I purchased my Bug from someone who took the bug to Adria Imports for a decade. The receipts from the shop for services over the years clearly show deceptive diagnoses, overcharges, incomplete repairs, and less-than-professional service and parts replacement. The most recent repair a transmission rebuild have the same problems that the bug exhibited before it was taken in. On the service receipt, the transmission was rebuilt. It still pops out of gear and leaks. The axle boots were installed in the incorrect position and basic replacement and checks were not conducted such as shifter bushing and coupler replacement to ensure these simple parts were not causing any issues. I have all the receipts and I have over 25 years of specific vintage VW mechanic experience, unfortunately, the previous VW owner placed their trust in the mechanics at Adria Imp which has clearly ripped off many people according to this and other reviews of this shop. read more

I have found Mark to be an excellent communicator and exceed my fair to deal with. He goes out if his way to explain what needs doing and always delivers under the estimated amount. He even helped me out when I had a breakdown away from home by confirming the work that needed doing and where to access the parts when the local mechanic couldn't source the part. The best compliment I can pay Mark is he has gained my 100% trust. read more

Went here for an out of province car inspection (even though we bought the car in BC, but that review will be saved for the Province of BC). It was roughly 70-80$ for the inspection, cheapest we found. We had a newer truck and it came from Nova Scotia where vehicles had to be inspected yearly so we knew it was going to pass. I have no comments on what would happen if you brought in a P.O.S. vehicle and if they would take you through the ringer or not. Regardless my experience was excellent would recommend :) read more

I wanted to like these guys, really! I have an old 72 VW Van that got vandalized when someone broke in to steal the stereo and battery. I dropped it off, and asked them to do the repair to get it back on the road. One issue was found that needed something else fixed, that lead to the next thing, and almost a week later I picked the van up. I had originally OK'd the battery repairs and getting brakes fixed. Repeatedly checking to see what my final bill was going to be. I was assured it was not going to be over $1500. I was shocked to turn up to get the van and be handed a bill for $2300. The only comment I got was that the owner had forgotten other work that had been done on the vehicle, and that he would give me a deal on subsequent work. Update: I got a call the next day from the owner, to apologize for the error. I have been offered some additional work on the vehicle for the cost of the parts only. The labour would of been a significant percentage of the difference in the previous bill. I would recommend these guys, if cautiously :) read more

A very sturdy 3.75 stars, when you've been in business for over 40 years, that speaks volumes. They're my go-to guys after Garage Five when Rmd isn't an option. Super friendly service, Ingrid very easy to deal with and works your schedule. Free wifi while you wait. It's a tad cheaper than dealership. Oil change all in $85 (without oil filter). read more

Simply amazing! Recently moved back to Vancouver and needed to get an our of province inspection done in order to register my vehicle with ICBC and attain insurance. Found Adria Import Car Service on yelp and decided to give it a shot. Knowing very little about cars I am always hesitant to go to the mechanic for fear of being scammed. Long story short, Mark and team are amazing! Exceptionally friendly customer service, honest, and good workmanship. Definitely the best experience i've had going to a mechanic. I coincidentally had a problem with one of my headlights not too long after the inspection, and Mark was happy to take a look and fix the problem, free of charge. If you're in the mt. pleasant area and you're looking for a mechanic, give this business a shot! read more

Loved all my experiences with Adria. Mark is great with customers, and has a straight forward attitude, willing to explain everything in detail. Pricing is on point, not a discount place, not worse or any different than a dealer. He did work on my 92' Volvo. Only regret now is I'm further away and is hard to get over to East Broadway. I would recommend them to anyone. read more

I end up going back to them even after I move further away. Whenever I try other shops, I just see extra charges after extra charges that even I can tell are bogus (I have some knowledge of cars and I used to do light work on them myself when younger). With Adria, everything seems pretty straight forward and at reasonable cost. The only time I really have to go to my car maker's dealership is when I'm under the warranty period. I'd highly recommend Adria for any cars. I have been bringing Hyundai's and Fords in the past almost 2 decades and they can handle them just as well, even if they're not VW's! read more

