Curry’s Auto Service

Curry’s was still recovering from Jonas and not fully ready to run due to liability issues, but the manager Mike Dorsey got my vehicle in and his tech fixed my issue and everything was great. Mike is a straight shooter and Sean will take care of your problems with professionalism.

currys are dependable and reliable, and make car maintenance less of a chore. I’ve been using them for three years since I arrived in Falls church and I will continue to do so.

AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!! Don’t be fooled by the positive reviews, they charged me for work they did not do, plain and simple. This place is a rip off shop.

Wish I could give no stars. Avoid this place at all cost! The don’t treat you like a person, the treat you like number and a job to do for some money. I brought my vehicle in and they did not seem very interested in helping me out at all. They gave me a high quote for parts and labor, much higher than other places and then didn’t seem to care AT ALL if I used them or not. This type of attitude does not earn them my business. This aloof and uncaring attitude made it an easy decision never to use them. I had my vehicle towed to a shop full of people who actually care about me and my vehicle and I saved a lot of money in the process.

Walked in and dealt with avery nice man. I started asking questions about seeing if I could get a state inspection while they were working on the car. Ron jumped in very aggressive and rude in tone telling me that the inspection would take a while. I asked how long, he said I have people in front of you. I asked for an estimate and he told me 5 hours very rude. I brushed it off. Started to wait for service. Then Ron came out to waiting room to tell me that I needed 4 new tires on a car that only has 13k miles on it.
I came in to replace one tire had a nail in it. The dealer told me that I needed to replace that tire 2 weeks prior during its annual service. I told Ron that I was only interested in changing the 1 tire that I had ordered and he told me that he would not change just one tire because he had to protect the company and the drive train of my car. I told him to keep the tire and left. Took it to Mr. Tire who owns Curry’s and they told me that I only needed to replace the one and that the tread on the remaining tires was sufficient for another couple of years.
Mr. Tire called Ron, so that they could release the tire I ordered through them. They ended up educating him on Tire tread.
My experience with Curry’s has always been tolerable until now, though I have always been rubbed wrong way from Ron. I just think that he is not customer service oriented and should probably stay in the garage instead of hanging out up front.
This is the last time that I will use Curry’s and I will let all of my gear head friends and the various car clubs that I belong to to stay away, even if it is just for tires. Not worth the attitude/​hassle.
Personal Recommendation: If Curry’s wants to increase their reputation both online and by word of mouth, they should probably let Ron go.
UPDATE: General manager called last night to discuss my complaint which was a nice gesture. Although after the call I’m certain that nothing will change. He said «I always hear two sides of every story and need to figure out what to believe.» Then proceeded to tell me that «it appears to be a personality conflict between you two.» So much for that conversation. Yet another poor customer service experience.
I hope people stay away from Curry’s. It isn’t worth the treatment you will receive.

Wife usually takes her car here for oil changes, they do a decent job for that. However they always mention extra work that ‘needs’ to be done. This last time, they had a list of things that ‘needed’ to be done totalling over 2 grand!
We took it to our mechanic who does most of the other work, and he confirmed that the majority of the items (belts changed, spark plugs replaced) had been done less than a year ago, and definitely did not need to be replaced again. Also there was an item for the car that didn’t even exist on our trim level of the car!
I guess if you know exactly what you want and ignore the rest of comments they give you, it could be ok, but there are definitely more trustworthy shops out there. Not recommended.

I recently brought my car into Currys for a state inspection based on it’s convenient location and generally pleasant staff. I had recently had my tires replaced and a bolt broke off in the lug nut. In order to pass inspection this issue needed to be resolved. Along with this issue the staff at Currys recommended an additional $ 3900 in repairs to get the vehicle back to like new condition. At this point I informed the staff I would only like to fix what was absolutely necessary to pass inspection. I was told that to fix the bolt issue and add a new lug nut I would be looking at spending around $ 279.95. After this I would probably need an alignment which would cost around $ 100. This didn’t seem right so I decided to take the failed inspection and get a second opinion. I ended up taking the car to Mr. Tire and having the entire issue solved for $ 59.50.
I returned to Currys for a re-​inspection and passed with no further work required and was also told at Mr. Tire that I did not in fact need an alignment.
I do not usually post negative reviews but this was obviously a case of blatant dishonesty and trying to drastically overcharge for a service easily provided for under a forth of the price quoted to me at Currys. After returning to Currys for the re inspection I confronted one of the staff members about the obviously inflated charges. While nice, the staff member was obviously uncomfortable about the questions and the only response he could provide for the over 400% quoted difference in repair price was that other shops might not clean the area surrounding the issue as well as Currys might.
I would not at all recommend bringing your vehicle here and wish I would have read the reviews of people that have had very similar experiences to mine at this Currys location.

