Amazing service and response to my calls and I will recommend them to everyone for service on their imports, went about there competition, thanks again guys at SWEDISH AUTO SERVICE....... read more

Swedish Auto Service - Auto Repair Near Me - Austin, Texas

I took my 2018 Volvo XC90 for a check up and they were honest, thorough and quick to get me the answers I needed. I also appreciated the fact that they could have charged me for the check up, but they didn't. Good people and great service, I will be back! read more

Great service on my 2014 Volvo XC70they even did some much needed body work, and stay in touch with me about Maintenance, also very reasonable prices! Thanks! read more

Follow up to my previous review below: I went back in to have a follow up inspection done on a repair I had previously paid for (at the request of the shop to ensure the work done was still good) and was refused service because of my review. Refused to check their own work that I paid almost a grand for! I find it comical that the owner can reply to other reviews yet cannot reply or return my call. Furthermore, the shop service writer has got to be the most unprofessional individual I've ever met at a shop. Keep in mind, in my previous profession I strictly dealt with auto repair shops so I have been exposed to dozens of repair shops. To say he is the most unprofessional says a lot. When he refused service to me he couldn't even look me in the eye. He simply waved his hand and said that he was informed to refuse service to me based in my review. I'm not sure what to really think at this point other than the owner and his service writer have no morals or sense of how business actually works. No sense of self accountability or integrity as well. If I could give zeros stars I absolutely would. I would encourage anyone with any sense to pick a different repair shop for your needs. I would even consider the dealer at this point since they are overpriced anyway. At least if you take it to the dealer they will treat you with respect and follow up with you. Avoid these guys at all cost! read more

Swedish Auto Service - Auto Repair Near Me - Austin, Texas

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They pretty much open whenever they feel like it. I called on Wednesday and Thursday to ask what time I can bring in my Volvo for my mileage maintaince on a Friday. Both times, the guy said to bring it by at 8AM. I figure, sure no problem. I double-check the website to make sure this place was open (website says 7:30AM is when they open) so I bring it by around 8:15AM. The place was still not open yet and a gentleman was also sitting in his car waiting for it to open. After about an hour of just sitting and waiting for someone to get there to open, I had to get going as I was already late for work. So, I made an appointment at another service center. I would get it if this were a one time mix-up but this has actually happened the last 2 times I've been there. Taking my business elsewhere. read more

My car had some issues and we were told by another auto shop that we were going to need a specific part replaced that would cost a TON! Luckily we went to Swedish auto to get a second opinion and sure enough.... it was A LOT more affordable than the other shop and they did an amazing job! Thanks Swedish Auto for taking care of us and saving us some money in the process!!! I'll definitely be reffing people over to you! read more

After my experiences with Volvo Austin, I needed to find an alternative place to service my 2017 Volvo. I am pleased with the service I received and will be a long time customer going forward. read more

unfortunately, they were not specialized enough to fix my air conditioning problem on my 2012 Volvo xc 90. they quickly decided to do a $2500 compressor/condenser change and it did nothing for my car. took it back and they offered to swap it out with a new one. this place is not qualified to make an educated diagnosis. I would never take my car there again. read more

Ok - new to town, have a slow cranking 1989 Volvo. I do some digging around online, and this place seems like it might be the right one. I make an appointment, show up and ask that they test my battery to make sure it is good because my car is hard starting. They say they tested the battery and it held a load, but that it was my fuel intake valve that was bad. 200$ later my car is still running like crap and starting hard. I take it back the next day and have them look at it again - this time it is my fuel sensor that is bad. 180$ later my car is still running crappy and not starting sometimes. I took it to the Firestone up the street, and whaddya know - it was a bad battery. I didn't have any way to test it, and I took Swedish Auto at their word that my battery tested good. 400$ down the tubes, and I'm still looking for a replacement Volvo mechanic now that I'm in Austin. Let me also say that all the other Volvos and SAABS that were in there were much newer than mine and probably had a computer output code for whatever might be wrong with the car. I didn't get the impression that anyone there knew anything about mechanics other than hooking them up to the computer to find out what the error code was. 1989 Volvo's don't have error codes, and require real mechanics with knowledge not just a computer. read more

