Having to go out of town on short notice, I needed to get an oil change in addition to addressing an intermittant clacking sound coming from underneath my car. Based on the reviews from Yelpers about this place, I thought I'd give this place a try. Although they were busy during that entire week they said if I didn't mind waiting for a couple of hours they could fit me in the next day. So I made an appointment and came prepared to wait, However, after checking in, one of the guys asked me where I worked . When I told him he said he was heading that way anyway and would be happy to give me a lift so I wouldn't have to wait. (They usually don't give rides and he didn't have to do this.) When I picked up my car, Kevin explained to me what the clattering sound was (plastic clips holding the front hubcap on )- and assured me it was more of an annoyance than anything else. He readjusted them for free . Gave me a cost estimate if I wanted to replace them in the future. (FYI- they have not 'clattered' since he adjusted them.) He also discovered a couple of other small and inexpensive things that needed immediate replacement and took care of it on the spot. When Kevin showed me the bill I was very pleasantly surprised. These guys are experienced mechanics and know their stuff. - They don't pressure you into getting other things done that you don't need or could wait on if you can't afford it right away. They explain things clearly and are respectful and courteous. Best of all their prices are very reasonable. Because they work hard to develop trust with their customers (they defintiely have earned mine), I will continue going to this shop for all of my auto repair needs/ routine maintenance. They are diamonds in a sea of auto repair ne'er- do- wells and rip-offs. Thank you Back to Basics gents for restroing my faith in auto mechanics. read more

I don't know what's harder, finding a good, trustworthy doctor, or finding a good, trustworthy mechanic. Not being much of a car person myself, I was wary of where to take my car for its standard oil change/inspection. I've heard countless horror stories of people being overcharged, lied to, and upsold on things they never even needed by mechanics. While I approach many things in life with a healthy degree of skepticism, I'd prefer not to have to do so with the well-being of my car. Back to Basic was near me and at the top of Yelp ratings, so off I went. A couple hours later, they called me to let me know that they'd found a few issues with my car. "Here we go," I initially thought, before they told me that only one of the issues (a cracked serpentine belt) actually needed immediate attention, and would only cost $75 to replace. The other two things could be monitored over the next couple years, and would just need attention eventually. My feeling is that any mechanic that says "it can wait, we just wanted to let you know about it" is probably fairly trustworthy. As for the serpentine belt, I'd brought in my car fairly late on a Friday, so initially they suggested I just bring it back Monday for the belt replacement. I had a long drive planned for that weekend, and when I told them this, they shuffled around some labor and managed to get it replaced for me before the end of the day so I could make my drive without having to worry about it snapping. I intend to keep taking my car here for the foreseeable future. read more

I also went here based on all the 5 star reviews. I thought they were very professional and very clean. The problem is they were also very expensive. The informed me that two of my motor mounts were broken and two were torn. I asked them for an initial estimate and they told me between 850 and 950. I told them I would be back when I had saved up some cash. In the mean time I began calling other shops to find out if their estimate was reasonable to high. After calling three other shops and the dealer in the Phoenix area I found that virtually everyone was asking around 900 dollars, except the dealer who was asking 1000. I called Back to Basics back and asked them to schedule me, but also if they could shop around for some cheaper after market mounts, they gladly agreed. The returned my call a couple days later to tell me that the actual price would be somewhere between 950 and 1050 with after market mounts and about 1020 would the OEM mounts. Feeling frustrated with the price increase I told them to take me off the scheduled appointment. I figured if I am gonna pay over 1000 I might as well get them done at the dealer. I eventually called a shop recommend to me in Tucson and they replaced all 4 mounts for 825. I recommend back to basics to anyone willing to pay a little to a lot extra. They are nice, honest, and serious mechanics... but also very expensive. read more

I've been taking my classic jag to this spot. These guys are bad azz. Dave is the real deal! I will NEVER take my car anywhere else, but here. They are reasonable, friendly, and know what they are doing. AMAZING!! read more

