I took my Porsche Boxster to Ted for an oil change, which he did, so far seeems ok. A day later he called and said he had left a magnetic lamp in the engine compartment and could I come by so he could put it on a lift to look for it. He told me he would not charge me for this - seriously? It would cost me about 2 hours in driving time. I doubt the flashlight is still there, and I hope it did not do any damage. Sorry Ted, I don't think I will be going back again... read more

My girlfriend took her Porsche Panamera to Ted to troubleshoot several different problems - electrical and the cooling system. He figured things out pretty quickly, told her what absolutely needed to be done and what could wait, fixed the cooling system at a great price and reset some of the sensors. We felt like it was a all done at a pretty reasonable cost. He's also a really nice man who did his best to save my girlfriend money and make the experience as painless as possible. read more

Ted is very careful, thorough and deliberate in his work, fair with his pricing and transparent with everything. Couldn't recommend him enough. read more

Ted worked on one of my Porsches during 2023 and 2024. I allege Ted is makes many mistakes. Hi shop is packed with half-a-dozen of his personal vintage Porsches Ted's was insistent payment made to him for labor and parts had to be prepaid cash. With no receipt given. Because Ted's Foreign Car did not appear to have any employee or friend working at his garage was only open by appointment. His invoices were handwritten difficult to read ledger. He did some good work. But wasted a lot of time "planning" future "stages" of future work on my car, asking my personal family information, and telling me about his financial problems, and problems with his landlord, and dog, and the dog's veterinarian overcharging. read more

Ted is the best mechanic I have had the pleasure of working with. He is a smart, dedicated, master mechanic who is passionate about Porsches. Always professional. practical, and a gentleman. I thank God he took on my decades old Porsche project in 2023. What was a real mess. Is now an amazing sweet daily driver. I love driving. Viva Ted! read more

I can not speak highly enough about Ted and his mechanical abilities. Ive had my 1964 356 Porsche for over 28 years and have had it serviced by a few so called Porsche repair shops. The car has never run right even after they all worked on it. I was totally bummed until a friend recommended Ted. Ted worked on my car and explained all that he was doing to it and why. When I got the car back I was amazed at how great it ran. It has never run as it does after Ted worked on it. I recommend Ted to anyone that has a Porsche. He is one top notch gentleman and mechanic. AAAAAA+++++++ read more

Ted is an exceptional mechanic and a fantastic individual to do business with. Over the few years I have gotten to know him, he has demonstrated nothing less than excellency - through his functioning knowledge, thoroughness of work, and massive insight-ability which he draws on from years of professional experience since his early years! It shows clearly that his passion for quality work and caring service has been honed through his unique persistance. Here is a mechanic who really cares for your wellbeing! And your car, of course! My personal experience with Ted is golden. With a 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon, Ted has revealed to be an absolute expert with these unique vehicles! (Something very important in order to keep them maintained). Through the times of a half dozen repair or so, maintenance, and over 12K miles in total, I am constantly impressed with his vast sense of knowledge, which he will openly share with you as the owner of the vehicle. His philosophy of maintenance seems well suited for the types of vehicles he deals with: stay ahead of maintenance and problems will be avoided. In his words: baseline the vehicle!. One of my best friends is a very skilled mechanic, specializing in European cars, yet I have taken my van many times to Ted for his obvious familiarity and know-how with these vehicles (his main speciality is with Porsche, also services other European types). I can always trust that he will go about the problem in the most logical way, giving me options on how to move forward. Very helpful, considerate, educating. His passion for performance and reliability comes from his own experience and experimenting, which he has successfully implemented into my own vehicle. It's rich, good stuff. The shop is orderly and he takes dignity in his work - something I discovered when I tried to rush some repairs I wanted done before a road trip. He assured me that he would only carry out a repair with his most comprehensive work, while offering fair advise. I've also been impressed with his ability to correctly diagnosing a problem, as well as outsourcing specialty jobs to other reputable, quality service people in the area. These things are invaluable. If you have a Vanagon, I HIGHLY recommended that you meet Ted for his insight on the vehicle. He's a real colorful character and easy to deal with. He won't boss you around like other mechanics seem to do. Certainly will never hide anything or leave something unexplained. He explains his reasoning to you, always! Actually, he loves to talk, so you might have to be the boss a little! Another client once told me that while I was there with him! The price is not the cheapest, but you truly get what you pay for. He does, however, help to save you money where possible, offering resources to used parts (only if appropriate), and never over charging for time.The pleasure of his business may be worth it to you alone compared with going to other shops. Going to Ted's is much more of a personalized and considerate experience, and he will always make time for you, even after hours, which he has done for me without hesitation numerous times. I'm happy to say that I've got the highest of faith my van, just having come back from a 8,500 mile cross country road trip - that I'm BASELINED with Ted's Foreign Car! read more

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Ted has been my 1996 911's "doctor" for nearly 20 years. As with all things Porsche and older sports car, my 911 has gone through its ups and downs. Ted is an excellent mechanic. But more so, he really understands the year-to-year nuances of various Porsche models. Almost every year of my 911's "993" vintage had its own distinct quirks. Ted knows these and helped me navigate through them and understand what needed to be done to fix and done to prevent problems. I just wish I knew Ted when I bought the car new! Ted is well worth a call if you have any Porsche needs. :) read more

