Oakmont Service Center - A Referral That Fell Short…read moreReferrals are the backbone of any reputable business, especially in the world of classic cars. I own a 1949 Chevy, and like many classic car owners, I rely heavily on trusted recommendations. Skilled mechanics who truly understand vintage vehicles are rare in our area, especially since the retirement of one of the most respected classic specialists Eugene has ever had. Oakmont Service Center came recommended by a respected transmission expert, and my first interaction with Jerremy, the manager, was positive. My initial visit--radiator exchange, exhaust leak repair, and a minor carburetor adjustment--went smoothly, and meeting the two mechanics who handle classics gave me confidence in the referral. That confidence didn't last. A Breakdown and a Missed Diagnosis During a casual weekend drive, my Chevy wouldn't start after a coffee stop. After checking the usual suspects with no luck, I called Jerremy. The car was towed in, and it took two days before Eric looked at it. Because I'd had a starter issue in the past, he removed and reinstalled the starter without performing a full diagnostic. A professional approach would have been to verify the actual cause rather than rely on history. The real issue was the distributor. I chose to upgrade to an electronic module and coil. Eric removed the distributor and sent it to a shop in Cottage Grove for the upgrade. When it returned, I made it clear--in front of Eric, Jerremy, and Mike (the owner)--that if there were any questions, they should call the builder directly. No call was ever made. Critical Steps Missed The builder later informed me that Oakmont suggested they "needed to get into the engine," which was unnecessary and incorrect. The distributor had been installed improperly, and a firewall-mounted module was still running six volts--something any experienced classic mechanic would have caught immediately. The car would never have started without correcting that. To suggest engine work without completing basic diagnostic steps was a bad call. Lack of Accountability When I stopped by to speak with Mike about the missed steps, he was "too busy" to talk. Jerremy took my number, but no one followed up. When I reached out again, I was offered a $100 refund--an acknowledgment that mistakes were made, but not a meaningful resolution. I was also disappointed to walk in and see Eric working on my classic without a fender mat. That alone speaks volumes about attention to detail and respect for the vehicle. A Referral That Didn't Hold Up This referral fell short. As another reviewer, Von Sellz, pointed out--we don't all have dash cams to monitor what happens behind the shop doors. Some shops, like Joe's Garage, take thorough check-in photos and run a professional, accountable operation. They've been doing it right since 1952. Oakmont Service Center had an opportunity to live up to their reputation and the trust placed in them through referrals. Instead, they missed critical steps, failed to communicate, and didn't take ownership of their mistakes.

Been coming here for years! Mike's shop is vetted with honest and competent professionals. Always a…read morefair price for services! Clear communication and relevant recommendations to keep vehicles in tip top shape! I definitely recommend them and will keep coming back.

I called about a headlight replacement and they let me drive-in within 10 minutes and replaced it…read moreso quickly! The price was amazing and the staff was kind. I'm definitely coming back.

DO NOT I repeat DO NOT go to Joe's garage. Worst experience of my life. I was supposed to get a…read morepart replaced and they replaced the wrong part and did not plug in the correct part into my engine (alternator DUH!! Wtf) blew up my battery and destroyed it. Tried to get ME to replace it. They will not HELP YOU. They will treat you super poorly. Kathy is not someone you should interact with. She snapped many MANY times, rolled her eyes, belittled, in general unkind and unhelpful. Sincerely could not think of a worse outcome. FYI I replaced my battery and alternator back in 2024!!

Landon the owner, Talk me out of spending more money than I needed to.Gave me a great deal.I was…read morereal happy with his service, Highly recommend him.

He price gouged then suddenly wanted to charge for $50 more for labor and whatever he wanted for…read moremiles and when I shared my truthful opinion he talked crap so here it is the entire conversation. Make up your own mind. Thank you.

wonderful experience! they were honest and quick! and kept in touch! They deserve 10 stars! I took…read moremy vehicle bmw to euro Asia first which I was quoted 6,300 for valve cover etc they said I needed a oil change in which was done the day before and that I needed brakes at 15% which was done the year before! i Think they thought they could take advantage of me! Then I bring it to absolute automotive! They replaced my valve cover and even replaced my tail light for 1/3 the price! They said I had 75% life left in my brakes! This will be the only place I will go from now on! Thank you!

