Have to give a 5 Star review for ease of repair, highly recommended. My Honda Civic stopped charging while driving so I pulled off the freeway onto the city street and called AAA who came and checked the battery which was good but the system was not charging so I called Chris at Raffi Motors and told him I was having it towed in. Chris discovered the A/C compressor had seized up and the belt that also turns the alternator got shredded thus no battery charge. New compressor and belt installed next day. Thank you, Chris. my fellow Sentinel. read more

I have a 20+ year old Subaru Forester. It was passed on to me a couple of years ago with low miles (140K) for its age. Since I got it, it's always been a bit loud, but I thought it just had loud road noise and was old. I started to hear a more clunky & scraping sound. Took it to Chris and he knew right away what needed to be fixed. There were a couple of major things to be done. When I got my car back, it was so quiet and smooth! I couldn't believe it! He even did a few extra things that he saw needed to be taken care of. I'm so satisfied and happy with my new old car! Thanks Chris! PS Chris is awesome, the nicest man, always with a smile and positive attitude. read more

Chris at Raffi Motors is the most honest mechanic you'll find. Extremely knowledgeable on Subaru. Won't over charge you.

Chris is an amazing mechanic and will help you in any best way possible. I recommend him to anyone who has a Subaru, He knows them well.

Great work, shout out to Chris for being super honest and offering the best price i found in town. Was not disappointed with the service. Got my break fluid flushed and exchanged. read more

Brought my outback Subaru outback here to get my brakes replaced after 8 years buying it new. He came highly recommended from other Subaru owners. He is about half the price from the Subaru dealership. He replaced the brake pads and turned the rotors.If you have a Subaru bring it here.I recommend this mechanic if you have a Subaru.it was a same day service.i brought it in at 10AMand I picked it up at4PM.. I recommend to call first.The parking is really bad.I stopped at piggy's to eat a carne asada burrito when I picked up my car read more

Raffi Motors - Raffi Motors Business - Auto Repair Near Me - Hawthorne, California

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This guy did my 60k service on my 21 Crosstrek, along with new rear brake pads for a little over $600. The dealer wanted $1500 and that's without rear brake change. Take your car here instead of the dealership. read more

Raffi is a really good guy. I went in to get my brakes replaced because of the recommended change around 50k miles but he told me I didn't have to yet and showed me how much brake pad left. He also topped off my motor fluids checked my tire pressure and sent me on my way. It's hard to find a mechanic you can trust but Raffi earned my trust as someone that tells you what you honestly need and doesn't seek to make a quick buck from you. He's gained a customer for as long as I keep driving Subaru. read more

Chris has done A+ work on the several Subis I've had over the decades. While replacing a clutch, he diagnosed a front axle issue and made the repair when he had the transmission disassembled, and the front axles easily accessible. Fortunately, Subi wasn't totalled on my way home with a new clutch when a clown with no license, registration, insurance, and a fake name rear-ended me on the 405. Very fair prices and trustworthy to the max, thankfully he has keen diagnostic hearing skills. read more

His oil changes are $50 cheaper than the Subaru Dealer. I had an electrical problem with my 2015 Subaru Outback, Called Cris at Raffi Motors and was told to bring my car in right away. Upon arriving and explaining my problem to Cris he spent more than 45 minutes trying to locate the problem. He found and replaced a blown fuse and also added 1 qt of oil to my car. I was at his shop for an hour and he only charged me $7. The cost of his oil....... read more

Took my WRX STI for brakes. The best experience ever. No, i am not exaggerating. I have been searching for a Subaru independent mechanic for a while and i believe i found him. Not just friendly but more, very knowledgeable. Very honest and straightforward. If you're Subaru owner, the maintenance costs are usually above average. But not with Chris. He was very reasonable. I'll be back. A+++++. read more

The dude is SO AMAZING. He was upfront, honest, genuine, and didn't try to screw me over. I came all the way from east LA because of the reviews on this spot after hearing about it on Reddit, it did not disappoint. I asked about a lot of things that could be done to my car and he reassured me I didn't need to do those things to my car. I didn't feel like he was trying to scam me. It took about 2 hrs, so I went to Marshall's down the street and grabbed a coffee at Urth Cafe. read more

Do not come to this place horrible service, went to this place I need my car to be serviced, wen I ask for help and old man just say go go move your car i don't have time for you ,, read more

