============== Update Review ==================== The owner contacted me immediately to offer a leak check and an OBD diagnosis. While they provided a printout of the manufacturer's oil pressure specifications and OBD results, they confirmed they do not have the mechanical gauging equipment required to perform the actual pressure test and tell me the exact PSI. I am now seeking a formal diagnostic elsewhere to verify engine safety. =============== Original Review ================== Total lack of professional accountability. Although I explicitly requested full synthetic oil, the shop used a synthetic blend instead. Within 24 hours, my red oil pressure light began flickering. When I returned, the owner (the guy in the front desk) refused a standard mechanical pressure test to rule out engine damage and became hostile when I asked for a written record. The owner told me, "You can stand there and be mad if you want, I won't do anything unless you are willing to pay for a full diagnosis" and--most dangerously--claimed, "you can continue drive if you have that oil light on." That is catastrophic advice that would lead to total engine failure. They are happy to take your money but refuse to stand behind their work or verify basic safety. Proceed with extreme caution. read more

F & F Automotive - Auto Repair Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Abusive treatment. I called about bringing in my 5 year old car for an engine problem. My last contact with F&F was when they serviced a different van 4 years ago. He looked up my record, and said, angrily, "I remember you. You bring me in all these vehicles that shouldn't even be on the road".... "I'm just being honest with you, you shouldn't be driving those vehicles. They aren't roadworthy. Is this another one of these vehicles that shouldn't be on the road?" Then he wanted to schedule me for an appointment. I just ended the conversation. read more

Real people giving solid service and advice. I bring all four of my cars here and have for nearly 10 years. Volvo, sienna, fiat and Corolla. We get great prices, superb attention. Yes, they are busy, make appointments. read more

Been coming to F&F for years for friendly, reliable and timely service. I have never had a complaint.

So I was having a car accident and the engine light was on. I tow my car to the shop. The owners and everyone else are super helpful. They are so responsible and make extra miles to help me. They are so responsive and reply to every email asap. They only charge me when they think it's fair but no more. They have an awesome service here. They are very good citizens. Besides, everyone recommends this place, for the good people and for their good mechanists. You know what you do when you have a problem with your Subaru then! read more

My repair adventure 7-16-19 In September 2018, my trunk began jerking violently whether idling and worse upon driving -- so it was obviously an engine problem. I took it to F & F Auto, off of Weaver Street in Chapel Hill. There, they diagnosed the problem which the resultant were the coils of my engine being defective. They ended up changing all eight coils to the engine. I also got a full set of tires, that were very much needed, through them as well. So the manager gave me a decent price for it all and the vehicle ran fine up until last week. Present Day: It had been less than 10 months with around 6,000 miles on the vehicle and again, it began repeating the same exact thing that it did last September. So I called the manager back and he said hopefully it's only the coils and if so, they are still under warranty and he set me up to come in for the following week. I dropped truck off early in the morning around 8 o'clock and told him I would wait around since I did not have a ride back. He informed me that he had a full lineup of vehicles waiting ahead of me and it may take a while. He graciously offered to drive me to my home but I told him that I lived in Durham and I was sure that they were not going to drive out that far in morning traffic just to take me back home. So he took my keys and directed me to the local coffee shop just around the corner (Open Eye Cafe, I believe)...saying I would have a better experience waiting there than in his smaller lounge area -- he was right. While at the cafe, I had a nice cup of coffee and a bagel and by 9:30 he calls me telling me my truck is ready. As I walked back, I began wondering how much this would cost me and what other problems did they find. When I got up to the counter he handed me the keys to the vehicle and a receipt which read $0.00, gave me a grin and told me to have a nice day. Also added that coils #1 and #8 were defective and all of the parts were covered under warranty. The truck is now running smoother than it did before. Kudos to F & F for outstanding service along with honest stewardship. read more

