Great service and no games from an Awesome and more than fair mechanic!! To start,, its very difficult finding an intelligent, knowledge and skilled mechanic for German vehicles, including the Porsche I own. The owner also saved me a significant amount on replacing control arms, CV boots and engine/transmission mounts - all of which I knew needed replacing. The control arms had seem some wear/tear over the years - particularly since they had been exposed to salt roads up north. It was worth the 2 1/2 week to get a repair done the correct way, honestly and without up charging. I will definitely skip the dealerships moving forward! Side Note: Initially I brought the vehicle to Sanders Automotive before I knew of Automotive Solutions. At Sanders Auto (my "old friend" there previously from Chapel Hill Tire, took my car in. Since I know just enough about vehicles to diagnose it I feel fairly confident when I bring it into the mechanic. When I saw "B" I knew it was going to get interesting and sure enough it did. I was told that the vibration went away if I hold the steering wheel (LOL) and that the only thing wrong was the CV Boot had ripped. They definitely missed the engine/tranmission mounts as well as the failed control arm. But its a blessing in disguise as it lead me to Automotive Solutions :) read more

First time customer. Took my 2012 BMW Wagon in for a clutch replacement. This was my first clutch replacement in 231,000 miles. I dropped the car off the day before, the owner gave me his truck as a loaner. Was expecting 2-3 days service. To my surprise replacement the clutch and dual mass flywheel took 1 day. It was pricey, but an Xdrive requires the removal of the transfer box and front axle. Made me repeat customer read more

This isn't the kind of shop where you pop in unannounced and expect to wait for your car to be ready within an hour or two. You call to make an appointment, you leave your car and you pick it up when it's ready - when the work has been completed and well done! Tioga is amazing and is an exceptional technician! I have huge respect for his knowledge and his meticulous work. He's always in demand and for good reason - he really knows his stuff and he's an honest person! So, if you have a car that you really love and you want it serviced right, then I highly recommend you book an appointment with Automotive Solutions. read more

Automotive Solutions - My 1990 BMW E30 that Tioga works on for me! 276K miles and going strong! - Auto Repair Near Me - Pittsboro, North Carolina

Extremely high quality work and excellent customer service. Tioga knows his craft, would not want to take my car anywhere else. read more

Automotive Solutions - Auto Repair Near Me - Pittsboro, North Carolina

You won't find a bad review anywhere for Automotive Solutions, and for very good reason. Tioga, the owner, just saved me 3k and had my car returned to me within 24 hours. I would give him a million star review if possible. Backstory: I'm a transplant from CA, and own a 2012 Tiguan that has been a handful to say the least. The latest issue was a broken trunk latch plus a check-engine light indicating a failed Turbocharger. Google that, and you will feel the instant panic that I did when I saw the potential price tag. Flow Volkswagen in Durham, NC quoted me $2600 plus tax, and $500 plus tax on the latch replacement (After having my car for two days, mind you). I declined service, paid them $150 for the bad news, and began researching mechanics in my region. I kept hearing about Tioga from my neighbors, so I decided to give Automotive Solutions a call. Tioga charged me $440 out the door. Yep, you read that correctly. Tioga was aware of a potential work-around that could delay the need to completely replace the Turbocharger, and although I called him out of the blue mid-afternoon on a Monday, he told me to go ahead and bring it in same-day (Other local shops were needing 2-4 business days to take a look at it). The next day, I get a call at NOON that I can come pick my car up; my car did not yet require a new Turbocharger, and the latch was fixed as well. The fact that Tioga did not know me at all, and was willing to save me thousands of dollars PLUS work me in immediately into his already jam-packed schedule...well, I'm still speechless. I have been so stressed out about this Tiguan of mine, and now finally I found someone that I can trust to keep it running and in safe condition for my daughter who drives it. And, clearly, Tioga is the kind of person with integrity, and his breadth of knowledge and expertise with respect to European cars is clear within seconds of speaking to him. I feel very fortunate to live as close to Automotive solutions as I do. It's about a 45 minute drive for me each way, but I would drive ten times farther if I had to. I'm a customer for life, and if you live in the Triangle and own a European car, you ought to be also. Tioga, I know you worked overtime to get our car back to us as quickly as you did, so I figured I owed you a same-day review; when I told you we appreciate you, I meant it. Thank you again! Kelley & Hailey read more

