Rusty's does a great job maintaining our cars. Personable, professional and fairly priced.

Great service, quick friendly got the job done. Appreciate the prompt professional service put in for smog check, and they even put air in the tires!! OK I did my read more

Got a pre-inspection from Rusty's for a used car I was buying - everything checked out according to the mechanics. Drove it to the bank across the street to pay the seller and sign the documents. Car didn't start, battery failed. Inspection report showed "good" for the battery status, and there was no warning about the battery before I made the payment to the shop. Stuck with my new car in a parking lot for a couple hours until I could catch a ride to buy a new battery and then install it in the bank parking lot. Later I called to ask why they didn't mention it and after digging into the conversation a bit from frustration with some questions, they were very rude. "You're OBVIOUSLY not listening, we can't predict a battery failure - it can even happen to new batteries." Hopefully there aren't other problems with this car they conveniently didn't check, yet still charged more than the $150 hourly rate they advertise - cool place, lol read more

These mechanics specialize in Honda, Mazda, Acura, Toyota, Lexus and Scion. My older Honda Pilot was due for a timing belt and water pump change. I priced around an they were a good price for the job, versus the dealer who wanted $1,000 more! Brought the vehicle in (very professional) shop at 8:00 am on Monday and had it back at 11:30 on Tuesday. Right on time and at the quoted price. Why anyone with a Honda would go anywhere else is beyond me. Pros: Professional staff, well organized, skilled mechanics and timely friendly service and honest! Cons: None! Bottom line, this is the place for my Honda and should be for yours. read more

Haven't reviewed this in a while, but again recommend this place as good competent auto shop. We have used Rustys for years on our Odyssey. A few months ago we had a computer/mechanical issue that was fixed the same day. We were pleased read more

Rusty fixed the unfixable on my Mazda MX5. Another shop had it and did some part swapping but failed to fix it. I towed it to Rusty's and they were able to trace the codes and circuits and figured out it needed not just a new cam sensor (according to the error code) but it had fried a transistor in the ECU. They actually beeped out the circuits to find the real problem. Sent out the ECU for refurb and now it runs beautifully! I also discovered he secretly fixed a couple little things that I didn't even mention. This is not the first time he has saved me - I had a salvaged Accura with airbag issues. The dealer couldn't fix it but Rusty got it sorted out no problem. Rusty is THE BEST! read more

Excellent service and honest people work here. My husband keeps asking them to service Subaru's after he sold his Honda! My dad owned a small electronic repair business in the 90's and early 2000's. It wasn't perfect, but he was fair and honest. I feel a parallel wave of nostalgia when I enter Rusty's lobby bc the feelings of trust and fairness resonate here as it did at my dad's. read more

My 2014 PriusV had a random clunking sound in the rear passenger suspension (intermittent and not super loud, kind of like a shoe in the dryer sound) for a good month before I took it into Rusty's Repair ... I had another autoshop try and diagnose & fix, but they couldn't even hear figure it out. I had the rear shocks replaced, and the front sway bar links replaced prior to taking it to Rusty's, and still no fix to the elusive rear passenger clunking sound. When I called Rusty's to get some help, Rusty listened patiently while I explained everything. He brainstormed with me over the phone, set up an appointment for the next day, and went the extra mile by having his son Ryan drive in the passenger seat with me to help identify the clunk sound and located the possible culprit. They fixed the problem quickly and efficiently (bad hub/bearing in the rear passenger side, which was not the typical sound for a failing hub/bearing). I highly recommend Rusty's Repair. I will be bringing my vehicles in the future for my autoshop needs to Rusty & Ryan. They are amazing, and their business is a diamond in the rough these days! Thanks guys! read more

Toyota Corolla taken to Rusty's for Check Engine Light being on. After changing thermostat, got back a car that ran very rough and had an oil leak. Returned to Rusty's and oil leak fixed and spark plugs, wires & distributor replaced. Car now runs pretty good. It should, for spending over $800 on basic repairs. When I go to higher elevations like Boulder Creek, the Check Engine Light still comes on. Would not recommend this shop. read more

