Moved here from NY. Needed new brakes and a/c repair. Thankful we found Special K Auto Repair…read more Friendly, knowledgeable, good prices and quality work. The shop may be small but definitely better than going to the dealer's shop.

The first time I took my car to Special K was probably 10 months ago when I got my front brakes…read morereplaced. Ralph asked me to give a review on google and I did. I should have waited for a few days to give the review. Because a few days later I had to take my car back because noise was coming from my front tires. The tire lug nuts were not put on tight. Ralph did correct it. Fast forward to Thursday July 2, 2026, I dropped my off for an alternator replacement. Brittney in the office gave me the price and processed my full payment. I asked her when will my car be ready. She said Monday which was July 6. So on Monday I didn't get a call or text about my car. I called and no answer. I called the other number. Ralph answered, which I knew he was in New York. I asked about my car, he said BMW didn't deliver the alternator yet. He was supposed to keep me update, but he did not. Every time I had to call and text both numbers. Most times no one answered and Some times I got a response to my text. I asked for update, Ralph said part still didn't come. By now I am getting worried. I asked was the part really ordered and what day? He claimed it was ordered same day I dropped my car off. He said BMW was closed on Friday day before 4th of July and they are closed on weekends. I took him at his word. Tuesday July 7th, texted asking if the part came in. He responded yes but they are working on other car that parts were there. I am not going over every call or text. After speaking to Ralph I realize he was lying. Then he said the wrong part was delivered. So on Friday July 10th, I went by the shop around 2:40. The technician said come let me show you your car is ready for the new part but it is not here. The old alternator was taken out. I said Ralph said the part came and it was the wrong one. The technician said he never saw the new part. My husband called Ralph and Ralph told him my car would be ready on Friday July 10th because the part is coming in at 3:30. So I called Ralph while I was at the shop and he told me the same thing. I said well your technician say he never saw any part come in. Ralph said let me speak to tech, I put phone on speaker. He told the technician "the part is coming in today (Friday) at 3:30 and don't say anything else. " I didn't believe the part was coming in. I had to leave so I asked the technician was he working tomorrow which was Saturday, he said yes from 8am to 1pm. I said we will be back tomorrow. Of course we go on Saturday and the shop was closed. We called Ralph and he said, did you get your car? We said Ralph you know we didn't get the car, you know your shop is closed. I said you need to open your shop because I want my car today. You are a liar and you are playing games. He said let me call the shop and he hang up. He didn't call us and stopped answering our calls. So we went to Leesburg Police Station and spoke with the police about the situation. They called Ralph and he didn't answer so they left him a message. Later Ralph texted my husband and said the part didn't come in. Two hours later he texted me and said the part was there and it's been there. Later he texted me and said your car will be ready on Monday (July 13) and I will have the police meet you there to pick up your car. He was mad that I had the police call him, but I was tired of him lying! So on Monday I had the police meet me at the shop, we got there around 10:30am. Ralph was not there, only Britney and two technicians. I asked Britney if my car going to be ready today because I am taking my car today. She said yes. We saw one of the technician actually working on my car. The two police officers left and told me to call them back if I need them. I stayed in my other car and waited because I was afraid if I left, they would close the shop. I didn't go back in the shop. After awhile I looked in the bay door to see if they were still working on my car. Britney had the technician to close the bay doors. She was just being nasty. I know their ass was hot!! I knew they were going to take a long time because I was waiting. So around 2:30 I saw a police car pulling up and circling the parking lot. One policewoman came to my car and said the shop called them and wanted them to issue me a no trespassing notice when they give me my car. I said that is funny. They holding my car, I will leave when I get my car. Then another police car pulled up and it was my policemen that escorted me there earlier. They came back to make sure I was good! Thank you Leesburg Police! Without your help, my car probably would've still been there. I wouldn't take my skateboard to Special K. Ralph the owner proven himself to be dishonest! I get my car back, it's missing front engine cover under hood and sloppy work!!! I sent Ralph pictures my hood does not close tight on side tech worked on. Ralph has not responded! Terrible!

Great Place. I just moved here from out of town and passed…read moreby this place a few times. I always noticed how clean and organized it appeared from the outside. My Mercedes S550's coolant hose was cracked. They took my car immediately. I asked them to change the oil as well. While looking over the car they noticed my air filters were dirty. I got the car back priced as quoted. They we're in constant contact with me. They got the parts in 1 day and I got my car back the next day. They know their way around foreign cars and I would definitely trust them again with a Mercedes and that's saying a lot. Great Work!

