My friend (a 30-year-old woman) brought her 1969 VW Beetle to Clayton Scudder on 11/20/25 at 9 AM for a brake failure. She filled out a contact card and took an Uber to work. She expected a master brake cylinder issue. He verbally quoted ~$300 and said he'd call back. Around 11:30 AM he left her a voicemail quoting over $600 and said the car wouldn't be ready until Monday. She didn't have the funds and did not authorize the repair. She asked me to call and advise him that I would send AAA to tow it. When I called, he claimed "another man" had already authorized the work (untrue) and said we could not pick up or tow the vehicle because he had "already started" and had the wheels off. He became hostile and hung up. My friend called him herself and repeated she had not authorized any repairs. He argued, insisted someone else authorized it, and told her she now owed him $605 or he would "take all the new parts back off" and had already thrown her old brakes in the trash. 11/21/25 - Attempt to pick up the vehicle I escorted her to the shop around 4:15 PM. He demanded full payment in cash and presented a paper with charges. I cited the Nevada statutes that regulate auto repair shops: * NRS 487.6871 - Customer Bill of Rights must be posted conspicuously. * NRS 487.6875 - Written estimate required for repairs over $50. * NRS 487.6877 - Additional authorization required for charges exceeding 20% or $100 above estimate. He first said he "didn't know what I was talking about." After I continued citing the requirements, he became visibly hostile toward his own customer. When I warned I would call Sparks PD, he said he "didn't care about cops." I stepped outside and initiated a 911 call. During the call, he escalated: he took her keys, moved the vehicle against her protests, physically repositioning the car while she stood behind it, and then locked it inside his garage. I filmed the incident. He was also informed that disposing of replaced parts violated: * NRS 487.6883 - Right to inspect/retain replaced parts. * NRS 487.6889 - Failure to comply = deceptive trade practice. Additionally, his behavior fell under Nevada's Deceptive Trade Practices Act: * NRS 598.092 - False/misleading statements by a business. SPD arrived (case number included in attached photo). Officers reviewed the situation and negotiated a release. The "gag order" demand He offered to release the vehicle only if: 1. She paid $450 cash, and 2. We agreed to no Yelp review or negative online posts. I told SPD that any "no review" demand is an illegal gag clause under NRS 597.995, and that I would not waive my First Amendment rights. SPD agreed. My friend did not have cash, only a debit card. He ultimately charged her two identical transacation. She recovered her vehicle, which is now driving properly, and the officers closed the call. Relevant Nevada laws implicated by his conduct * NRS 487.6871 - Failure to post required Customer Bill of Rights * NRS 487.6875 - No written estimate provided * NRS 487.6877 - Unauthorized additional charges * NRS 487.6883 - Failure to provide replaced parts * NRS 487.6889 - Deceptive trade practices (auto repair) * NRS 598.0923 - General deceptive trade practices * NRS 487.688 - Unlawful retention of vehicle * NRS 205.0832 - Conversion/theft (retaining property after demand for return) * NRS 205.300 - Extortion-like conduct * NRS 200.471 - Intimidation (depending on behavior) * NRS 597.995 - Illegal "no negative review" clause Summary Mr. Scudder was repeatedly hostile, refused to release the vehicle, falsely claimed authorization, discarded her old parts, locked her car in his garage, demanded cash only, attempted to enforce a gag order, and double-charged her card -- requiring police intervention to retrieve her own property. Based on my direct experience, documentation, and police involvement, I strongly recommend avoiding this shop, especially if you are a woman, young person, or anyone who may be vulnerable to coercive tactics. read more

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Please read the attached images of the letter I wrote to Clayton Scudder, of Scudder's Performance, after he built me a sub standard engine and charged a premium. I sent this letter to him asking him to do the right thing, and I received no response. I think others should know what kind of business person he is. Choose someone else to go to for service, engines, and overall customer service. read more

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Amazing shop with amazing people. Helped us when we had issues twice in Reno, out of town. Highly recommend. So much love for this place. read more

