We've been taking our vehicles to Gill and Max for over 20 years. Our '97 Jeep becomes a puzzle that they take on with care! They've always been dependable, reliable, honest, and fair. We never have to worry about unnecessary repairs--they take the time to explain what's needed, communicate clearly throughout the process, and always treat us with respect. It's hard to find a mechanic you can truly trust, and that's exactly what you'll find here. Their quality of work and integrity have kept us coming back for two decades. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for an honest, skilled, and trustworthy mechanic. We'll never go anywhere else! read more

Honest mechanics who explain things in a way everyone can understand. A rare gem worth utilizing.

Over priced. 450. 00 for a diagnostic. The dealership charges 185.00. I never thought I'd advocate using dealership over a side shop but here we are.. read more

Came into dauntless with my 2013 Honda Civic because it was giving me transmission problems. From the very start Gil was nothing but helpful and sure enough my issue was solved promptly Honest, reliable and a great guy. Highly recommend. His car drop-off program is also very convenient and can fit even the tightest schedule Thanks Gil! read more

Transmission making grinding noise at low speeds. Gil was able to diagnose and repair. Reasonable price. The dealership said that the transmission needed replacement. Gil proved that repair in most cases is better and less costly than replacement. read more

We were traveling from Michigan to the Outer Banks, with a stop in the Triangle. The car started lurching on the trip down on Thursday and we did not know what to do. Called around on the Friday morning and several places said they could not fit us in. Called Dauntless and was told they were full, but he agreed to squeeze us in after hearing our story. He stayed late on a Friday afternoon for us and saved our family vacation. He also took lots of time to explain what he had done. Top-notch service. read more

These guys are amazing!! Had an unexpected scare when one of my belts busted so had a tow to the nearest auto repair I could find and so grateful it was them! Gil kept me posted as they worked on my car and even sent texts which really impressed me since I was working and couldn't always hop on a call. After fixing my initial problem they let me know of a couple other threats they saw and offered to work on those as well at barely any extra cost! I was expecting to bleed my savings dry, but the final bill was shockingly low. I will never go to another mechanic from now on. Thanks so much for all of your help crew! Just a little FYI: if you arrive after hours, their drop box is actually shared with John's Collision next door. Just make sure you write "Transmissions" on the seal of the envelope :) read more

Gil was very knowledgeable and communicated very well throughout my transmission issue. He was ultimately unable to locate parts to repair or replace my transmission and I had the option of over-paying for a high demand used transmission or paying to put it back together broken - neither of which I wanted to do. Gil was gracious enough to give me a few days to locate parts myself and I was lucky enough to find a new trans at Lexus in Miami. He was happy to deal with the alternate supplier and got the work completed quickly once we had a game plan. Thanks again Gil!! **Word of Warning** check for parts availability BEFORE the diagnosis begins. With the supply chain issues, there could be a delay and Gil just doesn't have the space for your car to sit and wait for parts for weeks. I understand but if I hadn't been able to find an alternate, I was faced with a horrible decision. read more

