
- David Dreier
- Dave Wadsworth
Honest, excellent service, and reasonable prices!
I was traveling to visit family over the holiday and had a brake issue on my prius. I had been experiencing the issue (loud ‘bark’ noise when braking) for several months. My local mechanic told me he knew what the issue was, and it was safe to drive until it displayed a code (check engine light), which could be years. He quoted a price for the fix, and the issue was not a simple (brake actuator).
When I got to Sarasota, the issue got worse, so I stopped by Dave’s on New Year’s Eve. Dave’s diagnosed the issue and quoted a price much lower than my local mechanic. The fix took 2 days, but it was ready before the date quoted, and for less than the estimate provided.
Dave’s knew I was traveling, knew the service was necessary, and had to be done by a Toyota specialist. They could have easily taken advantage of the situation.
- Dave Wadsworth
- T Lerch
- Dan Shapiro
Honest mechanic. Felt very comfortable having them fix my cars. A bit out of the way for us, but is worth it. Prices seemed reasonable. Were very blunt about what was highly recommended vs what could be delayed or needed more information. Stayed open a few minutes longer to allow me to come pick up the car which was nice.
- Dan Shapiro
- Sky Schelle
I was impressed by the customer service and attention to detail. In town on vacation, I was on a bicycle ride and found myself needing oil on my chain. Dave took the time to wire bush the chain and then lubricated it for me. He didn’t have to go out of his way to help me, but I’m sure glad he did!
- Sky Schelle
- Devlin Doyle
Service was wonderful, went in for a charge of an a/c system I installed. Blew cold and told me I had a small leak (fault on my end) they told me what part to buy and told me it would be cheaper if I replaced it myself as it was a simple screw off screw on install, instead of trying to charge me for them to do it. I also went in for a second opinion on a noise my engine was making and they assured me it was nothing to worry about. excellent service, spoke with Jessica as well as mike and Paul, all of them were wonderful. I would recommend Dave’s auto to anyone in need of auto repairs.
- Devlin Doyle
- Philip Glotzer
I had a complicated problem with sensors malfunctioning. They quickly diagnosed the problem and repaired. They have a state of the art diagnostic system which found my oil drain plug was leaking and replaced. Professional, competent and friendly service. Outstanding auto repair service facility. Highly recommend!
- Philip Glotzer
- Joshua Greene
Brought my car here to get looked at. They were quick and had me in and out in no time. Their honesty is unmatched and will be straight forward with what needs to be done to your vehicle. Best experience I’ve had taking my car in to a mechanic. I will be returning if I ever have any issues with my vehicle. 10/10 would recommend this shop to anyone who needs work done on their car.
- Joshua Greene
- Joseph Persicketti
Good customer service and clean shop. I’m irritated tho because they charged me 1700 to fix my ac. They did not warn me that it may not actually fix my ac and that it could potentially cost me an additional 2000. They told me they found the problem and they even replaced an extra hose that they said was the problem. Come to find out four days later it’s not what they said and now need 2k more.
- Joseph Persicketti
- Will Rangel
I really wish Dave’s had been my first choice. After being jerked around by a certain Hyundai dealership for weeks and spending several hundreds of dollars on repairs that didn’t solve the problem I brought the car in for, still not even really understanding what was wrong, we turned to Dave’s. The first day they had my car, I was provided with a detailed inspection report with photos and descriptions clearly outlining what was wrong with my car. They ordered the parts and had my car good as new within three days. The price was fair and the service was prompt and courteous. I was kinda starting to think auto repair was just a shady industry, and that I was gonna have a hard time finding an honest, professional technician. Look no further than Dave’s.
- Will Rangel
- Steven Pajevic
After some complications with a long time mechanic, I was referred to visit Dave’s Auto, by community members.
I am so glad they did.
The team went above and beyond to take care of my issues in a timely and professional manner.
I was up to date at each step, and while the repair ended up being minor – they treated me as if I have been a regular for years – which I believe I will be.
Thank you! Would highly recommend!
- Steven Pajevic
- Richard Kline
An excellent experience at Dave’s Auto Repair. I had a problem with the air conditioning system in my vehicle. The problem was found in a timely manner. Then it was repaired quickly at what I thought was a reasonable cost. Tim and Jessica who were the folks that I dealt with. They were both very professional and knowledgeable.
Thanks for the great service.
- Richard Kline
- Beau Foster
I am so impressed by Dave’s Auto and the folks that run it, that when I moved away, I drove nearly 800 MILES back to have them work on my Prius! Their professionalism both in the office and in the shop is something I haven’t experienced in many years and many experiences with different shops. I happened to mention the couple of poor reviews on here- somewhat surprised that people had those bad things to say, and they said that one of them was for a completely different shop(as this person wasn’t a customer of theirs) and the other person was just determined to complain about anything and everything. I recommend these folks very highly!
- Beau Foster
- Margaret Forbes
Words cannot express the gratefulness I have for this business.
I was traveling down for Christmas from Memphis and I broke down. After a unfruitful night of trying to fix my Jeep I called Dave’s because they mentioned Jeep repair on their website.