I feel very fortunate to have found Tioga thanks to Yelp and Nextdoor. I moved out here from California two years ago and hadn't been able to find a mechanic. My dad used to own an auto repair shop in California so I always had someone I could trust when I needed something done to my car. Now that I've found Tioga, I have someone trustworthy to take my car locally. Tioga is honest, knowledgeable, and kind. I will be recommending him to all my friends and family. read more

Tioga at Automotive Solutions is far and away the finest automotive specialist available. His passion for his profession goes beyond any in my experience. He is thorough and meticulous from start to finish. Can't find enough superlatives to describe the quality of his work. A true automotive legendary rock star. read more

Tiago knows Audi ands Porsche. Great work, no BS, no charging you to fix or replace parts that are working just fine, thank you very much. His new digs in Pittsboro are a nice upgrade read more

I needed a mystery repair to fix my car after replacing the starter and ignition switch at another shop failed to fix the problem. Taioga was able to diagnose it over the phone and order the necessary part from a shop in New York, since the distributor had a long delay and the part was on back order. After 5 weeks without my mini, I was super happy to get my car back and it's been running great ever since. My dad was an expert mechanic and I don't trust dealerships, I would not hesitate to recommend Automotive Solutions read more

I can't say enough good things about Tioga at Automotive Solutions. The most thorough, honest, best-valued work I've ever experienced. He goes the extra mile on everything and really does whatever is going to be best for you and your car. Wish I would have found him sooner. He is extremely knowledgeable and experienced on very complex cars. If you call and have to wait a few days for an appointment, please don't go anywhere else. The wait will be worth it. Thank you, Tioga! read more

Automotive Solutions is the only place to take your European or (most) Japanese cars if you live in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. I'll go farther, and say that I'd drive from Raleigh or Greensboro for service here. For Diesel work, a knowledgeable pro is essential, and Automotive Solutions delivers. Calling Tioga a "mechanic" doesn't really do justice to his service. Like others before me, I try to be a DIY guy, and often get myself into situations where I need help. (Tioga gives me more credit than he should) Thank the car gods for Automotive Solutions. Tioga is the type of practitioner who will never "throw parts" at a problem. He always takes the time to figure out *why* something is misbehaving, and is willing to explain it to us laypeople, if we are interested (I always am). Sure, you can simply drop your car off and come back to pick it up, pay your bill, and know that it will be in tip-top shape. He won't judge you. However, if you really get your jollies out of messing around with your car, and appreciate the half-grin, half-eye-roll that you get when you roll up in a 45-yr.-old Karmann Ghia, this is the place for you. The only problem with Automotive Solutions is that Tioga is the only one providing the solutions. If he can figure out a way to clone himself, he can really grow his business. ...but I've never had to wait more than a few days for service, and usually not that long. If you're looking for the best, look no further. read more

A good mechanic that you can trust is INVALUABLE. Being a woman makes it even more difficult. Every shop assumes I don't know much about cars and I am constantly amazed at the outrageous markups and straight out lies I am told. When I moved to Chapel Hill, one of the hardest things to leave behind was my old mechanic. Joined Tar Heel Car Club, got the local recommendations. Read reviews on Yelp, Google, etc. And off I went to find the next one... But somehow the chemistry was never right. One had quick efficient service, good communication, but was extremely overpriced. Another was a decent mechanic, but terrible in communication and the car was late and way more than we had originally talked about. Then I thought I had finally found a good place (wasn't the new love of my life, but good enough) and then 1 month later, their master mechanic retired and the service really tanked after that. Then there was the famed Dietrich at Shade Tree. He's way up in Raleigh and it was about 40 min one way to get to him (very inconvenient). I never did...because it was always 5-6 weeks to even get in...and then I'd have to expect to be without a car for a week when I did get in. I was really starting to lose hope in the Triangle's offerings. A friend came to visit me from VA and his radiator broke. To get him back to work by the following Monday, we were forced to pick from the only sub-par place that could get us in and out in 2 days. We limped it down there and they started to dig in, disassembling stuff under the hood. After 4 exchanges, it became clear the mechanic didn't quite have a handle on all that needed to be fixed. They wanted $1K for things I knew didn't need to be touched. When I pushed back, the office manager became very defensive and became very hostile. I reached out for a second opinion. I opened up Yelp and found Automotive Solutions with high ratings. Called Tioga and discussed symptoms. He confirmed my hunch about the housing/hoses and what was crucial to fix. He offered to get it in and out in 1 day if I could get it to him. So I told the other mechanic to button the car back up, paid him for his labor and towed it to Tioga. A LOT of trouble for a great outcome. Tioga fixed it in one day as promised for half (yes half) the price. And I have been using him ever since! I was once meticulous with my 2003 M3, but really let it go in the past 2 years. After Tioga's first look at it, he called me half upset/half concerned at the state. He emailed me 20+ pictures of various parts of the car and we talked though every wrong bolt, seal and connection that needed tending. He had to work for almost 4 days on my car (welding new headers in, etc) and he had to absorb that unplanned impact to his schedule, leaving him working until 11:00 each night. He even spent 3 hours one night to scrub off old oil from the underbelly of my car by hand!! When he was done, the price was amazing. It would have cost me another 1-2K anywhere else! And each time I have been there, his estimates are spot on. What he tells me from the first call is what I pay when I leave. His is always clear on when to expect its return and what the progress is. Tioga is well known and respected by other mechanics in Chapel Hill. He has been called "meticulous", "anal"...and even "OCD". They almost joke about how hard he works. Hands down - this man LOVES cars. He will love yours like it's his own. Just pulling into Tioga's place gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling. You won't find a lot of the new and flashy stuff. Most of the cars belong to nuts like me that have an emotional attachment to something that is past its prime, but just too much horsepower to let go of. Sometimes I just stop by to see which car Tioga drove in that day (he must own 20 of them) or see what he is building on his workbench. Ask about his custom exhaust for his Porsche. Genius! Just give him a try - you'll be hooked too. Tip of the Day: Friends don't EVER let friends take their car to the dealer!! read more

