Arboretum Auto Service

It is a hit or miss with Tony. His prices are reasonable and sometimes he is on point but other times there is just frustration. I think his biggest problem is that he doesn’t make appointments. He will always tell you to bring it in even if he doesn’t have time to look at it. What really caused me to decide to never take my car back is when I called a few days In advance about bringing my car in, he told me between 9 and 10am and I got there at 9:45 in the pouring rain and the place was closed. I called him and he said him and his mechanics were at training and could be there in an hour. I called in advance and he didn’t care to make an appt and forgot.
I’ve taken my car to him for a check up previously and I think he did a good job. He seems to always need you to bring the car back since he doesn’t have the parts in stock. He loves to tell you how generous he his being with his prices, but I’m not sure if he actually is or not. He will drive you to work or home if you live close which is really nice
Overall, not impressed. 3 stars because a his prices seem good if you are willing to put up with the shenanigans. I’ve found another place to take my car.

Yeah. Just yeah. Brought my old as heck car in to sort out the exhaust. Tony explained very clearly what the problem is, how much a forever-​and-​ever fix is going to be and then offered me the option of a very inexpensive temporary solution.
In addition to that, he offered an extra service he’s under no obligation to perform, all on his own time & dime.
Good dudes are hard to find, and I look forward to doing business with Tony for a long, long time.

The one star reviews must have caught Tony on a bad day because I have nothing but good things to say about him. He’s reasonably priced, and doesn’t try to milk you for $ by suggesting unnecessary work. He does warn you about things to look out for in the future which is great for a person driving an older vehicle. After a recent brake job my car brakes continued squeaking. I took it back, he listened, took a look at the pads and saw what might have been a factory defect. Fully replaced them without issue or fees and now the car sounds great. Like another reviewer said, he’s done minor fixes free of charge. Tony’s the kind of mechanic you hope for.

I called a few places on Unilocal,Tony answered the phone and gave me a decent price so it convinced me to bring my car in. When I arrive at the shop, he explains to me that the price was only for the timing belt, didn’t include pipes, seals and other stuff you do during the 100k maintenance. By the time he was done tacking on fees, it was the same price if not worse than the other shops I had called (which already included those services)… However I was already there, I just went through with it.
Maintenance was done, and I came to pick up my car. Right off the bat, I noticed that it was making strange sounds when turning the wheel. I didn’t know how to take that, so I figured I would let it go for awhile cause maybe it was just new parts right (bad move on my part). Still unsure, after a week it was making the same noise. So I got scared and decided to call them, so at least if something did go horribly wrong with the car, I can say i did my due diligence to notify the mechanic of the problem.
Mind you, at this point I’m very calm, I’m more just making the mechanic aware of the situation and to see if they can investigate for me. Tony was very defensive of their work, and told me not to worry about it. Calls me back about 10 – 15 minutes later to have me bring in the car «just in case.» I agree to it and bring in the car. They take a look at it, mess with the steering wheel, checked the fluids etc. He tells me that the steering has nothing to do with the maintenance they did on the car, he explains to me someone put bad steering fluid in the car mixed in with a little bit of a mention of dirty steering fluid etc. They give me new steering fluid for «free» (more on that to come soon) and tells me to drive it around for a week and let them know.
Week goes by, nothing changes. I call Tony and again he’s very defensive about their work. He was explaining very forcefully that they have nothing to do with the steering of the car, all the work they did was away from it. Well, like I said earlier, i don’t know much about cars. So I figured, I’ll take it to the pros the honda dealership. I explained to them the situation with the car and explained what this mechanic had told me. I just wanted to know if it’s true. Well Honda came back with a very detailed explanation and it was my worst fear. I was right.
Honda explained that my power steering is directly connected over where the timing belt is located. In order for them to get to the timing belt, they needed to either need to unscrew the power steering and lift it to make room or disconnect it, in which they are required to put clamps on the hoses to keep pockets of air out when i turn it back on. If there is air, it can mess up the power steering as it will run dry. Second thing they explained is that the power steering fluid can last the life time of the car. There is no reason anyone would change it, and even if it gets dirty it’s still fine. Hence, there should be no reason for anyone to ever change my fluid.
Well, I took my receipt with a full explanation and called Tony up. Of course, he was defensive again (see a trend here?) and he was not happy that I had a counter to all his points. He was absolutely furious that I brought my car to Honda and swore at me several times saying I was trying to take advantage of his business. I told him I could show him the paperwork, and he demanded that I bring it to show him (I don’t think he believed me). After hanging up, he called me back and said that he also wants me to pay him for the power steering fluid (yes the free one) as I’m taking advantage of him.
I brought in the car again, and I showed him the paper work. He didn’t even really look at it, he went straight to the car and stared at the engine for awhile. Tony kept explaining how he still doesn’t believe that they could do anything, but again I was able to counter with my new found knowledge. He tried to bargain with me, offering to put in the new power steering but i had to pay for it. I asked him how much it is he and pulled up prices for me. At this point I was so tired of this and so defeated I was considering giving in. So right as I was about to accept, I said «Let me start out by saying this, I still don’t believe any of this is on my end – » I was cut off of Tony. «Alright, nevermind deal is off. I’ll see you in court.» I was speechless, I was on the verge of accepting his offer and I was so insulted by him cutting of me off, I left.
I get home and I start looking up legal documents to file a claim with the court, then my phone rings and he says to bring it in and they’ll change it free of charge. I was relieved and all was good after the change. Year and a half later, I find a leak in my engine. Some opinions were that it might be the seals. Not taking chances, I took it to the honda dealer. It was the seals (my own fault) but they also mentioned that the timing belt was done all wrong.