PLEASE STOP AND READ. I know the "good" reviews outweigh the negative reviews but TRUST me the negative ones are 100% correct. Now for reference I'm a young woman and we are all familiar with how car repair shops love taking advantage of women. Let's get started My car broke down in brier creek and had to get towed. I googled "car repair shops near me" dauntless transmissions came up. I called and explained that my car would start then stop. Probably a starter or fuel pan leak pr leak problem. I was quoted a price of $125-140. Now, they were located 1 mile away. I used their specific towing company to tow me exactly 1 mile And paid $76. Pricy but cool I just wanted my car fixed. I explain to the receptionist? I guess that's who he is "Max" that my car would start and then stop and he agreed it was probably a fuel pump problem. The waiting area was closed so I Uber to my best friends place to wait for their call. Around 4:30 I received a call that their diagnostic test would not be done until the next day. Cool, I go home. The next day I get a call that i have a do double fuel pump problem with my car and it will be $1000.92 to fix. How? I googled how much a fuel pan leak cost and it's no more than $400. Now, because I apparently have an older car (2001 Ford Taurus) the car parts are rare and had to be ordered. And that is why the price was so expensive. But when they looked under the hood they could not find a problem? The price does not add up. Now let's discuss payment. I was told if I paid with cash I could get a discount of $900. Umm yay? I asked if I could use a cashier check because a simple google search or anyone with common sense will explain that a cashier check is just like cash. Only difference is the check is cleared by the bank. I was told they never heard of a cashier check before. I'm sorry but if you never heard of a cashier check I will assume you do not have a bank account. They said "if you use a cashier check then the price will be $1000.92." WHY? WHY? Would any credible car repair shop be some adamant about cash? What are you really doing with that money because I smell a scam. I had my brother who is a lawyer call them to talk about price and they couldn't even give him a direct answer. Now let's fast forward to the morning I picked up my car. Friday I told "max" I would be there at 5:00 that afternoon but I showed up with my brother around 9:00 am. I called to let them know I was outside and I was told "I thought you were coming at 5, it's going to take 30 minutes to draw up your paper work, we have to test drive your car" We waited across the street and there was no test drive to my car, so at this point just shut up and give me MY car. I had my brother talk to "max" about what was fixed in my car and the warranty they included. Again, no direct answer . My final thoughts. Scammers. I think the most outrageous part is how they were so specific about wanting cash. Most car repair shops would prefer card or a check. Not to mention they said if I used a card it would be a 5% charge. Or I could use a check. But how are you an adult that does understand the difference between a cashier check and personal check. Clowns. Had I done proper research I would never go here. Thankfully, my brother is a lawyer who can advocate for me. Thankfully, I have a large social media following to encourage people to never go here. If I could rate them a 0 I would. If I could get them shut down I would. I am sure they will respond to this with some "well you can't please everyone and we tried our best" and to that I say karma will come for you soon and karma does not play. I am a woman about my money and my time. Both were wasted. In the future I hope they hire a new receptionist and consider changing their payment. Other than that, I hope they are blessed. read more

Let me start off by saying its never a good thing when your vehicle is not running right. I am very particular about who I let work on my truck. Gil and his son took amazing care of me. They got my truck fixed and back up and running (they fixed several broken bolts affixing my exhaust manifold to the engine block and several other issues that have been nagging at me to get fixed). They came in far under what I expected to pay, delivered my repaired truck to my work and had all the work done inside of 2 days. Do not hesitate in the least to get your car worked on by these guys....they know what they are doing and they will take good care of you. You can trust them completely. My truck is running like new. I am glad to know where I can take it to in the future! Andrew read more

Once upon a time you went to the local mechanic that your parents, your neighbors, and/or your friends referred you to. They were always busy with several cars waiting to be fixed but when you walked in they stopped what they were doing, came out from under the hood, wiped off the grease on their hands, and shook yours as they asked you what brought you in that day. Sometimes they would have you start the car, sometimes they would get the keys and take it for a spin with you in the passenger seat to hear or "feel" the issue. When they narrowed it down to a few possibilities, they would tell you right there on the spot in a transparent way how long it should take to fix, and approximately how much it would cost. The best was when they told you confidently they could fix it! They would give you a range of time you had based on the severity of the issue. They might even give you a few options to do yourself to get you by until you had enough money to get the job done. Occasionally they'd tell you in a matter of fact way, not to bother putting anymore money into it unless you planned to keep the car forever. That kind of old school, nothing to prove, look you in the eye and give it to you straight automotive shop is almost gone. Gil and his son Max at Dauntless Transmissions in Raleigh, are doing their level best to keep that old school service alive. After exchanging stories with Gil from what first brought us to Raleigh to who we both knew in the local restaurant scene, I left with some written quotes that Max gave me for things I "could do" but nothing they felt I absolutely had to do right then. I've sent my military friends to them, I've recommended them to my coworkers, and I'm going to have them do one of those "could do" jobs I know I could do myself just because I appreciate the honest way they still do business. If you go, tell them Patrick with the Jeep Wrangler sent you! I won't get anything for it, but now you'll be able to say you know someone who referred you to them, the old school way! read more

