I just left there feeling eeky and have been treated without respect. When I tried to put in my phone number info to pump gas, it didn't work. Went inside to tell the attendant only to have an argument. He was telling me I didn't do it right, follow the instruction on the pad. Finally when he came outside to assist and same exact thing happened to him, there were no apologies. For the ladies out there, you know that feeling you get when someone will answer the boyfriend or husband next to you although YOU asked the question because you are a woman? I had the exact same feeling. Will never return. read more

I do not think they deserve ANY stars! They are slime! They DO NOT have a certified mechanic working there and they will try to swindle you out of as much money with out fixing the actual problem! Please no one go to them for ANY repairs! They do not know what they are doing and you might end up like me paying lots of money and having to go to another mechanic to fix there mistakes! PLEASE BEWARE !!! read more

I've used Negesh and his team of mechanics for various repairs since 1998. He has always fixed the problems and is priced either comparable or better that other garages in the area. I moved out of Old Town and tried a few garages closer to my new home but regretted it each time. Even though it is a little farther away I always go back Negesh any time a I need work done. read more

I paid $49.86 for a standard oil change here today (labor, standard oil, oil filter, and washer fluid top-off). This strikes me as a bit pricey given I've never paid more than $33 at other places. I usually stop here because it's so close to Trader Joe's, but I've been put off in the past by the occasional broken or leaky pump, and yes, the man who tries so hard to sell his beloved gas tank elixir. I think I'll try the station next door next time . . . read more

I think this service station recently changed ownership so this review should not be compared to earlier reviews. Overall, my experience with Alexandria Exxon North was stressful, time-consuming, and costly. I was lied to numerous times at this shop, treated disrespectfully, and was forced to do all the legwork myself to solve a problem that the shop had caused. I'm convinced that no one at the shop would have done anything to rectify my situation had I not been so persistent. I do not think this shop is interested in pleasing their customers, and are much more concerned with obtaining as much money as possible while doing as little work as possible. I absolutely do not recommend going here. See below for more details on my experience: I took my car in for a standard state inspection and oil change and was told my car would be ready by 2pm. I showed up at 3pm and was told that my car was not ready. I am a female, and rather than explain to me why the car was not ready, the owner of the shop walked outside to speak to my male boyfriend (who had nothing to do with my car) and told him that someone else had mistakenly taken my keys, but would return them within an hour. I let the owner know that I would be back in one hour to pick them up. When I came back, the keys had not been returned and the owner said he didn't know if they would be returned today or tomorrow. I went home and got my spare set (thank God I had one) to get my car. I called the next day (a Sunday) and no one there knew anything about my situation. I called on Monday and spoke to the manager, who told me that my keys would be returned that day. I followed up a few hours later and was told that no one actually had my keys and that the manager now thought they were lost. He said he would set up an appointment at the dealership, call me back, and the shop would pay for my replaced key. I never received a call back, so I called the manager and rather than set up an appointment at the dealership, the manager told me I could get my spare key copied at WalMart. I went to Home Depot and was told this was not possible since my key has a transponder chip. I called the manager back and told him this, then asked him to set up an appointment at the dealership (as originally promised). My call was never returned, so I showed up at the shop the next day and waited for the manager to arrive. He told me I could go to the dealership now. I went to the dealership, had a pleasant experience, and paid $350 for the replaced key and remote. I then immediately went back to the Exxon to be reimbursed (around 11am). When I gave them the receipt I was told there was "not enough cash in the register" and the "owner has all the checks and he's out of town." I said I would return at 5pm expecting to be reimbursed, which the manager agreed to. When I returned at 5pm, I was told the same thing again--not enough cash in the register--which I found frustrating seeing as the manager knew I was coming back at 5pm and had said he would reimburse me at that time. He said he would have the cash at 7pm. I said that if he was unable to reimburse me by 7pm I would take him to small claims court. I returned at 7pm and was given $50 less than the amount paid for the key. This was due to a $50 discount off my bill that I was first given when I was told someone else took my key. Since it evened out I decided to wash my hands of this shop and not fight it anymore. Overall, this caused 5 days of frustration, 12+ phone calls, 4 trips to the Exxon, a trip to Home Depot and the car dealership, and a half day's work. Again, I was lied to numerous times, was subjected to the manager's laziness, and was not reimbursed the amount that I was promised. Do not go here. read more

FRAUD ALERT. Safety inspection $16. Was told I needed 2 light bulbs ($20 each to install) and my headlights needed to be realigned ($25 per headlight). Went to auto parts store. installed 2 bulbs for $6. Took car to another inspection station and they said my headlights were fine. Passed inspection. This is a classic bait and switch (how to turn a $16 inspection into a $90 sale) and the headlight realignment was completely fraudulent. Avoid this place at all costs. Total scam artists. I've reported them to the state as well. read more

Went there today for an oil change because it is close to my house. $53 the most expensive oil change I have ever paid for. Won't go back.