Ted Gallagher, owner of Ted's Foreign Car, is an automotive technician that deserves some serious acclaim. From what I've witnessed over the last 27 years in and around the automotive repair industry, you will likely find two types of technicians in repair shops... The techs that are the masters of their trade ...and the techs that actually turn the wrenches on the vehicles. The master technicians often supervise or manage the other auto technicians and/or techs that have a specific focus or specialty. Rarely have I seen master techs handle the majority of the labor involved on a given vehicle. That means the person you typically communicate with about your car is not the person that actually performs the work on your vehicle. This definitely is not the case with Ted's shop... he is the sole technician in this repair center. When you bring your car there, he listens carefully to what you describe and often can figure out what you're trying to say before you can even find the words. Communication is key. Ted listens well and he is very patient. Its important for him to understand where the customer is coming from, He really puts himself in your shoes, so to speak. As far as his skill level, experience, and his general (and specialized) automotive knowledge, Ted is a what some would refer to as an automotive "wizard." His work is always done properly and professionally. He is truly an expert technician. In the rare occasion where there is a portion of the work that falls outside of his wheelhouse, he is excellent about knowing when to bring in the appropriate third party in order to ensure that the job is done exactly right. Most important to me than anything else is that I've come to find that I can trust him. He has consistently been honest about what he believes to be the best way forward. Even though he's the only mechanic in his shop, he doesn't overbook and he really takes on every single vehicle as though it is were his own. If you just want some parts changed on your car then, by all means... you can take it to Jiffy Lube and take your chances. However, if you are looking for someone who truly understands what it will take to make sure that your vehicle is repaired properly, and then will personally carry out those repairs himself... then, in my experience, Ted is an all-around excellent choice and I would recommend him highly to anyone with any type of European car. (All that being said, in my opinion, Ted's knowledge and experience with Porsche, specifically, is his most exceptional automotive proficiency. ) An Excellent Automotive Technician!! read more

I was referred to Ted when my current mechanic could not diagnose the issue with my 2000 Boxster s. Super great service and the man just loves cars. He got the problem fixed and really gave me a great deal. My go to for my European cars:) thanks again Ted! read more

Another stellar service from Ted...smart, very intuitive about the car...and he is passionate about what he does. He finds things that I might have overlooked or ignored and comes up with the fix -no high pressure, reasonable pricing...and he 'gets' the car. No other place I would go get the beast cared for properly...thanks Ted-see you next time! read more

I took my 1987 Westfalia to Ted right after I bought it. We discussed my concerns and a path forward to address them (primarily potential cooling issues with the engine). He did a thorough review of the entire bus as well as addressing issues with the cooling system. He came-in way under his original estimate and gave me additional coolant, oil and power steering fluid just so I would have some. He definitely went above and beyond. Now me and my family can enjoy our bus with no worries! Thanks Ted! read more

I have two older BMW's an x5 and 325 - Ted is the best an exceptional and trusting individual who gets the job done at a very fair price!

Ted has become my go-to mechanic for all three of my family's autos. While he seems to specialize in German cars (especially BMW & Porsche), he is fully competent with anything that has wheels. Ted is thorough, meticulous, maintains the highest of standards in his work, completely honest, and reasonably priced. It's truly nice to know that I have an utterly reliable source for regular maintenance and any mechanical issues that may arise. read more

In August, our car club held it's annual gathering in Scotts Valley. I used to go to Ted back in the early 90's when I worked in the area and he always kept my '68 912 purring. Hadn't seen him in years but during our event, a couple of members had trouble with their 912's. I called Ted and he made himself available to lend support and even did some repair work on Saturday to make sure the cars were running correctly to make it back to SoCal. Ted really came through for us and the members he helped raved about his knowledge of these early Porsches. Wished I lived closer to take my cars to him more often. read more

This place sucks. Took my car here for a valve adjust and oil change. A week later I get the car back. Paid over $600. valve covers leaking oil and a knocking in the engine. Called the shop about this and got a load of crap. read more

This guy rocks! I started taking my BMW there when my factory service agreement expired and he totally knows cars and customer service. He's honest, listens to your problems and finishes as promises. I have recommended a couple friends with BMW's and they are just as happy as I am. It's great not having to deal with a dealer and to support the local guy! read more

I have had nothing but positive experiences taking my 1969 912 Targa to Ted's Foreign Car. Over the years, I have tried other shops closer to home (Palo Alto), but none have come close in providing the customer service, detailed knowledge, skill, or enthusiasm that Ted brings to the table. James B's review pretty much says it all. I only add that whenever I leave my 912 with Ted, she always comes out a happy camper ... she sounds great and driving her is super fun again. Ted you are THE MAN! I absolutely recommend Ted's Foreign Car. read more

Ted went through my used (but new to me) Porsche C4-S in a straight foreword manner, and I got a much improved car in return. He repaired what was necessary and gave me a list of repairs that could wait. He appears to be involved in the maintenance of the cars in his care on a personal level. I liked the way I was treated and the way my car now drives. Thanks Ted! read more