TLG Auto

I unfortunately received very poor service and communication from Marco at TLG after bringing in my Porsche.
Marco originally sent me an invoice explaining that I would receive a free inspection of my car. After diagnosis, it appeared that previous work done on my car by another mechanic was sub-​par. Marco explained that I should speak with that mechanic to see if he would remedy the issues. In the meantime, I asked Marco to fix my brakes. Marco explained he wanted to hold off until I had spoken with my prior mechanic about the mechanical issues found on the car. Three days later, I let Marco know that I was still in talks with the prior mechanic and that I wanted Marco to move forward with work on my car.
Marco explained that the time period to work on my car had closed and that I could reschedule nearly one month later to have work done on my car. More importantly, Marco stated that I owed him over $ 140 for the «free» inspection as well as for an o-​ring he replaced on my car without consulting me. I wrote back to Marco explaining that I would have appreciated better communication about the short time period available to fix my car, as well as the work charged to me without me consent.
Instead of rising to the occasion and making things right, Marco shot back with a curt email explaining that he did not want to work on my car and that I needed to pick it up immediately, though Marco knew I was out of town. I had to pay for someone to take a cab to Marco’s shop to pick up my car as soon as possible as I was uncomfortable with my car staying at his shop any longer.
I realized quickly that Marco is not someone I would trust with my car much less give my business to — his communication skills and customer service were some of the worst I’ve experienced. His failure to step up and make things right was a big red flag for me and I hope I can help others out there avoid a similar poor experience.

It’s prime time that I start reviewing places that I’ve drawn from the internet. My guilt of learning from and never contributing to the interweb has lead me to review my favorite places. One of the first places has to be TLG Auto. Marco and Tony are the real deal. Forget all the bougie blah blah blah about air cooled Porches– these are salt of the earth people they will treat you right and shoot you straight. I can’t tell you how much I owe to Marco for being the guy in Southern California to help me look for, buy, and service my precious car. They are extremely knowledgeable about servicing, driving (not polishing), racing, and restoring Porches. With the price of these cars going through the roof; if you’re looking for time tested expertise and humility, these are the guys.

Recently did an excellent job for me on one of my ancient Porsches. Very impressed with Marco and Tony. Total experts. People who know all the tricks and idiosyncrasies of these older cars are few and hard to find as are parts. TLG did a fuel tank swap out (car was virtually undrivable because of overwhelming fuel smell in cockpit, and where do you find a good ’59 tank?) and minor clutch adjust. Would go back and recommend without hesitation.

I would not take my 930 anywhere else! These guys are the best!

Not much I can say about these guys that has not already been said in other posts. Tony and Marco are great guys. They have been looking after my car since the mid 90’s and will continue to do so until they close up shop.
These guys are the authority in AirCooled Porsches in the region, yet they are always honest and fair. I never get an inflated bill or told to do unnecessary repairs.

These guys are AWSOME! I cant begin to tell you how glad I am I found TLG for my «go to guys» for my 2002 Porsche 911. They are honest people you can trust with their expertise. They are fast to get your car back and reasonable. I discovered TLG by Unilocal,due to my satisfaction I created an account to write this. Thanks to Marco, Tony and crew for getting my baby back better then expected. Also thanks to a guy named George who gave me the reassurance to go there.

Love this place– great guys. Know their old Porsches better than anyone else I’ve been to in the area. Honest, Fair pricing

So many auto shops are a nightmare to deal with, and I usually dread going to them. However, TLG is THE best experience that I’ve had in an auto shop. Marco and Tony are fantastic to deal with, their work is excellent, and their prices are fair. I certainly never thought that I’d find an auto shop that I practically look forward to visiting. Customer for life.

After being disappointed with another German car service in Santa Monica I took my 83 911 to TLG Auto. Tony and Marco are very knowledgeable and great mechanics but most of all great guys. I can only strongly recommend them if you are looking for the best place to get great service for your Porsche.

