$80.00 for a standard oil change? No, thank you! After reading the stellar Yelp reviews for Precision Auto Service, I contacted them to schedule a routine oil change for my small pick up truck. Much to my surprise I was quoted $80.00 for the service. I don't know what kind of liquid gold oil they use, but for that price, the service should be accompanied with lunch for two and cocktails to wash down the pain of being over charged for a basic service. The associate I spoke with added, "they check your brakes and stuff too." Ok, can I get a pedicure while I wait as well? All humor aside, $80 seems completely ridiculous for a service that I've never been charged more than $40 for at other establishments in town. If an oil change is that expensive, I can't imagine what they would charge if I actually needed a repair. I'll take my business to a shop offering competitive pricing and great service. read more

I don't know why this place doesn't have more reviews, because I was floored by the outstanding service I got from Dan. I took my beloved '94 Nissan Sentra in for an oil change, an inspection about my Check Engine light and a strange sound I had started hearing, and a general tune-up that I thought I needed after having been told so by a larger chain mechanic. When I arrived, the first thing Dan told me was "Never ask for a 'general tune-up,' because people will try to take advantage of you and charge you for repairs you don't need." I was astonished. A mechanic whose first comment is a warning about how NOT to spend extra money? As a cash-strapped recent college grad, I knew I had come to the right place. Later on, Dan assured me that Precision is in the business of only fixing what actually needs to be fixed, and never charging more than is absolutely necessary. That promise turned out to be true. After two visits (the second because nobody could hear the sound I was concerned about the first time), I had had my oil changed, a full inspection of everything under the hood, my battery cleaned, the Check Engine light problem resolved, and a loose, hanging part under the bumper (which had turned out to be the cause of the unusual sound) fixed, all for less than $130. I easily could have paid that much just for labor if I had gone back to a chain shop. As if that wasn't enough, I had to go to work both days before the repairs were finished, and both times Dan brought the car to me. Suffice it to say, Precision has gained a new loyal customer! read more

I needed a new battery for my 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse. I called numerous (24 to be exact) shops and stores looking for a new one. All of the quotes were between 160-204$ for a BATTERY (interstate to be exact). I called precision auto and was told it would be 117(also an interstate battery). They didn't have it in stock but could order it for me and have it by the next day. I showed up around 845am the next day (earlier than he told me the battery would be there cause I had work at 9am about 4 blocks away) Dan walked up to me and recognized my car was the one coming in for a battery. I told him I knew I was early but I had work and was wondering if I should wait for the battery or if I could go to work and pick up my car later. He asked what I would like to do. I said I would like to not be late for work but if I needed to stay I could. He smiled and told me he didn't want me to be late for work either. He was very friendly and even made some jokes as he took down my name and # and off to work I went. When I came back around 145pm they hadn't received the battery yet, I waited about 15min and up walked 2 men carrying a new battery. Within 15 minutes of that, Dan installed my battery and I was all set. He didn't charge me any labor or hidden fees that I'm used to happening whenever I take my car to a shop. Just the battery+tax 127$. And they aired up my tires without being asked! All in all, this shop was great. You can tell they care about their customers and an honest shop not trying to scam you out of money. Dan answered questions I had thoroughly and was super friendly. I'll probably be back the next time I need something done for my car. read more

Late last year, my car was involved in a wreck which resulted in a cracked catalytic converter, a leaking radiator and frequent overheating. Dan identified this and told me that it could be a very costly fix to repair/replace the catalytic converter and "let's not even talk about that". He recommended that first I get my oxygen sensor replaced and that he'll add a 'stop leak conditioner' to my radiator and and hope the car will run better. This was his recommendation so I agreed to it. I never told him what I could or couldn't spend. All in all my bill ended up being $497. Below is the break down: $55 to fill my cooling system $55 for the check engine light diagnostic $82 to remove and replace oxygen sensor $277 parts (oxygen sensor) My car was running ok for the next couple weeks but once the 'stop leak conditioner' seemingly wore off my radiator began to leak again resulting in an overheating engine and my catalytic converter was (obviously) still cracked. I already dropped $500 on repairs with Dan and at this point knew, based off of his statements, that I would not be able to afford a catalytic converter replacement from Precision Auto Service. I then sucked it up and went to my girlfriends Dad who is very familiar under the hood. He couldn't stop laughing at the fact that I got ripped off by this mechanic and that I know nothing about cars. He then went on to show me that the oxygen sensor Dan replaced for me was the cheap $30 generic brand (he charged me $277) and that this repair was not necessary. Dan charged me $500 that could have gone toward replacing my catalytic converter, but instead it was spent on 'hoping' a minor repair would negate that. I wouldn't recommend Precision Auto Service to anyone unless you have a ton of money and time. P.S. For the record, Dan was a very nice and personable man read more