I went to get my car inspected and knew that a headlight that recently started getting condensation might be an issue. Top that with road salt and my headlights were not bright enough to pass. The guy comes in and says "I can just clean them off a little and see if it passes", which I agree to thinking he's going to use a wet rag or something just to get the salt off. To be clear, the surface of my lights were NOT damaged or scuffed in anyway, so it didn't even occur to me that he might polish the headlights. 45 minutes of waiting later, during which I assumed things got busy or something, he comes back in and I'm told it will cost me an extra $45. I told him I would have refused the service if I had known and it was his responsibility to let me know, his response was "I forgot". Despite my protests they only gave me the "discounted" price of $30 for a service I did not need or agree to. I would have washed my car and fixed my own headlight if he had failed me. The whole operation there is shady and of poor quality, but I've been getting gas and inspections there for years without much issue. I won't be going back. read more

CAUTION: Do NOT use this Exxon, especially if you intend to pay with a Groupon / Living Social / some other sort of deal-of-the-day voucher--THEY WILL FIND A WAY TO CHARGE YOU EXTRA fees in order to recoup whatever money they "lost" through the deal. My wife and I took both our vehicles there for oil changes and waited in the store while the work was being done. Upon check-out, they informed us that 1) the deal was only good for 5 quarts of oil so they decided to drain out one of the quarts they had put in my truck (which normally holds 6 quarts)...you have to wonder why they wouldn't just leave it in there since they had already put it in but also, what do they intend to do with that now-not-so-new oil? Re-put it into someone else's car?! And 2) they told us that my wife's car required a "special" filter and charged us almost $25 for it. We had been sitting in the store the whole time--they didn't bother to ask us BEFOREHAND (aka give us the option to say no or go get our own filter for less money somewhere else) nor were they willing to subtract the price of a "normal" filter from the total (I asked them to do that because the filter was SUPPOSED to be included in the Groupon deal). Nope, nothin'. Little did I realize until after getting home and looking online that my wife's "special" filter--even from the manufacturer direct--costs only $10.34, LESS THAN HALF what I was charged. Bottom line: This place WILL find a way to RIP YOU OFF (I have no doubt this is not an isolated incident), and if you don't know any better, they'll get away with it. I voiced my disappointment before I left the store but all I got was "sorry 'bout that, man". How about instead of apologizing, you crooks refund me instead?!! read more

The owner was initially very kind and helpful and did small jobs--new battery, safety inspection, cleaning of headlight covers, checking of hoses and belts--effectively and very cheaply. I got suckered in. When I brought the car in for a scheduled light maintenance instead of going across town to Alexandria Toyota, I was called on the phone soon after and told that I needed several other procedures done and that the total cost would be $708. Since the car is 6 years old, I went for new radiator hoses and a new fan-belt (in addition to the oil change and tire rotation I had contracted for). Total price: $499.22. The kind and helpful "owner" seemed suddenly to be at the mercy of a new person who may have bought him out, but the entire atmosphere and attitude was different. DO NOT GET INVOVLED WITH THESE PEOPLE! read more

If you need to get your car serviced in the old town area, I would say this is the worst of the three options in the close vicinity. Overpriced and no reason for it as far as quality. Go visit Deen at the Liberty next door or Ali down the street at Old Town Auto Care. The guy here is shady and like others said is always trying to sell fuel additive to customers. I randomly stopped one day to just get gas because the Shell closed and I felt like I just walked into a big screen tv showroom the way he was trying to sell me additive for like 20 bucks when Techron, etc. is only $5 at the auto parts store. Like I said try Deen or Ali, both HONEST mechanics and do good work. read more