I like to think of myself as a functional/handy DIY guy when it comes to working on cars, but there are such occasional rare scenarios when you strip a bolt, lack Thor's wrench to loosen a hub, or just don't have the space/lift to get the job done. I despise the idea of leaving my car with someone whom I can't trust to work on my car; there are a plethora of mechanics out there who will talk up a sh*t storm to take your money for a job half-ass done. If I can't fix something on my car, this is where I take it, period. Tioga (owner/operator), is truly a venerable mechanic. Mind you, the location is out there for most people. You'll have arrange your own transportation after dropping off yours. He knows his Euros (specializes in them, doesn't mean he can't fix others), and charges somewhat of a premium for his expertise. But he gets the job done well. Knock on wood; so far every aspect of his work has held up brilliantly. Although his rates may seem higher than others, if you surmise that a 3 hour job at a useless shop at a more economical rate can offset the slightly higher premium of a properly executed 2 hour job, then I guess that choice is left to you. read more

Blink and you'll miss it! I recently had some confusion with my car battery and alternator. Meineke told me I needed a new battery and the auto parts store told me I needed a new alternator. I called several places to get some information and a quote and Tioga was the only person I talked to who actually asked about my car and my experience driving it instead of spouting off numbers upwards of $500. I drove out to see him and lo and behold, my car is fine. He couldn't find anything wrong with it and we concluded that Meineke either deliberately drained the battery, or did so without realizing it while changing my oil. Drove it nearly 1000 miles two weeks later to Louisiana and it is still completely fine. He was the only person I saw who really looked at my car and listened to my concerns. If you're ever unsure about what some places are telling you, go to Automotive Solutions to get a second/third opinion. If I hadn't just moved to Louisiana, this would become my regular place. read more

Tioga is the ONLY mechanic in the area I will let touch my cars. I prefer to do all the work myself, as it's nearly impossible to find someone who will treat your car with the same care and respect that you do (assuming you're a gearhead like me). Tioga knows his european cars (Audi and Porsche in my case) and approaches them with pure logic and an Adrian Monk like desire for perfection. I can appreciate this level of OCD. He will also gladly take the time to explain exactly what's going on for those of us who are trying to improve our DIY skills and the steps to reach resolution. It's rare to be able to interface directly with someone who has this much knowledge and is willing to share it, especially in the automotive repair industry. read more

I don't think I will ever buy anything but a European car again, just because I know I have the most honest, reliable competent mechanic I've ever met. I second everything in the previous posts. He is the best, simple as that. read more

Tioga is as good as they come. Recently had my VW diagnosed by another shop and they wanted to do $2K worth of work on it. Immediately had it towed to Automotive Solutions for a second opinion (I would have gone to him first, but I had to pull into the first shop I could find quickly). Tioga not only knew the diagnosis didn't sound right, but found out that the problem was much simpler, covered under a manufacturer's extended warranty, and directed me to the dealership so I could have it repaired for free. Tioga is knowledgeable, trustworthy, fast, and friendly. I will probably base my next car purchase decision around the brands of vehicles he works on. He's that good. read more

