Who is your favourite car mechanic?
I wasted $2k at PitStop and left with a steering wheel 45 degrees off center.
Who is your favourite mechanic in Wellington?
Posted Sep 14, 2017, 4:06 AM UTC
833
NOT Total Automotive Services (Trackside Service) in Seaview.
The cars a '90 Civic, took me just over an hour in my back yard with $130 worth of brand new parts including a tool I didn't have.
I'm not a mechanic.
4
[deleted]
1
A bit out of the way, but the crew at Autostop in Johnsonville always treated me and the car well
4
Super handy, I just moved to Johnsonville!
1
I second this. I love these guys- excellent customer service!
1
If you're in town, i recommend Car Therapy in plimmer towers car park building, super convenient and reasonably priced
2
Jason and the crew at Brendan Motors on Vivian St have always taken good care of us.
2
I went there first, but he gave me advice for other places after looking at the work required. He wrote down a big list of parts, names and places, but didn't take on my car.
I stupidly went to PitStop afterwards, as I needed the car warrantable ASAP. The amount of times I drove out of PitStop only to literally drive back in a minute later shows they don't test anything,
I really wanted to go with Brendan Motors...
1
Wow, tough job then. Good luck though!
2
Wow, tough job then. Good luck though!
2
I went there first, but he gave me advice for other places after looking at the work required. He wrote down a big list of parts, names and places, but didn't take on my car.
I stupidly went to PitStop afterwards, as I needed the car warrantable ASAP. The amount of times I drove out of PitStop only to literally drive back in a minute later shows they don't test anything,
I really wanted to go with Brendan Motors...
1
Wow, tough job then. Good luck though!
2
Wow, tough job then. Good luck though!
2
Brendon motors treated me horribly when I was there. They didn't book me in so I turned up and they told me off for not booking (I did?). Then they looked up another plate in the carpark for a car that wasn't mine (I told them which one my car was) and then told me all of that ladies personal info including her address. Then after the wof they quoted me over $800 for a tie rack replacement. I asked them what that meant as I'm not good with cars and they gave me the most consdescending answer possible. Honestly, if they weren't so rude to me on the phone they might have gotten away with the +$800 because I am a very trusting person. I ended up going to pit stop in town and Sandy and his team there did the job for $400 and even dropped it off at Brendan motors to get the wof sticker after I explained I didn't want to go back there because they were so rude to me. They were lovely at pit stop :)
1
This is good timing actually as I need my car done for its next WOF.
2
This is good timing actually as I need my car done for its next WOF.
2
Amsterdam Automotive in Lower Hutt, really friendly, really reasonably priced. Run by a cool guy who builds Vespas and races old BMWs :)
1
Brilliant! I like the sound of someone who obviously does their job with passion.
1
He also always apologises for how expensive the bill is, and then gives you a remarkably affordable bill :P
Only downside is that there is only one of him there most of the time, so there can be a bit of a wait to get an appointment.
Other than that Wellington Automotive Gearbox Services are great too (and do things besides Gearboxes) but a bit more expensive and fancy.
1
(Also always has a workshop full of weird old European shit and old corvettes and such)
1
Seeing that the wags guys race a classic mini with a Suzuki g13b swap. They might be the better choice.
1
Oh shit, I forgot about that...
Yeah, at a guess they know classic minis pretty well then :P
1
Does he sell Vespas too?
1
Nah, though I have seen him restore them & build sidecars for them
1
Nah, though I have seen him restore them & build sidecars for them
1
Can recommend Driscoll Motors off Vivian St. Free inner city parking for the day too!
1
I've been going to them for years, based on a recommendation of someone who knows cars. Can be a little pricey sometimes, but they're not cowboys, otherwise they wouldn't have been going for 80 years.
1
Ray Hartley Motors are a real square deal, and I've seen a tonne of older British cars go through there. They have a pretty loyal clientele.
1
But their radio ads are sooo annoying! But I'm glad to hear they don't kick puppies while working on your car ??!?!
2
They have radio ads? Huh, I didn't know that! Irrespective of how irritating that shit can be, Ray is a stand-up guy and I've had good dealings with them.
1
They have radio ads? Huh, I didn't know that! Irrespective of how irritating that shit can be, Ray is a stand-up guy and I've had good dealings with them.
1
But their radio ads are sooo annoying! But I'm glad to hear they don't kick puppies while working on your car ??!?!
2
They have radio ads? Huh, I didn't know that! Irrespective of how irritating that shit can be, Ray is a stand-up guy and I've had good dealings with them.
