The customer service here is as good as it gets, folks. Great price for an oil change with some minor detailing as well. Inside there are a dozen of reviews and rewards that rate this as the best woman friendly automotive repair in the metro... I didn't know that was a thing but hey, I'm all for it :) read more

Preface this by saying I know next to nothing about cars or how they work. My low tire pressure light came on and I figured I'd go to the place right next door. Easily made an appointment on their website and Dave (the manager I think?) called to confirm since it was a bit later in the day (5:30) but they still fit me in to have a look. They couldn't find anything wrong but still took the time to top off my pressure and then explain what could have caused it etc. Nothing major happened but the staff was friendly, knowledgeable and most importantly helpful. read more

Thorough and patient with explanations. I've never felt wary or dumb in dealing with Dave and crew. And now that Dave is back on the scene, that commitment to top-notch customer service is once again a priority. read more

I have been going to Autopia for years. I've trusted Dave there more than members of my own family. This week was a testament to what I've known for years. I decided to try a new shop from a strong recommendation. I didn't feel right about it, but given the source I did. First, the quote was over $200 higher for a timing belt than what Dave had told me. They also recommended multiple items to fix. The other place was correct, but when I double checked their price at Autopia I found out because of the 24,000 mile or 2 year warranty Autopia would be taken care of it at no charge when I got it done there. This was double the other shop's warranty was. When I brought the car in there were other issues with the radiator. Dave offered to call the other shop to discuss it. Autopia did a make shift fix to get me back to the other shop to see if it was something that was missed. Autopia told me that this was unsafe and I should not drive on this. The other shop reviewed the car said it was fine and told me it was fine to drive. The next day I was stranded because my radiator blew. In my mind Autopia plays it safe. It was lucky I wasn't on the highway or had children in the car. They go with the safe recommendations. I read some of the other reviews, but without a car history it's impossible for them to know what's been done and what has not. I've referred others there. There are standard recommendations at certain mileage. If they don't know the car history it is in their best interest to recommend those for your own safety. read more

After reading these reviews I was worried, but the price of the oil change was just too tempting. They changed the oil and cleaned out the car and wrote up a nice report of things that I may need to get changed in the near future. Dave's demeanor was pleasant and he didn't pressure me and answered my questions about what all the future mechanical fixes meant and what they would cost. This was a good mechanic visit and no where beats that price! read more

Where do I start Autopia in minneapolis is a huge disappointment to me. I recently just left there from work- It was a short stay, I quit. Let me tell you why. THEY PROMISE AND CANT DELIVER, they lie to everyone. I left for two HUGE reasons. I was promised salary plus commission, well I kept never getting commission and they said we will let you know soon, but that was discussed in my interview, I can get into more that but its a mess they basically used me to cover a later shift. Now for the customer stand point, they really do bump parts, HIGHER THEN ANYONE, they have a percentage, where they have to sell them at and its higher then anywhere i have worked. Say a crappy air filter they get for $3.15 they'll sell you for $40 thats just a point on, and on for huge parts per say, a $80 water pump they'll bump it to $400 its really bad there, AND I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW I WASN'T FIRED, i left due to these issues so if your reading this you understand. READ-----They have NONE ASE CERTIFIED TECHS, they under pay young people getting into the business, so they can bank off jobs, But you AS THE CUSTOMER ARE NOT getting premier work done. This is so they can make off labor for the company! read more

I never write Yelp reviews, but I thought I'd help out the next customer who was as nervous as I was after reading the reviews on here. I brought my 2002 Taurus in with 170,000 miles and a flashing check engine light. The car hadn't been running right for years, and I was fairly certain I'd be in a nightmare scenario where a massive engine overhaul of some sort would be required at an astronomical price. I brought the car in on Sunday night, talked to Dave at 7 am on Monday morning, where he quoted me a $49 fee to diagnose the car, which I agreed to. at 9:20 am that same morning, he outlined the problems with my car (ignition and spark plugs) and quoted me ~$900 for the replacement. He also mentioned that my tie rods were getting close to being replaced, but told me that it wasn't absolutely necessary to replace them immediately. He also told me he could change the oil (which was due) and told me an exact estimate for all the work done. I did some quick research online on the cost of the work done, and found that his price was definitely in the ballpark of reason. I had the work done, and he ensured that I knew the exact price of the work. I agreed and the repairs were finished on Tuesday morning, with no extra costs or changes to the initial invoice. The car runs fantastic now - for the first time in years. I couldn't be more impressed with the work, the speed, and the clarity of communication. There was no upselling, no last minute increases in cost, or shadiness. I'm not sure if the shop has undergone new management or what, but my experience was vastly different than the horror stories of the one-star reviews on this site. Just thought I'd share them for fellow newcomers to the city who are trying to find a reputable, reliable auto-service company. read more

