JC Automotive Specialist

Well I am only writing this review because the other REVIEWS were obviously written by the owners of the place. This was no where near close to my nightmare with Dan (The used car type salesman) Manager there.

I used these reviews to take my vehicle to them for a Diagnosis for emissions. I had just gotten a voucher from the STATE of TEXAS for the TexasAirCheck Program that offered up to $600.00 to get my vehicle to pass emissions. Mind you it passed fine last year but since this program went into effect, everyone is getting failed and referred to the program so these rip offs can steal the money out of STATE and then on top of getting the $600.00 from the STATE they try to up the Co Pay from $30.00 per the AIrCheck Aprroval Letter to almost $50.00 to perform a Diagnostic after which you get to approve or decline the repairs. The letter says...$30.00 co pay so make sure you clarify it before you leave your car....if you go to this place.....don't say you were not warned by a REAL customer.

They took my truck at 11am on Monday telling me they would call me in two hours...no call.....not all day or night...I called the next day where I was informed that my Emissions Repair would be over $1300.00....they were getting $600.00 or up to that amount from the STATE and wanted $700.00 MORE from us. The program is for people needing help not needing to be ripped off more.

I declined the repair and took it to another place in Round Rock where it will be fixed for under $600.00 easily.

I reported this to AirCheck and they advised also filing a complaint with the TX Dept of Transportation which I am going to do next. They are also going to start taking rip offs like this place and Lambs for the excessively high estimates. The other places submit normal ones but this place and Lambs try to rip the customer off as well as the State.

BEWARE!!!!

Pros: None

Cons: Fraud Warning

Posted 06/14/09

Okay, I'm not one to usually write any reviews, but felt this was absolutely necessary and well deserved.

I went online with hopes of finding a good reputable mechanic in Round Rock. I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have found such a honest and reliable place to take my car. They are friendly, upfront and will give you an alternative if possible. I must admit, I was skeptical at first after reading the reviews thinking they couldn't be that good. I was wrong, they were better than I expected. And I admit, I'm a bit of a perfectionist. Walking away knowing a company has not "wronged" you is so rare these days. With JC Automotive, you walk away with such a wonderful experience, knowing you got the best deal possible without having to search numerous places for the best deal.

I hope this will help you in your decision next time you need a mechanic. I feel so confident with them, I have taken my daughter's car there for repair today and know I'll get an honest estimate with no doubt whatsoever.

Thanks so much for your help JC Automotive!

Pros: Reviews problems and alternative options

Cons: None

Posted 05/17/09

My wife and I moved to Round Rock recently and it is always a pain to find a new mechanic. I did some research by driving around and then checking the internet. JC Automotive's reputation and reviews seems too good to be true. Well, they are as good as most say. I have had work done twice and got excellent service in a timely manner.
In the most recent instance they could have easily told me I needed major work in two areas and I would have considered they were right. What they did however is evaluate my problems, one was due to a bad tire and I thought it was a brake problem. No charge.
The other was a door sticking problem I had been trying to locate for months and they fixed it with the tap of a hammer at no charge. Just a pin needing to be knocked back in.
In the end they did the service that definitely was required at a fair price and I came away with a huge grin on my face. These guys are tops.

Pros: Honest, reliable and excellent workmanship

Cons: None

Posted 12/24/08

I had recently bought a 99 Miata about 15 months ago and was surfing the net looking for an auto shop that had a good reputation for working on Miatas. Many Miata owners repeatedly recommended Automotive Specialist for their friendliness, fairly priced, and efficient service. After reading the reviews on Citysearch, I decided to give them a try.
First, it was easy to set up an appointment; you can do it online, and they respond relatively quickly. I brought the car in on a Wednesday evening, and on Thursday morning fifteen minutes after they had opened, I had an estimate to work with. I had a new timing belt, water pump, thermostat, gasket seals, etc. done on the car, and the car was finished earlier than they had predicted on Thursday afternoon by about 3:30pm. They even had a great special discount tax free service that carried over from the tax free weekend of mid August which was another nice incentive.
I don't know what else they did to the car, but driving it out of the parking lot, it honestly felt like I was driving a new car! Everything felt tighter, shifting felt more crisp, and the engine responded perfectly. I was very, very satisfied, and I'll be returning to them in the future. Thanks!

Pros: speedy service, knowledgeable about Miatas, constant contact with customer

Cons: I wasn't able to use the 3% off yellow labor card in addition to the tax free discount

Posted 08/28/08

i go to jc for a oil change and they are always prompt and if i have to wait a long time they are upfront with me.they are the best place in round rock in my opinion.