Gil at Dauntless is a life saver! He was very communicative and explained everything to me in detail. He was able to fix my car issues very quickly (when the dealerships were saying they found not even look at it for 2-3 weeks). 10/10 will recommend Dauntless to ALL my friends and anyone who needs transmission work! read more

Daunting experience to say the least. Of all the mechanics in town, we made the mistake choosing this shop. Hopefully the owner reads this: I ran the check engine code on my car and it showed I had a bad coil. I brought my car in to these guys for what appeared to be an easy fix. Two days later they informed me that it was going to cost about $2K in parts and labor and diagnostic fees to figure out what was wrong with the car. As you can imagine I got the car out of there as quick as I could. I brought it to another shop that within 10 minutes of looking at the motor was easily able to identify I had a coolant hose leak dripping on the coil causing the issue. The plug wire actually changed color from it arcing and was super obvious. They fixed what needed to be done quickly while I waited. The moral of the story here is definitely get a second opinion. read more

I brought in my car just before I was diagnosed with COVID-19. Not only were they willing to work on the vehicle despite my illness, but when I was unable to get a ride to pick up the car, they dropped it off at my home. The price was reasonable and the turnaround time was good, and they went above and beyond in my opinion. I would definitely recommend. They accept cars between 8 and 9AM, but you can drop off after hours by leaving the key and a form in an envelope in a dropbox, so that's not really a problem. read more

Gill, the owner/operator of Dauntless Transmissions, is the definition of a professional mechanic and among the last, I fear, of a vanishing breed. Not only is his service impeccable (yes, as a previous reviewer states, he will pick up and drop off your car when possible), but his prices are fair and he guarantees his work. For example, the A/C stopped working on our 2000 Dodge Caravan recently. Gill had repaired it 10 months earlier and had given us a 12-month warranty. When I called to ask about bringing the car in for service, he took care of everything quickly and honored the warranty, even though I suspect that the most recent problem was unrelated to the work he did 10 months ago. That's the kind of guy he is. Gill has done all kinds of work for us, from A/C to complete car service. He even fabricated a special screen for my 2003 Honda Accord specially designed to keep small objects such as stones from damaging my radiator, which was one of the very few design flaws of that model Honda. I recommend Dauntless Transmissions without reservation. read more

I spoke to Gill, the owner, regarding a mysterious problem with my Grand Cherokee. The truck was vibrating when full throttle was applied especially at higher speeds. Also when reversing up a steep hill there was a moaning noise as if my reverse gear was worn out. I left my Jeep at Dauntless for a few hours and got a call from Gill. He said he was done testing the transmission and torque converter and found them to be working perfectly. The problem was worn out motor mounts. We talked for a bit and I decided I would change the mounts out myself. I do maintenance and small repairs on my vehicle but I don't touch transmissions, which is why I took it in in the first place. Gill spent an estimated time of 3-4 hours looking at my Jeep and didn't charge me a dime. I tried to tip him but he would not accept, he told me "I will not accept any money from you because I have not fixed anything on your Jeep." One week later I changed out my motor mounts and all of the previous symptoms were immediately gone. Thank you Gill for being so helpful and honest. I would definitely recommend Dauntless. read more