My fuel pump went out on my Bronco, so I searched Yelp for a mechanic nearby since I had been ripped off by Meineke in the past. I brought it in around 3:00pm same day. Dan helped me out and went the extra mile. He had my truck fixed by 10:00 the next morning. He wasn't trying to upsell me like Meineke was, if he recommended an additional service he would show me himself why I needed it. He recommended that I get a new serpentine belt, so he brought me to my truck and showed me that it was starting to crack/wear out. The price was about the same as all the other estimates I've gotten around SB. When I dropped my truck off he even offered me a ride home. Thats real customer service right there. I won't be going to any other mechanics anytime soon. Definitely wish I could get this level of service everywhere else I spend money. read more

whoa. Synthetic Oil= $20 Oil FIlter= $15 $45 for service (lift car, unscrew drain plug, unscrew oil filter, screw new filter, put drain plug back, lower car, fill oil.) takes about half a day, $80 total. Oil Can Henrys did this for $60 and in 20 minutes while I sat in my car reading complimentary morning paper and drinking the complimentary bottle of water the whole time. so yea, oil changes? no bueno. read more

This business is a scam. $80 for an oil change? "We wouldn't be in business if we weren't making more money off of this." -Dan. The owner Dan is a textbook car salesman. He'll try to even get to know you further when he's not sure you'll put down money. They drive your car until they've used a quarter tank and a mechanic comes back with lunch in hand since they didn't know you'd be back so early. I got screwed at $450. He argued with me and told me what I know about my car before and after their work was "simply wrong." He even told me to "not get hostile" after my car ran worse after their "repairs." Kicker? He quoted me over $800 for a coolant, transmission, and brake fluid flush which were "strongly recommended." Ps. Got them done for $300 at Garcia's in Goleta. read more

A good mechanic is hard to find? Not if you head to Precision Auto Service, and have the good fortune to meet Dan Bousman. I was on a college tour road trip with my daughter, heading up the hill to SBCC, when the engine light came on and the temperature gauge was on red High. Coolant was coming out of the overflow spout of the antifreeze bottle. Oh oh, end of a trip that had barely started? I called Dan at 6:35 a.m. the next morning (the shop opens at 7 a.m.) and Dan agreed to see me right away. He told me to fill the radiator with water and gave me excellent directions to his shop. Once I got there, Dan popped the hood and his mechanic Terry noticed right away that the fans weren't plugged in. I know, right?!? He plugged them in and Dan proceeded to run other tests with a cool temperature gun gizmo, which told him when the thermostat let coolant start and stop to circulate, and saw to it that the fans started up at the right temp. He also tested the A/C to see that it started the fans. He gave me his card and told me to call if there we're any more problems while we were in Santa Barbara. All of this, no charge. We are now on our way, and if my daughter chooses to go to college in Santa Barbara, at least I know where she can find a good mechanic. You guys who live in Santa Barbara know now, too! read more

Had a problem with the camshaft sensor in my dodge neon and Dan got me in, got it fixed, and got my little car back to me in the same day. He also managed to fix my door (which couldn't be opened due to the lock breaking), didn't overcharge, and called to ask if it was ok to continue with the fix even though it would cost a bit more since more parts were broke than he expected in the estimate. Super high quality service here, Dan is awesome, and I'll definitely be going back for all future services and whenever my car has a problem. read more

I called Dan and told him about my A/C breaking down on the way home from Vegas and the strange sounds coming from the engine. He invited me to stop by Precision when I got off work which was after hours for the shop. When I arrived, he carefully inspected my vehicle and showed me with a flashlight the issues with my A/C compressor that were visible. He then showed me with spare parts how the entire A/C system works, why my A/C broke down and what was necessary to fix it. He told me to call back in the morning for an exact quote for what the fix would be, which I did. Before I left, he noticed my tire pressure was a little low and immediately refilled the tires himself. All of this was free of charge! You can tell that Dan really cares about his customers. As someone who knows next to nothing about cars, I am grateful for his honesty and professional integrity. I definitely trust him and would recommend Precision to anyone. read more