On the way to work two days before Christmas, my check engine light appeared. The kind fellows at Back to Basic fit me into their schedule and even dropped me back off at my office. By the end of the day, they had resolved my problem at a very reasonable cost and stayed open so that I could come pick up my car. The problem: A tiny crack on the fuel pump under my seat, which was causing a puddle of fuel to build up. I'm so relieved that they took the time and care to identify this problem. I had previously smelled gasoline and taken my car to my regular mechanic who failed to catch the leak. I was just one tiny spark away from an explosion! As a small town girl, I love when I find good, honest, hard working folks who do their jobs well and are humble about it. These fellows are just those guys and this shop reminds me of my hometown shop, which locals just knew to go to for the best service. Back to Basic doesn't advertise, but their shop is always busy - the best stamp of approval any business could have. I highly recommend checking out their services. You'll be glad you did! read more

Best car repair place in Phoenix! Twice we have come in with a quote from a dealership and they do the same work at Back to Basic but charge a much lower price, and even better.... they will tell you when you don't even need the service that the dealership is recommending. Trust means everything, and these guys have totally earned our business forever! read more

Probably the most painless, easiest, and quickest car fix I've ever had. All the reviews of this place are correct: the service is great and they get it done without making you sign away your first born child. No extras or addons. Amazingly convenient if you live downtown, as there is a DASH stop across the street. read more

I went away from the independent mechanic a decade or more ago when the trusted mechanic in my neighborhood sold his business. Ended up going to the dealer for the last decade. My 1996 Toyota T100 needed AC and fan/blower work ... the dealer said $1750 (AC) + $400 (fan). Come on ... the truck isn't worth that much. A coworker recommended that I take it to Back To Basic ... glad I did. Got both of those items fixed for 1/3 of what the dealer wanted. Its been a month, they are still both working great! I've since taken my 2008 Toyota Camry in for Oil/Lube, electrical check-up, front brakes, and a general road trip check. Once again ... very happy with the work and price. I've got a new trusted mechanic :-) read more

Seriously, these guys are super fantastic! I've taken two different cars to them over the past few years. Super nice, no nonsense and I've never felt like they try to gouge me. My warranty is going to expire before the end of the year and before I could finish my sentance the service manager (owner?) knew what I wanted. Another time I wasn't sure if I needed to change out my tires. One needed to be replaced but they suggested that I could wait on the others considering I don't drive much/long distances. I mean, smart automotive repair advice. If you live or work downtown there is a DASH and couple other downtown bus routes nearby to help you drop off your car and then scoot to work. They are only open during the weekdays. read more

I took my 2005 F150 to Back to Basic, first time customer. I found the mechanics to be honest, dependable and reasonably priced. They saved me money and did the job correctly. What else could a customer ask for? Mechanic for life. read more

BEYOND HONEST, affordable, dependable and efficient! We used to live nearby and now since we moved, we drive 45 MINUTES to have our vehicles serviced at BTB! And if we moved even farther, we would STILL make the drive! You can always trust them to do what only needs to be done and to charge fairly and appropriately! They always have your best interest in mind. HIGHLY, HIGHLY, recommend Back to Basic! read more

Super impressed with them. They got me in at the last minute, and had the car ready to go by the time that I requested (before, actually), despite the fact that they had to do a bunch of extra work that we hadn't anticipated. They were friendly, straight-forward, very good about communicating, and reasonably priced. Usually, at least 1 to 4 of these criteria are missing when I visit other shops. Excellent experience! I'll be back. Soon. read more

I initially went to Back To Back basics after reading their Yelp reviews. I must say, they definitely live up to their expectations! I went in last year and was given a reasonable price to fix my car. And after this last time I went (I just got my car back today), I realize that they really do truly care about their customers. You'll get the same amazing customer service from the owner as you do the rest of the workers. They're super nice and will always keep your best interest in mind. They definitely know their stuff. I will never go anywhere else, and I definitely recommended them. Also, I don't generally write reviews, but after my last experience with these guys, I knew I had to let everyone know how amazing they are. Thanks again guys!! read more

Remember the emissions debacle of 2/7/11? I just took my truck in to renew the tags and IT PASSED EMISSIONS with flying colors. Back to Basic fixed it TWO YEARS ago and it's still fixed. My truck is a 2000. That tells me B2B does quality work that stands the test of time. Love you guys. Well, just took my truck through emissions yesterday (4/26/17) and guess what? Back to Basic's fix is still working six years later. Can't say enough about these guys, and although I don't work near there any longer and now use another mechanic, I think these guys are tops! read more

You will not find a more honest and affordable mechanic in the valley. Quality work at a fair price. Highly recommended.