I have been going to Arboretum Auto for way over 10 years. When I 1^st went I tested Tony on the cost of fixing my A/​C and his estimation was below or matched most estimations I already have gotten. But as a broke young man, he let me make payments toward the work. No one has ever done that before. So ever since, I have been going to see him, due to his honesty. I have also had him look at 2 cars I was thinking about purchasing, and he provided his expert opinion, and did not charge me. I only go to Tony now, and anyone that asks me about a mechanic they could see, I always direct them to go here. You can’t go wrong with Arboretum Auto Service.

I just recently moved here from out of state, so when I had car troubles I didn’t know where to turn. Unilocal steered me in the right direction once again!
I dropped my car off this morning, was given a ride back home, and received a phone call as soon as they discovered my problem. Unfortunately the repair was going to cost me a lot more in parts than I could afford at the moment (having just moved halfway across the country) but they gave me a temporary solution to last for the time being. This will stop any additional damage and allow me to drive around until I can come back in!
Then on my way back to the shop, we were talking about where I could go for new paint/​dent repair (hit and run left a huge dent). When we arrived at the shop, he popped the dent back out for me! No, it’s not perfect, and I do need to get the paint fixed still, but it’s 1000x better than it was! No more being embarrassed by that huge dent! Oh, and did I mention, he changed my brake light and turn signals at no extra charge?
Seriously, felt like I was being helped out by an old friend… Awesome service at a great price, you can’t beat that! I will be back as soon as I scrape up the extra cash to fix the rest of my car!

I had the most pleasant experience at a mechanic yesterday and created this account just to talk about it. Tony is a class act. Completely honest, fair, and affordable. He even drove me home while he worked on my car and picked me up when it was finished. A very friendly guy. Not sure if I can believe the 1 star review he got after my experience at this place.
I’ll be telling everyone I know about this place for sure.

Thank yall for the reviews. At first I was hesitant to call because compared to a lot of other shops he doesn’t have that many reviews. However, after calling about 5 shops with good reviews Tony’s shop was by far the best price! He was honest and fixed only what needed to be fixed unlike other shops that will just try and screw u! I totally recommend this guy and I will definitely be using him again!

This guy is awesome. Really honest and explains everything to you so you can be on the same page. I took a car I wanted to sell in to have it checked out and he advised me what was wrong with it and how to fix it and worst case scenario. Tony is a proactive kind of guy who earned our business as our family mechanic. When I get my new used car in a few days, I will be bringing it to him. Everyone should go here!
Thanks again Tony for being awesome!

I’ve taken my Camry to Tony a number of times and have been extremely pleased with the reliable work he does. I’m impressed, not only with his knowledge and mechanical abilities, but also his honesty and trustworthiness. He advises repairing only what really needs to be repaired, which results in reasonable repair bills.

Tony is a great person and a great mechanic. They have always done a great job on the vehicles we have sent him.
They recently replaced and engine, shocks, motor mounts, Transmission service and differential service. My vehicle runs like new. I will be use them again.

If you’re looking for an honest mechanic, you’ve found who you’ve been searching for!
I’ve been to Tony several times now and sent a few friends to him as well. Every experience has been great and through it all the main points that set him apart is that he is HONEST and AFFORDABLE.
Everyone else will either tell you what you want to hear or more likely something that will scare you into spending more money. Tony doesn’t do ANY of that, and frankly I think he gets angry about the people who do. He will tell you what you NEED to hear and how much it will cost up front.
His diagnostics are free so go see for yourself. I always get a phone call before he does any work and he’s never done any extra work I didn’t know about. He prices everything out beforehand down to the bearings so there are definitely no hidden costs. I didn’t even have to ask.
I just got back from getting my car fixed and couldn’t be happier with his work and service. He’s the kind of guy who will go out of his way to make sure you get what/​where you need. He does business with his own personal touch and I don’t have a bad thing to say about it. On my few visits, he’s already offered me several free oil changes, a ride home, and saved me hundreds with good advice.
As a side note:
I doubt things played out exactly as one reviewer stated below. And if it did, it kind of shows how fair he is. If you’re so worried about the cost of gas, he overpays you! $ 20 could buy you a decent amount of gas 2 years ago. He’s not exactly a cute cuddly teddy bear, but he’s professional, knows what he’s doing, and has never cussed me out. Although, I wouldn’t mind him throwing some money my way.

