Went in for a rough idle, which started after a high (but within spec) rev during downshift. Online research had indicated that it was likely a timing belt tooth slip at best, and at worst was valve or piston damage. I had been told on the phone by Schafer's that they had a diagnostic machine that could drill down to the exact cause of the error code. Not so. Their second level diagnostic, which would have cost over $200 except for a discount coupon I had received, did not diagnose the specific cause of the rough idle. They wanted to replace my entire EGR system and also fix a leaky valve cover, for a cost of over $2,000, just to start. They only gave all that a 50% chance of being the problem. The components in my EGR system are easy to test and do not require replacement if they are good. They listed a $241 charge for an EGR valve control solenoid, but my car's EGR valve is vacuum operated only, so I don't understand why that part was needed. The installation time was taken from "the book," and was hugely inflated over how much time is actually needed for this work, much of which I have done myself in the past. If a spark plug seal is bad, they should have been able to know which cylinder is misfiring from the diagnostic. When I asked for a pricing on a timing belt replacement, which they refused to do without the other work, their price was much, much higher than the estimate I received from a dealer. I previously had brake work done by Schafer's, which was unrelated to the current problem, and found their prices to be high for the work done, but lower than what Meinicke had wanted for the job. That led me to have confidence in Schafer's, but at this point I have lost that confidence. read more

Listen!! Let's be real. As a woman, if you (like me) know nothing about cars, getting car stuff done can feel like a crapshoot because it's 50/50 on if they're gonna rip you off. Never ever that at Schafer's! They're incredible. Everyone from front desk to the techs are patient, kind, and so willing to explain what's going on, lay out the options, and help w/ pricing when they can. I go to them for everything, inspections to major repairs, and the twice-a-year tire alignment (thanks, south Philly roads). A feature I really love: they send you a text after each appt with a link to a full diagnostic where each aspect of the vehicle is graded great, okay, and needs work, which is so helpful for planning for big expenses. Just another example of their transparent, customer-focused perspective. read more

I've been going there for a couple of years now. A great auto shop that you can trust!

Called after getting a mailer. My car was due for an oil change and I needed to see the price to get a taillight fix. When I called to make an appointment, Chris was great. He explained that they do a look at all cars during oil changes to make sure everything looks good. Made my appointment for the oil change and to check out the light then dropped my car off the night before. In the report back, it was stated that all lights looked good. Which is wild considering there's a big piece missing in the passenger rear taillight, and it shows in the picture. Okay fine, you might've checked the wrong button. When Steve called to explain everything he didn't mention anything about a taillight. That's incredibly strange considering I pointed it out while making the appointment. Had to call back to check on the price for it and then a new report was sent which called out the light issue. Honestly I'm getting weird vibes from this place and am seconding guessing bringing my car here. Was really hoping to find a good mechanic and thought since it's family owned this would be a great option read more

Went in for an inspection on my vehicle. Failed me and said I needed my rear struts replaced due to a "leak". Took pictures that made it look like there was a leak and tried to charge me $1800 for rear struts and rear brake replacements(which needed to be replaced I'll admit). Told them not to touch the car and when I looked at my rear pistons to try to find a source there wasn't a source for the "leak". For a woman owned buisness Im really disappointed they tried to take advantage of a woman. read more