Truth challenged would be a great way to explain this place. So here goes the story. I have a 1995 Chevy Tahoe that had recently started making a really loud clicking nose and got louder as I pushed the gas and had a harsh vibration coming from the rear at certain speeds. I did my own research as to what this may be and came to the conclusion that it was the U-joints that were bad. From the symptoms to the sound I was positive that was the case. Not being an expert by any means on cars and repairs I took it to F&F Automotive to see if they could diagnose the issue. I asked them not to do any work that would cost anything without first calling me. I told them the symptoms and everything about what was going on. I work close enough were I can see the parking lot and where my car was. They took my car to the back around 11am and I went over during my lunch to see what diagnosis they had come up with. I knew they did not even drive the car as I was watching my car from my office to see when they took it in. I believe they saw an older car and just went for the home run with two very expensive solutions, neither were related to what I thought was wrong with the car. So when I went into the shop and my car was jacked up but no mechanic working on the car. When I found a mechanic he took me under the car and tried to tell me what was wrong with it. I could tell he was trying to pull one over on me with how vague he was being. Their conclusion was that I needed a new torque convertor as that is where the sound and clicking is coming. When I asked him about why it was vibrating at certain speeds he said, "ummmmm you also need a new transmission. With the age of the vehicle you probably need a new transmission too." With zero symptoms of either one of those parts being bad I told them to take the car down. They then tried to charge me $79 for looking at the car even though I told them not to do any work on the car that cost anything without calling me first. He then threatened me with taking me to collections if I don't pay. Now with that all being said, I then called my trusted mechanic that works out of High Point, NC that I my family has been going to for years and told him everything that my car was doing. Without me telling him what I thought the issue was he said he believes it to be a bad U-Joint but couldn't be 100% sure until he looked at it in person. I took my car in the next week and well, it was bad U-Joints. F&F Automotive were trying to get thousands of dollars for repairs compared to a $160 out the door fix for both front and rear U-Joints. Tahoe drives like a champ again with no issues. To wrap this up I would highly recommend to anyone to stay very far away from F&F Automotive. It is sad, but expected, that you can't trust an auto mechanic. read more

Went there for tire rotation on the set of new Falken tires I purchased 5500 miles ago. Asked them to check the alignment I had done, guessing they did. Didn't receive an invoice but maybe that's the way they handle things, I don't know. Kinda doubt I'll be going back. read more

Don't go there , they blackmail people . They lure you with low prices, and than, after things were down, they blackmail. Maybe we are foreigners, our English is not so good, but we can hear his quotation clearly, $500 for other brand accessories, $600 for original accessories.We chose 500, but he charged more than 600, arguing that we misunderstood his words due to our poor English . Saving money for us? Come on! Dealers might cost $200 more, but all the accessories are original, 3 years warranty，and they don't yell at people. What kind of businessman , accept money from his customers and return shout at customers? It was totally a nightmare! Not only did we worry about our car , but also about our own safety. They may be very nice to local people, but, in my experience, it was a nightmare! read more

I regret coming here. They started to repair my car without confirming the final price with me, I even didn't have a chance to say no. And of course, the price was much higher than i expected. read more

This shop has the worst owner. i drive for a company that delivers car parts to them regularly. We have a few different people who go to his shop daily Today- he threatened to beat me up over his misunderstandings about what time his parts were supposed to be there. I'm a 4'11 female. This isn't the first Time he's been rude- but it will definitely be the last. We are no longer delivering to him from our company all together. The ceo got an email today. read more

My husband has been here and also my mom. They treated my mom with such respect and understanding of her budget. Krista ( I think she is the service manager) is awesome. Everyone is kind and respectful. I went there today for inspection and a light bulb repair. Was told of some issues I need to fix - but not pushed or forced into the repairs. That is something I admire. The waiting room and restroom were very clean and comfortable - while they had a TV it was not blaring loud - plenty of magazines and chairs. This is a plus as I was expecting a lot less (many repair shops I have been to do not even have a clean chair!) It can be difficult to find honest auto-mechanic shops - with courteous, knowledgeable staff - so glad my family found F & F. read more

