Worse than nothing I came here based or personal recommendations from multiple coworkers about the honesty and quality of work. I dropped my working car off for routine maintenance of brake pads and oil change. Car was returned broken. Now it stalls at every stoplight. I took the car back next working day, explained the problem. They were unable fix it. I now have to go to another mechanic and pay them to fix what these guys broke. On top of that my wife's Iphone disappeared from the car while they had it. Of course, they never saw it and don't know anything about it. Needless to say, I'm very frustrated with these guys and won't be back. read more

***ADDRESS CORRECTION*** 486 Columbia St Somerville, MA Every now and then you meet someone who restores faith in humanity again, Murph is one of these people I had an oil change done a month ago but my car has a record of leaking transmission oil so I went to Murph for an oil change. His team spent 30-45 minutes: -Cleaning out the rust from the metal pipe -Refilling it with transmission oil -Tightening my steering wheel Murph himself assured me that nothing was leaking by showing me the mechanics of the car. He said a car is only supposed to get a oil change every 30,000 miles so he did it all free of charge. You really can't find a mechanic more honest than Murph. read more

Came in again with another weird sound; for sure thought we were gonna get dinged with a big bill this time. They call me up and basically tell me they found a rock lodged somewhere; no charge! Again, they could have suggested a laundry list of repairs that may or may not improve the life of my car, but they're NOT scammers! I've recommended them to several friends and we'll keep coming back. read more

Based on other reviews, when I needed new brakes, I decided to give Car Zone a try. My dealership had given me a ridiculously high quote (surprise!). Before I even walked away from Car Zone, Murph and his team took a look at my current brakes and showed me that I needed my rotors replaced as well. It's not uncommon to replace rotors alongside the brakes, but I appreciated them SHOWING me. They gave me a reasonable quote (much better than the dealership), and had my car ready for me that evening. Everyone was very friendly. My only issue was that the closing time meant I had to hustle back from work to pick up the car before they left. 5 or 5:30pm. Understandable, but tricky if you're dropping off your car just while at work. I'll definitely be back here the next time I need something done for my car. read more

Murph and Wade at Carzone have earned my trust and repeated business by providing excellent service on my Acura for the past two years. I recently brought my car in when a check engine light came on. Wade checked the computer, asked me some questions, and told me that the problem was most likely that the sensor responded to a slight rise in engine temperature on a recent particularly hot day. He turned off the light and told me to keep an eye on it, but its probably fine. No charge. Another time, my radiator was replaced by a garage in New York, but leaked when the car was back in Boston. Murph looked under the hood, noticed that some cable wasn't sealed properly, took a few minutes to fix it, and sent me on my way. No charge, he said. Don't worry about it. When they've had to do larger repairs, Carzone was fast, they communicated well, they treated me respectfully and charged me fairly. I am happy to take my car there, and enthusiastically recommend that other Honda owners do the same. read more

Murph is great! As a female, I HATE dealing with mechanics and car sales people (usually men). I brought in my 2004 Honda and told him what I needed: check on panel lights, change oil and an inspection. He told me up front he does not do inspections, but offered to take my car down the street to another shop that did! WHAT A TIME SAVER! That alone earned him 5 stars. He called back later to say that he had changed the oil and secured the inspection, but that the dealer would have to fix the panel lights (uggg). I told him I would be in later to pick up my car, but got caught up at work (and lost track of time). He called at 5:30 pm (when he closes) to check if I was still coming because he was willing to wait! What a guy! I will never take my car to another place as long as I live in Boston (except to the dealer to fix the panel light...ugggg). read more

Stopped by to get my tires rotated and have them investigate a weird buzzing noise. I left thirty minutes later a very satisfied customer. Wade and Murph walked me through what they were doing and why, and happily explained everything to me. They were quick, kind and courteous, and I will be going back the next time I have a problem. Highly suggested. read more

Murph and his team at CarZone are the finest car mechanics I know. They care about my car and me. My transmission was failing. He immediately referred me to a transmission specialist who repaired it at a fair price. My mileage was dropping. He and Alex showed me where my gas tank was rusty and leaking. He immediately referred me to a specialist who replaced the tank at a fair price. I went to an inspection and tire shop on Beacon Street in Somerville to have my car inspected. It didn't pass because of what they claimed was a "loose left front end." They quoted me $850 to repair it (replacement parts, balance tires, alignment wheel). Because I hadn't noticed anything, I went to Murph for a second option. He and Alex showed me that the left front tire was just slightly loose. Within five minutes, Alex had tightened the lug nuts so that the wheel was now solid as a rock. I went right back and my car passed the inspection. In fifteen minutes, Murph saved me $850 for completely unnecessary repairs. I trust Murph and his staff. He quickly sees and solves problems. To me he has been knowledgeable, informative, clear, decisive, reliable, and fair. When I have a car problem, he is the first person I go to. read more