Swedish Auto Service - Google Street View - Auto Repair Near Me - Austin, Texas

These guys do a decent job and are adequate as far as technical ability goes. Given that Saab is bankrupt, there are not a ton of options to service Saabs by people that know what they are doing. The customer service team, led by Shidon is also friendly, courteous and responsive. What bugs me however are the crazy prices they charge. I understand they are a for-profit business and wouldn't be bothered if they made a decent profit on service or even parts. I recently got my car fixed there and was stunned to find that they marked up the cost of parts they used by my car by as much as 200%. A part they used I found a dealer selling for $200, they charged me $500 for. Both were identical, new parts. So even though I use these guys, I wish they ran their business a bit more ethically and didn't charge ridiculous prices and were a bit fairer. read more

No bullshit atmosphere. We didn't get hit with annoying sales pitches. They responded very quickly. Straight to the point and we love our Volvo XC90! read more

Had been taking my Volvo to Swedish for years and was very happy with service but recent mismanagement under new owners and staff has caused me to move to a new mechanic. Similar to Sean's review, I also received terrible customer service related to scratches on my car on two separate occasions. I brought this up to the front desk manager and was not given a solution to my concerns. Also was not allowed to contact the owner when requesting his contact information. I mailed a letter explaining my concerns, damage to my car, and did not hear back. Bad customer service. read more

I have always taken good care of my vehicle, but only so much I can do. For the repairs I go to Swedish Auto Service. These guys take great car of my car. I would not take it anywhere else unless they recommend it. These guys does an excellent job. Thanks for the services. read more

Great customer service. Excellent work. Very pleased with their diagnostic skills on my SAAB.

Brought it in for a check engine light that my car had... I can't remember what they thought was the problem, they replaced it, cost us money, and the engine light still kept coming on. Brought it to the dealership and they found it out right away that it was the breather box malfunctioning. I'll give them a benefit of the doubt tho and give them 2 instead of a 1 star because other places were having trouble figuring out the problem as well. read more

This review is long-over due, but man is it due. I brought my Saab to Swedish Auto Service for 3-4 years. I always trusted what they said even though they could never fix a problem without having to go in 3-4 times. I figured - my car was old and that was the real problem. Before I drove the rickety thing cross-country to Los Angeles for a move, I brought it in for a complete tune-up (the last thing I wanted was to get stuck in the desert). I noticed servarl problems along the way, nothing major, but thought I'd bring it to my family's mechanic in Los Angeles. He made it clear the engine hadn't been touched in years. They didn't change my transmission fluid or spark plugs, or anything else associated with a tune up. As an inexperienced college girl, I never checked up on their work - and apart from bringing my car here that was my biggest mistake. read more

The mechanics here seem to be qualified and experienced, but unfortunately, I am not able to establish a trusting relationship with the owner Shidan. I've had my Saab serviced there for about two years, and noticed some consistent trends: 1) the cost for the repair is consistently more expensive than originally anticipated...never had it go the other way; 2) it is never ready in a reasonable time frame or when I am told it will be; 3) there is always something more complicated about the repair than originally thought. These observations aren't just based on one or two visits. This is a trend over a couple years. My last visit a couple weeks ago was the final visit because, for the prices that they charge, I am confident there is a better shop out there. My advice is to keep looking. read more

Cannot say enough great things about the team at Swedish auto service. I've had my S60 serviced there for 4 years and always experienced exceptional service. I experienced family emergency today requiring me to drive 13 hours tomorrow. The guys got me in with no problem, did a complete service and ensured my car was safe and sound did my long trip tomorrow. Thank you Cameron and team!! read more

I used Swedish Auto Service on a recommendation. I had a standard service (60K) performed and also a battery replacement. This came it an $900 which I thought was high but since it was the first time I had such service done in the USA U accepted it. I've since seen on repairpal.com that this would should have cost no more than $500. I've subsequently used other shops for work and this price seems more consistent. These guys charge too much. In addition before I had my eyes opened I called to set up an appointment for some work. They couldn't create an appointment for some reason at that time, and promised to call me back. I didn't hear back from them several days later so called back again. Once again, I got a promise of a callback which never came so I gave up. Save yourself some money and go somewhere else. read more

After searching for years to find an honest mechanic the search is finally over. No hassle, knowledgeable service.