One star is too many for these jokers. I don't know where to begin, so maybe right when you walk in the door. You'll see signs declaring accreditation with the Better Business Bureau, except when you look them up on the BBB website, it clearly states that they are not BBB accredited. Next, a "Bill of Rights for You and Your Car" is hanging on the wall. You will be free from having your time wasted! You will be free from incompetence! Yeah right. One week ago, I brought my car in to have the radiator flushed and the coolant refilled. Like a sucker I let them do a few extra hundred dollars of work. Imagine my surprise then, when a couple days later my low coolant and check engine light came on. I took the car back in, they looked at it, and said there were air bubbles in the coolant hoses (a part they replaced during the initial work). They got them out free of charge and said everything should be good to go. The next morning (Saturday), I was on the freeway driving my girlfriend to the airport when both the check engine and low coolant lights came on again, and I started to overheat. When I brought it in on Monday, they said the thermostat was causing the problem, and replaced it, charging me another couple hundred bucks for the privilege, and telling me I was good to go. Fast forward to that evening, as I'm leaving work and both lights come on again as my engine overheats. Brought it in this morning, and every excuse they gave me only sounded like they caused the problem. Now I have a busted gasket, and they wanted to charge me another $2000 to fix what was in all likelihood their mistake. This is what I get for trying to save a few bucks in the first place. I found a coupon for them in the Uptown Quarterly magazine for 25% off labor. I should have just gone to Nelson's, on 28th and Lyndale. I went there for some work back in November. They were quick, and didn't try to upsell me on any extra crap. So, in total, I was there 4 times before I got what I hope is a correct diagnosis. So much for not wasting my time. So much for not having to deal with incompetence. If you're in Uptown and need work done on your car, stay far away. read more

I just had to write in because I live in the neighborhood and only use these guys on rare occasions when I have a coupon for an oil change. I like the $30 oil change with the tire rotation and car wash. However, after this last time, I've had it with them. The reason they do these discount oil changes is obviously to get your car in here so they can find lots of "problems" usually totaling around $1500-$2500 to fix. It's quite laughable as now my neighbors and i, usually compare our notes for what they tell us we NEED to do to make our cars safe. After this recent exchange I took my car across the street to another mechanic who looked at Autopia's recommendations and gave me the truth. Of course, these are things that do not need to be addressed right away. And if I do want to do something, then the quote I got was way lower. It's a pity that Autopia is such a slimy business. I would love to be able to recommend them, but after being screwed by them early on...well, it's not possible. Initially, I thought they just do this to women, but I can see from the forum that they go for any rube. I was actually hoping that they changed their business practices, and I had taken a long hiatus from them. This recent oil change gave me a bill exceeding $2K for recommended fixes, oh an a nice clean car (thank you car wash - you earned your one star). They are nice, but they are crooks. read more

Don't expect the price they're advertising for an oil change! Right now they're advertising $21.95, but when I went to pay it was $28. When asking about the sign, they were claiming two things. 1) Taxes, which they were talking to me as if I were a child. I know what taxes are and how they work, but it doesn't add up to a $6 extra charge. 2) Getting rid of the filter. In my opinion, if there is an 'extra' charge for taking care of the filter then add it to the price on the sign! It's just false advertising, and the staff didn't seem to care at all. This wasn't my first bad experience with them. I got an oil change with them over a year ago, (back then it was advertised at $20 and I paid a couple bucks more in taxes which is expected) but then my car needed some parts fixed. They took it in and gave me an estimate of around $2,500, and when I looked around I was able to find someone else who could fix it for around a $1,000. I can empathize with the other reviews I have read on here when they say Autopia overcharges for their parts and services. read more

I really can't overstate how pleased we were with Autopia. Instead of the $1000 repair another shop estimated for doing way more than we really needed to fix the A/C, Autopia did the work for $500 and the A/C works great. We'll definitely be back. read more

