I would like to endorse every positive review of Dan and his work posted here or any where else. I can write a lot but I have a simple advice to those looking for a competent and trust worthy mechanic: try Dan. While he was trying to figure out the source of the clicking sound in my 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe that comes very time I drive over bumpy road, I got the feeling that Dan was treating me as he would want any mechanic to treat him if it had been his car. After checking everything, he told me that he could not locate the source of the sound. He suspected one thing but said he would not touch it unless the sound gets worse. He said every conceivable source was checked and the car is solid. He told me I can travel and there is no safety issue in my car. I was happy and surprised: first time my car passed the mechanic test or even the oil-changing shop test with nothing to fix! So I asked Dan to change the oil, check the breaks, and the other fluids. Dan did and told me that I may need to replace the front breaks in the future (they were at 35%). He recommended that I change the break and power-treeing fluids when I change the front breaks a year from now. Other than the oil change that I requested, my car was in a very good shape! I asked Dan to change the break and power-steering fluids as I did not know where I would be in an year from now. He did and when I got the bill it was less than I would have paid anywhere else. But that was not all: Dan told me that he noticed a bolt missing in one of my car plastic covers so he put one. He said he would not be surprised if the sound I was hearing came from that plastic cover. I left his shop knowing my car is ready for the road trip even if we could not locate the source of the sound. But I was wrong: the sound disappeared. It was the plastic cover. Dan fixed it. I wanted to call Dan and let him know but he did not give me a chance. While I was driving, Dan called me saying he wanted to apologize as he did not put the oil-change sticker on the windshield! I told him, not to worry it was not a big thing: the big thing, I told Dan, was that the sound disappeared. Dan does his work because he loves to serve people and do a perfect job: he is not after your money. He gets his rewards from a job done right. I knew that there must have been someone like Dan somewhere in the world but until Dan, I thought I would not locate such person! read more

Don is a super honest, knowledgeable, and great mechanic - a complete rare find these days! Every single review of him on Yelp below is absolutely the truth! My car is at his shop being serviced right now so I thought I would write a review. The "Check Engine" light had been going off in our old (1999 Chrysler Cirrus) car for quite some time and despite my husband's attempts to fix it, it just wasn't working right. So my mother-in-law drove the car into the shop and five minutes after she drove away from Don's shop, the car just DIED in the middle of the ramp to McKnight Blvd. We didn't have roadside assistance coverage (we will now) so I called Don and told him what happened. He left the shop right away and drove out to meet my stranded Mother-in-law and attempted to fix the car in the middle of the busy road with heavy and fast traffic flow. He was unable to get the car to start so he recommended a Towing company and they took the car back to his shop. After almost an hour of diagnostic work, Don discovered that the recent coil my husband had replaced in the car was defective. The coil had a broken clip that had caused the coil to become dislodged and not attach properly. Creatively, Don removed the clip and put some mechanical ties on the coil to hold it in place and prevent it from moving again. Don yelled "VICTORY!" as the car started without any issues and began running as smoothly as before :) As if all that wasn't enough, Don charged us NOTHING (Zero, Nada, Zilch) for fixing the coil and we only had to pay for the Towing of the car. Now bear in mind that if this was another mechanic, he TOTALLY could have (and probably would have) just told us we needed a new coil ($140 part) and then charged us additional labor to replace it. We were so desperate to get the car running again we would have totally complied, but the fact that Don did NOT take advantage of our situation and responded with "my job is to make a difference, one vehicle at a time" - we knew he was the real deal! Thank you Don for running such a great service! read more

Okay, so this review has been overdue for the longest time. I've been to Don few times ever since I found him through yelp. After my most recent visit, I found this strong urge to write this and share my experience with Don and the 41st Auto. When I first walked in I found the shop to be very neat and clean. I knew straight away (and from all the good ratings of course) that I can trust this shop with my car. So I went ahead and dropped my car off for the brake inspection (which was $30-40) and turns out I needed rear calipers, brake pads and rotors replaced. I was kind of skeptical at first for spending almost $1000 on this so I went ahead and got it checked from some other shop and sure enough DON WAS RIGHT! And he was going to fix it for way way cheaper than anyone else. During my next visit, I asked Don to paint my calipers with the replacement he suggested. He did a phenomenal job and didn't charge me for the extra stuff (painting front and rear calipers and rotors, changing day time running lights etc.). No more rusty rotors and calipers from now on. On my very recent visit, I was having some issues with my battery (which I'm still figuring out with Don, as I write this long a$$ review). He gave a quick charge on my battery for about an hour and changed one of the burnt lights in front light FOR FREE! (I mean who does that!) Anyways, Its still dropping charge and I'm going in tomorrow for a battery replacement. For some reason, I feel good when ever I visit Don. One of those reasons is because I know that my car is in good hands and I can completely trust Don and his crew. If you're looking for a trustworthy shop, I 100% recommend Don and 41st Auto. You won't be able to best his prices and customer service. He truly makes a difference, one car at a time. Until next time. Adios! read more