Pros: never have a problem and they are knowlgeable

Cons: none so far

Posted 08/07/08

I would rate JC Auto as average, I got a typical auto repair experience, which I didn't expect after all the positive reviews. I called JC for a quote on a steering problem. They were less than the Ford dealer, so I went with them. It was suppose to be a 24 hour job, but they kept receiving defective parts from their supplier so I had to wait for a 3rd one to be delivered before they could fix it. I don't blame them for that though. Then, they informed me that when they gave me the quote, they forgot that an alignment was necessary with this type of repair, and that it was an additional cost. The dealer included that in their estimate, so I actually ended up paying more than expected. Once I picked up the car, I had to take it back the next day because it was still not working properly. I hesitated to write a review, I just wanted to be done with the ordeal, but after a friend of mine experienced similar "hidden charges" I decided to post one. The car is fixed now, but it was a stereotypical repair experience. I think i will stick to the dealer from now on.

Pros: Close to home, Dan was very helpful

Cons: Hidden cost not presented up front

Posted 07/30/08

We brought in our Protege when it didn't start and after Firestone said it was a bad alternator. I don't trust firestone so I thought I'd try out a new shop. I read good reviews about JC Automotive and decided to try them. We called the tow company who they suggest to bring in the car for "$65" and they would add it to my bill.

I called JC's and explained the problem and also had them fix a power window that didn't work. The alternator was not bad and I saved a lot compared to Firestone who would have gladly taken my money. They also did a great job on the window for about $15 cheaper than the last quote I had received.

All communication was with Dan over the phone. He was very helpful and answered any questions that I had. He didn't try to sell me anything I didn't need like other shops.

The complaint comes when we go to pickup the vehicle and I get the invoice. We were charged $85 for the tow which should have been $65 according to the quote I received from the tow company. I asked about this and they said they were charged $75 and tacked on an extra $10 for profit. I was also charged $44 for them to install the battery. This made no sense to me as I also paid $45 for them to Inspect & Diagnose the alternator/electric system. The battery was obviously bad as Dan had told me it was leaking a lot of acid. I agreed to the $45 charge for testing the alternator & electric system, but don't remember ever being told I would have to pay $44 for them to replace the battery. I can replace a battery in 10 minutes and I'm sure it took them about 5. I've gone to autozone before and they tested the battery and installed a new one for free.

So, good service & communication, but I feel that I was nickel and dimed for these 2 fees. I was not happy about the extra $64 that I had to pay for the extra tow charge and "battery installation" fee. Although I agreed to the total quote, I didn't realize that much went to battery installation/towing.

Pros: good service

Cons: unnecessary fee's

Posted 07/28/08

Their motto is "Returning the trust originally instilled in the family mechanic" and I could not agree more. Dan and the guys are top-notch and honest. I originally went to them a couple of years ago after reading good things about them on this site. I had a number of nagging issues with my 89 Isuzu Trooper and brought it to them to get inspected and have them quote me on the other items.

My A/C was very flaky and would blowout the fuse every so often and also the sliding selector would not work and I had to reach up behind the dash to change modes. I figured at least $500 to fix it up right and other places that I had been to had basically given me the run around when I asked how much it would be to fix these things. So imagine my surprise when I got a call from Dan to say that the A/C was just a loose wire that was shorting out and that the selector was only a cable that had fallen off that they fished around for and fixed!! I ended up getting out of there for less than $100 with the inspection. Needless to say I was sold on this shop from that point forward.

My most recent experience was very positive as well. My old Trooper died and I found another one and brought it to Dan to get inspected. Come to find out it was seriously lacking from an emissions standpoint which wasn't too much of a surprise to me. What was a surprise was how much effort they took to fix the problem and the level of concern they had for this old truck that wasn't even designed to pass an emissions test. They took the reading from 1000ppm down to the needed 200ppm by methodically fixing only the things that need to be done.

Working with these guys reminds me of going to my Dad's old mechanic back in the 80's. He would just take it in and it would get fixed, no need to wonder if he was getting shafted. I like old cars so it is nice to have guys like this to help when I get over my head.

Pros: Trustworthy and dedicated

Cons: none

Posted 06/30/08

My 94 ford pickup was overheating. I found these folks through city search. I'm always nervous about getting the car fixed as you can write books on what I don't know. I told them that the truck was overheating and when I stopped it was leaking fluid. I suggested "It might be the water pump, but I don't know". I also told them that I'm not a rich man and only wanted to fix what needed to be fixed. I was told that they would tell me what the problem was take care of only that problem when authorized. When they called, they told me, "Nope, not the water pump - just a bad hose." Well, they replaced the hoses, checked the system and assured everything OK. They could have "stuck me" for a new water pump (or more). They did what needed to be done and no more. They even saved what new coolant I had added as best they could, to pour back in. Their rates were fair and competitive. I feel I've found someone I can trust to take care of my old grey mare.