Regular customer until they started "forgetting" to wash and vacuum the car after oil changes. The last straw was when they estimated a $100 to change a headlight on a 2002 Ford Explorer while in for an oil change. The guy seemed pretty proud that he quoted such a ridiculous price for the headlight replacement. I hope they're still proud that they lost an Uptown customer...forever. read more

Pretty much the bottom of the barrel here... Went in for an oil change and they tried to up-sell me to a complete brake job. Went to the dealer to have them inspect the brakes and give me a second opinion. The dealer said everything looked fine and it would be a long time before I would need brake work. I hope more people begin to call them out for there rather disingenuous service advice. Give this place a wide berth!!! read more

I recently was on a trip from Milwaukee to Minneapolis when the steering in my car became incredibly stiff and impossible to turn at an intersection. I was close to Autopia and drove it there right before closing time. They did a diagnostic for me immediately, and then put in a new power steering column the next morning so that I would not miss my flight the next day. I found them incredibly courteous, helpful and a pleasure to work with. Highly recommended. read more

They do "Minnesota Nice" wrong. Mechanics may lack detail orientation.* * See also: "Every Job Description Ever Written." ;-) They fixed my Jeep's radiator hoses, twice, last summer. I'd have preferred they fix it once. ;-) They even kept the vehicle an extra day initially since they couldn't get the flushed coolant to "run clean." (I used my vehicle in my job at the time, so that cost me a day's income.) After the second repair, I did the extra stuff they should've: flushed coolant from the reservoir also, oil change, new spark plugs eventually. They were always nice about everything, and seemed to be trying. They were simply ineffective. I won't be going back. Oops, almost forgot. Later, I bought spark plugs for the same Jeep and wanted to make sure they were "gapped" correctly before installing. Rather than buy a $3-4 tool I'd only use once, I called to ask if I could borrow theirs. I waited on hold for the answer and, after checking with a couple mechanics: No. I was surprised, asked "Really?" I called back a few minutes later to verify the guy understood I was only asking to use their tool for 90 seconds or so, not asking them to perform any work. He understood. The answer was still "No." My $1000+ in repair bills included listings for "shop fees" but that apparently didn't cover renting that $4 tool for 90 seconds. ;-) (I later stopped by Uptown Auto (at 24th & Lyndale, near The Wedge) with the sparkplugs and mentioned I wanted to 'gap' them. The mechanic asked me the measurement, disappeared for a minute, returned with the tool and proceeded to 'gap' them for me, without me even really asking. That was better. I'd never been their customer, but I'll try Uptown Auto next time.) read more

Really wish I could give zero stars for this place! I would definitely recommend finding another place to go to. Brought it in about a year ago for quite a lot of work (CV joints, brakes, coolant system, and more). They claimed the CV joints were the cause of the vibrations in my car at high speeds, which was one of the problems I originally brought it in for. After the work was completed, the vibrations were still there. The biggest issue with this place is that I just recently brought it to another place since I have moved because there was a leak in the coolant system. The new mechanics said that the entire coolant system hoses and covers had been installed incorrectly. They also said that the CV joints were leaking. Nearly 50% or more of the work I had done at Autopia needed to be redone by other mechanics. Do not go to Autopia! They are overpriced and you may not even have your car repairs done properly. read more

Do NOT go here! I took my car in to get an oil change and they recommended over $1,000 worth in repairs, most of which they said were necessary. I took my car to Amigo Service Center (Lyndale & 36th St.) and they told me my car was completely fine and they didn't charge me a penny to look at it. Go to Amigo for honest service and pricing. read more

I really wouldn't recommend this shop-- the workers at the front desk are nice, I agree, and they are very timely. However, they advise TONS of unnecessary work. I took it there to get a headlamp fixed after having had my oil changed there about a week and a half beforehand, and at the second appointment they recommended I get my oil changed again. Uh... Yeah, that doesn't seem quite right. Also, and call me paranoid, but I think it's a little weird that after 11 years of having this car, the windshield wipers stopped working the exact day after I brought it in. No Thanks! read more

This shop is the most unethical I have ever seen. I took my car in for some work and was quoted a price that I could have bought a new car with! Also I was told that my breaks were shot and I really shouldn't be driving without replacing them. I had the breaks replaced by the dealership two weeks prior. I have been in a few times and every time no matter why I am there they try to pressure me into having work done that I don't need. Each time they tell me it's so important and the car probably won't be safe if I don't have something fixed. After talking with people in the area I have found out that their mechanics are not even ASE certified. Wow I don't know how they can do business. read more