Raffi Motors is extremely helpful. I took one of my previous cars for a tune up and he did an excellent job. Since then I got a new car. I called and he said they don't work on my spec of car. He then called me back a few minutes later with some great advice and how to proceed. The call was not necessary and he went above and beyond to help, regardless if he wasn't able to work on my specific model. Much appreciated. read more

Thanks to the awesome reviews, I went to Raffi Motors instead of the dealer for a tune up on my Subaru Impreza. My car honestly hasn't sounded good for awhile. Chris immediately drove the car and found out what was wrong. It was tuned up and fixed that day. I feel 100% confident about the job that Chris did on my car. That kind of service is rare these days. So happy I found this shop. read more

Chris is the best! So honest and knowledgeable servicing my 2017 Subaru Forester. I am so glad my neighbor recommended him. I give him a 5star rating. read more

I had heard good thing about Raffi Motors through Subie Independent in NoHo, and decided to take my car there when I noticed a slow fluid leak near the transmission. I called ahead and brought my car in the same morning. He fixed the leak within half a day, and his rates were reasonable. To make matters even better, he even debunked most of the recommended suspension services (an unnamed commission sales tire chain cough Amer**** Ti** De*** cough) suggested which saved me over $2000! Overall they are super honest, friendly, and down to earth mechanic with rates/prices that won't break the bank. read more

Perhaps the most competent, honest and nicest mechanic in LA. If you have a Subaru, you bring it here. Period.

Thanks to reddit and yelp. I found Raffi Motors! I have a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek, and brought it in for basic maintenance. Chris knows his business. It's nice to trust the person who is dealing with your car and who's not over charging, especially when your car is in good condition. Just grateful to the yelp and reddit community for sharing this info and finding this place. read more

Saved my bacon today. Brought a 2021 Outback in for a pre-purchase inspection and he knew within 5 minutes that I definitively shouldn't buy the car due to issues you can't find on a CarFax or that a dealer would know/present. Guy's the real deal. read more

I was looking for a local independent mechanic and decided to give Raffi Motors a try. The owner, Chris, has been in business for 50 years and is a Subaru specialist who carries genuine parts. He was straightforward about what needed to be done, has reasonable rates, and was very easy to work with. Will definitely be coming back in the future read more

My gf recommended this place and for a woman to find an auto shop that is the TRUTH and REAL- this is the place!! Raffi is so professional, helpful and gives you the best work on your car you could find. Very reliable and I felt at ease knowing my car would be cared for because of all the great recommendations I've heard about this place. Highly recommend Raffi's! Thank you Raffi read more

Great honest mechanic, who spent a lot of time explaining what was going on with my car, even though he though I was taking my car back to another mechanic. Of course I was coming to him because the other mechanic wasn't able to take care of my problems... He told me a lot of common sense approaches to what needed to be repaired, and what could be put off. A little bit hard for us to get to, but very much worth the effort to be in good hands! read more

Chris is an absolute gem of a human. If you have anything wrong with your car either he can fix it affordably or direct you in the right place to go. The world needs more men like Chris. read more

Chris at Raffi Motors is the real deal! As someone who doesn't know too much about cars, he's the mechanic you always hope to find. After seeing recommendations of his skills with Subarus on Reddit I decided to call him up and bring my car by. He was quick, communicative, and very friendly. My vehicle did not end up needing any repairs- but he checked it out thoroughly, topped off fluids, and filled up my tires too. At the end he didn't even want money for his time or work. I will absolutely come back with any of my car needs. Highly recommend. read more

Chris and bob at raffis motor are modest, truthful mechanics and saved me ton of money by being great people! Cant recommend enough esp for subie owners. I have a 2013 subaru legacy and only go to raffis now. read more

Chris is one of the most honest repairmen you'll find out there. Sadly, I can only say I've had an oil change here. I have come here multiple times for my 1999 Subaru Legacy GT. One time was for Chris to diagnose why my steering wheel was shaking while braking at high speeds. He looked for free and told me my brake rotors were beginning to warp, but that they still had a decent amount of life on them. Since my problem only occurred at high speeds, I decided not to get my brakes yet replaced. So Chris helped me save money. Another time I visited Chris was for an oil leak. When I first asked AQ motorsports what it was, they said it was the oil and valve cover gaskets that would need to be replaced, which would cost $800. Chris told me that this is a common mistake, and that the underlying problem is in the camshaft gaskets, which is much harder to replace since it basically requires disassembling the whole engine. Chris said he would do it for $1500, but instead just to buy a $5 quart of oil and intermittently pour some oil in when necessary. This has been an easy fix and saved me a lot of money, so thanks Chris! If you have a Subaru that you cherish, this is the place to bring it. read more