My review could be slighted as I know the family...but I can say Gil is an honest man, which you'll see others say in their reviews. Honesty trends. I've been to Dauntless two times and both were for Check Engine light issues. Only the last time I was charged as it required work on my car. I was back this week with this issue. Gil charged me a competitive but better price than my dealer had quoted. He also got me into his shop sooner than the dealer could. I was able to do after hours drop off the night before and then he delivered my car to my driveway in the evening. That was fabulous. Personally I've known the family for about six years. Our kids went to HS together. The entire family is community focused, participated in many volunteering events with me. Gil runs a family business. I tend to take my car to the dealership for minor things, oil changes, nails in tire, etc. But when it comes to major issues, I trust Gil. He tells me exactly what the deal is and lets me decide how I want to proceed. No pressure from him to use his business. read more

I not only trust Gill with my collection of used car problems, (tcm/pcm and related issues, radiator replacement and related issues, stripped engine bolts with engine shift & broken axles...etc.), I would happily trust him with house keys, teenagers, and pets.... He's made housecalls to tweak soldering and even met me in a parking lot to assess problem. read more

Couldnt believe the quote I just got over the phone. Not sure who I spoke with but they quoted me 8 hours labor for a transmission swap. He hung up on me when I mentioned I had been to the ford dealer and they quoted me 5 hours labor. I will be taking my transmission work to Fastlane where I was quoted 4 hours for a transmission swap on a 97 cobra. I cant speak to the quality of their work, suspect it is great based on reviews, just that the pricing was way off and the person was not even willing to look up the proper hours for a job. read more

Saw the reviews and heard all the amazing feedback about Gil and what he offers. However, the legend needs to be debunked as we did not get 1% of what the reviews say or what the people say. I truly believe that all the flaming reviews are definitely paid for or somehow were given major discounts/friends/family. The owner Gil is another automotive con artist. He is a liar, manipulator, and rude. Everything comes out of his mouth is a lie! Be careful when you deal with him and make sure you get everything in writing. If he quotes make sure you have it in writing as he will add on additional charges you never requested. Point blank--just avoid! We were very disappointed by the service, the prices, and the waist of our time. read more

I chose this shop because of the reviews of them being honest. I received that and more. Gil and Max own their own shop and work hard to make a living, so they will give you honest work. They worked on my Nissan Altima and went the extra mile! Gil personally drove me back to work (8 miles away) and gave me updates throughout the day on my tranny issues. He went as far as going to Nissan to buy a new filter and when they told him no, he took it back to his shop and cleaned it himself (Nissan CVC Transmissions issues are hugely expensive) along with flushing and cleaning my transmission out. After he was finished, he dropped my car off to me personally and gave me updates on what to look for and listen for in the event my transmission were to fail (Once again, CVC Nissan owners know this is a life or death issue). I would encourage everyone to use Dauntless Transmissions as you will not find a better shop to work on your vehicle. Thank you Gil, You are making America Great Again! Matt read more

Unfortunately, I wrote a review a while back but apparently never submitted it. I just noticed now that it was not listed here. Gil and Max are fantastic. I had my Toyota Camry for approximately 15 years and the last 4 years of it being mine, they helped with the upkeep. They are extremely honest and at no point did I feel swindled. They offered me rides to the shop/ to work/ home when they had my car. Extremely happy with their service. If I still lived in the area, they would definitely be my mechanics! read more

Grateful for Gil, Max, and the Dauntless team! Not only did they do great work on my car at a very fair price, they were also such a pleasure to work with. Gil made me feel so at ease and took the time to listen to all my concerns. I won't take my Honda anywhere else! read more

I have never met a more honest and fair mechanic in my life. I was vulnerable because My car broke while I was traveling in the area. Fair and reasonable evaluation of my car and was sure to let me know what to expect and he didn't pressure into other random charges or services. read more

Honest and thorough repairs. I have a 2002 Monte Carlo SS. I thought I had transmissions issues. Gil and Max repaired what was actually wrong - a fouled and leaking intake, leaking valve cover gaskets, and a faulty computer. He even repaired some minor issues he found along the way - degrading cooling system connections, and that's only what he mentioned. I'm not sure he didn't clean up the seat adjustment motor that I mentioned needed work. I'll be back for future repairs that I can't do myself. read more

