My steering wheel had a squeak and Michael was able to fix it in no time. For weeks and weeks, it would squeak whenever I made a turn and it was very annoying. Fortunately, Michael identified the problem and quickly remedied it. I will definitely come back here for my next oil change or any other automotive issue my car may have (fingers crossed that there are not too many). read more

So glad I brought my car here! My Ford had an idle speed problem. When I first brought it in, Sonny and Michael did a 5 min check, told me which part I should replace, and had it ordered by the next day. They spent maybe 20 min installing/adjusting, and the problem was completely fixed. They only charged me for the part (no labor fees)! I will only go to these guys with car trouble from now on, and I'll recommend them to all my friends. Thanks Sonny and Michael! :) read more

Not sure why I haven't reviewed Elite Auto yet, but here it is: Michael and Sonny are a father/son duo that run the shop. I've been going to them for all of my oil changes and repair work for several years. The shop can get busy, so a walk-in (drive-in?) for an oil change may not be possible. That said, the times I've called to make an appointment for an oil change, they have usually been able to get me in within 24 hours. The change itself only takes 20-30 minutes, and I've yet to see a day where they were running behind schedule. The most significant repair I've had done here was to get my worn brake pads replaced. The work was done quickly, and the final invoice even came in at less than the original quote! Finally, they're a great resource for getting in contact with other types of automotive repair people. For example, I needed glass repair work done, and they referred me to a local guy who did a fantastic job. All in all, this is what I wish all small businesses could be like: competent, efficient, friendly, and honest. Thanks for the great work, guys! read more

Honest, extremely professional and friendly. By far one of the best mechanic shops in the area. It is very rare to find a service shop where the work is high quality, the people are beyond helpful and the customer service is astounding. I am not a frequent "Yelp-er", but amazing work deserves reviews like this. I can't stress enough how amazing my experience with Elite Auto Performance was. If you're local and in need of work done on your vehicle, definitely head over to Elite Auto Performance. read more

I came in today for a pre-purchase inspection of a used car - Sonny and Michael were absolutely AMAZING! I wish there were a way to give them a rating of more than 5 stars, because for the quality of service that you get, that is certainly what they deserve. Quick background - I'm a female student who knows absolutely nothing about cars. I don't know engine oil from transmission. Sonny and Michael were extremely detailed in their inspection of the car, allowed me to watch them working, and pointed out all the problematic areas to me clearly. In addition, Sonny also took the time to explain in great detail and clarity what the problem was, and the implications of it on my driving or future repair costs in simple terms that I could understand without any problems! He was also very patient and probably explained the same thing to me a few times over at different points throughout the inspection, since I kept forgetting what the terms meant. For the pre-purchase inspection, they will inspect the car mechanically under the hood and under the car, and then take it out for a test drive to see how it runs. Sonny was also very detailed in checking the accessories of the car, checking every single button and even discovering that the button for the auto windup of a window was a little stuck and wouldn't work unless you yanked really hard on it. The level of detail which he went into was just great. You definitely want this guy to be checking out any cars you're thinking of buying. After all of that, you get a list of found issues, thoughtfully typed out so that you don't have to scramble around taking notes during the actual inspection, and a quote on the repairs that they can provide you if you choose to fix the issues found with them. And why wouldn't you, for this level of attention?! There is also a student discount, which definitely helps, though I'd say Sonny and Michael deserved the full price for all the work they've done. Will definitely be back. read more

Michael and Sunny are very nice, hardworking and honest people. They do a great job and my husband and I couldn't be more satisfied. They are fast, cheap and efficient, and I would even add very patient in dealing with me (I usually get pretty cranky when something happens with my car)! They also give excellent advise and are always ready to discuss and explain. We always take our car there for oil change, tire rotation and to deal with all the mechanical problems we had (old car). They are TERRIFIC! read more

I'm leaving a one-star review, because this place is impossible to reach. I've tried calling many times over the span of weeks -- no answer on the phone, no returned calls after multiple voicemails. I even messaged them on Facebook; their account saw the message (thanks, read receipts!) and, again, no response. read more

