This WAS the best and friendliest service I have ever rcvd. Unfortunately it is permanently closed. Does anyone know what happened to DAVE? read more

Dave is an amazing mechanic to work with! He is very honest, very knowledgeable, very responsive, and very efficient. He is kind and provides excellent service. I highly recommend Dave for your next auto diagnostic and repair needs! read more

I've used Beacon since they moved to Ballard--around 15-20 years ago. Except for a Ford Ranger (oops), I've kept to Hondas and Toyotas in Seattle. Dave has always been honest and fair. The work quality seems to be competent and complete. On the rare occasion when it was something odd they don't want to or can't deal with, Dave has referred me to a colleague or a dealer. I have recommended Beacon many times and will keep using them as long as they keep up their good honest mechanic way. read more

Called Beacon Automotive this morning to see if they could check a 'Service Engine Soon' light in my car, and they fit me in right away! Dave, the mechanic, has to be one of the happiest mechanics I've met. He was so helpful, checked my car promptly and determined it wasn't an issue that needed to be fixed, but rather was a manufacturer's code. He cleared it for me and told me what to do if it comes back. He was so helpful - and most importantly - HONEST! I will definitely be back if my car has another issue. Great Service! read more

We've taken our Japanese - Toyota and Honda- cars to Dave since the late 1980s. He's moved twice and we've still patronized him until recently. For years Beacon gave great service for fair prices. He used to give our kids a discount when working on their first cars. The service was first rate and we never felt taken, not once. The last couple of times Dave must have larger boat payments. He's as cheerful as ever, but man have the prices shot up. Too rich for my blood after nearly 20 years. We feel he has also overcharged and under performed on some of our older son's car's repair. So three stars for a past and a definite urge for caution on any future work. read more

Absolutely love Dave!!!! I'll never take my cars anywhere else. All my friends take their cars to him as well now. Dont waste your time calling anyone else, Dave's your guy!!! read more

I absolutely dread getting work done on my car, but Dave was so quick, affordable and personable that I feel fully comfortable returning with anything! He worked around my schedule and remembered me, showing that he takes pride in his customer base. Would recommend to anyone looking for services ! read more

Reliable, honest & fun. Dave is the best, & has looked after several decades' of cars / trucks / vans for our family. Real life advice about what car to buy (or not!). Then the maintenance is done well to boot. One of the city's BEST businesses! Thx Dave & Beacon Automotive. read more

Getting my car serviced is generally a stressful event for me. Not so, with Dave and his team. I dropped my Subaru off needing a new alternator, expecting to leave it in the shop for a couple of days. The next day, it was already ready! I am so thankful for the great service, attitude, pricing, and doggos that the Beacon team provides! read more

We've been taking all of the family vehicles to Beacon for years and can't say enough good things about Dave and the service he's provided - he does great work, he's totally reliable and is one of the only completely honest mechanics I've ever known. We highly recommend him, as do several of our neighbors who have also been longtime customers. Even when I haven't gone to Beacon to have the work done, Dave has been very helpful. Last year I had to take my Honda to the dealer to have my transmission replaced (something he doesn't do), and when I ran into problems with the dealer and the warranty, I called Dave. His suggestions and recommendations were dead on correct, I got Honda America involved, and in the end saved more than $4K dollars. He's also been really great with my Mom, who has shown up on several occasions not knowing what to do about some little car issue and he's always helped her out, almost always without charging her, even when she tries to pay him. So a big thumbs up for Dave and Beacon! read more

Dave has been my mechanic for 20 years. He's honest, trustworthy and does great work.

