Alewife Automotive

Great place to do your inspection. Three years running and I’m in and out in under 20 minutes every time. I trust these guys.

To sum up what I wrote below — this place is amazing and will treat you like a respectable car owner.
I brought my car here twice. The first time I came, I honestly can’t remember what had happened — I either needed the state inspection done, or a check engine light was on and I wanted to see what was up. Regardless, they were done in a flash and they didn’t charge me a dime. It made my day and I was smiling on the way to work.
I recently moved to Chicago and before I left, I wanted to have the oil changed and general maintenance done to make sure I was all set for the long drive. It turns out my rear brakes were long overdue and the front were not much better off. The mechanic that explained the situation to me was unbelievably friendly and took the time to make sure I understood what needed to be done and the relative costs. I am in healthcare and it is important to be able to explain to patients and their families what is going on in simple terms instead of medical jargon that no one understands. This situation was no different and the mechanic was able to talk to me without talking down to me. I have to say that as a woman in this situation, people often assume you won’t understand a thing, don’t care to understand, or they try to take advantage of the knowledge gap and make things sound super complicated so when they overcharge you it’s less of a shock. It was refreshing to be spoken to like a capable person who cares about their car. I am absolutely certain I saved a ton of money and time by having my car repaired here. They were able to get an amazing deal on my parts (rotors and brake pads), which is often an unavoidable large expense. They did a bunch of other maintenance for free including the oil change, changed a light, topped off all the fluids, changed my wipers, post-​winterization, 4-​wheel alignment, and I could go on.
My car was done same day and I was given the option of a free loaner car, or reimbursement for any über or lyfts I used to get around while my car was being worked on. I lived nearby, so I just walked, but it was nice to know I had those options. I saw the interaction of staff with other patrons and it is clear they have some regulars who they get to know well. I am sad that I moved away, because this would be my go-​to for anything car related. I heard them talk about a body shop they are opening up nearby as well. I highly, highly recommend this place to anyone. You will not be disappointed. They take care of you and your car. This place embodies excellent customer service. An example for any establishment. I only wish more places were run like this — please come to Chicago!

I can’t say enough good things about this place. It took me a year to find a mechanic I trusted in the area, and I’m so grateful I finally did. I brought them my car for a cylinder misfire code after my check engine light came on. It ended up being a very long and complex issue, but they managed to fix everything for a fraction of the price I expected. Most importantly, they were able and willing to go through every step of the process and educate me on what were the issues, the likely causes, my options, etc. As much time as I wanted to spend talking to them they were willing to provide. My only complaint through the process was that I had to typically wait for 5 – 10 minutes to talk to somebody when I arrived, but that’s unavoidable when they exhibit the patience I appreciated to each and every customer.
I recently brought my car in for a quick oil change and was shown a new issue under the hood. George spent ten minutes chatting with me about how different parts of the car worked, common issues with my specific model, and how I could get by with the issue on the cheap until I had time to address it.
It’s a great relief to have a mechanic I can trust.

I was having an issue with my Subaru Forester, the brake pads and rotors were making weird noise and I felt I may need to replace them and would be very costly
Last time I did my services at Subaru dealership and I made a decision not to perform any major big replacement there as they will just rip you off badly.
I came across Alewife Automotive on Unilocal and decided to give it a try based on its reviews.
They have not only met but exceeded my expectations, their attention to detail, friendly/​kindness and explanations had helped me to understand what went wrong with my car and what they can do to help with the situation.
I was extremely satisfied with their skills, attitudes and ability to go above and beyond with what I originally came in for, they even offer Über/​Lyft reimbursement if you take them to pick up your car (Up to $ 35 I believe, please double check with the shop) they have won my heart as a repeat customers, I have shared their names with my friends and family and I will bring my wife’s car in for service next time!
A++, would recommend this to anyone around the area!

Hands down the best mechanics in the area. They won’t scam or upsell you on anything. I brought my car in to have two belts replaced and they found out the power steering pulley was actually the issue, which is a $ 180 part. Instead of ordering that they took apart the pulley and cleaned and regreased the bearings, saving me a bunch of money! Everything they did was really cheap but also well done. I honestly don’t know how they stay in business because they seem to always be undercharging for everything. Other mechanics will charge you $ 50 for any amount of labor even if it only took 5 minutes, but not here.
They are so unbelievably nice, everyone I’ve talked to has been incredibly friendly. Huge bonus they have never been condescending to me or treated me like I’m 5 because I’m a woman. A lot of mechanics will immediately start talking to women like they have literally never seen a car before and these guys do not do that.