We have gone to Raffi Motors for at least 15 years. Chris, the owner, the most honest mechanic you will ever meet. Period. We are on our fourth Subaru and Chris has serviced them all. On at least three occasions I took our car there to have it checked out only to be told everything was perfect. He could have easily made something up and I would have gladly paid. Chris has done everything from oil changes to a complete engine change in our 2006 Forester. He is always quick and efficient and absolutely one of the nicest guys. I'm sure Chris doesn't need my recommendation on Yelp, but he certainly deserves it. read more

Chris is honest, reliable, and friendly. The dealer had already taken for me 2k and wanted to charge me another 5k for an issue They couldn't confirm. Chris put my car on jacks, showed me the part, fixed it in 2 hours and charged me 200$!!! I'm loyal to Raffi motors for life! Chris is the best! read more

Chris has taken care of my 2013 Outback (Pearlie) for 5 years now. He's done all the oil/filter changes and the brakes for really reasonable prices. Once, after a rear-end accident and despite being repaired by another collision company, my car engine light kept coming on. No one could figure it out except Chris, who ran a diagnostic and immediately found out it was a cracked EVAC canister. He recommended I go the the Subaru dealer to get it fixed because it should be under warranty. Surely it was and I got it repaired for free at the dealer and Chris saved me tons of money. But not only that, Chris recognizes my car every time I pull in to get the oil changed. He changes air filters when they need to be changed, and doesn't change them when the don't. I don't have to worry he's going to up sell me something. It's just nice to have a trustworthy mechanic look after your car. Do yourself a favor, from one Subaru owner to another, bring your Subi to Chris. read more

Downgrading due to service. Came here a couple of times over some issues with the car spread out over the last year. Both times he dismissed the problem onto others- and sent me out without any service. Basically, if you come with a car issue beyond a normal repair or service requiring analysis or complexity or more work in figuring out the problem, he won't do it. Don't waste your time with complex repairs with this place- they don't have the capacity, and tenacity to figure it out. I won't be bringing my car here anymore-unfortunate but will find another subie repair shop. I'm on my third subie outback over two decades and know decent service when I find one. read more

Dismissive, rude, and just plain dumb. These guys weren't able to detect a scrapping sound my front left tire was making when hitting the brakes. I thought maybe the brakes were busted. They swore nothing was wrong with the car. THEY COULDN'T HEAR A THING. Told me, in fact, to take it to the dealer and have them fix it for $1500 if it made me feel better. I don't understand, because I took it to another mechanic who test drove it, hit the brakes, felt the tension and wouldn't you know it...it was the bearing! Easy peasy Japanesey. Raffi's: "I've been fixing these cars for decades and ain't nothin' wrong with your car. Take it to the dealer and have them fix it for $1500 if it makes you feel better." Raffi is an honest mechanic...honestly dumb. read more

Chris is the most genuine subaru mechanic i have ever met in my life so far. He has a ton of experience and not greedy at all. He will fix your car without ripping you apart. Dont be an idiot like me. No need to sell your ass off to subaru pacific. Go to chris!!!! His address ha changed. It is 4625 rosecrans ave hawthorne now. read more

Excellent and friendly service. Raffi's was a quick and convenient alternative to the Subaru Pacific service department.

Chris is your Subaru's best friend! He is one of the very few specialists in Southern California who can service your Subaru BRAT! Why? Because he owned and operated a Subaru dealership and has worked on BRATs! The guy just loves BRATs! When I took mine in, he was pointing to various parts on my vehicle and naming the stock numbers right off the top of his head, from memory! And if Chris can't fix it, then nobody can! He's built up a long list of clients over decades of service. Look at all the 5-star reviews! The guy is very experienced and friendly. He doesn't need to screw you to make money; he has more than enough loyal customers to keep him busy 24/7! If you have a vintage Subaru, you take it to Raffi. read more

Raffi Motors - Chris taking my Subaru FERRET for a test drive. - Auto Repair Near Me - Hawthorne, California

