I have known Joe Downey since he had a shop over 18 years ago in Brewster. I had recently bought a Toyota pickup from a dealer in Ct and was heading on a trip to the mountains. I realized I was missing a jack and was afraid of getting stuck. I pulled into Downey Auto and introduced myself and asked Joe who I had never met to borrow a jack. Without hesitation Joe gave me his from his personal vehicle and said give it back when I returned home. A few years later Joe opened a shop in Pawling the town I live in and I have been a satisfied customer ever since. Recently my 85 year old father-in-law went to a local shop to have his brakes checked. He returned home having spent $850 on shocks and struts he didn't need and his brake pedal was still going to the floor. I mentioned to Joe Downey and he had my father-in-law bring the car to Pawling for him to check. Joe repaired the breaks at almost cost feeling bad that a elderly person on a fixed income was treated like that. Joe is the type of person that is a really great part of the local community. Trying to do the right job at a fair price and making sure your car is safe on the road. read more

Joe Downey has gone above and beyond what I would've expected out of a used car purchase experience. My 17 year old daughter needed a car asap. We already had the wool pulled over our eyes with a piece of garbage car we had bought for her so I was very guarded towards any auto dealer, mechanic, private seller, etc. My daughter actually brought me to Joe as she and Joe's son are schoolmates. Joe didn't mess around with me at all and right from the start he was attentive, knew what she needed and knew I needed assurance. He told us of a Subaru coming to his shop that he would sell to us if we liked it. My daughter loved it, Joe made sure it was reliable and safe and I had complete trust in him. There was absolutely no BS with Joe. I trust him completely and would recommend friends and family to him should they need any of his services. Joe is just a true gentleman, honest businessman and obviously a family man who is just as intent on keeping his customers' young drivers safe as he would his own. read more

I bought a 2007 Honda Odyssey from Joe Downey in 2017 with 155,000 miles on it. It was a gamble because I was leaving the same day to drive down to Virginia with my kids. Four years later, I just drove the same car with 277,000 miles on it down and back to Florida. The car has never had any major issues. When I told Joe I was driving to FL, he told me to take his number with me in case anything happened to the car. (Yes, he is that loyal to his customers.) On the way back in South Carolina, the check engine light started flashing and the car started bucking back and forth. I called AAA who steered me towards a AAA Customer Care center that wanted to charge me $880 to fix my car. I called Joe, who told me that was ridiculous. He called around and found me another shop in SC to take my car. The new shop had my car fixed in two hours for $236!!! I cannot say enough good things about Downey Auto. Joe is honest, reliable, and truly cares about his customers. I would never go anywhere else! read more

Joe Downey is a lifesaver, providing 100% professional service. He has consistently resolved and fixed every problem that has arisen with my 4Runner and Mazda. For example, when my 4Runner was making a strange noise, Joe quickly diagnosed the issue and fixed it at a reasonable price. His expertise and attention to detail have made him the most trustworthy mechanic I've ever met. What sets Joe apart is his clear and effective communication. He keeps you informed every step of the way, ensuring that you understand what's going on with your vehicle. This level of transparency and openness is rare in the automotive industry, and it's something that I truly appreciate. It's clear that Joe takes pride in his work. He always gives you an excellent price for the work done in your vehicle, and he never tries to sell you services you don't need. I don't trust my cars with anyone else but Joe and I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a reliable, skilled mechanic. read more

Can I give more than 5 stars?!!! I've always agonized about car repairs because I'm very wary about getting charged for work I don't need or charged more than necessary. I resorted driving a three hour round trip to my daughter's friend who owned a shop -which was super inconvenient. Thank God we found Joe through word of mouth. Joe has repaired three of our used cars for over a year. I've never been less than fully satisfied. On two occasions his price was half of what our dealer quoted us (I'd gone in to the dealer for an oil change when I couldn't work out the logistics with Joe and another time we were out of state) Joe takes the time to explain exactly what needs to be done to maintain your car, rather than sell you something you may not need until down the road. I will never go anywhere else. If the day should come that Joe retires, I will simply give up driving. read more

My wife and I were stranded on the side of i-84 on vacation with brake issues. I called several shops and got the run-around. I finally called Downey auto repair and the owner answered the phone. He told me that they closed in 2 hours but if I got him the part, he could help me out. We were towed to his shop and, although they were very busy on a Friday evening and getting ready to close for the day, he repaired my car in about 20 minutes. When he wrote up the bill, I was expecting to pay an arm and a leg. In reality, he only charged me 20 minutes of his hourly rate! I was desperate, from out of town, and stranded. He could have easily taken advantage of me. I would recommend Joe Downey at Downey auto repair to anyone in need. He is very honest and truly takes care of people. read more

