I see there are a lot of reviews about Great Bear that are not favorable, however my experience with them is always on the level, and I trust these guys with my car and the repairs needed. Automative maintenance is expensive, and I understand labor costs, rising material costs, and bottom line of mom and pop shops, I also understand how dealerships aka stealer-ships will charge thru the nose with outrageous prices, and at the end of the day, these guys charge appropriately for maintenance. Breaks, Labor, Alignment, Oil Change and all being about $740 is on par with industry standards, and after receiving my car back, it drove like it was maintenance well, better driving, fresh oil, and handled with care. I will be back for futher repairs when necessary, and recommend this shop to people looking for a trusty mechanic. read more

Great Bear may have proved that first impressions matter. Upon an unexpected car trouble, we urgently needed someone to take a look at our vehicle for diagnostics. After unsuccessful visits to two nearby shops, where I wouldn't have felt completely confident or comfortable leaving our car overnight anyway, we came to Great Bear, which was our first pick but farther from where we were than the other two shops. Little more than one hour later, hearing them casually say "you guys are all set" was the best thing that happened to me all day. It looks like they didn't overcharge, either, and I was glad to hear what they said happened to the car and what was done to address it, and pay whatever they charged. They have a 'presentable' waiting room that was actually comfortable to sit in, and the shop front was near and free of any signs of chaos, unlike the other two shops. I hope they stay open and be helpful for a very long time. read more

I had to take my car into Great Bear for an inspection. You know the kind that the insurance company wants when you change insurance companies. I guess they don't believe you when you tell them about your vehicle and they need pictures but I digress..sorry. This is a walk in, wait your turn kind of place. I have been here before and I think that they are terrific. I was greeted by a nice guy who told me that it would be about a 30 minute wait which was fine. The store is decorated in with some pretty cool furniture that is perfect for an auto place. Anyway before I could get into checking out the fb happenings of people my car was done. I get to go back there again tomorrow because my husband's car needs to be inspected too. read more

Family run business that provides knowledgeable and excellent service. Recently, Rich and Rich Jr. ran diagnostics on my car and spent time explaining what was causing the difficulty. They completely resolved the issue. I have been going to Great Bear for years as this is the only place I trust with the mechanics of my car. Their service has been reliable every time. I recommend them to everyone. Especially during these crazy times it's nice to know you are in the presence of honest, good hearted people that care about the safety of your vehicle. #supportlocalbusinesses read more

I love these guys. I had an old car with 200k miles and they kept me safe. When it was time to get a new car, they let me know rather than have me throw money into a car on its last legs. They helped me chose a solid next vehicle. I feel like they've "got my back" They are so reliable. I cannot remember having to redo a repair. They will drive you home if needed. read more

Seem like honest family run business until you learn the truth. Scammed my father and me, telling us we had bad water pumps and we did not. NOT RIGHT. My dad went there for a long time and trusted these men and they took advantage of him. read more

Honest, customer focused, skilled mechanics. I wouldn't use any other shop. I have been a loyal customer for over 5 years. Richie, Dave and JR. have earned my loyalty as a customer. read more

I don't own a car or truck but this site keeps sending me emails insisting I review and rate their service so here we go. I took the full hour tour though I heard the 30 min option is good also. Paige, who was the guide took us through the back area where all the car doors are opened and closed. Wow. Who knew it took so much work. After that we saw how they inflate tires. AMAZING. We got to sit after that...I was exhausted and they brought out some cocktails and burgers. They had also had black bean tacos and we had a good laugh about filling tires with 'gas'. Haha. The second half wasn't as exciting but at the end they had a magician levitate a truck and make it spin..OMG, how'd they do that? All in all a great day. I totally recommend it! PS. The pool was closed but looked cool. read more