I have never been in this shop before but Don was awesome! Here is my story: I have a 2012 KIA Sorento and the alternator blew last week. My initial thought was "WTH?? How could an alternator blow after 2 years"? I know things aren't built to last these days which is why we have warranty. I towed my vehicle to Eastside KIA. The service manager looked at it and told me it will not be covered under warranty due to "human error". He said that the alternator was saturated with oil due to oil spillage from oil changes. WTF??? As if Mr Lube would purposely pour oil directly over top of my alternator and causing it to burn out. So I went onto Yelp to find a trusty mechanic and I found Don. I called him immediately and told him the story. He used to be a service manager at Toyota and he was appalled that the service manager at Eastside KIA would not cover this under warranty. Don has never heard of oil saturating an alternator causing it to burn out. I had my oil change done 5 months ago so would it really take oil 5 months to trickle down and saturate an alternator? Anyway...Don gave me some helpful advice and I took it. I towed my vehicle to Northland KIA where they fixed the alternator under warranty! I am so happy to have called Don because if it weren't for him, I'd be out $1000! Kudos for being trustworthy and honest to customers (whether you have met them or not). He took the time to answer my call and give me the best possible solution. Thank you again Don! read more

I found Don's shop through Yelp. The work performed on my Honda by his garage on two occasions has been impeccable. Replaced original front brake pads, polish rotors, replaced brake fluid, clean up rear brakes (still with over 80% original pads left), all done very professionally and at very reasonable cost, especially when you compare to dealer quotations. Next job was repacing original spark plugs and adjust valve clearance if necessary. Don replaced the plugs and using automotive stethescope determined that valve clearances were just fine. You can bet that the dealer would have charged for the valve clearance adjustment even when not required. On top of that he even dropped off my car at home (as a situation prevented me from being able to pick it up in person that day). Top notch service from a highly knowledgeable individual running an honest garage with some good people working there. And a refreshing change from the de-personalized, overpriced service from dealership garages. I highly recommend Don Jardine and 41st Auto. Update: Just went in and had my winter tires (already on rims) put on, efficient and very reasonable cost. 41'st Auto and Don gives me 'peace of mind' on the automotive front. 2016 March Update: Re-posting a 5 star rating. This is the only garage that I take my car to and Don's service continues to be the best. read more

I have long been meaning to write a review of Don and his amazing work. Due to the wonderful reviews on this site I have been going to Don as my mechanic since I moved to Calgary two years ago. He has consistently made me feel like an important customer, has answered simple questions that most mechanics wouldn't answer over the phone, has gone above and beyond to order me in specific parts that fit my student budget...the list goes on and on! The last time I saw him, to replace a tire that was punctured and flat, he looked into getting a rebate for me through the company that we got them through, and offered to give me a really good deal on putting the new tire on and aligning it. After he was done the work he told me that it turned out it wasn't one of the new tires he had gotten for me that went flat, but one of my old tires (we both forgot he had rotated them last season), and yet he still gave me an amazing deal on the labour, just because he said he would! I can't imagine any mechanic that would go above and beyond the way that Don does. He has integrity, is kind, approachable, and I feel so grateful that I found him as my mechanic. I recommend him to everyone I know!!! Thank you for everything Don, you make being a student who needs to maintain a car so much less stressful. read more

When my Matrix XR started to develop some noticeable idling vibration in the winter months, I wasn't sure exactly who to turn to obtain some information. I wasn't keen about going to the dealerships since I know they may sell me services that are not required. I've therefore decided to go to Don's shop as his rating on Yelp looked very promising. Don took my car out for a spin and was able to pin point the sources of the problem immediately: A combination of a missing engine cover nut, a slightly dry serpintine belt, and the inherently low idling speed of the Toyota 1ZZ engines (small / negligible issues). Don also performed a quick check on my steering and brakes and was able to determine that the random steering movement that I've experienced during hard braking was attributed to the Matrix's relatively wide tires that tends to follow the grooves in the road. He even took the time to explain to me why certain buttons such as the air recirc wouldn't work in conjunction with certain A/C settings such as defrost (to prevent people from fogging up their windscreens to an even greater extent). All in all, I was ABSOLUTELY IMPRESSED with his level of service, professionalism, and knowledge of my car. I will DEFINITELY pay him a visit should my Matrix requires any future services! read more

