My mother was always recommending this place. I asked "What did they do?" She said "I don't know, but they were very nice." They also had done something for a friend if hers. Again, no one knows what they did, but apparently they did it for free and were "very nice". I'm thinking "this doesn't help me" and her friend is so annoying I could imagine her getting helped for free just to get her out the door. So I'd just bought a used car that suddenly needed a starter. They gave me a good price, which was a little less than what they wanted around the corner. Out of convenience I let them do it, plus an oil change. The starter worked 4 times and then didn't, leaving me stranded 16 miles away. I had to pay for a tow back to their parking lot in the middle of the night. The next day they said " Uh, we didn't hook up the wires right." No apology, not even a credit for the tow, which would've at least brought me back for something else. and given them a chance to display that "legendary niceness" that I'd heard so much about. As far as the oil change, they put on a filter which didn't have the seal attached. When I replaced it again, their seal stayed on the block and made a seal sandwich. The seal sandwich blew out and if it wasn't for the gauge reading and the streak of oil it made I never would've known what was happening. Any decent filter would have the seal firmly attached. Get your oil changed elsewhere or do it yourself, get a name-brand filter and don't let 1701 do anything. read more

1 year later and still going strong haha! Love these guys. ONLY go to them!!!! Theyre honest, quick, and they will get you the best price no doubt. read more

I never write reviews, but I've also never had a mechanic that I trust and depend upon like our family trusts and relies on Malcolm. This little shop feels like a business from another era. It's part of the community. The people who work there know their stuff and are clearly invested in the work they do. They are honorable and take pride in their trade. It's oddly reassuring to know that businesses like this still exist. I've had Malcolm go out of his way, several times, to squeeze us in to a busy week because he knows we're a one-car family with a young child we have to shuttle around. More than once, he's taken a look at our car and not charged for a diagnosis or advice. We once brought him a big, expensive problem with a car that we'd just gotten (used, but new to us) and he recommended we take it to the Ford dealership, which was a smart move for that particular job. He didn't charge labor costs for his time. His guidance is always spot on. 1701 is a small business that does excellent work and treats its customers like neighbors. Alameda is lucky to have it. read more

They're friendly, honest, and they take care of you. Had to bring my car back a few times for the same issue, but they're always helpful to find the problem without charging or overcharging. Our go-to shop for all our vehicles ... read more

Great service A1 very knowledgeable my girlfriend's tire had a nail in it and she had two new tires put on at their shop. I called them last minute to see if they could fix it and in the middle of the day they said come on in no charge and they fixed it. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! They are HONEST. They are HELPFUL. They are KNOWLEDGEABLE. They are open to SHARING that knowledge. They are FRIENDLY. THEY ARE NOT SEXIST and do not take advantage of your perceived ignorance. There are so many anecdotes I could tell about their awesome customer service. It's not just the owners who are like this, everyone who works here (so far in my experience) is like this. I always recommend them, and I go to them. Finally, an ethical auto repair shop in Alameda! (I have definitely visited other 3-4 star auto shops in Alameda. ... Either there's been time-consuming miscommunication or misquotes, which I'm sure weren't deliberate, but just annoying, or blatant treating me differently unless I showed up with a guy who was more knowledgeable about the issues. Ugh.. Like once, I literally brought my dad and they changed my quote). Anyway, LADIES and OLD people and TEENAGERS (basically any group of people who autocare people usually take advantage of), this place is for you! read more

Great service! Trustworthy and honest people! Get your work done here. You won't regret it!

These guys are the best! They take care of all of our cars at reasonable rates. I totally trust them!

Messaged about my battery terminal and they were very quick to respond. I dropped it off for inspection and they gave me a quick response via phone call with the estimate. I was able to pick up very quickly afterward. Fast, friendly, and straight to the point. I highly recommend! read more

Friendly staff, quick and easy oil change at fair prices. I found these guys on Yelp so want to leave a review also. Deserve their 5 stars. read more

Excellent service at reasonable prices. You won't find more honest mechanics than these guys!

Such a wonderful and amazing team here. We have taken our car for a couple of oil changes here now and I am so glad I found this mechanic. They are honest, reasonably priced and very responsive. The three times we have taken it in (2 oil changes and one diagnostic check for our battery), they have always squeezed us in that same very day. I also have gotten some useful advice from Malcolm regarding purchasing a used car- he gave me some good tips. Such a rare find, and that's on an international scale too. This mechanic is a long term keeper. I highly recommend! read more

My little ol' car now drives like a dream now thanks to Malcolm, Sebastian and their team of experts at 1701 Auto Care! Thank you so very much for your professionalism, knowledge, and honesty! read more

I was very happy with my experience. The mechanics were informative friendly and a very short turn around. I will definitely be returning if I need any more maintenance done on my car. read more

I can't say enough good things about the excellent care the pros at 1701 Auto Cate provide. They know my name and my car even when it's been a while since I've brought it in. Added bonus is that I can walk to Mosely's and have a latte while I wait. read more