Mind you I called them on Dec 23rd not only did the tell me to bring it in they literally started diagnosing it right away and gave me an idea of the damage.
The entire time they had my car I was communicated to by Paul , Jessica, and Michael they treated me with respect and even remembered my name.
They were able to fix it in under a week and get me back on the road in time to make it back to work.
The team made my crummy situation infinitely better and I could not be more thankful. In a situation where you expect to be taken advantage of due to the holiday season and the urgency of the matter I was treated like family.
- Margaret Forbes
- Sophie Dritsas
Dave’s Auto Repair, specifically Jessica, went above and beyond by locating wheel hub covers on EBay for me. Existing ones were brittle and cracked on 2007 Toyota 4Runner. Their service is always prompt and efficient. Communication about automotive issues also very good. Service is honest and friendly. I have a real level of trust and confidence in this establishment for all my automotive needs. Highly Recommend!
- Sophie Dritsas
- Ken Goebel
Can’t say enough good things, worth every penny!! Real Hometown feeling!! I have brought my vehicles to Dave’s Auto Repair since 2002 and their work far exceeds my expectations! Always friendly and courteous, their shop is clean and yes they have great coffee! Door to door service is so helpful and convenient. They give great attention to detail and will let you know about any issues that need attention so that you don’t wind up on the roadside later on.
- Ken Goebel
- Erica Pickle
I am so thrilled to have landed at Dave’s Auto Repair! Dave and his crew have been working on my cars for the last year, and in that time they have treated me like family; even giving me a ride back home while my car was being worked on. They have always been honest and upfront about their pricing, they have never once done any work without first seeking my approval, and they always take the time to explain (even show me) what is going on with my car.
I don’t think it would be possible to find a more honest, and trustworthy mechanic, and they’ve got great coffee as well!!
- Erica Pickle
- Karen Fogarty
We were so tired of dealing with overpriced and rip-off dealership service centers. We were recommended to Dave’s by our son’s auto tech teacher and we are so glad we tried Dave’s. From the first time we used them for my daughter’s car they were fair and honest and even told us not to put any more money into this car.
We have had all three of our vehicles to Dave’s and each time we receive a fair and complete estimate up front with no shady numbers thrown in last minute. Karen is such a pleasure to work with in the office she is quick to respond and the overall timing of the service is so unbelievably fast we were so impressed.
I recommended a friend to use Dave’s and we received a handwritten thank you card with a gas gift card for our referral and that is just unheard of anymore. We love giving our business to a company that treats clients with such respect! Highly recommend Dave’s!
- Karen Fogarty
Wish I could make it 10 stars! I took in my 1987 Camino to have the AC repaired. Dave was spot on and fixed it to where my AC is ice cold. He was very honest and the charges were extremely reasonable for the work he did. Plus, I have a 90 day warranty which was a pleasant surprise! The next time I took my car in I asked him to check out the wiring to my horn. He had a look and didn’t charge me. I am very skeptical of car mechanics as I have had bad experiences in the past. Not so with Dave. He and his staff are wonderful people. I will be a loyal customer from here on out. Highly recommended!
- April
- Chris Elliott
Chris, I was ecstatic to hear about your experience at Dave’s Auto Repair and with our wonderful tech Gary. We work hard to evaluate our customer’s cars carefully and provide them a detailed report to make the right choice for them. Your experience here checked every box that we work so hard to accomplish. Thanks again for sharing and making our day!
- Chris Elliott
- Kathleen Mess
After a horrendous experience at Sunset Fiat involving air conditioning repair, I found Dave’s Auto . Jessica the owner is amazing . She kept me informed of the estimated cost, progress of the repair, and final result. My air has never been colder! Dave’s diagnosed the problem differently than Sunset, saving me a great deal of cost. I own a 2013 Fiat Abarth, not always an easy auto to deal with. Dave’s not only does excellent work, they also excel at customer service. I will not hesitate to recommend them to others.
- Kathleen Mess
- Alexander Scott
These guys are the best! They run a very tight ship, fast and efficient. They get it done right the first time. They have the best diagnostic tools matched with the knowledge needed to determine what is wrong with there car. Never had a problem with their service. They will drive you within 5 miles of the shop if you need to drop your vehicle off as a courtesy and pick you up when the job is done. Dave and Karen are great people to do business with and I would not trust anyone else with my car. Update: All of their work is now insured nationwide for 1 year or 12,000 miles!
- Alexander Scott
- D K
- Arnold Holden
I have taken our vehicles to Dave’s since 2011. Repairs and service, big and small–always happy with the result. My Yukon has 235,000 miles and runs like new. People I’ve referred to Dave’s have also been pleased with their work. It’s so good to find a skilled capable shop so worthy of trust.
- Arnold Holden
- Julio Pabon
I have been a fan of Dave’s Auto repair for more than ten years. Dave and Karen have taken care of both my American Cars and foreign cars over the years. I have always had great customer service as well as very honest work. I am very happy to have found a great mechanic shop where I know the work being done is really needed. Dave and his team are extremely knowledgeable, but are very honest in telling me if I should have a particular job done at the dealer (warranty work) or with a super-specialist. I give Dave’s Auto my highest recommendation.