A neighbor recommended this auto repair shop located in the heart of Huntington Station, NY. Now I'm recommending it to you. Richie runs a clean operation and is very responsive to any questions you might have. His prices are competitive and, unlike dealer service departments, he spends time explaining what your car needs and how he'll do the work. Well, it's two years later and Richie is still the only one I trust to give me great service at such a reasonable price. It really matters that he's so reliable, comprehensive, will service your auto thoroughly, road test it, and stands behind everything he does. After having so many awful experiences at other shops, I'd bring my car any distance for the peace of mind knowing that my car is in the care and honest hands of this one. I'll absolutely recommend to all of my friends! read more

We are so happy with the quality service that great bear provides to my family's car as we have six cars and Rich stands behind all repairs... You won't be disappointed!!!!! read more

Got a flat and made a mistake going there. First I was told my wheel lock keys are not to be found and they have to take out the lock and replace it with lug nuts. There was another customer getting repairs on the car and told me that she was under similar circumstance. Anyways after the tire was patched , I drove hardly 30 miles and my same tire went flat again on busy LIE on HOV lane and came off the rim . Spent 2 hrs having called police and had to get my towed to safer location for tire change. Next day I called Rich and complained to him about his service. He claims he needs to see the tire...Please dont go there.. read more

I brought my classic 1974 Land Rover to Great Bear for a complete engine rebuild. After getting it back, I couldn't be happier. Richie, Dave and the crew brought this baby back to life. In fact, it runs the same as it did when I drove it out of the show room in 1974. These guys did a great job and kept me informed all along the way as to the progress of the project. I definitely will be going back for any repair on this or my other vehicles. Thanks guys! read more

I went to rent a U-Haul there and the experience was terrible! I signed up online, including pre-registration which meant had things gone perfectly I would've walked in, gotten my truck (including the dolley and blankets) and go. Sadly, this was not the case. When I arrived, I asked to pick up my van and they said, "I don't think we have any reservations for a van." Already, this isn't a good sign. He goes to the back for 5 minutes, then comes back with another guy who guides him through the computer. Then, they ask me for my information. This confuses me since I already registered but I oblige. Nearly an HOUR goes by and they still haven't been able to put my information in the computer because for whatever reason it won't process in the system. A woman who works their decides to join them. They tell me I have to give my credit card number because the don't take debit (this wasn't the case online, but I need to get my van so I just shrug it off). Now they're telling me my card isn't working and they're accusing me of not activating it. My card works perfectly fine and it was activated at least a month ago. Mind you, this entire time, two men and a woman are staring at a computer trying to solve this problem. When the men leave (for whatever reason) she tells me "I bet it's Chase; I always have problems with them. I've literally NEVER had a problem with Chase, but if it helps her sleep better at night that it's not her fault but Chase's, so be it. After an hour and a half, they solve it. I ask for the blankets and the dolly and they say, "We don't have it. You have to go to the U-Haul down the street to pick them up." SO THEN WHY THE HELL AM I WASTING MY TIME WITH YOU THREE?!?!?! I'm now fuming but I don't have time to waste yelling at these three so I get my things and go. When I go to U-Haul, I ask them if I could've paid with a debit card. "Of course you can!" I then get my other things from them in no less than 2 minutes MORAL OF THE STORY: If you need to rent a U-HAUL, DO NOT go to Great Bear Auto Center; they're incompetent and can't accept when they're wrong. As far as taking care of cars, I can't answer that for you. read more

Always fast and fair service at Great Bear, been using them for years. Would recommend them from anything from an oil change to major repair work. They help you understand the problem with your car in simple language, and get you back on the road in no time. read more

I've taken my old cars here for a number of years, since their previous location, and have had a mix of experiences from bad to very good. The plus has been that generally their repairs held up and my cars were running well at high mileage. Other things would break and need fixing, but not the same parts they had replaced. I found the pricing a little bit too steep for used cars and, after some years, just went and bought me new cars, rather than paying about $2,000 a year in repairs. I have had a couple of bad experiences but not lately: one time went to repair a window issue and later found their mechanic had broken the door paneling. One other time the mechanic broke a small plastic cover for the back brake light and just taped it up and didn't tell me. But, for the most part, it's been okay and considering this line of work, better than okay... I mean I haven't really had a great experience with *any* auto repair shop, and I've been to many. They have the cards in their favor, as your car is broken and you either repair it or junk it. Since Rich reads this as well, I would just like to convey better customer service and consideration on pricing, especially on repeat customers, can go a long way to securing repeat visits. I think that could use improvement, because there are many other shops where one could go get abused at... However, I'm still going here because the repairs have been reliable so far, and they are less expensive than a dealership. read more