I love getting work done on my car by Dave and sending my friends & family & strangers to him when they need help. I know that he will treat them well and do a great job. I also just love driving by on Shilshole and honking or yelling at him as I go by :) If you are worried about taking your care to a mechanic for fear of being "taken"...trust that Dave will treat you right. No unnecessary work or crazy markups! read more

We own a Subaru that we were previously having serviced at the local Subaru dealership. It wasn't until after a few costly trips there, that I felt like I needed a second opinion. I looked around but felt overwhelmed by all of the choices, so I reached out to my family for suggestions. My Aunt suggested Beacon because she had been taking her Subaru's there a very long time and immediately vouched for Dave's honesty and Integrity. That was good enough for me, so I made an oil change appointment and took my car to Beacon. When I dropped the car off I also asked Dave if he could see what else the car needed to have done( I had the print out that the dealership had given me with the things that they said needed to be done immediately). When I picked our Subaru up I asked Dave about what he had found. Only one of the issues that the dealership had listed was on Dave's' list but it was a low priority and not urgent like I was told at the dealership. I asked him about the other things on the dealership's list, he chuckled at a few of them and reassured me that I only needed one of them done. Dave's honesty with me that day is the reason we keep giving Beacon our business. It's the reason you should go there for any and all of your automotive needs. Thanks Dave!! You've got a customer for life!!! read more

I've used Dave for about 2 years since he was recommended by a friend. I've experienced on-time repairs, fair pricing and excellent customer service. I recommend Dave to anyone who wants a relationship with their mechanic. read more

skilled, honest, fair, decent, & hilarious. I trust Dave at Beacon and recommend him to anyone looking for an awesome mechanic.

I just had a really weird experience at Beacon. I had a slight disagreement with the mechanic, and he went ballistic, and basically chased me out of the shop wielding a padlock like he was going to hit me with it. I almost called the police, but frankly, Beacon knows my address, which has me a bit scared. Steer clear! read more

I've been taking my cars to Dave at Beacon Automotive for over 15 years. There have been four different vehicles, two Japanese and two American. I have had nothing but the best service throughout those 15 years. He always calls with a repair estimate before going ahead. Dave has given me a ride home on occasion and came to my car one time to address a dead battery. I occasionally stop in to ask a car related question or have him take a look at or listen to something and he is always accomodating and never a charge. I had a friend take in her car, a BMW, recently to given an opinion about some possible transmission concerns. Again, he drove the car and commented he saw no problem and there was no charge. I have no idea why others might have less satisfactory experiences, but I would recommend Dave at Beacon without any reservation. read more

I hit the *POT OF GOLD* at the end of the rainbow when I was referred to Dave, the owner of Beacon Automotive. That was about eight years ago. I had been with another mechanic shop prior, yet continued to become very unhappy, including their outrageous pricing. ***Here comes Dave & Beacon Automotive*** to the rescue!!! He' got an incredible sense of happiness and humor. Always! He's honest, fair, timely, and trustworthy. I hope he never retires, for my benefit! --- He even brings some of his dogs to work the first half of the day (being a dog lover, that was worth a mention), which counts big in my book. He's one of those people I'd like to know in life just because he's a great human being. Thank you Dave, and Beacon Automotive!!! read more

Beacon Automotive simply is the best. Dave is great at diagnosing problems and fixing only what needs fixing. No unnecessary add-on repairs from this guy. He has vast general automotive knowledge that he gladly shares with his customers. And he takes as much time as needed to talk you through the problem/repair in layman's terms that you understand. On numerous occasions he has suggested simple remedies - that I could perform - for a variety of issues with my car rather than performing expensive exploratory surgery. When a repair is needed, however, he does it well. Everything I have had done by Dave has lasted and cost what he said it would cost. Can't recommend a repair shop any higher. read more

Just the other day my daughters nissan pathfinder wouldn't start, she called me up and told me what the car was doing. Being a mechanic myself, I had a good idea what it was. Being a distance away I called a friend to ask who to take it to and he recommended this shop and mentioned Dave by name. Had the car towed to his shop. Dave never called to say what he found before replacing the starter which I had already known it was. He fixed it on the spot without consulting anyone on what it was OR the price. Then he charged my daughter 480.00 for fixing it. OMG really?? Usually four bolts for the whole job and starters are about 135.00 over the counter, with the shop discount about 90.00. And less than 1 hour of work for anyone experianced. Not very impressed with him. Told my friend and he called but was shut down. I wouldn't even give him the one star but they don't have negitive ones. Lol. Kinda tuff on a young girl in college to pay that. Will NEVER use or recommend this shop and will post negitively on him any chance I get if it saves only one person from this then I have done well. Thanks for reading this. read more