision. His estimate was accurate and his demeanor was pleasant and polite at all times. Very satisfied!

1 Stars: Horrible Service, Very dishonest Owner (by Dale H.)

Dale H. — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:22:00 GMT

Be very careful here, In my opinion these guys will over charge you any chance they can.... After receiving my vehicle back from this shop, I notice that my air filter cap was not reconnected and was just sitting unattached under the hood of my car.... the owner then admitted to charging me to replace a $900 unit because he didn't have the know-how to replace a $70 part within the unit and was easier and quicker for him to replace the much more expensive unit. He also did not get my permission to replace this $900 unit after he initially quoted me $70 to replace a small piece...

5 Stars: Great auto repair shop, and Eliot is all about the customer (by naterose)

naterose — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Not only did Eliot personally call me multiple times to update me on the status of my repair, he has such an honest shop that he actually lifted the car up and showed me the exact parts that needed to be replaced and explained the reason why and really gave me great detail about what my options were. The price was reasonable, and the service excellent. Exactly what I was looking for in an auto repair shop. Eliot also gave a great handshake prior to me leaving the shop which is always a good thing.

1 Stars: Beware, learn from my mistakes (by anabolic76)

anabolic76 — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 02:00:00 GMT

First time I brought in a car for a tune up I should have known better. Three major strikes:
1. His loaner car was a total piece of junk covered in rust that barely ran. I was embarrassed to have to drive to work in it.
2. He parked my car on the street in a zone and got me a $75 ticket
3. He charged me three times more than I've ever paid for a tune up, which it turns out later he didn't do half the stuff I was charged for

Like a total retard, I brought the car back to him a year later with a problem. This time he:
1. Charged me $300 for a part that you can get from any car part store for $30
2. Charged me $150 to connect a diagnostic computer and tell me why the check engine light was on
3. Never even drove the car much less address the original problem I brought the car in for - He literally had no idea what was wrong with the car, but charged me over $750 to do a job that typically costs less than $250. No big surprise, the car was running just as poorly when it left the shop as it had been when it arrived.

On top of all this, the guy is about as pleasant as eating broken glass - he acts like he's doing you a favor whenever he's talking to you. I guess I should know better - I think I'll be saving the bills from him to remind me in the future.

2 Stars: Not quite honest (by sarah a.)

sarah a. — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 11:57:00 GMT

The owner prides himself on being a rare honest mechanic. I was drawn into this advertising scheme when I first moved to the city, and had a few oil changes at a great price (and donation to charity!) but then I paid $700 for a part I later found out I didn't need. He ended up being pretty pushy about needing it. Very frustrating.

5 Stars: Speedy, friendly service. (by Scstrom)

Scstrom — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Speedy service at fair prices. Convenient location. Very thorough work. In an industry that can sometimes be difficult, Eliot's breaks the mold and makes things easy.

5 Stars: Great service! (by rlevine)

rlevine — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Having moved here from another state (CA), I was thoroughly researching which car shop I'd like to have my car serviced. Initially, I had called in and spoke with Eliot -- he gave me a clear breakdown of what the procedure will be, cost, etc. -- he was intelligent, upfront and very kind. I went in, and just like on the phone -- he was honest, etc. -- I choose to continue to work with him and appreciate all of his team's hard work. Thank you! JL

5 Stars: Great Mechanic (by earlhughes1021)

earlhughes1021 — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

On February 21, 2008, i finally took my car into Eliot's Auto Repair after seeing Eliot at STAUBER'S HARDWARE shopping. At 8:00 AM, my car was in the shop and by 9:00 am Eliot was calling me back with a quote that i couldn't believe because the quote i recd. from my regular mechanic was $500.00 more than Eliot's quote. Now that my car has been repaired by Eliot's Auto Repair, i will continue to use Eliot's and recommend the shop to all my associates because the service and prices excellent!

4 Stars: Have used for over 6 years (by 308330)

308330 — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I like the communication, Eliot will tell you what is wrong before carrying out repairs, if you ask him to do so. The prices are good, if you compare to dealers. I recently had new brake rotors for less than $400.00, which the dealer wanted $800.00 for. The work is of good quality, and he doesn't do things that are unnecessary, unlike some shady mechanics. He also likes to share his newsletter, offers discounts for referals and makes charitable donations, so, all in all a good experience.