Took our car here after the transmission stopped working and received nothing but excellent customer service. They took the time to talk to us about the problems happening and advised us on how to fix the car. It turned out that it was a manufacturer problem that they would fix. Even though we did not get the transmission fixed here, we were more knowledgeable about the problem, and they even kept the car in their shop overnight at no cost so that we could get it to the dealership. They provide excellent customer service and are very knowledgeable and kind. read more

I've working here at Dauntless Transmissions. I came from a 17yr Restaurant Management background and very little mechanic experience, but Gil took a chance on me. I was let go and no longer work for the company. Even being let go from the company I have no issues with Gil or Max. These guys are awesome. I learned a lot! Seen multiple time were customers were not charged as listed in other reviews and Gil and Max go out of there way to make sure the customers get a great experience. I highly recommend Dauntless Transmissions. read more

As good as it gets! As a) a woman and b) not being local to area, I thought I would be easy bait for any mechanic. But having found Dauntless Transmissions and read the incredible reviews, I was not disappointed and compelled to write an equally glowing review. Gill (the owner) picked up my car from my apartment AND dropped it off (not typical, but a kind gesture since I got lost finding the place). His rates were fair and I can safely say that this is a 100% safe bet for anyone, with any type of car issues. An all-round fantastic experience...well, as fantastic as having a car checked over gets.... read more

They diagnosed an issue that had confounded several other services, and charged a reasonable fee for an excellent repair. Truck drives like new. read more

I called a local AAMCO and the wanted $95 just to do a diagnostic on the car. That leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I did some research and Dauntless was well rated on Angie's List and Yelp. I called Gil and he was very upfront, willing to discuss price, wtc over the phone. He clearly knows his stuff. I took it in, Gil did a diagnostic (drive, on lift, etc.), and gave me an estimate. He identified the bad mounts and axle as well (I knew about the axle). I was headed out of town in two days and told him that I'd call him to schedule. The next day the tranny left me stuck in an intersection on the way home from work. I was able to get it home. The next day, while traveling, I called and left Gil a message asking if he could get my car at my house (I told him where he could find the key). He called me while I was in the air and we texted while I sat in the airport in Atlanta. Within an hour he sent me a pic of the car being driven to his shop. This all happened between Christmas and New Years. I picked up the car 1/3 (he had to wait a few days for parts because of the holidays). He did all the work (included the mounts and axle replacement) for the estimate he gave me on the phone. There's a followup visit in 30 days at which point the 12 month warranty starts. So, essentially, there's a 13 month warranty. I can't say enough good things about this experience. Gil is a real standup guy and a vet to boot! read more

Just wanted to get on here and say how nice the entire staff is, I got injured at a restaurant and all of the guys stopped and helped me, which they didn't not have to do but, they carried the food to the car and offered to drive me, really nice for complete strangers... so for being super thoughtful and nice thank you guys so much!!! read more

Absolutely the best in Raleigh. Gil is great. Prices are fair, service is quick and results are great!

I had a noise with my Subaru nobody could figure out where the noise was coming from. Gil spent one hour out of his day driving my car trying to duplicate the noise. When we got back to the shop Gil put the car up in the air. Listen to all components with a stethoscope trying to find the nose. we did not find the noise. The good part Gil was very honest! He could have said it's this part and made the repair with no fix. Gil narrowed the noise down to the passenger axle and did not charge for the diagnostic. He said a hand shake will do. I highly recommend Dauntless Transmissions. Honest and knowledgeable staff! read more

Gil and Max are very helpful and friendly to work with. I have taken a number of my vehicles to them over the years and I feel confident that they are telling me the truth about what issues I am dealing with regard to the vehicles. Amongst other work, I have had them rebuild a transmission on a Toyota Sienna as well as replace CV axles on a Toyota Corolla. I feel great about the work they have done for our family! read more