Joe and his crew have been servicing my cars since 1994. I've even purchased a used car from him, a Volkswagen that I put another 100,000 miles on. My job took me to Texas for five years and when I moved back to the area with a 2002 Honda CRV, I again took my vehicle to Joe who had moved to Pawling. That was in 2007 when the CRV had just 100,000 miles on it. The car now has 316,000 on it and neither Joe nor the car has ever let me down!! Joe lets me know when something will need attention before it even starts to show any symptoms that I recognize. He is always fair on pricing and pleasant to deal with. I rest easy knowing that Joe will always do a fantastic job on my car whether the service is minor or complicated. read more

Joe Downey's has been the only shop to work on my now 13-year- and 260,000-mile- old Toyota Yaris. Joe has earned this loyalty with expert diagnosis, accurate and fair cost estimates and skilled work. He never recommends unnecessary work and seems to take the long view, valuing relationships and reputation. Because of this, his shop is always busy, but Joe is an adroit multi-tasker and he retains a vast wealth of customer data in his impressive memory ("Muffler? We did that three years ago. I can get one under warranty."). Joe definitely doesn't need me to shill for him, but I have to give credit where credit is due. read more

Downey Auto has been not only fixing my cars for over 18 years they've also sold me most of my cars over the last 15 or so. Outstanding service with a personal touch. They've always worked with me to make sure my car was on the road no matter what the situation. Joe and his team have been nothing but professional and extremely reasonably priced throughout the years. I truely believe that actions speak louder than words. So to that point, I've lived in NYC for the last 10 years and now in Westchester and I still bring my cars upto Joe for service. Absolute A+++ read more

Downey Auto works fast and charges low. My vehicle is always returned with exactly what needed to be done. No upselling. Honest about options and pricing. Provides advice that truly is in best interest of your car and your wallet. I use Downey, my sister uses Downey, my parents use Downey, and no other shop has ever matched up. I moved out of the area for a time and was forced to venture to other garages. Suffice it to say I am releived to be back and able to rely on Downey Auto whenever my vehicle needs service. read more

Most people in most professions seem to want to do just what is required. It is rare to find a professional who is concerned about outcomes, who has a genuine desire to master their domain, and who will take the time to understand and resolve the root cause problem. I always look for these sorts of people to form long term business relationships, and Joe Downey is one such person. I have been taking my car to him for several years now, and I intend to continue to do so for as long as he is around. read more

Sold us a "lemon" and will never do business with them again. There are always "two sides to every story." Another skilled person in the industry who looked at the car couldn't believe we bought it for any amount of money. I'm not trying to cause trouble. Yelp is a place for reviews both good and bad, and my comment is what I believe. And it was supported by another opinion. Take with it what you will and hope that this business handles the next situation with a bit more kindness. read more

I've been coming to Downey Auto for years, even when they were located in Patterson on Rt. 22. I have yet to find a more honest and upfront auto repair shop - anywhere - and I live in CT and have to drive about 20 minutes to get there... Joe has never taken advantage of me and has always worked to find affordable solutions to problems. I simply don't trust other shops and I'm willing to drive out of my way to have Downey Auto repair my vehicles. Highly recommend. read more

I've been using Joe for all my auto repairs since 1999. He always has his customers best interest at heart. He recently recommended that I consider purchasing a car from one of his other customers - because he knew the car so well and the drive train and transmission had been replaced. The "new" car is going to outlast the old for many years - and thanks to Joe - who got nothing out of the deal - he made 2 of his customers happy with a win-win situation. read more

Joe has worked exclusively on both my 1998 Tacoma (198,000 miles) and my 2006 Tacoma (475,000 miles) that I am presently driving. That's 673,000 miles of reliable service from Downey Auto. I recently had the AC compressor and front axel replaced and most recently had 4 new tires installed. For the past 28 years I have asked Joe to make all the necessary repairs on my Tacomas and I will continue to do so. Steven O'Connor read more

Local pawling resident who has considered purchasing a couple vehicles from this shop over the years because friends and family have recommended them. My first impression of the owner was that he's ornery, nonchalant, and complacent. Personally I feel like he didn't want to talk, unless it was talking about him making some money! Guy seems miserable, and the Ebenezer Scrooge type. Wouldn't recommend as a last resort! read more

Joe Downey runs the best auto mechanic shop in town. He has always been honest and upfront about every repair for my truck. He is very thorough and expects the best from his mechanics. When my truck goes to Downey Auto Repair I know it gets personal attention as if it is his own. Joe has always taken the extra step in making sure I am satisfied when I leave his shop. Very responsive and accomodating. read more

I purchased a '95 Toyota Tercel at Downey Auto three years ago. Aside from the normal repairs from wear and tear this little car is still running well! I couldn't be happier with my purchase and the excellent service that's provided by Downey Auto whenever I bring the car there. I'm planning a trip to Florida and my mind is at ease knowing that this car is going to get me there. read more

I just had a great experience with Downey Auto and the repairs the guys did on my Tacoma. They were efficient (had my truck done on time), honest, (showed me the worn brake pad they replaced), and communicated with me (and got my approval) before proceeding on replacing the timing belt. I will never go back to the dealer now that I have experienced how nice car repairs can be! read more