There are mechanics... and then there are the tired saints standing at the edge of civilization holding together the fragile emotional ecosystem known as "people who need their car to start tomorrow." Buddha's Garage is the second one. Dave has the energy of a man who has looked directly into the screaming mechanical abyss of humanity and simply sighed, grabbed a wrench, and fixed it anyway. I swear half the vehicles in that shop arrive after being spiritually wounded somewhere else. Other mechanics will look at your engine like medieval doctors diagnosing ghosts. Dave looks at it once, tilts his head slightly like a jazz musician hearing a wrong note, and suddenly knows your alternator was installed backwards by somebody named Tyler in 2019. And here's the wild part: he's honest. Like deeply, suspiciously honest. The kind of honest that makes you uncomfortable because you forgot businesses could still operate without trying to sell you seventeen imaginary emergencies. Dave will straight up tell you cheaper alternatives, better options, things you can wait on, things you DON'T need. I almost wanted to ask him if he understood capitalism. The customer service feels less like a business and more like your truck wandered into a monastery where everyone took vows of kindness and diagnostic accuracy. Meanwhile other shops are out here playing roulette with socket sets: "Hmmm yes, perhaps your issue is... all of the parts." Then Buddha's Garage fixes it in an afternoon and somehow charges you like they still believe in human dignity. Also -- Dave knows an absolutely terrifying amount about vehicles. Not "guy who watches YouTube tutorials" knowledge. I mean ancient-library-hidden-under-the-desert knowledge. The kind where you start explaining the noise your car makes and he already knows the answer before you finish making the sound effect. At this point I'd trust Buddha's Garage with anything mechanical. My car. My lawn mower. A damaged submarine. If NASA called and said a shuttle was making a weird clicking noise, I'd probably hand them Dave's number. I'm going there no matter what. If I move across the state, I'll crawl back on flaming rims like a pilgrim returning to holy ground. read more

Went in for a diagnosis for my truck got told it was a part and gave them the okay to swap then told it wasn't that part after all and that the new part they needed to bring back my ac was not available and still paid 300 dollars . Bought the part that they couldn't get and turns out it was the wrong diagnosis as well . read more

Cat converter replacement. Really nice folks but overpriced and lots of their "mechanics" look like teenage trade school trainees. Cat converter seems to work fine read more

Best car repair temple. Buddha is honest, warm and knows his gears. I don't even mind having a car issue because I get to make a pilgrimage to the Buddha. Oommmm read more

Had a great experience. I needed an AC repair. I knew it was something pricey because my car is 18 years old and it never had AC work done to it (and I had done inspections of the system myself before I brought it to them). They are a busy shop (as all good ones should be) so I dropped it off. They got it diagnosed after doing pressure tests then sent a text and voicemail. I responded with a text to authorize the repair. It was a big job and they had it ready in about a day. Being able to communicate with text is great so everyone has things written down and there's no mistakes. I knew it would be pricey (for my personal budget) but my air is ice cold now. The Mazda Dealer estimate was about $2500 dollars more! At 18 yrs old, What's the point of dealer parts? So I'm happy with the savings they got me. I had a loose radiator hose afterwards, most likely caused by old fittings/screws/clamps and/or having to take apart so much to get to the AC compressor etc. They said bring it by and we'll get it all tightened up asap. They put it on the rack and inspected all my old fittings and made sure nothing was loose. Would highly recommend. read more

I would recommend Buddhist garage to anybody and everybody. I have a 2018 Audi and I was quoted at Audi $3500 just to have my brakes and rotors replaced .. Audi claimed I needed them in the front and the back. I reached out to five other different places and the lowest quote that I received was $1800. Buddhist garage requested that I bring my vehicle in, in order for them to give me an accurate quote . This was a bit of an inconvenience because I live on the opposite side of town and my work schedule is extremely hectic, but it was worth it. They were able to actually physically look at my vehicle and see what was needed in order to give me a more accurate quote. Turns out my rear brakes are completely fine! It was my sensor that was off, which was $35 to replace. And they only charged me 780.$ for all the work. As a female it is extremely difficult to go into shops and not get screwed over and take advantage of. My sister has been taking her vehicle here for years. I took one of my vehicles here years ago and I will continue to use this garage for all of my automotive repairs. I highly recommend it. They are completely honest, and despite the fact that I was late this morning(I don't recommend that it but it was unavoidable), they understood and still got me out in a timely manner. All of their staff is friendly and the owner and his wife are there working with them. read more