I totally agree with Austin G.'s review. I only went there a few times last year. Shidon (sp?) is not the owner, but I believe he runs most of the operation. To give them credit, he and my mechanic were nice and seemed fairly knowledgeable (but remember, cars are cars). But in the end, they are running a business and of course, the goal of a business is to make as much profit as possible. As "Austin G." said, 1) They seem to do more than might be necessary. Which maybe they might be saving you trouble down the road, but remember these are Swedish cars, there's usually not much more road. So don't jump to fix everything at once. It adds up. 2) Like 98% of shops, they upcharge a lot on the parts. In doing so, they can show off how they charge less than the dealer for labor charges. (Duh, never go to the dealer!) 3) They took longer than expected to do the job without ever telling you why. I was so tired in the end of the car itself and everything that I didn't bother to ask why. Overall, if you are considering buying a Swedish car or any European car for that matter, DO NOT...unless you have money to burn. It doesn't seem to matter if it is new or old. If you have one, consider selling it:) Otherwise, stick to Japanese ones. If you have the money, buy an Acura or Infiniti and you'll get a nice car that keeps its value and with way less hassles in the future. read more

When something went out on my SAAB, I emailed these guys randomly after reading many places online how bad Roger Beasley Saab is. On a weekend when they are closed they managed to have an email conversation with me and help me to identify the issue and the best course of action to get my car fixed. Simply due to that experience and the fact that someone is checking the email on a weekend and was willing to help me out during their off hours is fantastic. I have continued to come here for subsequent service and found them to be reliable, quality, and very affordable. If you have a swedish car, this is the place to take it. read more

No one wants to get a call from the shop informing them their car needs $1,500 worth of repairs. But when you know for a fact from your research (and a quote from another repair shop) that it could've easily been $4000 or more, it is actually a pretty big relief. Anyone who owns a Saab knows that having one is a financial hazard. The parts are just more expensive, the issues more complex, and the technicians specially trained, so they can charge more for labor. It's immediately clear just from a phone call to Swedish Auto Services that these guys know what they're doing. And I know from experience and comparison shopping that they're really conscientious, so you can rest easy knowing they're giving you the best deal on parts they have access to and being honest about the hours your repair service will take. Plus, they usually throw in a couple goodies/small services for free to cushion the fall when you have a big repair to take care of (I hope I'm not getting in trouble here - no guarantees!). They go out of their way to help you with every question and concern you walk in with, even the ones that won't earn them any money. The person below me is right that Asian cars are cheaper. But Saabs and Volvos (at least the pre-GM ones) have character and style and a driving feel that I don't think you can get from an Acura or any other non-European car, for that matter. It's like what Shidan(?) told me: "What you've got is a truly exotic car, somewhere between a Volkswagen and a Porsche. And it drives like that, too." read more

You will most likely pay SAAB/Volvo prices to get your Swedish car repaired here (but far less than an actual dealer!) but you can bet your bottom dollar they'll know how to do the job right. We have brought our SAABs (900S & 9-3) in to Shiridan (owner) & SAS for over a year now with many major and minor issues (starter motors to brake mounts to oxygen sensors) and have had them returned to us with stellar results. We've made the mistake of taking our cars to shops closer by but ended up having more damage done to them in the long run. We'd just end up taking them back out to SAS anyway to get them fixed all over again. Apparently not too many mechanics in the Austin area have even the remotest idea on how a SAAB functions (certain give away sign: mechanic doesn't know where the key ignition is...). Most balk at even wanting to work on them. So, don't take any unnecessary risks with your SAAB or Volvo; these guys are the real deal. Two thumbs up for sassy SAS. read more