My husband and I are not Porsche experts, so thank God for Marco and Tony. After taking our Porsche to another repair shop for years (that had unreliable service and high prices), we were desperate. A friend recommended TLG and we’ll never go anywhere else.
Their prices are fair, and probably too low for the first class, artful level of service you receive. These are not mechanics slogging through a workday; they are artisans of Porsche restoration and care. Marco has gone scouring through junkyards and old Porsches to get the perfect replacement part for our classic baby. He’s always polite and never condescending, however he’s more serious about caring for your Porsche than you are.
As moderately naïve Porsche owners, we have been educated by Marco and Tony on the nuances and quirks of our car, and we are now comfortable using it as a daily driver. Through the help of TLG’s expertise, we now appreciate the car’s elegance, power and idiosyncrasies with new found comfort.
If you have a Porsche– take it here– no matter how far you have to drive (we drive over 20 miles to get there)! If you’re thinking about it, but are afraid to buy a classic Porsche 911, look no further– this is a safe haven to take your car and get educated about how to care for it with artfulness and utilitarian fun! You’ll be driving around with a smile on your face!

Tony and Marco are great!
I have been driving around a 1969 912 with 45k original miles on it recently as a daily driver. Of course this change of behavior is hard on a 43 year old car, so it has come to need various things over the last couple of months. The guys have been extremely accommodating and fair. They know the ins and outs of these cars and have been able to come up with quick diagnoses and repairs to get me back on the road.
I am an extremely picky customer and it takes a lot to impress me. TLG does.

A few months ago I bought my childhood dream car: a 1987 911 Carrera. It needed some love, and after being scared out of my pants by the estimate of a local Santa Monica Porsche shop I decided to follow through on a friend’s recommendation and gave Marco a call. Let me say that getting me to go into the valley is quite a feat, and add to that the fact that I need to take the bus when I bring my 911 to TLG… well, that alone should show you how great this shop is.
From regular maintenance work to upgrades and rebuilds of certain parts, Marco has always been honest, fair and knowledgeable, and he’s clearly very experienced. Plus he’s simply a cool fellow. He always takes the time to thoroughly explain everything to the mechanical hack that I am, is passionate about Porsches, and takes a lot pride in what he does. The people he’s recommended for other things (such as a bumper repair — John Esposito — and tires/​alignment) have all been at the same level. I’m picking it up tomorrow with a new suspension and clutch, and I can’t wait to feel what he’s done.
I wouldn’t trust my classic 911 to anyone else — having to go into the valley by bus says it all. Maybe I can convince him to move the shop to Santa Monica, but I have a feeling that he’d reject my offer of a free trucker hat in exchange.

I usually don’t write reviews, but because of the exceptional service I had from Marco, I was itching to write one.
I Unilocal anything and everything! This is like my bible before I try anything new and especially before traveling.
If you own a high-​end European car like a Porsche, then you don’t want to take it to some cheapo shop.
You need to take it to an expert that actually knows about your vehicle and its specific needs.
On Monday @8:30am in September, I was driving all of suddenly there was stalling and then smoke coming out from my car and then my engine went dead. This freaked me out and called Marco. I usually get my car serviced from Porsche Dealership. There is another place I get my car serviced from but it was located on the other side of town Pico and La Brea. I needed help now, before my car fried, but sadly it was too late! I blew her engine, which I will deal with Porsche at a later time!
I called Marco had Red taken in she stayed for over a month. Because of HORRIBLE extended warranty problems nothing to do with TLG. (DON’T BUY CDWS warranty)
Marco was gracious enough to store her there with no extra cost. Marco is a very personable and knowledgeable guy. He actually takes the time to explain everything to me and reassured that my car were in good hands. I usually don’t trust technician but there’s something about Marco that made him seem trustworthy.
Thanks Marco for fighting with the Horrible CDWS warranty people for several days. I have reported them to BBB.
Red and I appreciate everything. She is running so smooth and hearing the new engine is so beautiful. I think she is even better than when I first took her off the Porsche lot in 2006.
Needless to say if have a Porsche, take it to TLG they care and will not rip you off!