Quality: 5 Service: 5 Convenience: 5 I am a regular customer of Sonny and his dad because they are super honest and straightforward. They are kind to students too, especially those who may like cars but know nothing about them. Sonny went as far as listing ALL the options I had for fixing my part: shop bought parts and labor costs, self-bought part off Amazon and shop labor costs, as well as options around not fixing it at all. Also how to fix stuff at home by myself. No stupid fluff! Just a friend who runs a business and is willing to help! read more

I called Sonny today because my tired was leaking air the last few weeks and was BLOWN away by his service. I am suspicious of most mechanics (mostly because I know nothing about cars) but Sonny immediately fixed my flat in "5 min flat." I could tell immediately that he is knowledgable, extremely hard working, and reliable. Sonny is now going to be the first person I call with any car problems, bar none. I wish every person in every job in the world had the work ethic that he does. I would honestly go back here just to watch him work. It is seriously impressive. Thank you, Sonny. -Evan (Toyota tire problem) read more

I came here in June because I needed a needed a new radiator and fast. I had only a couple days before a road trip I had planned. I had the best service ever- they were extremely professional and efficient. Everything was a smooth and easy process with the little time I gave them. I could not have been happier and will definitely be back for any future car needs! read more

Just had an oil change with them. They are really awesome. Very well answered all my questions. If you want to learn something new about your car - go talk to these guys! They also suggest different options and recommend what's really best for your particular case. I really feel like trusting them my car next time. With regards the prices, just check the retail price of the oil they suggest vs. cheap crap from the dealer and you know who's cheating. read more

Went to do a routine oil change. I fully agree with the other 5 star comments. Quick and great service! Good price also, with only $25 for an oil change and a full checkup. Would definitely come back again! read more

Sonny and his dad are fantastic. They are honest and straightforward, so refreshing in the auto repair world. I trust them implicitly and they are also generally kind and helpful. Can't recommend them enough!! read more

Definitely the best auto place in Palo Alto. I got my oil changed here half the price is cost elsewhere. The business is family-run, so it totally removes any of that "Oh no... I'm gonna get screwed by my car mechanic" feeling - this was really refreshing for me. Actually, I had just come from another place that told me that I needed to get my fuel filter changed, and then when I went to this place, they said that that wasn't even true and that my particular model didn't even need one! They saved me $50 on that! Just overall, a very pleasant experience. read more

Overall, a very good experience when I needed a part of my AC system replaced. Sonny and his father were very busy, but Sonny always answered the phone courteously, and usually left me with a really excellent picture of what was going on, what needed to be done, and what the time lines were (e.g., when parts would be ordered, when they were expected, why they request a deposit for special parts, etc.). Sonny seemed very conscientious as well as kind, and willing to explain things, and he also let me email photos to help explain my car's problem beforehand. Most important, though, my car got fixed. :) Bonus: They recommended a solid Persian restaurant. Kheyli mamnoon! read more

There's a reason for all the outstanding reviews of Elite Auto Performance: Sonny and his father have saved me time and time again when it comes to car trouble. They're professional, quick, reassuring (but also realistic), and so kind. From replacing my on-its-last-legs battery to fixing my blown brake lights, I've always felt well taken care of and never overcharged or misled (trust me, I've done lots of research on how much I should be paying mechanics). Highly recommend this spot! read more

Last year, I had a nail in a tire and took my car to a local "tire shop." It was awful; it took them a day and a half to get to my car and, even after that, still managed to botch the fix. This time around, I took my car to Elite and the difference was night and day. I was in and out in 10 minutes (no appointment, showed up mid-afternoon), with the tire plugged perfectly for just $15. Fast, friendly, fantastic! read more

I was back here again today and these guys are still awesome! I came by without an appointment and they were still able to help me right away. They even remembered me despite the fact that I hadn't been there in over a year. My brake lights had stopped working and I really wanted to get the problem fixed today. They explained what the problem could be, took a look, and determined that the switch connecting the brake to the lights had gone bad. They let me know my car actually had a recall notice for this exact issue (and they made me aware of another recall issue on this model as well... yikes). They were able to get the part and fix it within a few hours, even more quickly than they originally quoted me. I hung out at the Starbucks across the street sipping a Frappucino and enjoying the AC - the best way to get your car fixed! The price was right and they even offer a student discount. This place is small and if you blink you might miss it - it's around the back of a Valero station with a smallish sign out front. But it's worth finding! This father/son team is super friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. Seriously, the best. read more