Pros: Honest - with a capital H

Cons: None for me...

Posted 06/25/08

Within a month of moving to Round Rock, the A/C in our Corolla gave out. We took it in to a Toyota dealership, where they told us that there was a hole in the condenser and that the compressor would also have to be replaced. After hearing how much they were going to charge, we decided to get a second opinion. I searched around online, and we decided to take a change on JC's based on the awesome reviews. We were not disappointed!!! We dropped our car off in the morning and received a call only a few hours later telling us that the only problem was a leak in the Schrader valve. They checked out the compressor and condenser, and there were no problems there. We pad just under $230--a LOT less than the $1,000 we were quoted at the dealership. Dan was great at answering all of our questions--I have total faith that we were treated fairly and that our service was honest. I will recommend JC's to everyone I know!

Pros: everything

Cons: Can't think of anything!

Posted 06/19/08

I've been coming to John and Dan for five years, now. On my first visit to the shop, my newly purchased ten-year-old Miata needed new brakes. John replaced the brake pads, turned the rotors, and told me everything he was doing and why. After taking the car home, I noticed an occasional squeal. It only happened in one place on one road, but it definitely happened. I took it back to John and described the problem. We couldn't reproduce it, so he couldn't hear it, but I insisted there was a problem in that left front wheel somewhere. John put the car back up on the lift, took apart the brake assembly, and found a part that was worn to a shine that shouldn't have been. That's what was making that noise.

I was incredibly pleased that an experienced mechanic would listen to the "little girl" (I was 21, but looked about 17) who didn't know anything about cars describe what sounded like a problem to her, and investigate it so thoroughly. Everyone I've worked with at JC Automotive Specialist has treated me with respect. They answer every question I have politely and thoroughly. I've learned a great deal from them over the years, and I've come to think of John and Dan as friends. They work on my parents' old beaters, but also have the expertise to turn my Miata into a finely tuned racecar. I couldn't ask for a better place to take my cars.

Posted 06/09/08

What I am about to state is factual. I took my truck to another shop in town and at the end of an $800 bill my truck was still broken. They wanted to work on it some more but I declined after finding out they charged me $140 for a part that cost $40 at Autozone. Multiply that times 3 since they changed three of them. A coworker heard about my situation and suggested I call JC's. Brian was courteous and Dan told me exactly what he would look for if i brought it in. I told him where I had taken it previously and instead of slamming the competition he let me rant and said he'd call me back with what he found. I got a call later that day saying he could have it fixed for $150. He's a liar though, I went to pay later that day and it was only $123. :) I was so impressed that I left the car there for some additional routine maintenance. I don't know who J&C are but I know who Dan and Brian are-- and I am impressed. Great job exceeding customer expectations guys.
JoeP

Pros: Trustworthy, reliable and accurate. These guys fix things.

Cons: None that I can think of.

Posted 05/29/08

These guys are excellent! They helped me out with my car's A/C problem by tell me exactly what was wrong with it and by installing a refurbished A/C compressor that I brought to them. When I dropped the car off for repair, they offered me a free ride to work and a pick up ride from work after the car was completed. Can't beat that! I'm very please with the repair quote that I got since you cannot compare it with the quote that the VW dealership gave me. Also, the office staff is very knowledgeable and honest.

Pros: Knowledgeable, courteous and a very clean place

Cons: None!

Posted 05/06/08

What more can I say other than all the positive reviews are right on target and everything positive that anyone has said about JC Automotive Specialist were TRUE in my experience also!! I heard a rumor that they may open a location in Georgetown, Texas soon--I hope this is true because it would be a lot closer for me than the Round Rock location!!

Pros: Finally a "honest" mechanic--couldn't believe that they still exsisted!!

Cons: NONE--other than I hope they do open a Georgetown Location so it would be closer to me!!!

Posted 01/14/08

When we moved back to Texas last year, and I knew it was only a matter of time before my wife's 1999 Alero (with 130K) would require attention that I couldn't provide myself. Over the years, we've learned the hard way that finding a good auto shop is harder than finding a good doctor (and almost as important).

Thank you, internet. After reading online reviews - here and on yelp, we rolled the dice on John and Corky's. From the first call to set up an appointment for our rough-running car, I knew this experience was going to be different from those in the past. Dan, the service manager, actually made the effort to carefully listen to the problems and advise me BEFORE I brought the car to them.