Took my car in for an oil change and to repair the power locks. Was told I needed four new control arms and a few other parts and that it would be dangerous to continue driving without them. Sure, I took their word for it, so an oil change and lock repair turned into a $2000 bill and the owner wanted to add another $800. All this would have been fine but when I picked my car up it had three new issues due to the sloppy work. They cracked the driver side speaker, bent the bottom of the passenger side door frame (which now sticks and makes a horrible noise when opened or closed) and finally they left a loose part in the driver side door and now the window doesn't work properly and makes an awful rattling sound. They didn't mention any of this when I picked up the car. When I called to ask about the issues created at the shop the owner told me he would call the following week and never did. I have since called back a second and third time and was brushed off and ignored. I now have to take my car elsewhere to repair these three new issues, completely unprofessional. Not only that, I was told the power locks were repaired and they definitely are not. These guys do not guarantee their work, I will never go back and I suggest you look elsewhere for your vehicle needs. TLDR Took my car in for two minor repairs, one of which was not done correctly and now my car has three new problems. $2000 bill and they won't fix their mistakes. Think twice about bringing your vehicle in and if you do get a second opinion! read more

I have owned my 1989 Westfalia since last year. Mark at Adria was the first person I had look at it. He was very honest in his appraisal and fair with how he described the vehicle and what it needed and when, including what could wait. Being new to owning a Vanagon I subsequently took it to several other shops just to see what they would find. I came away feeling that Mark was by far the most comprehensive in his approach and recommendations. Consequently, I have been taking it regularly to Mark and have been very pleased. He has been fair with his pricing and very willing to help me stage what needs to be done with such an older vehicle . He has also been very understanding and willing to help in a couple of last minute emergency repairs. Another good friend has also started taking his Westfalia to Mark based on my experiences and he is also very happy with the service he has received. It takes experience, skill and a certain real passion to trouble shoot and work on Westfalias. I have now taken my Westy in several times for various issues. He has always been welcoming and thorough in his explanations even though his shop is extremely busy. I am very pleased that I have found Mark and Adria Import Repairs. Highly recommended! read more

Mark at Adria is very knowledge about vanagons. I had my fuel pump pressure and emissions tested along with the transaxle fluid replaced. The cost was reasonable. These guys are professionals. As a result of their good service, they're also busy, so you may need to book ahead. read more

COMING TO ADRIA FOR ALL MY CAR REPAIRS SINCE 1990 ......................................................... I've been coming to Mark and Tony's (and their Mom's) Adria Import Car Service since 1990. Mark and his father Tony (from Europe), the owner's of Adria, have always been very fair and friendly, and I've had very extensive repairs done thru the 25+ years. - And the last time Mark even said I didn't need a tune-up cause I had hardly driven it in 2 years. Whose ever heard of a mechanic turning down an opportunity to do a simple, easy tune-up? Mark always explains the details of what they do, in easy to understand language, and often shows me the parts they've taken out to show me why they replaced them. My VW van is 30 years old with 200,000 km on it, and I've had them do very extensive repairs to my engine several times: - They replaced the water jacket which keeps the engine cool - 1984 VW Vans are known for that problem, which caused steam (water) to come out of my exhaust pipe. - They replaced the rings on my cylinders, as well as replacing my clutch - And of course they've done all the more mundane repairs like brakes, etc... - They used to do autobody repairs, and they did quite a good job with extensive side panel replacement due to really bad rusting. A few years ago when I was in a rush to go on my honeymoon with my new-to-me VW Van, Adria was having trouble finding a difficult to diagnose engine stalling problem with it - But Mark and Tony went out of their way to have a part delivered by helicopter courier from Victoria the day of my wedding, on a Saturday! And I've always felt that they were charging me the fair and appropriate number of working hours and parts for what they did and they've always been good at explaining what all the charges were for. read more

Mark was efficient, quick and honest. He fixed my headlight in no time at all. And the price was so much more affordable and fair ! I will definitely recommend this place and will return !! read more

