Why do I come to Motorkars? I am the proud owner of a 1972 VW 1302 Super Beetle Cabriolet - had it since college. It was previously owned by a lawyer from my home town, who purchased it in California when he was in law school... that's part of the back story here. It's specialty work, and good, reliable, trustworthy air-cooled mechanics are hard to find. So the saying goes, "when you get into a Volkswagen, it gets into you." And it's really true. There's something about the sound of the engine of a classic air-cooled VW. In Australia they are know as "Dak-Daks" for that characteristic engine sound. The "meep-meep" of the distinctive horn, and so much more that's unique about these little gems. Mike at Motorkars has been one of the go to guys for classic air-cooled VW service and restoration in Central Ohio for many years. He is one of the guys that was around when the Central Ohio Vintage Volkswagen Club came into being decades ago. I've come to Mike on several occasions and have never been anything but thrilled with the service received for my air-cooled classic. But, the passage of time dictates that the torch must be passed - so I stopped in to see how the potential for a transition is going. As of September 2021 it's not complete, but it's sounding hopeful - which is good because I'm pursuing a long due full restoration on the engine, body, interior & rag-top of my 1972 and the prep work is already underway now. The resolution of this transition will be important to many many Central Ohio air-cooled owners. Now - that's not all that Motorkars does, of course. They are also servicers of many other import automobile makes and models. And every indication I have is that they do absolutely superb work on those vehicles as well. The shop bays are clean and well organized, my observation is that the office area is in good order too. If the work done on the other import makes and models is half as good as the quality I've experienced, you just can't go wrong here, in my opinion. read more

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My family has been servicing our VW and Audi vehicles at Motokars for a very very long time (since the 1980s). I would not take my VW, Audi, or Porsche (if I owned one) anywhere else even if it was free. My parents took their cars here and I took mine here too for all maintenance regular and break fix. They have always been honest and very helpful at finding options when on a budget. I no longer own a VW or Audi, but when I get another one this is where it will always be serviced. There is not another place around as knowledgeable about these vehicles as Motorkars. read more

If you are looking to waste your time then this is the place for you. What a tremendous waste of my time. I took my valuable time to stop in, during the day, to get an estimate on getting some work done to my Audi. I was the only one in the office at the time. I was met by a very pleasant $15.00 an hour receptionist/cashier and told that the labor rate would be $250.00 per hour. She would supply me with an estimate. She never asked me the year, make or model of my car! When I left there was another person behind me. I got a call back, after I had left, from a nice gentleman who said they would need to see the car. I guess it never occured to Motorcars they could have looked at it when I was there. I mentioned that I had just been there and he said I must have come when it was busy. It wasn't, which does not excuse gross incompetance. Besides it was my time they were wasting not there's. It was clear to me that the only motivation at Motorcars was to rip the customer for every penny possible with no concern for the customers time. If you want to be abused and pay $250 per hour for labor then this is the place for you. If I were running a business like this I would not want a $15.00 per hour receptionist/cashier controlling my business. If anyone knows a good Audi mechanic that respects someones time and doesn't charge $250...let me know! read more

VWs can be maintenance hogs. I've had several, and though I can change oil and do a bit more, as I get older I want to do less and less. I tried to do some brake work on mine, and started to screw things up. Took it here hoping they could fix my mistake (and the original problem.) They did. They told me exactly what was involved, kept me informed about what was going on, and fixed a couple of other little things. They know what they're doing, and when you have a weird car that is important. They've been specializing in VWs and Audis for decades, and know their stuff. Prices are a bit high, but you get what you pay for. Some things you do not want to take to a chain or a local guy who might be a great mechanic but doesn't know the quirks of these cars. I hope I'm not back soon, but I'll be back next time I need something. Plus, their back lot has lots of cool cars in it. read more

Motorkars - Junkyard dog. - Auto Repair Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Incompetent mechanics, all lies and they do not back up their work. Completely unreliable and they will not do quality work. DO NOT GO TO MOTORKARS. They will steal your money and leave your car in worse shape then before you came in. I would give 0 stars. read more

I cannot say enough about the high standards, performance, customer service of this group! Love, Love! Puts my mind at ease everytime. read more

