Took my car a good carma today for the first time. I had an excellent experience, really good communicators and fast turn around even with large problems. The coffee shop across the street is a huge bonus. read more

This is the only place I have taken my 2010 Audi A6 3.0T since I bought it a few years back, and they have ALWAYS done me right!!! I am looking to buy another Audi for my Daughter, and Good Carma will keep it safe and maintained! read more

I am sick'n'tired of Westside Volkswagen ( serving my wife's Golf) and Audi Minneapolis of Wayzata (serving my A5). They are the epitome of soulless , money hungry dealerships. It's taken me too long to find Good Carma to look after the Golf and the A5. I'm basing this review on the work they did on the Golf recently; thorough and fairly priced. The ($7,000+) work the dealer recommended for my A5 I'm going to trust Good Carma to do, and pretty sure it'll be reasonably priced read more

I had an initial appreciation for Good Carma and was willing to drive 25 miles to get oil changes and minor repairs done to my 2009 CC with 140,000+ miles that I take pride in preserving. Their prices are fair and they don't push you to purchase tires like every dealership meeting. The shop is like a small paradise for a VW enthusiast. I have to say that as a customer I never felt special, they wanted me in and out the door. Some guys at the counter are friendly but the last 2-3 visits I felt a cold shoulder when asking questions. I ended up feeling that they were doing me a favor by looking into my car. The only highlight was the free coffee at the shop next door. Recently I took my CC for an oil change, they got me in and out the door in an hour, and that afternoon when cleaning the car, the splash shield below the engine bay just felt on my driveway . I looked below and the shield was just snapped into place and no screws were put into place. I had to go to the closest shop so they could snap it back and screw it back for a fee, making me waste time and money. For a shop that claims to be VW "experts", you do not miss a simple, yet critical step as making sure that big part is secured back. I called Good Carma that afternoon and all I got was a "oh. Sorry - this shouldn't have happened". I asked how were they going to make it up to me and they said "well, we will not make that mistake again". So disappointing. Messaged the owner and stated my concern, getting only a mild apology. Bottom line I will not return to Good Carma. Was fun at first but I felt disappointed. Like when you begin dating and you then feel like you are not enough. I found a shop closer to home that gives great service, pricing and they have their basics covered. read more

I've owned VWs for the past 10 years of my life, and unfortunately it took me 9 of those years to realize how poor the customer service is at the dealership. After my last visit to Westside in the summer of 2011 where their total bill for a repair was $800 more than their estimate, I swore to myself I was never going back. Thankfully, moving into the Northeast neighborhood it did not take long before I was told by several neighbors that I should visit Carma. I simply had an oil change, but the customer service was absolutely wonderful. I felt like they actually understand the concept of not only taking care of my car, but also of making sure I am happy too. They were extremely responsive, patient with my questions, and I never felt as though I was taken advantage of (something I always felt at Westside). I also am happy to say they're extremely honest folks. I brought in my car thinking I heard a crunching noise when braking. They checked it out, and it seems that I was just paranoid and everything with the brakes is fine. They could have easily told me otherwise, and I wouldn't have know the difference. Ethical, kind mechanics are tough to find, but visiting Carma will get you just that! I strongly recommend! read more

Be ready to be price gouged (especially on labor) and to go in for one fix and be told 15 other things need to be fixed too. We recently went in to get one item fixed, and when we picked it up, another item that had been working when we brought the car in initially was no longer working. Brought it back in and were called and told they were already working on a fix that would be hundreds of dollars - without getting our approval to do that. If you break something in other repairs, good customer service would be to not charge to fix your break, and no matter what you shouldn't start fixing something without authorization. read more

Really professional and did a good job with servicing my audi. Thank you and appreciate the service.

