Car-X Tire & Auto

Unless you are the Geico motorcycle-driving money man, try hard to find another place to take your vehicle!!! I know there are reviews for this garage saying "oh, i saved so much money here!", and yeah, perhaps when you're used to paying Mercedes dealer prices those individuals DID save some money here (this garage is located very close to the most expensive subdivision in all of San Antonio), but for regular folks who feel the Obama economy bearing down on them, this place is NOT WHERE YOU SHOULD GO! Here's my story.

My 96 Jeep Cherokee was sputtering and choking, so I did a google map search and found the nearest garage to my house since I had to sputter over to it. The problem ended up being 4 sensors and a catalytic converter that needed replaced. $1,600 later (for parts that cost around $360 if you went out and bought them yourself), I picked up the Jeep and drove it literally 5 miles down the road when it just instantly died and would not start back up. I called them and they 'graciously' offered to tow her in. Two days later I hear back from them and they want another $896 to replace the ECM. If you don't know what an ECM is, it's the computer that controls the vehicles fuel and power train. You can buy these yourself for between $150 and $250 depending on where you go. It is literally three small screws and a cable to replace it. When I asked them how three screws and a $200 part became $869, I got a long winded analogy of how buying a steak from a restaurant is always more expensive than buying one from the grocery store. Okay, I get that...but 400% MARKUP?!?!?! Granted, $89 of that price was FOR TOWING MY JEEP LITERALLY TWO MILES!!!! But still, that's crazy, crazy high. So I figured I'd just get my own "steak" from the "grocery store" and take out the three screws myself. The price to get my Jeep from the hostage takers: $209 for diagnosing a problem that mysteriously occurred FIVE MILES AFTER THEY 'FIXED' the car, and $89 FOR TOWING IT BACK TO THEIR SHOP TWO MILES!!!

As you can probably discern, I'm slightly disgusted by my whole ordeal. PTOOEY on this "boutique", over-priced, commitment-phobe garage! Yes, they are very, very afraid of commitment, and it's like pulling teeth to even get them to give you a window of time for the work they're doing, let alone having them assume any responsibility for the mysterious breakdown right after they do other repairs.

All that said, I have to concede that they DO seem to be very knowledgeable...they just insist on dry raping you in exchange. So, if you're made of money, immune to sticker shock, and are into S&M, use this garage. Otherwise, let your fingers do the walking and roll the dice somewhere else!

UPDATE: Since I was unwilling to pay the $869 to have them replace a $150 part, I bought the part my last Car-X $100 diagnosis assured me was the problem (the ECM) and put it on. The car would not start. So, I towed the Jeep to another garage. Turns out there was NOTHING WRONG WITH MY ECM. The "good" garage found the problem: one of the sensors Car-X had replaced (a cheap knock-off brand) had gone bad...AFTER FIVE MILES. The garage replaced it, and I was humming along for another 50 miles when one of the OTHER sensors Car-X replaced went bad as well!!! Again, it was a cheap knock-off brand. After replacing THAT sensor, the Jeep has been humming along quite nicely.

A few months ago our teenage son forgot to put the emergency brake on and our minivan rolled into a pond. What a mess! Car-X helped us get it towed, cleaned out, and running again.

They fixed our motor home recently, it had been sitting in our yard for a few years and wouldn't start. I'm all thumbs when it comes to cars and such, so I called them. I had my motor home purring like a kitten in just a few days. Very impressed!

Car-X is the best auto repair shop that I know of. We've never had a bad experience with them, but we have with other shops in our area. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Fixed fast - every time. Love them !

Just picked up the car. Flawless repair. Quick service. Rental car on site was nice. Very friendly people there too. Absolutely no grumpy mechanics to be seen or heard of :)

Car X is wonderful. Making an appointment is easy and they are very attentive to any reported problems with my Prius. I am a new Prius driver and they helped me better understand the car, not just repair/service.

Nice guys, uncompromising honesty, skilled, timely, and reasonable!

I needed a simple oil change and drove on in. I figured I could just head over to the gym or the mall and kill some time. I start talking to the guy at the desk, telling him some issues and concerns about my car I had and instead of selling me this and that, he actually gave me some great advice and eased my worries. Told me some tips to save me money too. He said he would check some stuff in addition to my oil change and it took about an hour like he quoted me. Came back and was greeted by name, he went over some stuff they found and handed me the keys, I was good to go. It was a great experience, I will definitely go back (for more than just oil changes too) and skip the Grease Monkey fools.

Car-X have very good professional's team to resolve any Auto repair works.

Nice services, i appreciate your quick work like Oil Change and Brake Repair works.

Never Before! That type of Quick and 100% accurate work. Awesome services regarding Brake Repair.

Good Behavior and Warm welcome to NEW ONE, Its great and my car also receive warm welcome through GOOD and Honest Service from Car-X.

Mr.Hagee is very hardworking and dealing with good manners and satisfy my self according to my need, the big thing is that they have work done at promised time.
Keep it up your awesome services.

This is a awesome perform. There are many useful details for us. It is very exciting and pleasant. Car is the aspect of our lifestyle.

I am always treated so well at Car-X . I love the staff there, the customer service is excellent, and I feel like the job is done quickly and I can count on them to make sure it's right if I have any questions or concerns.

the service was worth the pay. they did the service very good and car is running awesome. great work

This is really great work. Everyone of car-x member very helpful and their works are very effective. The cost is also reasonable.

This is a nice work. There are many useful information for us. It is very interesting and enjoyable. Car is the part of our life.

Car-X Auto Service is just amazing.They are professional,well behaved,expert & their service is world class.I am totally satisfied on their service & hope to take more service again.

I have nothing but good things to say about this Car-X, and the owner, Mark.

Our Subaru needed new brakes, and we were quoted X dollars by the Subaru dealership. A friend whose opinion I respect referred me to this place, so after discussing it with my wife, we decided to see what they had to say. Not only did they come in well under Subaru's price, they did the work quickly while I sat at Starbuck's and did some work myself. Additionally, Mark actually pointed out that I wouldn't need new front brakes (and explained why) for another few thousand miles, which Subaru had said needed to be replaced.

Great Work, Now my Car Look very comfortable after I went this company.
I recommend to my very friend

This company is very excellent and very professional expert in their work and more the location is very easily reachable i am thinking to always avail the services of this company

Everyone of car-x member very helpful and the price of oil change is great.it is nice place for work.

I have checked online and visited a auto parts store and machine shop and found out that the price I was charged is outrageous. The clutch assembly cost range from $158 to $200 for our 1997 XLT 4 cylinder Ford ranger. The machine shop I visited said the fly wheel could be machined and Jim told us it wasn't fixable but he wanted all the parts back. I feel totally violated. It should be criminal to charge an 82 year old man prices like we were charged. Our bill was $1,100.00 for their service. I would recommend you go elsewhere if you need repairs.