Sonny replaced my badly bashed and cello-taped side mirror in a few hours for a reasonable price which was mostly parts. The labor fee was a minimal $10. Strongly advise this place. read more

Elite Auto performance is the only shop that charged me less than the estimate since they realized (after looking around) certain services weren't needed. A+! Everything works and is awesome! read more

I think the quality of service is perfectly fine, but I don't think Sonny is the most honest mechanic (even though he has that persona and is a nice guy). I went in to get my brake pads replaced, he charged for 1.5 hours of labor even thought it was closer to 30 minutes, and I looked at the pads he used it was half the price online. All in, I think I paid around 50% more than I should have. Similarly, I've gone to him a few times for oil change and he very strongly pushes 3,000 mile changes even though my manual suggests 5,000-7,500, and the consensus is in line with that. Additionally, for cabin air filter replacement he charged double for what I could get it for online. All in, I think I will get my services done elsewhere in order to save some money (even with the 15% Stanford student discount). read more

Sunny is very professional, fast and efficient, figured the problem within seconds. will take my cars here for getting all needed the services later read more

Sunny is honest and straightforward. He will never charge you for something you don't absolutely need. He does right by his customers

I cannot say enough about this repair shop! Every single time I have brought my car to them I have been nothing but impressed with their integrity and professionalism. Even when I have messed up my appointment times, Sonny has been gracious and kind. They have saved us hundreds of dollars over the past couple years. Just today my brother-in-law's back wheel bearing went out and Sonny had a booked schedule for a week. He squeezed us in and worked on it for a few hours and, although it was too rusted out for him to complete the job, he made phone calls to help us find a shop that could and didn't charge us a dime. Customer service is near impossible to find but Elite Auto Performance has gone above and beyond for us. Thank you for all of your assistance and expertise! I will NOT take my car anywhere else and I recommend you guys to everyone I know! read more

This was the best experience I've ever had at a mechanic. My car has been making some funny noises, which both turned out to be easy, quick, no-cost fixes. The mechanic patitently explained what was happening and said "come back when you have a serious problem :)". I will! read more

Sonny is the best! He did a terrific job diagnosing a ringing/chime alert which seemed to be due to a potential transmission issue. Sonny noticed that the grounded wire on the tailgate was loose. He promptly repaired it and the problem was fixed! He also scanned the computer for any error codes signaling transmission issues and sure enough all was clear. I hate to say it, but I feel that other shops would have charged for more than what was needed, not Elite. Total charges from Elite, $0. I insisted, but instead I offered a good review. These guys are wonderful, I strongly recommend them. read more

Sonny and his dad are the best. Fair rates and they do great work that they stand behind.

We have taken both of our cars to Elite Auto Performance for service. Very friendly and very honest. We recently got our catalytic converter stolen for one of our cars, so we wanted to install the cat shield for us. Despite that it was an irregular job, they tried and were able to install it! Always professional and very fast. I would recommend this place to everyone. We have always been happy with their service. They are the best! read more

Elite auto performance is the place I go to when I have a problem with my car. They have great service and quality work. Centrally located and provides efficient and thorough care. read more

I have been going to Elite Auto Performance for a year and a half now, and I highly recommend them. They are highly experienced and very friendly. You can trust that they won't charge you for anything that isn't necessary -- on the contrary, I recently scheduled an oil change and 5 minutes after leaving my car with them they called me to let me know that it wasn't necessary at all. I had barely driven for a year (due to covid I was stuck overseas) and the oil was extremely clean. I felt a little dumb for wasting their time but they were extremely friendly and polite, and they wouldn't let me pay for anything... that's how honest they are. I highly, highly recommend them! read more

Flat Tire this morning. 10 mins and $10. Amazing, isn't it? Loved it! The guy's name is Michael. Will try him for other services like Oil Change etc. And will surely check with him in case of any unexpected emergencies. read more

Sonny and his dad simply the best. I've been going to Elite Auto for the last two years and I can't say enough. I genuinely trust the guys there. If Sonny can't diagnose your car problem or fix it completely, he won't charge you a dime - even when he does an hour or more of diagnostic work! Compare that to dealerships that will charge you a couple hundred even if they can't figure out a thing. And when he does figure out exactly what the problem is (almost always) his rates are super affordable, and he gives student discounts. I didn't even ask - he asked ME if I was a student and then gave me the discount. Seriously. Awesome. Sonny hooked me up with an oil change and an air conditioning fix when I had to go out of town the next day. He's been a great resource many other times too. Amazing little gem hidden behind the Valero gas station. Really glad he's there. read more