This is the most incredible place!! A tow truck driver told me about if for my Volvo. I couldn't be more impressed. I've used this place several times now - for little things and big. He always goes the extra mile. Fixes things first time. Doesn't over charge. Is honest and kind. I have left other repair places because as an older woman I've been talked down to and in some cases lied to... Not here. I know I can go here and get an honest answer with repairs done in a timely manner and at a fair price. As another reviewer said, I'd give it ten stars if I could. Automotive Solutions has restored my faith in humanity as far as automotive repair goes. Thanks!!! read more

Tioga is an honest mechanic (that's not an oxymoron), helpful to the DIY-er (he's given me many technical explanations of the work done as well as useful tips if I DIY), and somewhere between reasonably priced and cheap for that quality of work. Then again, I've had enough European cars (mostly Mercedes, but also a Rolls and a Ferrari) now that my idea of reasonably priced may not be yours. Best yet, he's rare among mechanics in that he doesn't talk down to me even though I'm a blonde female; he knows I know my car. Awesome! read more

I'd give ten stars if that were possible. Tioga is the best mechanic, and a genuinely good person. I began coming here when I lived around the corner and was so happy with his work that I now drive down from NYC (where I currently live) to have him work on the car because I know that he does great work and wont rip me off for things I dont need. He's also always been upfront about the urgency of work and if theres a repair that needs to be done right away vs could wait for a later time. I really appreciate his integrity and honesty with his work and will keep bringing my car here from whichever state I live in for as long as I possibly can! The guy knows what he's doing! read more

I have a Honda and Tioga saved me so much time and money! He's my go-go-guy for any repair on my car. My mother brings her Mercades to Automotive Solutions as well and she swears by his work. read more

Tioga at Automotive Solutions has worked on my families VW's for over 15 years...from my Jetta, to our Passat wagon, to my daughters Audi. He's very intelligent, intuitive, efficient and most of all HONEST! I'd tried many other closer European car mechanics in and around Chapel Hill- Carrboro but was never pleased with their work, attitude and cost. Take the time and make the drive to White Cross ...you'll be glad you did! Tioga is the car god! read more

I know most of these reviews sound like they are from family members :-) But he really is that competent and professional.

Honest & knowledgeable...wouldn't even consider taking my precious vehicles any where else, recommend to anyone!

Tioga has always been extremely helpful, offering honest advice, and even explaining when a job is NOT worth doing for whatever reason. Easily the best mechanic I have come across for working on diesels. read more

Tioga has worked on a few of my cars and always does a great job. He knows what he is doing and you can tell he takes pride in his work.

I have had my cars serviced and repaired by Tioga since 2006 (could have been earlier). I have found Tioga to have the rare combination of honesty,reliability, competence and high sense of responsibilty. He is an expert mechanic par excellence with German cars particularly. In my opinion, based on experience with authorized car dealer service, his mechanical knowledge and quality of workmanship exceeds any dealerships I'd dealth with bar none. As my personal car was aging, my main reason for buying an Audi (specific model recommended by Tioga) to eventually replace another German car is because of Tioga. I am assured that the Audi will get the best of care from Tioga. When the warranty on my wife's car ends, it will be Tioga that we will depend upon to keep it running like new. ( I noticed that the car is pictured in the website, taken when Xenon lights were installed). read more

We recently purchased a used VW Jetta and soon discovered not many mechanics are qualified to work on them. We had a cooling fan issue that 3 mechanics were unable to fix. Some friends recommended Tioga and within an hour of dropping off he had diagnosed a loose fuse as our problem. He knows his cars, especially European and I would highly recommend. Wish we had found sooner as we would be money ahead. We will return. read more

Automotive solutions is the best! They are always honest and extremely knowledgable when it comes to your vehicle. After a high estimate from chapel hill tire, I got a second opinion from Tyoga and found that my car needed no repair whatsoever! Thank you automotive solutions for always doing what is best for the customer! read more

Best mechanic EVER! The only one I have ever trusted and looked forward to taking my car to. I know I will get it back fixed and knowing if I should be on the lookout for anything in the future. The most honest and dependable mechanic around!! read more