These guys are great. I have a Saab and until recently had a Volvo, and had to take both cars in on many occasions (This shop is great - I wouldn't wish a Swedish car on my worst enemy). For some of the problems, the fix was minor enough that they didn't charge us a single penny. This was multiple occasions. And when a repair is required they are upfront and accurate (you will pay what they say you will pay). They charge around $80 per hour for service, but that's standard for competent European car repair. I can't say enough good things about this place. They almost, ALMOST make me want to keep my Saab just because I've finally found a good garage. read more

Swedish Auto is the only place I trust with my Saab! I've been going there for years. They are super nice and are great at communicating the status of your repairs. read more

Very impressed with these guys so far. The 1st shop I came across that didn't try to gouge me to diagnose check engine light on my 2013 Volvo Xc90. I will definitely be doing business with them in the future! read more

Shidon and staff are fantastic and honest. I've been coming here since 2006 with my S60 and have had nothing but great service. They communicate very well and there's never any misunderstanding. Also there's never pressure that I HAVE to fix everything. The suggested items are listed and I can get to them when I can get to them... obviously safety items are immediate! The mechanics come out and will answer any questions. The lobby is clean with free wifi and if you're really bored, head across the street to the Asian Market for some Pho or Korean BBQ! read more

Speaking poorly of people brings me no pleasure, but the public should know this place over charges and even verbally abuses their customers because they are emboldened being the only SAAB specific shop in town. I was a happy repeat customer, and didn't mind paying more here than any place else because I though they could better service my SAAB being a SAAB only shop. I was always very polite and felt I had created a good rapport with all I interfaced with, in particular the head manager who I spoke with at length. I even went out of my way to return a wrench one of their mechanics accidentally left under my hood. Upon going in for an oil change, I asked how much it was to replace my key at which I was told two fifty. Now I had never replaced a key fob and didn't realize he meant $250. When he handed me the bill I expressed this and said I was unprepared to pay that amount that day, but I would be happy to come back at a later time and do so. The gentleman who I later found out to be the owner then exploded, twice saying I must have a low IQ thinking that, and threatened to call the police. I sincerely apologized to him for my misunderstanding, saying in my defense only that car service providers generally had me sign the bill ahead of time so there was clarity. Being a man of my word, I called back at a later time to double check they still had the key which I was prepared to pay for in full even though I thought the miscommunication was primarily their mistake. The head manager who I was now speaking with yelled at me that the price had now doubled. After calmly reiterating the story to him, he then began to yell insults at me like you're an idiot, you're stupid and then he just began repeating over and over you're a thief. I said sir if I was a thief, I wouldn't have brought back the wrench your mechanic left in my engine. I wouldn't be standing by my word to come back later to pay you for this overpriced key fob which I looked up online and cost less than $20. I even tried to level with him by saying sir, my business hasn't been that good and I simply couldn't then afford that with this economy. At this he says the economy is just fine I don't know what you're talking about. I finally asked him do you realize that by being inflexible you're losing twice? You're losing the money for the key which can be given to no one else since he programmed it to my car, and you're losing a repeat customer. Then he says you've only been here five times, you're not that good of a customer and we're the only SAAB shop in town so you have to pay what I say. At this I realized that as unpleasant as the interaction might have been, it was worth going through to discover their dishonest and dishonorable conduct which I can in no right mind ever do business with again. read more