I’ve come to George and his crew for a bunch of things over the course of the past couple years and these guys deserve all the praise they get on Unilocal.Extremely straightforward, fair prices and superb customer service. There might be cheaper places around, but not by much, and you won’t get anything close to the quality.

I had to update the review, (want to write everyday!!)but again even i have to drive over 1 hour to get here i can not believe how great they are! Why??? 1. They are SO honest what to fix and make the BEST price for it 2. All the body work people are superb they know exactly what they are doing! 3. The people there are so so nice and friendly! So the result is. I saved again over $ 3000 and are so so happy to drive again my car with my 1 year old baby!!!:)we are so lucky to have them here!
THE best service ever!!! I just saved over $ 3000, and even better service. What can be better seriously? I will come back here for the rest of my time driving! There is no way you can find a better shop.

This is the BEST place! All of the guys are extremely professional and thorough in explaining what you car needs. They are honest and always try to get you the lowest price possible.

These guys are the absolute best. They are fast, and never try to scam you. They’re very reliable and they make me not dread the process of getting a car tune-​up!

Excellent people and good service. I was surprised when I came to pick up my car after leaving this morning for an alignment. The gentleman charged me nothing because he said «it wasn’t off that much.» Uncommon kindness… I will be back. They have earned my respect and trust.

Great service at Alewife auto!
I have brought my car to many different shops because the battery was dying at least one a month. I had the battery replaced twice in a year because in the past shops had insisted that was the only problem. Finally, the pros at Alewife Auto took the time to listen to me, really look into the root of the problem, and fix it.
They also did a bunch of extra work on my car just because :) and did everything they could to bring the price down. I felt like they were very honest with me the whole time.
The process did take a long time, but it was well worth it to finally get the job done right!
Thanks Alewife auto!

I have never taken a vehicle anywhere that has treated me better than alewife automotive. All the employees are super courteous and the place is always busy — a testament to how well they do their jobs. Yeah, sometimes you wait a little while, but it is always worth it. George is an honest, straightforward guy — always willing to explain what the problems may be with the vehicle and what all your options are for fixing it.
We took our jeep grand cherokee here for a few years before the electrics finally piffed — and it was amazing how well we were treated. Which is why I still bring my acura here even though we no longer live in the area.
I’m sure there are still plenty of honest shops and mechanics out there, but for my money — I’ll stick with alewife automotive.

They really lied to a young girl! As I said the previous review. They held my vehicle as a personal use and involved my vehicle in an accident and never told me until I received my insurance accident report!
And What’s more. They never repaired my vehicle as they said. I can show you the copy of order they provided with me and showed me what they did（you can see the photo I will put on Unilocal,). Especially they repaired the evap and lots of other issue. However, when I did a new inspection in BMW service center. And the need knew what Alewife Automotive did before. The Alewife Automotive said they only washer nozzle covers for front bumper and fog light trim pieces. SO THEY NEVER REPAIRED MY VEHICLE AS THEY SAID BEFORE AND LIED TO ME AGAIN!!! Which words I need believe in? Whether they have only one true word?
And I still do not know how bad was the accident!!!

Got an inspection here and it was quick and easy. Came back for auto repair and it was not as painless. The repair took much longer than originally quoted and it was hard to get answers about how much longer things would be. They do offer a rental car while you are getting repairs which is great but then I accidentally got billed by the rental car company and had to trek back to Alewife to pick up the check. In my opinion they are probably a little to busy and this means they drop the ball with clear customer communication. I would recommend them for a quick repair but if you are getting something more extensive done be sure to be very clear with them about your expectations for time frame, and level of communication prior to committing to getting the work done by them.

Amazing Car Garage!
I was having warranty issues with my wheel bearing with the Nissan dealership so I decided to go to Alewife Automotive for an oil change and an inspection of the wheel bearing.
The service was in and out, George who works here is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. He provided me with a descriptive diagnosis to help me in my wheel bearing issue with the dealership.
Top notch place, comfy couches in the waiting area, friendly people, and definitely returning!

I went here after getting ripped off at the Toyota dealership in Watertown. I needed a new set of tires and an inspection. I called them and they ordered the exact set of tires I wanted and had me come in a few days later.
The guy (who I assume was the owner) was very nice and explained everything to me. The appointment took a little longer than I had hoped but to be fair they do offer free shuttle service and car rentals if you don’t want to wait at the place.
While I was in the waiting room, I witnessed the guy tell a customer after looking at her car that she didn’t really need the expensive repair her dealership had said she did and sent her on her way. He also told another customer asking about break pads that they still had some mileage left on them and he should save himself the money. Unless this is some real next-​level stealth marketing, it certainly inspires confidence that he’s not trying to rip anyone off.
The tires and labor were very cheap, and they included free scheduled maintenance with the order, something I would normally have to pay the dealership for. They even scraped off my old parking stickers! Inspection passed, and they didn’t try to sell me anything else. Overall, very inexpensive with no unexpected costs or upsells.
The only thing I’m not 100% on is the (multiple) rebates offered to me on the tires… let’s just say they didn’t seem completely above-​board. It might all be perfectly legit and he’s just trying to save his customers money, but it is very hard to know as a customer whether it’s all good and it certainly doesn’t *look* by the book.
Other than that, I would highly recommend and will be going back.