I'm a gear head and a mechanical engineer. Since my early 20's I have serviced and modified my vehicles from 1960's muscle cars to modern rice rockets. As life has gotten busy, I have deferred some of the maintenance and repairs of our Acuras and Hondas to Rusty as, for much of the work, it just doesn't make sense (cents) for me to do it. Rusty and his son know solidly what they are doing, they are effective, efficient and straight-forward. Rusty's is so much more cost effective than "stealerships" and most of all, not salesy, but honest. There are few vehicle repair shops I have known to be as solid as Rusty's. Note: whether you drive much or little, all vehicles require periodic maintenance, and it is wise to keep it up to greatly elongate your vehicle's lifespan (and save you money over the road ahead). read more

I have taken my IS 250 to Rusty's for years now and always receive excellent service at a fair price. The last time, one of their mechanics actually performed a minor fender repair, pushing in a fender that had been sticking out. It saved me a huge amount of money and I am very grateful. read more

While on vacation in Santa Cruz we had an unexpected problem with the car. The folks at Rusty's really put me at ease, they were very kind, knowledgeable, fair and got us back on the road so we could finish our vacation with confidence. I was very nervous and they were calm and communicative--awesome . AND We made it home safely with no issues whatsoever! read more

Rusty's is a fantastic shop for auto maintenance and repair! Used their services for over a decade now and never once been disappointed in their work. You can count on Rusty's for quality service and honest pricing - they will ALWAYS tell you what you are paying for and why (i.e. synthetic oil is more expensive than regular) so no need to worry about hidden charges. HIGHLY recommend Rusty's Repair shop! read more

Rusty and his team always provide excellent service. From oil change, smog check, breaks repair to quick wipers fix on a rainy day they're always available and ready to help. My family has been using their services for 8 years and always have a pleasant experience! Happy to recommend to anyone! read more

Wow. I am surprised to read the bad reviews. I've owned 4 Hondas over the last 25 years and they have always been serviced by Rusty's. They are unbelievably honest, professional and friendly. They communicate well. If they cost more than other shops, it is because that is what it costs to hire good people and do the job right. You get what you pay for. In any case they are less expensive and a step up from any dealer service (for the things they handle.) I would never consider taking a Honda anywhere else. I am smart, and picky, and there are very few businesses that have earned my loyalty and repeat business the way Rusty's has for over two decades. They are an important asset to the Santa Cruz business community. Rock on! read more

I came here after my attempt to get my car smogged at Water's right next door. I realize this place repairs Honda's and Mazda's, and I'm sure they are awesome at repairing those, but I figured it has a smog station so they should be able to take any car right? ERRRR! Nope. If you don't own a Honda or Mazda and looking to smog, don't bother. read more

Rusty's is a great place because they have the two best qualities for an auto repair place: they do great work and they are scrupulously honest. Oh, and they don't treat you like a dumb girl fi you don't know your crankshaft from your catalytic converter! They told me when a problem I had was something the manufacturer was supposed to fix, and they could have charged me to do it and I never would have known. They'll tell you when you can squeeze a few more miles in before you need to get something fixed. Honda and Mazda drivers in the know go to Rusty's. read more

So let me start by saying this: I know nothing about cars. They've never interested me and aside from changing my oil, I know nothing about them. I depend on people that work at places that fix cars to tell me what i need. Sucker? Sure. That definitely makes me a mark (no pun intended). Still, I don't appreciate feeling like an idiot and i don't like being taken advantage of. Rusty's did both. I went in needing a tune up. The woman working there asked me a few questions about my car. She asked me if I had my timing belt replaced and I didn't know. Apparently that was the wrong thing to say. I got lots of sighs and eye rolls about the next few questions. I don't know if I had come at the wrong time or something but this woman was doing a pretty good job of making me feel stupid. I don't appreciate that. Still, I needed my car fixed. She explained that a timing belt takes about 6 hours to replace and showed me all the details including parts and labor cost. The whole thing was supposed to cost about $900 bucks. Good thing I went home and did some research. I ended up finding another place that I trusted. It was far from Santa Cruz and I would have rather gotten the tune up before the drive but I found out that a timing belt only takes 4 hours to fix and is a hell of a lot cheaper. Turns out I got a tune up, the timing belt fixed AND new rear brake pads for $700 bucks at the other place. Thanks Rusty's for cheating a sucker. I'm glad you didn't get my money. If you decide to go to this place, I would get an estimate first and then check elsewhere. See if you can find something cheaper. read more