If you have a colicky Saab and are losing sleep I have two words to recommend this shop, "Saab whisperers". My fiance's Saab 900 had a temperamental AC system, meaning sometimes it would work, sometimes it would belch hot breath, sometimes it would blow mist, sometimes the digital display would be in Celsius, other times it would be in Fahrenheit, if it was really acting up it would be on a scale from 0-8 or it would just blink. I finally had enough and decided to get it working right, plus 105 degree weather is a good motivator too. Regardless before coming to their shop, their competition diagnosed our 95 Saab as needing a new compressor / condenser AC computer overhaul. 3 different opinions quoted ridiculous prices as high as $2200.00 I was thinking holy crap, we drive a Saab not a space shuttle. The skilled mechanics at Swedish took one look at it and diagnosed the problem as a faulty expansion valve, They replaced this simple part and properly charged our system for $450. So here we are +1 month afterwords and the climate control display is back to Fahrenheit and we can now hang meat in the back seat. (its blissfully cold) Definitely our one stop shop from now on. read more

I couldn't be happier with Swedish Auto for my s40 volvo. I got tired of the volvo dealer's super high price for the normal maintenance when nothing was wrong. SAS was so easy with the rental care service that picks you up and I had my car back the next day. Went again recently and Shiidon told me it was a $600 repair but it would be covered by the dealership if I went there. He even called and checked the VIN number. An honest and helpful mechanic, I'm loyal forever. I recommend SAS to all volvo owners. read more

I brought my Volvo in on a tow truck and the team at Swedish auto got me back on the road the same day. I am very happy with this shop and will be coming back. read more

I have been trusting the care of my 2013 Volvo XC60 to the Swedish Auto Services team since moving to Austin a couple of years ago. I am able to get on their schedule quickly and am always satisfied with the service I receive. I don't believe the charges have ever exceeded the estimate that I was presented with prior to the commencement of work. I would recommend Swedish Auto Services to anyone ... even my Mom! read more

CUSTOMERS BEWARE!!!! READ THIS REVIEW!!!!! OK - so 2 sundays ago (3/16/14), I'm driving my 2007 volvo S40 down the highway, and suddenly I get a notification on my dash that says "shift up or slow down" when I was in automatic mode at a low RPM (2500 rpm)... I suddenly felt a very hard shudder, and immediately following there was a loud clacking noise every time I would press the gas and then my oil light came on. i immediately pulled over, turned my car off, popped the hood, and oil was all over the back side of the motor, exhaust manifold, lower suspension and steering components.. while waiting on the tow truck i tried to start the car and zero signs of life from the motor. no compression, just the sound of my starter.. so i have it towed to swedish auto whom i trusted per the reputation i had heard about and the fact that i had called and spoken with Shidan a few times over the years about various issues... i talked to shidan on monday and was told to call back the next day for diagnosis. i call on tuesday and his exact words were "you're engine is toast, upper engine damage, but you'd have to pay us more labor hours to give you any more information". told me i owed an hours worth of labor for diagnosis. but he said minimum price to fix would be $2500 or $5000 if the entire motor needs to be replaced so i go there yesterday to get some personal items from my car (3/24/14), he calls my name and the first thing out of his mouth is "ok $95.47" and i said i'd like to talk about the car a tiny bit first.. me: "what's wrong with the car? any specific information at all about what happened?" shidan: "there is motor damage, you'd have to pay more money for us to pull the motor apart" me: "where did all of the oil come from? there has to be some opening in the motor that allowed oil to spew everywhere.." shidan: "im not the one that looked at your car, but i will go talk to him" (comes back a few minutes later) "your radiator reservoir was low and your piston rings burned up and all the oil came out of your oil fill cap and thats what blew your motor" me: "that's DEFINITELY NOT what happened, the top of my motor is spotless, if oil would've spewed out of my oil cap it would be all over the top of the motor and all over the underside of the hood.. the oil is all over my exhaust manifold and lower suspension" shidan: (in a defensive tone) "well lets go look at it right now then." as we are walking through the garage he says "we didn't put it on the lift" but didn't give me any explanation why we get there and pop the hood, and just like i had said the engine was completely clean. i continue to explain how oil would be everywhere on top of my engine if what he had explained to me had happened. me: "this is a full blown shop (volvo specialist on top of that) and you can't even tell me where the oil is coming from? not even an accurate general area? what did you guys do for this hour that you want me to pay $100 for? if you want me to pay you i need some type of documentation saying (at least generally anyway) what is wrong with the motor... i knew that i had engine trouble when i was broken down in the parking lot, i didn't need to pay someone $100 to state the painfully obvious" so then his attitude goes from defensive to rude and he says "here's your key, we are done here... i'll just pay my mechanic for diagnosing your car, this is ridiculous" and starts to walk inside the shop away from me i left and had the car towed away about an hour later my guess is that they tried to start the car, it didn't start. then popped the hood and saw the oil and said "motor must be screwed up" and shut the hood, and printed out and invoice for $95... to anyone reading, I just don't want anyone else to be taken advantage of like they tried to do to me. i understand that the majority of people don't know their foot from their ass when it comes to cars and mechanics. I'm just scared to think about how many people this has possibly happened to, or will happen to in the future. hopefully the yelp review will be read by swedish auto and they will think twice next time they want to make a quick buck of an "unsuspecting" customer and remember when that customer (me) knew more than they anticipated and they got calle rout on it.. ***THE LESSON TO BE LEARNED HERE IS BELOW SO SWEDISH AUTO PAY ATTENTION*** 1.) if you're going to lie, make sure the person you're lying to won't know any better... I'm not some oblivious old woman that is easy to take advantage of. i know about cars and am pretty good at working on them and being caught in a bold faced lie must've been pretty embarrassing. LOL 2.) if you don't do the work, don't charge the customer. i don't know what all your accountant knows, but i wouldn't guess ya'll are doing that bad as much as ya'll charge for labor, and the up-charge on OEM volvo parts that you would feel the need to cheat someone out of $100.. and I've reached the character max. I'm done :) read more