Its an exceptionally rare thing to find an honest auto mechanic, but this father / son team is the real deal. Not only have they dealt with all the issues that I've had, but one time when my car wouldnt start, when the fix turned out to be quite simple, they didnt even charge me for the work. Another time while trying to track down an annoying clicking sound they spent two hours messing with the wheel (which they thought was the problem), but when it turned out that the problem was elsewhere, they didnt charge me for any of the time that they spent on it, saying that its their fault that they wasted all that time. Nor have they ever tried to push any costly, yet unnecessary repairs as some other mechanics that I've dealt with. Their prices are average for the area. Unfortunately they seem a little disorganized, hence the reason for the four stars instead of five. Making an appointment for a specific time (even if it's the first slot of the day) doesnt guarantee that they'll actually start working on your car when you bring it in, as they can mistakenly double book the time slot with another customer. In other words, be prepared to wait a while, whether you have an appointment or not. read more

This is my 2nd time to see this shop for an engine problem. Just as impressive as the 1st time, this family owned business, did a quick and thorough computer check and fixed a complicated problem which could have ruined the engine. I took my car in at 9:30 am and picked it up before noon. The job was done so well, they made me, a NASA retiree with a mechanical engineering degree and background, very satisfied! High quality work + good attitude + honest! If your car is not running well, this is the place to come. You will get a fast assessment of the problem, its resolution, and be back on the road in the shortest time possible. Don't hesitate, you will be very happy and return as a satisfied customer! They are probably good at solving personal problems too, but I haven't tried that yet! read more

A super helpful guy fixed my taillight when I was in a bind. I just drove up and he was able to fix it in no time! Great service.

Very friendly. $53 for an oil change. $43 for labor and $10 for parts. Also provided advice that I should get my tires changed at Costco for good service. 15% student and senior discount. Get the frequent oil change card to get 5th oil change for free. I feel like I can trust them. read more

Sonny is the man, a rare mechanic who you can trust will give you an honest assessment and will not burn you on expensive and unnecessary work for your car. Not to mention the student discount on labor, which is legit. read more

I honestly have never been to a mechanic who was so straightforward and honest. How many times has a mechanic told you not to order parts from them, since you can find them for half price online? And then all I could do then is pay them an extremely fair (and discounted, because I'm a student) price for labor to install these parts! I will always go back here as long as I have a car and live in California! read more

So I live in San Jose, I work for Stanford of course my work hours are never Auto Shop friendly. Having a one hour lunch is NOT a plus either. I am HAPPY to say I found my GO TO guys here in Palo Alto!! :) Called Elite Auto Performance after reading all the GREAT yelp reviews!! I needed an Oil Change ASAP. (leaving to Los Angeles tonight). From start to finish Sonny and Michael helped me. Got me in and out in under an hour (HOW PERFECT is that??) With a Oil Change, tire rotation, even cleared my Check engine light. Thank you Thank you THANK YOU for the great service and completely detailed information. You guys are amazing!! read more

Honest, helpful, good humans. My car (actually it was a car I was borrowing from my parents) died on the freeway last week. I had it towed to Elite Auto, which I picked because of the stellar Yelp reviews. Michael stopped what he was doing and took over my case, and after 30 minutes, he gave me the bad news: my transmission was toast. Sonny made some phone calls and got me quotes on a used transmission from 3-4 different junk yards, and gave me several quotes on rebuilding the transmission as well. They laid out all the options, but I didn't want to spend over $1000 on a truck that KBB'd for less than $3500. He let me leave the truck there in his parking lot while I came up with a game plan. No charge. My parents, who own the truck, wanted their mechanic to take a peek at it, and Sonny & Michael obliged. They went out of their way, really. We ultimately offered the car to Michael, and he agreed to buy it, only to have my parents renege at the last minute. Sonny and Michael were unshakably cool through the whole process. And they didn't charge me a cent, which was unbelievable, not even for parking the truck there for 3 days straight. You guys are wonderful humans. read more