SUMMARY: Poor quality, high price. They will be nice up front, but when chips are down they will turn condescending, gaslight you, and pretty quickly just stop responding. AVOID. Now let me explain... I was living nearby and Schafer looked attractive because it's big, clean, and they have secure parking lot, which is a big deal in a neighborhood where most garages are pocket-sized and will leave your vehicle on street overnight. They were charming and efficient over phone and got me in pretty quick. They followed up with texts, which shows they're up-to-date, but rest assured the overhead cost of frills like that are passed on to you. Which is fine--I have no problem paying extra for premium service, so long as work quality justifies price, but in this case it did not. Was having intermittent hydraulic clutch pedal trouble with my '96 Tacoma. Problem was tricky because it came and went, but obvious that pedal was not returning to top of throw. Truck still ran fine mostly, but pressure fluctuated and would ultimately fail altogether and strand me without warning. Brought it in and they made silly diagnosis that it was the floormat. A lot of shops will jump to this lazy conclusion because Toyota had infamous (and disproven) floormat scandal years ago, of which I was aware, and I knew that wasn't the case here, but I took a wait-and-see approach. They offered to do a deeper diagnosis, but I'd have to pay extra. They also said I needed $800 in new tires, but I'd had the tires inspected by a tire place and they were OK. I wrote that one off as an honest mistake. (5,000 miles later, tires fine.) Since truck was there, I spent $250 on radiator flush, oil change, and other minor maintenance. I also tentatively scheduled more than a thousand dollars of suspension work to be done at later date (couldn't do it immediately because my parking garage had low clearance and redoing shocks & springs would put me over limit). Soon after I left, got a text offering free oil change--again, no such thing as a free lunch, so you know that kind of perk will not only be reflected in costs elsewhere, it's also a tactic to lure you back so they can find other things to fix. Not long after, the clutch pedal failed completely and left me stranded. Copious research told me it was bad master cylinder, so had truck towed to Schafer & asked them to replace the master cylinder. They turned the job around quickly, but when I went to pick it up, the pedal was still spongey and coming only halfway back up when it clearly should go to top of throw where it engages with an electric switch. Yes, the truck drove now, but pedal was still bad. This is where things started going wrong and Schafer showed its true colors as the kind of operation that leans on technicalities to nickel-and-dime you instead of doing a proper job. (Without getting too technical, I need to point out that clutch pedal is connected to master cylinder by a pushrod, and for system to work, this rod must be properly adjusted. To change master cylinder without adjusting pushrod is like changing a tire without tightening the lug nuts.) I told them the pedal was still bad and they said all I had asked was for master cylinder to be replaced. (Again, you can't replace the master cylinder without adjusting the rod, too, or it will lead to another failure, which it did.) They got very condescending, as if trying to shame me for having the audacity of diagnosing the problem myself and telling them how to do their job. They said they would inspect master cylinder for defect if I wanted, but pedal was out of scope and would cost me extra. They claimed pedal was a matter of feel, which was plain wrong. They also said, again, that deeper diagnosis would cost extra. After going in circles with them for a bit, I renounced them in disgust. Found mechanic who took care to do it right, replaced master AND adjusted rod, and it's been fine ever since, more than 5,000 miles without a hitch. He 100% confirmed my diagnosis was correct, and it was failure to adjust pushrod that led to master cylinder fail, because if rod goes too deep, it compromises seals and air gets in, making pedal go soft. Now that I knew for sure, I contacted Schafer to request a refund. Their only reply was warranty was void because another shop had worked on it. WTF? I wrote back THREE MORE TIMES, giving them every chance to make amends, but they never replied. So, here I am, out $454 on a completely botched job by a business that cares more about bottom line than satisfying their customers. I'm just glad I didn't lose more to them, because given their fee structure it could have easily run to thousands. Nobody's perfect and we all make mistakes, but it's another thing to not acknowledge one's error and to refuse to make amends. I gave them every chance to "make it right," but they wouldn't listen and just blew me off in the end. Horrible experience. I wouldn't even trust them to reinstall that floormat. read more

Staff is kind and responsive and answered all of my questions. Glad I went here for my inspection and maintenance.

I think I finally found a mechanic I can trust. They were so nice and accommodating and they send you text notifications! They let you know what they found and what needs to be done via text so you can see and call them back to let them know what you wanna do. They also text you once your all set and ready to pick up your car. The best part however was that they give you a print out of your alignment and tire health so you get an actual image of your car so you can understand how off your car is. Def using these guys again. read more

Schafer's Auto Center - Auto Repair Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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excellent customer service, trained mechanics . family mechanic done right, retorted 2003 jeep, stolen at 300 miles , but satisfied with mechanics work , from wipers to shocks 5 plus stars happy customer!, motor flush, inspection read more

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I'd passed this place many times, but never actually gone in until I found a car that they were selling on Craigslist. I ended up buying the car (my first). Mike, was super professional and honest. I got a great deal. He walked me through the whole process and helped me at the notary. The sunglasses compartment didn't close properly and I needed to bring the car back for inspection a few days later. Between when I bought the car and that day it started making a weird noise. I called and let mike know. He was super helpful and understanding, and when I brought my car back in they replaced the front brakes for free (the source of the noise) and the sunglasses holder. I called a couple of times to check in on how things were going and every time the women who work at the counter were informative and polite. I can't recommend this place enough. Caring, honest, and trustworthy. I will he taking my 'new' car back here for inspections and tune ups. They make you feel like family. read more

The people at Schafer's are top notch. They always offer incredible customer service, but sometimes they just go above and beyond. I had my wife's car in for an inspection last week and it passed all the categories. I picked it up only to have the oil change light turn on a couple days later. I called them up to ask why they hadn't changed my oil when I had it in and they politely explained that oil changed or checks aren't part of the scope of a state inspection. Regardless they scheduled me the next day. Did it in under an hour and in the end, they didn't even charge me for it. This was above and beyond. I fully intended to pay for the oil change, I was just annoyed I had to come in twice. They recognized that and they took care of it. I can't recommend these guys highly enough. read more