I just got back from picking up my car at Rusty's and I couldn't be happier. I am not the kind to take my car to a mechanic even though I dislike working on my car so it's hard for me to feel good leaving a mechanic. I chose Rusty's because many years ago I raced cars with Rusty & his son. Rusty was very meticulous about his car and has been doing Mazdas FOREVER. He also supports the local racing community and I like that. Unlike the other reviews, I never spoke with anyone who was rude and it seems like a family affair over there. I called in the past for a timing belt quote which was about $100 and then today I just showed up hoping to get my suspension fixed same day and they were nothing but friendly both times. I was a little worried about cost because of the other reviews here, but was pleasantly surprised. Their shop rate ( I think) is $125 an hour and I was quoted 2 hours to replace the front strut mount in my car which is pretty simple, but sort of a pain job. I felt that was fair even though it would take me less time. When I went to pick it up I was charged for 1.25 hours. I really like that they bill down to the quarter hour and felt the end bill was more than reasonable. I also appreciated the ride home when I dropped off the car and the offer for a pickup when it was complete. I will still try to avoid taking my car to the mechanic, but if there is a job I can't do with my limited tools & helpers I will go to Rusty's first. read more

I wanted to take my 2003 Honda Accord to get my 90k check up. I dealt with 2 different people on two different days, both of which had really rude and condescending attitudes. Finally they could give me an appointment early in the morning, so I asked for a ride to and from work so I could proceed with my day without a car. Again, I felt like such an inconvenience. The repair itself was nothing special, and pretty expensive. It was just under $300 for a basic service/ oil change and inspection. I do trust them with my car, but unfortunately, I don't think I'll be back :( read more

Definitely the best place to take your car! One of my doors wouldn't lock, but the car would still arm itself, so I took it to the Honda dealership in Capitola to see if they could fix it. The dealership wouldn't even touch the car unless I got the aftermarket alarm system removed- the alarm system that the dealer who sold me the brand new car had installed! I took the car to Rusty's and they were able to fix the simple broken part- without removing the alarm. As people have said, Rusty's isn't cheaper than other places, but they won't try to nickel and dime you. Definitely my car go-to place from now on. read more

This town is really lucky to have a business like Rusty's. A friend's mom recommended Rusty to me 13 years ago. I have found him to be an honest, friendly and highly competent mechanic. Over the years, a few things have changed (such as a great receptionist retiring and a very professional son coming into the business). However, the quality of service is still impeccable. I actually chose to buy an Acura this last year instead of another model of car, because I could still go to Rusty's and knew I wouldn't have to worry about getting ripped off nor inconvenienced when I need maintenance or a repair. read more

After 4+ years of relying on this shop they continue to deliver excellent service at a very reasonable price point. I wouldn't go anywhere else for my Mazda. read more

This is the best auto shop I have ever dealt with. They do quality work on my old Mazda, they never try to sell me something I do not need, and I have come to trust their advice. I do not know why the other reviewer did not like the service. The front desk lady is polite and knowledgeable. Yes, she doesn't have a fake smile plastered on her face, but I think that's a good thing. I live over the hill now, but I still take my Mazda here for repairs and check-ups. read more

They were friendly and helpful. When they couldn't recreate the problem (which was intermittent), they called me to say I could drive around with the mechanic if I wanted to, which I did. We had a nice chat, and he was a nice guy. It was a hard problem to diagnose, but finally, they were able to re-create it, and replaced the part that was causing the issue. I liked them a lot. read more

