Honest, ethical and they do an excellent job at a reasonable cost. All the Volkswagens I've driven have come here if they need service.

Due diligence Bob is the God of the air cooled vw's. He is a REAL honest guy Too bad he's getting on in years. I would love to be his apprentice. You will never 'bug out' with his attention to detail He, like no one else, never blows hot air, much like my old Sunbug! read more

Great, honest service. When a few months back due to a engine light being on Audi and Mike ran the codes and told me to go to Audi because it would be under warranty to get it fixed for free... He could've told me a price and didn't pay him to do it, but he was very honest... came back this past weekend for a oil change and was in and out in 30mins. read more

I highly recommend Hackel's garage in Albany for any VW or Audi service. They are the only shop dedicated to VW/Audi in the NY Capital District. I brought my very high mileage GTI in to have the rear main seal replaced in hopes of fixing a lean running and multiple misfire condition. Bobby Hackel worked on my car and did an excellent job. It's a very labor intensive procedure that requires transmission removal that many garages won't even do it. Bobby communicated progress to me over the few days that it took and even texted me a picture of the bad seal. He returned to me a perfectly running car for a very reasonable price. I especially appreciate that Bobby was recovering from a pretty bad illness while working on my vehicle. I can't recommend this shop enough. They have been open and family run for over 50 years and eat, sleep and breath VW! read more

Hackel's VW Audi is a Trustworthy shop Ive been using this mechanic shop for over 8 years. They very knowledgeable, trustworthy, fair, and clear. They have experience in many makes. Highly recommend without reservation. They Replace my whole front suspension and Starter and Alternator and one of the parts that I purchase was missing something he even took care of it I really appreciate the EXCELLENT CUSTOMER service recommending them to anyone looking for a solid and honest VW AUDI mechanic. Salute to all the Guys that work there. read more

I brought my VW in for a slew of services thinking I was in good hands. I was definitely overcharged and I had to come back once I realized my BRAKES weren't working the way they were supposed to. They took it back and asked who did this shoddy work and why I was stuck me with a bad part. I said it was YOU who did the work! That's what I get for bringing my car in the week before thanksgiving. A rushed job that could've been potentially deadly. I brought it back and they replaced the part and redid the work at no charge but I don't think I'll be back. read more

READ FIRST BEFORE GOING TO THIS BUSINESS I have a 2012 vw SportWagen,Spent at least a $1000 at this place on tires and also front end issues on my car to find out after all that the dumby didn't balance my tires when after I bought the tires all brand new ones he should've done that but didn't and also didn't tell us until today very shadey also they do guess work and not test work I know this because when I told them that I was still having shaking in my car after I took it to him for the 3rd time he tells me "oh well it's gotta be the other side" referring to a axle part,I paid for the other side to be done and he THOUGHT it would be the other side without looking at the right side of my cars front end stay away from this business unless u like to pay idiots to screw around and not do what needs to be done to your car!!!! read more

My drip pan was in rough shape, to put it nicely. I initially called monro to get a quote but when the repair came back almost $1000, I called up Hackel's and the gentleman on the phone laughed at me for getting a quote from monro and said less than half what I was about to pay. The speed of repair and the cost was right, and the guys there will definitely be getting my business in the future! read more

I really want to give this place a 5 but after some hiccups and having to come back several times, it drops to a 3. I drive an Audi and I've heard horror stories about Audi dealerships around here, and just Audi maintenance in general, so when I read Michele's review, I was relieved. I had to replace a new clutch, rear brakes, and oil change. Initial quote was 1600 for the clutch, rear brakes was I think 350. So I told him, if he could get all the work done under $2000, I'd like all of them done. He charged me just under 2000. Since I have an AWD, he said that he had to go through a lot of things to replace the clutch and said that he would definitely charge more for next time. I felt Bobby was true to his word and did a great job... until the MIL light came on. He wasn't able to finish the car when he said at noon (instead got it back by 3:30pm), but that's to be expected, especially with the big undertaking I asked him to do. When I returned to get the MIL light checked, it had something to do with the secondary pressure pump, and all he did was plug back in a loose fitting. He reset the system, and after another few miles, the MIL light came back on. This time, it had something to do with the O2 sensor. Apparently, the O2 sensor is dead. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and At this point, with most other mechanics, I'd be fed up. But because Bobby and the other guys are generally really nice guys (no pressuring for you to get stuff done and really enthusiastic guys and you can definitely tell that they love doing what they do), I'm really okay with it. But to be objective, they need to be more careful when disassembling things so that wire plugs don't get unplugged and cause these silly errors. Bobby also tends to forget about me and what I need to get done until he looks in his books. That just might be me, but you need to remind him a couple times. I guess I have a forgetful face, although, you don't meet many Asians with facial hair... Oh, and he forgets to call you when the job is done, so do what I do and call him an hour before the expected finish time and see how things are going. 90 percent of the time, Bobby tells me it's done. If you're getting something easy to fix, this place will not give you any trouble at all. Of the many mechanics I've been to, I believe that Hackel's is as good as it gets, especially for Audi standards. read more

Dropped off my VW Golf at 90+k for a maintenance checkup; it hadn't been looked at for at least 30k. I was told: the car's in great shape, nothing is needed; come back at 120k; no charge. Yes, you read that correctly: no charge. Thank you, Hackel's! read more

This is an absolute great shop for your Volkswagen or Audi they do fantastic work!! Very quick and reliable!!

