Checkered Flag Auto

My car needed a new O2 sensor so I naturally called around for quotes. Checkered Flag’s price beat out everyone else’s (including a large dealership with whom I had a $ 50 off coupon to contend with) by so much I had to call back to be sure they included labor/​parts in there and there was no misunderstanding. Not only that, but I was told it would take only a half hour. Awesome.
I had the pleasure of speaking with the owner and one of the other workers there, both were friendly and highlighted, again, why I love giving small local businesses my business. As a woman, I’m used to either being talked down to at auto repair shops or being taken for a ride. None of that happened here.
I was told that they felt something a little off while moving my car in the garage and were going to put it in the lift to look at it. Initially nothing was found but while I was paying, they went over it again, feeling that they were missing something and they did find a rather serious problem with my control arms. They took me back to look at it and, clearly, they needed to be replaced and it was not a case of trying to milk the situation. While coming up with a quote for me, I was told that their alert of the parts I needed was coming up too expensive and was advised to buy the parts myself and bring them in to be installed. Sure enough, I found them much cheaper and I’m so thankful they were conscious of my wallet. In these economic times, I sure don’t have a huge surplus around! Them taking the time to really look to find the problem and following their instincts even when the first look didn’t turn up anything means a lot to me. I’ve got a child riding in my car with me.
After paying for the parts and installation for the second repair, I’ll still be paying less than the next lowest quote for the O2 sensor.
So 5+ stars from me. I’ll certainly be going back. I may have found them because if their proximity to my home but when I move in a couple months, I’ll be driving well out of my way to continue going there. Finding a trustworthy mechanic is like finding a rare gem.
Maybe the most impressive thing I heard there was a comment about their reviews the owner said to me after I told him it was the reviews I had read that brought me to his shop in the first place. He told me how he reads them and in one review he had read that they wished he’d checked the tire pressure so now they do so with every vehicle that comes in. How often does that happen? Most owners/​managers get defensive or angry and never learn or consider the criticism the receive. Ones that take the time to read it and make changes based on it are really respectable and trustworthy people. I try to remember to write reviews when I receive really good (and sometimes really poor) service. I’m happy to write one for a local business doing everything right.