Highland Park Automotive

i don’t know what happened, but the last time i came here they were kind of mean to me. it has been over a year since i’ve brought my car here, and i think i’m done. kind of sad. :(i really liked them (obviously, i gave them 5 stars based off of an oil change!)
i’ve since found an AMAZINGLY professional, reputable, and honest location just down the street from here with tons of great reviews, also by way of Unilocal.so unfortunate because i wouldn’t have had to make that search had it not been for my negative experience with them that made me feel really snubbed and uncomfortable.

Highland Park Automotive is THE diamond in an area that offers more than a dozen auto repair shops from which to choose. I recommend them in the highest order and suggest that all with repairs due go here.
Mr. Joe and his team are so good that I rarely see them. True, I see them each 3500 miles for my oil change but other than that, they are sure to keep my 2002 Honda Accord running smoothly.
I must point that Mr. Joe holds steadfast to the notion that there are many scenarios for him to explain to the customer when fixing a car: the bad way, the correct way and the cheat manner of overcharging the costumer, which he avoids and only presents for cautionary measure.
Mr. Joe will often go into detail regarding each way and has OFTEN asked me to go get another opinion with another shop (of course he front loads me on the mannerisms of the cheater mechanic). I used to go get those second/​third opinions but over the course of my car’s life, I have found time and time again that Mr. Joe has thoroughly explained the situation and the best way to approach the repairs.
I present the above because, I believe, Mr. Joe wants not only to fix your car but to build a network of business through referrals and trust.
After being the victim of bad mechanics in the past, I am truly happy with Highland Park Automotive.
Now, my only automotive problem is that Mr. Joe can never retire!

I’ve gone to these guys before and was satisfied with their service but this last time (and I mean LAST time), it was surprisingly bad. Not sure what’s going on with them now but their customer service took a nose dive. I took my car in for a diagnosis for why my AC was not working. Mariano tells me over the phone that it’s gonna be a hundred and some dollars for the inspection plus recharge and even though I tell him I’ll get back to him, HE FIXES IT WITHOUT MY AUTHORIZATION. This is very upsetting because I have a mechanic friend who offered to charge my system FOR FREE… so there, I fork over the money. Oh, did I mention that when I went to pick up the car, I was very insistent with the boss (Joe?) that I never authorized the repair, and the he was a total defensive A-​hole? Wow. Never expected that kind of treatment. I should’ve taken their you-​know-​whats to small claims court but instead, I cut my losses and leave never to return again but then notice that my AC, in fact, DOES NOT WORK. So much for their «diagnosis». Mariano tells me to bring it back, so I do, they finally did find out what was wrong and fix it (with my permission) to the tune of another couple hundred dollars. Two days later, I ended up calling them because they NEVER CALLED ME TO TELL ME THE CAR WAS READY…“oh your car was done yesterday…” And yes… even though they misdiagnosed the problem in the beginning, did they offer to refund the inspection charge from the first time? NO. The only slightly redeeming thing is that they offered to pick me up so I didn’t have to take a bus down there to pick up my car. It’s too bad… they used to be a solid business and I liked them. Now they seem sloppy and full of themselves… especially Joe.

well i decided to take my car to this shop based on the reviews here on Unilocal,but my experience was terrible. the mechanic name Mariano gave me a service charge of $ 60 dollars for inspecting my vehicle because it was turning on but after a few seconds shut off so they did their job and checked the problem and turns out it was the fuel pump that was only giving 10psi of fuel pressure when it should give between 35 to 56psi of fuel pressure. well the cost was crazy the fuel pump they were selling me was $ 165 dollars more than the dealership OEM brand and that did not include labor. since i decided to not do the service with them because i didn’t even have close to what they were asking for repair cost the owner of the shop was telling me i had to pay $ 80 dollars for fuel pressure testing my car. i told him i am not paying you no $ 80 dollars, your mechanic mariano told me $ 60 dollars and has been that price for 2 weeks straight! so he then said fine i will take it out of mariano. then once he gave me my keys he asked how soon can you get your car out my lot. i told him 15 minutes for the tow truck guy to come and he said ok and it ended there. my experience was very bad with the owner of the shop. the guy has a mustash and glasses on and is pretty tall since i am only 5,7. but all i have to say is i will never come to this rip off shop again due to the owner trying to steal an extra $ 20 dollars from me. keep in mind the mechanic mariano was very polite and understanding but the onwer of the shop was another story. too bad man i would have bought the part elsewhere and had them do the labor but the owner ruined it for him self. now ill just do the work my self thanks to youtube.

The owner of this establishment is Joe… great work ethic, reputable backround in the automotive industry…
he and his guys do great work on all the cars i refer to him…
they are fair in price and do great clean work… which is important to someone like me who sends friends and family to him…

Just got a new clutch installed here. Joe is super friendly, and also got me in pretty quickly.
One small gripe: they didn’t adjust my clutch pedal freeplay, so now it engages just off the floor. Stalled it a couple times at first. Good thing I can adjust it myself, being a former mechanic.
That said, I would return. Joe was pretty straight with me.

get service here all the time, reliable but sometimes over priced.

I was referred from a good friend of mine about this shop! We had a major issue with water pump and i wanted an honest mechanic!!! Joe was very very very helpful, nice, and awesome! Not only he got the job done in a timely manner and for a reasonable price, he actually SHOWED me my OLD parts to prove he replaced the issue!!! NOW that makes a Great Mechanic!!! I will be bringing my car issues to him for now on. Try him out!!!

I LOVE this place!!! Their Service is FAST, the prices are great, and they are very honest with you as far as what is wrong with your car or what it needs done! I will definitely be a REPEAT customer!

I hate car issues. I hate when my gas tank has is half empty. I hate the sound the car makes when my passenger doesn’t have their seat belt on. I hate when my maintenance light comes on. I hate when I hear a clickity clack sound form my car. I don’t know how to change my tire. I hate when my windshield is dirty. I once drove around with no windshield wiper fluid in my car because I didn’t want to screw anything up. I don’t like my car. I’m trading it in. Until that day… I need someone to take care of some of the issues stated above.
I found Highland Park Automotive on this site. I came over before 9am on a weekday and they took care of my car with a quickness. Oil change, checked my tires, and my AC. They were very informative when telling me what my car needed. I looked like I was listening.
Since the men at this shop treated me well and was so kind to hook me up so early in the morning without an appointment… In the future, they will get all my business.