Rusty and his staff are simply amazing. I have been a customer (and a big fan) for years, but a few months back, they went above and beyond. My vehicle needed repair (duhhh), and when I dropped it off, I told Rusty what the trouble was. He proposed a couple theories about what might be causing the problems, with the cheapest solution costing $1,200 or so. When he called later that day, he totally shocked me, saying the repair was actually quite simple, and I only owed about $200! I was already resigned to the higher cost: had he billed me that amount, I wouldn't have been the wiser. But honesty and integrity prevailed. How refreshing. Thanks Rusty!!! read more

Went here for a smog check.... made an appointment... good reviews on yelp... I was in and out the door in 15 minutes...wow price was good too... it's behind another building so I drove by twice but found it... I am impressed read more

I've been bringing my cars to Rusty's for about 15 years, and started on the recommendation of a family member who has been for even longer. Rusty's is by no means cheap, but their service, advice, know-how, and honesty are worth it to me. (Also, running a business and living in Santa Cruz is pricey!) Some experiences I've had: *In bad economic times for my family, I was nursing my old car, just to have a way to get to jobs etc. Rusty was always honest about the state of the car, told me what had to be fixed to keep it going and safe, and what could wait. He was also straight with me when the car wasn't worth repairing anymore. *At one point, with my old SUV, the auto-air shocks went out, and my husband was worried about the price. He made me go to other mechanics to get estimates. They all said it would be thousands, and I would have to wait for a factory order. I went to Rusty's, and he told me it wasn't worth it to replace. He and his crew rigged a little valve on the car, so I could check the air, and add more when needed, and barely charged me. *My current car is in good shape, thanks to Rusty's! read more

So very disappointed with this shop. I have been a loyal customer if Rusty's since 1988. Even taking my car for service after the earthquake in 87 when their shop was damaged . I recommend this shop to many friends who were very pleased with their work. I didn't in a Mazda for a few years so I didn't use their shop for a few years. I purchased a Mazda Miata. I took the Miata in to Rusty's because of the check engine light came on. I dropped the car off and waited for them to phone me. By 5:45 no one had called me to report the problem. I called and was told they didn't know why the check engine light was on. They did however tell me that the differential was bad. I asked what the cost would be and was told Rusty would have to quote me a price. I was also told that this part was very difficult to find.i also asked about the check engine light and they told me that they didn't know why that was happening. I was charged and told Rusty would call me and explain on Monday. I waited for the call and finally called Rusty told me he didn't know about any of this. Told me this part was very difficult to find and would be very expensive. What about the check engine light ? Again I was told he knew nothing about it. He would return a call the following day. Never called me back. I again called him and was told the same story. Part was difficult and expensive to find but he would look into it. Again no call. So I am no longer a customer of Rusty's. If you didn't want the job or couldn't fix why didn't you just tell me? This is how you treat a customer? Looking for a new Mazda repair place. read more

What a find! Joe at Rusty's repair Kicks bootie! From good looks to great repairs they have you covered. No joke I take all my vehicles there and they never disappoint. Joe is always kind fair and knowledgeable. read more

When you've got a Honda problem, go to a Honda mechanic. I learned that the hard way when some sincere generalist mechanics wasted a few hundred of my dollars trying to diagnose an obscure, intermittent ignition problem on my old Acura. Rusty's got it in one. Don't expect a bargain, because Rusty's is not cheap. By any standards. They are honest, however, beyond the letter of the law. I had a complete brake job done there, new disks and all, and about a year later the car started leaking brake fluid. One of the new components had failed -- a month past its one-year warranty period. Rusty decided that a new part should last more than 13 months, and made it all right without charging me a dime. They've recently started working on Toyotas, and I've started taking my two-year-old Prius there. Time will tell whether they've got the expertise for complex hybrid issues. In the meantime, expensive as they are, they're a lot cheaper for service than Santa Cruz Toyota. And I still do trust their integrity. Update, November 2014: I still go to Rusty's with my now older Prius, and I'm still a fan. read more

