As a single, female driver I experience a lot of anxiety trying to find a shop that doesn't take advantage of my limited knowledge of car maintenance. I found John and Nicks through a Reddit thread and felt comfortable and respected during my service. They were friendly and communicative. I will definitely be returning. read more

I have been bringing cars to John and Nicks for 22 years and on each occasion the guys did an excellent to exemplary job --whether annual inspections, routine maintenance, or more complex issues like engine malfunctions. They are not just courteous but kind. I've been quoted prices that when compared with dealerships are more than fair. On one occasion I thought I needed brakes on the front and back but was told that the back actually wasn't bad at all, and Paul, who runs the show, said "save your money." Honesty exudes from this well-known establishment in route to Harvard Square. We're lucky to have a reliable, honest and fair car repair shop in the neighborhood. read more

My daughter's car broke down and needless to say, she was stressed and frustrated. Living out of state, my husband was able to get in touch with Paul who drove to her car, charged the battery to get it going and led her to John and Nicks Texaco to leave her car for service. Paul then drove her back to work! Unfortunately the situation was intermittent and needed someone who specializes in Volvos, but Paul was great and helped my daughter in a very stressful situation. I'm beyond grateful for that! Don't hesitate using this service station! read more

This mechanic shop is amazing!! I went in worried about a squeaking noise coming from my car, and they helped me right away. Paul identified the issue immediately and fixed it at no cost since it was a very minor problem. They are clearly extremely knowledgeable, competent, honest, and kind. I will for sure be using them for all my car needs in the future, and I'd 100% recommend you do the same. Truly incredible experience! read more

They are the best place. I get all my work there and my inspections. They are always helpful.

Came here twice for car inspection and both times the owners seemed uninterested in the business in making me wait 15 to 20 minutes. First time there was another car in front of me, fine. Second time he said they were all having lunch. Yet he was out pumping gas when ppl needed gas. Nor very customer oriented. Will not be back. read more

John and Nick Texaco is outstanding. Smart, organized, well-managed, efficient-- They have earned my business.

Needed assistance with putting air in semi-flat tire, rold me they didnt have air at the moment. Couldn't have been less helpful if they tried. Even though it was a minor issue, it goes to show you their customer service. read more

Hate to say it, was recommended by other dealerships. Got an oil change, whatever they did the hood of the car would not open again; a racket or who knows what but it cost me $250 at the dealership to get repaired! read more

5 minute annual inspection. Super kind and helpful! Fastest service imaginable and zero wait time

We have now been customers of John and Nick for 14 years. Our parents have been customers since the 80s. Very honest, thorough, and reliable. We have referred other friends and family to them and we've never heard any complaints. They have always taken great care of of our older cars and now that we own newer cars we have also found that their prices are better than the dealership. Two generations of our family highly recommend them and soon to be three generations of drivers. read more

They are always fast and reliable! Paul always give price options on the repairs and suggests what makes sense. I dont think twice and never regret. (10 yr old WV Golf) read more

About 3 months ago, my car broke down in Central Square. I had to get the car towed, but since I had just moved back to Boston, I didn't know any good mechanics. I picked out a random mechanic on my phone, but the tower suggested a place right down the street instead- John & Nicks Texaco Service. I live almost right across the street and had never thought twice about the place. They fixed my car promptly (like, one day turn around) and charged me less than I expected. I have an Audi that is a few years old, and it is almost always expensive to get something fixed, regardless of how little it is. I was very excited. Then a few weeks ago, my car started having some trouble starting and a knob for my side mirror broke off. I took it into John & Nicks. The mechanic spent time with me explaining what he expected was wrong and why (I wasn't driving my car often enough!). They also said they would order the part for my side mirror from Audi. AMAZINGLY enough, they fixed my battery, changed an air filter, ordered and received the Audi part, and installed it in just 2 days. Also, they charged me about 1/3 of what an Audi dealer would have charged me. It was fantastic service. This place is fast, cheap and most of all, they take the time to explain things to me, which I really appreciate. They really know their stuff. They have become my go-to mechanics in the area. PS They don't take American Express, which took me by surprise the first time. read more

My car if fairly new and in great condition. Went in for a standard inspection. They failed me for items that are perfectly fine and working and don't need replacement. If you want an inspection sticker and don't want to fail DO NOT go here. They fail everyone! read more

