I am a very picky person when it comes to cars (I own a Porsche) and quality of service. That said,…read moreErnie's Garage is the pinnacle of automobile garage and I'm really not exaggerating. Allow me to prove it to you: Let me start by talking about the cleanliness of the shop and mechanics. The place is very Very clean and organized (and I'm personally OCD with this). Even when they have a lot going on the are able to keep everything neat and to me that already says a lot. The mechanics are a professional duo (I think I'll call them the Doctors) because they are amazingly good when it comes to diagnosing your vehicle problem even when its a hidden problem, and regardless of your vehicle make (combined they know everything). You really won't go wrong with any of them because at the end they collaborate really well in whatever case you bring, and the best part of it is that THEY ARE VERY HONEST. Honesty is everything when it comes to your car repair and believe me, transparency is included in the price. Prices are fair, maybe a little on the higher side but again... I can asure that you can trust their diagnosis and labor. Quick story: On my first Porsche repair I took it to 1) Porsche Dealer but prices where impossibly high and diagnosis/repair quote had too many parts and didn't make sense to me so I left. 2) Then I tried a 'Porsche Certified Garage' and prices where lower but still I felt something was off on the diagnosis list. I regret not taking my car to Ernie's in the first place, they knew what was the problem by my description even before seeing the car and their quote/list was just what my vehicle needed (nothing less, nothing more). Their price was way better and the job very reliable. I have brought in my two cars several (3-7) times (I also have a Toyota) for different tuneup/maintenance and motor (and electric) fixes. On both my cars I've been trusting my cars and left extremely satisfied. They fixed my cars before driving to Iowa and back, twice. Also, they can diagnose your car immediately, find the right parts for you and fix it within a reasonable time (very quick). On top of that all of the employees are very kind, respectful and full of joy. They are eager to help you no matter whats your situation. I even had the opportunity to meet the owner which was also very understanding and helpful. The manager has a great system in place, he's always present, very friendly and will also take good care of you. On a side note, this garage has a Car Wash/Detailing tunnel attached to it ('SpongeBrothers') which I also strongly recommend. I drive my cars through every week and they really treat you like a VIP. They have one of the best Car Detailer Celebrity I know of in CT, who uses the finest products on your car. Feel free to trust you car's paint to them. Over the past 2 years they've seem to keep finding ways to improve their service. They have uHauls for rent and before COVID-19 they even had complimentary coffee that I actually miss. Their bathroom is simple, spacious and very clean in my experience. The lounge/waiting room could use an update but in general it's always clean and feels ok (there is a massage chair if you're into that). I took my time to test their consistency on their excellent service and as a frequent costumer I can give faith of it. My only complain would be the use of a face mask, due to the current pandemic they started using it but I've noticed a lack of consistency with this manner. Still, they use gloves and seem to respect social distancing protocols. Usually I don't spend time writing reviews but my satisfaction with Ernie's Garage has really earned it and I'm sure there are other 'picky' costumers like me looking for a shop like this. If they keep their services consistent as described here (up until today), be sure that they will have me as a loyal costumer. Lastly, If I where to have a business like this it would definitely be like Ernie's Garage specially for their great service and friendly employees. If you are skeptical of my 'super' positive review, don't take my word and please go prove it for yourself. Thanks! EC

1st time here and like they say , first impressions counts …read more service was phenomenal, fast and very welcoming. Anthony was very helpful and communicative. thank you . will come back.

I was stressing out about my truck when my engine blew up as it's my house and my business and my…read moreoffice is on the west coast with all my mechanic friends. The Forman gave me options and that calmed me down so I went with it. The driver showed up with a sturdy looking truck and knew what he was doing. The temperature was around zero and on the way to the shop that I was being towed to the drivers radio was communicating with the other drivers and they were busy! I then was told about the profit margin in the tow business and it is about the same as mine.. I always thought that they just rolled around in money! Anyway, the tow went well and the billing was easy, the price was what I expected and now I sit and wait for the dealer to fix my truck