This place changed its address to 4552 W. Rosecrans Ave. If you follow the address on Yelp, you will end up at an auto body shop with the same name (go figure). So I own a brand new 2011 Subaru Outback, and I debated between servicing at the dealer or an independent mechanic. I read all the other reviews here and was a little skeptical at first. I thought that these comments on the positive service were fake because it just seemed scripted and too good to be true. With nothing to lose, I gave them a call and was told to just drive in. There was no wait. Yes, it's not a desirable area of town where you can just wonder around and do some shopping. Honestly ... it's in a shitty ass area. I grew up in the south bay, so ... there are worse parts of Hawthorne, but you'd be better off being dropped off or sitting in their customer waiting room until your car is done. I met Chris. He walked up and introduced himself with a firm handshake and eye contact. He's kind of heavy set, looks to be in his late 40's, has short gray hair, and looks a little weathered from years of being a grease monkey. Nonetheless, the first impression I got was that he was very friendly, kind, and welcoming. I told him I needed some routine maintenance done and sat in their waiting area. Get this straight ... this place is not a big dealership service dept. The waiting area doubles up as their room where some spare parts are. There is a TV and a small aquarium, some magazines on a little coffee table, and about four chairs that you can sit on. His right hand man appeared to be an older Asian dude. They both called me out to have a look under my car, and they pointed out how the new Subarus are better than the old ones, as they referred to the brackets and engine mounts. There was no wait, and I was in and out pretty fast. So how much did a 7,500 mile service cost me? Exactly $38.15. Do you think that's a lot? Well, I just got off of the phone with Subaru of Santa Monica and asked how much the same service costs. You wanna take a guess? A guy named Ronny from service told me it costs ONE-HUNDRED and FIFTEEN DOLLARS! Holy shit! I had no idea routine maintenance would cost that much. Ronny said that it includes a tire rotation, but FUCKIN' A! $115?!?!?!?! And he said they just REDUCED the price! I told Chris that Irvine Subaru (where I bought my car) told me to bring the car in a lot sooner than the recommended 7500 miles per owners manual. Chris said that the dealers are trying to rake in extra money, and that I should follow the manufacturer's suggestion. What can I say? Five fuckin' stars mutha-fuckah! Sure, the area isn't so great, the shop isn't plush, but gawd damn ... Chris comes off as a really honest guy, and he saved me a lot of money. I gave him another firm handshake, looked him in the eye, and said, "I'll see you in 7,500 miles. ... read more

Please, Yelp!, can we get 100+ stars for Raffi Motors? Chris is the absolute best and most honest mechanic I've ever had: he's also just an all-around great guy. There's a reason why you'll only see five stars for this business: he's THAT good. Well, actually, he's even better than that. And even better. Chris is not just a Subaru specialist, he is a Subaru wizard. Even if I didn't own a Subaru, I'd still bring it to him, even if I lived over 100 miles away. He will let you know what repairs can wait. The first time I went in there, I'd been told I needed to replace to axles on my car by another mechanic and new brakes. Turned out that no only did I not need a front axle, I also didn't need new brakes. Hmmm.... I have a 1986 Subaru Brat (sorry, not for sale) that I bought brand new and parts are very hard to find. I needed a new carburetor, but the only ones I found were not street legal. So, Chris rebuilt my carburetor. When I picked up my car and drove it off the lot, I couldn't even hear the engine idle at the stop light. (Remember, this is a 28-year-old car.) I've had many, many mechanics over the years, and no one has even come close to doing as good a job as Chris. I wouldn't dream of taking my Brat elsewhere. And very, very good prices. I can't find enough good things to say about Chris without spending the next year on Yelp! I trust him completely. How often do you look forward to seeing your mechanic? I do because no matter how well my car is running when I take her in, she's going to run far better when I pick her up. read more

Chris is not only a good mechanic, this guy is awesome. He has been my mechanic for my 2001 Toyota Tacoma for a few years. He was referred to me by a good friend. This morning my mother in law asked me... "you are going to drive up to South Bay to see your mechanic?" All I said was... "he's good." Good and honest! We live in Anaheim, so it is a bit of a drive. I was there this morning, to get an oil change... in addition to the oil change, my clamp to the radiator wasn't doing it's job anymore, he replaced that. Oh and he found a nail in my rear-driver-side tire and he told me where to take it to get fixed for less than $10!. Plain and simple, when you have a good mechanic, you might be willing to drive 30 miles to see him. Keep up the excellent service Raffi's! read more

Chris, the owner, is honest, reliable, friendly, efficient, and offers good pricing. Very fortunate to have found him and we've been going to him for nearly 10 years. We've got two Subaru cars. read more

I've been taking my cars to Raffi Motors for 15 years ever since my 2.5RS overheated and 2 different mechanics failed to diagnose and fix the underlying problem. So happy I found Raffi Motors back then. And I've been coming back ever since. Chris is as great as everyone says. Truly. He knows his cars, he is honest, his pricing is fair, and he can almost always get the work done within a day. read more