After their shop had analyzed the car, Dan called me and clearly explained the work that could be done, and what I could expect from the car following the work. He didn't dumb it down, or try to talk in oblique garage-speak. and no high pressure, "Your car will burst into flames during rush hour if you don't have this done" sales pitch. The exact costs were quoted, and I gave them the go-ahead to work on the engine.

The work was completed within a couple of hours, exactly as described. And best of all, my wife is happy with her car again - and getting much better mileage to boot.

Overall, the shop was clean, the employees polite, and the waiting area was nice - not just a couple of greasy chairs and a battered coke machine like some places. Trust is hard-won in their business, but they've earned a lot from our first experience. We will be back to see them again - just not too soon, hopefully.

Pros: No upsell tactics, just good honest work

Cons: haven't found any cons

Posted 01/09/08

I'm sold! I had a laundry list of repairs on my Jeep I had been puting off, including a broken AC and a slow radiator leak. A coworker told me about JC Automotive but I kept putting it off for fear of the cost of a new AC compressor. This is a Jeep afterall... who needs AC!? But then my nephew gushed about the service he had recieved from JC Automotive. OK! OK! I get the hint.

Dan listened to what I needed and within a few hours he called me with a list of the needed repairs and an estimate. I didn't need a new compressor - just a new schrader valve!! And the rest of the repairs were completely reasonable with no suprises.

I've since gone back for other repairs and I'll recommend them to anyone who asks. They ARE my neighborhood mechanic now.

Thanks Guys!

Pros: Honest, Great Customer Service, Reasonable Prices and Expert Repair

Cons: None

Posted 12/19/07

Mechanics that live up to their Commitment to Excellence. Per their Web Site, Saturday work is normally done by appointment only. My situation was that I had family in town and the transmission in her truck was
breaking down. I was searching for a mechanic in the area and two other locations had not opened yet so
I drove by JC's out of desperation. There was one service door open, when I went in to beg for help I was greeted professionally, not once did they mention we don't normally do walk ins on Saturdays. He simply told me his mechanic would be in in about 45 minutes and they would look at it and call me back. By about
1:30 the truck was repaired and the price quoted is what I paid.

I received a follow up call a week later checking to make sure the vehicle was running properly and it is.
I also just received a thank you card in the mail for doing business with them. Is this anyway to run a business? You bet it is!
Sam Winn
Round Rock

Pros: Thumbs up

Posted 11/28/07

... you would see a picture of this place. I can't recommend these guys enough. I brought my '06 Mustang GT in for it's 32k maintenance and some brake work. I was expecting to have to buy new rotors and pads, but the mechanics managed to save my original equipment. Most places would have just told me that I had to buy new parts. It takes real integrity to do what they did. On top of that, I had mentioned wanting some new Kumho tires, but I was unable to find the ones I needed locally for a price I was willing to pay. They ended up calling some places for me!

I'm sold on JC Automotive. From now on, all of my cars will be brought there.

Pros: Cared about my car, they're honest, tried to find parts for me when I was unsuccessful

Cons: None!

Posted 11/11/07

There are not enough stars to give these guys! Honest, fast, quality, fair pricing, fabulous service... need I say more?

You guys rock!

Pros: Everything! You can trust them, heck I'd even let them watch my kids if I had any.

Cons: none! Well I guess I have to pick my but up and drop it off for an oil change instead of it magically hapening.

Posted 10/08/07

i've had 2 more satisfied visits to JC since my last review. they're very consistent. knowledgeable, helpful, and straightforward. i'm giving them 5 stars this time because last time i gave them 4 and i'd prefer to give them a 4.5. my only complaint (and a minor one at that) is that each time i've had work done there has been a small communication issue. for some reason i wasn't notified when the vehicle was ready. i've also been given an inaccurate estimate as to how long it would take. still, these are VERY minor issues, and i'll happily deal with them to get GOOD SOLID HONEST SERVICE!!
thanks JC.

Posted 08/09/07

Without question John and Corky's is the best automotive garage in the round rock area. The level of mechanical competency, customer service, and price sets JC's apart from other mechanics in the area. John, Dan, and their staff are highly knowledgeable and experienced. (The garage is not full of newbies who will trash your car). They offer quality work at a fair price. I've brought into their garage a few different cars. All have been repaired well. Also, if you work at Dell, they offer complimentary shuttle service to the Dell campus.

Highly recommended.

