Hyde Park Auto Service

I live in Mid town KC, MO this is my «go to» in terms of car service. They are always very honest and accommodating. They do high quality work and are reasonably fast.
I just wish they had some weekend hours…

I’ve been a regular here for at least 2 years now. This is by far the best place I have ever taken my car. They are very accommodating and always respect my appointment time by getting my oils change done quickly. They always make me feel appreciated as a customer and don’t mind hanging out there while my car is worked on. I would trust them with anything and their service is always above par. I’ll never go anywhere else!

Dead battery on a frigid winter morning, Tom to the rescue, on the road to work by 10.
I cannot imagine using any other auto repair service-​I would tow my car 100 miles to get here!
Thank you Tom

Previously, I lived in Olathe, nowhere near Hyde Park Auto, and when taking my Mazda to the dealership, it was always a huge expense and I always felt like I was getting ripped off. Since moving near the Plaza, now I go to Hyde Park Auto and they are the best. They don’t fix things that don’t need to be fixed, give honest assessments, and they are timely and a pleasure to work with.
Bonus is they have the New Yorker in the waiting area: o)

Oil was leaking from my car under 50 dollars to fix and quotes me on a timing belt that was literally 1000 dollars cheaper than some other shop by jiffy lube who was totally trying to take advantage of someone who knows nothing of cars… Solid company

Got towed here because it’s a AAA partner, and I had a great experience. Elliot at the front desk is prompt, extremely courteous and overall just gets customer service. My car got diagnosed quickly and they had the part ordered, in, and replaced in less than 24 hours. They were also up front about the costs and walked me through various options to help me get the best value.

Yay! My engine warning light is finally off! They fixed my Volkswagen fast and for less money than I know the dealership would have charged.
Lady Bonus: the guy who mans the front desk is hot.

I’ve taken my two Toyotas here for the last year and have received nothing but quick, courteous and well-​priced service. In not particularly car savvy and appreciate their honest assessment of «what needs to be done now» versus what can be addressed later.
Also, great place to take your car for a vehicular inspection!

I can’t say enough good things about the guys at Hyde Park Auto. My wife and myself haven’t taken our cars anywhere else for years. I’d trust them with any vehicle I own and I always recommend them to anyone who asks. They provide excellent, quick service, they’re great, no-​drama, low-​key guys who never try the hard sell. They’re only interested in fixing your car for the least cost and getting it back on the road in the least amount of time. If they don’t perform a service, they’ll recommend someone who will. We recently bought a new car and I’ll be going to Hyde Park for any work we need. These guys are the best.

Okay so this place is right around the corner and it’s not some Jiffy Lube-​type chain. Seems like I should have every reason to support them. Except…
I don’t think they do a good job. Twice I’ve brought a car in for an oil change, twice it’s been done quickly and with a smile. Unfortunately the receipt notes I’m paying for: «Change engine oil and filter, grease chassis, top off fluids, adjust tire pressures, reset service indicators, safety check major systems.» Aside from the first (which I hope is getting done) I don’t think the rest are touched. I’ve had the same ‘Check Engine’ light on both times and they never mentioned it. Unlike the chain garages that give you a hand out saying what your tire pressures were, condition of wiper blades, etc., you get no information here. Do they not want to sell me services?
So despite the convenience and other advantages, I think I’ll head to Firestone for my next oil change where they at least do the inspection bits. When it comes time for a inspection sticker (for auto or motorcycle), well, I’ll keep going to Hyde Park.

I’ve been bringing the same car here for nearly 7 years now and would recommend the place to everyone. The prices are reasonable, the quality of the work has always been good, and most of all I trust them to keep my car in top notch shape without getting me to spend more money than necessary.
When my sister had to get a new car after the timing belt on hers broke, Tom the owner offered her a used Chevy for only $ 750. This was almost two years ago and it has run without any problems. When I eventually have to replace my current car I sure hope he has something for me!

I was a bit weirded out about Hyde Park Auto because somewhere in my head I felt like I had heard iffy things about them — not sure if through reviews or word-​of-​mouth. I don’t trust many with my car, but I was sick and tired of driving around with a ghetto bungee cord tying down my trunk and I didn’t want to pay the dealership $ 300 so they could replace the lock assembly… it seemed kind of fishy that although the lock worked just fine, the dealership thought it should be replaced. The reason my trunk wasn’t locking was because it was misaligned with the bumper after someone kissed my rear end with their giant SUV.
So. on a whim I dropped by Hyde Park on a Tuesday morning. The lot was packed but the gentleman in the lobby was friendly and said they could take a look at my car. He took my keys, I walked home, and a couple hours later I got a call saying my car was fixed and ready for pickup. Wait, huh? No call with an estimate? No information about what needed to be done? The car was just… poof… ready. just like that?
Hmmm. My mind was racing and I was worried about the cost. «Um, how much exactly was that?» I asked… «$ 47.50» was the reply. SWEET! I hadn’t even explained to them that I thought it wasn’t a lock issue as much as a misalignment issue but they figured it out and fixed it.
They were affordable, friendly, and fast… but next time I’d like a call before the work gets done so I know what I’m getting myself into. Otherwise, they did a fine job.

I have had several wonderful experiences here. I had an issue that was covered by my warranty and since they are not a dealership I was not sure they would want to mess with it since they do not get paid right away and have to go through the hassel of working with the warranty company. They had no issue getting it done and doing the extra work with the warranty company. They are always very friendly and helpful.