This shop is near where I work and was recommended to me by a couple people in my building. I took my car here a few times for smaller or basic things like oil changes, tune ups, etc. A few months ago I took it in for an oil change and a headlight replacement along with getting new rear brake pads. I dropped it off in the morning and picked it up at the end of the day only to notice, once it got dark, that they had replaced the wrong headlight. I took it back the next day and they changed it out for me with a "sorry, oops." I had also noticed that I leaked a small amount of oil the night after. I thought it may just be a little overflow but it continued for a week. I took it back to the shop again and got another casual, "oops, sorry" - they hadn't tighten the oil cap correctly. Naturally, after that I was worried about the possibility of something stupid (but potentially much more serious) having been done to the brakes as well. I had to take it to another shop to make sure. They were fine, but naturally, I don't feel like I can take my car back to Back to Basic anymore. They're nice guys so I wish it wasn't the case, but they really gave me the impression that they don't care that much. If you can't even be bothered to turn on the headlight you just replaced to make sure it works, what else aren't you doing? And how did you figure something like that wasn't concerning? read more

I have had my vehicle serviced here 4 times- for fault of the vehicle. These guys will make sure the work is done correctly and at a fair price. Even though I live in the far Northwest Valley, I would return. read more

After having issues with my explorer for over a month and 2 mechanics later, I finally brought my car here. Spoke with Dave (Owner) and explained what was going on and that I just wanted my car fixed. At this point I was stressed and ready to brake down. couple hrs later Dave called and explained the issue (fuel line needed to be replaced, something the other mechanics failed to mention) and even said that the other mechanic did other work that was not needed! Gave them the OK and my car was ready the next day! My car is back and running with no problems (YAY)! I recommend these guys to anyone that is looking for a good and honest mechanic. I will be using Back to Basics from now on. Thanks to Dave & the rest of the crew. read more

I learned a valuable lesson by coming here. Thanks for wasting my time and my money. I was expecting the best service by coming here, but I guess all aren't treated equally. Thanks again for the disappointment!!! read more

I just love this place. I mean no one likes taking their car in for service but these guys are helpful, friendly, cost effective and they do good work too! read more

Just wanted to thank Kevin and his mechanics for fixing the wife's JK, had a bad death wobble and they solved the issues, found out we had more than one front end component that was bad or going bad. Ending up spending a little more than I wanted, but the front end is brand spanking new. Happy Wife, Happy Life! I wouldn't take my vehicles anywhere else. Both owner's and all the mechanics are honest and dependable people and will do everything to make it right. They will give you a break down on everything you need, but if funds are low they will let you know what you need to fix immediately to keep you rolling down the road and what you can wait on. No pressure up selling. Go Broncos! Thank you Back to Basics crew. read more

FINALLY, AN HONEST AUTO REPAIR SHOP! I went to Sun Devil Auto Repair shop at 8919 E. San Victor in Scottsdale and they tried to charge me $2500.00 for repairs I didn't need, and the actual damage done was repaired by Back to Basic for $126.00! I took my car to the Sun Devil Auto at 8919 E. San Victor because I had retired and it was closer to where I live. I am a single woman in her sixties on a fixed income. I took my car into Sun Devil Auto on October 5, 2018 for regular maintenance. I also told them to check the alignment because I had smacked a curb on the passenger side while driving. They later called me and said the frame was damaged along with the radiator core support, and it would cost a minimum of $2500.00 to repair, and maybe more depending on what else they found. I had them repeat it because I was so shocked. They told me I might want to check with my insurance company regarding payment. I had them do the regular maintenance and picked up the car. I asked if it was driveable and they said yes, but not for long distances. I then took the car to Back to Basics, the auto shop that I used when I worked downtown at the Attorney General's office. I asked them just to check the frame because I had smacked it on a curb. They later called me up and said I had bent a small piece of metal that I didn't need, and everything else they could put back in place for $126.00. When I picked up the car, I asked whether it would be readily apparent if the frame and radiator core support had been damaged. They said it would be. I then told them what Sun Devil Auto had said and what they attempted to charge me and they were shocked as well. I went to Sun Devil Auto based on the glowing reviews I read in Yelp, so I wanted to warn people that they are not an honest shop, and Back to Basic is! Please take your car to Dave and his crew and steer clear of Sun Devil Auto!!! read more

