Car mechanic recommendation

[gingicat]

So I really should recommend my awesome mechanic:
ABJ Auto Repair
91 Marshall St, Somerville, MA
(617) 625-6632

The first owner was Al, who died of cancer not long ago. It's now owned by Wendell, who is terrific, and at least partially managed by Michael, who is also terrific. I think every guy there has worked on at least one of our cars.

Yesterday I retrieved my 2004 Ford Focus from them after her120,000 mile timing belt replacement. At my request, the mechanic who worked on her took the time to show me all the replaced parts and tell me what they all do and why they were replaced, without ever condescending to me. He also started to show me how to replace my headlight bulb, but unfortunately the wiring harness (probably aftermarket -- need to review the repair record to see who replaced the bulb last) was so short that he could barely fit it himself, let alone show me how it was supposed to attach.

The timing belt etc plus an oil change and solenoid for the blower motor (stupid thing was only running on high) came in at exactly where expected. They did not charge me for labor on the bulb despite the problems.

Comments

[gosling.livejournal.com]

ABJ is awesome.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

Agreed. My 1989 honda is still on the road due to ABJ - it just passed inspection last week!. They've had to cut down their hours (now they close at 6 pm) and not be open on weekends anymore due to their now tightened budget. Their main "problem" they have had forever is they don't have a waiting room, and for most jobs it's a "leave the car and return in the evening" sort of thing. But they'll drive you to and from the T stop! They really are the "impossible to find" HONEST mechanic!

[cos]

I used ABJ when I had a Ford, a loooong time ago, and liked them a lot.

Then I had a couple of Saturns in a row, so I went to the Saturn dealership that no longer exists (well, it's still there, but no longer Saturn), and then I got a VW and I happen to live a few blocks from a place that specializes in VWs.

[serious-noir.livejournal.com]

Is the VW place in/around Somerville? I need some work done on my Golf.

[cos]

It's in Cambridge. Metric Systems, on Broadway (the Cambridge Broadway, not the Somerville Broadway). T-accessible, though - less than a ten minute walk from the Central Square stop.