Ashland Automotive Inc.

This guys are great. I dint know if my mini had a flat or not because of run-​flat tiers. They did a small inspection to check the car and reset the computer after finding that low air-​pressure was the cause. Then, they replaced my licenses plate lights after discovering they were out. The guy at the front desk was very kind and helpful. I highly recommend bringing you mini here.

I’ve trusted Zach and his staff with my car for several years. It’s a professionally run business — very good with record keeping and consistent service. He’s honest, conscientious and dependable. Thanks for keeping me safe and worry free.

Not impressed at all. I brought in a recently purchased used 2007 Vovlo wagon to get it inspected and perhaps change a few small things on the used car. Here’s what happened:
— I wanted to turn off the Daytime Running Lights, since I have a car port pull in that faces my neighbors window. Zach says he can’t do it because it might be illegal. Hmmm… OK? Googled it… it’s not illegal and is done all the time. In fact there’s a simple code reset to do it.
— I wanted to have the «Regular Service Needed» message turned off. Zach tells me his mechanic didn’t do it because I didn’t do the service yet. Um, I will choose to do the service when I get the chance and perhaps with someone else. The prices quoted me for the service they found needed were super high.
— A few things they found I potentially needed done to the car that I don’t have a problem with: oil change, air filters, two struts (maybe, but I’ll get a second opinion). What I do have a problem with is the high price and the implication that I do these things with them or they wouldn’t reset my service message for my convenience.
— All prices with parts and labor included: Oil change: $ 60.23 (ouch) Air Filters: $ 119.56 (Quality Fram filters are available online for $ 12 and $ 8 respectively… I ordered them and will change them myself) Brake Fluid Flush: $ 92.63 (This is never needed usually)…read this:

)
Two front struts: $ 840.48 (online price for a 2 strut parts package is $ 129 and labor should be about $ 200)…see link:

— So they wanted over $ 700 in mechanic labor for a (max) two hour strut job. This is laughable. Here’s a link showing what it should cost for both parts and labor:

No way I’m doing business in the future with you guys, Zach, Glad I researched all of this.

Fourth visit and something has changed. Last visit should have been the hint. Think they have become TOO BIG that they can’t do the job for all.
Our car had a leak at the front and that’s why we came in and asked for it to be repaired. Also asked for an oil change while there.
Got the car back with recommendations for repairing the LEAK. That’s why we took it in.
In our past visits, they would call and tell us what they found and ask for permission to do the WORK if it was different from what we asked them to do. Didn’t do that this time.
So we now have to go back and leave our car and make arrangements to do our stuff again and you know whats that like.
Not going back again

I was on a road trip heading to California when suddenly I smelt a strong fuel odor in my car. I pulled off of I-​5 in Ashland and googled Ashland Automotive. I didn’t have an appointment, but the crew greeted me warmly and immediately took care of me. They squeezed me in and were very responsive to my concerns. I didn’t anticipate this stop and I was on a tight budget for my road trip, so I was skeptical about getting a complete check-​up. It was obvious they wanted to do a thorough, full check up on my car before addressing the fuel concern. After about an hour, they told me that my fuel line was loose and I had too much oil in my car. They charged me a very fair price, did a complete car inspection, and fixed the key issues. I would highly suggest Ashland Automotive to anyone. The were professional, thorough, skilled and provided excellent customer service!

1987 VW Syncro Vanagon.
Bigger Brakes from Go Westy (
) $ 449 on their site. I was charged $ 898. That is a 100% markup, 50% gross margin and labor was not part of markup.
Stainless Steel Slave Cylinder Hose from Go Westy (
) $ 19.95 on their site. I was charged $ 42.50. That is a 112% markup, 53% gross margin and labor was not part of markup.
I purchased over a dozen parts, same markup percentages. Zach’s explanation for the markup was that he is a business man and this is how he warranties parts, keeps mechanics fed and keeps up with purchasing tools.
Vehicle would not start 2 days after I picked it up. I pushed started vehicle and drove 40 miles. At the 40 mile mark sparks began coming from the passenger seat (Ashland Automotive replaced my battery). During install the bottom of the battery was shoved in opening and exposed the battery cable. This is what started the arching and I am convinced that this blew a fuse (that’s why vehicle wouldn’t start).
It is very likely that Ashland Automotive does great work. For me, the high markups on parts did not balance out with workmanship.

I would recommend their excellent service for newer cars. My older car needed too much for their pricey hourly rate and wish to fix every little problem and part. In the end I spent a grand and still had a car that needed to be fixed.

I’ve been bringing my Audi here since I moved to Ashland in 2011, and keep coming back. Great service, fair prices and nice people to work with. Zach and his crew are tops!

No worries, that’s how I feel now when I bring my truck to Ashland Automotive.
I hade brought my Truck in for what I thought was a major Motor Problem.
Come to fine out is was just something very minor. I felt then that they hade a opportunity to take advantage of the situation, as so many other Auto Machanic’s would have, But they didn’t, They Instead Returned my Vehicle to me completely Fixed With just a small Service charge. There service Department was terrific, they spent the time with we and gave me a good education about preventive maintenance I have since Brought My truck in for for a number thing’s.
Trust can be a hard thing to gain, they certainly have mine now.
Thanks Ashland Automotive. Customer For life.
William
I will try and bring my Truck in a little cleaner next time.
Sorry Guys…

My Volkswagon Passat and myself miss Zach very much. I attended school at SOU and drove between Idaho and Ashland quite often, meaning my car needed to be routinely checked up. I first came across Zach when my window simply fell inbetween the car door (while it was raining, naturally) and I knew that I needed it fixed. Zach did it for fifty bucks, and got it done the day after I called him. He is very informative and I never felt like I was getting one pulled over on me. He doesn’t treat women like ditzes, and he is very understanding and kind. Once I did not have enough in my bank to pay him and he let me walk out and come back when I could. If you go here, you will certainly be in good hands.

We were visiting Ashland from the CA Bay Area when a loud, nasty dinging sound started coming from my new Civic. I wanted to get someone to take a quick look (or even listen) and let us know if it was something that could wait until after the drive home to go into the dealership for repair.
I called several shops in the area who said they were booked solid for days. Worse, they were were all quite impolite on the phone and the similarly-​named «Ashland Auto Repair» didn’t give us so much as a whiff of helpfulness when I drove into their sloppy shop and tried to step around the oil puddles to find a mechanic.
Noah at Ashland Automotive Inc. was helpful and polite from the first call. He offered to see us the same day. I drove in, and a tech was test-​driving the car within minutes.
They determined the problem was a simple rock caught in the alloy wheel, took off the wheel and removed it, all within the fifteen minutes’ labor he gave me as the initial quote for diagnosis. It could have gotten a little uglier if that thing had bounced its way into the disc brakes before they found and pulled it out.
I went in expecting to pay a small amount of labor cost for the peace of mind of diagnosis, and got the problem fixed for the same amount. In and out in 20 minutes with the problem solved for only the cost of a quarter hour of labor.
I’d definitely recommend saving some time and checking with this shop first if you have a problem with your car in the Ashland area.

I have lived in the Valley for ten years and I finally have a trustworthy master level technician to work on my cars. Zach is professional and completely trustworthy. You can’t go wrong when taking your car to get worked on here.