Alan was so great and my son lives across the street and is our go to guy. Plus his wife is from my hometown Fremont so we shared a lot in common. Great prices and never try's to rip you off read more

Alan is a pro. I've been going to Motor City for 10 years and I'm very grateful to have found an expert mechanic who never talks down to me. He explains things patiently, never pushes unneeded work, and his prices are extremely fair. Honestly, I think he undercharges. He's a one man operation who's been in Berkeley for decades. Business' like his are few and far between nowadays. Thank you Alan for just being such a great guy and providing such an important community service. read more

Alan is the best car mechanic I've ever had. Motor City *is* a one-man shop, so it's not the fastest turnaround time, but Alan is happy to talk to you at great length about the work being done on your car. He is happy to try to recondition and reuse parts, which benefits the environment, and financially he will save you as much money as he can, even though he's the boss! read more

Allen is a very kind and reasonable guy. I plan to keep bring my car here as long as I am in the area.

I've been going to Alan at Motor City Automotive since 1989! I believe I've already done a review years ago but I don't mind repeating that he is the most loyal, honest, reliable, trustworthy, and friendly mechanic I've ever found anywhere. He doesn't have an answering machine anymore so just call between nine and five Monday through Friday and he'll answer when possible. I've never found anyone so helpful and he's devoted to educating his customers and advising people read more

Alan, owner and mechanic at Motor City is an expert and trustworthy mechanic, truly interested in you and your car. He loves his work and will share with you as much or as little as you want to know about the work needed on your vehicle -- or what is not needed now, but might be in the future. I trust him completely. He works mostly alone, so let him know when you need your car back and he will plan for it. I have never been disappointed in any way. read more

Let me preface this by saying that Alan seems like a nice man and I've been here a few times with okay experiences. However: I had my car battery replaced by Alan about 10 months ago. ~2 months later I was having problems again with the battery, so I took it back to Alan, who told me that the battery was a dud, that this hardly ever happens and that he would replace it with a new one, which he did in a timely manner. However, he charged me a $60 labor fee to do so. At the time I didn't complain about it, but looking back on it I'm a bit upset because it should not be my fault that the battery was a dud, and it was an inconvenience for me to bring it back after only 2 months, so why should I have to pay a 2nd labor fee (on top of the $200-some that I already paid the first time for the battery)? During that same visit, Alan recommended that I get a new alternator, which would have been another couple hundred dollars to replace. I opted not to do so. This was 8 months ago, I have not had a problem with the alternator since, AND I have been to 1 other repair shop who did not seem to think there was a problem. Maybe I've just been lucky, but looking back on it, it seems like he was just trying to squeeze more money out of me. Anyway, from other reviews it seems as though everyone has a great experience here -- so hopefully I was just the 1/1M that didn't. read more

Alan is da bomb! Pure and simple. being a super smart guy, and a smart-ass, I 've been told to go elsewhere by more than one mechanic. I don't suffer fools gladly, so I say that my 25 yrs of car repair have been dominated by less than honest and knowledgeable mechanics. Quite simply, most of them don't understand the physics involved in boiling an egg. This renders them useless to understand complex causality factors that may converge to produce a very difficult to diagnose and resolve automotive issue. Enter Alan. Alan has kept my difficult to work on 1987 Ford van running in tip top shape and taught me more about cars then I need to know, and then some. He is more knowledgeable and experienced in repair, service and best use practices for cars then anyone I have ever met in my life. He knows something about every car you can possibly imagine. His only shortcoming is that he is a one man shop so he often runs off his own stated deliverables for when a job is ready. However, the extra patience has been worth it for me for 4.25 yrs. THANKS ALAN! read more

Alan is great! He has worked on my car twice now, and I have been happy both times. I first brought my car in after I bought it, because I heard a rattling noise coming from the engine. The first mechanic I brought it to tried to make me pay for a lot of things I didn't actually need, was rude, and actually misdiagnosed the problem. But Alan thoroughly explained the problem to me (I needed a new water pump), and didn't try to get me to pay for anything else, which didn't actually need to be fixed anyway. He replaced my water pump quickly, did a good job and didn't charge an outrageous amount. I recently brought in my car again to fix my turn signal. It turned out to be a wiring problem, which he fixed, as well as mounting the lens, which had fallen out. He did this very quickly (just a couple of hours) and again, very reasonably priced. Alan is a super nice guy, does great work, and won't try to make you pay for anything you don't need. I'd definitely recommend taking your car here for any kind of work that you need. read more