I am always surprised when the car visits Currys and I find out what really needs doing. I never feel pressured to do work right now unless safety is involved and Ron is always willing to take the time to explain what’s is needed and why
The recent axle problems on one car alerted me that my older car was a serious risk to drive and the up front pricing helped with the fix or replace decision.

Best place to go for honest quality work. I’ve been a customer for nearly a decade. General Manager Mike D. Is always on point and straight about what my car needs and doesn’t. Wish more mechanic shops adhered to such standards. Way better than the dealer. Also, love the comfy waiting area. Coffee, tea, snacks, tv, magazines… good stuff!

I’ve used Curry’s on two occasions. The first time they replaced two tires, one of which had been damaged, and price matched the total quote from an online store. They performed this service (and an alignment) in a satisfactory manner but failed to follow instructions regarding the good tire (internal communication issue). The second time was a visit for additional tire work and I was unpleasantly surprised at the total cost of the repair. However, I was in a bind and paid the bill. Curry’s hourly labor rate is relatively high when compared to a number of shops providing equivalent service in the Falls Church area (roughly 20−30% more). Also, they appear to push services/​repairs that might not be required (e.g., belts, wipers, etc.). On the plus side, the front desk staff are generally friendly and responsive.

Recently had my car towed to Curry’s after it died nearby. They called me with a whopping $ 4,000 estimate to get the car running again. All electronic sensors and a new battery. Just didn’t pass the ‘sniff-​test’ with me. We asked if they could just try a new battery first. The manager was incensed and insisted it would NOT solve the problem. We towed the car to another mechanic and Wow! It started with a new battery! $ 200 for our troubles. If you are interested in spending premium $$$ on your car, this is your place. Personally, I’m looking for an honest mechanic.

I had a jammed pin in my tpms that prevented my tire from holding air. I called and Matt was very knowledgeable and told me it wouldnt be much work. After I dropped it off, I got a call saying its free and they even installed it for me.
Wow, excellent service and I found a place for future service work.

Kinda of new to the area, again, after living elsewhere for 22 years and moving back. I went here to get a 4 wheel alignment after getting tires replaced a week earlier at the Arlington Curry’s Auto Service.
My experience was: Made the appointment, arrived about on time, they say it should be about an hour or an hour & a half, said from the start that I would wait for it and to let me the progress. It’s a beautiful day I decide to take a walk. When I return maybe 45 minutes later I sit in the cramped waiting area for the duration.
The negative: It’s at least two hours now and I ask what’s the progress on the car. I notice it’s in the far bay up in the air. No real response. A half hour later I get up and look around and notice it’s not there anymore. I ask whats the progress on the job. The guy disappears to the back. Five minutes later. «Oh yeah, it’s done» with paperwork showing $ 99 and the old vs. the new. Lot’s of red on the old and still red on the new?! Can’t adjust the camber in the front or the back as it’s maxed out. We sure did adjust the toe a fraction, though. And it’s $ 199 because it’s considered an exotic car.
Really, they should have told me as this was developing, if they can’t complete the job 100% for whatever reason. So, I keep it firm about an agreement on price beforehand and he «does me a favor» and keeps the price at $ 99. Well, gee 50% of the job was done at 100% the price. Oh wait, we doubled the price now, so it’s 50% the job for 50% the price.
The bottom line: Unless money means nothing to you. Go somewhere else !!!

This place is a disgrace to any type of establishment that provides customer service. I am a account rep for a short term loan agency, and I called them and spoke to some douchebag, who proceeded to make sexual remarks about my mother over the phone. That is one totally disrespectful, childish, and if that is how they act over the phone to a complete stranger (like a remedial high school student) I would NEVER recommend anyone take their car to such immature scum, bc they’d probably mess it up even more out of spite. This place should just be bulldozed. Spoke to a lawyer and have a sexual harassment suit now pending. DO NOTT! BRING YOUR CAR TO CURRYS AUTO SERVICE!!!