Motorkars - Auto Repair Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

THE place for Audi and Vdub owners. Heard a rattle in my engine. Called. They told me to come on in anytime for someone to look at it. I was there in 30 minutes. A guy immediately comes out and for half an hour diagnosed the probable cause. Told me it wasn't serious and could get fixed anytime if it got worse. He also inspected my full engine, reset a hose that was falling down, explained everything in plain English and simply said to stop in if it gets worst. He even gave me a ballpark price. Then, the best part, I owed him nothing. He said he was happy to help and to swing by whenever if I needed them to listen to something else. Amazing service seems cliché and overused but it's spot on with them. They do things right: treat me with respect, honesty and knowledge. Plus, they don't try and screw you over with repair costs. Not to mention, the office was full of Vdub memorabilia. It's so great to find a place that's as equally passionate about giving me and my car great service as much as I'm passionate about my driving my 'dub. We all know how our German cars can be a Christmas tree of indicator lights on the dash and it's such peace of mind knowing I have a place to trust. read more

I had Motorkars do a pre-purchase inspection on a Vanagon I was looking at in the area. They were very thorough and communicated the issues, even though I was out of state and their customer was the seller. The mechanic who did the inspection spent 30 mins on the phone with me going though each item on the report in detail. He also followed up later to see if I had any more questions. Bottom line, they were extremely fair and unbiased and gave me a realistic assessment of the vehicle, which I ultimately did buy. I would highly recommend their services. read more

Fantastic. Diagnosed the problem on my 2013 VW TDI quickly and accurately, finished the job faster than estimated. 3 months later and my car is running fine. The entire staff was kind, flexible, and treated me better than almost anywhere else I've taken a car. I would recommend them without reservation. Very nice people. read more

These guys are great. The owner, Mike, has a great business philosophy. He enjoys what he does, hired great employees, treats them well and it flows through to the customers. I brought my 1998 Audi in today and had the best repair experience of my life. They did great work, charged a fair price, and even fixed my turn signal for free. I can't emphasize enough that these are the guys to see if you have an Audi, VW or Porsche. I'll be back. read more

It's great to go to a place that knows all about your car. Motorkars is just that (if you have a VW). They did a very comprehensive inspection of a used '97 Jetta that I bought and they laid out a plan for NOW, KEEP AN EYE ON, and LATER. When I had them repair the NOW items, everything was as quoted, no surprises, and the car runs great. They took the time to explain everything to me and I feel very comfortable knowing that this car is now safe and in good running condition. They stay booked up and schedule about a week out, so you may want to consider that if you are thinking about having some work done - don't let it turn into an emergency. read more

Excellent service. Took their time with all of my questions, and fixed my car. I found them on google and glad that I did! Shawn and the rest of the team are great. read more

Gabe & Desiree are wonderful to work with. I have a 2012 A8. They've installed both front and rear brakes and a couple of other odds and ends including oil changes, filters and etc. Reasonable prices and great service. I will definitely return. read more

To keep it short and to the point. Matt worked on my vehicle, he was very helpful, good diagnostic services on my VW TDI (05) mkiv. I figured the fuel pump was bad - he confirmed this - but then found a deeper issue with a failed/faulty relay coil. Fixed it test drove it and let me know the process from start to finish - never making a decision without me along the way. He even replaced the CPS sensor while trying to diagnose the fuel issue and didn't charge me labor since it wasn't part of the issue. Little pricy (for a college student at least?) but they offered excellent service. Would recommend to anyone looking for a good mechanic. read more

Motorkars is the real deal for VW owners. We have been a VW only family and Motorkars customers for more than 20 years. We know that we can rely on Motorkars for accurate diagnosis and reliable service at a reasonable cost. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and care about their customers. Other than warranty work we don't go anywhere else. read more

I can't speak to their auto repair service, but I can speak to the person who claimed to be the owner's anger management issues. I drove through the Motorkars parking lot because I was lost and looking for the entrance to another building. The owner was standing in the back, and actually charged at my car with a hammer, telling me that he was going to bust my back window in and yelling "Get off my property" repeatedly, all with hammer raised, making motions as if to throw the hammer through my window. The scariest part about the situation is that I have two child seats in my backseat. Luckily, my children were not in the car, but if they were, they would have been traumatized at the very least, and could have been severely injured. The police were called and he was issued a warning. Hopefully this man refrains from menacing others in the future for simply taking a wrong turn into his lot. read more