I needed quick help with small repairs twice recently. Paul helped me both times and was really friendly and easy to deal with. While I have not had any major repairs done at John & Nicks, my experience has been terrific. read more

No one working at this service station was wearing a mask during covid ...Jan 2021. They performed services on my car that I had not asked for and charged me for them, doubling my bill. I do not recommend and will not be back. read more

Love these guys. Been in Cambridge for 8 years and they are my go to. Honest, hard working, and reliable! Wouldn't take my car anywhere else. read more

Paul and the whole team there is great. They are responsive, courteous and informative. When comparing pricing they always are reasonable and they never try to push any parts or services. Paul gives an overview with options and then lets you choose what is the best option. read more

I made the mistake of taking my car to these guys twice. Well, they kinda started the second job when the car was in the shop for the first... So - I needed a seat belt replaced and they took over two weeks to get the part. OK, so they're not a dealership, but jeez - two weeks? They also charged us for two hours of labor (totaling $150) just to install the part. I called the local dealership (that John and Nick say are double their prices) and confirmed that labor at the dealer would have been roughly half the price. The parts at the dealer would have been 15% more - making the dealer's price to fix the seatbelt just under what I paid, but in the end, I would have preferred the dealer as they would have been faster at getting the part and would have warrantied their part/service. So, it's less about the $20 I would have saved and more about the difference in time and quality of service. I also wondered if they might have taken my car for a spin while they had it for the day... seemed like a few more miles on it than when I left it. And, it's hard to justify a test drive to see if the install on a seatbelt went OK... read more

Negative stars!!! Typical bad service at a place that takes advantage of being in a high traffic area. The guy who runs the shop (younger one) took offense because I suggested that his employees (apparently his father) know their policy for diagnostic fees. Basically, a scam: I paid them $85 for nothing. He thought it was funny. He told me what was wrong, then told me to go somewhere else, and then thought it was funny when he added that "The next shop will charge you too, haha!" His father, who took my car when I dropped it off, said he didn't know how much the fees were -- $65 to $85. But that the money was not creditable to work, if they hooked up the computer. (Is it like this everywhere in MA?) He had an accent, but I understood what he was saying, and he said the same thing, when I asked him whether he knew the exact amount. So when I pointed that out, not thinking it was a big deal, just wanting clarification, the young guy said, "Never insult my father - never tell me how to run my business." Well, if your employees don't know how much you charge, WTF? When I told him that I wanted to get an idea of the people working on my car, he said, "You know, take your care somewhere else." When I came in, in person, and said that we started things off on the wrong foot, and that I'd like to start off fresh, he started acting threateningly, "JUST NEVER INSULT MY FAMILY OR MY BUSINESS." Really? Taking it personally because I suggest that your employees know your policies? I spend a lot of money on my car -- who doesn't. He lost at least a couple $1000 of business over the next few months. YOUR LOSS, LOSER His dad was nice, but I wouldn't send anyone to that place. read more

I've been taking my volvo here the last couple of years. They've done everything from oil changes to new breaks to fixing a huge mess with a broken (snapped off somehow?) e brake. You have to take this review with a grain of salt since I don't know much about cars and I suppose I could be getting totally ripped off, but I do try to ask around/google/etc. when something goes wrong so I have an idea what the repair is going to be. What they've said and fixed has always been in line with what I expected from my sleuthing. case in point: my car was making clicking/creaking noises when I turned, and at my last oil change (at a different place) they said something about a boot being torn (which of course I completely ignored and didn't get fixed at the time). It got pretty bad so I did some googling and figured that the axle would probably have to be replaced. that's exactly what they said at the shop, and the cost was right in line with what I expected. they didn't try to sell me anything else, and when I asked about new tires they said I should probably get them replaced before the winter, but it wasn't something I needed to do right away. I saw a few reviews that complained about some of the people that work here, and I have to say that everyone I've dealt with has been so friendly and patient. They take the time to explain everything that they do, offer cheaper alternatives when available (and explain the pros and cons of going with option A vs option B), and are generally just really nice guys. As a woman I am definitely used to mechanics trying to pressure me to get more work done, or prevent me from getting a second opinion, or talking to me like I'm an idiot, and I've never felt that way at John & Nick's. read more