I took my 2004 Nissan Altima to Honda Zone after a friend recommended it to me when I needed my brakes fixed. When the local Nissan dealer told me I also needed a serpentine belt replaced, I asked Jamie at Honda Zone if it indeed needed to be replaced and he said "of course not." They did a great job fixing my brakes and I think the price was fair. I would definitely recommend taking any Japanese car to Honda Zone. read more

I went to see Murph by recommendation from a friend and I'm so glad he shared! Murph has done so many odd jobs and "check ups" on my car, asking for no compensation whatsoever. He doesn't recommend extraneous services if I don't absolutely need it which is great for anyone who can't afford investing so much $$ into their cars. Helps that there's a DD across the street - they let you hang out there and flag you over when you're all set. Perfect! read more

I would give them a million bajillion stars if I could! These guys have saved my ass over and over again. They always take my car right in and give me the best service I've ever had ANYWHERE. Just today I brought my car in with a leaky tire and they fixed it all up in about 15 minutes. I will never bring my car anywhere else. I love these guys! read more

I was told by a dealership that my front tires and rear brakes were low. I didn't want to get ripped off by a dealership so I took my car to Car Zone based on Yelp reviews. I told Murph what I thought my car needed to get done. After he looked at my car he said my tires and brakes were fine! He cleaned the rust on my brakes, changed my oil, and even took my car for the state inspection (which I completely didn't know I needed to do since I come from a place where annual state inspections don't exist). He only charged me for the oil change and state inspection fee! Murph could've easily changed my tires and brakes (and charged me) and I wouldn't have known that they didn't need to be changed. Being a woman, I've never met anyone who has been honest about my car. I initially showed up without an appointment. Murph was really busy, but he was willing to fit me in if I really wanted to get my car serviced that day. I didn't want to wait all day, so I scheduled an appointment for the following day. It still ended up taking 4 hours. That was my only gripe, but Murph's unwavering honesty definitely outweighs having to wait. It probably has to do with the fact that he has a stellar reputation and he can get very busy. read more

They are absolutely amazing here. Everyone I've interacted with was very kind, capable, and efficient. I've gone to them for engine trouble, flat tire, and break issues on separate occasions, and will continue to go there in the future read more

I have been going here for car repair for over 25 years. I have never had problems of any kind. Recently Metrowest Subaru told me my inner CV joint boots were torn and making noise. I only was there for an airbag recall fix. I decided to call Murph- the owner of Car Zone who answered the phone and said he'd be happy to take a look but hadn't noticed anything during my last service. They had quoted me $400. He physically showed me the boots which were pristine. No tears, leaks, or noise. I couldn't believe it! If you want a mechanic who cares for their customers and will tell you the truth go here. Service you can REALLY trust. read more

Quick, friendly, quality service. (I went here to replace a dead battery.) I hung out at the Dunkin Donuts across the street as well, and Murph waved me over 15 minutes later with the thumbs-up sign. And then I rolled along my merry way. :) So glad I found this place (thanks, Yelpers)--I will take my future car issues to Car Zone! read more

First time owning a car, I went here due to the great reviews. I bought in an old volvo to for some tail lights, fog lights assembly as well as some brake fluid. Since they normally don't service volvos, I was told that I had to go and get the parts myself but in the meantime, they topped of my brake fluid for me which was great. I call back a month later to schedule an appointment to put on the fog light and they stated that they don't do detailing. The owner stated that some of the people work there will promise these things but we don't actually do them. So now i'm stuck finding another shop that will on for me. I'm glad to have called instead of actually driving my car in and getting turned down then. read more

Car Zone has changed locations (moved a few blocks) and it seems the reviews did not carry forward so I am writing a second review. Car Zone/Murph and his fellow mechanics are well worth writing about for a second time. Worthy of note: there were a total of 156 reviews and a 5 STAR average! I have only had good experiences with this place. I have been taking my car there for over 2 years and I will never go to another mechanic. Murph is kind (he really cares about his customers) and straightforward. He runs his business in a professional manner and you can count on him for honest answers, reasonable prices, and high quality auto mechanic work. read more