Worst customer service I've ever seen. Rude and combative .. if you can get their attention for more than 30 seconds. They said "I don't have time for this" and walked away. I regret giving them my business. read more

If you've just moved to the Triangle and you're worried you won't be able to find that reliable auto shop that you had back home - don't worry! You have found the local version of that shop. Try F&F ... trust me, they will amaze you with their honesty and dedication. As a woman, it's refreshing to communicate with Krista, who tells it like it is, and will make sure that you're getting the right service. Lee is perhaps even more dedicated - in one day he managed to diagnose a potential brake problem, explain my options to me over the phone, order the part, and install it (all for a good price!) - and my car has run like a dream since. I've tried other shops in the area, and none have given me the sort of personal, small-business style service and the reasonable pricing of F&F. I feel like I'm dealing with real people who actually care about not just my car, but whether I leave feeling satisfied with the services. read more

I've never left a Yelp review before, but I just had to after my experience at F& F. I took my car in for an oil change at a nearby garage and they discovered an oil leak. They charged me 100$ for the oil change and an additional 100$ to steam the engine and trouble shoot. Afterwards they quoted me 1700$ to fix and replace the vacuum pump and the valve cover. To top it off, when I got in my car the engine was misfiring. They left water in the engine from when the steamed it. I wanted to get a second opinion so I called F & F, they looked at my car for free! And even tightened the valve cover that day and said it most likely didn't need to be replaced. Then they said they would replaced the gasket (or something similar, I'm not a mechanic) on the vacuum pump, as my car is under 100,000 miles and most likely did not need a whole new vacuum pump. They only charged 300$ to do that. And it was done before noon. Amazing service, will not rip you off, only will do what needs to be done and save you a LOT of money. So happy I took my car for a second opinion. Made my week. read more

I have been with F&F since moving to the triangle almost 2 years ago. I know that is not a really long time but in that period they have time and again impressed me. I get great service a very good price. Generally $25 to $100 under what other places have charged in the past. The owner always takes the time to ask after my sister and father whom he has also worked with. Really impressed. read more

I always have a great experience with F and F Automotive. They've been super honest and fair on price about anything I've needed along the way. Highly recommend! read more

I was looking for a place that would give me exceptional service for my older Mercedes. In general, when a consumer looks for services, they look for a couple of things: quality of workmanship, affordability, and smooth scheduling. Not only did F&F provide all three, but they went above and beyond my all expectations. Krista (the shop's manager) made sure all my concerns were addressed and made sure the car's and my safety were a priority. In fact (no exaggeration), she felt like a second mom to me and my car making sure I had coffee and Wi-Fi while I waited. My experience was the exact opposite of the stereotypical shady automotive shop. Their facilities are clean and comfortable. I've already spread the word to all my friends and family and will continue to give them my business. The staff=exceptional, service=exceptional, price=exceptional. If you've read this far, go ahead and try them and see for yourself. You won't be disappointed! read more

Made an appointment for safety inspection. Showed up. They said they had no record of any appointment (and could not do it then). Asked if I wanted to re-schedule. I said no thanks, I'll go somewhere more reliable. Re. Michael's comment below, I guess this is the only way to respond. He said this before: I yelled at the staff. This is an exaggeration, at best - maybe a sharp word to a guy in the driveway as I left. Reading other reviews below, I guess it's not news that they're a little "truth challenged". read more

Top Notch Service and Mechanics are very knowledgeable. Honest ! Just got 4 new Toyo tires and Michael found a brake issue. Unlike other shops he fixed just what was needed instead of selling me on a complete brake job which that's a huge savings. Thanks F & F! read more