We went to Rusty's just recently for a broken side mirror on our 2000 Honda Accord and decided after talking to him to have some things done that we had been putting off for a long time: fixing mirror and, in addition, replacing timing belt, water pump, tires, and plugs as well as doing an oil change. We found Rusty's service very friendly and efficient as well as reasonable and Rusty himself inspires confidence. The car runs great now and, with his replacement of the mirror, he even threw in a buff job to remove the damage to the mirror paint. Such good service is hard to find anywhere. read more

Secret #19 to a Good Life: Only buy a car that your favorite shop will work on. So, I've owned 3 Acuras, 2 Toyotas, and 1 Honda over the last 25 years and they've all gone to Rusty's. There is no place I trust more. They're the BEST! read more

I am very pleased with the service at Rusty's Repair. Their prices are fair and they do great work. I appreciate the authentic "car repair" shop environment compared to dealerships. These people are down to earth, knowledgable and skilled mechanics. read more

The good: Quality of work is beyond reproach. If Rusty fixes something on your car it stays fixed and you never have to think about it again. The mechanics are well trained and if you ask them about something specific they're happy to tell you about it. The bad: The price. Rusty's recently quoted me a little more than _double_ what Los Gatos Honda quoted for both routine maintenance items and a few repairs, and well above the range that RepairPal estimates. I made sure to compare apples to apples and asked each for the cost breakdown (parts and labor) and made sure I was being quoted on the same things. Sure enough, for each of several routine service items, Rusty's quote was double, and they don't have the overhead of a dealership. I am impressed with the quality of work, but I can't afford to pay someone more than dealer prices for essentially the same service. read more

I was living in San Luis Obispo where I had an amazing Honda mechanic so I have high standards. When I returned to SC I started taking my Acura to Rusty's in 2004. One day my car wouldn't start so I had it towed to Rusty's. They fixed the issue so the car was running (mind you without my consent). Then the next morning I get a call wondering if I had picked up my car. Uh NO...low and behold MY CAR WAS STOLEN! First off, it shouldn't have been running in the 1st place. Second off, they handled the situation VERY POORLY! I would expect some decent customer service in this situation from the owner and I received none of that. All in all, it was a bad situation that was dealt with badly by Rusty's. read more

Great mechanic. Honest and helpful. I took the car in for an oil and smog today. I mentioned that the side mirror wasn't working and said if it was the fuse please change it otherwise don't bother. When I went to pick up the car, he said it wasn't the fuse, but he pulled out the bottom panel of the dash and the wires were disconnected (my fault when I replaced the radio I'm pretty sure), so he reconnected them and didn't charge me anything for it. And he changed a bulb and only charged for the part. Also, once I called with a problem and rather than telling me to bring it in, he spent a few minutes talking me through how to fix it myself, free of charge. I've never felt they were trying to talk me into unnecessary repairs - if anything, the opposite. Great mechanic, great guy. read more

I keep meaning to write this review, but just want to quickly say these guys have been fast and super friendly when it comes to my car. I feel like the prices and service are fair for what I get. I have been bringing my car here since 2011 and have never been disappointed. Thanks guys! read more

I have come to Rusty's Honda on 2 separate occasions; once to simply uncover a power steering issue and another time to get an alternator installed. On my first visit they uncovered that my car had a damaged steering rack from previous ownership, then they promptly directed me to the proper business to have this repair done. Rusty himself was completely honest with me and very friendly, not charging me for this visit and even filling up my oil for free. The second time I had to purchase a new alternator and have it installed, which is quite an expensive process. Beforehand, Rusty told me that it is very possible to install this part myself and even purchase a cheaper alternator elsewhere. However, I felt that my inexperience would only lead to further problems. I have been stressed for time, but Rusty's convenient after hour drop-off allowed me to get this installation completed with full satisfaction. My 91' Honda Accord has been running perfectly ever since! read more

I am so glad that they now work on Toyotas. I religiously took my old Honda to Rusty because I knew I could always trust him to do exactly what was needed and do it well. The most trustworthy mechanic I have ever met. I now take my Toyota to Rusty and expect that it will keep running well for years to come. Yes, it is not cheap but I have never had to take a car back because it wasn't done right the first time. When you think of the cost of a car, paying a little more to keep it running happily for years doesn't seem unreasonable. read more