These guys get it right and its obvious they care !!! A dozen experiences and I don't even consider going anywhere else !!! They fixed everything and even did a few little extras like cleaning my battery terminal and fixing a intermittent brake light and looking around to give me suggestions I might want to take care of next time !!! Awesome and having AAA drop my car there for me one time when the alternator went that was easy and it was fixed a few hours later they called me to pick it up , even offered to pick me up !!! That was great , trust them with my life kuz my car is fixed right !!! read more

Richie Wisniski and his brother Dave have run Great Bear since 1973. I have known the two brothers since then as they took over the business from Benny. Although they will repair your car, you will wind up paying thru the nose to get it back. This is a very, expensive repair shop and my advice is to use it only as a last resort. For an example, I brought in my Cadillac to have the radiator repaired. Junior or Richie's son gave me a price quote of 1,030.00. When I looked up the cost of the radiator on Car ID it was 163.00. Throw in 150.00 for the install and you get a honest price of 313.00? What happened to the 700.00? THE TWO BROTHER WILL REPAIR YOUR CAR BUT THEY WILL SEND YOU TO THE POORHOUSE AS WELL. BEST ADVICE STAY AWAY Thanks, Al read more

They get it right consistently and the honesty and consideration is obvious !!! Thank god there is a place I can trust !!! 20 years experience with these folks and they are still in business for the right reasons !!! read more

after a number of years , went back for routine auto check up, better then previous visit. read more

The customer service is on the weak side. The guy Rich behind the counter is constantly on the phone with his headset and it's very annoying trying to talk. I don't think he cares about customers who walk and he probably has deals with the used car dealerships in the area. My guess is he didn't want my business. read more

I have been coming here for over 14 years now. Never crossed my mind to write a review as I always focus on the restaurant side of yelp. With that said this place deserves a great write up. This is the ONLY shop I trust. Richie is always honest and thorough with his work. Everyone in my immediate family (over 8 cars) uses them and we have never had any issues with the work or the pricing. Heck, when I was away at college some years ago and had car trouble with my clutch they even came to the rescue. I had a feeling that I was getting ripped off by a mechanic I HAD to use, so I gave them a ring just to gauge what their thoughts were. They explained what it should cost for various repairs. When I balked at the unfamiliar mechanics price and threw around some numbers great bear had quoted, wouldn't you know they were willing to take another look at the problem. In no way shape or form did they have to help me out, but they did and it's a testament to their honest work ethic. If your in the Huntington area and are looking for stand up guys then give them a try. read more

Hit or miss. I had to bring my car back twice after repairs were done. Once b/c they forgot to connect a wire and the second time b/c of a defective ignition wire. They would have known it was defective had they test drove the car after the repair. It was clearly idling very rough when stopped with the car in drive. Now, both times I was not charged for the second repairs but still a big inconvenience to have to leave the car there an entire second day. Also, just recently I dropped the car of b/c the check engine light was on. Paid approx $250 for the repair. 3 days later check engine light comes on again. They obviously did not fix the problem. I think it is time for me to find a new place. Not sure what is happening there. Plus, that guy Dave is just an a$$ and should not be working the counter. Rich is a nice guy but again, their work has been hit or miss lately and I refuse to deal with Dave so I am bringing my car to another shop. read more

My wife and I have happily used Great Bear for car maintenance and repair jobs for the past 4 years. I am surprised to see there are negative reviews, as the service we have experienced is top notch, and the costs very competitive. One of the things that makes up come back is that Rich is very good at describing the options we have when facing repair, bringing us in the shop and showing us the parts that need to be fixed or changed. This is an honest way to do business that you don't find at every repair shop. Also, for those who need to wait at Great Bear while the job is being done, they have a clean, spacious sitting area with free coffee. Finally, I have to mention that once they fixed a big dent in my front bumper caused by a collision with a deer for FREE! I didn't ask for it, they just proposed to do it as they were changing my front tires, and were able to bring my bumper back to its original shape, at no charge. Thoroughly impressed. read more