Alan is a wonderful mechanic and person. I have an older car with extremely odd problems, and Alan researched some of the problems for me and found some very creative solutions. He has saved me a great deal of money over the years. For example, I was having trouble getting my key out out of the ignition. He asked if I had an unused key, and I did. He told me to only use that key, make copies of it, and throw the other keys away. Otherwise, I would have needed a new ignition. Alan often says that my car is one in a million, and it is. So I need someone who can think outside the box-- and Alan does that for me. I agree with the other customers who left 5-star reviews. I was fortunate that a friend recommended this business to me, and I have been a very satisfied customer since then. Coincidentally, another friend turned to be a long-time customer and also was very impressed by Alan's creative solutions for her old car. I have used Motor City since 2000! read more

I just moved to the area and was nervous to go to a new mechanic but my belt had been SQUEAKY and I needed to get my car checked out. I braced myself to pay more than I cold afford to replace my belt. But nooo! Alan (owner) explained I didn't need a new belt. Actually he explained a lot more than that -- way more than I could understand about my car but his point was: for now nothing needed to be fixed. I have never had a mechanic save me money -- ever! Also, I think it is charming he wears a navy blue mechanic's uniform with an "Alan" name patch sewed on the front. I mean he owns the place, it is not like anyone is requiring to wear a uniform. read more

My brake sensors were squealing and I commute from southeast Oakland to San Francisco for work, so I was getting nervous about finding a good mechanic as I don't have one yet. So I asked a good buddy who is pennywise and well, just wise and she referred me to Motor City. Then I saw all the excellent reviews, which is rare particularly foe mechanics and restaurants, and called to book an appointment. Just as others have said, I too found Alan to be knowledgeable and honest... clearly a hard working guy too. He explained what needed to be sone and why, and what I need done soon, and what I really don't need to do yet even though I asked him to. (he explained why mazda 3's don't need 30k service so my worries about being at 36k were put to rest). i will definitely be back! read more

Motor City is one of the few places you can find a trustworthy honest mechanic. I have been servicing my car here since 2004 and Alan has never let me down. Good honest mechanics are hard to come by and I would recommend Motor City to anybody in need of auto work. I drive a 1999 with 250,000 miles and it runs like a champ. Thank you Alan for holding it down! read more

Big shocker - local mechanic saves me over a thousand dollars versus what my dealership would charge to fix a sunroof leak and a brake issue I had. Alan (the owner) also explains to me in extreme detail just exactly what is happening with my car, so that I can make an informed decision. For things that are easy for me to do myself, he spends a half hour talking and showing me and researching with me how to fix it... then gives me the extremely inexpensive resources for free instead of marking them up and tacking it on to my bill. Suffice to say, I'll be going back for check ups and whenever I have a problem. Alan is my first mechanic on my first car, and if I have my way I'll never go to a dealership again. read more

Super conscientious mechanic who really tries to tailor his service to fit your needs. I was very impressed with Alan's attention to detail, expertise, and generosity with his knowledge and advice. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in need of car repair. read more

I never even realized this place was here, even though I lived right up the street from it for a whole year. My rear tire had a screw in it, and since I am totally automotive-stupid, I was looking for someone to tell me if it was reparable. Alan was totally cool, it took just a couple minutes to get my car up on the rack, and it turned out that the tire was beyond repair. He checked out my other tires, put on the spare for me, and gave me recommendations on where to get a new tire at a reasonable price. He was extremely knowledgable and friendly, and answered all my dumb questions without batting an eye. Thanks Alan! read more

Took my truck in for electrical issues that I couldn't figure out. Alan saved the day. He was thorough and methodical in his search for the problem. As I didn't need the truck he was able to keep it for a little over a week to make sure everything was resolved. He is very popular and in demand but it is worth having him work on your car. A little patience goes a long way. I highly recommend him. read more

My dad and I usually take care of repairs and maintenance when it comes to our vehicles, but when we don't know what to do or the job is out of our expertise, Alan is the man. He has never done us wrong and has always been very fair with his prices. He has even breathed a few more days into my transmission which i thought was a goner. Got the car home where i can do the repairs. If that proves to be more than I can handle you best believe I will go to Alan right away. Both my parents and myself have taken our cars there, you would be wise to do the same. read more