My first experience with Curry’s in FC was fairly good — they were able to fit me in very quick with a relatively decent deal on a new set of tires, and they didnt go too far on the upselling. So I figured I owed them an opportunity to quote some break work.
I had serious squealing and crunching on my rear brakes, so took my car in for a free inspection/​estimate. A job like this, assuming no problems, usually runs about $ 500 at honest rates, assuming OEM parts (Audi = $$).
I had taken a look at the brakes myself, noticed uneven wear on the inside left pad, and did some research. Turns out this can be one of several things (in order of increasing cost):
— Loose or seized carrier/​slide bolts, which can cause uneven travel and thus uneven pressure on the caliper.
— A sticky caliper piston which needs lubrication
— A seized or scored caliper, which needs to be either rebuilt or just replaced
Curry’s jumped straight to the last option — not only quoting $ 730 for each caliper kit, but also two hours labor for each side. Total offer was $ 1900 for new calipers installed, and also $ 500 for pads and discs.
This was a clear sign to me they didn’t really care about taking care of the customer — there were several quick things they could have done to diagnose just how bad the caliper issue was, but jumped straight to the expensive and easy option (for them). They also needlessly wanted to replace the right side, which showed no problems. They mentioned that «calipers cant always be purchased in a single set, so I have to order a pair». Um… no, you dont. Observe the magic of the internet — within 3 minutes I had the same part #, OEM brand, one side only, for $ 300.
The biggest insult was that, as I was leaving, they offered «if you get a lower quote from someone else, we’ll do what we can to match it.» Um, no buddy… my request for a quote was your chance to present competitive rates — and you passed that up.
So I took it down the road to All Tune — separate review to come for them. On a weekend, and with no hassle, they quickly checked out both sides, and using a $ 10 European brake reset tool, they were able to reset the left piston and proved there was nothing wrong with it — just needed some elbow grease.
Total cost of work? $ 500 for discs, pads, piston reset, and labor. And thats using marked up parts — All Tune is fine with you bringing your own parts, which could have saved me another hundred or so bucks. But they took care of me quick so it was worth the markup.
Long story short — reports of Curry’s quoting needless parts and repairs seems to be right on the mark — other than very straightforward, simple tasks, like a tire change, I would not recommend their service. In addition — do your research on possible issues before you go to any shop, so you have reasonable expectations.

Best Car Shop I’ve Ever Been To.
Preemptive note: I know my way around cars – at least I *did*. When I went off to college I had to be able to change my own oil and belts before the ‘rents let me drive 8 hrs away on my own (solo+female+long stretches of desert=smart parents). I’ve helped dismantle engines and been nice and greasy. Cars don’t scare me.
But all that was a few moons ago and now that my engine looks like Han Solo in Carbonite, I’m stuck. I can’t see what’s going on and I can’t do the work myself.
Enter the Good Guys at Curry’s.
Take the time to get to know them, hang out with the free wifi and coffee maker and listen, ask questions. These are good guys – all of them – from the front desk to the shop-​floor mechanics.
* If something goes wonky after you get home – give them a call.
* If you have questions about the work that was done, ask. I’ve had some strange things go wrong on my car – things that made zero sense or things I thought had been fixed – any time I’ve had an issue, the Curry’s guys have been more than happy to explain, amend, redo, or even on a few occasions drag the mechanic up front to show me what happened.
* If you’re frustrated, tell them. They will explain what’s going on.
My car has 150K miles and the parts are no longer being made. When the suspension went out, they tracked parts down in Idaho and had them shipped. It took more days than we expected – because IDAHO! – but I shudder to think what I would have heard from a chain shop («you’re screwed; get a new car»). Commitment and ingenuity is what I find at Curry’s again and again.
When I was on a road trip, hours away, with sleeping children in the back seat and a brand-​new flashing idiot light on the dash that I’d never seen it on that car and couldn’t get to a manual to find out what caused it’s coming on, I called Curry’s and asked for troubleshooting help. They were (a) helpful and (b) right (and © my kids and I were fine).
I’m not sure what happened with the negative reviews here. I know we all tend to want to post the bad experiences more than the good, but today I decided to sit down and recommend all of the best places I’ve ever spent money.
Curry’s was at the top of my list.