This review is ONLY for the mechanical services of Simpy. I agree with the issues related to the gas additive sales pitch having experienced it myself. However, Simpy has singlehandedly helped me keep my 14 year old car working and "alive" under difficult circumstances at very very reasonable prices, I think. I trust her judgement and I trust her to tell me when things are too difficult to fix -- how do I know? Because I ask other people, who agree that her advice is sage. Plus, a female mechanic? So awesome. So, two thumbs up to Simpy. If you have an old car and need support keeping it up and running, it's absolutely worth the trip to Old Town. read more

We are a large family with several cars, always needing something done with one of them. Having been to many, many area repair shops, we are quite familiar with auto service, costs, customer service, etc. Our recent experiences with 3 of our different cars at Alexandria Exxon North, coordinated by the energetic and customer-focused Butch, were absolutely top rate. We were told the work that absolutely needed to be done, for less cost, in a timely manner, and with great care and service. It was so good, I just dropped another car off their today . . . . Thanks Alexandria Exxon North, we will be back. read more

Still searching for that great neighborhood mechanic who's affordable, skillful, honest. hard working, and helpful? Go see Butch Robinson at this Exxon station in Old Towne North at Wyeth and Washington Street. I have a '97 S320 Benz that was ALWAYS taken to the dealer. I just got tired of the expense, and waiting for them to get to it. I'm still waiting after 2 months for a simple to come in--passenger side mirror. The car has 187K miles on it, and still has another 100K easy left in it, but I am finding it more and more expensive to keep on the road as the car ages and goes from "maintenance" to repairs as accessories wear out. My AC finally needed overhauling. Just the compressor from the dealer was $1000, plus 1000 for labor, plus other parts-- dryer and expansion valve-- about $2500 from the dealer. If that's not bad news enough they first fill the gas with dye, and ask you to come back when the air starts warm. I decided to try a different approach this time, and give my neighborhood guys, led by Butch Robinson a shot at the AC. First I asked Butch if I could source the parts and save myself money that way. No problem. ( I saved $800 and change that way) Next I asked him to give me a written estimate for just the labor. Again no problem. (Savings of 50%). Here's the knockout punch-- they did it in a day, and changed my oil too. Here's a bonus-- when Butch called to say my car was ready, he also diplomatically told me I wasn't changing my oil at proper intervals, and offered this suggestion. Drive the car for 6 weeks, then change the oil again, but put in the least expensive synthetic oil, instead of the Mobil 1. Drive another 6 weeks then change it again with the inexpensive synthetic. Finally, another 6 weeks then Mobil 1, and that will get the sludg build up flushed from engine. Could you ask for more??? Need a great mechanic to keep your ride going it's best for the least? Call Butch at 703-549-0854. Tell him Mercedes Mike sent you! read more

I recently brought my car by for a safety inspection and they rejected it for, among other things, a cosmetic issue on the outside of one of my rims. I challenged them on it but they wouldn't budge. I then took my car to a mechanic near my office in DC to get a legitimate item they cited fixed and he told me that the rim issue was a "bull**it" ploy to get work. Rather than go back to this Exxon, I went to another shop in town and paid another $16 for a new inspection. The mechanic called the rim issue "ridiculous" and passed me. Be wary. read more

The customer service here was great in my opinion. I went in for a safety inspection, which was done quite quickly. They fixed some other things that weren't critical to the inspection, but I knew needed to be done. I don't know if the price parts were expensive, but I do know it was less than the dealership wanted to charge, plus they were much nicer so that's fine with me. I'll definitely be going back. read more

I took my car into the service station to have the state inspection done. It didn't pass due to the headlights being cloudy, a few indicator lights being out, and a misaligned bulb in my headlight. They offered their services to fix all of the issues. $120 for the cloudy headlights, which had to be done professionally as a home repair kit did not do it any good. They wanted $22.50 for each light replacement and when I turned them down they graciously accepted and understood wanting to cut costs. I can easily replace them myself at an auto parts store. They treated the cloudy headlights and even had to use two kits' worth of sandpaper on each without charging me extra. They have to do another round after a few days and no extra charge for that either. Butch in the shop was very courteous and helpful. They tried to sell me their services, but they're a business, it's what they're supposed to do. I didn't feel forced into anything and it was a pleasant business experience. I don't see how it is a conflict of interest to have a service station do state inspections, they don't force you to buy anything, they just let you know what's wrong, and if you want a second opinion you can get one. There's nothing compulsory about the repairs they suggest. The only thing compulsory is the State mandating your car be up to a specific standard, one which is costly to achieve. read more