Ok, so after my last review of Autopia I decided to write a letter to management voicing my concerns. I got a call from one of the managers or co-owners a few days later wanting to repair the situation. I was highly impressed by this because I know that you would never get the same attention with a big business. Dave, the gentleman I spoke with, explained why it might take longer at his shop (waiting for parts) than a bigger shop - which I totally understand. He was also very apologetic that I left on a bad note and asked if he could repair the situation with me. I thought this was *very cool* so we worked out a pretty good deal and I'll definitely give Autopia another chance! Everyone makes mistakes but not everyone is willing to be cool about it and make a peace offering - Autopia definitely steps up to the plate to repair cars (and feelings) making sure they keep customers happy and coming back. read more

We always new Autopoia was overpriced, we chose never use them even though they are a few blocks away. This last Friday the car needed one of head lights fixed and, because Autopia is so conveniently located (for such a small job), we chose to take it there. Friday morning the car goes in - Friday afternoon Autopia calls to let us know that the car needs more work and that our total was $300. Friday late afternoon the car gets "fixed" - Autopia calls us to pick it up - We show up and the car stalls as their pulling it out of the garage. Some how we know that, even though the car was working when we brought it to Autopia, we were going to have to pay more for them to fix it. So now we have to leave the car over the weekend and we get a lame explanation. We pick it up Monday morning - it runs fine, but this (Wednesday) morning the service engine light BLINKS! We take the car back to Autopia so they can fix our car that they broke. Know Autopia wants $500 more to "fix" it. They still have the car, we are picking it up tomorrow morning and taking it to our regular mechanic. We will be writing a letter to the Better Business Bureau and telling as many people as we can about this. We are not the first and I'm sure we will not be the last people cheated by Autopia. read more

Got a Groupon to do the oil change, tire rotation and car wash at autopia. It took a while but they did a good job. Will be back.

I've gotten nothing but great service from the professionals at Autopia. I have used Autopia for all three of our family cars, and I've gotten nothing but friendly, professional service each time. They can handle a wide variety of cars makes and problems. read more

I've had a number of great experiences with them. Very helpful and straight-forward. As a female, sometimes it can be intimidating getting my car fixed and dealing with the lack of knowledge and they've always been great and honest. Would definitely recommend. read more

i don't know what all the fuss is about!? the seared salmon is superb!

I took my buick into autopia as it was leaking/dripping coolant, a while back. They were so inept that after they supposedly repaired my car, the next week i noticed it dripping coolant again. I called about it and was ignored. I then took my car into another shop and it was fixed right away. In fact, the new shop could not ever find any "new" parts on my buick that was supposedly fixed by Autopia.... Nuff said! read more

Although I've been concerned in the past about Autopia recommending unnecessary repairs as part of their oil change/inspection package, my most recent experience with them was excellent. I needed to remove and replace license plates which were seriously rusted on, and they knocked off the old bolts and replaced the plates quickly while I waited. To their credit, they didn't charge me for the labor, and just asked that I put up a kind word online (which I was happy to do). Their waiting area was pleasant (free coffee and snacks) and the staff was nice, so I think if you know what repairs you need, they'll do a good job. read more

I wish I had read the yelp reviews. I took my car here after it wouldn't start one day, and supposedly I needed an entire new battery. OK, sounds good. The estimated $120 went to $360. I asked for them to do an oil change since they were going to be under there anyway. They forgot and gave me a free oil change coupon, obviously I am going to use it. SO, I schedule an oil change for a few weeks later. I take my car in to get an oil change, and they said they had to replace my hood release cable, going from a FREE oil change to $265......................... Pretty shady. read more

