I've been meaning to write a review for 34th St for over a year! Kai and Gene (guessing at the spelling, sorry if it's incorrect) are thoroughly pleasant to work with and my car is always well taken care of. They are honest and good at what they do -- they've even prevented me from paying for unnecessary services that a chain store had been trying to sell me. As my car gets older I will have to rely more and more upon the knowledge and honesty of my car mechanic and I am glad to have found 34th Street Garage. Even though I have moved from Magnolia to West Seattle, they are still my preferred service shop. read more

They were friendly and nice being in the magnolia neighborhood close to home. I'll definitely be back!

I hate to leave bad reviews but... Went for an oil change and was told I need $3,000 of repairs on my car and that my tires would pop off if I drove it without repairs. Naturally I was scared to death to drive my car! Got a second opinion and found out that none of that was true. I do not recommend this place and I will not go again. read more

My car had been having issues for a long time, and when I took it in to Kai, he took care of everything. Service was fast and affordable (especially for a college student) and my car is happy. Thanks so much! read more

I really would suggest getting a 2nd opinion on major repairs. We have taken cars to 34th Street Garage for years, mainly out of convenience, because it is in the neighborhood where we live and does not require someone to drop us off. I've had some repairs here and they have always seemed expensive, and every time we bring a car in for required maintenance (oil change) they drum up several estimates for services. The latest was on 8/2/19. We brought the 2002 Toy LC in for an oil change, which we paid $105.64 for, much more than the $30 advertised in the Val-Pak. My son returned home with 3 "estimates for services" totaling $1300. One had handwritten by Ky on it, "Need Now!!" and was for the replacement of a Fan Clutch for $635.56 ($365.25 for part, and $195.20 for 1.6 hours of labor). There is another shop in Mukilteo that we use for our LC because that is what they specialize in, Torfab. When my son called them for a 2nd opinion, it turns out the part is about $200, and the labor is 15 minutes to unscrew and rescrew 4 screws. He drove the hour up there for service today, and they looked at it and said, nope, doesn't need replacing. Moves a bit, but car isn't overheating, part is still doing its job. So, there you have it. I'd be a bit wary of "extra" repairs that are recommended by 34th Street Garage, and when the repairs are unavoidable, you might hunt around online and see if the pricing is legitimate. By the way, my son called Ky back to discuss the repair, and the price, and Ky confirmed that all the pricing in the estimate was accurate. So, even when confronted with a 2nd opinion by a shop that specifically works on Toyota Landcruisers, they stuck by their extortionist practices. I felt after all these years, and many experiences of this sort with 34th Street Garage, it was time to let others know. read more

I am brand new to the Seattle area and thought that it would be impossible to find a garage as trustworthy as Muffit in League City, Tx, who had kept my '07 Yukon running for 280K miles. Recently the battery on the Yukon had drained while we were away. After the battery was charged the HVAC system was dead. Nothing blew, hot or cold.I checked with a neighbor who has a Yukon as well as to where to take it. He recommended 34th St. Garage. So I took the Yukon in this morning and left it with Kai. He called back a couple hours later and told me that the "brain" needed to be "flash" programmed, a dealer procedure and they were unable to perform that programming. When i showed up a few hours later to pick up the Yukon, I asked how much did I owe for the diagnostics. Kai said, "nothing". To me this is amazing because i'm sure they spent the better part of an hour working on the Yukon. I recommend 34th St. Garage. I'll be back there for sure next oil change. read more

Kai is the man! I got towed in due to an electrical issue 1 hour before close and he was able to have my car running in 15 minutes :) this shop will not rip you off and they have your best interest in mind. My car is a subaru and they seem to know a lot about these cars. Definitely coming back for all my mechanical needs! read more