Adria Imports went above and beyond my expectations. Kind. Friendly. Good communication. Good service, fixed the problem. I don't have much experience in dealing with mechanics & I drive a 25-year old Isuzu Trooper. I feel they really tried their best to find the most cost efficient fix to my trucks issue. They were really good at communicating with me if something looked like it was going to cost more than what we had originally discussed. I feel safe doing business here and will be back again I'm sure! ...keep on truckin' read more

had it in 3 times, called everything but the kitchen sink, took a week on each visit...never ready on time. Overcharged and in the end just needed a set of tires - called that one myself, they didn't even look. Won't go back. They act like its your privilege to be their customer.... read more

I have a Volvo station wagon and needed a new place to bring my car to be repaired. My step-father has had his Audie repaired by Toni and Mark of Adria Imports for years and he recommended them to me. Not knowing a lot about cars I have to trust that the auto repair company is not going to rip me off or try and sell me repairs I don't need. I had new brake pads put in and Mark found other problems I needed to address. What I liked about the service was that Mark explained everything very clearly and even showed me the worn parts. While I didn't always understand the car jargon I did feel like I was being respected and not treated like some dumb blonde. Adria's hourly rate is lower than the dealership and parts are also more reasonable. They are dog friendly and run a clean shop. If your are female and trying to find a good mechanic then I recommend them. Rachel read more

i have a recent family sedan and a vintage (1964) sports car, both of which i have brought to marc and his dad anton over the past 3 years. this is a both a neighbourhood and specialty garage in that they really know their stuff and they care about each person (and their automobile) that comes through the door. i've recommended them to friends and i'd recommend them to you, without hesitation. read more

I took my car here for some transmission work and to fix a fuse related problem. The bill came to $800, I payed up and was on my way. Less then 48 hours later my car started smoking and burning under the hood. I opened my hood to find the brand new fuse box they had installed was melting and smoking. Upon further investigation the mechanic who "fixed" and installed this part didnt screw it back on tight and it melted and ruined the new part. I had to fix it myself at the side of the road. The following day I called to complain and left a message as they werent open. They didnt call me back and still havent called me back. I would never take my car back here again and if anyone asked for a recomendation I would say go to George and Berny's in Kits. Very disappointing, thumbs way down. read more

My family was in Vancouver for a medical emergency that ended us being stranded in Vancouver for 3 months . While we where there I had a friend drive our V.W Golf TDI to us from Granisle. I brought our car into Adria's Import to have the battery changed, timing belt changed, water pump,tensioner arm also. He repaired our turbo, oil dip stick, and our battery cables. This is when I met Mark (A TRUELY FANTASTIC PERSON)! He and his crew did such a upstanding job on our car. The service was professional and done in a respectively good amount of time considering he fixed so many other things at no cost to us as we where in a bad place financially while our 2 yr old was fighting for his life with a MSRA staph infection. He was such a nice person to deal with; and very honest which is rare in a mechanic these days, I find. If I lived in Vancouver there would be no other place I would ever bring my car! If your looking for a great place to have work done Adria Import Car Service is by far the best you will find in B.C! This shop gets my family's two thumbs up in every way! I don't often take the time to write reviews ; but felt compelled to do so after receiving such fantastic service. This place is a defiant five star rating by far. read more

Liars and cheats. it was OK when Dad was running the show now the son is overcharging their good customers and losing them by the day. Little hope of improvement I wont be back. read more

These guys are awesome. Small shop and honest. I've been coming to them for about a five now for oil changes and minor maintenance, and came in late in the day for a litre of oil and they just said they'd charge me as part of my next service. If you're looking for reliable, customer focused mechanics, these are the guys. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Mark and Adria Imports. I was referred by friends in Vancouver who have been using them for years, and I'm so grateful for the referral. I had an issue with my car while in Vancouver on the way home to the Okanagan. I called Mark and he allowed me to bring the car by to have a look (despite them being super busy.) The issue wasn't happening any more when I brought it to him (which makes it very difficult to troubleshoot), but he tested/inspected and filled up my coolant and informed me what it could be. Then when I started the car the engine light came on and he immediately ran a diagnostic on it and identified the problem. He had the part (a sensor) on hand and said he'd have it installed by the end of the day (it was already 4pm in the afternoon.) I received a call from him just before 6 saying the car would be ready shortly so I could come by and pick it up. When I arrived at 6pm (when they close) there was still an issue with the new sensor, and despite him having plans after work he continued to troubleshoot the issue (discovering a frayed connecting wire) and staying an hour after closing to fix it so I could drive home that night. The entire time he was friendly and professional and obviously very good at his profession. I am grateful to my friends for the referral and to Mark for fitting me in and fixing my car at the last minute allowing us to make it home that night. The bonus was that the cost of the repair was more than reasonable, especially considering the amount of time Mark personally spent testing/inspecting and then replacing the sensor and troubleshooting and repairing the electrical issue. I would definitely refer Adria Imports (and Mark) to anyone looking for an honest, competent professional who won't charge you an arm and a leg to do the work. The icing on the cake was when I received a personal call from Mark a couple days later, checking to make sure there were no other problems and that we made it home ok. Exceptional professional work and exceptional customer service. Thank you again Mark! read more