--Han

Pros: mechanical expertise, pride in work, fair price

Cons: nothing significant

Posted 06/07/07

As a woman who knows enough about cars to have a clue as to what the problem is, these guys can't get more praise out of me. They explain things in detail, but on the level you approach them with. They offer outstanding customer service, high quality repairs, and all the hype I read on the site was true! After the diagnoses of my failing clutch, Dan walked me to the SUV and let me hear and see the problem. Dan showed me the diagrams on the computer and called three separate part services, right in front of me, before finding the right product at the right price.
When it came time to pay, there was no uproar, no looking down their nose, no knife in the gut, just a feeling of utter bliss as I walked away knowing I saved a ton thanks to Dan's expert knowledge and attention to getting it right. They didn't even charge me for little things that were not included in the quote, and they had it done on time and right. Not only was their price fair I might say it was cheap compared to what others would have charged.
The drive is a bit out of the way from my work, but they worked with me to get me into Austin for a meeting, but I had to arrange a ride back on my own. It worked out great for me, and I knew in advance to make plans.
Not only do I recommend JC's, I plan on keeping them as my automotive guys as long as I am in the Austin Area! They are mechanics even a lady can trust!

Pros: Anything and Everything

Cons: Location is a bit out the way for Austinites, but worth every bit of rush hour drive

Posted 04/30/07

I just moved to Round Rock from west Texas where I had a family mechanic for the past 20 years. After my first visit here I knew I found a suitable replacement. After extensive discussions about my car with both John and Dan, I knew exactly what I needed to do with my car not only now but in the near future. I've always understood basic mechanics but their ability to explain things on a real-world application basis totally blew me away.
I did do my research calling other shops but nobody actually took the time to explain WHY preventative maintenance is important instead of just treating me like a lemming and saying "because the manufacturer says so". I'm not a child or a moron and they didn't treat me like one much like the other shops I called.
Highly recommended for new residents and old!

Pros: Extremely helpful and knowledgeable!

Cons: Not open on weekends (hey, they have families too!)

Posted 04/07/07

See my review for "John & Corky's"--not sure why this business has two names. In my situation, they failed to fix a "check engine" light, gave me a new battery I didn't need, failed to reset the car's computer properly and let me drive off anyway, and then failed to honor the warranty on the battery. I feel like the warranty was misrepresented to me. The rest of it isn't so much any type of dishonesty as much as it was much a lack of diagnostic skill. I still give them an overall average, because I don't have high opinions of most mechanics in town, but I didn't feel like they lived up to all these glowing reviews. I ended up spending over $500 for basically no result...

Pros: Pleasant

Cons: Didn't fix it, didn't honor warranty. See my other review for "John & Corky's"

Posted 04/05/07

When I first moved to Austin a couple of years ago my daughter told me about J&C. At first I thought that she had to be exaggerating until I actually put them to the test. My brakes were making noise so I took my
Avalon in to have them replaced and get an oil change. They immediately pulled the wheels and called me into the shop. They showed me that my brakes still had plenty of life left and the noise was not uncommon on Toyotas. Now, about the oil change. They didn't realize that I brought my own oil (Mobile 1 synthetic and Mobile 1 filter) so they changed it using a name brand oil and filter. When I mentioned that the oil was still in my trunk Dan personally changed it, again, and charged me nothing for all the work they did. I tried to pay them but they refused the money.

Since then I have brought my and my wifes vehicle to them and I can always count on quick, courteous and honest response whenever I do.

Thanks guys for relieving me from ever having to deal with the run-of-the-mill mechanic shops again. And, in return, you can count on me for word of mouth advertising.

And thank you Gwen for telling me about these guys.

Pros: Wonderful people that know what they are doing

Cons: Ummmm....none that I can think of

Posted 02/25/07

Upon research of Automotive Techs, I chose this business to install an AEM Cold Air Intake in my 350z. I called to ask how much it would cost and was given an estimated price. I decided to think about it for a couple of days and then called back to set up an appointment. The gentleman on the phone set up an appointment for me at 1:00 for the next day. I drove from South Austin to Round Rock to have them install it on my lunch break, and to my amazement was told that they couldn't get to it today. I asked why an appointment was set up and why nobody called me to reschedule. I was told that they usually don't set up appointments and it was first-come, first-serve. Normally this would not bother me, but the man at the counter was rude and non-apologetic. He stated that I should bring it in first thing in the morning. If this is the kind of attitude that reflects the quality of service, I would take my business elsewhere if I were you.

Cons: Poor customer service and organizational alignment

Posted 02/14/07

I am a mechanic working in a dealership and I bring my car to JC Auto Spec. Basically, I won't let anyone but these guys touch my FD! Finding parts for my car isn't always easy, especially since I like to keep it as stock as possible. Dan always seems to find parts for my car, and tries to get me the best value for my buck. John does exceptional work, and leaves no evidence under the hood.

