Dishonest and shameful. Buddha Garage operates in an unethical and dishonest manner, taking advantage of vulnerable individuals. Recently, my daughter encountered car trouble in Austin, prompting her to seek assistance near her apartment. We opted for Buddha's Garage after finding it through her zip code. Despite the late hour, AAA promptly towed her car there. The next day, she spoke with David Buddha, who proposed an exorbitant $943.42 repair bill. This included replacing the thermostat, thermostat seal, upper and lower radiator hoses, adding antifreeze, and miscellaneous shop supplies. Surprisingly, an oil change was also billed under labor, adding to the inflated cost. Concerned, I traveled from San Antonio to Austin to understand the situation better. Buddha Garage appeared well-kept, with impressive equipment, yet I needed justification for the excessive charges. David explained a coolant pressure test had diagnosed these issues but couldn't confirm any visible leaks when I inquired. He insisted the pressure test was sufficient evidence. Unconvinced, I pressed further about physical inspections for leaks around the hoses and thermostat seal, which he admitted hadn't been done. This raised doubts about the necessity of replacing supposedly functional parts. I insisted on a simple water fill for the radiator and tested the car myself on the drive back to San Antonio--during rush hour, no less--without any overheating or coolant loss issues. Ultimately, the problem turned out to be a loose fan sensor, not the extensive repairs David had recommended. Whether he misjudged us or simply saw an opportunity, Buddha Garage's conduct lacks integrity and respectability in both mechanical service and business ethics. David Buddha failed to uphold basic honesty and fairness expected of a reputable mechanic and businessman. read more

I am a manager of a collision repair facility, so I know this industry very well. That being said, yes I do the body work, but I sublet my mechanic work out. Let me tell you about Dave. First off, he is honest. And while an "honest mechanic" may seem like an oxymoron, it is definitely not in this case. Dave is an honest person, who actually cares about his customers, their needs, and their pocketbooks. He will tell you what is wrong with your vehicle, what needs to be fixed immediately, and what can wait. You just don't find that type of service anymore. I trust Dave so much that not only do I send my customers over to him, but I bring my personal vehicles to him as well. I brought him my old '88 Blazer to get running right again. I wasn't worried one bit about leaving it in his hands, because Dave knows his stuff. If you're looking for arguably the best, most honest, and affordable mechanic, BRING YOUR CAR TO DAVE. I'm not just an average customer. I'm in the same business. And that should speak leaps and bounds how much I trust him. If someone in the same business is recommending this guy, then you know you're in good hands. Bring him your problems, and be relaxed that he'll do ya right. read more

If ever a customer bent over, puckered up, and asked to be screwed, it's me. When I called Buddha's garage, I was convinced that I needed a new alternator for my Toyota 4Runner. I even had Will quote me a price to replace one. Not an expensive repair. But not a cheap one, either. The price he quoted was very reasonable - at the low end of the range I was expecting based on my brief research. So, I had my car towed to Buddha's expecting to drop a few hundred bones. Well, all I needed was a few new fuses. Wow. There I was, ripe for the taking. They could have put the fuses in and charged me for an alternator and I wouldn't have known a damn thing or had a second thought. Nope. Not Buddha's. They charged me a reasonable fee to diagnose the problem, order the right fuses and replace. And they didn't even make me feel like shit for attaching my jumper cables on backwards. Which I did. Even though I wouldn't admit it. :-) I'm new to this side of town and pleased as pie to have found a mechanic I can trust. read more

After doing some research and reading a ton of reviews on Austin garages, I took my Subaru Forester to Buddha's for brakes and a new timing belt. First off, Dave and Andrea--they're good people. And the tiny bit of contact I had with the other guys in the shop--super nice and friendly. Beyond reasonably priced (maybe even reasonable to a fault!) and did all the work same day even when they encountered a couple of twists during the process. Best of all, no squeaky brake sounds going home and I feel comfortable going on my long distance trip now. Actually, best of all, I knew from the moment I stepped in the shop this morning that they were trustworthy and cared about their work and their customers. Good stuff. Thanks guys for your help and kindness! read more

I took my 2020 Audi in for brake repairs, and I honestly couldn't be happier with my experience. From start to finish, the team was incredibly kind, professional, and communicative. They kept me updated throughout the entire process, explained everything clearly, and made sure I felt informed every step of the way. Their pricing was more than fair, especially for the quality of service I received, which is hard to find. It's rare to come across an auto shop that combines honesty, great customer service, and reasonable prices so well. I'll absolutely be bringing my car back here for anything it needs in the future. Highly recommend to anyone looking for trustworthy, reliable service! read more