This is a cautionary tale -- especially if you're not a local. I've spent the last nine months road tripping across America. My car is six years old, but driving 15,000+ miles is no joke. My brakes were acting up like crazy, making a terrible grinding noise whenever I came to a stop and squealing in reverse. I had a week's stay in Phoenix, so I found Back to Basic Automotive on Yelp. I felt good going here because of the shop's many glowing reviews. I brought my car in and the guys saw me on the spot. They couldn't have been nicer. I even went for a drive with one of the mechanics to make sure we were both hearing the same problematic noises. After some inspection, the mechanics told me that the grinding noise was caused by damaged brake pads; they would need to be replaced. I was dismayed; I had just had the brake pads replaced in Atlanta, four months and 5,000 miles earlier. I was told then that they would last another 40,000 to 50,000 miles. Back to Basic's mechanics told me I had been scammed by the mechanics in Atlanta. They showed me my "damaged" brake pads (knowing full well I wouldn't know what a non-damaged brake pad looked like) and said they were made of cheap, faulty material. To continue driving on them as is would be risking my life. The cards were stacked against me here. I don't know anything about cars (which they knew) and I'm about to leave town in a couple of days, never to return (which they also knew). If there was a problem, I'd have no way of bringing the car back and demanding additional repairs or a refund. But I didn't want to risk an accident because my brakes failed, so I said: Fine, do the work. Replace what you need to replace. Back to Basic had glowing reviews online, remember! It seemed like an upstanding operation. Plus, the price quote was on par with what I had paid in Atlanta. I didn't have any reason to doubt that they would do what they said. When I departed that day, my car was running great. No grinding sound when I braked. No squealing in reverse. I was beyond thrilled! I almost came on here and left them a five-star review. Boy, am I glad I waited it out. Fast forward two weeks and about 1,000 miles and the grinding comes back with a vengeance. Fast forward six weeks and another 2,000 miles--when I'm more than six states away--and the squealing is back. WTF? Seriously?! I feel ripped off and cheated -- Back to Basic either didn't do what they said they were going to do or they didn't know what they were doing. Whatever the reason, I'm on the other side of the country now with no way of getting the issue resolved. I'll have to go to yet ANOTHER mechanic and risk getting scammed a third time. My advice? Only use Back to Basic if you're a local and know you can go back in person and fight for your rights. If you're an out-of-towner, they might take as much advantage of you as they did of me. read more

These guys had rave reviews on Yelp so I knew I could trust them to make sure my car was good to go before my drive across country. They've been so accommodating and fast - and responsibly priced. I'd recommend them to anyone. read more

I am so disappointed because I thought we finally found a good honest place to take our cars. Yelp has 5 star reviews on them, so how could we go wrong! We got a timing belt, water-pump, driver's belt replaced. In addition we also got the front brake pads and rotors replaced along with an oil change on my wife's car. We left thinking, "Wow, those guys at the desk are super nice and genuine" and felt comfortable about the repairs that we didn't even look under the hood when we got it back. Boy, were we wrong! So wrong that it almost cost my wife's life. As my wife was driving her car on the highway, the accelerator locks and she is now in a terrible nightmare and the main character on the movie Speed. She cannot stop, trying to lift the accelerator pedal, braking, frantically swerving around cars to avoid hitting another person and by the grace of God, she finally was able to stop by taking the keys out. The police officer found a bracket that was NOT bolted down and the bracket had moved to the point where it was compressing the accelerator line. He actually informed my wife to take a picture of this before he moved the bracket, so she could take it back to Back to Basics. Here's the kicker. It was obvious that Back to Basics had to have moved this air conditioning bracket to get to the timing belt on this civic. They denied they ever touched the bracket. In fact, the guy said "Its the craziest thing, the bolt must of popped out and wiggled down a tube." We took the car to another mechanic, who laughed and stated "there is no way that a mechanic can get to your timing belt, without removing the bracket and by pushing the air conditioning hose to the side." There is NO WAY that a bolt screwed in could have somehow popped out. After Back to Basics said they "fixed" it and tightened the bolt down, we didn't feel safe so we took it to another auto shop. This mechanic double checked and visibly showed us that it was still not completely tightened. We were just so disturbed. You mess up once (never admitting and denying with a bogus answer) and then you become careless a second time? I am sorry that this review is so long, but trust me it could have been longer with additional information about the negatives of this shop. The managers, K**** and D***, who we dealt with were very nice and mild mannered, but that does not negate the fact that they have mechanics who are sloppy and careless. What consumers don't realize is that the front desk managers don't work on your cars. It's the mechanics they hire and obviously they have car mechanics, who do careless work. Everyone is human and we make mistakes, but this mistake is too big and basic (putting a bracket on securely with a bolt) that could of killed my wife and others on the road. Our relationship with Back to Basics could have turned out differently. We might of even considered going back if they had just admitted they messed up; however, their lie and denial of what happened left us sick to our stomach. Back to Basics, please train your mechanics the basics again so this does not happen to future customers. read more