Absolutely the best! Fair, unbelievably knowledgable and HONEST!!! Mike and Bobby have been working with cars their whole lives, they know VWs and Audis inside and out. These guys have kept my 12 year old Beetle (167k miles) running for me without charging the outrageous prices some places- especially dealerships- charge. There's nothing cheap or easy about about owning a foreign car. Hackel's make it a lot less painful read more

I recommend Hackel's Foreign Car Services on Central Avenue for anybody with a Volkswagen or an Audi. It took the guy ten minutes to diagnose a persistent minor issue with my Jetta... and he did it at NO charge. Also, I guess I need a fan module for my car, and he ordered the part and he is going to do it for me this coming weekend for a measly $75. They really know their stuff and they get the job done at a really fair price and quickly as well!! :) read more

I had an OLD diesel jetta that I loved. It was leaking lots oil and my normal mechanic said that it was probably dead. I limped that jetta here to Hackels and they were able to fix it for cheap. Got another 20k miles out of it before someone hit it and totaled it. I will not hesitate to take my next VW here. read more

Been a customer for 20+ years and wouldn't go anywhere else! Mike is an excellent mechanic (knows what he's doing or finds out what needs to be done, does it or lets me know where to get it done) and honest! Bob and Bobby are terrific people - honest and accountable, and know cars. I trust them implicitly and highly recommend! Also helps that they're on the bus line, so when I drop off my car, I can still get to work. read more

Dropped off my 2010 VW CC, Hackel's diagnosed it and suggested to take it to a dealer because the problem was still under extended warranty. Hackel's didn't charge for diagnosis and saved me $1000 for failing intake manifold. Very honest, and prompt. I'll definitely go there again for my next maintenance and repair. read more

They are a good natured group who do sloppy work. In other word's, they'll do the job but you might have to return a few times until it's right. Spoken from lots of experience with them. read more

My wife has a VW. I took my 05 Elantra there today because the check engine light was on. They called one of their Hyundai friends who said it was likely a gas cap problem. They didn't have a cap that fit, so they sent me on my way with the instruction to get a cap from any store, and handed my credit card back to me with no charge whatsoever. Class act. Could not recommend them any more if it were even possible to do so. read more

I purchased a VW Beetle from Mike & Bob at a reasonable price. They are very knowledgeable about these cars and are by far, the most friendliest, honest men I've ever had the privilege of doing business with. I recommend them to all my family and friends. Thanks Mike & Bob!! read more

The best service I've ever received at a shop. They are amazing. I stopped by to get a quote for a broken taillight in my Toyota RAV4 and was immediately helped with a smile. The repair took 20 minutes. They are knowledgable, helpful and do not overcharge like every other place I've ever been to. I'd come back in a heartbeat. Highly recommended business! read more

MY engine light for my 2005 VW Beetle went on...That was a Friday...picked it up Monday..engine light back on...after about 200$ sensor, whatever...brought it back....picked it up Wednesday...driving on 787...myself...now engine light goes on and temp light...towed back by towing heroes.....nothing funny here....but they were chuckling and laughing....now I'm getting upset...even my husband said, what's so funny? Now I pay for a water pump and something else 500$ drive off Friday....engine light back on....I bring it back Saturday morning...well, there's another week end without a car...no, renting cars....which has cost me MORE $....300 total car rental.....pick it up TODAY....now you all know what happened right? BEfore it did I said to my husband..."I will never call them or go there again." I am done. WEll, the smartest thing I did today was drive directly to Lia Honda and buy a car....I don't give a damn what they do with it....I can't drive it.....I'm done with them and done with VW....They took advantage of me...no, I did not want my husband handling it. He would have flown across the counter....they ripped me off and they left me in an unsafe position...supposing that had happened on 787 at NIGHT...it could have...and it would not have been amusing to me. I'll recoup the money....but I will NEVER forget this experience....if you need service, go to NEMER and save money and Time....if I had I would be still driving what once was....my favorite car! read more

We took our 1992 VW cabriolet in to have the ignition switch replaced, and to repair the engine temp. gauge. I had bought an instrument cluster from a salvage company to use for parts if needed. The ignition switch got replaced OK, BUT, after 2 weeks, I was told the parts were no good in the salvaged cluster, and they didn't find a way to adapt any other gauge. They didn't charge me a lot, but when I took the car home, I noticed that one of the dash light bulbs was laying in the tray at the shifter. I took the cluster out, and found that they hadn't put all the screws back in, the stereo wires were tangled in the heater control, and they had broken the tabs on the panel lamp. At this point,, I tested the gauge in the salvaged cluster, and found it was fine. I swapped it into the car, and took the bulbs needed from the spare and put into the car, also. Everything works fine, now. IF THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THE JOB, WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST SAY SO, INSTEAD OF KEEPING THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS? I am fortunate to be a mechanic, and had asked them to do the work, so I could concentrate on other work. I was served poorly, and might not have known the difference if I wasn't a mechanic. CAVIAT EMPTOR! read more

I have a 2004 Jetta TDI, I've been pErforming most of the work on the car. My daughter has been using the car while in Albany going to college. One weekend when she came home I replaced the read brakes, rotors, and calipers. After she returned she had an issue with the car, she has AAA tow the car to Heckel's. Then found that the bolts in the right rear had become loose causing the wheel to bind up. They replace the bolts and pushed the caliper piston back in. Resolved in no time. I'ts good to know my daughter can get honest, reliable work done. Thanks Heckel's read more