Scudders Performance - Auto Repair Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

What a great place at night... The VM mounted atop the roof is worth the stop. https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_siri/49445022516/in/dateposted-public/ Have Fun! read more

Scudders Performance - Scudders Performance at night. - Auto Repair Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

Called and he had the rear fresh air tin for my 1200 engine. Part is very difficult to locate and not offered by VW parts websites. Price paid was very fair. Nice talking about vintage VDubs, also. Thank you my friend! read more

Scudders Performance - part I needed in great condition. - Auto Repair Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

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Excellent high quality place--whenever Clayton works on my Kharman Ghia, it runs even better. Excellent honest mechanic I have know for decades. In fact I am still running the Ghia on an engine he rebuilt about twenty years ago and is still performing well. Really knows what he is doing when it comes to air cooled VW's. All kinds of experience to include building racing engines. When you find mechanics this good, you hope they never retire. I wish I could get him to work on all my classic cars but he pretty much specializes these days. read more

I had patronized the business for almost 10 years. When my transmission failed, the owner contracted the work. The subcontractor botched the job, leaving one critical part out during reassembly. About a week later, the subcontractor went out of business. Then my transmission sheared and seized. Scudder would not "make good" on the incompetence of his subcontractor, and I had to eat $1400. I took the vehicle to AAMCO and got a professional job. I was ripped off by Scudder because he does not warrant his work--- or the work of his subcontractors--- which is the same thing, and I was a loyal and longstanding customer. Seriously unethical practices here: do not patronize. read more

I don't know why he doesn't have 5 stars. I went to scudders performance for some used parts when my car was hit. Clayton was very cool and gave me a shop tour. He showed me pictures of cars that he built and told me stories about some cars that he raced. I can tell that he takes pride in his work. He has an organized back yard with used parts that are still good. I bought a bumper and some bumper mounts that shined right up with some paint and metal polish. I saw a review by Lou I. stating that he over payed for an engine. It's funny that he's complaining on Yelp and complaining about how he over payed when he handed over the money himself. I personally think his engines are worth every penny, since he only builds them with german parts. I got my engine rebuilt with Brazilian and mexican parts by a mechanic in california, but i could've bought an engine for 100 bucks more from clayton with german parts. read more

Clayton has been working on my 1968 Beetle for years. He is the BEST in town! Everything from clutch and brake master cylinder replacement to a busted accelerator cable, he has always delivered. He is a one-man shop, but has always delivered on time and on budget! read more

First, very pricey. Second, bought a engine there(overpayed) and three weeks later realize that could not use it, had sold the project. Tried to return the engine, but owner would not take it, even paying a restocking fee. On future projects i will not do any business there. read more

I was having trouble getting my carbs dialed in after a smog check and another local repair shop just couldn't get them right. Long story short, Clayton took real good care of me and my truck and got it running great for not much money. My truck is fun to drive, starts cold, no missing, no flat spot. I'm thrilled! read more

Had high expecatations for this shop. Lots of great talk about this shop around town. Good work. Good service. Semi pricey

Owner is a crook had to pay him for messing up my transmission only would expect cash and was very rude on the phone. Not willing to help in any way very unhappy. read more

Clayton Schudder is not to be trusted and completely incompetent! I entered an agreement with him last November of 2018, and after paying him upfront over $9,000 for a total engine rebuild, he still has not returned my Son's VW Vanagon in an acceptable, dependable and safe running condition. After taking 6 months to complete the work and then telling me "it runs great, just needs to be driven", I experienced 5 separate times being left stranded on the road and had to tow the vehicle back to his shop at my expense. Twice I avoided near major accidents when the vehicle post all power. Clayton showed no concern for my Son's or my personal safety, and to date has still not fixed this never ending problem. All this after completing an initial diagnostics and assuring me that the vehicle would run like new! I would not trust him and will see him in court. My personal patience is over and you should take your business elsewhere... he even has the nerve to ask me for another $400...what a snake salesman...do not trust the bugman! read more