Great and honest!

I recently purchased a 1990 944 S2 Cabriolet with just over 36k actual miles on it. I heard a loud thumping noise coming from the front tire or brake area and wasn’t sure where I should take my car. I love that car and wanted someone who knew what they were doing but not out to rip me off.
I got very lucky and chose this place based on the other reviews. I sure am glad I did. Although I was initially told they didn’t really work a lot on 944’s, I believe it was Tony who said tell me whats going on and maybe I can find you someone to help you out. After explaining the problem to him he said go ahead and bring it in. It ended up costing me only $ 100 for his time as he said the front right brake assembly had become loose probably from hitting a pothole and just needed to be tightened up. Problem fixed. And lucky for me, he liked the condition of the car enough that he said he would most definitely be willing to work on my car and doing the maintenance on it any time. I will definitely be back. Thanks guys!

How about spending contless time with a potential customer who is looking for a Porsche? How about answering any question, whenever you call, honestly, sincerely, and extensively? If you want a father/​son team who genuinely care about you and your Porsche… look no further than Tony and Marco!
These guys helped me research Porsches for 6 months. They always had time for me. Even when I’d bring a folder full of EBay photos and descriptions, the guys at TLG were there for me!
These are genuine, knowledgeable, and accommodating mechanics at their best. I now have my ’92 Black Beauty (because classic lines are best), and I know she’ll be in great hands with TLG.

Tony and Marco Gerace are the most experienced, knowledgeable, and HONEST Porsche mechanics I have ever known! If you love your Porsche take it to TLG. 5 Stars!
The End.
If you care to read my «Hollywood» review, here you go:
Once upon a time, I shipped my Pride and Joy to LA. A Guards Red 1990 Porsche Carrera 2 Targa (heretofore known as Lil Red). Such a beautiful beast needs care and maintenance. But where to go?
The first place I went, hoping for some TLC, was Don & Arel’s in Toluca Lake. Lil Red needed her 95K maintenance, and her clutch was slipping. She was there for 5 days. As I was signing the check for $ 5k, Don mentioned to me that her oil lines need to be replaced ($ 1200 each, not included in the 95k), and her starter ($ 800) was worn out. Nothing that they notified me about while the engine was out. Ugh.
TLC = Tender Loving Care. I got none there. And I never went back.
The second place I took Lil Red, was Beverly Hills Porsche. Even if Lil Red could be in the garage by 7am for a simple oil change, they couldn’t guarantee she would be out the same day. I’m not asking for Jiffy Lube, but come on! They didn’t give a shit about Lil Red. Not even enough to find faults she did not have. Oh my. What is a Porsche to do?!? I just want some TLC for my girl!
In 2006, after a hard rain, Lil Red started having some wacky electrical issues. Nothing threatening, just annoying. I was working in Burbank, and called the closest Porsche mechanic Google could find. TLG Auto in NoHo. Tony answer the phone. I told him my issues. He stoically replied, «You’ve got gremlins.» Ummm. Okay. He continued, «I could do a diagnostic, but your car is prone to gremlins. If it’s nothing serious, I wouldn’t worry about it.»
Oh. My. Gawd. Really? Who is this mechanic with such a cavalier attitude? And when can he get me in for an oil change and check up?!? I scheduled a 9am appointment on my next day off. «Get in here at 9am and we will get it done while you wait.», said Tony, in his gruff NY tone.
TLG = TLC What I had been looking for all along!
They have never mentioned those oil lines, but have bitched at me to get new tires (which they don’t sell).
Recently, I went in to have a new clutch, starter (8 years after Don & Arel told me I needed one), and brakes. They had Lil Red for less than 2 days. And I was smiling when I wrote the check.
Lil Red drives like new!
If your Porsche needs TLC, go to TLG!