I work down the street from this petrol station so I go here quite often when I just don't have…read moreenough gas for the big drive out west (which happens more often than you would think). If you come here between the hours of 10 and 5, a lovely helpful attendant will come out to your car, do your petrol for you, offer to clean your windows, and if you are paying with cash they will take it in; like old petrol station service of Back Then. After five or in the morning you have to do all that stuff yourself, but that's OK. The staff are always really nice and helpful and the place is not usually busy either, which is great. There's always heaps of traffic around though so pulling out on the main road can be a massive pain.

This is a decent, family run mechanics in Papakura. Actually it's quite hard to find as it's…read morelocated right down the end of a driveway off East st. I have to say that it's possibly the worst location to be in because the drive is quite skinny which makes it a nightmare to turn around in. Also there's not much parking at all, and this is made worse by the fact that it's always busy here, so there are always plenty of cars lying around waiting to be fixed. Apart from the problems of location, the owner of M & L is a really nice guy, and a good mechanic. I never feel as though I'm getting ripped off here, which is good because I'm always quite suspicious of anyone fixing my car.

I have taken my car to George's Automotive a couple of times now and they always seem to do a great…read morejob. Although located out of the way from the CBD they are a slightly more affordable mechanic. It's worth the drive. They offer $30 WOF services and specialise in vehicle servicing, tyres, upholstery, electrical repairs, rust repairs, brake and clutch repairs, and suspension. Although the premise looks a little run down, don't let that put you off. After servicing your vehicle they give the exterior a spray down, giving it back looking nice and shiny and new. But like going to any mechanic, make sure you call them up and get a quote before booking in. They do not have a website, but here are some details from the yellow pages www.yellow.co.nz/y/georges-automotive

I love the AA on Cavendish. I came here to finally get my learners licence a month ago (I'm a very,…read morevery late bloomer) and when I went in to book, was served by a lovely older man. He was really friendly, and was really helpful with suggesting what resources to use. I picked up the new road code and he mentioned the practice tests you could take at home- they were a lifesaver! i went home fully equipped and all the necessary paperwork; I was really happy with the service I'd gotten that day. The following week, i took my test on a Friday morning. I was terribly early but there was heaps of seating available (as there would be at 8:30am). My test started right on time and everything went smoothly. I'm just really impressed with the staff here, they would have to deal with a lot of different issues and they manage to keep their cool the entire time. It can get pretty busy here because its a popular branch to book you practical driving tests, so there's always people waiting for them. There are a number of staff at the customer service desks so they tend to get through everyone fairly quickly. This has to be my favourite AA branch that I've visited; they've really got everything you need, and the excellent customer service is jut the cherry on top.

The Z petrol station on Williamson Ave is one of the best places for you to fill up your car. This…read moresounds odd, because a petrol station is just a petrol station, right? Well, technically yes, but this place excels in customer service. It's one of the few places in Auckland that has the 'concierge service' of filling up your car for you, which is really great for people who don't know exactly how to use that button where you can leave the pump going without having to hold the handle down (me, up until a year and a half ago) and the guys seem genuinely interested in serving you. They're so friendly. I have no idea what their prices are compared to other branches of gas stations, but it doesn't really matter. You go there for the service.

I wanted to give a big shout out to Ana (who monitors the Beaurepaires Facebook page) and Andrew…read more(service manager at 126 Great North Road). My family was visiting from the USA. We hit a pothole and blew out the tire. The rental company said it was our responsibility to replace the tire so that's how we ended up at Beaurepaires. Our understanding was that we would be able to store our vehicle overnight and not rush back from our sightseeing. We were off to Paihia the next day and figured we'd get the car the next morning and be off. The only communication we had with the shop was email. We received confirmation our vehicle was ready and responded back that we'd be back to pick it up the next morning. We did not read email until that evening and to our utter dismay, we were told the shop would be closed for Waitange Day and would not be able to pickup the vehicle until the following day. In desparation, we replied to the email and sent a message via Facebook. To our surprise, Ana responded to us at 9pm and said she would try to help. The next morning, Ana was able to arrange for Andrew the service manager to meet us at the service center. Andrew lived over 1/2 an hour away, but drove in on his day off to open up the service center just for us. Ana and Andrew went way above and beyond the call of duty. We only had 3 nights in Paihia with many activities scheduled so Ana and Andrew really helped save our vacation! Beaurepaires has two excellent employees in Ana and Andrew who really care about their customers!

My mum has brought her car here a number of times and they always seem to do a great job. Tucked in…read morebehind the BP gas station on Main Highway, Ellerslie Automotive is located on a quiet side street where you can feel safe about leaving your car there for the day. They are also conveniently placed next to the Ellerslie shops and bus routes. If you need to wait there are plenty of cafes to relax at, or alternatively you could always bus or train into work and collect your car at the end of the day. To get the ultimate service your car deserves, make sure to call and book an appointment, rather than turning up unannounced.

My fave petrol station on the strip. Super friendly staff who are always chatty & helpful. And…read moregreat barista skills too!