Alternative Auto Care (Columbus, OH) Mechanic(s): Chris, Jen
136 W. 5th Avenue (in rear of building) , Columbus, OH 43201 (614) 294-0580
Features and Specialties:

Please send us any corrections or additions to the above information. If you have experience with this shop, please add your own review!

Survey results:

They are always honest
They are competent
The repair price is always reasonable
They fix the problem the first time
They complete the work in a timely manner
They respond well when they screw something up
They take the time to explain the problems and necessary repairs
The shop is located in a safe neighborhood
The hours of operation are convenient for customers
They treat male and female customers in the same manner
They are near public transportation (or provide loaners, shuttle bus, rides as needed)

Reviewers Comments:

I had this shop fix my old '77 Chevy Impala Station Wagon. They gave an honest assessment of my car from what I could tell and put some good work into it to keep it running for another 6 months before it finally died. All in all, I think they did much better than 2 other Columbus area garages.

I'd dealt with this shop for everything from oil changes to an engine replacement. The mechianics are knowledgable, honest, and clear headed. They also take the time to explain what they're doing, and why.

I once brought in a 1986 Dodge Caravan that ended up needing major engine work (a new timing chain, most ostensibly). Rather than encourage me to sink the money into the engine work--which could have revealed the need for further repairs--Chris & company recommended I consider replacing my car with something more reliable. Since then I've had them work on my Toyota (the replacement car) a number of times, and they've always been up front about explaining what they can do and what my options are.

This woman owned shop is so great that we drive two hours to see them for every tune-up, weird noise or whatever that our cars need. They're honest and friendly; do great work and to our knowledge never rip their customers off. Our favorite part is that they always tell us which things could wait a pay- check or two and which ones MUST be done NOW.

I can't say how ABSOLUELY PLEASED I am with Alternative Auto Care, and have taken both our Saturn and our Plymouth Voyager there for routine maintenance and unexpected repairs. Our repairs have included brakes, a hole in the Plymouth's engine, heat and a/c, radiator, electrical, oil changes and tune ups, transmission work, and little perturbing things like latch repair, fuses, etc. Chris has never charged us for diagnostic evaluations because she knows we we're committed to have AAC complete the work -- we've never been disappointed. The actual cost of labor and parts has always equalled or come in under the estimate (that's *including* tax, folks!). Chris and the mechanics she employs at AAC have always discussed the repairs with me and my husband in an informative way, helping us learn why it is they need to do what they do. They help us learn how our car works (and doesn't) and make us (hopefully) more conscientious car owners. Best of all, if the repairs are unexpected, involve many aspects and are costly, Chris helps us determine what needs prioritizing and a timeline in which we should get the needful repairs done. Case in point: I distincly remember a time when we had to get several things done, including the front brakes (which squealed like a hurt puppy). But my husband's college tuition was due the next week. Bit, one of Chris' excellent mechanics, helped us determine that we should get the brakes done above all else or the continuing problem would cause more costly repairs. She gave us not only a time estimate but a mileage estimate on when we should get the remaining repairs done. This helped us immensely, as we could plan ahead and save up the money necessary for the repairs yet still get the brakes done and pay the tuition on time. I found AAC in the yellow pages and when calling the Better Business Bureau, found that AAC had a good record with them. Every other of the 8 or so mechanics I checked on had at least one matter of customer complaint. That's pretty incredible for a city the size of Columbus. I thoroughly lucked out when I found AAC and Chris, and trust her staff implicitly, especially now that we are down to only one car -- our six year old Saturn SL1 with 71,000 miles on it. Chris and her staff are polite, extremely knowledgeable, treat everyone equitably and have earned every gold star their reputation demands. You guys should come to Columbus and interview Chris and her mechanics -- in a world of dubious auto service shops, this place is pure gold. Thanks for letting me pass on the buzz about what a great business Chris runs and how terrifically happy I am with Alternative Auto Care! (P.S. I feel like a real goof that I can't remember Chris' last name, but she's always encouraged me to call her by her first name.)

My fiancee and I have both had great experiences with Alternative Auto. The mechanics are professional, friendly, and competent. The price was extremely competetive. I saved about $150 compared to my other estimate. Even more impressive was my fiancee's Ford Ranger which had a hydraulic leak and an estimate from BP in the amount of $1500. Alternative Auto did the same job for less than $800. We will definitely be repeat customers. I also appreciate the fact that this is an all female shop!!

