1St Class Smog N Automotive

TL;DR: Broke my car door and blatantly lied to my face while going through hysterics.
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I went in and paid what I had to pay for, smog check that failed and then to fix the map sensor for my Mercedes. After coming back to it, I found my door handle broken. The handle was pertruding instead of retracting back into the door. When I confronted Jae Young Ha about it, he started laughing hysterically, «You think I broke handle? No.» He proceeded to show me «how» to close my door by slamming the handle back inside (which I would have not known about because I didn’t want to break it any further), «Door not broken. No-​no-​no. Not broken.» At this point, I couldn’t fathom how terrible of a liar he was. Especially, showing me how to close MY own car door. After going inside, he kept talking, about how it may have seem like he broke it and continued to tell me of a similar incident from another customer. I can say, I am never coming here again. He charged me $ 152 for the map sensor, $ 42 for the failed smog and wanted another $ 30 once passed. For breaking my door handle and most of all, his blatant lies, I shouldn’t have to pay that $ 30.
Better and helpful mechanic for $ 50 and free if fail smog test:
Magnolia Smog Test Only
8961 Bolsa Ave. Westminster CA, 92 683
Phone: 714−379−9970
Takes 15 minutes.

I don’t understand why this business has so many bad reviews.
NEW MANAGEMENT BY THE WAY.
Always come here for my oil changes or just to see if anything is wrong with my car. The oil change is the cheapest I’ve ever gotten too.
$ 17? SRS.
MOST PLACES ARE $ 20+
Everyone is nice to me especially the new owner and his staff. They always come out and show me how dirty my air filter was or tell me exactly what’s wrong with my car and ask if I want to fix it here or to go somewhere else.
FOREVER MY OIL CHANGE MECHANIC!

Went in for a simple oil change. Came out with massive oil leak. They would not take responsibility for creating the leak and said it been like that for a long time. No way, I park in my garage. never ever a drop of oil until I took it here. It gets better, they wanted $ 500 to fix a supposed cracked oil filter housing and pan gasket! I won’t pay them a dime to fix it and I will not come back ever for sure.

Saturday morning promptly at 8 am, I went in for a quick oil change — was done in 22 min.
Though, I don’t believe they did the free inspection as stated on their bright banner oil change $ 16.95 (was not written on the service receipt) — definitely not «1^st class» if they didn’t even do the work advertised.
I did have the PennySaver coupon for free inspection/​brake/​tire rotation but pressed for time so I didn’t mention this.
The employees were nice enough.

1. Horrible customer service. (one of the service guy greeted me and had me waiting in the room for more than 20 mins before asking me” why i’m there for”.)
2.Went in to get my oil change and came out with break problem. (They try to up-​sell me on breaks, which i found later my breaks were perfectly fine after taking my car to the official dealer.)
3. Took my tires/​breaks apart and could not put it back together.
4. I was told my car would be ready in 30 mins — it only took them 6 hours before they can put my breaks together.
Simply, RUN as fast you can from this business.

Was charged 50 dollars, by a guy named Jay, for a smog check today which included the certificate. I thought it was a bit high and I should’ve checked around beforehand because I found out later that a lot of places only charge 40 dollars including certificate for the same year and make of my car.

In retrospect, I’ve learnt that the stock lug nuts on my truck do have an inherent design flaw and they do suck (a lame capped design). So, I suppose it’s not entirely their fault. However, I’ve had to change many a tire myself without issues. The last handful of times my tires were removed/​rotated were at this place for rotations when I got oil changes. The lug nuts definitely got jacked up from their use and are responsible for the action, although then I guess they can’t be entirely to blame because they were crappy stock to begin with. But either way, how they handled it was no picnic. They could have helped me replace them and just charge me for the parts. Instead — nothing but hassle from these guys.