Sincerely,
Julio E. Pabon, M.D.
- Julio Pabon
I have to say Dave’s crew rocks ! My car is more amazing than when I bought it. I brought my car to other places and it wasn’t done right even after replacing everything. My air wasn’t working properly but Dave found the problem. Air was fixed then I was sent pictures of other problems that would happen down the road. They sent pictures and explained what was going on. Wow 👌 I can’t believe how tight the steering is. The air freezes me out, the pick up is amazing ans now I give the boys a run for their money. I am thrilled 😊 how they took care of me . Love you guys …. ps when I picked up my car there was a note on my steering wheel signed by the mechanic that worked on it, wow.
- Jami Gee
- Douglas Gamble
The best! My usual trusted mechanics said I needed an $800 AC evaporator. I took it to Dave’s to have them check it. It needed only a couple valves and a recharge and they saved me over $500! Very friendly, fast and efficient. Gave me a ride to and from home. I will never go to another mechanic now that I found Dave’s!
- Douglas Gamble
- Robin Pietripaoli
- Roy Worth
Sooooo glad i found Dave’s Auto Repair!! We will be going there for all of our vehicle maintenance. GREAT local mechanic shop with affordable prices! They were half the price and twice as fast as the dealer!!! Everyone is friendly, nice and super helpful. We will even start taking our fleet vehicles there as well. I was afraid to write a good review because they might get too busy.
- Roy Worth
- Naomi D
- Michele Mackey
I had been having long term intermittent issues with my Dodge Ram 1500. The battery would randomly discharge entirely. The problem was occurring more and more frequently and the Dodge dealer was stymied. After seeing reviews for Dave’s Auto Repair, I called for an appointment and took my truck to them.
Everyone else mansplained to me what was going on, Jessica listened and believed me. Within a few days the problem was diagnosed and the most cost effective repair was done. And for the couple days it took to figure out, Jessica kept the lines of communication open, which I really appreciated. It is now over two months from date of service and the truck is starting reliably again and maintaining its charge.
- Michele Mackey
- Marlene Murphy
- Tom C
Dave’s Auto Repair “Saved our Car” !!
My daughter’s 2001 Nissan Maxima broke down in Brandon and it was towed to the nearest Nissan Dealer for repair. They replaced the alternator and 3-month old sears Diehard battery, (They insisted the 3-month old battery was bad but we did not argue) then told her it was fixed and she picked it up. Yep, it was running alright but now the A/C was not working. So she took it back and they said the A/C compressor was bad, “another $1000-plus, please”… She told them it was working perfectly before they replaced the alternator, “what happened?” (They had already advised they had to disconnect the A/C compressor to replace the alternator) The response was the usual, “wasn’t our fault” Yeah right!!
After getting ripped off for over $1000 for an alternator job and a broken A/C system bonus I told my daughter enough is enough!
I switched cars with her as she lives in Brandon and took her car to Dave’s for a second opinion as I live in Sarasota. We’ve been loyal customers at Dave’s Auto Repair for over 10-years and knew we could trust their recommendations.
Dave personally inspected the A/C system and determined the problem was a blockage created by the filter dryer. He also found that the A/C system was apparently never recharged with Freon after the compressor was disconnected and reinstalled by the dealership. The cost was so much less than the dealership that now my daughter can keep the car a little bit longer and that was our goal.
Bottom line…a local, family owned, neighborhood business is always the best and Dave, Karen, Jan and staff at Dave’s Auto Repair can always be trusted to provide honest, quality service at affordable prices!
- Tom C
- SERVPRO of Sarasotav
We have worked with Dave’s Auto for our vehicles. Their service is high quality and their quotes on point. Their Door to Door service is impeccable and has made it easier for my business to continue operating without hesitation. Dave’s Auto repair will continue to receive my business. Thank You!!
- SERVPRO of Sarasotav
- Bruce Miner
It is always a pleasure to deal with Dave, Karan and Jan at Dave’s Auto Repair. I’ve been a customer for eleven years with cars ranging from a Toyota Corolla to a BMW Z3, a Corvette and now two Lexus cars. They know their business and service is always friendly, trustworthy and professional. I wouldn’t take my cars anywhere else.
- Bruce Miner
- Jon Miller
I took my girlfriends BMW to express oil change & tire engineers and they said I needed a new alternator breaks and a bunch of other stuff that would cost me $2,000 and then I brought it to Dave’s auto repair for a second opinion and I only needed a water pump and a hose. The technicians at Dave’s auto repair are very honest reliable and excellent at what they do! This is the first auto repair shop I have found in Bradenton and Sarasota with fair prices and reliable technicians! 🙂
- Jon Miller
- Charles J
What I like most about Dave’s Auto is they take the time to explain why you need a certain car part. They may not be the rock bottom – cheapest in town but you drive away, with a peace of mind, knowing the part was installed correctly by a person who cares what he is doing and values his work.
I find myself going back to them many times with a peace of mind as I drive my car. To me that’s what really matters.