Nothing makes me feel as grounded as finding a trustworthy mechanic to help me keep my beloved Cherry Bomb, an '06 Scion XB, rocking and rolling into middle age. As the daughter of a mechanic and sister to several, I have no patience with anyone who takes me for an automotive idiot, doubly so because I am an intelligent and capable woman. I do small repairs on my own and appreciate being treated with the same respect men take for granted. Back to Basic is exactly the kind of independent, skillful, fairly priced professional shop I was looking for. On top of that, it's clean and everyone I met there was just real nice. They took my car in within an hour of my phone call. I knew I needed at least an oil change, but I also wanted them to check out a persistent and worrisome clank I heard every time I went over a bump. I was worried about serious damage from my last cross-country trip here from Minnesota. Visions of hundred dollar bills danced in my head, but even more frightening was the prospect of putting my magic car--big on the inside and small on the outside--to sleep. So, I asked them to give it a good check up. I was prepared for the worst. The worst was a bolt missing from my front right brake caliper pin--think I got that right. The clank was the free range calipers working that pin loose. Had it gotten loose somewhere on the endless loop of highway here, I would have been in the deepest of dung. Seriously. Kind of makes me think of the plot of a 70s CHIPS episode, but it really isn't funny. They ordered the bolt and took care of it, and didn't even charge me for the labor on that. Beyond that, I just have to watch my coolant at 100K miles!? Great experience all around. Back to Basic offers a full range of services including detailing and body work. I've been fantasizing about getting some dings unrung and going Envy Green, which would do way more for my spirit than a personal makeover. I'm not sure if they do paint, but I'd trust these guys to pick the color any day. read more

Recommended by my boyfriend, so glad I took my car in. I thought I needed new brakes and when I got the call that they were in great shape, just the pad had slipped, I was ecstatic! I appreciated the honesty and the great work they did. The only reason I am not giving them 5 stars is that I had asked for them to put on a new cap on my windshield wiper fluid reservoir and it wasn't done. Not the end of the world. I would recommend this business to anyone read more

I am new to Phoenix and relied on my roommate to steer me in the right direction for a mechanic. She loved the guys at Back to Basics Automotive, so going with her recommendation, I took the first car I had down there just to have it looked over. That car was a disaster and they were honest enough to let me know that. Even if I had wanted to make it run, they would not take any money for fixing anything because it was just a waste. I appreciated that honesty and forthright attitude. I had a check engine light come on in my new car, took it down there and they not only put in the new part I had for the car, they drove it and warned me about something else that may be wrong with the car. And when the check engine light came on again, they quickly checked it to make sure that all was well with my car. These guys are honest, always busy and reliable. This kind of attitude is hard to come by in Phoenix. They didn't overcharge me, they didn't try to fix stuff that wasn't wrong with my car; they were nothing but pleasant, helpful and professional. I would recommend them to anyone who asks. read more

I had my BMW in for service today and they charged less than half of what Chapman quoted me. The owner and his staff all seem like upstanding genuine people so I plan on coming back for future service. I'll admit I was skeptical about going to a non dealer to have service done but this place seems reliable. read more

Needed some minor work done on my new 2016 Chevy Silverado truck (install splash guards); the regular dealership wanted to charge me a high hourly shop rate to do the job. A co-worker recommended Back to Basic. Called them, they got me in first thing the next morning. One hour of work and the job is done. Excellent work, friendly staff, reasonable cost. I'll be coming back here for my auto repairs. read more