My first experience with this shop was last year when my 2009 Saab 9-3 died on me. At 144,000 miles, she's been around the block. Turned out the computer went bad. George and the mechanics got me back up and running. They were a pleasure to deal with and knew exactly what was wrong with my Saab. Six months later they got me up and running again when my #2 ignition coil went out. I had serviced my car at Firestone and Goodyear Service Center previously since its convenient living in Kyle TX. But after my first experience, I immediately realized the 45 min drive to Swedish Auto Service is totally worth it! read more

As a women, I truly respect when a auto mechanic shop is completely honest and upfront with you on what needs to be taken care of now, and what could wait. As a Saab owner, I'm sure you know, its hard to find a mechanic that genuinely knows how to work on these complex automobiles. My mother blindingly has been coming to this mechanic shop for a few years now, so on those experiences I have no information. She recently upgraded to a 2006 Saab 9-3 Convertible, and gave me her old 1999 Saab 9-3 Convertible. Shortly after receiving this vehicle a huge problem started happening. I could only go 20 miles before my car would overheat and coolant fluid would spill out. At the time I had no idea what this problem was (please forgive my obvious lack of education when it comes to cars as I now know it was my radiator) so I took my car to Swedish Auto Service because that's where my moms been taking it for so long. When I get there, I'm forced to wait for SEVEN HOURS in the waiting room while they fix my car, given they did come and tell me what needed to be fixed before doing so without my consent, so I will give them that. After waiting for so long, they told me that the problem was with my temperature thermostat sensor and my safety sensor (which i still believe THEY BROKE in the process). SOOO $600 later I leave the Swedish Auto Service ONLY TO FIND THAT MY CAR OVERHEATS AFTER 20 MILES AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! I had a old friend whom was a mechanic at BMW for awhile come over to figure out what was going on, and in ONLY 4 minutes....he found that there was just a HUGE whole in my radiator! After $600 they didn't fix the ORIGINAL problem that I went in there with. They may not seem like a lot to some people, but to me, that's a heck of a lot of money WASTED. All it was, was a hole in my radiator.....thats it!!!! Not only that, but the owner is a stuck up, egotistical jerk that definitely condescends to his customers Please, save your money and heartache and find somewhere else that works on Saabs. read more