After reading a review from Lori M, I'm taking the time to repost a previous review that I made (which no longer appears) as I feel she is completely misrepresenting Great Bear and is calling into question their integrity. Although I haven't lived in the area for years, I still travel out from Manhattan to have my car worked on by Great Bear because I trust them. I've personally used them for years and know many others that do as well. They have saved me a ton of money and always have been honest and straightforward with me. I've never, ever heard a complaint about them. Ironic that Lori's family also never had a complaint about them. I can't address her specific experience other than to say that anyone claiming water pumps never go bad on Toyotas or last the lifetime of a car is living in a cave. just last month, Toyota recalled almost 2.8million cars because of issues with water pumps. http://www.nydailynews.c.... Since she brought up the Better Business Bureau, I got curious and checked them out. They have an "A+" rating. Can't say enough good things about these guys. It's never a pleasant experience shelling out money to fix your car but Richie has always been upfront about costs and tried to find the best / most appropriate solution for the least amount of cost. As an example, I have a very minor leak in a gasket which would be very expensive to fix. Richie pointed it out, showed me the leak, explained what was going and basically said to watch it / make sure the transmission fluid is topped off rather than spend the money to fix it. Most other mechanics would have used it as an opportunity to sell me on a very expensive and unnecessary repair. Below is my review originally posted Nov. 2011: These guys are awesome. Besides being competent in their work, they have the most important thing I look for in a mechanic...HONESTY. I drove out from Manhattan last week after the Jeep dealer tried raping me. Richie reviewed their estimate and checked over my car. Much of the work the dealer recommended wasn't needed. My $4,200 worth of work quoted by the dealer was done for about $1,000. These guys have been in business for a long time. I know people that have been using them 20 years plus. You can't go wrong with this Great Bear location. They are honest, do go work at a very fair price, and get things done in a reasonable amount of time. My only wish is that they were more convenient to me. That said, even though I live in Manhattan, they are my mechanic of choice. To Richie and the guys - Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!! Keep up the great service. It's actually refreshing to have such a good customer experience. Despite spending $1k+ on work, I felt you were honest and upfront about everything and that it was all necessary so it wasn't as painful as it could have been. Just call me another happy customer. read more

First time using them and the job performed and price of the labor was reasonable, but the parts prices was way too high especially over $8 per lug nut. read more

Hey great bear is a great place to bring ur vehicle. I been using great bear for about 12 years now and havet had not one problem. My car is still running and runs new. The best part about these 2 brothers and staff is that i theres something wrong with the vehicle they will walk you ito the shop to show u before any work is done. I never met such honest people from a shop till the first day i walked into greatbear. I will continue to take my car for service there ad also will recommend other people to go and service there vehicles to. Thanx greatbear and staff for beeing kind and honest people . read more

NOT a trustworthy business. Sadly, I've taken my car to them too many times and thankfully, not again. They've tampered with my vehicle for the last time. Every time I left the shop, something amiss would happen with car right away. 2 times the exact same sensor failed right out of their shop--I've replaced 2 times now directly after them doing work with confirmed failure of the sensors directly after service and not prior. Brakes were messed with too on an occasion--instantly after service vibration and shuddering in the brakes. Of course, the scam is that they mess with things that they'd bet on you taking the car right back to them to do more work. This is the scam. They will also withhold basic auto mechanic information--relying on the lay person not knowing anyway--so they can work up the bill as high as possible, taking advantage of people everyday without them knowing. They scratched up a very visibly, and in a very noticeable place, the interior trim parts on my car also on an occasion also--careless and sloppy. They're not friendly and are borderline rude. Just avoid this location entirely. I'm just annoyed that this business is even close to my neighborhood. read more

Went in there to get my photo inspection the guy that took me in was so so rude , would never ever recommended this place .Stay Away