I was told a needed new tires on my Toyota when i went to pick it up at the Toyota Dealer where my car had the oil and a factory recall part changed.
I work at a walking distance from Alewife Automotive, i thought it would be better having the tires changed there instead of the dealer and MIKE from Alewife Automotive told me to leave my car there on the next day before i started working and he would have the tires changed before my shift was over.
But when i went back to Alewife after work i had a surprise, the tires were not changed.
I was ready to kick Mike sweet talking’s ass, LOL
Mike told me there was nothing wrong with the tires, they were in very good condition and he did not see any reason to take my money.
That’s why i am writing this review, to THANK YOU MIKE for being honest.

One time, my battery died in the middle of winter, and I needed a place to fix it immediately so that I could get to work for my shift (i’m an ICU nurse, so there isn’t really a good excuse for being late…) — I got on Unilocal!and I found this place. They ended up not being able to change my battery IMMEDIATELY since it was near close for them. BUT I did notice the excellent rating at this time. I thought that I would give Alewife Automotive a try for my next oil change. I was still pretty irritated about the $ 500+ brake job from my dealership for only my back breaks, plus i needed a brake light replaced.
I was greeted by a pretty pleasant guy who must be either the owner or manager, i have learned that his name is George. Loved him, can’t speak more volumes about his customer service. Who expects to get great customer service at a mechanic. Long story short, I waited for my oil change, which they did with synthetic oil and charged for regular oil, then they changed my brake light FOR FREE. When I left, I asked for an estimate on brake change. I was quoted over $ 200 less than what my dealership charged. :insert the shocked *scream* face emoji here:
Fast forward. to today, the day I decide to have my brakes changed. I made an appointment earlier in the week and explained that I only needed my front brakes changed. Today, I showed up, and was again greeted by George, as outgoing and pleasant as before. George explained a lot of things to me about my car, that I wouldn’t know as I’m not a *car* person, and all of the things that I know, I know from a dealer. First of all, he explains, my car is an AWD vehicle. He told me that the dealership’s advice to change only my back brakes and not my front was poor advice and will lead to me needing more frequent brake changes, and in turn, resulting in more money in my dealership’s pocket. This is frustrating as I had asked my dealer at the time that my brakes were changed, if I should have both fronts and backs replaced and I was told *no*,
So he tells me, he will change just the back, and put a lifetime warranty on them so that the next time that I need my brakes replaced I will only have to pay for the back brakes and the fronts will be replaced for free and he will replace all 4 at the same time.
INCLUDED IN MY SERVICE — winterization of my undercarriage and removal of rust, free synthetic oil change (which i can use when my oil is due to be changed in dec.), a full check to make sure my car is in good working order for the regular trips that it makes between MD and MA, and he calibrated all 4 of my brakes for me or cleaned something up in all 4 brakes, something that the dealership did not do for me. Turns out that removal of rust and cleaning up your undercarriage is important for your car when you drive in a state that has harsh winter and road salt!!! THANK YOU GEORGE for caring about my car/​safety!!!
PLEASE!!! TAKE your car HERE for it’s regular maintenance/​oil changes. You WILL NOT regret it.
I am someone who knows so little about cars, but I know that I leave Jiffy Lube feeling swindled. I thought I could trust my dealer, but after hemorrhaging money on maintenance, I knew i needed a new game plan. George made me feel like, for the first time, that I wasn’t being lied to or swindled. I am so grateful!

Super fast inspection even while it was insanely busy. They fit me in right during rush hour. Everyone there is really nice and I also like how they feed the birds. Its cute.
I go here for gas as well since its the cheapest regular gas in the area. They do full service only!
I am still confused as to why there is a much more expensive gas station next door that is still open and doesn’t have all of the auto services that Alewife Automotive does. Why go there?

I have to update my previous review. The way George is so generous completely blindsides me sometimes.
Long story short I had some problems with my brakes due to a poor job from another shop, and George handled everything at the lowest possible cost to me. Instead of buying all parts brand new, he always tries to do what he can to save his customers money, and he throws in a bunch of other free servicing shit just to be nice. I’m amazed by Alewife’s customer service and couldn’t be more grateful.