Dan is a true god send! Over the past 15 years, he has helped me through more car predicaments than I even want to remember. No where else will you find a more reliable, HONEST and creative auto expert! He knows all when it comes to cars. I'm a LIFER! read more

My dad's car scraped a white curb leaving some marks and Adam cleaned it up free of charge when he easily could've charged something exorbitant. The world needs more guys like these with their shining example of good integrity and values. I would recommend them to anyone. read more

The dreaded "Check Engine" light came on last night while I was driving my 4runner. I called Dan this morning, and he was able to fit me in right away. I drove down, he put it on the computer and told me it was a warning for the catalytic converter - an emissions issue, not something urgent. He reset it, so my check engine light would turn off... the plan being to drive the car and see if/when it comes back on. At that point, he told me, the next step would probably be a minor injection cleaning, followed by the slight possibility that I'd need to replace the converter). This reminds me of how a doctor would approach a patient: a careful, methodical process to diagnose the real problem. This was a good test for Dan: he didn't remember me from the tailgate issue until I reminded him about it--and I did this only after we dealt with my issue. He could easily have sold me something i didn't need; but if you've read my initial review of his shop, you'll know that I'm not at all surprised that he took the high road. Apparently this is the way he does business with everyone. While I'm the only review on Yelp (at least at the moment) here is a lot of praise for him and his guys on Google. The URL is here (I shortened it through tinyurl): http://tinyurl.com/7ovu46k Or just Google "Precision Automotive Santa Barbara" and check out the 5-star ratings. I'll be updating this review periodically. I really love it when I find businesses who understand how to do business well, and I think they deserve to have the public know. It's worth noting that I've been to Precision Automotive twice now, but both instances turned out to involve relatively minor issues, and I haven't paid a penny. However: when the sh*t hits the fan and Ol' Betsy stops running, I know exactly where I'm taking her. read more

Dan is great! Car's passenger seat window got messed up, and he repaired it perfectly at a reasonable price. The man was easy to work with and efficient with time. If you're in SB, Precision's the way to go! read more

I called Precision Auto Service last Friday after I got out of work because none of the buttons on the driver's door were working. I was worried because I only had a quarter of a tank of gas left and can only open the gas tank of my Volkswagen Jetta by using the button on the driver's door. Even though it was after business hours, Dan answered my call and was willing to check out my car. After inspecting my car for a bit Dan said he would have to do research and figure it out/fix it by morning. I was hesitant to leave my car without getting a diagnosis or quote because I was afraid it would be more than I could afford so I wanted to have a quote before I left. I voiced these concerns to Dan and he spent more time checking out my car and then said some of the cables inside the door had broken and he had to replace them. He quoted me $103 and had me sign documents stating that was my final charge. My beloved Jetta was working perfectly fine by 11 am the following morning! I was very pleased with the customer-service and the price seemed decent. Dan is an honest guy and has a lot of experience. I will be going back soon for maintenance! I am happy my VW Jetta can get the quality service she deserves :) read more

Dan was super helpful and explained all of my options to me thoroughly. He also went out of his way to save me money. He's the great, honest mechanic that everyone looks for. I'll definitely come back here for all my oil changes and future car work. read more

I have been in the customer service business for 25 years or so. And I must remark on the great service I received from the shop. Dan was available to answer all my questions when I needed and very helpful with suggestions. Most importantly, I received honest answers. Thank you!! read more

I took in my truck this morning for a noise issue coming from the rear of my truck and they had it fix and eady to go before noon. Fast service, no more noise! and the price was just right for my budget. Did mention about another part that it may need but his focus was on only the part that it needed now. Great service overall im happy so far and will be back for other services needed on my truck or my wifes car. thanks Dan! one happy camper! read more