Car Zone has been my go-to mechanic since I moved to Boston a year ago. The guys are friendly and they always get me in and out fairly quickly (there's a Donkin Donuts across the street if you want a place to wait). The oil changes are quick and reasonable. I was recently in a car accident and had to bring it in to a different shop for body work. They told me the underside of my car was rusted through and I would have to replace some thing(quoted me about $600)..so I went to Car Zone. They looked at it...,and basically they showed me the car was fine (no rust whatsoever). They are really honest and they didnt charge me anything to look at it. You will not be disappointed if you come here! read more

Took a few tries with some other mechanics in the area but thrilled that I finally found Murph at Car Zone. Easy to reach, easy to get appts, knowledgeable, honest, quick, and transparent with respect to billing and services needed. This place may look a bit odd as you pull onto Columbia St amidst the scrap metal shops but you'll find here the most professional and service-oriented garage and mechanic I found anywhere in the Cambridge/Somerville neighborhood. You won't be disappointed. read more

I had some rattling underneath my car that I wanted to get checked out. I'm always weary of where to go (never know what they'll tell you as I know nothing about cars). After reading reviews, decided to call and they said just to come in! Was not disappointed - he knew the problem right away and fixed within 10 minutes. 10/10 recommend, and would come here again. read more

Service was super friendly and honest - came for ab inspection and they did what they needed to do and did not try to upsell me on unnecessary things. Trustworthy and I would absolutely come back. read more

Though I know my way around cars, I didn't have the tools since I moved up North. After reading all the glowing reviews on Yelp, I tripped down to 209 Broadway. It doesn't look like much, but Murph & Crew lie within. Knocking suspension & squeaking brakes? Let's put it up on the lift. After twenty minutes tightening things up & realizing the rotors were just rusty from neglecting my baby, Murph tried to send me off without paying a dime. Knowledgeable, fair & prompt. Highly, highly recommended. read more

Wow. Murph is a great guy. Personable. Honest. It seems, too, that he is a great mechanic. I took my car by because it was idling roughly, but only once a day, before it was warmed up. He checked it out, told me he could find nothing. There was no warning light on or anything. He said "Pour in some gas dry (or whatever he said) and see if it gets better. I think you got bad gas. This works for 85% of people. I can't even suggest you do anything, cause I can't find the problem." Great. So what do I owe you for doing nothing? "Nothing. I don't fix something, I can't charge for something." Fa real? Hot dang! So two weeks later my warning light comes on. Turns out it was some jacked up EGR valves and the car needed a tune up. Which he did. Came in at only 7% more than the estimate, which was surprising, because he had to change the coils (an extra $200). So I think that man took a hit on the labor price because he didn't want to blindside me. Since then, the car has been running fine. The airbag light has since come on, unrelated, and I just called him. "I thought I told you I didn't want to talk to you for a looooong time." A mechanic who doesn't want to see me often is my kind of mechanic. read more

I cannot say enough positive things about Murph and Honda Zone. My wife and I have been faithfully going to him for the past 4 years with our 1998 Honda Accord which has now reached over 170,000 comfortably because of his great care of our vehicle. On a number of occasions I have gone to Murph about getting various things looked at -- he is always eager to take short drive with me and check out things that are rattling or making weird noises -- and he will give me his honest opinion about whether i should get anything done. No joke -- 8 out of 10 times he will say things like "I would love to take your money, but I don't think you need it done." or when i took it in last week to check out my rear suspension -- "It will cost you about $800, but If it was my car, I don't think I'd get it fixed. It will be fine as it is." On a number of occasions, as he is working on my car, he will lend me a rental car to use for the afternoon -- and then he will call me when it is time to come back and pick up my car. I refer all my friends to Honda Zone and they have the same experience!!! You won't regret going there. read more

I hate to be boring and repeat the same glowing praises for Car Zone and Murph - but this place rocks! I've definitely felt taken advantage of by other mechanics (who shall remain nameless), but with Murph, I always get just the work I need done and not the work I don't. Usually, I see Murph when there's an obvious problem (loud muffler, overheating radiator) so there's no mystery as to whether I need auto work. What I appreciate is that he never pushes "extra" work on me. I drive a '99 Acura and I intend to drive it as long as possible because I don't have a car payment. Murph seems to understand this. I have an old car. Things are going to break. He doesn't have to squeeze extra maintenance out of me. Every time I leave, he says "Hope I don't see you for a long, long time." And Murph, I love ya, but I don't want to see you again for a long, long time either! read more