Great experience! They explained exactly what was wrong with my car, gave a clear and fair price…read morebreakdown, and fixed everything quickly. My car runs better than it has in years. Huge shoutout to Luis, he even followed up afterward to let me know about a recall and recommended I get it taken care of at the dealer, without any interest in more compensation, but instead just taking care of their customer fully. Excellent service all around! Highly recommend.

Basically, I have all of the same concerns that YOU probably have when selecting a mechanic - who…read morecan you trust, and who is going to rip you off? Generally, I'm reluctant to give 5 stars to a business, because I can usually find some fault somewhere, but A-1 really deserves high praise. I was new to the area about two and half years ago, and had what I thought was a major problem with my truck A/C. Based on an ad on a restaurant menu that stood out, I took it to A-1. The owner, Beau, found the problem was a 53 cent part that was malfunctioning, and sent me on my way (very surprised, and happy). There was probably no better way to come to understand that this was a man, and business, built on integrity and honesty. For me, that would be more than enough to earn my repeat business, but over the past two years, Beau and the team at A-1 has also proven to be more than capable at diagnosing and repairing every issue I've had. He has ASE certification, and knows his stuff. His prices are more than fair, as well. This is as good as it gets, folks. I'm sorry to be leaving the area, because I truly trust this business, and it's owner. Do yourself a giant favor and give your business to this guy. Curtis

I will never again use this company, and do not recommend them…read more I took my car to A1 Car Repair in Eustis because my AC had suddenly stopped working. I was told there would be a diagnostic charge of about $125 and that it would take 2 or 3 days. The next day I received a link via text with a quote. The quote included the diagnostic charge, indicated that I needed a new battery (which would cost about $450 and included all of the hold down brackets and other parts that I can't imagine are really necessary), and a $15 quote for an AC clutch. I declined the overpriced battery but approved the AC clutch. The next day I received a text link with an invoice that indicated the work was completed; however, the invoice link only charged for the diagnostic charge (nothing for the AC repair). I called to get clarification and the owner said they could not complete the AC diagnostic unless I approved the battery replacement. I explained that I am not willing to pay $450 for a battery replacement. (He said that is the going rate, and I won't get a better price from anyone else. I am able to buy a high-quality battery for $250.) I TRIED to ask whether I could replace the battery myself and return to complete the diagnostic. He went completely off at me! He said, "I am not in the business of diagnosing problems and then people doing their own repairs!" He would not let me explain that I wanted them to do the AC work. I remained calm. I asked him to please listen to me and let me speak, but he was having none of it. I finally just hung up. There was no way for me to pay the diagnostic fee remotely, so I called back to pay it over the phone. The line was answered by an AI bot that indicated I was to leave my contact info and someone would call me back to receive my payment info. I had no way to know whether hackers had taken over their phone line and might call me to steal my CC info, so I was unwilling to use that system. I tried several times to contact them, each time the Bot answered. I suspect they were simply screening my call. Finally, I had my husband call. He was able to make payment over the phone. It turned out that they had reduced the diagnostic fee to around $65, which was appreciated. But it did not make up for the disrespectful and rude treatment I received from the owner.

A REAL REVIEW…read more Both my Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Frontier have been serviced by South bay auto since about 2010 to June 20, 2022. The old man (previous owner) died sometime in the previous 12-14 months prior to the above date, and the quality went down and pricing up. However the customer service is 1st rate, and you will feel great after your experience there, if you know little about cars, and who does.....me. LOL On my (wife's) Toyota RAV4 I had South Bay Auto replace both front axels, the alternator, front, rear rotors + pads, trans fluid screen, trans fluid more than once, various oil + filter changes, Air Conditioning core (requires complete dash board removal), tie rods and a several other repairs. I do believe the heater core was replaced twice. The work was done professionally and at a fair price. However in the last couple of years I did suspect without, any proof, there may have been some add-ons. On my Nissan I did not feel as good about my repairs....I will explain, I kept accurate records, and inspections. On Feb. 27, 2019, I had South Bay Auto replace the upper and lower radiator hoses. After the repairs, I brought my Nissan to my home garage, I inspected the work, and found it faulty. I found the top radiator hose installed rubbing against a bracket on the radiator. With the vibration of the engine, a hole will develop at the hose, when rubbing against the bracket, a year or more later. This actually happened to me on another vehicle. Not trusting South Bay Auto I removed the bracket and installed it 3/8 inch away from the hose. The next day I brought my Nissan to South Bay Auto and showed him the shoddy work his people did on my Nissan. The last time my Nissan was serviced at South Bay Auto was on June 20, 2022. I had them replace the front rotors + pads, and drain + fill the differential oil. I supplied the new parts + container of differential oil and almost always want to receive the used parts from the dealer or repair shop for my vehicle. Two or three weeks later I noticed that the container of oil I had given to South Bay Auto to drain + fill of my differential, the oil that they had returned to me, the seal had not been broken. Looks like either the oil was drained and filled with the shops own oil, and I was only charged with labor, no charge for the oil. Or the oil was never changed , only oil level checked . Now there are times a misunderstanding happens, but never to the customers benefit....LOL