I went there for an oil and they suggested a radiator fluid change also… Then my car started over heating and gunk was coming out of my radiator. Never had that problem before

My tow truck driver recommended them because she knows the mechanic; however, when I got there, they were under new ownership. They had quoted me $ 250 to fix my solenoid/​starter over the phone, but after my tow left and my car was stuck there, they called me back and said it was going to cost $ 300 because it was «hard to get to.» Um, didn’t they know that when they gave me the quote? There is a labor cost guide (like a mechanic’s bible) that tells them the labor time so how did they somehow come up with this? Then they had the nerve to try and upsell me on other things, (fluids and such) that would only cost another $ 200. I felt like I was at Jiffy Lube or some place similar where you go in for an oil change and they tell you that you need a new air filter and various other things. So I felt like they gave me a low quote to get me there, and once my tow truck left, they knew they could jack up the price because I was stranded at that point. Where is the integrity with sticking with your original quote. I was looking for a new mechanic as my other one of over 10 years seems to have closed up shop. Needless to say, I’m still looking.
This is not how you begin a new business, which they will find out soon. Don’t rip off your customers if you want them to remain your customers and refer others.

Should be called ‘low class auto’, Albert and Brian the owners are good guys but they hired some idiot to be the manager. I went there for an oil change. Bone-​head (the manager) said to take a look at my truck, he asked where I took the truck for service because they did shoddy work, I said the last place I took it to was here. Bonehead was in shock and said are you sure? To which I replied yes. To make it short he was trying to charge me $ 1,000 plus dollars for front end work. I paid for my oil change and got out of there as soon as I could.
This used to be a good place but it’s rapidly gone downhill faster that a soapbox racer.

Going to the mechanic is never an easy experience but everyone at this place was great. Rick was able to show me the issue and tell me what needed to be fixed right away and what I could put off for a later time. Not only did he take the time to explain my issue, but he also was able to create a line of credit for me to work with me on the payments which I truly needed at the time. All in all, I highly recommend this place!

All I wanted was an oil change =/…
I finally decided to write this review in an emotionless manner because I did leave this auto shop feeling apprehensive & scared right after. Instead of going to my usual local shop, I was suckered into their oil change coupon from Pennysave, and drove very decent miles in 10 min to the northern part of Garden Grove. In addition, the coupon included free tire rotation, which results in my car to be lifted from the hydraulic beams for the auto guys to easily adjust the wheels.
The front worker & I had small talk until one of the repair guys called his attention regarding what they observed on my car. He then became instructional, which I honestly thought that was helpful in this industry, & – long story short – showed me what nooks and cranies needed to be taken care of inside & out of my sedan because of my 120,000+ mileage, and then wrote down the label-​less price tags at the bottom of a sheet of paper indicating marks on what auto parts needed attention or was okay.
I will straight-​up admit: I am a still a novice stuck in Automobiles 101 (Huh, wonder why o_​O), but I knew about that manufactured, maintenance check-​up especially due on the miles (I drive a Corolla, btw). I thought it was very interesting that I could take iPhone pictures of my car AND that sheet of paper at the end of my transaction. Despite his informative attitude, direct & seeable comparisons between old and new fluids, and his speech of the hang-​loose prices for service maintenance, that little voice of mine insisted me to get a 2^nd opinion.
So near the end of this incident I called my trusting, close friend, whose loving father I’ve met has many, many years of working in the automotive field. I was so relieved that, based on my case AND the iPhone picture analyses a few hours after I left the place worried, my car specifically didn’t need these «procedures» ASAP or right away. That simple oil change – plus spark plugs and air conditioning filter replacement for better gas efficiency – on my Corolla will necessarily do. As a result, my $ 300++ savings were kept in place, and I simply paid for & got the oil change.
Although my anxious reflection felt it was an «Eek» experience, that 2^nd star was for that useful, hands-​on lesson from the front worker. I wouldn’t be so extensive in my review – or not write it at all – if I got what I wanted (regardless of service attitude) & left nonchalantly to another adventure, instead of some new crisis trying to butt into my day. It has been almost a month since the incident, & with better knowledge afterward thanks to my friend, my car is still spiffy from going almost 1,000 miles after the new lubricant.
By the way, I wished that Pennysaver coupon would have clearly listed in fine print that there’s an additional cost for the hazardous waste fee. I paid about 4 bucks more than the discounted price, & that local auto shop I have used & should have relied on also gives coupons that are honorably coined as is.