This is the fairest automotive repair facility in Austin. Each instance I had service, the work to be done was always straight forwardly explained. I was given options and explained the pros and cons of each choice. The work was always done on time and at the price quoted. I never received calls with 'additional things that came up' during the repairs, adding to the bill. They are friendly and courteous and I would highly recommend these folks for your Volvo or Saab. read more

I feel OK reviewing my experience here now since I won't be going back again. Don't discount this as a throwaway one-time-bad-experience review, I have service history with this place since I brought my car there the first time last year. Since then I've had them do an RMS (which while they were doing recommended me a clutch install which I KNEW I didn't need but pulled the trigger on anyway because I had just bought the car off Craigslist, give me a break), I've had to bring it back soon due to a radiator leak, they replaced the whole thing. Soon afterward the steering rack was leaking, and that entire thing needed replacing and here's when we get to the last straw I had with them. Understand, this car has been a project car, not some beater I'm trying to get to work every day in. I mostly sit in the garage and look at this thing because I like it so much. I don't daily it, so there's no possible way this much wear could've occurred in between the times I was bringing it to this shop. I was pretty sure I was being lied to, but I had no way to be sure because these guys have a response to get out of anything, it seems. I was treated like garbage from the moment I walked in the door, was told I had no idea what I was talking about several times, and refused unnecessary services several times before they stopped calling me altogether when they wanted to do something extra to my car. I only got 1 call and that was to tell me that my car was ready to be picked up. I arrived to find that the price I was being charged was nowhere near what I was quoted and the tech never mentioned that I needed new tie rods/ends and never bothered to inform me. After all the thousands of dollars I've spent at this shop, I refused to pay for any of the extra items I wasn't quoted for or called about and the tech got all sheepish and continued to lie that they're legally liable for my safety to excuse attempting to scam me out of a pitiful $150. Either way, I closed out with the tech and we shook hands and kindly took my business elsewhere and was appalled by how many other people shared my experience. Another local SAAB owner urged me to post my experiences after hearing I had the same issues with this place they had. Shortly after posting, I was contacted by Kamran, the owner, so he could patronize me and very unprofessionally attempt to "sort things out" all the while contacting me in the middle of the day on a personal line "because he had a hunch it might've been me". He proceeded to call me back multiple times to tell me that he "knew where I lived" and that "my mom called about your car" and even whipped out a classic "what are you going to cry about it?" after making a fool of himself on speakerphone in front of my entire family. Yeah, I was upset. Who wouldn't be? I will not be bringing my business back to Swedish Auto Service on account of this experience. read more

I haven't actually had any work done here but hear me out.... I own a Saab 9-5. There are 3-4 things on this car that are pretty much guaranteed to break before 100k miles: 1) Direct Ignition Cassette 2) Crankshaft Position Sensor 3) Coolant Bypass Valve I guarantee that any shop who actually knows Saabs does each of these repairs at least once a week. Apparently Swedish Auto service is the ONLY place in town that actually knows (drives, works on, etc.) Saabs. I called them all. My coolant bypass valve went a few weeks ago, and since I haven't found a Saab mechanic in Austin, I called around to get estimates. Since its 2011, and I have the internet, I knew how much the part cost, and how much labor one should expect to pay. Basically its a simple procedure - remove a few hoses and replace the broken piece of plastic with a new piece of plastic. Unfortunately this piece of plastic is buried deep and you have to remove some things to access it. It requires superior tools and little monkey hands. Huge pain in the ass. I called Revolution Motors (Do not take your Saab there). I told them exactly what was wrong. It took them 2 hours to call me back with an estimate, and it was clear they weren't entirely familiar with the procedure. They insisted I replace the entire assembly (valve, every hose in the coolant system etc) and pay their diagnostic fee. $850?!?. Keep in mind the valve is $100, or $40 if you use the non-Saab version. Diagnosis consists of looking at the noticeably leaking valve that is leaking and determining that it is leaking. This doesn't require a fancy computer etc, it merely requires a brain that is connected to eyes. I called another shop who said they refuse to work on Saabs, because they are nightmares. Perfectly understandable. Finally I call Swedish Auto. Told them my coolant bypass valve was pissing coolant everywhere. FINALLY a shop that could talk to me about my car. Guy told me how much it would cost and introduced the option of bypassing the worthless valve. Unfortunately, they were booked for 3 weeks. Its easier to get a kid into Princeton than to get an appointment here. I stopped by their shop and chatted with their main mechanic and he knows whats up. It appears every single saab in Austin was there being fixed. Offered to get me in earlier, as it wasn't too bad of a repair. I needed my car fixed urgently, so I rolled up my sleeves and did it myself, which really was a pain in the ass. It took me about half an hour more than their labor quote and oh yeah 2 hours less than the labor quote from Revolution. And that included 3-4 beers. Bottom line is that this place actually understands Saabs and doesn't rip you off with the labor. Their rates are typical Saab rates - not exactly cheap, but less per hour than I paid in California. Their part markup was fair enough. When I inevitably have to repair something in the next 6 months, they've got my business. read more

