I have said this in other reviews and I will restate it again here; experiences at automotive repair shops are always going to vary. Most of the time when people need automotive repair, it is not typically under positive circumstances. Short of routine maintenance, we do not usually gleefully walk into an auto repair shop excited about what we will hear is wrong with our vehicle and how much it will cost to make the repairs. Typically, when we need a repair, our vehicle has broken down or something is broken on it that demands repair, therefore we are (understandably) already in a negative frame of mind.
To speak to our experience here at Drake Automotive, my son and I brought his much older truck in to have it checked out because we were given an estimate for repairs from another auto repair establishment. Because the estimate was so high, if nothing else, I at least wanted some kind of confirmation that what the other shop suggested was wrong with the truck, was in fact what it needed. It is also worth mentioning that because this is my teenage son driving it, I want to be **very** certain that the vehicle is safe and reliable. Now, I am not naïve enough to believe that auto repair establishments are not out to make money, because as is true of any business, there are few other reasons, but I am also not gullible enough to be overcharged to make repairs that are both expensive and unnecessary.
Ben, who I presume to be the owner, did a **really** fantastic job looking over my son's truck from top to bottom, including checking the oil. When he called to let us know what he had found, the items the other shop suggested be fixed were not necessarily what was causing the issue with my son's truck. Ben also took the time to explain to me exactly what he found, and educate me on how he came to the determination of what did need to be fixed on the truck. I do have a little bit of working knowledge about automotive repairs, but not to the extent that these were things I could diagnose myself. Ben prepared an estimate and gave me some recommendations about what to do to remedy the main issue we brought the truck in for. He also made some suggestions about where we could take the truck to have some of the work done that he would not be able to do (i.e., purchasing tires and getting an alignment). The estimate Ben gave based on what he found to be in need of repair was **far** more reasonable than the other shop. In fact, the other shop did not even mention some major safety concerns that need to be addressed.
To be clear, Ben did not speak poorly about the other shop nor make derogatory or defaming remarks; he told me what he felt the problem was, and I formed my own opinion about the other shop's diagnosis. Because of this, I am of the opinion that Drake Automotive Service conducts itself with integrity, class, and respect for other professionals in the field, even if the other professionals are potentially overlooking significant issues. This is not to suggest Drake Auto does not care. This only means that Drake Auto is committed to building their reputation on the *quality* work they do, versus cutting down other professionals who may not be putting in the same quality of work.
Beyond the exceptional service, I really appreciated the spacious lobby (especially for social distancing), big screen TV, and welcoming ambiance. Masks were worn which suggests that they genuinely care about their customers. Another thing I appreciate about Drake Automotive is that the owner is there, in the shop, working. It is not a big conglomerate corporation profiting by the billions. They a small shop trying to get through the pandemic like the rest of us. I intent do bring all of my vehicles to Drake Auto for years to come because I would very much like to see this business succeed. It is a breath of fresh air when an automotive repair shop conducts itself with integrity and invests quality in the service they provide. read more