I have been a long time loyal customer of the establishment for many years and where as in the past…read moreI have given them 5 star reviews, unfortunately as of my recent experiences my rating has changed and they have lost a customer. I recently brought my Lexus there telling them the a/c was blowing heat and I need it fixed. They called me back to tell me that my car had a several zones that needed to be checked and that at paying them an hourly rate I'd potentially be looking at spending thousands to repair it. I was also told that because my car was older (2009) that I may not want to spend money repairing it. I was charged a diagnoses and asked to pick up my car. I brought it home and googled how to fix it myself. With spending less than $100 and less than 10 minutes of labor, I changed the cabin filter ( packed with dirt & leaves), I popped the hood and cleared where the air flow foes into the car ( packed with dirt & leaves) and put in a can of refrigerant. What do you know, my a/c now works perfectly. I brought the same Lexus to them a few weeks ago to fix a shaking coming from the front driver side that caused a light to come on the dash. They called me back to tell me that my car had 4 codes, something going on with my exhaust and as far as the front end I needed struts of which they could only find 1 at a cost of $1000. And again told my car isn't worth investing in/ charged me a $131 diagnostic fee for a incorrect diagnoses. I took it to a mechanic on State st. in New Haven who for $1000 fixed my front and threw in a oil change.. The crazy part was I DIDN'T NEED STRUTS!!!! Aside from I replaced both air filters under the hood and what do you know.. NO MORE CODES!!! I recently brought my BMW X5 there to be repaired for going into limp mode. After about 3 visits and $100's spent on they're guessing, I never got 2 miles of driving out of it. I took the truck to State St. and by my explaining the problem without the truck with me, he told me I had a bad throttle body. Less than $400 later my truck is back on the road like it never left. I brought my mothers Jeep Liberty there to repair the heat/ charged $100's and 2 weeks later she has no heat. I sent my sister there to have her Hyundai Sonata, they told her the repair cost would exceed the value of the vehicle and that she should consider buying another car. She took the car to State St. and for a fraction of what Bruneau's was charging, put in another engine and had her back on the road in a couple of days.. I've been riding with this business for years, recommending them to several people over the years and how I've been dealt with lately is unfortunate but my business and support isn't valued there. I've learned that either I'm a better mechanic than they are (I'm not a mechanic) or they put forth no effort in fixing my cars.

we were stranded while dropping our daughter off to college from Mi. This team got us back on the…read moreroad fast although the vehicle was facing a huge problem. Thanks again!

Chose this repair shop based on a Yelp review. Thank you to the reviewer- they were spot on. My son…read morewas packing up from school when all the services lights went on. I drive up on a Saturday to transfer all his gear then head to a garage. Nick made a space for us in the schedule and took a look to see if we could get back to NJ. He was very reassuring even though the problem couldn't be fixed on Saturday. The repairs were completed quickly and I felt the costs were on target. If I lived in the area, this would be my regular garage.

I've been dealing with Mike and Jay for years and have never been disappointed with their…read morediagnosis, repair and price. Jay now took over the shop and I get the same treatment that I always did. I recently had a 4x4 issue and a blown transmission!! They diagnosed the 4x4 issue in no time and replaced my transmission with a rebuilt unit that came with a 3 year guarantee. The work was done in a timely fashion and the price was right! I'd recommend them for sure...Personable, Knowledgeable and professional!

I have a 2007 Ford Freestar that had stopped shifting properly so I brought it to RPM…read moretransmissions.mike,the owner was friendly and told me that the car needed a transmission rebuild and that it would cost $2200 dollars.Four days later I received the car back and all was fine.The car worked well for about a month and then suddenly stopped moving.I had the car towed(at mt exspense back to RPM transmission.It sat there for two weeks and I was told that it was an engine computer and not the transmission.Four hundred dollars and a new computer later the car was no better.Another two weeks and I get a call saying that they couldn't find the issue with the transmission.Now even though I have a full warranty they install a used transmission and want to charge an additional nine hundred dollars.Then they bargained it down to two hundred so that they could pay their mechanic that came in on the weekend to do the work.Then Mike(the owner)proceeded to scream and yell at me for almost ten minutes.When I finally got in the van to drive it away there was a heavy smell of marijuania.They must have smoked in the van while they were test driving it.I am(was) a repeat customer and will never reccommend any one to RPM.