I am disappointed but in no way surprised by the dishonest service I received at 34th Street Garage. My vehicle broke down around the corner from the garage (alternator-- I knew this was the issue to begin with). Kai was kind enough to bring a jump box and charge the battery enough to inch over to their shop around the corner. So far, so good! Perhaps sensing my desperation, lack of options, and lack of car knowledge, this garage proceeded to quote me $760 to change the alternator (?!?!?!), $650 to change the power steering pressure hose, $1,172 to replace three of four motor mounts that were in "horrible condition," and a $78.64 examination fee. When I pressed about the alternator quote, he said he could knock it down to just south of $600. Still a little nuts. Additionally, when I checked in with a mechanic that I know and trust, he informed me that in fact my car only has two motor mounts...and one transmission mount? definitely not the four I was told about. Every other garage I shared these price quotes with reacted in abject horror and demanded to know who I had been speaking with. I was more than happy to share. In the end, the other mechanics I went to shared with me that my motor mounts were more than fine, my power steering hose maybe barely had a leak...maybe. And could definitely be dealt with at a later date when I'm on more stable financial footing without causing any long term damage. After leaving this garage, my final bill for fixes on my car dropped to $700 total for alternator, labor, and power steering hose. This is down from $2500. I've heard that this garage is notorious for ripping off women and my experience certainly reinforces this negative reputation. To all my ladies out there-- do your homework! Don't allow these men to do any work on your car until you look into things more thoroughly on your own or call around. OR just don't go there at all :) I'm looking into reporting them to the better business bureau. read more

I chose these guys to help with the hard parts of my restore project that I cannot do myself. Whether it is performance or handling, each time I get my car back from them the difference is amazing, and the quality of work is top notch. They will find every issue with your vehicle and that scares some people but a good mechanic is thorough. There is a reason that almost every time I go to their garage there is someone's ~$50,000 restoration car there - people trust them with their babies. read more

My issues were simple but I rely on a good neighborhood garage and, being new to Magnolia, I'm glad I found this. Quick service. Fair prices. No upsell. Thanks guys. You saved my bacon this morning! read more

I was having issues with my cooling system, coolant was pouring out. Luckily this garage was very close to where I lived so took it in. I dropped off my car that day and was able to pick it up the next morning. A little pricey, at around $750 to replace a water pump, but I've found that a lot of things in Seattle are more expensive then I'm used to. They also replaced the thermostat and thermostat seal that I had replaced the day prior. So, knocked a star for replacing something that was brand new but maybe water pumps come as a package. Impressed with the speed it took to diagnose and fix my problem! read more

Our family has been a customer of 34th Street Garage for many years. During those years, we had three kids driving and extra kids with used cars; a neighborhood garage like 34th Street really kept me sane. We are truly satisfied with all of the repairs/maintenance on our vehicles over the years. Gene backs up his work and always goes the extra mile to make something right. I really appreciate his honesty and straightforward style. There is no BS with Gene! I recommend this garage and Gene/Kai to anyone who asks about car repair. Lat year I stopped by in my old truck and mentioned to Kai that my canopy access was difficult since a control rod had disconnected from the canopy door handle. He asked to take a look, went in the shop, added a pop rivet and I was good to go at no charge. A couple of weeks ago, I drove by 34th Street and saw a Tacoma for sale. Well, the short story is that I upgraded from my '98 Tacoma to a 2004 Tacoma Crew Cab! I could not be happier. This truck handles better, has leather HEATED seats, low miles and is just a more feminine version of my old '98 Tacoma. With the extensive repairs/maintenance and new wheels/tires added by 34th Street, I added a red aluminum canopy which is perfect for the dogs. My annual cross-country trips will be a dream in this truck. I also own a Mini Cooper and a '91 Honda CRX. Other family members own: 2010 Subaru, 2013 Subaru and a 2005 Toyota Corolla. Gene, Kai and 34th Street Garage keep 'em all running! read more

I've had two excellent service experiences at this garage in the last 6 months. The team is fast, fair, and very professional. I can't recommend them highly enough. Thank you, 34th Street Garage!! read more

You must read this review before you go here! These people are crooks, here's why: Took in 2004 Toyota Tacoma to be looked at, thought there might be a gas leak. Shop owner claims there is $4000 worth of rust damage, and not salvageable. We try to barter, see what's possible we don't want to lose our truck! Owner "generously" offers us $6,500 to "take it off our hands". We struggle with the decision, know the vehicle is worth more, but can't seem to find a solution that won't end up costing us more than we are prepared to pay. Maybe we just live with the damage or figure out how afford the repairs? Owner tells us, "it will have a nice home, his daughter is going to drive it, take good care of it, and needs a dependable car, and since he's a mechanic, can fix the rust damage without the labor costs". Heartstrings pulled, in many directions, so we make the deal. 3 weeks later... our truck, new tires, new rims, and a FOR SALE sign in the window. We call, could this possibly be our truck that was supposed to go to his young daughter, her first vehicle to make memories in, as our family did...? NOPE - "I'm taking $18,900 out the door, it's worth $20,000, but I'm trying to get rid of it". Unreal. This guy is a heartless criminal, taking advantage of people's good faith and trust. Selling lies and telling you he's doing the admirable thing. Go anywhere BUT here. ZERO stars. read more