This place is great. The owner's are down to earth, kind and reasonable. They took my car in very last minute and let me drop it off in the evening and then got back with me the next morning. Dave (Buddha) explained the issue going on with my car and didn't charge me for looking at it. My car had/has a major repair in need but it's an old car that I have been ready to get rid of so I am not going to get it fixed, just going to get a new car soon. This place though it is great, good people and I highly recommend them. I will take my new car there if I have any maintenance needs or anything else for my car. They are great! read more

Finding someone you can trust to work in your car is really freaking hard. It seems like taking car owners over the coals is industry standard. I found Buddha's here on Yelp. The guys showed me what was wrong w/ my car, explained everything simply, and gave me an estimate. I called around for quotes from other places and they were consistently 300-500 higher! So, back to Buddhas I went. They fixed my car this week and it's running like a dream. The guys are super nice, informative, and helpful. The place isn't fancy, which I'm sure enables them to keep their prices lower than others. Go see Buddha. read more

I've known David for a very long time and when it comes to cars he is my go to guy! Honesty, integrity and quality are 3 words that define this man. I was battling a "Check Engine" light all day today and couldn't get a straight answer from anyone I asked. Everyone was leading me down the path of spending more and more $$$$. One quick phone call to Buddha's Garage and problem was solved. I even get to take back the EGR valve that I bought yesterday, which did not get rid of the light! Thank you David ! Wish your shop was closer but am very happy you are a phone call away! read more

Need automotive work done? Ok quit reading other crap, close your other browser windows. Ok now that I have your attention, go to Buddhas Garage, hand him your keys. Your all done, you car will come back good as new and you won't be lied to like if you went to Lambs, or donkeys @&#^$ or whatever that other Shit place is. Buddhas garage with treat you right and you don't have to worry about anything. In fact after you get you vehicle back you will be so happy you might try to rub Buddhas belly for good luck, but don't do that. read more

I took my car in last Friday July 19th, 2013 to have a rotator replaced on my back right window and I could not have been happier with the service. The administrative staff called me throughout the day updating me on how the job was going and an estimated amount of time for completion. I got to meet Buddha himself as well who personally took care of my window problems and he along with his employees are honest, hard working people who I will come back to again and again! read more

I used to live in Austin and recently moved to Houston about a year ago and have not trusted any one to work on my car in Houston. So when my brakes went out in my car the first person I thought to reach out to was David. I emailed him on a Friday night and asked if he could replace my brakes Sat am while I was in Austin. Not only did he say YES, but he also gave me a fantastic price! I will never take my car anywhere else. I recommend Buddha's garage to everyone! read more

These guys are really nice and hard working. The work was done pretty fast and really efficiently. It's easy to communicate with them and ask question since its a privately owned business. The guys there really want your car to be fixed, they're not focused on robbing you for your money; they tell you when something doesn't need to be replaced and are completely honest in their work. The owner is really looking to run a truthful and diligent shop. read more

Hands down best experience I've EVER HAD dealing with a mechanic. David Gonzales and his crew are all so accessible, down to earth, honest and always try to give you the best deal. I never feel like I'm getting worked over by some d-bag that doesn't care about me or my car. The ratings speak volumes for this place! I seriously just made an account so that I could talk about how awesome these guys are! read more

Recently I've learned that there is an anti-semite, anti-immigrant, and anti-feminist working here. Unsuspecting and trusting women come here for safety. These workers are 1099 workers which means they are not actually employees. You can get work here, but you should grill your mechanic because I'm sure you don't want an anti feminist, anti immigrant, and anti semite working for you. read more

Coming down the ramp from 290 onto 35, my brake pedal went all the way to the floor. David took my vehicle in the next day, made the necessary repairs and got it back to me by lunch time. I was in town for the weekend and needed a quick turnaround. See my May 2011 post when he helped my daughter with car repairs. A good read for parents of students in Austin. Thank you read more

Wonderful service and friendly staff! I go there for my oil changes and will go there for repairs when needed because I trust them and they are honest and want to build strong customer loyalty. I meet other customers there who have been coming for years which tells me this is a respected local business. I recommend Buddha's garage because the people are trustworthy. read more

Undoubtedly the Most Honest ,reasonable and helpful guys in this Business. I visited this place fearing some major issue in my Toyota Corolla , as my car was making some wired sound while applying brakes, STEVE inspected the car thoroughly and quickly identified and fixed the issue.I am totally impressed. read more

Excellent company! They have serviced my truck twice now, and both times I have been extremely pleased with the cost, their honesty, and speed of response and turn-around time! I would def recommend Dave and his wife at Buddha's garage for all of your vehicle service and repair needs!! read more

Dave is an honestly good guy and trustworthty mechanic; which is hard to find these days. I totally recommend him. His service is uncommonly superior and his pricing is very fair. I know his business will expand due to his professionalism and quality of work. Thanks Dave! read more