Hi! Recently had my car repaired at Good Carma. I had a wonderful and courteous experience! Bill Japp, the owner personally took care of me and directed his staff in a very efficient way! They replaced my alternator and had it done in just a few hours. It was reasonably priced and, as a woman, I definitely did not feel like they took advantage of my inexperience with cars. I will always take my car there when I need repairs. Trustworthy and pleasant. AND you can go across the street and visit Bill's coffee shop, Carma Coffee for a great cup of java and a sweet or savory treat! Five stars all day long!!! :D read more

One snowy day my wiper blade fell right off while wiping the windshield. My basic car takes "special" wiper blades that had to be shipped from Texas. Ryan and Keith were able to make something work for me to be able to drive, while waiting for blades that fit. They were helpful and made the whole situation much easier. read more

Good Carma is such a respectable business, they really went above and far far beyond to ensure I was satisfied with their performance. Ryan's simply a gem and practiced such extraordinary patience while answering all of my questions. I was provided by far the best customer service you could possibly receive. They are owning North East Minneapolis. Thank you so much Keith and Ryan your service was unforgettable. read more

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times? Well, I guess you've got to hand it to them. Us VW drivers (or former VW drivers like yours truly) love our cars, but also know that they have a tendency to start nickel and diming us slowly and steadily. Good Carma is one of many institutions in the Twin Cities metro that have tapped into this steady stream of cash. Sadly, this is the sort of shop that treats their customers like they were born yesterday. I had a much-beloved Golf that required the standard degree of maintenance, and out of a certain mix of necessity and convenience (I worked up in NE at the time), I found myself calling Good Carma on a few different occasions. The first time or two I visited, things went as I'd expect; especially for a shop charging slightly more than the others. But there are a few (my last 2, in fact) experiences there that really go beyond the pale. The first time around, I went in for a relatively simple job. I can't exactly recall what it was, to tell you the truth. What I do recall is that they ended up upselling me on a repair that I wasn't looking for, claiming that my car was "leaking oil" as a result. I've never been one to shirk on doing things correctly or completely the first time around so I agreed on the upsell and patiently waited the 5 days it took for them to fix my car. When I went in to pick the car up, everything seemed to be in position. I wrote out a sizable check and optimistically hopped into my (so I thought) nicely-repaired car. On the ride home, I thought I smelled burning oil. Since the oil leak that my car supposedly suffered from had been so expertly repaired, I knew it couldn't be me. So I went about my nightly tasks, only stopping when the unthinkable happened. I turned a corner and my oil light came on, ostensibly because the oil level dropped below the threshold as what was left sloshed in the pan. I got home, fetched a flashlight and took a glance underneath the car to see what I dreaded. It looked like an oil bomb had exploded underneath my car. I had no idea what was going on, but slept on it and got on the horn to my pals at Good Carma the next day. Rather than apologizing profusely, I was told that the issue very likely had nothing to do with the work they had done. And if I could get the car over there that day, they "might" be able to look at it later. This required agonizingly limping it over with a few quarts of oil on hand to keep the engine lubricated as it spattered oil all over its engine compartment. The good news is that the car made it. And somebody in there confirmed that the issue was indeed caused by a defective part. And to their credit, they set things right for me, though the car smelled of burned oil until the day I sold it. And I always had to wonder whether or not I really needed the work that they upsold me on. I checked my oil regularly and never noticed it being down more than the expected amount. Another interesting anecdote is that I heard the company's spiel about a repair they'd done on a different customer's car on an occasion that I waited for my car to be brought out. It's clear that customers are not held in the highest of esteem over at GC. And the final bit of hilarity that drove the nail into the Good Carma coffin was when my original exhaust rusted through. Figuring they owed me at least one solid favor after the oil debacle, I went in. I received the same indifferent treatment as ever, and was told that I needed a $1200 cat-back replacement, if I was "lucky." The way they saw it, I'd need to replace the cat, too, for another $800 or so. I know a steaming load of bull when I smell it. I took the job to a shop with more scruples and they welded in a new piece of metal for me for pennies. It held beautifully until the day I sold the car. My advice to you? Take your work to South Central Imports or VW Man and save yourself the drama. read more

The guys at Good Carma are as good as they come. We take our VW here, and it's definitely a finnicky car. Warning lights would occasionally flash + beep loudly at us, and as soon as we took it to Good Carma the problems stopped. They fairly and accurately diagnose the problem, and tell you exactly what needs to be done, no more and no less. They are knowledgeable, efficient, and super nice, and clearly enjoy what they do without the pretense that I'm so used to at car shops. We support NE businesses as much as humanly possible, and we ALWAYS feel good about patronizing to Good Carma. GC is the best local car-repair place I've been to, and miles above the chains that permeate the repair market. You'll actually feel GOOD about getting your car fixed! Their prices are better than anywhere we have ever gone, and the owners and staff seem to appreciate genuinely each and every customer who comes in their doors. Thanks for making our crazy little car run! read more