I took both my cars here for the first year that I lived in Magnolia. I thought the owner was pretty rude but kept going back because the location was so convenient. I must have been there 5 or 6 times within a year and they never made any attempt to be friendly. I recently took my car in for an oil change and they called to tell me I needed a transmission flush. How much for a transmission flush? $480. Ouch! I had to call another place just to get a quote. I made one phone call to another garage and they quoted me $130 for the exact same thing. So, after picking my car up from 34th Street Garage, I took it to the other place. It's one thing to be unfriendly, which may be acceptable for a place that's a good value and honest, but it's quite another to try to gouge me and be rude while you're doing it, which I believe to be the case with this place. I'll never go back to Gene again. read more

I dropped my car off for routine maintenance. A couple of hours later I got a call that they took my car out for a routine test drive and found that all 4 brake rotors were warped and all the brake pads needed replacing - at a cost of $1500. l thought I would take it to another repair shop for a second opinion. The other shop did replace my rear brakes and serviced the rear rotors for a total of $335. I still have 60% pads left on the front brakes and the rotors are fine. The shop that did my repairs was servicing another lady's car who had been given bad advice from this repair shop. read more

I honestly don't know cars that well, so I didn't quite know what to make of the initial quote for brake pads, rotors, and a serpentine belt, which I had requested. Along with these services, Kai also noted that I needed several other things (sooner rather than later). I was shocked by the total cost and requested that only the most necessary services be completed. That said, I have never had my car serviced at a reputable mechanic's (bad idea), and when I returned to pick up my car, Kai thoroughly outlined the services that had been done along with the list of what should be done in the future. Yes, I experienced sticker shock, but I also realized that it's important to have your car serviced at a reputable place! There were some very concerning issues with my car that would have been noticed earlier, had I not solely relied on places like JiffyLube to take care of everything. I assume that because they are a small garage, labor will cost a bit more than the "big guys." Nevertheless, it's worth it to be driving a safe car for a little more money. read more

Gene had to fire the fellow who took over for him and is now back in Magnolia trying to straighten things out. I believe the other guy overcharged people or charged them unnecessarily. Anyway, he's trying hard to get back on track to the good reputation he earned over many years. He helped us out in the snow storm and did it free of charge (which he shouldn't have). It was really nice given the pinch we were in and supported his efforts in trying to regain customers' trust and satisfaction. Anyway, we've always had good luck with him. read more

Have had a few oil changes and other small work done here, always with competitive prices and outstanding customer service. Will now go to them with bigger stuff if/when the need arises. read more

I like having a local garage where the technicians treat me right. I like knowing that I can trust my auto mechanics who tell me when I need work and when I don't. I like having a locally owned business in my neighborhood. I take my car here for oil changes and major transmission work. They're great! read more

My car is getting older, and needs more TLC. They are the best.

As an out-of-towner, I was nervous when my car broke down in Seattle. Since I was near the garage, I had them check it out. They patched it up for me enough to get it home without worry, and didn't even charge me anything for it. Really great folks. read more

Had a coupon for an oil change....since it's in my neighborhood, decided to give them a try. Took my car in.....was told when I made the appointment that it would take 1 1/2 hours.....3 hours after taking my car in, I get a phone call from a VERY RUDE man telling me "your battery miserably failed the test". I said, "I'm sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about". He says, "your battery is about to die, you have probably noticed your car starting slowly and in this cold weather, your battery is going to die any day now", I say "no I have not noticed that, the battery is fairly new, I don't need anything done to the battery at this time, thank you", he says "ok, bye", I say "wait a minute, is my car done?", he says "um, yea, of course."......REALLY, he could NOT have been any ruder! I have had the battery checked since....IT IS COMPLETELY FINE!!!!! Not only did it take twice as long to change my oil as they said it would....they literally tried to scam me into getting a new battery when I didn't need one! I will NEVER bring my car back there and I will make sure everyone I know in the neighborhood is aware of this! BEWARE!!!!! read more