Cliff's Automotive Repair Incorporated

Cliff's Auto is divided into two shops, one on Center st. and one on 12th st. I have always went to the one on 12th St. The first time I went, my 85 Honda CRX threw an alternator belt and died in the parking lot of a nearby McDonald's. I showed up pushing my Honda into the parking lot. the mechanic there, Mark, helped me push my car up into the garage and proceeded to immedietely diagnose and fix the problem. Mark is great mechanic, who is always nice to his customers and has always gone to great lengths to get my car fixed and back on the road, even if I show up at five o'clock on Friday. He is very knowledgable and always knows exactly what it will take to fix my car. He is very honest and never feel as though I am being cheated or overcharged. He has built a reputation for being a good mechanic and his customers are very loyal. Most of his customers are repeat costomers. Mark is also a Veteran, having served in the Navy as a mechanic working on A-6 Intruder jets, which are considerably more complicated than Hondas. You always know that you are getting quality repair work when you go see Mark. Cliff, his boss, is also good guy, who again will go to great lengths to make sure you are back on the road as soon as possible. Same goes for Sandy, their secretary. One time, my 1990 Honda Civic was broken into, with the thieves breaking out the driver's side window glass. Now, i guess a lot of Honda Civics are broken into, making the window glass very rare. So rare that when Sandy went looking for a used window, the salvage yard person laughed when he heard what she was looking for. A new window from the factory would have cost around $300- $400 but Sandy and Mark were able to find a used window for considerably cheaper and install it the very same day, saving me lots of dough in the process. Overall, i recommend Cliff's auto very highly and tell all of my friends to go there instead of the dealership. (Mark worked at a Nissan dealership for ten years and says that they love to rip people off) they are prompt, considerate, and do quality work at reasonable prices. But best of all, they go to great lengths to get whatever work you need done quickly so you can get back on the road.

Cliff's Auto replaced a clutch (a seven hour job) in my 70ish mother Kia, he verbally quoted the job about $50 less than the book price, he honored is first price with no hesitation. That impressed me so I tool the car back to replace the master brake cylinder.

The thing that first sold me on Cliff (as my mechanic of choice) was his honesty. I had been taking my 1985 Tempo to Sears because it was convenient to my job. But then in 1989 it needed new struts. I decided to call some other mechanics to get prices, and Cliff was one of them. He told me that he would be glad to do the work for me, but I would get a lower price and the same quality if I used a chain shop. I had the struts done at Sears, but ever since then Cliff has done all of our family's automotive repair.

I have been taking all my family cars to Cliff for years. I now drive from Portland when I need service because I absolutely trust him and his staff. There have been several occasions that he has turned down work or let me know I he didn't think an expensive repair was necessary. When I had an older car that wouldn't pass the Portland area emissions standards without a repair that cost more than the car was worth, he not only advised me not to make the repair, but he also let me park my car in the front of his lot with a "for sale" sign to increase exposure so I could sell it in Salem, which did not require emissions testing. He also kept the keys for me during the day and handled test drives (he would keep a drivers license or credit card during the drive to ensure safety). Based in part on his personal assessment of the car to the buyer, I got more for it than I expected, plus the convenience of not having to be available to meet potential buyers. If he runs into an unexpected problem during the day, he calls and asks what he wants me to do. I am a professional female and have experienced gender discrimination with other mechanics, but never even a hint of it with Cliff. He and his staff are friendly, professional, and competent.