I called Tony and told him what my problem was. I had looked up what the problem was online and told him what I had found. He told to try that first so that I wouldn’t spend money on towing. It worked and I repaired my own vehicle! I’ve never even been to his shop. This is the type of mechanic I want! Thanks Tony! I will bring my car to you if any service is needed!!!

I also don’t believe Tony would cuss any customer.
I found him looking for a place that was open on Saturday’s, and I’m glad I did. I’ve been using him for over 5 years now. I take all my non-​warranty work to him and he has always taken care of me. Honest and reasonable prices. No non-​essensional sales tactics. Highly recommend.

I have been taking cars to Tony for more than 5 years and he has always done right by me. He tells you up front what it’s going to cost and if he finds other problems, he lets you know before he starts work. He can sometimes take longer than his original time estimate but it is well worth it. He even tells you when the cost is not worth it when some repairs are just cosmetic and do not affect your cars performance.
I recommend you give him a try.
don

My car was overheating so I had it looked at by the shop closest to where I was. They said my radiator was leaking and had to be replaced, and gave me an estimate of over $ 900. I took the time to get estimates from other shops in the area, and Tony’s was the lowest at about $ 540. I took it to him and he had it done same-​day, even though it was New Year’s Day! I will go back to him for sure next time my car needs work.

I’ve been taking my car to Tony for two years now and I won’t take my car any where else. What I like about this place is that Tony is not looking for an opportunity to upsell you like most mechanics an dealerships are… he’s most interested in making you a customer for life. I took my car into him this past week because my brakes were making a really weird noise and I had no clue what was wrong with them but Tony fixed the issue (my brake fluid was leaking and my pads were thin) at a fair price.
Oh yeah, another thing with Tony that you should probably know is that he’s a character. At first it caught me off guard because he’s this serious looking middle eastern guy but after you start talking to him, he’ll have you cracking up.
I’ve found my mechanic for Austin!

Have been taking our cars to Tony and the guys at Arboretum Auto Service for close to 3 years now and have always been satisfied by the quality work. They are affordable, but can be a little slow with getting the job done, but when you see how much you save, it is worth it!

Went to this place to have a CV Axle boot repaired a few years ago. I was living in the Arboretum area and wanted someplace close I could walk to just in case I didn’t have a ride home.
On top of repairing my axle for a price consistent with what was quoted elsewhere, the mechanic on duty took me on a tour underneath my car to show me where my engine was leaking oil, and gave me a rough estimate of how much it would cost, and basically how long it could wait before it was an emergency, without pressuring me to have it done that day. He got me out of there in a few hours despite being short-​staffed because someone called in sick. Not a pretty business front, but they’re no-​nonsense and I felt like they were honest with me. This place is kind of hidden behind the giant red T-​SHIRTS sign if I remember correctly. The waiting room was freezing cold (in July), bring a hoodie.

NOTE– This is NOT Arbor Auto Works on Burnet and I don’t believe they are even affiliated in anyway.
These guys were recommend through a work acquaintance after complaining that every auto place I’ve gone to in Austin has screwed me around one way or another and I’ve never been totally satisfied handing over my money. He said to try this place as he’s been going there for years and they always go above and beyond what’s expected. He was totally right!
We took our car in to have a bad oil leak inspected and patched up. A huge problem with any car service is the hours of operation are typically the hours everyone else works as well so it’s hard to ever get anything done unless you have a day off or a person that can drive you around. These guys are open on Saturday mornings and were happy to help us out. They looked it over and didn’t mind allowing my partner to hang out in the shop area with them so he could get a good look at what the problem really was. They answered all his questions politely and didn’t seem impatient or annoyed at all which is a nice change. The best part, they didn’t charge us a dime to look it over and figure out a game plan.
So the plan was to bring the car on Monday morning and they would have it done by the end of the day. My partner works a typical 9 – 5 deal so we were scrambling trying to figure out how to get this all worked out when they offered to drop him off at work and pick him up. He thanked them but explained that he works far down south to which they didn’t mind at all and even smiled! Jeeeez!
Monday roles around and he drives up there to drop off his car but since they had a little more work then expected, one of the guys let my partner use his OWN personal car for the day. Talk about customer service! I highly highly doubt this is normal, but they had built a great repertoire Saturday while talking shop. Our car was ready on time and everything was done perfectly. The charge actually ended up being a little less then the estimate which was awesome. They also scheduled a check up visit (free) a week after to make sure we were still happy and were satisfied that they did the work like we initially came in seeking. We totally were and I doubt I’ll ever take a car elsewhere.
Seriously, if you’ve been burned in the past by mechanics in Austin, give these guys a chance.