We have an old air cooled westfalia and we are particular on who works on it. When we needed serious engine work our regular mechanic referred us to Marc. We were happy with the work and have returned to Adria imports for various other work since. However, recently our Westfalia engine again had serious problems. Since it was just over a year from our engine rebuild we were frustrated that this occurred but Marc and his dad did a VERY thorough job of fixing everything and honored their warranty as well. Marc and his dad showed us parts, explained everything, and even went as far to speak to another mechanic that worked on our van recently. We are quite happy with their honest work. read more

*1.5* I took my jetta tdi to Adria for about 3 years of unfortunately regular repairs (the car has been frustratingly unreliable). Mark is a pleasant guy, and the mechanics seemed to do a good job with repairs. They even found a quick fix once and didn't charge me anything! Also, they don't charge to read your check engine light which is a testament to their generally good nature which other reviewers have commented on. This is what kept me coming back. On the down side, repairs typically took more than a week. More often than not, I was calling the shop rather than them calling me to inform me of delays. Also, there were multiple occasions when damage was done to the interior of the vehicle that I noticed after I picked up the car (Broken arm rests, oil smudges on the seats etc.). The final straw came when I had them work my fiance's car. They ended up having the car for 6 WEEKS! Every time we called they said it would be ready at the end of the week and time after time it was not. When we finally got the car back the bumper was smashed and some of the repairs still hadn't been completed. Again, they didn't mention the damage when we picked up the car. We took the car back after we noticed and they refused to repair it since the damage was caused while her car was parked on the street so they were not liable. Whether or not they are legally liable, that is no way to look after your clients property. This was definitely the most inconvenient and unpleasant auto repair experience I've ever dealt with. It made me realize the pattern of untimely and careless service that I had tolerated from Adria up until then. I now take my car to another shop where the mechanics are honest with timelines. They also don't charge for engine light checks, they always have my car ready within 2-3 days and they keep the vehicles in their garage at night. If you chose another place over Adria, you are probably doing yourself and the rest of their clients a favor. i think they are too busy for their own good... and more importantly for the good of their clients. read more

This shop was recommended by a friend of a friend. I bought a used 2001 Volvo that had transmission problems early on. Mark looked at it an said it would need a rebuild. $4400 later 2.5 years and 80k down the road and the transmission is gone again. Adria's response: "it's out of warranty we can do another rebuild". I love this car but cannot afford a third transmission. I would have expected anything else to go on this car other that the transmission. Parts car...very disappointed. read more

Terrible experience. I needed a mechanical and some work since I was importing from Ontario. Called to make an appointment as was told in a week. Ok, brought it in on a wednesday and was told they'd get back to me with an estimate. By monday morning, having heard nothing I went back. Mark said they finally looked at it friday night but never called. So he showed me the list and said he'd get back to me that day with an estimate but they would get it in to start working later that day. By thursday (today) still no word and no estimate so I called back. Mark stated he was swamped and now could not even think of getting to it until the week of July 25. Over 11 days away and almost a month after my original call. While I respect he is busy and probably good if he had told me that day one I would have gone somewhere else. Now I have wasted 2 full weeks for nothing. VERY POOR business man, very POOR follow up (well no follow up, I had to call him). If you are going there I'd suggest get the time line. I will never go there again. Very disappointed. read more