I had a bad experience at Schaffer's auto center. I was told I needed tires during an inspection on a car that was fairly new. They would not release the car to me with the inspection sticker on it unless I bought the tires from them. I did it because I wanted my car but when I took it to my dealer they said I did not need tires. I feel like I was totally ripped off by them as a woman not knowing much about cars. They appear to be nice and friendly but they are not honest I do not recommend them at all read more

Fantastic service. Everyone I interacted with was professional and personable. The use of technology is well implemented and tuned to communicate just enough and quite effectively. Service is delivered efficiently, customer areas are spotless and I love having a same day turnaround. read more

I went here because it was conveniently located close to work. I went in for an inspection and they wanted close to $600 to change out my brakes to pass. I told them I would do it myself. Then they proceeded to tell me that there is no free retake of the state (safety) inspection. The inspection here cost me $90+ and then they wanted another $75 to test again. I called around to 3-4 other places and all of them do free retest and for a lower cost. $165+ for a state inspection? Get out of here. My local shop near my house does it for $65 with a free retest. Would not come out out of principle. Terrible Business practice. Edit. If you charge $43.18 for the safety inspection then why was I quoted $75 on the phone? Like I said other places stated they would do the safety inspection retest for free. They even balked at what you guys did. read more

This place is such a rip off. I went here a couple months ago because my car needed knew brake pads. They come out and say I will need about $1600 of work. I talked the price down to $1200 just for the brakes and spent the last 3 months paying it off. Not to mention whoever worked on our car forgot to put on a hubcap and when I drove back to get it, they couldn't find it. They kindly offered to give us all new hubcaps which was great except that they are trash and are already damaged from the wear and tear of philly roads. We foolishly came back a little after for our inspections and all of a sudden they are saying we need all new tires.... I got new tires a year ago!!!! Don't give this place your money as they definitely do their best to take advantage of you. It's one thing after the other with them. read more

Got a coupon in the mail for an oil change and figured we would try them out. We do our best to support the mom and pop shops around the city. After the oil change they presented us with all the things "wrong" with the vehicle that they were happy to fix for a high fee. One of the things they said needed to be replaced did NOT need replacing. We had already replaced it less than a year ago. When confronted with this information they said "oops, we must have made a mistake". Yeah, a $900 mistake?!?! No way. Beware of this place, especially if you don't know what's going on under your hood. read more

I would highly recommend Schafer's. I've been there 3-4 times in the past year and a half and happy every single time. I've had brakes, an oil change, and an inspection completed with them. My car has always been finished on time and once they even offered to wait there for me after they closed so that I could still pick it up that night as there was traffic. Really great, honest group of people. Nice to have a mechanic in the city who I can trust. read more

Schafer's is great! I have been going to them for almost 18 years ( minus a few while my Subaru was under warranty). I will always use them. They have always been fair and honest and the customer service has always been outstanding. They will order an Uber for you if waiting is not an option and the manager Michael will always make sure you are satisfied! Best place in Philly to have your car serviced. read more

Really great, friendly service. We found these guys on Yelp and saw their positive reviews so tried them out. My car needed four new tires, an oil change and an inspection. They were honest and up front all the way, even offering a free uber ride home and back again when they were done working! They send photos of any problems they encounter during the inspection and dont put any pressure on you to spend more money. They've checked in several times since we left, offering a free next oil change. We will definitely be back and highly recommend Schafer's! read more

I took my car for an annual state inspection to Schafer's and was taken advantage of. During my initial inspection there was approximately an estimated $1,200 in repairs that needed to be fixed. I had to fail the inspection and seek another Auto repair because the cost was so high. Following everything they had outlined that needed to be done I had everything fixed for nearly a fourth of the price. When I came back to Schafer's for the inspection they indicated there was an issue with my brake pad (I had just seen them a week prior and this was not recorded). The total cost was going to be an additional $600. I realized they were taking advantage of me and I left, once again having to fail inspection. I found a different local inspector who was so great, made sure everything was fixed and ready to pass - very inexpensive. The employees at Schafer's were condescending. I will NEVER come here again. read more

My car had 2 flats in a matter of one month not only did they provide a warm, friendly and professional atmosphere, but they provided entertainment for my kids! During their 5 point inspection, They also found issues with my brand new car that were never addressed by the dealership at the time I purchased the car or had it serviced. They are very thorough and helpful. I won't take my car anywhere else now. Thank you, schafer's for always making me feel like family. read more