Just an update on my last review. We recently went over there for an oil change. Our car has a LOT of miles on it, and we're always a bit worried that something else is going to go wrong with it. We asked them to look the car over and let us know if anything needs fixing b/c we are always nervous about safety. This was basically an "open door" for the mechanics to find anything that they wanted to do and charge us whatever for. The mechanics came back later and said everything looked fine and nothing needed fixing. I have to give them props b/c they could have told us anything and charged us an arm & a leg b/c we wouldn't know the difference. I felt like they were really honest. read more

Great local business. No matter how busy they seem, they always make room when I walk in for an inspection or oil change. I haven't met John, but Nick is always kind and helpful. They work quickly and my car always comes out better for having been there. read more

I used to think these guys were fair, then they took me for a bit of a ride when they put a new starter in my car. The final straw was when my car failed emissions inspection after they had given my car a tune-up 2 months earlier. I took it back to them to diagnose the problem. They suggested a brand new radiator would fix the problem. Right. I don't know if its because I'm a woman that they think they could get away with this kind of stuff, but ladies, do NOT take your car to these guys, even if its convenient and you're in the neighborhood. read more

We've been seeing Paul here for nearly 10 years and he's awesome. They always treat us with a lot of respect, explaining the repairs, and charging reasonably. To Paul's credit, he has made many recommendations to us that save us money, even though it is less labor and money him. We bring our kids in to see them and they are all super friendly. I recommend John & Nicks to everyone in Cambridge. For the record we have a Jetta and a Subaru - they seem to be good at doing all repairs at a reasonable price. read more

STAY AWAY I only made the mistake of going to these guys once for an oil change. Ever since getting my oil changed there, my car just didn't seem to run quite right. It turns out they put the wrong size oil filter on my car. I cannot believe how incompetent they are. Had I not found another honest mechanic, I might have gone back and let them continue damaging my car with each "repair." Also, notice that most of the 5-star reviews are based uniquely on the customer service. They were courteous and fast, but at what cost? Do yourself and your car a favor: avoid these guys like the plague. read more

I've been a customer of these guys for over 5 years, ever since I rolled in their shop near closing time with a flat. They gave me a temporary patch, filled up the tire for free. At closing time. Since then they've kept my 2 cars running. They have even applied simple fixes to issues with parts other mechanics were looking to completely replace. They go the extra mile for me. read more

It's convenient and I've found the mechanics to be fairly helpful, and really quick. However, it's a little inconsistent, and tends to err on the side of overpriced. My first experience there was great; they patched a tire for a really reasonable price and I was back on the road in no time. I was really excited to have found a local mechanic...then, everything started to get pricier over my next few visits, with quotes a lot higher than I pay elsewhere. Good in a pinch, though. read more