I was a customer of Absolute Automotive for many years, which is why writing this review is a bit…read moredifficult. My previous experiences with this shop had been satisfactory including reasonable prices, which is why I returned for service this last time. I had my Mitsubishi Montero Sport, with approximately 95,000 miles, towed to the shop after it had been in storage for several months. Before storage, I had driven it and I had not experienced any misfires. My vehicle was towed because an oil leak had contaminated the alternator, preventing it from keeping the battery charged. I wanted the leaks repaired, the alternator replaced, and my SUV inspected before I began driving it again, so it would be dependable. The shop performed repairs including oil leak repairs, a tune-up, an oil change, a new alternator, a new air filter, and a new 5-year battery. My bill was just under $2,000. When I picked up my SUV, I was told it had developed a misfire likely related to Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer I used during storage. I was instructed to drive my vehicle and run several tanks of premium fuel through it, and I was told the issue should resolve itself. During that time I experienced surging and reduced engine power. I followed those instructions, but the issue continued. I returned to the shop, where the code was cleared, but the problem persisted. I was again advised to continue driving my SUV and to continue using premium fuel. At that time, I was not advised that additional diagnosis was needed to determine the cause of the misfire. After several months, while driving on the freeway, the engine suddenly shut off and I had to coast to the shoulder. Approximately an hour later, I was told my vehicle had suffered catastrophic engine failure and was not repairable. I was also directed to a local wrecking yard (B & R Auto Wrecking) that might offer around $200 for my SUV. Even though it no longer works, I decided to keep my vehicle. I reported the drivability issues multiple times and followed the advice I was given by the same person at Absolute Automotive. Despite this, my vehicle ultimately suffered catastrophic engine failure. Also during this time, that same employee sent me unsolicited and very explicit photos of himself by text message (receipt). He later apologized via text. I responded that his behavior was not okay and that I did not want to discuss it further. I do not believe the owner(s) of the shop would condone this behavior. I have been unable to speak with an owner because the same employee who sent the nude photos answers the phone whenever I call. I also submitted a written request by email for copies of my last three repair invoices several weeks ago so I could better understand the work that had been performed on my vehicle. I have not received a response. As a long-time loyal customer, I did not expect this type of experience. As a woman in her 60's I no longer have a working vehicle because it would cost thousands of dollars to rebuild the engine, so now I have to walk everywhere. To say the least, losing reliable transportation has had a significant impact on my daily life.

I have had three BMWs and now a S series Mercedes serviced here for twenty years. This is the best…read moreplace in Oregon to take your car for prompt and friendly service. You simply cannot find a better option. I love this place Herb Evans

So they have a good reputation with the folks they do standard maintenance and repair work for, so…read moreI won't go below 3 stars, but I've tried two times to do business with them and the result is that they are simply not an option. 1. They "do not work on cars older than 2005". This is frankly stupid. It's completely arbitrary as the technology on say, a 2003 cayenne turbo is the same as a 2006 cayenne turbo. This is the case for nearly every generation of German car from that era. Also, many German car enthusiasts have a mix of older and newer cars. Guess you don't need the business! 2. They do "not do modifications". So, a blanket statement indicating no ability to think outside the box or leverage widely known and adopted techniques outside of the service manual. Again, dumb. I realize these are their choices and that's fine, but I also know that a ton of enthusiasts like myself won't want to waste their time on a shop that simply wants to make money on people who really aren't THAT into their cars.

I called to ask for pricing based on a diagnostic scan. They asked for the code and when I didn't…read morehave it, called me f**king useless. Avoid at all costs.

I'm new to town and went with my gut by what the Yelp reviews said about Bob James Auto Repair -…read moreand glad I did. When I arrived, I was promptly greeted. I was only there for an oil change and was happy to see their prices were very fair. I also felt they weren't trying to jip me or try to up-sell me with anything I didn't need. I also really appreciated the location because I could take a nice walk in the Rose Garden park next door while I waited. You can tell Bob takes pride into this business.

If you want peace of mind, Jerome is your guy. He is knowledgeable, kind, honest and fair. He is…read morevery clear with repairs and prices. I recommend Jerome over anyone else around.

Jerome is honest, fair, and knowledgeable. Doesn't skimp on quality but also helps to triage…read morerepairs to what you can afford!