Dan is the most honest mechanic in town! I've been coming to him for years and there have been numerous occasions on which he's gone way above and beyond. One time that particularly stands out was when I had a broken bracket for my driver's seat assembly. Instead of selling me a new part, he graciously offered to have the old part repaired and took it to a welder. That cut the cost by 80% and this was all Dan's idea. I can't say enough good things about the service he provides. read more

I actually didn't end up getting my car repaired at Precision & that's why I'm giving them 5 Stars. Dan was willing and able to repair my VW window, but once we got to talking about particulars, decided it was not worth the expense, Would be back in a heartbeat to give them by business, Thanks again Dan! BTW ~ to address the 1 stars whining about high priced oil changes....that's what their time is worth people. There are cars lined up for real repairs, go to Pep Boys for an oil change read more

Today was my first day at Precision Auto Service. Dan was professional, knowledgeable, and helpful. As a local, I have had a lot of mechanics in Santa Barbara, but would not return because of sloppy work, and high part prices. At precision, However, Dan was not that kind of guy. He went out of his way to fix my little problem (A busted tail light wire mount), but he was helpful, and friendly. I talked with him for a while while I was there, and he seems to know his stuff. If you are looking for an HONEST mechanic, who knows his way around a car, go here. Otherwise, you will likely go through about 4 or 5 and a lot of money before finding one who you like as I have. As a local, I would definitely recommend this place for your auto service needs. read more

If I'm in Santa Barbara and my car Is having troubles in anyway I call up Dan at precision autos. He has always fixed up my car very quick, was honest about what was wrong, what he did, and what it would cost. He might not have the cheapest rates in town but his service is top notch and Dan is just an awesome dude. The kind of guy that is so sincere he makes you feel your part of his family. He does exceptional work, in a timely manner, and is very professional and personable while doing so. I highly recommend next time your car is having troubles if any kind, bring it to Dan at precision auto. read more

Dan answered my phone call this holiday weekend on a Saturday and coached my boyfriend and I through the steps we needed to do to get our truck running again. He spent an hour on the phone with us while he wasn't on the clock. Might be one of the last honest mechanics out there and highly recommended!!!! read more

Great!! Did an oil change on my Jeep Liberty as i was passing though town. Rich was wonderful, told some great jokes and my car was very happy after. Thank you guys!! read more

Idle & acceleration was rough & check engine light prob on my 2004 Porsche Cayenne S - Dan diagnosed it as a bad coil on #5 cylinder (I watched). Also had an emission system leak which he fixed and he changed the oil as well (I provided the Mobil 1). All this for a grand total of $310. Very happy customer. Dan is a straight shooter. He even offered me a ride home on Saturday after I dropped off the vehicle. My son rec him to me after he helped him get his FX35 ready to sell. Spot on referral. read more

Dan is fabulous and there is no need to take your car anywhere else. He is trustworthy and always shows you what is wrong before he just fixes things and then you end up with a huge bill. Very knowledgeable and helpful as well. Opened early for me, had replacement vehicle available as well. Thanks read more

I was on my way from Los Angeles to Big Sur when my check engine light came on outside of Santa Barbara. I found these guys on yelp and they took me in immediately and diagnosed the problem. They were extremely helpful and honest and told me my car is safe to drive based on the code they found that was activating the check engine light. They didn't even charge me anything for the diagnostic. They were wonderful! Thank you! read more

Dan is the owner and manager of this shop close to downtown SB and he has been amazing help. I have a BMW 3 series and he has the same car along with an older 5 and knows all there is to know about BMWs. Plus he deals with all sorts of vehicles old and new, economical and luxurious and insists on doing the best job possible while making the cost real as can be. **He will not screw you over and develops a personal relationship with his customers. He keeps high standards for his employees too and I would continue to use this shop and recommend him to my friends if anything else happens with other cars. read more

Dan is the BEST! I am so lucky to have found Precision when I first moved to SB and now there is nowhere else I would take my car. Dan offers amazing customer service and is extremely knowledgeable. I feel like he always gives me a fair deal/great advice. I have recommended it to several friends and will continue to do so! read more

I had my daughter bring her car in for a diagnostic check of a throttle control valve indicator light which came on and went off. Dan checked it for free and didn't find any issues and didn't charge us for the visit. We appreciate the honesty and will be bringing her car in for service. read more

Dan runs a great operation! Very fair and competitive pricing and above all, excellent service. I've been very pleased!