My 2013 GTI began having issues and I did not want to pay dealership repair prices, so I brought it to Good Carma. I have had VW's for years and always had my repairs on my previous cars done here. My car needed a new timing chain. Yikes!! Luckily I had purchased the extended warranty. Good Carma handled everything for me! They dealt with the warranty company and made sure I had a loaner vehicle while we waited approval from the warranty company. Ryan was a complete pleasure to work with and kept me up to date on everything. I would not hesitate if you are wondering to use Good Carma. They are all great guys and very professional. read more

Good Carma performed a pre-purchase inspection on a used VW I was considering. The selling dealer told me it would be a waste of time in light of their own thorough inspection. I figured the $100 spent would be worth the peace of mind. What an understatement! The Good Carma guys caught about $1500 worth of items needing attention, and advised me that if the dealer would repair these items, the car was a solid buy. The dealer preformed a re-inspection, after which they agreed to perform the repairs identified by Good Carma. Score! While waiting for my job to be completed, I had the opportunity to observe the service advisors interaction with customers. I was impressed that they took the time to listen to their customers, and didn't always recommend the quick/expensive/easy fix. The service area itself was well organized and clean. These are signs of a shop that is squared away. I'm glad to have found a VW shop that I can trust. read more

Not just competent service but valuable help in prioritizing your cars need. Very helpful for those on a budget. Good Carma is (on more than average) quick and kind. Heck I send my Mother to Bill & Co what better endorsement can I offer! M.J.McGirl read more

Love these guys! I discovered my headlight was broken while driving from Billings MT. A nice shop in Bismarck could not help and referred me to the VW dealer in Fargo. I called ahead and they acted as if I was bothering them by calling. They grudgingly gave me the name of another shop in Fargo who treated me the same way. I have friends in MSP so I decided to drive in the daylight and get to MSP. Dave at Good Carma was great. I called him from Bismarck. He searched for a local part to no avail and ordered in a new headlight for me to be shipped overnight. I was on the road by 1030 the next morning. No muss no fuss and two free cups of coffee. Love these guys. read more

We have been taking our 2001 Volkswagen Golf at Good Carma since 2007. They have been doing a good job and have gained our trust. However, in Sept 2015, we were not on the same page on with the diagnosis and we authorized the repair on our car which we probably wouldn't have. We expressed our dissatisfaction. Good Carma did hear our concerns, saw our point of view and were open to talk it through. While the process of coming to an agreement took longer than we would have liked, I'm glad that we were finally able to. Though I'm not completely happy that we lost some money for the repairs, I'm thankful for Good Carma for helping us resolve the matter. read more

Had a bad Carma day with a 2007 Audi S8.. the guys took care of me on short notice. They didn't have to, but they did. The emergency parking brake had a bad part in it, they were able to see exactly the problem and recommend what was needed. Although I went a different route, I def. would recommend. They even gave me a lift back to my car! Thanks Good Carma for the Good Carma! Kate P. read more

first time there with my EOS, great work, thanks for fixing my car !! Loved my experience there and everyone is so nice, will DEFINITELY be back read more

My husband and I brought in a used vehicle recently for an inspection, and the guys at good carma were awesome to work with! They were very honest and knowledgeable, and they actually recommended against us buying the car so likely saved us a lot of time and money down the road. Will definitely return! read more

There are a few select businesses that 5 Stars are not enough, this is one of them. I wish there was a shop like this in my hometown but am immensely thankful that it was in the city where my car's engine light, ETC light came on and my car started shaking. I was four hours from home. I tried contacting about 5 shops close to me and avoided some seriously low rated shops. No one could even look at my car for days let alone repair it the last place I called apologized that they couldn't get me in and I asked them who they would recommend if they were in my shoes and they recommended Good Carma. I called and the person I spoke with really listened and understood that I was stranded in Minneapolis. He said they would take a look at it even though they too were very busy. I arrived at their clean retro shop was greeted right away by the person I spoke with as well as by Lt. Dan the three legged dog. After giving all the info about my car they told me I could get a cup of coffee next door at Carma Coffee on them while they diagnosed my VW EOS. The coffee shop was a great place to wait and I received a call with the diagnosis and was told that they could repair it right away. I was so relieved. I had breakfast and was back on the road in less than an hour. For anyone in Minneapolis who has a VW, Audi or Subaru this is THE PLACE and I am envious you have a shop that truly cares about the customer. For me I will try to time my oil changes and other maintenance for my visits to MN just so I can take my car to Good Carma! read more