I have used F&F for many years, since Cleve was still running the place and I was a college student. I have always found them to be reliable and trustworthy. But this fall I took my car in for an oil change there, to my great regret. A few days later, on 95 in Washington, D.C., my oil light came on, then the engine froze up. We managed to coast to the side of the highway, but the engine was fried. The dealership where we had it towed said the oil filter had likely fallen off, resulting in an immediate loss of oil and engine destruction. They said that using a non-approved filter could cause that to happen-the threads didn't march up right. They said it was extremely unlikely that we could have hit anything that would cause this. I called F&F, and was told that they didn't believe their mechanic could have made this mistake, and it wasn't their problem. That was almost 6 weeks ago. I haven't heard anything from F&F since that call. I am picking up my car tomorrow, with a new engine. It was less than 2 years old, and had about 25,000 miles on it. I have had to do without a car for that time, and will have to rent a car to go and pick it up. This whole thing has not cost F&F one cent. My insurance company is paying for the repairs. My advice: go elsewhere, and buy good insurance. Yeargan's and Chapel Hill Tire have both changed my oil previously without destroying the engine, and they will get my business from now on. read more

The man at the front desk was so rude to me that I got in my car and literally sobbed. I was not angry or upset about the service; I was simply asking some clarifying questions to better understand the diagnosis. When he started saying car jargon I wasn't familiar with, I asked for a pen, so I could write it down. He angrily held up a hand and told me to "calm down" and "take a breath." I was honestly shocked, and I tried to joke it off, but he just said more disparaging and rude things. It was really strange--I have no idea why he was so impolite to me, when I was contentedly paying,  and I wasn't complaining. I just wanted to make sure I could remember what he said later. It was so aggressive, it honestly felt a little scary. Why would a man be so hostile with a polite and paying female customer? Our family has received service there several times in the past, but we will obvious not return. I don't need a side of verbal abuse and misogyny with my car repair work. (And I hope the front desk gentleman uses my payment today for therapy and anger management. Jeez, man. In your words, "calm down" and "take a breath" before you talk to people in such a cruel way.) read more

I was told that I needed a new clutch and that the bill would be $900. I did not need a new clutch and had the repairs done by someone else for only $200. Lee is a smooth talker, but not at all trustworthy. The new owners are huge a disappointment. read more

My dad can not stop raving about them. I know he wouldn't take the time to write a review, so I took the liberty. They're honest, they give you the options, and they tell you entirely what's going on. They don't charge you for any unnecessary work. One guy even casually mentioned, this looks like it's getting worn, many people would charge you, but there's really no need to touch it yet. Highly recommend. Good prices, quality work, and had great and reliable results. read more

This guy is a short tempered idiot who doesn't know what he's doing and gets angry at the customer if they try to make suggestions. He broke the first part that took days to get. We had to wait another 5 days for another one to arrive. Then when he put the car back together he didn't connect the airbag properly. He refused to reconnect it insisting it wasn't his fault. I guess it was just a coincidence that the light came on the day after getting the car back?!?! Do not go here. They will charge too much and won't take responsibility for anything they f*ck up! read more

I had a groupon to get a standard oil change and was told they are very busy over the phone and needed an appointment. Made one, and when I arrived it appeared very slow and not much was happening. I waited 20 minutes for them to bring my car in to begin the oil change and then another 55 for them to actually change it. They said they don't carry the kind of oil I use since they don't get many "foreign" cars in. Hard to believe in this day and age, but oh well. So they had to have someone bring the oil from somewhere. Very annoying. Then after I left and arrived back home I popped the hood and they had not topped up any fluids. I called and they said they thought i was in a rush so they overlooked it! After being there already an hour and half I think they could have taken the extra ten minutes to complete the job. I have been getting oil changes all my life and this is part of the service. So now I have to go to the store get the fluids and do it myself. I went out of my way to drive to Carrboro for the groupon. Lesson learned, there are no "deals" and it's better to pay more and get it done right. I won't recommend them, sorry. read more

I was in a rush and needed a quick tire repair. The staff was VERY quick and extremely polite and professional and only charged HALF of what Chapel Hill Tire charges. Highly recommended!! read more