I have to say, some of these low reviews really have to be taken with a grain of salt (as well as mine I guess). Many of them seem to be from people who own Swedish cars and really have no clue what goes into owning one. These cars are a completely different breed than a Japanese car. If one does not understand that, then one should probably buy a different car next time and not convince themselves to get one because "they like the SAAB/Volvo commercials." Both Volvos and SAABs, like all quality built European cars, have to have regular checks. That is just the way it is. They are a more complex and often higher performance engine and must be kept in top notch condition or you'll notice some issues. If they are kept up, the likelihood of your car running well, goes up astronomically. That is not to say that if regular maintenance is done, you won't have a problem, but no way can you go 4 years on an older SAAB without the engine "getting touched" and expect it to run efficiently. I would be much more suspicious about a mechanic who tries to tell me that my engine hasn't been touched in years, than SAS. I guarantee, if an older SAAB engine hasn't been touched in years, you're going to notice much more than minor problems well before taking it on a cross country trip. Also, if you want to have your car serviced every 7,000 miles have at it. Heck, service it every 20,000 miles. Who needs oil anyways? Bottom line, SAS suggests every 3,000-4,000, which, since the dawn of time has been the industry standard. Now days cars are able to go a bit further. SAAB has stated before that under "optimal driving conditions" one could go as far as 10,000 miles. However, since most of us are not driving like that, between 3,000-5,000 is where I feel comfortable with. As far as pricing is concerned, SAS is reasonable. Obviously the dealership price gouges. So, where in Austin do you take a Swedish auto? Pep Boys? Arbor Car Wash & Service? Oh, maybe one of those mechanics down Kramer who certainly look like they can tune a turbocharger (pay no attention to the broken down Chevettes in the front of those shops)? Feel free to check out one of those shops if you want, just don't complain when you pick up your car and a donkey is tied to the front because "they just couldn't figure out that SID or turbocharger thingamajiggy." If one wants to buy a Japanese car, go right ahead as they make great cars as well. But, if one looks at the ratio of Volvo/SAAB owners to any Japanese auto, I bet there are just about as many older makes still up and running in the world as older Japanese cars. But, on a side note, one thing one cannot argue about European cars, if you take the badge off a Euro, you can correctly identify a BMW, Benz, SAAB, Volvo, etc out of a parking lot full of cars every time. Take the badge off a Japanese car, and most people will be scratching their heads..."Is that a Toyota, Acura, Honda? Man they all look so similar." I will agree with service time though (hence only the 4 stars). It can be a bit long at times, and with them being closed on Saturday, it can get really annoying. However, I look at them as being a small, quirky little shop who does solid work. I know Omar is going to work on my SAAB, as he is the SAAB guy. He comes out and talks with me about my car, he has taken me back into the shop to show me something on my car, and I've even driven him around so he could diagnose some wacky sound I kept hearing (which they fixed). Shiidon is also friendly and seems rather knowledgeable. Overall, I think SAS is a trustworthy business. I love my SAAB and would not take it anywhere else here in Austin. read more