1 Stars: Eliots: THE AUTO NIGHTMARE! (by Manderson6636)

Manderson6636 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

They give you a keychain at the end thaty says "finally an honest mechanic." That is the biggest fabrication I have ever heard. I called around and they offered me the best deal to change my break pads and rotars. It would cost 160. When Eliot called he told me the total was 972. I said forget that i just want the breaks done. His number then went to 250. I called around and decided to take it somewhere else but he said I would have to pay 100 for looking at my car. so I had to use their services. My breaks came with no warranty and cost much more than he said they would. The worst came when I picked up my car in the rain. HE SAID IT WAS PARKED IN FRONT SO I WALKED UP AND DOWN THE STREET. HE SAID IT MAY BE ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING BUT IT WASNT THERE. I ASKED HIM AND HE TOLD ME HE DIDNT KNOW WHERE IT COULD BE!!!! THE WHOLE TIME HE WAS ANNOYED BECAUSE I INTERUPTED HIS DIRTY JOKE WITH A CUSTOMER!!!! I FOUND IT ON A STREET FAR FROM HIS BUILDING. I WAS COMPLETELY SOAKED! DO NOT GO TO ELIOTS OR YOU WILL BE SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 Stars: Great customer service (by LNE)

LNE — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

While preparing for a road trip from Chicago to St. Louis recently, it was my good fortune to receive a "57 Point Safety Inspection" for my car from Eliot's Complete Auto Repair Shop. In addition to a thorough servicing of my car, Eliot's mechanic uncovered a potential problem that required immediate attention before leaving on my trip. I was so grateful for their detailed evaluation and expertise. Without their Service Department, I would have been left with the Yellow Pages & a prayer! I truly appreciate everything that Eliot's Repair Shop did for me. They are true professionals who give 110% service to their clients!

1 Stars: amazed at whats written here (by srandy1)

srandy1 — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

i have to say, that while i have not ever had my vehicle repaired at eliots, i have called him on at least three occasions to ask a question or see if he could take my vehicle in for servicing. in addition to being rude and stand offish, he offered no real sense of being anything other than another lousy mechanic. he was not polite, and didnt take any time to answer questions other than to make me feel like i was dumb with his short, curt answers. he also continuously interrupted me to tend to his register guests.

one time i asked him if he wouldnt mind changing his answering machine to reflect that he no longer does saturday visits and he basically told me to screw off (i dont know if that has been remedied or whether he has gone back to saturday appts) - myself and another person made the drive to the shop one saturday and were told by someone else that the shop was closed saturdays now.

as i said, i have not had my car repaired there, but for all the rave reviews on this site, which made me really happy to find someone that might be a bit different than the rest, eliot has on every occasion been less than stellar and more to the point, rude to me. i'd still be wary of using this guy.

- i am a male, in case that matters with this posting, and i've been driving bmw's for 10 years now. this is the worst service i've ever received.

5 Stars: Great neighborhood mechanic (by jcornell1871)

jcornell1871 — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I have taken our cars to Eliot for 10 years, originally on the recommendation of a friend, and have always been very satisfied with his work. Highly recommended for people who don't know much about cars and need guidance from a trusted source.

4 Stars: Satisfied, Mostly. (by jknecht)

jknecht — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:00:00 GMT

When my 2001 Nissan Sentra starter died, I had AAA tow my car to Eliot's due in large part to the positive feedback on this site, as well as the close proximity. It was mid afternoon, and I received a quote by closing time. New starter required, and should be ready next morning, for $500.00. It felt expensive, but what do I know? The next morning I called to request an oil change as well. Unfortunately, the pump required to do oil changes was not in service. My car wasn't washed (which doesn't bother me, but others here have reported such service). Eliot markets himself as the "honest" mechanic, and after this episode I have no reason to doubt him. Accurate quote and minimal wait kept me satisfied.

5 Stars: Eliot Keeps His Promises (by lilyjackie)

lilyjackie — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 01:00:00 GMT

I needed a new battery . Not only did I get a great pirce from Eliot, but but he offered me a loaner car and stated that my car would be done within half and hour. So I walked down the block to Trader Joe's. After some pleasant shopping, I returned to the repair shop and my car was already finished. The mechanic also seemed to go out of his way to keep my car clean while he was working on it. Good job guys!

5 Stars: Professional and honest (by fireontop06)

fireontop06 — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Eliot was refreshingly professional
I called
He took my info
Tow Truck arrives half an hour early
He calls me back and explains what the problem is, I approve
He call's me again to tell me my car is ready...this guy ROCKS!
The repair took 4 hours, just 8 hours earlier i was pushing my car up a hill when it broke down!