Love to bring my car here for service. They are very courteous and professional. Also they do dealer quality work without the extravagant dealer prices. read more

I went to this shop twice. First visit was to install an exhaust system and second visit was to do a complete brake overhaul (calipers, rotors, brake lines and pads). I'm very much into cars and I'm also very particular who I take my car to. I normally take my car to a SAAB Specialist in the suburbs but after my second visit, I am confident they they do good work and the can knowledgeably service my SAAB instead of me going to the dealership or a SAAB specialist. In fact, I just referred another SAAB buddy of mine to try this shop out. Pricing is average for a mechanic however, I'm more interested in the quality of work. read more

Schafer's Auto Center - Auto Repair Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I just started using Schafers this year after years of being disappointed with other mechanics. Prices are reasonable and they always communicate what is going on. I tend to just drop my car off and come back when it is done. Unless something big is wrong I usually get my car back fast. Today. The day before thanksgiving they got me all fixed up and road ready. I was running a little late but they stuck around for a little bit to make sure I got my car. Good group there. read more

Great Customer service...exceeded all my expectations... digital inspection helps to understand what work needs to be completed on your vehicle.. would highly recommend. read more

I've been coming here for years. I don't think there is a better group of mechanics in the city. They are honest and decent people with reasonable prices. They have recently streamlined some of the business and making appointments and keeping track of oil changes is much easier. They called me to schedule the oil change! Granted the lady I spoke with failed to actually enter the appointment in the computer, I was still seen at my appt. time, and was out within the hour. Mike has always been a decent guy at the front. He has seen me through my crappy Lancer and now my more reliable Honda Fit. He always remembers me and always gives me the honest truth about what my car needs and what it can do without and for how long it can do without. They have in the past had some long wait times, and judging by other reviews they still have some issues with that. The past 2 times I went, I was in and out! Other times I just brought my computer and worked (free wifi there) in their cozy upstairs area that looks onto the garage and mechanics. But bottom line, I can handle a long wait time if needed b/c I know I am getting good work done by (I'll say it again) honest people. They won't rip me off, and they will do the job right. I think lots of other people know this too, and that is why they can have such long waits. I'm grateful for them. read more

I am a loyal Schafer's customer and highly recommend them to anyone. I had previously thought that I'd always get the best service from the car dealer. Wrong! Service dept at my Toyota dealer told me I needed a new transmission (which was only 3 years old and had been replaced while under warranty). Took to Schafer's for a second opinion and they said no need for that. They did a $200 repair and 18 months later the transmission is still going strong. I really have come to trust them and would recommend them without reservation. They care. read more

Y'all. These folks are so nice. I got sent over from Pep Boys because I needed to check out a slowly leaking tire. They do a brief but full inspection when they checked this. Takes like 25-30 min. For free. I found out that I had a few other things to replace but they didn't try to upsell me on anything (all the other services I specifically requested). The rates are hella reasonable ($30 oil change? $25 tire plug? Totes.) The waiting room is cozy lots of seating downstairs and up. They've got tv and AC. The upstairs has many outlets for your charging needs, and you can watch them do the work. They also have a kid space too. And nice bathrooms (single occupancy). Also they email you the entire check of their inspection!! Amazing. (Plus they answered all my panicked questions about what is wrong with my car and why are they doing this big inspection and how long will this take). 5 stars and I'll be seeing these folks for my future car stuff. read more

My husband and I have two cars with over 100k miles. So one of us always seems to be needing a repair. Although we are in walking distance of a large chain repair garage where we had nightmarish experiences, we always drive the few extra miles to Schafer's. Often we will leave the car the night before or super early in the morning. Employees are very polite and seem to know their stuff. Only once out of dozens of repairs have I had to go back because there was a small issue. They also installed and expensive part that I had shopped around for online very reasonably. The upstairs waiting area though not exactly pretty has free wifi and a tv. Currently the Oregon Diner has $10 off an oil change on their little paper place mats. Their coffee could use an upgrade, but I won't deduct stars since you're really not there for it! read more

Brought my car to Schafer's after it wouldn't start. I left it with them and was more than a little wary when they didn't quote me a price to diagnose my 10 year old car. Happily they were able to fix the problem (which turned out to be minor) for a low price. My initial concern was unfounded, and I'm totally happy with the repair and service. My only problem was that they took apart my rear bench seat to get at something and didn't put it back together. I had to go back and get one of the techs to come and reassemble it. (I tried it myself and couldn't get it to latch.) Not a major foul-up, but something that should have been taken care of before I picked it up. All in all, Schafer's is a gem of a garage. The staff was very friendly and helpful, the prices reasonable and the work was thorough and well done. They get serious bonus points for fixing my car quickly when I pushed it down the street and walked in. I'll definitely return there when I need service next. (Though I hope that's not too soon!) read more

