Hilltop Automotive and Performance

Very professional place, and friendly as well. Took my car in for an oil change and got a great price that includes a 27 point inspection. Would definitely recommend this shop!

They are very nice and friendly but are very busy. They had my RV for a week before they were able to look at it and I was getting concerned that it wouldn’t be fixed in time for our trip. Luckily they had good news today and had gotten it running. They could be better at communication, I felt like I was in the dark all week but I’m happy that it is getting fixed and looks like it will be ready for our trip.

I took my car in due to a another mechanic’s foul up. They got to my car in a hurry and immediately found the problem, repaired it, and I was on my way to work. The charge was reasonable, and I was relieved that it was basically a simple problem. I would trust them again!

Car had an axle issue and these guys fixed the problem on a Friday afternoon! Got the parts we needed quickly and Gary was very helpful. Just in town for the weekend and these guys got the job done. Thanks Hilltop! You saved us

Do not go to this place. They straight up lie and make stuff up to charge you extra when nothing is wrong with the parts they claim has issues. Bait and switch!!! Stay away

My friend Cezar is an amazing mechanic and when he said he was working at hilltop I decided to give them a try and I’m so glad I did. I was having an issue with my ac and from the minute I waked in I knew I was in good hands. Gary the owner was so nice a super professional, I thought I was going to be paying a arm and a leg but they found it to be a super minor thing and any other place would have probably milked it because I was using my insurance !! I run a local business myself so I know how important it is to take care of people and that’s just what they did ! I can not say enough good things about them and I will be referring everyone there ! Thanks again guys !

My car had been to the Cadillac dealer 2 times, Pep Boys, Firestone. All of them never got it right with my vehicle. I kept saying it has this sound and it is doing this. «its fine or lets charge you money for something that we will do wrong» that’s all they did. I found these guys on Unilocal and I am SO GLAD I DID. They listened to me. Fixed the car RIGHT. They were beyond reasonable in their prices. They kept in contact. I honestly could not have had a better experience.

Staff are very friendly and service was quick. Called in first thing in the morning and vehicle was done same day a few hours later. Massage chairs were nice touch while we waited & coffee & water available.

High priced.
below avg. quality of work. I would not recomend to any one. if you have to pay top price you should get top work.

Walked in today without an appointment for a smog check. Friendly staff took my truck right in and was out in no time. What great service! I highly recommend Hill Top.

I called on a Sunday and received a return call at 7:00am the next morning. In and out in under two hours.
Thank you very much!

These guys will rip you off in a heartbeat! Do not take your car there. Their motto is: we do not work for free, but we will get paid for ripping you off. They got me for over $ 1,000.00. They got a couple of my friends for outrageous amounts too. We will never go back there and do not recommend anyone else to go there either.

I recently moved to Coachella Valley in California and joined AAA.
I found «Hilltop Automotive» approved by the AAA, and took my
2005 Ford Taurus in to diagnose a rough idle. I was charged $ 100
for an estimate of $ 750 (more). I told them I was leaving, and
they said that more than half of the estimate was «preventive»
only. I approved spark plugs and wires for $ 360, although that
seemed very high. After installing the six spark plugs, they told
me that now the car needed a coil, for $ 276 more. I didn’t believe
them and said no. Later, I looked into a coil and found they cost
between $ 30 and $ 70, and attach with three bolts on top of the
motor, a very easy job. I spent $ 465 for six spark plugs and wires,
and feel ripped off. I won’t go back to them. By the way, I’m really sorry I didn’t read the other (negative) reviews of Hilltop in «yelp» before I went!

I took my Mitsubishi Raider into their shop for an oil change. I also asked if they could reseal the weather stripping for my tailgate. They also recommended a tire rotation. The bill was $ 247 which I thought was a little pricey.
It is a well maintained shop and the waiting room was immaculate. I also thought their service was efficient.
The problem is I visited another shop in town a month afterwards. My tires were manufactured in 2005 and a new law requires all shops to advise that the tires could be a liability. Especially in extreme conditions like here in the desert. If that is true they didn’t perform to what their shop represents.

Gary and Dana are as good as it gets helpfull and honest and a great waiting room.

As a favor my boyfriend and I were asked to Smog his grandfathers Benz while in town for the weekend. Two other places we tried were closed. But we found this joint had Friendly customer service. Nice waiting area with massage chairs. Fairly quick service. Boyfriend was completely satisfied.

Being female I have a knee jerk reaction to mechanics because I have been taken advantage of so many times by these SOB’s. They see us as fair game and an opportunity to siphon lots of money. They typically make up things that need to be fixed and I just can’t stand them.
I saw the negative Unilocal review but this place was closest to me so I went. Not happily but I went. I needed to get a smog certificate for my ’87 VW Vanagon.
‘Who works on your car?’ I was asked by the really big man. Now can you imagine taking a speciality car like I have to any old shop?! Been there done that. The question should have been ‘how do I gain access to your bank account?’. Sorry Charley– let’s just stick to smog testing.
He sensed my trepidation about having them work on the car and it became a verbal tug of war. No vs. yes…“Big boy — I’m not letting you work on my car. Your heart is not in it, only your greed’.
Well, guess what? Yup — they failed me– I failed by a smidge! I called my mechanics in Santa Barbara and they told me the car needs to be hot to pass. Well, I only drove about 10 minutes to get over there and they let it sit for a while before they got to it. Guaranteed, if my car was warm and they did it right then and there — I would have passed.
Big Boy told me the wait would be 30 – 45 minutes and it took an hour. That’s because they had to let the car cool down so he could fail me.
I should have gone with the review of Palm Desert Smog where they are nice and I don’t feel like they are taking advantage of me.
A couple of things to keep in mind–
1. Do not go according to AAA recommendations. I had a classic Benz several years ago and took it to a AAA approved garage. They couldn’t find the problem and after thousands of dollars, I was in the same boat.
2. Don’t take your car to a smog check/​auto repair place for obvious reasons.
3. Under no circumstances take your car to Hilltop. European motors is the reputable place in the desert.