5 Stars: Honest Trust Worthy Neighborhood Place $10 OIL CHANGE!!! (by christycumbo)

christycumbo — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I had no idea where to go because I'm originally from the Detroit area. I didn't want to go just anywhere because people can be sketchy. A friend recommended Eliot's because the oil changes are free when you donate $10 to the Children's Memorial hospital! How nice is that?! I thought the Auto Mechanical industry was very money grubbing! Not at Eliot's...Eliot was there at the counter with a smile on his face. There was a girl there crying because of her broken mirror and he was extremely sweet. He offered my a loaner car while my oil was getting changed!! That's the nicest thing I've ever heard. Best experience I've had with an Auto Mechanic.

1 Stars: Overpriced (by chicagob)

chicagob — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

The repair rates at this shop are significantly overpriced. I took my car to this mechanic and he recommended I have a $600 repair done; the equivalent repair at the dealership cost $300. Make sure you get a second opinion or at least a quote from a dealership, but be careful -- there is a $100 fee for simply looking at your car to diagnose the problem.

5 Stars: BEST!!!!!! (by pyt333)

pyt333 — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Can't say enough good things about Eliot. He fixed my clutch yesterday and I couldn't be more pleased. I'm new to town and didn't know where to go. I'm also a huge hater of mechanics. Inevitably whenever I go to a mechanic it costs me $1000, no matter what I have done and I always feel like I'm being scammed. Eliot told me exactly what I needed and what he would recommend. He was fair and honest and I didn't feel like he was trying to take my money because I'm a women.
Plus, how many places will give you a free oil change in exchange for a donation? I'm so thrilled that I don't have to search around for a mechanic. I know exactly where to go-the ONLY place to go. Eliot has just found a life long customer.

5 Stars: The Real Deal with Auto Repair (by gregstolhand)

gregstolhand — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Eliot's is one of my best finds in Chicago. He fixes what you need and tells you what you can wait on. Has great newsletters that always save me money.

Check Eliot's out!

4 Stars: Fast and Honest (by lvbernard)

lvbernard — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I first took my wife's Hyundai to Eliot's when it died during last winter's cold spell, and they fixed the car quickly, correctly, and at a reasonable price. I've since taken it back for other work and had a similar experience. Eliot is straightforward and doesn't try to talk you into fixing things that don't need it, and he treats the customer fairly.

4 Stars: You can always count on Eliot (by avargo)

avargo — Sat, 05 May 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Finally, an honest, reliable mechanic!

We have been taking our cars to this shop for almost 10 years and have always been satisfied with the workmanship, timeliness and price that Eliot offers. He will tell you whatever is wrong with your car, but he will never pressure you to fix it. It's not the fanciest place, but it is conveniently located and you don't have to worry about getting ripped off. Prices are very fair- not always the cheapest, but always done right.

You can trust Eliot every time.

5 Stars: only mechanic i'll use for my BMW (by jlatall)

jlatall — Tue, 01 May 2007 02:00:00 GMT

After reading other's reviews I decided to give them a try with my BMW X5. Over the past couple years they have serviced it several times and each time the service is friendly, fast and very reasonably priced. The last time I was in with a list of other needed repairs , Eliot called me to tell me that my requested oil change would be much cheaper at a jiffy lube type establishment-do you get that kind of honesty from your mechanic? The loaner cars are a nice touch. On the one occasion that repairs needed tweeking a week after being done it was redone at no charge and promptly. Eliot is a nice guy too, but I come back because I'm a fussy, spoiled BMW owning physician who wants his nice car but doesn't want to pay dealer prices for repairs and need a mechanic I can trust. By the way, In no way was there any sort of bribe offfered to me to write a positve review.

5 Stars: CONSISTENTLY HONEST, RELIABLE, AND FAIR-PRICED (by jp2409)

jp2409 — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I first used Eliot's by chance in 2004 because my car died down the street from his shop; I was impressed with how quickly my car was diagnosed and repaired and the mechanic's straightforward explanations to my questions. Since then I've returned to Eliot's for all my repairs (even since moving way out of the neighborhood) because I have complete confidence in their competence and, most importantly, I trust the guy. Why bother to write this review? Not because Eliot or anyone else is paying or otherwise bribing me, but my experience last week: I brought in my '93 Nissan with +200k miles because it was running rough. I explained my situation (was weary of wasting $$ on repairs on a car which might not last that much longer). After spending 3+ hrs. diagnosing the problem (AT NO CHARGE), Eliot explained the problem and candidly advised me to forgo potentially expensive repairs (could be $1200) . How many other mechanics would do this? I go out of my way to Eliot's because this kind of honesty is rare in a mechanic.