Just want to let everyone know how much help Don was to me recently. My van was blew a hose and oil leaked all over the engine and undercarriage. I brought it in to a dealership and it was determined that my engine starved itself of oil and as a result was beyond repair. I was going to have to replace the engine and the cost was going to be over $8,000. I phoned Don to get a second opinion, and the information he provided was invaluable. He mentioned to me about a part recall at Toyota and also that I should try seeing if Toyota would cover some of the costs of the repair. In the meantime I asked him to determine what it would cost for him to do the repairs/replacement, which he did and he came back quit a bit cheaper. I then was informed that Toyota Canada would cover part of the costs of the repair. I then called him to let him know about the recent events and he informed me that it was in my best interest to take the Toyota offer. Don did all this for me without even knowing who I am or actually doing any business with me. This type of service means a lot in this day and age and I will definetly see him in the future. I would recommend Don and 41st Auto to anyone and I plan to his shop if my Toyota ever needs it. read more

My husband and I have an 2000 Audi 6A. When we put on the breaks our car was making an awful sound. Our break pads needed to be replaced. We called around to a few auto shops and mechanics were saying it would cost $900 because if the brakes pads were going, so was the rotary. I looked on yelp and read great reviews about Don and his auto shop 41st Auto. All the great reviews about this shop were true. His shop is also very comfortable and has beatiful artwork. He also has a special program for single moms. Don specializes in Japenese made cars but has a great knowledge for all makes and models. He took the time to explain what was wrong with our car and actually showed us our old break pads, so we could understand what happen. He was extremeley helpful and trustworthy. It was very clear to my husband and I he runs his business with honesty and integrity. He will send you to the right person/mechanic if it requires more specialized attention (for example, working with particilar auto body parts, germen made). In the end he charged us $280+ tax saving us over $600.00 I highly reccomend him for all auto mechanic problems! read more

I was having problems finding a good auto repair in Calgary, the last guy was cheap but made a terrible mistake when he just added a block heater. Don helped me a lot, he is good at his work and spends time for u to explain things and help u. His price I believe is a bit more than the medium level, but he knows what he is doing especially for Toyota as he has lots of experience with Toyota. In terms of time waste, he does his best to find a good appointment time for u, whatever works the best for u. Moreover, he is knowledgeable, trust worthy and reliable in my opinion. Just when it comes to Out Of Province Vehicle Inspections, he doesn't do it himself any more and I believe still he doesn't know a good mechanic to do it for u, the mechanic that he introduced to me (Stampede Toyota) for this, costed me about 240$ to renew my rear breaks as they were missing 0.1 mm in thickness!!! (in addition to the 180$ they charge for doing OurofProvince). I will never go to Stampede Toyota again, Out Of Province Vehicle Inspections is just a dirty ridiculous business in Alberta. read more

After reading the reviews on 41st Auto I decided to call Don and get a quote on replacing my rear brakes as I felt Toyotas price was a little high. He returned my call in a timely manner and saved me over $100!! This business seemed extremely professional and you could tell Don knew what he was doing. On the way back to pick up my car, my Husbands breaks stopping working almost completely. We managed to get to 41st Auto and asked Don if he would be able to take a look. Keep in mind that Don is a busy guy and had his day booked with clients, Don came out to take a look and determined my Husbands vehicle was not safe to drive. He managed to get it in that day to complete a full inspection and determined that the master break cylinder needed to be replaced. The part had to come in from Vancouver and he said he would have the part in by Monday. Sure enough he did and again squeezed us into his busy schedule to complete the repairs. We were beyond grateful!!!! I highly recommend 41st Auto and believe we have found that true honest business to go back to. read more

I have been using Don for the last 5 years to service my car. He has been nothing short of wonderful accommodating me on short notice, and taking care of my car. He is very knowledgeable, kind, friendly and personable. I never feel like I am being price gouged, and as someone who knows nothing about cars, he has NEVER told me that my "unicorn transponder" is broken which is going to cost... A LOT to fix. Don has gone out of his way to help me out in a pinch, has helped me to prioritize issue areas to make fixing it affordable, has recommended parts, and always helped to legitimize or falsify the claims that Mr. Lube makes when I'm getting an oil change and they tell me that I have 10 things wrong with my car that they can help me out with (90% money grab.) I would highly recommend this shop and Don's services to any of my friends and family, or the online folk who rely on YELP to make solid decisions when choosing mechanics to ensure the longevity of their cars. He is a True Blue in the dark underbelly world of shady mechanics. read more