Having just driven my car across the country from California, suffice it to say it needed an oil change and a full "look over" to make sure it was in good shape. I did some research and was happy to find such a highly rated (and local) mechanic right near me. I called and the folks over at Car Zone said I could bring my car right over. I've had bad experiences with mechanics in the past (one mechanic not installing brakes properly will make you skeptical of all mechanics lol) but the employees at Car Zone were very kind and patient with me and reassured me that they would change the oil and double check my brakes (and everything in between). They even suggested that my Fiance and I walk over to a nearby chocolate factory while we waited for the car to be serviced (also a great place btw!). I love when local businesses support each other like that. After going to the chocolate factory, we made our way back to Car Zone and my car was already taken care of. The price for the oil change was very reasonable and the mechanics answered all of my questions. Fast forward to a week ago, I go to start my car and it's not turning over. I had someone come give me a jump but it was hard to start (didn't seem like a battery issue). Since it was a Friday before the long weekend, I really wanted to have the car looked at to make sure everything was okay so it wouldn't break down somewhere and have to wait until Tuesday. I took it over to Car Zone around 5pm, feeling bad because they close at 5:30pm. A manager talked to me about the issue and found a mechanic to come out to the parking lot and test everything out. The mechanic tested the battery and alternator finding no issues but ran a scan and found one of my sensors had gone awry (causing the car not to start and the check engine light to come on). He simply cleared the code and voila! No check engine light! To top it off, they didn't charge me for any of this! What a relief! My car is still having some issues starting, so I will definitely be back in to Car Zone for any repair that needs. Thanks guys! read more

I took my Honda Civic here after I tried to get inspected up the street and they failed it because my SRS/airbag light was on and told me I would have to take it to a dealer to get it fixed. I will do anything that I can to avoid taking my car to a dealership! My co-worker highly recommended Car Zone and said that they specialized in Hondas, so I figured it was worth a shot. Not only did they fix my light, no problem, and for way less than I was expecting to pay, they told me that my car should have passed and took it themselves to get it inspected for me! All in less than an hour! I will definitely be bringing my car back here! Thanks to Jamie for being so helpful! read more

I relied on Yelp to help me find a mechanic when I returned to Boston after an 8 year absence. I left behind a very trusted mechanic in California and didn't figure I'd be able to find the same in Boston. I was wrong. There have been 2 separate occasions where Murph helped me diagnose a problem with my car, gave me suggestions and didn't ask for anything in return. The most impressive part was he took the time for me, a stranger, when 4-5 people arrived at the shop looking for him. After we were done, I did watch Murph with other customers and all I could hear were a string of "thank you's" from them. If I were not moving next week, Murph would be my mechanic for life. The best I can do is pass on my countless, unbelievable experiences for anyone in the same position I was in. read more

Murph is the man. I have a weird electrical problem with the touch screen AC part in my navi unit that makes using the heating and cooling almost impossible. Read of Murph's Yelp status, holla'd at him and dropped of the Ac-right early on Friday morning. He couldnt diagnose the problem (it only happens half the time) but he changed my oil, reset a couple of lights on the dash, checked the airbags, fixed a minor cosmetic blemish- all for $30, plus he made some recommendations on what to do and not do to keep the beast running smoothly in her older age. Fast forward a couple of days, and whatever he did/didnt do to the AC seems to have fixed the problem. So, in summary, for the cost of an oil change, he solved all of my problems. Say word. read more

I cannot believe what gentlemen these guys are! I took my car there to fix a few issues that it had. Murph correctly directed me to contact where I bought the car from and also the original dealership to follow up with those repairs. He also rotated my breaks to fix a loose part on the car, and didn't charge me for anything!!! If it was anywhere else, they would have charged $200 for that! Really helpful people. read more

I have a VW - it's 12 years old and is an absolute junker at this point (4 hit and runs...and counting!)... I had some tires from my aunts jetta she bought before selling her car and never had them put on. I needed some new tires (thinking 2 but was prepared to need 4) so I brought this place my tires expecting them to say hey we will buy 2 more and put them all on and charge you a bunch of money... ...they gave me an honest answer- put these 2 on that you already own, we'll check everything and send you on your way. Articulate, patient, kind, willing to listen and explain not in a condescending way- what? I felt like I was in the twilight zone. 20.00 - total. Probably a 10 minute job but I was absolutely expecting to be charged at least an hour. I cant imagine a car place billing for less than an hour of labor. Again, twilight zone. I am absolutely bringing my car here, not because of the fact that they were so honest/cheap but because I would trust their judgement and listen to their recommendations for my car. read more