As someone that doesn't know a lot about cars, what I look for most is helpfulness and trustworthiness and Good Carma is great. I had a really small problem with my car that I couldn't take care of myself, and the people there helped me right away, walked me through what needed to happen in a really clear way, and because it was faster than they anticipated, they only charged me for the time it took (not what they originally quoted me at) -- which I really appreciated. Really good customer service. read more

Would love to try this place based on Yelp reviews. However, I called to talk to them and the answer was "Well, we are not open on weekends and we're 1.5 weeks out right now" - not exactly welcoming. Hours are 8:30 - 5:30 M-F which pretty much rules out me being able to get my car over there during hours when I'm not expected to be at work. Disappointing. read more

HIghest rating possible! Good Carma has looked after our 3 Subarus, a Vanagon and Eurovan over the years. They are technically very competent, impeccably honest, and only suggest work that truly needs doing. They are our go-to place for advice and repairs; their labor charges are lower and the work exceeds the quality of any dealership anywhere. Thanks, Good Carma. (And the nearby coffeeshop is a great place to wait while the work is being done.) read more

Quality service for your VW or Audi. The clutch job took longer than estimated, but it was worth the wait. They did a great job with the clutch, and, they took care of some other issues that showed up along the way. One of the problems that they solved was a long-term heating problem that my previous mechanics hadn't been able to figure out. Great job guys! read more

Every time I come back from getting my Passat Wagon serviced at Good Carma I think, "I should write a review!" Today I am. The guys at GC are consistently great. The They're friendly and they're straight-shooters. The mechanics do quality work and frequently tell me things I didn't know about my car. If you call with a question they can diagnose over the phone, they'll quote you a price. If it's bad news, they'll tell you. If there's a way to save you money or time, they will tell you that too. I went in to get a brake job last fall and they told me I didn't need one for another 5K miles. They wouldn't do the work because it didn't need to be done. I used to worry about the dealership or a repair shop ripping me off. I never think about it with Good Carma. I guess that's why they say "what comes around goes around." If you're wondering, give 'em a try. read more

So I'm driving my Cabrio north on 280 and an unavoidable object decided to severe my fuel lines. Seems like as soon as I dropped my VW off, ordered a tea at Good Coffee across the street, Bill walks over and tells me the car is good to go. Sometimes a quick fix comes from quick thinking. Clearly Bill and the rest of the crew know what they are doing. I canceled my insurance claim and walked out paying under $100! Sure, I might have been able to throw on a couple of patches myself, but I would have never even thought of that. We've been there before, and we'll go there again. read more

These guys are friendly, knowledgable, and go the extra mile to satisfy the customer! I'm soooooooooo impressed with the quality if their work!!! read more

Great service, couldn't be happier. Very communicative through the process, didn't feel like they were looking for "add on" sales. Later, West Side... read more

Spent $1000 getting my A/C repaired and belts/tensioners replaced on my 07 Jetta. Preemptively explained I do repairables on the side and could be a valuable customer in the future. Said repairs were quality, but car came back with non working radio. When I finally took it apart myself to diagnose nearly every screw was missing and every clip broken except for 2. Taking a radio out to access heater controls is very basic and video is provided on YouTube, you need to use a modicum of caution. As explained in the video the antenna connection is quite delicate, and caution should be taken. If I can figure this out as an average mechanic, why cant the experts? read more

I agree with Martha's comments below. Not welcoming at all! I have called Good Carma twice because of the good things I have heard from friends. The first time I called, I did not know the specific type of engine in my car and asked for a rough quote. I was greeted with attitude and my questions were not answered. The lady on the phone couldn't even give me a rough range for an estimate, apparently this was too much of an inconvenience to look up what the cost of maintenance on the 2 types of 4 cylinders cost and give me the range... The second time I called, the same lady hung up the phone on me-- incredibly rude. I will not be bringing my business here in the future. read more