My car's AC was broken, and I was able to bring it into East Rock Auto on short notice. They were…read moreupfront about pricing, and were able to resolve the problem quickly. However, they also performed a courtesy inspection and recommended over $1000 of additional repairs. Most notably, they found excessive play on the ball joints on both sides, which posed a serious safety risk. This repair alone would have cost over $800. I brought the car to another local mechanic (who came highly recommended) for a second opinion. According to him, the ball joints were perfectly fine (though he agreed with some of the lower cost repairs recommended by East Rock Auto). I would use East Rock Auto again if I have specific repairs that need to be done, but I would take their courtesy inspection results with a big grain of salt.

I want to be fair and objective: the first time I came here, the service was fine and…read morewell-documented. That's why I returned. But the second visit told a very different story. I'm a woman, and I believe the shop assumed I had no knowledge of car repair pricing. I have the full digital estimate saved as screenshots, so here are the facts: TRUNK WEATHER STRIPPING Quoted: $433.08 Labor: $132.78 | Part (trunk seal): $274.44 Reality: A trunk weather seal costs $20-$60 in parts. Labor is a straightforward 30-45 min job. Fair total in CT: $100-$130 MAX. They were charging 3x the reasonable price inflating the part alone by over $200. SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT (6 cylinders) Quoted: $961.78 Labor alone: $691.03 | Parts (6 plugs + gasket kit): $213.32 Reality: According to AAA, RepairPal, and industry standards, a V6 spark plug replacement runs $150-$350 total, or up to $500 at a dealership for hard-to-access engines. Labor nationally ranges from $55-$437 they quoted $691 IN LABOR ALONE. That is simply not defensible. POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR Quoted: $454.78 Labor: $182.10 | Part: $245.53 Reality: This reservoir typically costs $30-$80 in parts. The job takes under an hour. Fair total: $130-$170. They marked up the part by over $170. MOUNT & BALANCE 2 TIRES (215/60/16) Quoted: $373.74 They also added $23.79 for "Road Hazard Coverage" without asking me. Reality: Those tires run $80-$110 each at Costco or Walmart. Mount & balance is $20-$25 per tire. Fair total: ~$230-$270. I declined all four jobs. The overcharge on just these items totals approximately $1,000-$1,300 above fair market value in New Haven, CT. What I did approve (Fluid Film Treatment $199.99 and Transmission Drain & Fill $193.66) seemed within a reasonable range and I have no complaint there. If you are a woman, speak limited English, or appear unfamiliar with car repair get a second opinion before approving ANYTHING here. Bring someone with you, or check RepairPal.com for fair price ranges in your zip code before you walk in.

Wrenchrite is a wonderful alternative to Premier in Branford. I have two Subarus and they both go…read morethere. There are pros and cons for each I guess. Premier has customer courtesy cars and several staff. Of course it's a dealership so you will pay an a lot more. At Premier, they charge $200 just to look at your car for anything other than routine maintenance (even for warrantee service). I know they are highly rated, but that just makes me not want to go there. The folks at wrench rite are super knowledgeable about my Subarus, charge what I would consider to be a fair price over Premier. It's a family business who I'd rather give my money to anyway. It's a smaller shop with a tight parking lot. Hopefully they can expand it someday.

If you have a Subaru or want to buy a used one, this is THE PLACE!! My daughter has been going to…read morethem for years!

Excellent service with honest pricing. Mechanics are superb and diagnosed vehicle with expert…read moreprecision

My mom went there because her car has a clogged catalytic converter her quoted her $3,000 place…read moreuse to be good now these fools wanna scam women who come in thinking they know nothing wouldn't recommend

Took Lexus in for a look over and mileage service. The team was friendly, and made the drop off…read morequick and easy. They called back same day with inspection report. Recommended a couple services based on Lexus service guidelines for mileage. No pressure to do any of the work, just a straightforward, honest assessment and service recommendation. Agreed to have spark plugs changed and wipers replaced. At pick up the bill was below the verbal estimate. Overall best experience yet with an auto mechanic. Highly recommend!

Best customer service ever!!! Following a bad experience was another tow company this one was a…read morebreathe of fresh air. I felt seen heard and valued Thank you!!