This is the only place we have our vehicles maintenance done and any repairs when needed. Honest, dependable old school repair shop run by owners who are into cars. I grew up in a family of gear heads, this is the real deal.. read more

Went here based on other reviews. I had a check engine light on for my CSF sensor. They just fixed it like I asked and didn't try to upsell me on anything else. The turnaround was fast and they were pretty nice guys all around. read more

After the weekend Kevin the manager contacted me and apologized for what happened. He researched and found the reason that my car wasn't running correctly. I brought it back to them and they fixed the problem. I'm only giving four stars due to the amount of stress I endured through this process, but the bottom line is they made it right. I only wish I would have dealt with Kevin from the start. He's a solid dude, even if he is a bronco fan! read more

I stopped in today for an oil change and tire rotation, and I'm so happy so did! The guys at the front are super welcoming and personable, and were wonderful in working my oil change in. I'll surely be a repeat customer, and I'll be happy to come back here exclusively for any future car needs! read more

was having issues with car overheating. tried the easy, cheap fixes we could do ourselves and they weren't the problem. finally bit the bullet and realized that we'd have to take it to someone. on the suggestion of a friend, we brought car here to back to basic and am really glad that we did. friend suggested talking with Ken so I did and he was very nice and listened to my saga. he said he would check it out and have someone call me to let me know what was wrong. kevin, another nice guy at this place, gave me a call and told me that in fact the fan was bad. he gave me an estimate for parts and labor, which sounded reasonable to me, gave him the go ahead to fix car. couple of hours later my phone rang. kevin again calling to give me some new info. of course, a good news and bad news situation. but of course, the car belongs to me so I wouldn't expect anything to go quite so smoothly. there was an issue with the part ordered, the first 2 or 3 they ordered didn't fit. what the heck man! apparently, again my car, is one that could have one of two different fans and of course my car is the one that needed the fan that is the more expensive one. GO FIGURE! anyway, they got the correct fan and they worked with us on the pricing so that the shock wasn't quite as much as it could have been to the checkbook. i will recommend back to basic to others looking for automotive repair and want to thank them so much for helping us out and getting our car back on the road. read more

I took my car into their shop, which was one of the cleanest shops I've ever seen. They were pretty busy and they jumped on the issue with my car and i was out of there in an hour or so. Very pleased with there team.. read more

Stopped by with a broken bumper after reading the reviews on here. They were crazy busy but I explained I was driving back to California the next day and they squeezed me in. A little over an hour later I was good to go. Really nice people and Dave the owner was extra friendly to everyone, customers, staff, vendors etc. Super crackin spot to bring the ride. read more

Just a quick note to say thanks to Dave and his staff.. My Classic Land Cruiser had some issues, as I had restored it my self. To make a long story short I put a modern engine in a old car. I got it about 90% there but I could not get it to run right. I met Dave while tiring to sell him a new air conditioning system, walking through his garage it became very apparent that Dave had to knowledge and expertise to help me. I asked if they took on projects and Dave said, "sure, just bring it down" That's what I did and could not be happier I am in the customer service business and I expect a lot from service providers, usually end up being disappointed. but not this time, my Land Cruiser runs, stops and drives as good as it looks. read more

I'm new to Phoenix Arizona, purchased a vehicle and encountered a few issues with the vehicle. Being new to Phoenix I'm not familiar with any mechanics or auto shops. Searching google I came across " Back to basic automotive " , I called them and they told me to go ahead and come right in , when I got there they were extremely busy and still managed to get my vehicle back for service . A gentleman by the name of Zach took the time out to look at my vehicle and immediately service it , I brought my own parts and was missing one and he ordered it before fixing the problem , so that way I didn't have to come back later due to the same issue . Zach fixed my car and got me back on the road in a reasonable amount of time and I will say I found my personal mechanic and will be back if my car ever needs more work . If you ever come across " Back to basic automotive " request that Zach service your vehicle, you won't be disappointed. read more

I have brought 6 different vehicles here.Wouldn't think about doing business else where..The staff is very personable and fair..Had a incident in my RV while in texas my transmission would not work. Called the shop Dave walked me through the process and was able to put a nail where there was a pin so it would shift into drive..Prices are fair and they never try to sell you more then you need read more