AAC was recommended to me by a friend when I recently moved to Columbus, and I am convinced that Bit and the shop saved my car (and my shaky finances). Bit has always explained to me in detail what was wrong with my 1988 VW Golf (183,000 miles) and prioritized what I should fix now and what could wait, helping me to learn more about my car. And the fact that the shop is woman-owned and operated helps a lot. I trust them implicitly.

They performed great work at a great price and kept me informed throughout about procedures, options, and costs. I don't think I could ask for more. Highly recommended.

Honest, direct, no BS. Great shop. Wish they had evening or Sat. hours, but I'll make the sacrifices in order to have their expertise in dealing with my elderly Honda.

Great people, great service. Will definitely keep going back, even though it is a bit out of the way.

WOW this is the first repair shop I have been to where I didn't feel taken advantage of! All female, totally nice, didn't offer me any repairs other than the one I asked for, quoted a decent price, and I felt respected as a female car owner. I will defintiely be back for future repairs!

I've known and trusted this shop, its owners, and employees, for years. When I needed to install passenger side airbag on/off switch in my pickup so I could install a car seat, AAC was the only shop that would even consider accepting the paperwork and doing the job. The great thing was, even after spending time locating the kit and then determining that my truck did not, despite all appearances, have a passenger side airbag, Chris didn't charge me. Honesty, integrity, community-mindedness.

They are smart and are more than willing to share their knowledge!

You won't do any better than AAC!!!!

I first took my car to AAC when I had a problem with my timing belt....it turned out to be a problem with the recently-replaced (at BP Procare) alternator. Chris opened the hood and explained exactly what had gone wrong, said that BP should fix it for free, and if they wouldn't, she told me exactly how much it should cost (in case they tried to take advantage of me). I don't know much about cars, but I never feel like an idiot when I take my car to AAC. The staff always takes the time to tell me what is wrong with my car, and I leave having learned something new. It also says a lot that I always see Chris out in the community and trying to make our city a better place. If my own experience with her shop weren't enough, it seems to me that someone with that level of dedication to the community is someone who can be trusted.

I can't sing the praises of this shop enough. The work they do is exceptional and fast. They take the time to explain what the problem is and what needs to be done to fix it. They will tell you up front other problems that are found and how necessary they are to be fixed. As a woman I have never felt I was being lied to or taken advantage of there. They are nice and knowledgeable and an all around pleasure to go to.

Professional, honest, reliable... This shop truly exceeded my expectations. They are also conveniently located near the city busline in a safe neighborhood.

AAC is by far the best auto shop I have ever used. They were honest, fixed only what needed to be fixed and offered suggestions on items that can wait and when I should think about bringing it back in for the items that could wait. Very informative and trustworthy. I have found my new auto shop and plan to use them any repair need that I may have.

Here I was trying to help my daughter move into her apartment for fall quarter when I ran my minivan into her curb. Even with radiator fluid gushing out we made 4 round trips to complete the move (filling the reservoir with tap water every half trip). www.cartalk.com came to the rescue - Alternative Auto Care got high praise on the website and we found Chris and Jenni everything great mechanics are. They did just enough to get my 9 yr old car running well. Their work is reliable and their price fair. They are fast and ingenious too! Thanks to Chris and Jenni and to Car Talk for taking the nightmare out of this move. We recommend everyone in the Columbus area go to Alternative Car Care - that is until we can convince them to move to Cincinnati!

Always great service!

The muffler on my '99 Toyota pickup was loud all of the sudden, so I made an appointment and took it in. I also had a letter in hand from Toyota saying that there had been a defect in a few of the trucks made when mine was made resulting in weakness in the frame. I'd basically ignored the letter (this was before the rash of recalls we've had in the past couple of years), but took it with me to the shop. I showed it to Jen and asked that while she was under the truck anyway, she look and see if this was something I needed to deal with. Two hours later, I got a call from Jen. She said that my truck was most certainly one of the ones affected by the recall, that I needed to take it to a dealership right away, and that she wasn't even going to touch the muffler. Didn't charge me a dime. What was always interesting to me was that Chris, the owner, had also mentioned that the frame seemed unusually rusty the last time I'd had the truck in. Just goes to show that they don't get tunnel vision and just fix whatever you're complaining about and collect your money. They care about you and your vehicle and making sure you're safe on the road.

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