1 Stars: TYPICAL OVERPRICED MECHANIC, WITH HORRIBLE SERVICE..... (by mrcubs)

mrcubs — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I READ THE REVIEWS AND THOUGHT, THANK GOD THERES STILL HOPE FOR A GOOD MECHANIC..BUT THAT THOUGHT QUICKLY FADED AWAY AFTER MY EXPERIENCE AT ELIOT'S.I HAD HIM CHANGE MY FLUIDS,CHECK MY BRAKES AND CHECK WHY MY SUV WASN'T STARTING RIGHT...600$......I TOLD HIM TO CHECK THE STARTER..(MIND YOU, I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT CARS) AND HE CALLED ME AND SAYS ME HE NEEDS TO CHANGE THE BATTERY FOR HIM TO CHECK WHY IT DOESN'T START RIGHT....I WAS AT WORK WITH NO TIME TO TALK SO I SAID FINE CHANGE IT..$150..HE CHARGED ME 20 BUCKS JUST TO USE THE SHOP TOOLS...(I'M NOT KIDDING)...PLUS 30$ FOR LABOR..IN THE END HE TELLS ME I NEED A NEW STARTER..NO BRAINER..THEN HE WANTED TO CHARGE ME 1500$ FOR SOME OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS THAT HE CLAIMS NEEDED TO BE FIXED...(A SECOND OPINION DIDN'T AGREE)...ONE MORE NOTE...WHILE I WAS WAITING TO PAY A CUSTOMER ASKED HIM IF HE COULD JUST BRING HIS OWN PARTS IN AND HE STARTED TALKING TO HIM LIKE HE WAS A CHILD..SAYING HE MAKES MONEY OFF OF FIXING THE CAR AND OFF THE PARTS..VERY RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL...ANYHOW I PAID MY OUTRAGEOUS BILL AND LEFT DISAPPOINTED....

4 Stars: Eliot's Gets an 8.5 on my Scale (by duffster23)

duffster23 — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 02:00:00 GMT

About a month ago my daughter was having trouble with her card. I went to CitySearch to look up auto places close to my home and came across Eliot's. I called Eliot and he was very helpful from the onset. I explained the problem and he was able to diagose the problem over the phone. He quoted me a rate and told me that he would inspect the car before any work was done. I told him I needed to have my insurance company tow the car to his palce of business and he worked with me to ge that set up.

The car was towed to his place of business first thing Saturday morning and Eliot got back to me two hours later. The problem was the battery, which is what Eliot said the problem would be on the phone. Whne he called he told me the car was ready to be picked up.

The only issue I had was that I had asked Eliot to call me with the price of what it would take to fix the car before any work was done. Eliot went ahead and did the work before calling me. Although it seemed a bit pricey ($180) to have the battery replaced, I decided to overlook this problem becuase of the quick turnaround time and the his customer service. If he had called ahead of time, I would have given him a 10 instead of an 8.5.

Since then, Eliot has followed up with letters and coupons in the mail and we have used him for oil changes on my other daughters car. I would recommend Eliot and plan on using him in the future.

5 Stars: Fast Service, Quality Work, Honest Owner (by danielwaring)

danielwaring — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

First time using Eliot's but I highly recommend. I was in a tight situation because my job requires that I use my car, and without it I am useless. The owner handled my issue personally and even gave me a nice car to borrow while my car was being fixed at no charge! I had multiple issues and I thought I would be without my car for a few days. I was surprised to receive a call from the owner no more than two hours later saying that the car is fixed and I am ready to roll. The bill was clear and explained to me-very fair price. I was surprised once again to see that my car had been washed as well. I will use Eliot's Auto for all my car needs and recommend this place to all my friends and family.

5 Stars: My new mechanic. (by slantz43)

slantz43 — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I took my car to Eliot's because it was close to home, and all the reviews were positive. Except for one, but the complaints were nonsense and at no real fault to the mechanics themselves. I'm glad I chose Eliot's because not only was the service great, but they were honest, upfront, and even charged me less than they originally qouted. Never have I seen a mechanic do that before. The best part is, now I don't need to look for a mechanic next time my car needs work. Thanks Eliot.