This was the worst experience I’ve ever had with a garage. I had dismissed a bad review ($ 200 for cleaning terminals? Come on, that’s just dumb.) and was pretty sure that this would be my new neighborhood garage.
Long story short, I was given an ever-​changing diagnosis, lied to, yelled at, and threatened, mostly by the owner. It’s difficult to summarize, as it was so upsetting and bewildering.
Short story long:
I dropped off my truck with info (Oil light on, maybe bad sender? New oil & filter, level OK, but did see fresh oil drop on filter. Just washed engine/​pan. Radiator cap left open by Jiffy Lube; refilled, but after overheating. Please investigate light, check for glaring oil & coolant leaks, and adjust idle – I set it a bit too low.) The office guy, Mike, spoke as he typed and was loosely paraphrasing, but I thought, hey, if he’s too vague, perhaps they’ll find something I missed. No problem.
Mike called 3 hours later and said I needed an oil pressure switch and had an oil leak. A what? Oh, no – a pressure *light* switch. OK. I asked where the leak was. He didn’t know, and the mechanics were at lunch. I asked about coolant; he said they didn’t check it, but he could ask them to. (?)
I assumed we’d wait until the mechanic got back before moving forward. When I said this, he asked if I wanted them to fix the switch. I repeated that I wanted to know of any major leaks first. He responded by curtly telling me that I ASKED them to investigate the LIGHT, and the SWITCH was why the light was on, and REPLACING it would FIX the light. He began talking faster, louder, and snippier, like I was his twelve-​year old kid and was in trouble. I was at a loss for words; I didn’t see any emotional component here, and we weren’t arguing anything. He repeated this, a lot, interrupting and getting really impatient. However, he started almost every sentence with «OK, um, I am really confused.» Why didn’t he get that the oil leak was a priority? No idea.
I kept taking deep breaths, not wanting to sound like him or let it get bickery. Mike then apparently walked outside and glanced under my truck. He said he didn’t see oil, then began insisting that there was no leak, except from the switch (all without Bob, the mechanic at lunch). (??)
After telling me a dozen times that he was really confused, then magically knowing a new diagnosis, I wanted to politely end the call and wait for the mechanic. However, Tom (the owner) took the phone without warning and began snapping at me, saying HE had looked at my truck. The owner was really rude before I spoke, but I tried to ask him if there was a leak, mentioning the oil on the filter. He told me he didn’t know where the switch was, nor did he know where the oil filter was, nor did he know anything about oil on it. He ALSO demanded to know if I wanted the switch replaced, then started screaming at me while raising my truck on a lift to look at it. The phone was muted several times.
I started to feel ill. At this point I just wanted to get my truck and end this. Still hopeful, I told him GENTLY that I was uncomfortable with getting different info and the office guy admitting not knowing, then trying to diagnose it himself. I thought Tom could still be a voice of reason.
Nope. He hung up on me. I went in a few minutes later, and was greeted with a smirk and a tight-​lipped ‘oh you must be …’ from Tom. I felt crushed, not angry, and paid the diagnostic charge. (I have yet to find out what Bob really diagnosed.) Tom tossed a receipt down as he walked out the side door, talking over his shoulder. While lowering my truck, he started yelling at me, saying I was calling him a liar by implying he hadn’t done the estimate. (I wasn’t, of course, though they both already said that he hadn’t.) «SO YOU“RE CALLING ME A LIAR? HUH?». ‘No, of course not. I just want to understand this lea – ’ «NO YOU ARE! YOU“RE CALLING ME A LIAR! I’VE FIXED THOUSANDS OF CARS AND DOING THIS FOR THIRTY YEARS…» etc. etc. etc. This frightening rant continued as he got in my truck and backed it out. He got out, leaving it running with the door open, and snarled ‘have a nice day’ over his shoulder, shaking his head at a confused-​looking mechanic and pointing in my direction.
This was INSANE. I was calm, patient, and was clear that the source and severity of any leak was my primary concern. I had no desire to be perceived as one of those dramatic, impossible customers that make our jobs unnecessarily difficult, and really stretched my patience and composure. Both guys were unclear, uncommunicative, rude, and in Tom’s case, totally inappropriate. He got within inches of my nose with both his face & a finger, insulting me, yelling ‘go away’, & saying he’d call the police. (Huh?)
Unlike them, I wasn’t confused, wasn’t changing my story, and wasn’t yelling. I was on the verge of tears, shaking, shocked by the lack of candor & aggressive behavior.
I still wish I could’ve talked to the mechanic. Oh, well.
Stay away.

I made an appointment here on a Tuesday morning to have my car inspected for the state of Missouri. I was in and out in no time. The mechanics even noted that one of the lights on the back of my car was a little loose and affixed it properly for no extra charge.
The inspection was $ 12 and they prefer cash. I had $ 11, and they let me go for $ 11. No complaints from me! I’ll probably come back here for things like oil changes from now on. They are very friendly, and the shop itself has an old school feel to it.

I have taken my car here a couple of times now — each time they were very honest with what needed to be done and kept good communication over the phone. The car was also done way earlier than I had expected each time. Very nice people working the desk and on the phones. I am really happy I found a good mechanic so close to my house!