1.31.24 Hey Brandon,…read morethank you again for the MANY times you and your team have done a tremendous job in servicing and repairing our vehicles. You are a quality guy and run a great business that should be the template for all businesses and certainly for the automotive community. Honest and Trustworthy! Don Jenson CFS

What you looking for in a mechanic is always honesty and professionalism. Matt with tow flow has…read moreboth in abundance. He took care of me and really helped me out. I was out of town on business and had to leave my vehicle in the Ocala area and was nervous as can be about getting the mechanic and Matt certainly didn't let me down he's good to go. The process was smooth and easy pricing was up front and fair and a video recorded and didn't do nothing I didn't ask for and communicated very effectively the whole process.

Matt came over and did a diagnostic of my vehicle and told me what was wrong. I later drove my car…read moreto his shop and he made the necessary repairs. He did a great job. I now have in him in my faves list.

My family has been using Almands since I was a baby. This service station is extremely respectable…read moreand honest. The mechanics do exactly what you ask them to do, and nothing more. They don't suggest work for your vehicle unless it actually, visibly needs to be fixed. For example, when I've gone for oil changes, I leave with just paying for an oil change, not new tires, a new battery, etc. The owner Dennis has always treated us like we are family. There have been multiple times that our car has broken, we are therefore left without a car to go to work/school, so Dennis has offered us his own personal car for the length of repair! This is true, caring service. A couple years ago I needed to replace something that was quite expensive. (I had a used car with close to 200,000 miles so you can imagine). Dennis allowed me to make payments since he knew I couldn't afford everything at once. Again, prime example of trusting, caring service. If you do not currently have a mechanic in this area, I highly recommend Almands!

Overpriced Paid for new parts, received used parts. 9/16/25…read morehad a timing belt replaced at 152,128 miles. 12/22/25 (97 days later) at 154,052 miles vehicle was making noise. We watched SubarusRUs remove timing belt and they showed us there was No marking or writings on it, it was an OLD belt. They said it was impossible for the belt to be completely black and void of any indications of marking or writing if it had been new 3 months ago. Additonally the timing belt tensioner was totally shot. All new parts were supposedly replaced by almands on Sept 16. Also the belt cover was taken off to do the work and was never put back on. All the work had to be redone that almands charged me for. Its impossible that all markings wore off a supposedly brand new timing belt in less than 2,000 miles and 97 days

My family has taken our vehicle's to Shaffer's for several years and it's always been great. The…read morestaff is very honest and they do great work. They don't over charge and are very knowledgeable. Would 10/10 recommend!

I've honestly never dealt with more honest an top quality auto work in my Life!!! In this day an…read moretime of none of what I said above exists anymore!!!! Gittin auto repairs anywhere else in the lk county area is just plain stupid in my book!! If ya can't do it urself.... Take it ta shaffer

This is a great place for all your service needs where the people will listen and care about…read morehelping you. You are in good hands there. You should definitely give them a try next time you have a problem with your car or truck.

I have used Affordable several times with great satisfaction so I thought I need to write a review…read more The owner has always been upfront and reasonable with repair costs. I have never been upsold anything or later informed the job would cost more than I was quoted. I have never had to bring my vehicle back because the repair was not done correctly. I have always been satisfied. Now they are offering total vehicle detailing. Today I had them detail my Pathfinder and while it took a bit longer than other places, the attention to detail and the quality of the work was worth the wait. Totally recommend these guys!

wAS A little apprehensive when they were recommended through An extended warranty company because I…read morehad seen negative comments previously, but could not have been more pleasantly surprised. The communication, the perseverance with the unreliable warranty company, the work done and the pleasantness of crew exceeded any other auto repair company we have dealt with! In addition, Their rates seemed fair. We have found our go-to repair facility!

I had the brakes replaced and brake fluid changed. Cost $1400 which I thought was pricey, but I did…read morenot shop around. During the repair one of my wheels was damaged and it took a month to get it repaired. I did almost all the communications with the repairer. Was told the battery needed replacing but independent testing by an auto parts store indicated the battery was fine.

Wanted 175.00. to show up and diagnose for 1 hour, but if Diagnosis takes 5 minutes the extra time…read moredoes not go to repairs. Scammer warning! So just coming to rip me off? I don't think so. Try working for a living, scammer! Minus 5 stars.....5 piles of shit emogi

Scott was very helpful and did a good job. He returned my call very quickly. I'll be back for more…read moreservice.