Showed for my brake job appointment at 0800 as scheduled. They claimed no record of appointment and told me they would need to order parts which "might" be there later that day. I lost two hours of my work day and no brake job. Will never go to this shop again. read more

Happy I found this place. I have had 2 wonderful experiences so far. The new owner Michael is a straight shooter and cares about customer service. The prices are very fair and the service is quick. I had something rattling under my car for two years... I was scared to bring it in because I can't afford a major repair. These guys fixed the rattle for THIRTY BUCKS. Then I had an oil change and two filters changed for $70 out the door. Cheaper than Jiffy Lube! These are my go-to guys now... I feel in good hands! read more

Failure to properly diagnose problem. Felt that he was just trying to get more work/money out of me. Possibly damaged a part during diagnosis. Rude, unapologetic, not able to stand behind their mission statement of value and integrity in everything they do. Something bad wrong with this business/ owner. Avoid. read more

After my review I realized the owner, Michael, was the individual with whom I dealt. I am shocked that the owner is willing to treat customers in such a manner. On top of it all, the owner is completely unapologetic and inaccurate in his memories. Stay away from this place. read more

I went to get an estimate on my vehicle. Was told it was free. When I picked up my car, he told me what was wrong. I needed to go home and talk to my husband first then schedule an appointment. Since I did not get the work done right at that time, I had to pay for the estimate even though I was told it was free. I would have gone back to have them fix my vehicle but since he lied and was deceitful about the estimate, I didn't think I could trust him. I also found out he wasn't totally honest about what was wrong. I don't need a shady mechanic. I need an honest one that I can trust and bring all my vehicles to. read more

These guys are almost unacceptably friendly and notoriously honest. I took my car (2002 Hyundai Elantra) to them for several years once I moved to Carrboro, and they've always been reasonable and informative about repairs. I visited for the last time this week to settle up on a recovered stolen car that I had towed to them for inspection. They went out of their way to make some calls to the tow lot to coordinate receiving it, never griped about getting stuck with the car for a week while insurance processed things, and then only charged for checking out the engine light after taking out a new spark plug they had put in once I explained that the car was getting totaled out by insurance. I've referred three coworkers, two girlfriends and several run clubbers to them over the past couple of years, and not a single person has come back and said they had any trouble with them whatsoever. Look all you want, but I doubt you'll ever find a better auto shop in the area. I mean I don't even really need a car most of the time, but I'm almost tempted to buy a new one just so I can take it to these guys. read more

I haven't written a review in as long as I can remember, but I had to get online today to say how grateful I was to find F&F auto. I had postponed my vehicle inspection and needed it ASAP and passed. The first place I took the car told me I needed nearly $400 in repairs to pass. My neighbor and boyfriend both recommended F&F for a second opinion. These guys were great: not only were they super friendly, but they fit me in within the hour AND passed my car. They did tell me that repairs would be needed soon, but that I had a bit of time before they became necessary. It's not that the first place was dishonest, it's that they were sort of jumping the gun in order to get me to go through their repair service. I will definitely be going back to F&F for the needed work (and in the future). Check them out! read more

I have gone to F&F multiple times over the last couple of years but things have really changed lately. The service takes a lot longer and the follow up phone calls are not consistent. Prices seem to be pretty steep and no discounts or specials are ever available. I will be looking for another shop in the near future. read more

As a student at UNC, I strongly recommend NOT bringing your car here. The owner was the EMT that responded to my friend's accident, so he towed the car to his shop and took care of it. He proceeded to make personal contact with her on multiple occasions, both before and after the car was returned, to check up on the general welfare. THIS was seemingly fine. What was then not fine was him friend requesting her on facebook, his 'estranged' WIFE (and the receptionist) targeting both her and multiple friends of hers both on facebook and text messaging (they got her contact info from their personal information on customers) accusing her of trying to 'steal' her husband and then cyber bullying and harassing her for even looking in the shop when my friend would walk past each day for work. The kind of behavior was not professional at all, dangerous for UNC female students, and I would certainly never bring my car back for any additional work. read more