I live in South Austin and needed my car fixed. Buddha's Garage treated me right and fixed up my ride - I needed a new gear shift and some brake replacements. Fair price. read more

Dave and his guys are the bomb.com I don't know anything about cars, but if he says I need something, I'm doin it. Everyone is so nice, and knowledgeable, and this garage has been the only place I've taken my vehicles in the past 13 years. If you're looking for affordable, reliable service, come here. read more

Took my car in to be looked at as it had started shaking really bad while driving. When going over the quote they even went over what could be pushed off for a later date and what needed to be fixed ASAP, unlike Firestone. The repair didn't take too long my car drives better than when I got her. The price for all of the repairs was a fair, especially for a Mom n Pop type shop, pretty much on par with other shops in Austin. The people working there were really friendly, patient, and understanding. Would recommend this place to any ladies that need to get their car worked on. They also had some kid's art work up which was super cute read more

Buddha's Garage - Beautiful art work - Auto Repair Near Me - Austin, Texas

I experienced fantastic service and a no-bullshit repair at a fair price. Before arrival, I asked how much it would cost to inspect the damages and was told that a visual inspection would be free even though they would have to lift the vehicle to see the area in question. When I received word of what needed to be repaired, I asked "are you sure there's nothing else, no other minor damage inside?" at that moment, they could easily have tossed on a minor adjustment or two and squeezed a few hundred bucks out of the situation, but he replied confidently that there was nothing else necessary and I've had zero issues since picking it up. I'd absolutely return to this shop in the future. read more

Awesome customer service. No surprises. Just quality work at a fair price. I had neglected my vehicle for months because I dreaded using my dealer's service department. These guys got me back on the road with full confidence and a one-year warranty on their work. There was one pleasant surprise, they enrolled me in CARFAX, at no cost, so I can keep track of many details about my vehicle. If you want a flashy place with a barista, floor-to-ceiling windows, and large comfy leather chairs, go to the dealer, but your repair work there will be poor at best and super-overpriced. If you want good, honest, and friendly service, from people who are hands-on and hands-down the best, Buddha's Garage is for you. read more

The guys at Buddha's garage were super helpful. My husband was going to replace his catalytic converter myself but after he realized he really needed a lift for the repair, he reached out. They got him in within the week and agreed to do the labor. Once they looked at the car they did inform us that his lower control arms were wearing out and he would start to hear squeaking in the future. We already knew we needed to replace the wheel bearing hubs on the front of the car so we asked them to price that out, and agreed to get it all down while they had the car. They did some solid work, within the time frame they quoted us, and we have been very happy with the work several weeks later! read more

Buddha's garage is the absolute best place I have taken my car... ever! They are so friendly, honest, and very good at what they do. They've repaired my car a couple of times now and I always leave satisfied and informed. They have a customer for life! I highly recommend them:) read more

If you're looking for a reliable, honest and knowledgeable auto mechanic, this is a great shop in Austin. I've brought 2 different cars to them over the years, and I feel that we received fair pricing and professional service each time. I will note that I had to bring my car back to have some of the plastic covers refastened after their work on my car a few years back. Also, we had work done to replace control arms (steering/suspension) on a Subaru. As the parts failed just around the end of the year warranty, the folks at Buddha's Garage were accommodating with helping to replace the parts and discount the associated labor. Although we've received some quotes from them for work at around the same cost as the dealership, we'd feel comfortable returning because we know that they can be trusted. read more

I've brought my car here a couple times now. They are very friendly, work is reliable, and they gave me a ride to work!