After being tired of paying crazy rates, or fearing to pay a lot, therefore neglecting some issues, I searched through yelp for a reliable mechanic that is honest, and true. After reading all the reviews on Yelp, regarding Don, I can attest to these, and although I have only been there once, I am impressed with his service, honesty, integrity, friendliness and overall professionalism. From the original contact to the final encounter, I have nothing but good things to say about this experience, and would recommend anyone to go there. Whether he knows the answer or not, he will give you what he knows in an honest method, and will actually point you to the right people if he thinks it is right. What more can you ask for? Other than for some unforeseen circumstance, I will be returning many times in the future (I have even booked another car in for maintenance) and will continue to do business with Don for every vehicle I own. If you want honesty, this is the mechanic to go see. read more

I'm a new car owner and this was my first time getting a repair done on my car. When Don was first looking at the car he didn't just tell me what was wrong with it, he took time showing me and explaining to me exactly what the problem is and what caused it. He was able to do the job for 400$ less than the dealer, and he used parts that were even better than OEM. Not to mention he was able to fit me in and get it done on the next business day. As a person, it really was a pleasure to be able to meet him. He is so passionate about what he does, as evidenced by how enthusiastically he answered all my questions, even the ones that had nothing to do with the job being done on my car. To be completely honest his personality is what compelled me to create a yelp account just to be me to positively review his place. Don, if you're reading this, thanks again and I know exactly where to bring my current and future cars for as long as I live in calgary. read more

I wanted to leave a feedback while my experience is still fresh. Went in there today with two services to be done that were recommended by my dealership, an oil change and brake fluid flush. The oil change I opted for was full synthetic oil, and it costed me $35 less than what my dealership was charging. Now for the brake fluid flush, Don told me I didn't need it as the brake fluid was still pretty clean. This is the first time an auto mechanic downsold me on a service I requested. I don't even know if downsold is a word because I never used it before lol. Anyways the oil change was quick, and they have a very clean and open waiting room with high-speed wifi that allowed me to watch Netflix while I waited. If you are looking for an honest and knowledgeable mechanic in Calgary, give this place I try. Cheers, Jay read more

I was in a bit of a sticky, with my Brakes making a noise. After going to a few places and getting the reply of, "Do you have an Appointment", comment, was getting frustrating. I went the evening before to see Don, and explain my Brake problems. He suggested that I drop the car off in the morning and will have a look during the day. Don is very knowledgeable and is willing to share insider information. When I went back later in the afternoon, my 2008 Hyundai Tucson was repaired. The cost was very reasonable and what I was hoping for as a repair. Installation of OEM parts was also a comfort, that were actually better then what was installed 2 years prior by a dealer. I will refer friends to this auto shop, nothing but honest and great customer service. read more

I did a bit of homework to look for a trustworthy mechanic after getting the feeling that my dealership was taking me for ride after ride on my Lincoln. I'm so thankful I came across Don's shop and all of his stellar reviews. The dealer advised me to change my front breaks ASAP and quoted me $1400 for the job. I brought my car in to Don and discovered that I still had 55% left on the breaks, about 40K KM based on my driving habits! While my vehicle was in his shop he did an oil change, fluid top up and checked my maintenance schedule. My bill turned out lower than the dealer's break diagnostic alone! Don't hesitate - just call and book your car in with him the next time you need a mechanic. read more

Don at 41'st auto is as good as you can get. It's simple treat your customers like you would want to be treated. We are talking about a mechanic that runs his business on honesty, integrity and most of all trust. I have been going to Don since 2012 and will continue to recommend him to every single person I know. Don if you are reading this "Tundra Mat" can not thank you and your family enough over at 41'st ave. You keep my family safe and on the road and you go that extra mile to make sure your customers feel like family. Time and time again I am blown away at your Generosity , professional courtesy and A1 technical know how. Thank you so very much. read more

I went to Don to have my vehicle inspected so that I can obtain insurance. I was ready to get hosed on the amount of work that might be needed to get the car up to provincial standards, especially since i was having issues with the transmission. I was pleasantly surprised when he called me less than an hour later to tell me he was done and that my car passed with no issues. Instead of giving me the run around and an exaggerated bill for my transmission, he simple stated it only needed more fluid. I was happy to see an honest mechanic and will bring all my future car needs here. Thanks Don. read more