I had called to make an appointment to drop off my car at 9am the next day, when his shop opens first thing in the morning. However, when I get to the shop that morning, no one was there. I waited for nearly 20 minutes past 9 until he finally came around. I would have been fine if he were 5-10 minutes late, if he had given notice that he was running late, or had planned ahead to meet a bit later in the morning if he tends to come in late, but 20 minutes late without any notice was a stretch. I told him this, and he became defensive and threw out excuses for being late (traffic, etc.). He knew that he made an appointment with a new customer at 9am, and he's probably familiar with the traffic in Berkeley having had his shop open in the neighborhood for awhile, so he did not have an excuse for being late without notice and then be defensive and rude about it. I'm sure Alan does a fine job as a mechanic, but I won't trust someone with my car who isn't dependable as a shop owner. I'm not going to be recommending my friends and classmates to this place. read more

Best Automotive place that i have been to. I actually didn't go there, but i sent my worker to drop off my truck and the guy called and set everything up and fixed everything in a day and he was very friendly and informative and the price was reasonable and i don't feel ripped off. I guess i am extra happy because i hate going to new auto places because you really never know what you are going to get. Anyway, i think the guys name is Alan. He's the man. read more

Great mechanic, very knowledgeable and honest. I've known Alan for two decades and highly recommend him for all your automotive repair and maintenance needs. Best to call ahead for an appointment. read more

My experience with Allan shows me that he is very honest, trustworthy and really understands about cars. He knows how to explain what's going and is communicates well. However, the reason for giving 4 and not 5 stars is simply because I believe he is understaffed, which resulted in delays with my car. read more

Usually give higher stars, but Alan has been off his game of late. He's distracted & overcommitted to projects he doesn't have time to properly address. He needs to either respectfully decline some business OR bring on help! He's still young enough to have time to mentor another mechanic in the ways of his shop... which are usually good with regard to customer service, explanations, & reasonable prices. Just not the same now... he seemed rattled... multiple phone lines ringing, customers waiting for their cars or repair invoices, packed schedule with no foreseeable letup in sight. We don't want to leave you, Alan, but car problems can't be predicted & when they occur, we need a place (& guy) upon which we can rely. Hope things work out. read more

I've had 2 encounter with Alan from Motor City in the past 2 months. First, he did a diagnostic on a Subaru I was interested in buying. He gave me a very thorough explanation of needed repairs and I didn't end up buy car. I then took in my 87 VW cabriolet to have him look at if it was worth repairing-it had clutch and idle issues. I told him I could afford about $400 and he did a bunch of work-loosened clutch, replaced a vacuum hose, fixed windshield wipers, rotated tire, etc etc and I was out the door with confidence and a bill for $411. It was great. I can get another year out of my beater! read more

Hard to believe no one has yet written a review of this great auto repair place! Alan has been working on my cars for 35 years, and giving lots of free advice for the same period of time. He's honest, knowledgeable, reliable, and reasonably priced. Not sure what else can expect! The only hesitation I have in doing this review is that he might get too busy to fit me in when I need him! read more

The only hesitation i have about giving Alan 5 stars is that this will bring more people to his shop and he will be too busy to work on my Subaru when I need him. Super honest and as far as I can tell reasonably priced work by a guy who has been doing this his whole life and knows his stuff. read more

We awoke a day ago to discover that someone had stripped all four tires (rims and all) from our 1991 car, leaving it precariously supported on 4 bricks and a rock -- what a shock! We called Alan at Motor City -- he has been our mechanic for 30 years -- and within an hour he had located replacement rims, tires, and hubcaps at a salvage yard (not an easy thing for a 23 year-old car). The yard delivered the wheels to Motor City the next day, and again within an hour Alan drove to our house, put the new tires on, and added locking lug nuts. While he worked he noticed that our squealing brakes were wearing out. We drove the car to Motor City the same day and by 4pm he had fixed them. Alan's quick response, quality service, and attentiveness to our needs was simply wonderful. He has always been our first call for car repairs and will continue to be so. I recommend him and Motor City highly. read more

I've taken my car to Alan for a number of repairs over the last year. Every time he has done a great job, fixing the problem quickly and competently. I haven't had any problems. He always talks with me about what needs to be done and is helpful with any questions I have. I feel completely confident that he will take care of my problems without overcharging me, which is exactly what I want in an auto mechanic. I will take my care to Alan every time. read more

I came here to get my left tail light fixed since it was out. Alan was super fast and friendly and it was done in approximately 30 minutes :). Prices are extremely reasonable read more