I called Goodcarma on a whim as I was behind the shop loaner car and decided to give them a call. I spoke with Jordan and told him I would probably need a head gasket and also would do timing belt, water pump etc. at same time,and asked him for worse case scenario for the cost and was told around eighteen hundred, which was the same quote I had from Medi+car a local shop. Based on my pleasant call with Jordan-I was very hopeful that I had found a place I could trust to fix my Passat correctly & reasonably priced- so I set the appointment- as they were a week out. Had the car towed in a day early and rented a car for a week since I was told it could take a week, four days later finally had the diagnosis that it did indeed need to have the head removed and worse case scenario it was now going to be $3200 for the job which included the possible cost of a valve job-and they would still have to have the car another week since the head would have to go in to a head shop and they had not done anything more than diagnostic so far... with the price they were now asking way over what they had told me on the phone for the exact job I had told them to quote me in the first place I paid the diagnostic and picked up my car and will hope my luck will be better! The only winner -Avis, who rented me a car for a week! read more

Absolutely life's up to the hype. They are on time, very detailed in their diagnosis and prices. They do a great job of explaining that something is nearing the end of its useful life, but leave the replacement decision up to you. The only down side is getting an appointment. They have high standards for their mechanics, and evidently have had trouble finding a new one. Everyone wants a mechanic they can trust, and Good Carma fits the bill. read more

Went to Good Carma after my VW dealership tried to rip me off for repairs that weren't needed. Incredibly glad I did. These guys do great work, clearly communicate repairs and pricing, and make it easy to get in and get out. They just opened a cafe across the street; perhaps the best "waiting area" I've every come across (wi-fi, good coffee, good eats, etc.). If you drive a VW or Honda, this place will take good care of you. read more

Thebrakes in my gal's Beetle were shuddering, so I took the car to Good Carma and was told the car needed new brakes all around and quoted $300 for the rear and $350 for the front. I said thanks but no thanks as she had this done two years earlier and new brakes last longer than two years. I took the car to Hoover Alignment on E Hennepin and 35W and they turned the rotors and sorted it out for $100. I talked with the owner on a previous visit, and he seemed like a nice guy and my kind of people. It wasn't the owner who quoted me on the brakes, but I feel that one of his employees was trying to pull a fast one. Another thing, on that earlier visit, they installed their shop's license plate frames (complete with a misspelling: Volkswagon) on both front and rear without asking. What the hell is that all about? read more

The worst. My wife brought her VW Jetta in to check out a small oil leak. They ended up DESTROYING the motor and then tried to blame it on prior service by claiming the main drive belt had been misaligned. THEN they tried to charge us $4000.00. and denied all responsibility. We didn't pay them a dime, walked away. SO they basically destroyed and stole my wife's perfectly good VW Jetta with only 140k miles on it. Worthless thieves. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. read more

I brought the wheels in January 2011 for a 60k checkup. Midday I receive a call telling me I need to replace my timing belt for an extra $800. Ok, you're the experts. End of day I get a call back saying they overtightened the belt and need to keep the car over the weekend and it will be re-done Monday. GC acted like they were doing me a favor mentioned it would be no extra cost-- gee thanks! A few months later out in the burbs the car locks up, can only go in reverse, and I have to tow it to a shop I trust in Nordeast. In the morning my new mechanic explains there was a bolt lodged in the gears, it didn't just randomly fall in there, someone dropped it in there by mistake last time it was being serviced. I was very lucky my new mechanic didn't want to charge me at all, I had roadside assistance or the tow would've been $300+ and my engine wasn't damaged. I understand mistakes happen but two strikes and you're out. read more

Took in a 98 A6 with the rear window inoperable. Paid for one hour of diagnostic time. Replaced component on shop advice, did not resolve issue. Resolved issue on my own. They were professional and courteous but incorrect. read more

Don't trust these guys.... We purchased a use car for our daughter from them, I asked if there were any issues I was told they had been servicing the car for the past several years and it's a great starter car....Less then 24 hours from the time of the purchase the car died on her and was shifting funny... I called and spoke with Jordan 1st thing the following morning explained what the issue was... They got in shop and fixed the issue... We continued to have shifting issues so I called again and brought it back in, now I need a new transmission and the have no record of my original complaint of shifting issues... I trusted them since I live in the neighborhood I will not make that mistake again..Now we are left with a 3500.00 mistake and our daughter is so sad she is without a car..... Don't make the same mistake I did! read more