If you're looking for an honest, reasonable, and reliable mechanic these are your guys! Malcom and the guys always take care of my wife's and my vehicles every time I have brought them in over the years, with transparent and fair prices. They always take the time to explain to me what is going on with my car, and every time I come in they go the extra mile to take care of any concerns I might have with my vehicle. read more

I can't say enough about this establishment. It is an old school shop. Real mechanics not 'technicians'. People who understand cars and understand how you feel about your car. They take the time to figure out what your particular car needs then they do it correctly. For a good price. And they stand behind it. read more

I first went to 1701 for brakes and tires because several friends had recommended them. Their quote for brakes was $350 less than the dealer. They did a fast, efficient job and the tire price was similar to Costco. That was about four months ago and I have been back twice since. I hope I don't have to go to anyone else for car repair. These guys are terrific! read more

i went here based on positive reviews on a local facebook group, but my experience ended up being a bad one.I needed to change two tires, which they did promptly and I left happy but a day later, while driving on the free way, the sign for the air flow sensor came on and my car started making a whistling sound every time I pushed the gas after breaking. I went back to the shop right away. The guy who installed my tires scanned the vehicle and got the same air flow sensor error, he inspected the tires, but he could not tell the issues was juay a coincidence or if it was related to the tire installation, but because they were fully booked he told me the earliest they could see me would be a week later, I was not comfortable driving the car with the sound, and tried getting an earlier appointment but he reassured me that the car is driveable and not to worry. that was on Thursday, Sunday I went to start the car but it would not. I ended up having to call a mobile mechanic who was able to fix my car. 1701 Buena Vista never followed up, but what I did ot appreciate it's how the mechanic dismissed my concerns and did not even bother to check the noise coming from the car when it's insrunning, but somehow was certain that the issue will not interfere with the operability of the car. read more

I finally found my local mechanic who does fantastic work. I've been searching months for a good mechanic, and an auto shop that would be very dependable, honest and provide fantastic customer service. Malcolm and his team provided me just that. I brought in my 1970 Buick skylark for a quote to get a disc brake conversion kit put on my car. I told them exactly what I was looking for and exactly how much I wanted to spend, Malcom was able to make it as simple as 123. 1) order the part ( took 2days ) 2) brought my car in. 3) next day done, and picked it up. What can I say I'm a happy customer and I will be bringing my car back to get my torque converter installed. read more

I had a great experience at 1701 Auto Care. My starter conked out so I needed a reliable and quick place to get my car on the go again. Yelp to the rescue! The reviews didn't disappoint. The service was friendly and fast, got my car back the same day. (But I'm sure this depends on what situation your car is in). Malcolm provided me with info on the problem and answered questions I had without pushing other services, etc. The costs seemed reasonable according to my google searches for similar fixes. Definitely would recommend and would use again! read more

The best auto shop in Alameda; the guys are fast, prices are reasonable, and the service is excellent. Sebastian, Malcolm, Doyle, and Jose are the best. Thank you for your superb and sincere customer service. read more

These guys are great. Full service garage and experienced service. Customer service, excellent! I literally "walked-in" needing a tire fixed without an appointment and without hesitation, they fixed it. They're rates are very reasonable too. I am recommending 1701 AutoCare to you, you will not be disappointed. read more

This is an old style Alameda business. It's run by people who realize that being fair and honest and doing a good job will result in repeat customers. I can attest to that. While today they only fixed a flat it was done quickly and without attempts to sell me things/services that I don't need. Their prices are reasonable which those of us who are trying keep older cars on the road until those supply chain issues resolve themselves really appreciate. The other times I've been in have been equally as satisfying. So if your car needs fixing 1701 Auto Care is a good choice. read more

Customer service is far few and in between, but wow!! Malcolm made this trip for a tire change pretty much a breeze. I was immediately greeted by name and instantly felt like I had been there many times before, saying hi to an old friend. He's informative, exact, upfront, and best of all inviting! These guys do honest work -- Personally I don't enjoy taking my car to get work done because I've had dishonest experiences before. Not here. We will be returning. read more

These guys are awesome. I needed to get my rear brakes replaced. Came here because they had 5 stars on yelp (which is hard to come by) and they gave me the lowest quote for their services. Sebastian was the guy I dealt with at the front desk and he was super nice. I'm pretty clueless about cars and terminology so I'd definitely fall victim to a mechanic lying to me. But I didn't sense Sebastian was like that at all and he even went as far as explaining to me why my car was making the noise it was and told me I didn't need my rotors replaced, just resurfaced. Any other place would have seen that as an opportunity to sell me something I didn't need (including my own Mazda dealer) .. but not these guys. I'd definitely come here again and I'm telling everyone I know to come here too! read more