In June 2010, my vehicle was brought into this repair shop, Autopia (Minneapolis, MN) in order to have a routine oil change and brake work performed. Other issues were found due to the age/mileage of the vehicle (2003/44k), and service was recommended. At that time, it was recommended that my timing belt be replaced (verbal estimate was approx $800). When I declined this service, the mechanic informed me that it would most likely go in 1 to 3 months and that my vehicle would suffer extensive damage if this were to occur. I elected to have all other recommended services performed at a cost of roughly $1795. The mechanic assured me that barring any unforeseen event, this would cover any routine maintenance for the foreseeable future. While costly, I trusted in the mechanic's word that the inspection and service found my vehicle to be in good working order with the understanding that I would need to replace the timing belt in short order. The vehicle is driven sparingly and stored in an underground heated garage. Upon bringing the car in for another oil change in November 2010 after having driven precisely 3541 miles, Autopia reportedly found more than $1800 worth in needed repairs. This time they concluded that the steering components were worn and malfunctioning, causing inner tire wear on the front two tires. Needless to say that I was quite surprised, especially that in this most recent estimate it was not recommended that the timing belt be replaced. I declined all of these services, having only the oil change and a cleaning of the car's battery and terminals performed (at a cost of $59.50, should have just gotten a new battery). The manager David Singh was respectfully informed of my surprise at the amount of work needed upon my payment for services rendered when I picked up the vehicle. I expressed concern that these issues were not noticed in their developmental stages during the June inspection, of which I have proof. He assured me that they had not begun at that time and proceeded to give me a mechanical explanation as to why this could have/did occur. I also informed him that I found it extremely suspect that the one item that was designated to have extreme importance (and also the highest price tag) as well as being in danger of impending failure, the timing belt, was nowhere to be found in their current recommendations. David had no explanation for this beyond stating that he is 'not a mechanic' and that it is 'impossible to predict when a component will fail,' which was both a reversal from his earlier explanation as well as statements made during the June visit. Given that such a prediction was made during my previous visit, I hardly find David's explanation to be a satisfactory one. Although I do not have the mechanical expertise to decisively determine whether or not degradation in the car's systems occurred during the lapse of time from visit to visit, I do not believe that I can trust in their word given the inconsistencies in their dealings with the timing belt. As far as the front tire replacement, alignment work, and installation of steering components: it was off and needed to be repaired. Autopia quoted these services at a total of $1480. I had identical services performed/parts installed at another local shop for a total of $628. Needless to say I am far less than satisfied with their pricing, honesty, and sales tactics. read more

I have been in the shop several times and everyone working there has always been great - super friendly people. I locked my keys in my truck the other day and one of the men there dropped everything to help me out instead of having me call and wait for someone else to come unlock it for a higher price. This is a place I will for sure be returning to. read more

A professional, competent and friendly bunch of guys at Autopia. Always willing to go the "extra mile", and very helpful in helping the customer understand not only the issues at hand but also what could potentially be a problem. I especially want to note Dave Singh. Been there a long time. Always with a smie, a handshake and the utmost professionalism. Ive used this garage about 15 years now and would not go anywhere else for my automotive needs. Much thanks to Dave Singh and all the staff at Autopia in Minneapolis. read more

Very good service, I have been there multiple times. When I had a problem that would be covered by warranty if I took car to the dealer's service department, they looked up my warranty info, contacted dealer, and made sure the dealer fixed the issue for no cost. Contrary to some other posters on here, they have accurately diagnosed issues and never tried to "hard sell" anything to me. read more

I live about 4 blocks from this shop. I stopped by because I needed my car repaired. I told the attendant that I needed to have my car towed to the shop and asked if they did towing service. He said they did not but that they worked with a towing service that would tow my car. I called the number he provided and learned that the cost of towing my car would be $125. This seemed high to me, so I asked the towing service what it would cost me to have my car towed to a different shop very close by. I was told $85. I told the attendant at Autopia about this disparity but he seemed unconcerned and just replied that that's what the charge is. So basically, Autopia has a deal with a towing service by which Autopia recommends the towing service, which charges a premium for towing cars to their shop. It's outrageous and indefensible. Needless to say, I won't be getting my car repaired at this shop. read more

I called with a steering problem and got right in which I appreciate. I called the next day for a pickup time. When I got there they said the car was not there. At an alignment shop which I had not been told about. The man at the desk twice said he would be right back and then left me standing there for more than 10 minutes until I finally went back into the garage to find him. He was irritated with me and consistently talked to me as if I am unintelligent. When, 1 hour later the car showed up they said they would wash and vacuum it which they did not do. I had to ask them to wash it which took another 15 minutes. When I got into the car the passenger and driver seat and arm rests were dirty with grease. They said it was like this when I brought it in. It was not. They cleaned it up then taking yet another 10 minutes. Then the radio had been disconnected so back again I went to be condescended to by the desk man. They took another 10 minutes to fix this. I am now concerned about the quality and necessity and cost of the repairs. I strongly advise again this shop. read more