Thanks for years of excellent service, guys. :)

Posted 02/10/07

I was trying to get my 1984 RX-7 to pass emissions inspection (It had failed twice as I was following advice from other "mechanics"). I had been asking around but did not trust anyone playing with my baby (The guys where I did the inspection were charging me about $100 just to tell me what the problem was - but they were not even sure). I went to the mazda dealer and asked for guidance - again dealers don't believe in helping you unless you pay upfront... I was told by the local RX-7 club about John's expertise and took it in to get fixed. John looked at it as I was waiting he told what it could be .... by noon it was done fixed (It was less then what the guys at the inspection shop were going to charge me just to hook it to machine to get some sort of reading). So I went to the same inspection shop and passed with no problem.
There is no better feeling than being taken care of by experts and knowledgeable people. Also, it helps not get ripped off in the process and JC was an honest place to go and do business with. Thanks for your help on getting my car tuned and ready for the road

Posted 02/05/07

We've been taking our cars to John for years. Now that he has launched into his own shop, and brought in Dan to handle the "front of house", we give JC Auto Specialists all our work and recomend them to anyone who is looking for a friendly, honest, and - how can I put it - "good old-fashioned" mechanic. But old-fashioned only in the work ethic - all the shop equipment is extremely modern and up-to-date.

These are guys you can trust to do the right thing. We recently had some work done on our aging Explorer, which allowed us to keep the old fella going for a while longer. Now, however, he needs some engine work after a coolant mishap, and suspension work after a minor traffic accident. Another shop might simply have let us pour money into the pit, but Dan has layed out the available options to us clearly and concisely, and at this point I'm not sure that we will be pouring any more money into it - not for one moment have we been pressured to make repairs that are not financially viable given the value of the vehicle.

Pros: Friendly, knowledgeable, courteous, clean

Cons: A little out of the way from central Austin

Posted 01/29/07

High quality work, at prices way below the dealerships. The best place to go for non-warranty work. The best Miata mechanics in the area.

Posted 01/29/07

I'm glad I got a second opinion. It saved me hundreds of dollars and unnecessary work on my car. Thanks to Dan, who offered trustworthy advice and knowledge. I'm grateful that can officially say, I will be back ........and I will tell everyone there is a HONEST auto-shop that offers clear explanations and great customer service. Thank you again JC automotive

Pros: overall a honest auto-shop!

Cons: wasn't ready at the time given, but a extra 20 min. is fine with me since I was able to trust them with my car

Posted 01/25/07

Recently I took my car to JC based on excellent reviews. The car would start but die immediately. JC had it fixed for less than $100 for diagnosis, parts and labor, a job would easily cost $200 - $300 else where.

Posted 01/01/07

About 2 weeks ago my check engine light came on. I chose JC Automotive due to the wonderful reviews on Citisearch. I took the car in a few days later. The shop was spotless, and I was greeted immediately after walking in the door. Dan had advised on the phone how much the diagnostic would cost andabout how long it would take. It took half the time. I was taken and picked up from work, and my car was ready the very same day. Dan patiently answered all of my questions and my car is now running smooth. Ohh I forgot to mention that even after the $15 off coupon my cost was still LESS than what was quoted to me. I was very pleased with the honesty and integrity of everyone I spoke with. My car is not going anywhere else.

Posted 11/29/06

I just don't know what to say - well, maybe I do. I had terrible news all day Monday (before I took my truck in that day), one thing after another - all money related. Even though I had all of these problems on my shoulders I took my Dodge Truck in for a fixin' to JC Automotive - I mean heck, I'm already down several hundred dollars - what's a few more. They drove me home so I wouldn't have to wait at the shop. With these earlier heavy burdens weighing on me at home, I got a call from John and he said "I have good news." I couldn't believe what he told me! It turned out to be a little hose that kept my check engine light on for almost two years, which DIDN'T cost me a few hundred more. Others looked at the code that came up and told me to change my gas cap, which I did 3 times with no avail. I couldn't make myself take the truck to a Dodge dealer with the OUTRAGEOUS price they charge just to diagnos the problem. I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH THEIR SERVICE AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT WHEN SOMETHING ELSE GOES WRONG WITH MY TRUCK I WILL TAKE TO JC AUTOMOTIVE.

Thank you all VERY much,
Jennifer

Posted 11/28/06

I went to JC Automotive because of the other great reviews on Citysearch. I was very pleased with my experience! They gave me an accurate estimate, quickly completed the repairs, and even gave me a courtesy ride home. Their shop is very clean and comfortable and the people are very friendly and knowledgable. They did an excellent job fixing my car, and offered very competitive prices for their services. I have been recommending them to our friends in the area, and will definitely go back whenever we need future repairs. Highly recommended!!!