Never using this shop ever again! I have used them for many years for service on my VW and I will never make that mistake again. This shop was highly recommended to me through friends that have own VW and Audi vehicles. Last year I was changing my oil and I noticed a motor mount bolt had sheared off. (probably due to a front end accident a year before that). Had MotorKars remove and replace the bolt. They had failed to notice my radiator fans had stop spinning and on the way home my engine almost over heated. Which the weird part was I drove it to the shop with no problems. Total cost to replace the fans $800 dollar. My jaw dropped so hard it bounced off the floor. Now after I said I would never go back I went in for a loud engine and they are trying to sell me a part that may or may not fix the problem for $ 2,500 dollars.... for an engine that only cost $2,000 used. You do the math. I'm towing my car some where else and having them take a look at it because I'm not paying for a part that is double the cost of the engine that may or may not fix the problem. What a joke! Update: 4/28/14 Car is repaired now and running great. Paid $2200 for a used engine and $800 in labor. It was going to cost over $4000 to have Motorkars replace the head. Which, the said may not fix it. Motorkars called me weeks after I post this review in attempt to cover up this post and saying they don't understand what I'm talking about. If they call me again I'm going to post quote. * * * Never using this shop ever again! I have used them for many years for service on my VW and I will never make that mistake again. This shop was highly recommended to me through friends that have own VW and Audi vehicles. Last year I was changing my oil and I noticed a motor mount bolt had sheared off. (probably due to a front end accident a year before that). Had MotorKars remove and replace the bolt. They had failed to notice my radiator fans had stop spinning and on the way home my engine almost over heated. Which the weird part was I drove it to the shop with no problems. Total cost to replace the fans $800 dollar. My jaw dropped so hard it bounced off the floor. Now after I said I would never go back I went in for a loud engine and they are trying to sell me a part that may or may not fix the problem for $ 2,500 dollars.... for an engine that only cost $2,000 used. You do the math. I'm towing my car some where else and having them take a look at it because I'm not paying for a part that is double the cost of the engine that may or may not fix the problem. What a joke! Update: 4/28/14 Car is repaired now and running great. Paid $2200 for a used engine and $800 in labor. It was going to cost over $4000 to have Motorkars replace the head. Which, the said may not fix it. Motorkars called me weeks after I post this review in attempt to cover up this post and saying they don't understand what I'm talking about. If they call me again I'm going to post quote. * * * read more

*****Ten Stars***** You have no idea how much I value this team! Really...I discovered them 20+ years ago...have moved to other cities (Dayton & Cincinnati) and still drive to have all my work done! Even an oil change is worth it because they tell me what I need to keep an eye on! I actually get the AAA expanded membership so if I would break down I could get my car to them!!! Guess what? Because of them it NEVER breaks down. I have owned 8 Audis and sold or traded them in all at 200,000 miles! Because of the Motorkars team I always get great prices. Professional, Honest, Intelligent, Kind... And good-looking too! If they were available, I would marry the whole crew! read more

Honestly, the only reason I still have my old Audi is because I know these guys will do a great job with it. They're honest, friendly, and most importantly, good at what they do. As an added bonus, it's great to support a local shop instead of a big chain. When I call, they remember me and know my name. I've had my A4 for 8 years now and I've only taken it here. If you have an Audi or VW that's out of warranty, I suggest you do the same! read more

Most excellent vehicle repair experience I've ever had. They replaced the compressor and associated elements of my a/c system on my 2000 Eurovan camper. Shawn, the service manager, is expertly knowledgable, friendly, resourceful, honest, and a great communicator. Shop looks and feels professional. They went the extra mile for me, dealt well with my service contract provider, explained things, performed on time and as promised. Made space for me in their schedule because of my special needs. It was very difficult to find a shop who would/could do this work. I drove 3 hours to get there and stayed 2 nights in a motel while diagnosis was made, parts gotten, and repair made. It was worth the trip and the money. They're the best. read more

Service beyond compare! I have been a customer for over 25 years. I own a 1968 Westphalia Camper, a 2004 Beetle Convertible & a 2012 Audi A5 and I take them all to Motorkars for service. They know their stuff. They can handle everything from the new high tech service to old school mechanical repairs. They will even provide recommendations about cost saving options or prioritize work, so you can do what needs to be done now and save up for what will need to be done later. I once called them from the side of the road. They described the repair step by step so that I was able to fix it and get home safely. What other repair shop would do that?!? That's just one reason why I have been a customer for over 25 years. Motokars is a local, family owned business with people who care (Mike, Shawn, Shirley, Matt) technical expertise, rare integrity and a personal touch. Why would anyone go anywhere else? read more