W REVIEWS PHOTOS ABOUT 1 of 4 CALL DIRECTIONS SHARE SAVED 975 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 2.4 mi Are you here now? Closes soon: 7PM Opens 7AM Tue (617) 661-1852 Suggest an edit Own this business? Claim it now Add website QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Be the first to ask a question Street View 3+ Photos Add a photo HIGHLIGHTS Highly rated SAVED IN YOUR LISTS Want to go REVIEW SUMMARY 5 4 3 2 1 4.6 34 reviews "Family owned and run, the best for personal service that you can trust." "It turns out that these guys put the wrong size oil filter on my car." "They were very upfront and fixed my xterra the first time at a good price." A Google User - Edit just now More Google reviews RATE AND REVIEW VIEW ALL CAR INSPECTION STATIONS Aris Auto 4.6 (61) Auto repair shop Broadway Gas 4.1 (129) Gas station Vinnie's Auto Sport 4.8 (18) Auto repair shop Shell 3.9 (41) Gas station View all VIEW ALL AUTO REPAIR SHOPS Car Zone Inc 4.9 (103) Auto repair shop Mings Auto Repair 4.7 (25) Auto repair shop CLM Inc 4.6 (90) Auto body shop Foreign Auto Center 4.9 (26) Mechanic View all VIEW ALL GAS STATIONS Shimon's Service Station 4.5 (85) Auto repair shop Teele Square Auto 4.5 (64) Auto repair shop Alewife Automotive 4.6 (117) Auto repair shop Sunoco Gas Station 4.0 (14) Gas station Jack's Gas 3.7 (50) Auto repair shop View all WEB RESULTS John & Nicks Texaco Service - 49 Reviews - Auto Repair - 975 ... https://www.yelp.com ' biz ' john-and-n... 49 reviews of John & Nicks Texaco Service "I' ve been using John and Nicks service station  for years. They are ... Cambridge, MA 02139. John & Nick's TEXACO Service - Cambridge, Massachusetts - ... https://www.facebook.com ' pages ' Joh... Phone, (617) 661-1852 · Address. 975  Massachusetts Ave; Cambridge, ... John &  Nick's TEXACO Service, Cambridge,  Massachusetts. 3 likes. Automotive Repair  Shop. John & Nick's Texaco Service - Cambridge, MA | Groupon https://www.groupon.com ' cambridge-ma Don't hesitate to fix your car's wear and tear  by bringing it into the body shop at John and  Nick's Texaco Service in Cambridge. 2 of 4 GOOGLE REVIEW SUMMARY 5 4 3 2 1 4.6 34 reviews "Family owned and run, the best for personal service that you can trust." "It turns out that these guys put the wrong size oil filter on my car." "They were very upfront and fixed my xterra the first time at a good price." RATE AND REVIEW ON GOOGLE GOOGLE REVIEWS Most relevant Alon Shapira 10 reviews 15 minutes ago Maybe the two most important things in a mechanic are his honesty and he has to be a professional. Paul from John & Nick's (one of the owners) is both. I came to his shop on Saturday with a noisy car after a different mechanic didn't fix my car problem. He took the car for a drive and then took me with him to make sure the noises I heard are the the same as he heard. Then, he showed me what makes the noises and what is need to be replaced. He gave me an estimate with no strings attached. I came back a few days later to get my car fixed. He updated me during the day and when I came back to take the car, Paul showed me the bad parts he replaced. A good and honest mechanic is not something you find every day. Plus the price he charged me was super fair for the parts and labor. Highly highly recommend. read more

I recently moved to MA and passed the inspection in former state a month ago. After moving to Cambirdge, I did an MA inspection at John&Nick. They failed the car, said different states had different rules and asked for $600 to fix the problem. So, I decided to fix the problem, but first I wanted to try another mechanical shop ( still Cambridge) for a better price. But, the second mechanical shop said the John&Nick lied to me and there was nothing wrong with my car!!! read more

My wife and I have relied on John and Nick's for car repairs and routine maintenance for over a decade since we moved to Cambridge. Paul, the owner, is superb. He explains the work that needs to be done clearly, and I've never felt an ounce of pressure. When my 18 year old car was nearing its natural end, they gave very reasonable/thoughtful advice about whether it was worth continuing to repair it or not. We continue to return to John and Nick's, even after we've moved further away, because they are just so reliable and straightforward. We've used them for major repairs and scheduled maintenance on both Hondas and Subarus and have only good experiences. They've also provided good and honest advice regarding a couple of complex issues which they felt might be better handled at the dealership. This in particular adds to my trust in them- as I think they have a good sense of the 98% of work that they can handle, vs. the 2% that might be better done at a dealership. Between these guys for mechanical work, and DeLeo's for body work- we feel pretty lucky to have found honest and reliable car guys in Cambridge. They are both long-standing family businesses in Cambridge, and exactly the type of local businesses which we are proud to support. read more

I cannot recommend Paul and the team at John & Nick's enough - not only did they fix my car in 24 hours, but they took the time to show me the underlying issues on the struts so I understood the root causes and saw with my own eyes what needed to be done. Absolute A+ service and excellent value. Will never take my car to the dealership to get fixed again - support local and take your vehicle to this establishment. read more