Posted 11/26/06

I took my Durango into the shop for the second time, this time with a flat tire. They fixed the tire and didn't charge me at all. Not only that, but they offered to send a mechanic over to my house to air up the tire so that I wouldn't damage the rim on the way to the shop. The staff is friendly, reliable and most important of all: trustworthy. I wouldn't take my car anywhere else!

Pros: Kind, informative staff, plus great magazines to read while you wait!

Posted 09/21/06

I had done something unwise... I had just purchased a 1991 Miata on an impulse (can we say mid-life crisis), even though it was badly abused by the previous owner. The first shop that I had work on the car charged a fortune to rebuild the engine, but when they were "done" they couldn't get it to run well while still passing the emissions requirements. I was about to write the car off as a loss and chalk it all up to experience, but then I was referred to JC Auto Spec by the members of the local Miata club.

I took the car to JC Auto Spec and put the car into the care of John and Dan. John was kind enough to drive me home to my other car as a courtesy. As I said, the Miata had been abused by the previous owner and there was a lot to recover from. John wasted no time in diagnosing the problems and fixing them quickly. On top of that, the final price was hundreds below the original estimate.

I have since brought the Miata and my sons' cars in for further work, and each time John and Dan have been courteous, efficient, and thorough, providing quality solutions to my problems. I have also directed others to JC Auto Spec, and they have also enjoyed the same fine level of support and service.

In short, JC Auto Spec is the best shop in the Austin area. Go there first for honest, quality work.

Pros: Clean shop, excellent quality work, thorough explanations

Cons: Location is distant from my work, and the shop is closed on weekends (although there is a drop-off option.

Posted 08/27/06

I found it! I have located the Holy Grail of Auto Repair Shops! Stop looking and just drive up to Round Rock and give these guys a try. What an innovative idea. Professional auto mechanics who decided to open up a shop and hire the best/most experienced mechanics. Take a look at the shop when you get there - busy (lots of cars being worked on) -- clean (you could literally eat off of the shop floor) - friendly (either Dan is a genuinely nice guy or he has been extremely well trained in the customer experience) -- thorough (I listened to him talk on the phone to another customer while I read a magazine and my girlfriend could even understand what was wrong and what needed to be fixed and why - even what could wait a while). Now, let's get to where the rubber meets the road. Took my car in at closing time on Monday; got a phone call with a full diagnosis, price estimates, length of time to repair - AT 8:30 THE NEXT MORNING! Whaaaaaaa????? My car was ready EXACTLY when promised; the final bill was $165 LESS THAN the estimate (talk about under promising and over delivering!) Oh, and by the way, man did the car perform better than I expected - solid, just perfect AND they fixed my a/c for way less than I expected.

I gotta tell you - I've been looking for an Honest, Fair and Competent mechanic for over 10 years in and around the Austin area - used to take my car all the way to Oak Hill but that mechanic left the state; got a really good recommendation from a great restaurant owner in Pflugerville and would take my car to a mechanic off of 685 (no matter what the repair, I always had to take it back to get fixed again). These guys are the REAL DEAL! This is the shop you have been looking for.

If you want your car fixed right, estimated right, treated right and you are tired of paying over and over and over for the same repair - then you owe it to yourself (and your Grandma, too) to take your next car repair to this shop. You won't be disappointed.

Pros: Friendly, Knowledgeable, Clean

Cons: Darned if I can't think of any Cons!

Posted 08/21/06

My Mazda 626 check engine lit up and the car was having some real hesitation problems especially at highway speeds. The RPM's jumped around like crazy at times as well. I had already sunk enough money into the car for other things, so I was dreading taking it in to be fixed. I tried JCautospec for the first time based on citysearch reviews. I couldn't be more pleased. They fixed the car in a day, and with the citysearch coupon, it only cost me $70. They didn't try to sell me extra services or fix things that didn't need to be fixed. I'll be taking all of my vehicles to JCautospec in the future.

Pros: Fair prices, fast service, friendly technicians

Cons: None

Posted 08/21/06

I'de rather have a root canal, than having to deal with an auto repair shop. I have a 1999 Subaru Forester that was running rough and was beginning to get less than stellar gas mileage. After reviewing a multitude of different online recommendations, Automotive Specialist always seem to be on the top of the list. After having them work on my car, I can see why. They we're friendly, courtious and spent a great deal of time explaining what work needed to be done. They even offered to pick me up from my home to retrieve my car after the work was completed. They also called several weeks later to find out if everything was going well with my Subaru. My doctor doesnt even do that! I think these guys invented "customer service" because they do a great job performing it.

Posted 08/16/06

I knew John from years ago when he was a Master Technician at a local Mazda dealership. When my car was in, he'd always take time to talk to me about the work he was doing on his personal cars and FlyinMiata cars. After hearing his stories and knowledge, I knew the car was in good hands, as many techs would probably refuse to even work on my car due to the "nature of it".