When I drove by the shop a few weeks ago I commented to my friend how the place looks so ghetto. After I saw the glowing reviews on Yelp, I decided to bring an oldschool Honda Accord to get checked for an exhaust leak. They told me that they would have to order a $130 exhaust part and the labor would be around the same too. But like one of the other reviews, they told me about another shop (Lou's Custom Exhaust in Medford) that could fix (weld) it for $60. What really touched me is that Murph didn't charge me one cent. Absolutely rock solid guys! read more

These guys are the nicest most honest mechanics I have met. Will definitely be going to them for all my auto repairs. I tried to pay for a flat tire service but they kept insisting it was free. Not a very common experience at a mechanic shop for sure. Definitely give them a try! read more

I called the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break and even though they said they were booked through the weekend Murph asked what I needed done and said I could come in on Wednesday. I got there and they took my car immediately, showed me what was wrong, how they were going to fix it and all the steps. As someone who knows nothing about cars this was extremely kind and showed me these guys are the real deal. Would 1000% come here and again and recommend it to everyone! read more

Brought my car in to get my tires changed for the summer driving season. Service was very friendly, and fast (less than 40 mins from pulling in to driving out with no appointment) and the price was half what I was quoted at other shops that tried to up charge me because of my low profile tires. I went here because of the great yelp reviews. The experienced lived up to the expectation, so I feel karmically obliged to write this review. This business provides it and deserves to be rewarded with our continued patronage. read more

Phenomenal shop. These guys have fixed a few issues for me and I have had overwhelming good experiences. I never have to wait long (I call ahead to be sure), they are careful to figure out the issue and then solve it well. The owner seems super honest and the price is definitely reasonable. read more

I wonder if Murph knows about all the great reviews his store has on Yelp... A previous mechanic told me that I have a leak and have to replace some parts; but Murph took one look at it and said: "The only thing that could have leaked was the old oil that they changed." So I learned two lessons: 1. Old oil makes for fantastic "leaks" if splattered in the right places. 2. My car will see no other mechanic except Murph. Honest, no-fuss, efficient. Let's try to keep this guy in business. read more

My Toyota Tacoma failed the Mass. state emissions inspection and I kept getting things fixed at other non-dealer service centers and it still failed the inspections. Finally, I went to Herb Chambers Toyota and they said I needed a new catalytic converter -- for $2500. Too much money. I checked Yelp and came across the excellent reviews for Car Zone in Cambridge. so I took it there. $1400.00 later (less than half the price) they had installed factory parts (the reason Herb Chambers said it would be so expensive) and the car passed inspection today. Catalytic converters are expensive, but HALF the price? The guys at Car Zone kept me informed of the progress of the repair, called me to tell me that the price would go up $100, and did not charge me more than they said they would. I didn't know honest car repair shops could be so easy to find. Thanks Car Zone (and Yelp). read more

It's been said before: Murph is the man! Two new tires, alignment, oil change, all done quickly and reasonably. He replaced two bulbs for free and even drove my car to an inspection station and got me a sticker for $29 (the price of the sticker, i.e. no surcharge!) He told me that the rear brakes were noisy but still in good shape and that I didn't need any work on them at this time. He's got himself another return customer on his hands! read more

As the saying goes, "A good mechanic is hard to find" and that could not ring more true. When I moved to Boston 6 years ago I didn't know where to begin to look for a mechanic. After being over-charged and less than satisfied numerous times, I finally turned to Yelp for help! Yelp lead me to Murph at Car Zone, and I have never looked back! Throughout my experiences there, Murph and the team have encouraged me to order parts online and have them sent directly to the shop to save money. They only charge for labor and the price is always reasonable. He has never charged more than an estimate. He even put winter wipers on my car for free when he was doing a completely different repair on my car. Whenever I am leaving, he always cheerfully jokes "I don't want to see you back here for a long time." We all know that having car troubles is stressful enough, and I am thankful that everyone at Car Zone eased my mind a bit through those times. This review echoes the same sentiment that the others have - but it still seemed worthwhile to write. Thank you Murph & team!! read more