I waited a year to write this review as I never like to diss anyone, but this has to be done. I brought my car in for front suspension work. The bid was really high but I thought ok, they are getting good reviews. Long story short the work was not done properly (an essential part was left out that thankfully was found by another mechanic) leaving a dangerous situation with the steering. The bill had $40 for 'shop supplies', they broke not one but two lug nuts (and charged me for that) and they never told me I could've gotten a discount by paying cash until I arrived to pick it up. I paid a super premium price for repairs not done properly. read more

My radiator was toast so I went to 766 cause it was close to my place and could handle a refill with water before me stopping again. Diagnostic fee was $135. I did need to replace the radiator for an old Honda Civic so it ended up being $1000 total. They did have time to do it and I could pick it up the next day (I was in a hurry to drive out of town that weekend so that was appreciated). Called another shop, Buddha's Garage and they didn't need a diagnostic run, and total would have come out to ~$700 total. However, they were booked for a few days. I'd definitely come back here to 766 and pay the premium for time but I'd try Buddha's first if you have time. They were great on the phone and super helpful about what part I needed before I even walked in the door. read more

Amazing team, they took care of me and I felt at home! Definitely coming back! Everyone is very knowledgeable and made me feel safe, I came in by myself from California. read more

I've been looking for a good mechanic here in Austin and I'm so happy I've finally found one! During my oil change a few months ago I was told I had $2500 worth of stuff I needed to fix in my car, I did my state inspection and had Buddhas Garage check out what they said. They agreed with some of it, but said some of what was said was wrong and unnecessary to fix. I did the necessary work and it only cost me $1,000. Buddhas garage literally saved me $1500 and got it all fixed within a few hours. So happy I have found this place! read more

Super quick service! Got my car diagnosed and fixed quicker than other shop I've been to. Prices are sweet and I had beautiful service at every step. I couldn't be happier with my experience at Buddha's. read more

I am so glad to have had my car repaired at Buddha's Garage. With exemplary customer service, professional technicians who are knowledgable and conscientiously execute with expertise, integrity in providing a fair price, I highly recommend them to each and all without any reservation. They are super! read more

By far the best auto repair shop in Austin. Awesome customer service and truly reliable mechanics that will give you the best price hands down. Service Manager Josue always greets you with a smile, and leaves you feeling more than satisfied with your repair. Auto repairs can sometimes get a bad rap for overcharging, however the staff at Buddha's are honesty and inform you along every step. The staff even told another customer that a part on their vehicle was in good working condition and didn't need a repair (even though another shop tried to sell them on it). Finding a trustworthy mechanic can be hard, but look no further than Buddha's Garage. read more

This place is great. I already had an appointment to have my rotors and brake pads replaced and the day before my appointment I had a flashing check engine light start. Buddha's checked it out and explained that I had a cylinder 3 misfire happening due to leaky, worn out seals. They explained the cost to me before asking what I wanted to do, and they got me in and out in a few hours. I had to hang out and wait for the repairs to be finished and the owner and the shop manager both checked on me repeatedly to make sure I was comfortable and doing well. Taking my 2001 Honda CR-V to the mechanic can be stressful, but these guys make it as cool as possible with clear explanations, friendly conversation, and good music while I wait. I'm glad I found them and I definitely recommend them to anyone, but I HIGHLY recommend them to any woman that feels nervous about getting car repairs based on past experiences somewhere else. read more

August 2021 update: thankfully, another shop was able to easily diagnose that Buddha's had put the wrong computer in the truck (due to OEM incorrect labeling). When we told Dave about this, he offered a refund if we could bring the computer back. Appreciate Dave's ability to admit fault and make it right. read more

They have another satisfied customer here! They're the only mechanics we trust. Very affordable and reliable. They had my big girl up and going in no time. read more