Don’t walk, run away. Tried to employ them to replace front brakes after I already received a brake inspection. Only front brakes needed, yet the business decided they needed to once again inspect rear brakes. After discussion regarding waste of time and unnecessary duplication of effort, the owner decided he doesn’t «work that way» and turned away the work, and the sad thing is we were just standing there minding our own business waiting, we never complained, yelled, anything! That’s fine, but was not was the way he talked to us, he was a rude, unhappy, and angry man. It’s no wonder their repair bays are empty yet the other businesses surrounding them are busy. He basically yelled at his mechanic to lower the car and forget the work! Bottom line is my wife and I have never experienced someone so unhappy and rude. Add to this the fact he couldn’t even quote the price of a simple brake job, coupled with fact this was no the first time we saw the J.A. yell for no apparent reason, there is no way we would ever return to this business. He tries desperately to up sell unnecessary repairs (he claims based on mileage, not on the fact that a part failed or even shows signs of failing). If you’re a woman going in alone, be cautious, he’ll try to sell you something that you more than likely don’t need. Trust me, go elsewhere…
P. S. Ensure you read the filtered review, you’ll certainly discover a consistent theme.

Al and Rick have been great — I have four cars that i bring to 1^st Class and I always have been treated very well. If there is an issue, they call and let me know exactly what it is. They also tell me what needs to be done NOW and what can be held off for a bit. They have been very generous with their time and have given me explanations that I can understand.

Best mechanics in OC. Price is decent, and service has always been satisfactory.
I have brought in a Volvo S40, a Mazda Miata, a Honda Civic, a Honda CRV, and a Range Rover. Every vehicle I’ve serviced has been done properly.
They have never tried to jip, although they sometimes joke around about it.
I have done simple services from oil change, to large services such as belts, shocks, engine blocks, and electrical. Every time I have picked up my car with the job done just as I requested. Only one time have I come back to find out that the service was going to cost me a bit more. On other occasions even though it would cost me more, they would cover the difference to respect the price.
The only reason why I haven’t given 1^st Class a 5 star is because they can take longer than they say due to a limited staff. If you want your car serviced fast this might not be the place. They are cheaper than most mechanics though, and WILL treat you right and do a superb job.

Took my car in for a simple oil change and tune up. Charged me extra for the tune up because I drive a 97′ Nissan Altima. Whatever. Come back and of course they have the laundry list of things to fix on the car and they also put my spare on my right rear claiming that my tire had a leak. Never noticed one before and I checked the tires recently so I told them to put the old one back on. Started driving away and now my car idles to the left so bad that I had to force the car to the right to keep it steady. Came back and they put the tires the way they were. Then the guy pointed out that the valve stem was completely busted. Funny… wasn’t like that before. Took my car to a tire place 2 blocks from there and by the time it was there the tire was completely flat. And now my car runs worse than it did when I brought it in. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!!!

This shop often advertises many inexpensive basic services on the Penny’ Saver: oil change, brake job, transmission service, etc. The quality of service is inconsistent due to a high turn over of mechanics. In addition, they always try to get you for additional expensive services. In the past the service was pretty quick. I came back today, it took them three hours to change the oil of two cars! Worst yet, they told me to change the oil filter because it was dirty. I watched them after agreeing. They put the old air filter back since the the new one didn’t fit. When I pointed this out, they just didn’t charge me for it and acted as if nothing happened. No apology. I am almost certain that if I had not observed the mechanic, they would have charged me.
Beware. Go there for the inexpensive services but you need to watch them and know a little about car repair. Otherwise, stay out.