So my wife goes to leave the house a week ago in her trustworthy pride and joy ... an '01 BMW 325 CI convertible with 235k on the OD. She's a CPA in the middle of tax season on a mission, no fooling around. Car fires, stops firing, cranks easily but won't start. A "reputable" local indy comes to the rescue 2 days later, and without raising the hood first shot out of the barrel claims its a timing belt problem. He hauls it in for closer inspection ... another four days pass he calls back claiming that the timing lines up but there's no compression on ANY cyclinder, says we can go for a $6500 or $10k fix (used or rebuilt engine replacement). We thank him sincerely and haul the car to indy #2 some 30 miles away ... same deal, same story. Both are stumped about the compression issue, both speculate about "slipped timing" having crunched all exhaust valves in the process. Indy 1 is a foreign car "specialist", Indy 2 is a BMW "expert". Sure, but nothing is confirmed, nothing adds up (car-wise or dollar-wise) on the fix. All told, 10 days have now passed and my lovely wife is still calm and controlled ... I'm not cause I want her focused on her profession (not car problems) and safe. A great friend recommends we talk to Tioga at Automotive Solutions, 919-933-3884 ... mind you, he's located in Carrboro/Chapel Hill, some 170 miles away from our home on the Inner Banks. I know it can't hurt ... being a shade tree mechanic, I can't belive we lost all 6 cyclinders overnight with a cyclinder head or other ugly mechanical malfunction ... plus I pray alot and drink Scotch. So I locate a UHAul auto transport and finally tow in the car yesteday at 1:00 pm. Tioga is friendly, inquisitive and intently listens ... he looks under the valve cover and says "I'm a bit encouraged as things look clean, we'll see". At that point I start the long trip back home, instinctively I like Tioga, I like the way he approaches his business and customers ... but I'm dreading the news to come. Remember the CPA wife on a mission part? Well, I'm not 10 minutes away when Tioga calls me and asks if I want to listen to the car RUNNING! AMEN BROTHER! Ever see a GMC 2500HD with trailer perform a power slide/180? I looped back to a grinning Tioga who says "it was just the old spark plugs ... the car flooded, washed over the plugs and down the cyclinders (thus no spark or compression)". He took additional time to chat about the car, maintenance approaches, etc... Nice to meet a car pro who knows and cares about both the customer and the vehicle. Even better to find one who really knows the vehicle and looks for the simple problems first. Let me affirm the earlier reviews here. I've now got a beautiful, overjoyed wife who up until 1:00 pm yesterday, thought she was going to have to shell out huge for an engine replacement and had expensive, time consuming nightmares of car shopping during tax season. She's kissing me like we're first dating when I get home from seeing Tioga. She's happy, I'm happy ... you know the marriage deal. And long-term, we have a true and trusted resource in Tioga ... he gets all of our BMW business from this day forward. No problem for us, we're in the area often. If you are, too, go see Tioga ... get to know him BEFORE you have a problem. You'll have no second thoughts about where to get trusted service. No comment here on hourly rates and such ... what is honesty and integrity worth to you? You want value? Go see Tioga! read more

This repair shop is second to none!! He is the Best!! Tioga Honigman is a true scholar and a gentleman. He is honest, knowledgeable, friendly and has saved me thousands of dollars. Just the other day I went to Chapel Hill Tire at Chatham Crossings (because it's convenient and i have been taking my cars there for 23 years for general and specific maintenance)...and they told me I needed brakes pads, rotors and calibers and it would be $1550.00 on my son's VW GTI !! For the first time ever, I decided to get a second opinion. Tioga at Automotive Solutions had done some work on a couple of our cars and i called him because this estimate, just sounded ridiculous!! We just bought the car 4 months ago, and the seller told us he had just had the "brakes done". I called Tioga and told him about all this and that to me it sounded like a rock in the wheel. (Which I had stated to Kerri at CHT). He stated that in his experience and considering the year of the car, that he couldn't believe the calibers would need replacing, but he would be happy to check it out. We took the GTI there, talked about the car, and Tioga said he'd check it out and call me. While we were standing there, he took his flashlight and looked at the brake pads and said "those look brand new". So, we left, and within minutes of leaving, he called to say, "You can come pick up your car, it was a rock, I have a picture and the rock", not only did he take the rock out, he replaced a taillight bulb and secured the radio in its place as a courtesy. He was happy as he could be, to save me the $1550.00 that Chapel Hill Tire was going to charge me, for things I didn't even need to have repaired. I was very happy and will never go back to Chapel Hill Tire!! Thank you Tioga! read more