I’m a bit conflicted on Curry’s. I’ve had good experiences here, but with caveats.
One time, I took my car in with about three things wrong with it. They checked everything out and in the end had recommendations for ways I could resolve all of them without costing me a penny. One of them was a steering noise that they diagnosed as an axle problem. They recommended that I take it to the dealer to see if it was under warranty. It was, so they saved me several hundred dollars!
On the flip side, another time I took my car in to check out the undercarriage after I hit something in the road. I specifically told them not to mess with the cracked rocker molding, because I was getting it repaired at a body shop the following week. Yet, when I picked up my car, they had charged me half an hour of labor for securing the rocker molding. Annoying. That said, it did prevent me from duct taping it up every two days, so even though it was unsolicited work, it turned out to be money well spent.
Recently, I had them replace the battery, and I subsequently observed a few nuisance type problems (e.g., window not rolling all the way up, clock not working, car no longer beeping when I lock the doors). It took a couple of weeks, but they helped me resolve all of those issues in one phone conversation and one visit.
When I coordinated over the phone to drop my car for the aforementioned electrical problems, they agreed to take a look on short notice as long as I got it in early the next day. I arrived 30 mins after they opened, but the guy at the front counter listens to me describe the problem and then asks «When do you want to bring it in?» Hello. Today. I didn’t drive all the way over here to make an appointment that I could have made over the phone. He answers, «Hmph, I can’t do anything with it today!» He eventually took it in after I insisted, but sheesh. Somewhat annoying. Part of it is just who you talk to. I recommend Mike or Brandon. Both great guys who go out of their way to make sure you’re happy.
The folks at Curry’s do seem to run an honest shop, and that’s the most important consideration. That said, auto repair here is not a completely seamless experience, yet they’re about at expensive as taking it to the dealership. For this reason, I’d probably default to the dealer, but Curry’s is much, much closer to my house. As I said at the beginning, I’m conflicted.

Preface: I used to «race» cars (legally, on tracks). I have quite a bit of mechanical knowledge, have torn apart and reassembled a car or a handful, and do most of my work myself… The exception being nasty stuff that I don’t have the patience for (ripping apart engines and transmissions), tire mounting, and alignments.
I took the wife’s car in for an alignment and for them to take a look at a knock that sounds like a bad bushing in the rear suspension. They came back with the following:
Tires: Shame on me. I hadn’t taken a look at the absolute insides of her tires and they were in really bad shape. They had quoted using $ 150 tires that actually get poorer reviews than the $ 85 ones I ended up getting (this is common; do tire research rather than settle on what you’re being offered). I ordered the set on Tire Rack, had them delivered straight to the shop, and they were installed with the quickness. On my drive home, the flat tire indicator comes on. Back at the house, I pull out the inflator and what do I find? Nobody bothered to inflate them. Readings [from a gauge that reads about 5PSI high] were all 18 – 25. Oops!
Suspension knock: Was told it was something inside the transmission or bad axles. The quote on this was astronomical, which goes with transmission work. The problem here is the sound is coming from the back of the car and the car is front wheel drive (no axles or transmission back there). I don’t know what knock they were hearing (not one I know about), but it wasn’t the right one. In their defense, diagnosing a noise in a car is tough work, but they should have inquired about a ride-​along in order to identify the right one.
Brakes: Her rear pads are low. I’ve known that and already have the parts ($ 70) and tools to swap them out, which is about a 15 minute job per side. Their quote to do the work? Something like $ 1300, which included new calipers and rotors. I’ve never heard of replacing those items preventatively and since the calipers aren’t leaking or sticking, and the rotors have plenty of meat on them, why? All too often I see people get their wallets wrecked by brake work. It angers me because it’s rarely ever warranted and it’s such simple stuff.
Alignment: They did a great job on this.
Overall, I can’t recommend this location. I used to take my car to the Dulles shop (I think that’s closed now? Regardless, it’d be too far out of my way anymore) regularly and the difference in the work seems to be night and day. This place does have pleasant people manning the desks, but I can’t trust the work they do in the garage.

Great local mechanic spot. The staff was friendly and they were able to get me in same-​day for an urgent tire issue. One thing that was slightly bothersome is their «sale» tire price was the same ($ 3 more actually) than what Mr. Tire quoted me (Mr Tire wasn’t even having a sale). If there wasn’t a sale I imagine I’d have gone elsewhere.
All in all a great place, bonus for being locally owned and community-​oriented, but knocking a star off because it seems you can probably get work done cheaper. For ultra-​critical stuff you need done right it might be worth the extra coin, but for owner’s manual maintenance work you might save some cash by shopping around. All that said I’d definitely go back!

Curry’s customer service manager contacted me about my recent review. They’re showing interest in providing great customer service so that’s a plus. He offered a reasonable solution to make me feel a bit better about my recent experience so I am willing to give Curry’s another shot. Like I said before… I was fine with their service, I was just disappointed with their alignment price. It was good to hear from Curry’s customer service manager because I’m still definitely interested in hearing from Seth (the customer service manager) to find out why my Nissan’s alignment was almost double the price of a normal alignment.
I need to get one or two of my rear drive shaft joints replaced and I’m not sure if I have the time to do it myself so I might bring it to curry’s. If I do, I’ll write another update and update my rating based on the service as well.