Sooo glad for these guys! Malcolm and Sebastian are incredibly knowledgeable, professional, honest and all around great guys. It's great to have a local neighborhood mechanic that I can trust. I can't say enough good things about them. If you're searching for a mechanic, you can stop now. You've found them. read more

As usual, the mechanics here only charges for labor that is absolutely necessary and required. I received a $300 quote from another mechanic and 1701 Auto Care charged me nothing to replace a low beam headlight. read more

My fiance has been here and says they do great work and are very honest and reliable. I'm leaving a review because they found my dog's ID tags on their street and took the time to call me so I could pick them up. I will do business here in the future because I like their vibe. They are friendly and helpful! read more

So happy to have found Malcolm & Sebastian at 1701. My check engine light came on in my 2000 Echo which I drive 7 days a week for work. Called 1701 and spoke to Malcolm and he was able to offer for me to drop my car after hours for him to look at the next morning (given difficulty for me to coordinate during the regular 9-5 for a drop off with a ride during work hours). By lunchtime the next day Malcolm had my car looked at and what I thought would be the $95 quoted initially for his time to diagnose, it was only $50. He sorted through 3 codes that set off my check engine light to figure it was a (somehow) disconnected purge valve (possibly from a hurried air filter check during a recent oil change at a chain). Super happy it wasn't something more dire and super happy to have my car back in less than 24 hours of my first call to them. I really appreciate hardworking, honest small businesses like what these two have. Malcolm took the extra time to answer all my questions about my aging car. I am so relieved to have found down-to-earth, skilled mechanics to take care of any future issues that may crop up. Thank you 1701! read more

Had an awesome experience. Had my water pump and timing belt replaced. So far so good. Great customer service and great prices. Gonna be my go to shop from now on! read more

YES! Reborn from the ashes of Whitmore's, Malcolm and Sebastian are open for business. I came in needing an oil change and a full replacement of plugs/wires. Dropped my truck off in the morning before they were open with a voicemail message on their phone. Got a couple of calls back during the day explaining a couple of *potential* issues and how they wanted to approach and the possible contingencies needed. Everything went flawlessly, price was great, convenience was OUTSTANDING (wife walked over the next day to pick up the truck when it was done). I was a big fan of Whitmore's and was sad to see them go. But now I'm wildly excited that these guys are here. read more

100% love these guys, they take such good care of my truck and I know I'll never be talked down to or lied to by them.

Have brought my car here for an oil change a few times. Affordable and good customer service.

Best auto service experience I've ever had. They were quick, efficient in their communication, and - most importantly - able to correctly diagnose a tricky issue with my battery. Malcolm and Doyle at 1701 Auto Care helped me diagnose and fix an issue with my failing new battery. Two and a half months ago I consulted AAA and Autozone on helping me get a replacement battery for my 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix. One day after getting the replacement battery, the new battery failed and I was forced to troubleshoot the issue myself. I reinstalled the battery after cleaning up the corrosion on the battery leads, and that fixed the issue until today. I finally decided to bite the bullet and take it into 1701 Auto Care to get it checked out. It turns out there was still a problem with the connection from lead to terminal and from terminal to battery due to further lead corrosion and terminal paint inhibiting electrical contact. The 1701 Auto Care team diagnosed this issue, removed the corrosion from the leads, and sanded down the terminal paint so that proper electrical contact was established. Something that could have turned into an expensive unnecessary repair (alternator fix, diagnosing a parasitic drain) were all avoided because the 1701 Auto Care team diligently troubleshooted my issue. They even charged me half the quoted amount because it took them less time than they expected. Honest, great group of mechanics over at 1701 Auto Care, would highly recommend! read more

About a week ago, I posted about any recommendations for good & honest mechanics on the island and noticed that many people recommended 1701 Auto Care on Buena Vista. Let me start off by saying that I appreciate everyone who gave me different options, I decided to go with 1701 Auto Care and my only regret is that I haven't decided to check them out sooner. Outstanding service and honest pricing; very open about the service being done on the car and no surprises. Now my car is back on the road again thanks to them, really happy to make Malcom and Sebastian my new mechanics. #SupportLocalBusinesses read more

Really good service. Reasonable charges, and no "gratuitous" extras added. I highly recommend this place.

Thank you for your quick turn around work! The service you've provided was most valuable. Sebastian is so professional and really know his work. I took my van to several places but they couldn't professionally gave a good quote until I brought it to this Auto Care. You are one of the best auto mechanic around. Thank you for taking care of my van for me. read more

I was close to a flat tire and worried about being unable to commute back to Hayward. Called in the middle of the workday and they told me to come in - patched a hole caused by a small piece of scrap metal and was out in about half an hour. I also appreciate that they recommended I get new tires without pushing me for a quote. Quick and reliable service! Def recommend to anyone local. read more

Great service! Timely response to email, honored the quote, quick diagnosis and communication, and super affordable repair. Less then 24 hours from initial request to fix and both Malcolm and Sebastian were very helpful! read more