So I'm leaving another review because my next experience was too good to not leave one. My car has been shaking for... a while. I'm a procrastinator, but the shaking had gotten to a point where I knew it wasn't just something simple and it was starting to worry me. It also happened to coincide with some other shaking I was having due to my tires (mentioned in my last review), so when it started back up again I figured it was just another tire thing. But it finally got to the point that it just felt *bad* you know? Anyways. I give Buddha's a call and they tell me to go ahead and take it to the place I buy my tires before coming by, just in case. I haven't had them balanced or rotated in a while so I figure why not and I appreciate the recommendation to help save me a little time and money just in case it isn't as serious as I think it might be. So. Yesterday I take my vehicle in to my tire place (Discount Tire around the corner on Braker) and I'm immediately told that my front tires are cupping (they aren't -- I had uneven wear from when those tires were rotated from the back to the front after waiting too long to get it done), my suspension or wheel alignment is probably messed up, and the only thing that will stop the shaking is buying new tires. I say "wait, you're telling me something more serious is wrong with my vehicle, but instead of taking care of that I should buy tires from you right now?" and am met with "well... that's more of a long-term issue". Uh... yeah eff that. I get out of there pretty quickly and give Buddha's a call and they tell me to come to them and they'll be able to pinpoint the issue quickly. They close at 6. I got there at 5:25. They test drove my car and pinpointed the issue (CV axle was completely falling apart) by 5:35. They stayed late and had everything replaced and fixed by 6:49. When people say this place's customer service is unparalleled, y'all they are NOT JOKING. I paid $300 for labour that would have cost $400-$450 for the level of expertise at many other places (I drive a Jetta and the help and expertise of someone who worked exclusive on VW/Audi for 15+ years helped diagnose and fix the issue so swiftly) and would have easily taken at least a day (and I easily could have been told the labour took much longer than it did and I wouldn't have known the difference). I cannot recommend these guys enough. I'm not a car person, but I am an engineer and every time I come in here, I end up leaving learning something new about my car because the explanations of the problem and enthusiasm for vehicles just makes me want to look into what they've told me. Not only are they honest, personable, and highly skilled but they're also great at explaining things in a way that you can understand, regardless of your level of familiarity with vehicles. There's a reason these reviews are what they are. It's not just hype or buddies leaving reviews. While I was waiting, I watched them handle a customer who was clearly having an off day and was frustrated about something unrelated to the work they do and was blown away with their ability to reassure customers and treat them with kindness, regardless of the energy that is brought to them. I know this was long, but there's just that much to say. GIVE DAVID YOUR BUSINESS! You will not regret it! read more

I took my truck in because my A/C stopped blowing out of the vents completely. Before that occured my A/C only blew out cold air from one side, but the hot air blew out perfectly fine on both sides. So, I informed them that my A/C stopped blowing and it would only blow cold on one side before that happened. They ended up quoting me around $2000, but I think it was less. After a day a got a call and they told me the total would be $2,777.96 due to other changes they had to make. I go to the shop, pay the $2,777.96 and get my truck back. They tell that the heater isn't working correctly now because they had to do some wiring work or something like that to get it to blow cold air and told me to bring it back during the winter time to get that fixed. I asked if they would charge me for that and they said there would probably be a little charge. I thought that was weird since my heater worked perfectly fine before and now they are gonna charge me to fix that too, but at a later time? Oh well, I'll worry about that later... The A/C was finally cold on both sides and the air was blowing great. However, after a few days it stopped blowing completely again... It's okay things happen, so I went to the shop again and I guess they did a temporary fix because it worked for a few days again then stopped working. I took it to the shop again, and guess what, it must have been another temporary fix because it stopped blowing air again. At this time I was really upset because I still had to drive in heat for a weak after paying $2777. I explain to the owner my frustration and basically ask for a refund because I'm upset at this point. I receive a call, and instead of calming me down with good customer service, instead they frustrate me even more by blaming me. Saying that I brought in a ford quote and they followed the quote that I brought in. No... not true. Not true at all. When I showed you the quote you said you didn't even need to see it. Also, if you followed the quote, why did you end up charging me more from the initial quote you gave me? I asked if they would finally get my air working correctly and I told them I wasn't going to spend another penny. He wouldn't give me a straight answer, and told me he would see what he can do. At this point, even if you say you'll fix my A/C without charging me a penny more than you already have, I still don't want to take my truck to your shop. I don't trust your service anymore and I'll just take this as a loss on my end. I'll either figure it out on my own or go to another shop. read more

Buddha's Garage is amazing! My 2018 Audi A6 ran over something that completely obliterated the bottom of my car. I had custom air suspension installed on the car, so they not only fixed that but fixed my power steering fault from the damage, and re-wired all my air lines. All the pricing for labor was completely fair! I did not expect my bill to be that low especially since I drive a luxury vehicle. Definitely recommend this place! read more

Communication was awesome. Care for the car was awesome. Repair was awesome. First time here. Won't be the last.