Just recently I dropped by to have my tires mounted by them. I had purchased the tires on my own since I thought I received a great deal on them. After talking to Paul, he spent time explaining to my why the tires I had purchased were ok and assured me they could find better tires for my needs. One week later, he was able to find me a much better set of all season Dunlop tires and for significantly less than the other tires I had returned. In addition to this positive experience, I have also have worked with George and Perry who are also very friendly and helpful. For those who are complaining about the gas prices here, you have to realize their focus isn't on selling gas. Just think of it as buying a beer at the Patriot's game. It's true that typically a beer at a bar would cost you $3-$6, but when you really need one while watching he Pats, buying one at the game will cost you more. In reality, the gas they offer is more of a convenience to people and not something they're trying to kill you on price. They are a low volume gas place and do not get the better discounts compared to some of the other places which can sell 1000 gallons in an afternoon. Lastly, for those people giving this place a 1 star review, don't be upset at them because they're the ones giving you bad news about your car. It's not their fault that they are the ones who told you that your engine needs to be replaced or your repairs will cost you more than expected. The estimates they give you are very reasonable and the labor costs are better than anything you would see at any other garage in the area. If you want an honest opinion and possible options on repairs you should come here. read more

Very expensive estimates. They wanted to charge $200-300 more than the job costs elsewhere (even though they claim their hourly labor to be only $65/hr). Broadway gas as well as my mechanic in NY quoted the same job for 200-300 less. Not sure about the quality of service - as I decided not to pay the extra cost. Also, if you just ask for an estimate, they'll check out the car and then charge you 45 bucks afterwards - so remember to expect that. Mechanics are friendly. read more

I had a good experience in John & Nick's in Dec 2013: needed to change catalyst part of a corolla for a MA plate, got a good quote service, got a price much better than piece from the original manufacture. By the way, it was the young guy (Pual) who provided very good service. This year I moved away from Cambridge. However, due to the good impression of 2013, I drove a long distance to this store to exchange tyres, and to ask them quote for a electricity leaking issue of ONE of the spark plug. Electricity leaks occasionally after night-long rain, not a big issue, no more than 200$ as the up limit based on research. I left my phone number and asked them to quote BEFORE really do anything. Here the nightmare started. After I dropped my car at 9am, I NEVER got a call from John & Nick's about quoting. Then I called at noon, and found they were already changing a lot of pieces. They did not estimate the price at all, and told that would let me know after everything was done. So I rushed to the store at 2pm, and it was too late. They changed a WHOLE set of things, packs and coils related to all the SIX spark plugs, charging 1000$ including 6 hr labor fee. What the hell... When I doubted why to change all SIX spark plug sets, the old guys laughed at me and said they already did things, gave me a good price, what else did I want, and I had to pay for it. Fine. I had to pay for 1500$ including the tyres. After got home, I checked the list. All price of the pieces was doubled. Most of the pieces were not necessary to repalce (all SIX spark plug sets were replaced and actually only ONE had problem). They charged 6 hours of labor but you could count how long it was between 9am to 2pm, and it seems I also paid for their lunch time... What a store! I think Pual is good, trying hard to bring credit to the store. But the other old guys just do all they could to screw up their credits. After this experience, would I trust the store any more? NO. Would I quote with or go to the store again? NO. I hope this story will be helpful if you need car service in Cambridge, just try not to get in touch with John & Nick's; if you have to, just be careful... read more

These guys are real slick talkers but they'll rob you blind. Don't trust them with your car.

I LOVE this place. Paul and Nick and the other guys are always helpful, respectful and honest. I've been taking my car to them for over 5 years and they have done a great job fixing things when necessary, recommended NOT fixing things when they felt it wasn't necessary, and always get the car back by when I need it. What other mechanic will tell you "eh, you don't really need to spend money repairing this... here's why" with a detailed explanation of the mechanics of my brakes and the internal functioning of my 1994 Geo. I can't recommend them enough. read more

I've found them to be quick and helpful with oil changes, so I went to them today to see if they could fix what happens when Hoobaru (my Subaru Forester) collides with a vehicle twice its size (GMC Yukon). John looked at the damage to Hoobaru's headlight, hood, hood ornament, grill, and front panel, noted that they could not repair it but gave me a recommendation for DeLeo's Auto Body. I appreciated their honesty and recommendation (a quick Yelping revealed an average 5-star rating). I'll be going back for normal maintenance and hoping that Hoobaru stays safe once she is fixed! read more

Okay, this place seems to get decent reviews for its repair operation, but no-one has so far deigned to mention the obscene gas prices here. No one but an idiot would buy gas here. Presently regular is $4.19.99, while the state average is $3.69.99. What's going on here? read more

Nice people. Got my MA inspection, but they took cash only. They have a $25 minimum for gas.