I can't say enough good things about this place. I literally walked in off the street and asked him if he could take a look at a vehicle for me. He was done in two hours, charged me a reasonable rate, and spent time explaining everything I needed to know. Because of this one fantastic experience, I now have every intention of being a hardcore loyal customer. Thank you, Alan! read more

Thank you Alan! I can't believe I used to go back all the way to San Jose to get my car repaired. My rain-shield wipers got stolen and I called in earlier to ask him whether he could help me or not. He said I needed to bring my car in to check the length of the wipers, so I did, a few minutes before closing time. Alan was super friendly and helpful towards a hopeless dummy at cars like myself. Not only did he quickly replace my windshield wipers, he also taught me a ton about my car and fixed other small broken parts. In the end, he stayed more than an hour past his closing time. I not only fixed my car's problems and learned more about maintenance for my car, I also had a great talk with him about Berkeley's past and his interesting life. Thank you Alan! I'll definitely be coming back here if I need to (hopefully not though..) read more

Alan has been taking care of my aging Toyota for a few years now. Mostly regular service -- his regular care has kept me from having bigger problems (knock on wood!) He always tells me what needs to be done now, what needs to be done soon, and what can just plain wait. He has the work finished when he says he will and takes the time to let me know if he noted anything out of the ordinary. His prices are reasonable and he doesn't try to sell me on work I don't need. He knows how I drive, how I use my car, and recognizes that I want to keep it going for another 80,000 or so! If you need a good, neighborhood, reliable, trustworthy and friendly owner-mechanic, you can't go wrong with Alan and Motor City Automotive. And he's walking distance from Jumpin' Java, BART and Berkeley Bowl. You can't beat that!! read more

Alan is amazing! He is trustworthy and honest, which are not normally words you use to describe a mechanic. He is good at providing estimates and based on his location it is easy to walk to Ashby BART and get to work (if that is a way for you to travel to work). I noticed someone mention he was not there in the morning - that is true if it is early, but you can drop your keys in the door and he figures it out - I have never had any issues with that when he knows I am dropping the car off for the day. Alan never treats me like I do not know what is happening with the car and I appreciate that! read more

Alan has been working on my cars for years. He is reliable, honest, and does great work. He thinks through situations and can solve challenging problems. I recommend him whenever anyone asks me for a mechanic. read more

Alan is the man. I came to him for a second opinion about an issue that Berkeley Auto Care gave me, and I'm glad I did. They claimed that I had two leaks when I really only had one. He saved me hundreds of dollars, and did the work all in one day. He is very smart and will talk your ear off on every small detail about your car because he knows so much. He will tell you exactly how it is, and only fixes the things that are broken. No up-sell, no confusing jargon, just the facts and the repairs. Fast and fair. I will go here from now on for all of my auto repair needs. Thank you, Alan! Another satisfied customer to your long list. read more

I've been served by Motor city for about 30 years, back when Donovan was in charge. They have been wonderful ! Alan will always explain things about the car that i have missed- i used to do lots of my own repairs and he has helped me with them also. I tell anyone who asks about car maintenance to go to motor city. I will continue to go to Motor City till one of us dies. read more

Alan Cartwright is as good as it gets. Does good work, stands behind it, knows cars, and gives good advise. There's a reason why I've been coming to Motor City for at least three decades: It's dependable! read more

Alan is the best! Honest, trustworthy, knowledgeable. Rest assured that your car is in good hands. I've been coming to him for 3 years since I moved to the area and have never looked back. read more

I have been going to Alan at Motor City for years. He is a true mechanic, with a lifetime of expertise added to common sense. He never tries to "upsell" you unneeded services or repairs. I just had my radiator and thermostat replaced, and he cost half of what the El Sobrante shop estimated. I highly recommend him for any car, old or new. Plus he's conveniently located just 2 blocks from the Ashby BART station. read more

Alan is what everyone wants in a mechanic - trustworthy and knowledgeable. I've been going to him for 10 years, first with my Honda CRV and now with my Subaru Forester, and he's been reliable in diagnosing problems and giving me honest advice about what needs to be fixed now versus what can wait or doesn't need it. I have recommended him to several other friends that have also been going to him for years. He does charge $120/hour so it's a little more than places that have more capacity, but the labor fees are never excessive and they are worth it. Plan to spend a lot more time dropping off or picking it up though - he's a very friendly guy and likes to chat, telling you lots about your car and then some! read more