5 Stars: on the level auto repair (by tomnspencer)

tomnspencer — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

If you're at all like me, your knowledge of "all things auto" is limited to say the least. Therefore, going to a new mechanic can be a daunting task. Who's reliable, fair, consistent, etc. My experience at Eliot's was as good as it gets. Eliot and his crew are speedy and thorough. Explaining what you need to know and giving you a square deal. If you're nearby (or even not so nearby). He's worth checking out next time you need some help.

5 Stars: Superior, honest service at a very fair price (by jsdjsd)

jsdjsd — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I brought my car in to Eliot because it was not running very smoothly. He explained how they would look at the car (2002 Toyota) and run a complete check and call me with an estimate. Later that day he phoned to give me a price estimate. I approved the work.

I picked up the car at the end of the day and the estimate was exactly as was written and told to me on the phone. The car is now running beautifully. In addition, he offered a money back guarantee, that was very impressive.

It's so rare to find an honest shop who does good work at a reasonable price. My thanks to them.

5 Stars: They treated me like royalty! (by chuckyfox)

chuckyfox — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I brought my Escalade to Eliots on the suggestion of a friend. The service they gave me was like one friend would do for another! Not only did they do everything I asked them and wanted them to do but they also found a couple of other small things that needed attention as well. The other little things they fixed for no charge! I don't remember that ever happening before. This was my first experience with Eliots and I can promise I will be back and will tell my friends. This is a big city with oodles of choices. My choice from here on out will be Eliots you can bet! My neighbors wife had some work done late last week with the same experience! Thanks guys for making me look good at the same time. Chuck Fox

2 Stars: Horrible Experience (by louwatson)

louwatson — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I decided to use Eliot's based on the reviews from City Search. If it sounds too good too be true it probably is...now I wonder how he got people to write such good reviews about his wonderful customer service. I had my car towed and the tow service was very nice and prompt. I had my car towed on Friday and called to let Eliot know that my car was comimg in. On Monday I had to call in and find out what was going on. I was getting worried that maybe it went to the wrong place. He quoted me a price that included the cost of the tow and the diganostic test and for a starter it was almost 500.00 on a 1993 Saturn! A day later I have to call him back to find out if my car was ready. During this week we had many sales meetings and I was not able to get up there until later in the week. Well, it just so happen that it was the same day of the snow storm and my car was parked on the street and by the time I got there in the evening my car was plowed in and covered with snow and guess who had to clean it off...........not Eliot, but my boyfriend and myself. It is not like he has a small garage there was plenty of room in there for 20 cars. Not the customer service I am looking for. He pretty much laughed in my face when I asked if he was going to brush off my snow....So frustrating when you give your hard earned money to some idiot like that.

BEWARE: if it sounds too good to be true it probably is!!

5 Stars: Honest and a good mechanic (by ditkabutkus)

ditkabutkus — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

always does a great job, upfront on price, honest, highly recommend! Has taken care of 2 cars for us, and his work is topnotch

5 Stars: Finally an Honest Mechanic (by mroswig)

mroswig — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I have been in Chicago for over 11 years and finally have found a mechanic I can refer. I recently had my heater core replaced at Eliot's and was very impressed with the ease of dropping it off since it was so close to the the BrownLine and recieved a call with an estimate within a few hours. It was a tough job and although the estimate was lower than the actual cost due to a longer labor time to get to the heater core installed, Eliot honored the quoted price. WOW! and the serivce was excellent and professional. The car is riding the best it has in over a year. I love this place and have already told 3 of my friends, don't go anywhere but Eliot's Complete Auto Repair on Lincoln/Addison when you need a repair!

5 Stars: Most dependable auto shop ever! (by bernsi)

bernsi — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

My car was making strange sounds on Lincoln Ave so I pulled into Elliot's shop of necessity. He found a loose alternater belt and repaired it within 15 minutes. Even though I live in LIncolnwood, I was so impressed with this service that now I go out of my way to have ALL of my auto service done here. This is the first auto repair shop where I don't feel I get ripped off. Everthing is carefully explained before the work is done, and price quotes are always on target..

I love this place!

5 Stars: Great Service and Price (by scottmiller50)

scottmiller50 — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I had a problem with my car, and I'm not the most mechanically inclined person. So I am usually skeptical when car service shops provide me with pricing. I took my car to the first place, and they quoted me $1500. When I talked to a friend and told him of the price, he said that place was trying to rip me off. So I decided to take my car to Eliot's place, which is a few blocks from home. Not only was he friendly and helpful from the minute I walked in, but I felt like he was a guy I could trust. And to top it all off, his price quote of $300 was much better than the quote of $1500!! For now on, when I have any issue with my car, I'm heading to Eliot's.