Years later, I blew my motor due to some modifications and a heavy foot and had a "friend of a friend" fix it. Two months and a decent sized invoice later, the car still was not ready and barely ran. I picked it up from that mechanic's shop and tracked John down. He was able to diagnose, repair and even do extra work I didn't ask for in a matter of days and for half of what the original repair cost was.

Since then, I've sent a few people his way and feel very confident sending some of our customers from our shop over to his shop for work. He's also going to be building up a performance motor for my personal car, and I'd only let someone I felt completely comfortable with and how I thought was as meticulous as John do that.

From something as simple as an oil change to a performance motor build, JC's got the knowledge for it. Definitely recommended.

- Clay

Pros: Huge clean shop, Support & Knowledge, Prices

Cons: Can't think of any, really.

Posted 07/14/06

My Jeep and my wife's van have been in here at least five times over the past two years and I have always been impressed with the quality of the work, and the honesty of these guys. Dan is always very helpful and the shuttle service is a great help for those some distance away.

Pros: They focus on customer service and a quality job, not getting your $$$$$

Cons: I've been here about 6 times and not found any yet

Posted 06/23/06

I found JC Auto on citisearch after I had called almost every mechanic in the phonebook. I'm a young college student without much experience with cars and I guess I sound like that on the phone, because almost everyone I spoke to either talked down to me or wouldn't give me the time of day. I would hang up with the other mechanics more confused about my car than before I had called them. I spoke to Dan from JC Auto and he was the first mechanic to take me seriously and treat me with respect. I took my car into the store where everyone was very kind and willing to help. After looking at my car, Dan explained what was going on in understandable terms and quoted me the first reasonable price I had heard- and I had spoken to atleast 20 mechanics. Not once did I feel talked down to, and any questions I had were cheerfully answered. No rolled eyes, smug looks or exasperated sighs. I have recommended them to all my friends and will be going back to them with any future problems. Great Job guys! And Thanks!

Pros: Great Service, the place even looks good

Cons: it's busy

Posted 06/21/06

I brought my car here after my dealership quoted me an outrageous price to fix my air conditioning. i also had the feeling the dealership was not being too honest, so I took my Infiniti to JC Automotive and spoke with Dan, to see what was wrong with it. They found the EXACT problem, and didnt add on any other NONEXISTENT problems, like the dealership did. They fixed it for so much cheaper and within 1 day. Now my air conditioning is working perfectly. I sent my fiance there for his work van. We wont be going anywhere else from now on.

Pros: Very nice and curteous

Posted 06/19/06

Just want to say some good things for the record. Round Rock is getting to be a big town and it's a scary thing trying to find a good place to take your car or truck for repair. Well, I found a good one, my search is over. I had a problem over the weekend and I talked to John and got taken care of, picked up my Jeep Grand Cherokee on Monday at 3:00 pm. and it was running like a top. I recommend them to all my music biz buddies and everyone else as well.

Thanks guys, if I ever have another problem, I'll certainly be back.

Greg Roberts
Round Rock, Texas

Pros: Clean, convenient shop- nice people

Cons: None

Posted 06/18/06

Wow! Are these glowing reviews plants, or what? I took my vehicle here mainly due to the excellent reviews I read here. Well, my experience was not exactly something to be happy with. After leaving my vehicle here for half a day, I was told they couldn't/wouldn't do anything with it, no explanation, very abrupt and discourteous guy at front desk, guess they don't want my type of business (what do they want?) Now I've wasted a morning and no further ahead, not even any real explanation of what's wrong, let alone why they can't fix it! Guess they think I'm not good for the bill? Their loss!

Posted 05/22/06

Had my car to three other shops ( 4 days total ) with no fix in sight. Then I took it to John's shop and his two mechanics had a diagnosis and repair within an hour! Since it was so fast and easy for them, they did it while I waited. Thanks Again Guys.

Pros: Fast , Inexpensive, Quality

Posted 05/03/06

John took ridiculously good care of my race Miata. Attention to detail was even higher than I would have held myself to if I was doing the work.

Pros: highly skilled, detail oriented, won't rip you off

Cons: none

Posted 04/28/06

I have had all of our vehicles including a Ford Excursion, Mini Coooper S, Jeep Wrangler, and Mazda RX7 Twin Turbo. John, Corky, and Dan have provided the best service with excellent turn around time. Wouldn't go anywhere else for any vehicle.

Posted 04/27/06

Very knowledgeable staff. Found problems before they left me stranded. First rate service at a decent price. They will not try to sell unneeded services.

Pros: proficient, accurate, honest

Posted 04/26/06