Had a horrible experience at the shop years back right before covid hit. The owner seems to be cool but his employees were horrible. They were talking poorly about customers vehicles and the mechanic never worked on my type of motor before so I don't believe the job was a total successful. He had my complete engine out on the ground, no towels with screws everywhere. Nothing organized nor put away. Felt as if they didn't care how my vehicle was handled or treated. The owner gave me a discount to makeup for the lack luster experience but it still didn't sit well with me. read more

I came to these guys for a pre-purchase inspection on a classic car I was buying a couple years ago. They said they were qualified and I trusted them. On their enthusiastic go ahead I purchased the car. It has been nothing but problems since, to the point that I haven't even driven it for the past eight months. I've spent a total of 10K on this car and been quoted an additional 15K just to get it in any sort of roadworthy shape. Other mechanics have listened in horror as I've told them that I did have it inspected pre-purchase and was given the eager go ahead by these chuckle-ducks. So, take any recommendation these guys give with a pound of salt. It could cost you a lot of money otherwise. read more

Got my car checked out here & they gave me a call to let me know what needed to be serviced. Was satisfied with the repairs made afterward! Will most likely come back again! read more

Buddha's Garage slogan is "Good Car-ma" and man, have they got that right! These guys are the real deal--honest and thorough! They went out of their way to take care of me and my 20-year-old Lexus, offering me options that wouldn't break the bank, but would keep me running while I figure out my next car -- which I won't take anywhere else after meeting the gurus at Buddha's! read more

Another great experience with the guys at Buddha. Don't trust anyone else with my vehicles. Most trustworthy shop in town.

These guys were great. Highly recommend. Accessible - picked up the phone on the second ring. A 2-minute conversation later I was able to get an appointment same day. A friend of mine was having engine problems late last year and Buddha's garage was able to get him in same week. Full disclosure, I was just going in for an oil change and check-up this time. For more complex services I wouldn't anticipate same day availability from any shop. Professional - all of the guys in the shop that I came across treated everyone with equal respect and made the whole process very easy for me. I had sidebar question about my car's bill start assist as I was checking out and they pulled a Subaru expert from the garage who made 5 minutes to diagnose it and talk with me 1-on-1. At no point did I feel like I was being upsold. Efficient - I was in and out within 30 minutes as a walk-in. Granted, I called first to confirm they could get me in that day and I only went for a minor service, but still - very quick. Fair Pricing - service was affordable and rates were fair market value for what I got. read more

I've taken my vehicle here a few times and both times they went above and beyond. Their price quotes are good and they didn't go over. I've not needed to come back multiple times for the same issue, like I have other places. They are thorough. Thanks for treating your customers right! read more

I highly recommend this Automotive Shop. David was very professional and confident in their work. After bringing my 2007 Suburban, they were able to diagnose it and give me the issues within the same day. He also manage to work with me in getting it fix and address the main issues I wanted to fix with the budget I could afford. With all the help and compromising that they help with me I would highly recommend anyone to get their vehicle fixed at Buddha's Garage. read more

This review is probably about a year overdue because I have been real busy and reviews haven't been the first thing on my mind. Anyways, I took my 370z in to have the springs on the front struts replaced. So basically: remove strut and spring assembly from car, compress the sprint, unbolt a few bolts, release tension on the spring, remove from strut and put the new spring in, WITH THE SILENCERS that came off of the old springs, and then install the strut back on the car. Not only was I charged $329.40 to swap out a set of springs (fronts only), which I thought was ridiculous, but the silencers were not reinstalled on my new springs and now, when going over bumps in the road, my car creeks. Great! read more

I needed an oil change and wanted to find a trust worthy place to do it. Several places I called said they were booked until the following week, but the receptionist at Buddha's Garage said they could get me in, but they couldn't guarantee the wait time. As I'm waiting, I am admiring all the Buddha statues in the waiting area, and I tell the owner Dave, those are some nice statues. The owner responds, you know they were all given to me by customers. I'm like really! He's like yeah, that one a customer got from Japan, that there is from Thailand. Then he proceeds to tell me a story of a customer whose father collected Buddha statues, and when he passed away, she gave him one of them, which he keeps in his dashboard. I tell him, your customers must really like you. He says, can't say we're the best mechanic, we just try to be honest, and I think that's what customers really want. I mean, that is more or less what I want, and that's how I felt I was treated. I left with a relaxed knowing that I have found a mechanic I can trust. read more

I went here because of the good reviews about customer service and pricing. All I needed was a an oil change. My car is a 2010 Ford focus, that only needs the basics of anything. My oil change was $80 and the front desk guy did not care at all that I expressed that that is way too much for an old basic car. He said they used fully synthetic oil which I know my car does not require, which makes me think that's how the price was so high. Not interested in going back. read more