5 Stars: Finally, an honest mechanic (by joejohnson237)

joejohnson237 — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I live right around the corner from Eliot's and I go there for all my automotive needs. He sends out a newsletter with all kinds of specials including free car washes and winter inspections. His prices are good and he never tries to upsell you. When I go in for an oil change, he gives me an oil change (and of course his 57 point safety inspection) and doesn't try to tell me that I need 100 other things done that really aren't due for another 10000 miles. He's also got a great automotive club that comes with free oil changes, tire rotations and discounts on service. A great deal for older cars that tend to be in the shop more.

5 Stars: Great customer service - refreshing and hard to find (by iorene47)

iorene47 — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I found Eliot's through the internet, and decided to try it out as the offer for a free oil and filter lured me in - your first one is free if you donate $10 to the Children's Hospital.

I found the service to be friendly; the job was done well and efficiently. I was able to leave my car there during they day while I was at work, and they also washed it for me because it was dirty! Who does that these days?

All around impressed with this place. I'd recommend to anyone!

5 Stars: Fast, Honest Service (by bwuerthele)

bwuerthele — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I had a problem with my 4 wheel drive and Eliot thought it may be covered under a recall so he told me to check with the dealer before I paid him thousands to fix it. The Ultimate Car Care Club is an excellent deal - and we always get fast service.

5 Stars: Excellent, honest service (by ab2532)

ab2532 — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Finally a honest repair shop. Always on hand to give a honest explanation as to why the work has to be done. Been taking care of my cars for the past 6 years. i'm a senior citizen on a fixed income and I have the upmost trust in Eliot, what class act.

5 Stars: Nice guy, clean shop, class act all the way! (by gilli999)

gilli999 — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Our Exterra's brakes were ginding so bad that they felt like they were going to fall out. We read many great reviews on here so we decided to give Eliot our business. He gave us a fair estimate...I checked around to compare his price and found a place that offered to save us $75 (over the phone have you....this could have changed very easily once we brought it in). I told Eliot this and he worked with the parts suppiler to get a better deal for us. He met the price and even stayed open 15 minutes late to meet us! The Exterra feels great!

Eliot was very professional, straight forward and seemed like one of the most honest auto shops that I have ever dealth with! He is definitly getting my repeat business.

5 Stars: Finally, a mechanic you can trust... (by danyelli)

danyelli — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I was receiving a "check engine" error that had been "fixed" by one shop, looked at by two others (including the dealership!), each with a different opinion on what needed fixed ranging in the hundreds to over a 1K to fix. Eliot's found the RIGHT problem, and fixed it for less than $100 all in less time it took for others to even run diagnostics.

Did I mention they offer a free loaner car while they work on yours? Eliot is honest, open, and he even waited past closing time for me to arrive to pick up my car one day when I was running late (thanks again Eli)! I drive out of my way to come to his shop and he's one of the easiest and nicest people to work with.

5 Stars: What you want in a mechanic (by johnsstev)

johnsstev — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I've used Eliot's shop for years. He does what needs to be done on the car, gives me options for how and when to have things done, explains what he is going to do, and completes the job when he says he's going to complete the job.

5 Stars: car repair that won't rip you off (by bennett1)

bennett1 — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

After a chain brake repair place told me I needed to spend $330 and completely replace my brakes, I took it to Eliot's for a second opinion. It turned out my brakes were fine and were just squeaking a bit. Now I only go to Eliot's.
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4 Stars: No-nonsense Mechanic (by eberchand)

eberchand — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

No-nonsense advice and reliable repairs and maintenance. I trust Eliot and his mechanics for both the routine stuff and the issues I need help identifying. He's never surprised me with the cost, and always calls before making a repair we didn't discuss when I brought the car in. Recommended especially is the "Ultimate Car Care Club", which provides discounts and basic services free for a fixed annual price.

5 Stars: Best auto repair shop I've ever used!! (by arthurttu)

arthurttu — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I brought my car in to Eliot's thinking that it would cost me a fortune to fix it. Eliot called me a few hours later and said the repair would only cost me a few dollarsto repair. I was prepared to spend 10 times his estimate. Since then I've only allowed Eliot to repair my car. I've been more than happy with each visit. He keeps my old car running like new!
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