Do not go here!!!!!! My co-workers and I use to go here out of convenience but this place is awful!! They are way over priced first of all! I took my car here for an alignment and when I left the car was pulling so hard to the left I could barely drive straight. I took it back and didn't get any real apology and they said their machine wasn't working properly. I got an oil change in my suv and they told me they topped all my fluids off. Well, on my way home my car starts over heating and I look and there is not one drop of coolant in my car! I have story after story of bad service this place has done to my co-workers and I. Don't waste your money!! read more

Can't say enough about Schafer's!! They are reasonably priced, and tell you like it is. No extreme mark up on the parts like some garages, you'll just be paying for labor. Have taken in my own parts and had them used on my car when making repairs. They tell you they can't guarantee your part, but if it saves you money, and you know the part is reliable, this is your place!!! All the mechanics are nice, and Bill at the front desk is a doll!! They are first come, first serve (no appointments). But if you call to see if they can fit you in, Bill will do his best to hold you a spot in line. read more

Someone stole my catalytic converter. My regular mechanic's price to fix it was too high so they recommended Schafer's. The were courteous, friendly and fixed the problem fast. It ended up saving me quite a bit of money and the car actually sounds better than before the converter was stolen. I recommend getting there when they open as they serve people on first come first served basis and it sounds like they get pretty busy as the day goes on. read more

Always accommodating, always friendly, and always professional, I've only had good experiences here. After experiencing a "hiccup" in my engine for several months but with no check engine light, My boss recommended I try Schafers. These guys were the only shop in town who were able to diagnose the problem and fix it. Another HUGE plus is the upstairs waiting area with free wifi and tables so I can work while waiting for my car! read more

Took my car here a few days ago after a referral from another auto shop. They saved me almost $600 because they're honest, and they've got a welder in house. Furthermore, I was just planning on having them look at it, as it was late in the day and they closed in two hours. After putting my car on the lift, they said it'd be an easy fix and they could finish it in a hour before close. Awesome. Unlike most places they all get paid hourly, not commission or per job, so there's no incentive to rush to get more jobs finished. Definitely worth coming here. Only down side for me is they're a little out of the way - I can't just walk here. Oh well, it's worth it. read more

They take such good care of your car and your needs. Always treated with respect. Let you know every step of the way what's going on. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a good shop. read more

RIPOFF ARTIST - STAY AWAY!! I took my car to Schafer b/c of leaking brake fluid. I specifically requested for them to look at this issue and let me know what they find. They said to look at the car they charge $79 plus tax - no problem I get it. The next day I received a text with photos of my car and a list of various unrelated issues they suggested I should fix which totaled $2,700.00. When I called the shop I spoke to Armon who tried to use fear based sales tactics trying to convince me my car needed this extra work none of which was related to the brake fluid problem. When I asked Armon for a price on fixing the brake fluid leak he said they would do it for $720. but would make me sign a release that would release them from liability. I quickly realized these people are FOS, liars, and not to be trusted. When I went to pick up my car I was greeted by a super rude women who warned me to be careful driving my car b/c the breaks were low so I asked her if I could purchase break fluid from her and she said she wouldn't sell it to me. I guess you can call that passive aggressive. She couldn't have been nastier and was totally pissed I was on to their scamming BS and taking my car elsewhere. Armon was there but didn't have the balls to look at me b/c he as well realized I was on to his scamming BS and I know a few things about cars (totally caught in lies). Long story short, I drove safely to another local shop and they repaired my brake fluid leak - the whole job cost $149.00 parts and labor included from a very honest and skilled mechanic. Do yourself a favor and stay away from Schafer's Auto, they prey on people who do not understand cars, they over sell and over charge for repairs that are not needed. read more

Great service, all the time. Detailed report on findings. I would highly recommend Schafers to anyone.

Taking my car here for years. Have to agree since Bill is gone leaves a lot to be desired. I had a sway bar replaced there and just had to put a new one in today. Think they should last longer than 2 years IF it's new. Had power steering column replace, broke again the next week. Every time you go there it's a new problem. Found someone new, tired of getting ripped off. They never call you, you have to call them and ask about your car. My new place calls within a hour with a price, fixes it and call back again, all before 12:00. Way better. read more

So happy I found this place. These guys are awesome. They take great care of my car, explain everything, don't sell you what you don't need and most importantly I trust them. Michael is great and periodically checks in to make sure everything is still going well with my car! read more