1
They have radio ads? Huh, I didn't know that! Irrespective of how irritating that shit can be, Ray is a stand-up guy and I've had good dealings with them.
1
I know what you mean re: Pit Stop, they quoted me $1,700 for underbody rust repair. Took my car to Midas on Adelaide Rd instead and not only were the guys friendly, professional and helpful, they did the rust repair for $285. Think I'll go back to them from now on!
1
We always go to that Midas too, they seem perfectly fine to me (not a car person at all really)
1
We always go to that Midas too, they seem perfectly fine to me (not a car person at all really)
1
Jason and the crew at Brendan Motors on Vivian St have always taken good care of us.
1
I went there first, but he gave me advice for other places after looking at the work required. He wrote down a big list of parts, names and places, but didn't take on my car.
I stupidly went to PitStop afterwards, as I needed the car warrantable ASAP. The amount of times I drove out of PitStop only to literally drive back in a minute later shows they don't test anything,
I really wanted to go with Brendan Motors...
1
Wow, tough job then. Good luck though!
2
Wow, tough job then. Good luck though!
2
I went there first, but he gave me advice for other places after looking at the work required. He wrote down a big list of parts, names and places, but didn't take on my car.
I stupidly went to PitStop afterwards, as I needed the car warrantable ASAP. The amount of times I drove out of PitStop only to literally drive back in a minute later shows they don't test anything,
I really wanted to go with Brendan Motors...
1
Wow, tough job then. Good luck though!
2
Wow, tough job then. Good luck though!
2
Brendon motors treated me horribly when I was there. They didn't book me in so I turned up and they told me off for not booking (I did?). Then they looked up another plate in the carpark for a car that wasn't mine (I told them which one my car was) and then told me all of that ladies personal info including her address. Then after the wof they quoted me over $800 for a tie rack replacement. I asked them what that meant as I'm not good with cars and they gave me the most consdescending answer possible. Honestly, if they weren't so rude to me on the phone they might have gotten away with the +$800 because I am a very trusting person. I ended up going to pit stop in town and Sandy and his team there did the job for $400 and even dropped it off at Brendan motors to get the wof sticker after I explained I didn't want to go back there because they were so rude to me. They were lovely at pit stop :)
1
I have just moved out to Newlands and the mechanic on Newlands road by the BP has been great. Before then I went to Tidy Car on Haining Street and they were great but far more expensive.
1
I've had some good work out of Tidy Car. Also, I once spotted one of their mechanics driving home onto the motorway in heavy traffic. He stuck his head out of the window and bellowed "BWAAAAAAAAARRRRRRPPPPP" to no-one in particular while pootling along in gridlock at 10km/h.
2
I've had some good work out of Tidy Car. Also, I once spotted one of their mechanics driving home onto the motorway in heavy traffic. He stuck his head out of the window and bellowed "BWAAAAAAAAARRRRRRPPPPP" to no-one in particular while pootling along in gridlock at 10km/h.
2
I have just moved out to Newlands and the mechanic on Newlands road by the BP has been great. Before then I went to Tidy Car on Haining Street and they were great but far more expensive.
1
I've had some good work out of Tidy Car. Also, I once spotted one of their mechanics driving home onto the motorway in heavy traffic. He stuck his head out of the window and bellowed "BWAAAAAAAAARRRRRRPPPPP" to no-one in particular while pootling along in gridlock at 10km/h.
2
I've had some good work out of Tidy Car. Also, I once spotted one of their mechanics driving home onto the motorway in heavy traffic. He stuck his head out of the window and bellowed "BWAAAAAAAAARRRRRRPPPPP" to no-one in particular while pootling along in gridlock at 10km/h.
2
Pit stop are absolute scam. Brendon motors have been decent for me.
1
Pit stop are absolute scam. Brendon motors have been decent for me.
1
For my euro cars I send them to Powerhaus on Tinakori road. Always been pretty up front with me through the years. The old/classic european cars I see them working on in the shop is jaw dropping sometimes.
1
Berhampore Service Centre
https://www.nocowboys.co.nz/businesses/berhampore-service-centre
1
My step dad is one by hobby, he's flipped a few cars. So I'd have to say him lol.
0
For my euro cars I send them to Powerhaus on Tinakori road. Always been pretty up front with me through the years. The old/classic european cars I see them working on in the shop is jaw dropping sometimes.
0
Hutt City European are great guys if youve got any euro car. My VW Polos been serviced by them for about 8 years now so I'd definitely recommend them.
I drive a classic Mini so this could be good, cheers!