Excellent independent mechanic . Real Volvo specialists ! Friendly and accommodating

I spent +$600 last year replacing the same headlight lamp and just drove my Volvo with one light (better than a brake light out) but the 2nd one went and finally found Brandon here. I brought my car in and he replaced them faster than I expected and didn't pay $200 for one bulb! What a find! Honest and run like family business that takes care of people with small stuff instead of scheduling 2-3w out. Thank you Brandon! read more

Truly a master at their craft! Got an old Volvo in Portland, bring it to them. They are very down to Earth and trustworthy as I have used them many time already. I cant speak of the newer Volvo service (yet) but if I did have a newer car, I would totally trust them with it. Quick turn-around and very knowledgeable, this is the best shop in town hands down! read more

Tabor Volvo - Classic 80s 240 Volvo - Auto Repair Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I brought our 2011 XC60 to Tabor Volvo Service after another shop was unable (unwilling) to figure out ticking sound that was getting worse with time. Ended up being a exhaust manifold gasket; which isn't the easiest thing to get to on a XC60. A very labor intensive job. It's been a few months since the service, and all still running well. I choose Tabor Volvo based upon reviews and forum comments that kept coming up. I am very happy I did. It is very clear they know Volvo's. Brandon's communication was excellent and he explained the situation well; which made it for even a better experience. It was across town, but definitely worth the drive to find a expert. Should you need Volvo service this would be where I would go! read more

Knowledgeable, honest Volvo service. Brandon is the real deal, scheduling our 2014 S60 repair, and completing it when promised. He diagnosed the door lock problem, and had the locks repaired, the brake fluid flushed, and we were back on the road just after lunch. His pricing is fair, and he doesn't try to up-sell you on services that you don't need. Communication via text is great, using his software that provides the estimate, and then follows up with an invoice after the service is complete so you know the costs prior to picking up the car. Very Professional service repair. I'd highly recommend Tabor as the place to have your Volvo serviced! read more

Best mechanic pricey but you get what you pay for. Give them a call and what your car feel like. BRand new

I recently purchased a 1999 Volvo S70 that needed several items repaired, to include a failing wheel hub, a leaky intake manifold, worn out brakes and rotors, the timing belt and water pump, and a broken headlight switch. Brandon and crew exceeded my expectations on cost and quality of service at every level, going above and beyond to ensure the vehicle is now safe and reliable. I especially appreciated their customer orientation and no-nonsense easy-to-understand descriptions of what would be done. I highly recommend this business! read more

Tabor Volvo - Tabor Volvo repaired my 1999 S70. - Auto Repair Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Tabor Volvo was wonderful! I had a minor accident right before I was about to take a trip and needed my car repaired ASAP. Tabor Volvo had my issue completely taken care of within 24 hours and even took care of something extra. Highly recommend this wonderful business! read more

I have a 1994 Volvo and took it to Alamo for a brake job and some minor repairs. They had it all done in 6 hours and the bill was fair and honest. Even though it's across town I'll definitely be back! read more

My car had a mechanical issue that caused it to be undrivable. The guys at Tabor Volvo were able to see it the next day (dealership could not promise to see it within a week). I brought it in and they worked on it right away and had me out the door and fixed within two hours. Fortunately it was a small issue causing big problems (not able to shift gears) and it cost less than $200. They had the necessary part for my 2008 Volvo on hand. If they had not seen me right away I was looking at having to rent a car. These guys made my life so much easier. THANK YOU!!! read more

This automotive shop is stuck in the 1970's, and in a good way. The shop specializes in older Volvo repair, and as you approach the facility you get a good dose of sensory pleasure in seeing nothing but older Volvos crammed five or six rows deep. Dozens of them! The owners describe themselves as hippies who love to keep these old bricks running. The sign on the door reads "Dick Cheney shoots friends," and the office roof leaks. People constantly come and go, and they all share the love of Volvos and respect for the shop owners. I took my Volvo 240 in for a check up and had a wonderful experience. Mitch and Dennis run the show, and they will give you and your car ample attention. They will tell you that the 240 was the best Volvo (if not the best car) ever built due to its safety, simplicity, and steadiness, and that it's a pleasure for them to work on these cars, and to keep them on the road. Their approach is minimalist and hands-on, and they will guide you on how to best save money on repairs. In the end you get what you need and nothing more, and an old fashioned handwritten work order. A trustworthy, friendly, and competent duo. 07/10/12 A year later: Still my favorite mechanics. The telephone, however, doesn't get picked. I will send them smoke signals for my next appointment. read more

Tabor Volvo - Auto Repair Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Such an awesome specialist for Volvos. They let me come in ahead of schedule. I thought I needed a new steering fluid pump, turns out it was a high pressure hose. Super quick and much cheaper! Fixed my hatchback, Plus they fixed my rusty doors free of charge. They are awesome. I will never go anywhere else!!! read more

No one wants to have to deal with a car repair. Especially when on a road trip. Especially with limited time on one of many stops on your trip. But, that was what we faced as we approached Portland yesterday. This morning I took my car here and all the other raves here are on point. Brandon replicated the issue in front of me, gave me a quote and the repair was done quickly. If only I were lucky enough to have a Brandon near me he would have my business ! read more

I've been in Portland for five years and Alamo is the third Volvo mechanic I've been to - and by far the most professional and responsive of them all! While all of the mechanics have clearly been skilled and competent, Brandon was the best at communicating by a mile. As I suspected, the fixes on my car were more costly than the car was worth, but I appreciated Brandon's candidness and the full picture on the state of my car. I'm absolutely a Volvo convert and once I find a replacement will keep bringing my vehicle to Alamo. read more

Tabor Volvo is the best Volvo service in town! This is the former Alamo Automotive, but WAY BETTER! The new owner Brandon is really cleaning up the place and taking TONS OF NEW CUSTOMERS!!! I have a 1980 240 that Brandon services and my dad has a XC90 2012 that Brandon also works on. We love Brandon's customer service and honest business sense. Give them a call!!! Tabor Volvo works on Volvo's from 1980-Present! Newer Models welcome. Phone: 503-408-1079. read more

How much do I adore Brandon and Dennis? They keep Inga the Tank- 1992 Volvo 740 wagon- running like the big boss she is!! Today, stopped in after a service light came on; Dennis did a quick O2 test to make sure she's breathing right. Less than 10 minutes later, was back on the road blowing doors off of the recycled cat food cans people drive now! This is one of the best services in town. Nicest guys. Knowledgable. Reasonably affordable if you want to keep your Volvo gem in perfect shape. "Remember the Alamo!!" read more

Serviced 2014 XC60. Brandon is easy to talk to, explains things well and has great pricing. Happy to have found this Volvo mechanic!

I cannot give this business enough praise. Highly recommended to me by friends, I finally brought my '98 Volvo in for a check up as it hadn't gotten any attention since I bought it used three years ago. Each of the owners/mechanics I met were kind, honest, thorough and genuinely just good people. To schedule, I advise stopping by during business hours as they are known to not answer their phone. This is an old school mom n' pop stye business. Very informal, but very very professional at the same time. I had my vehicle in within a few days, though I'd expect that was a little lucky. Give it about a week. Since I had no specific issue other than my car is old and loud, they did a thorough "once-over" telling me that if anything was urgent they'd take care of it. When I picked up I was given a list of issues ranging from bigger (shocks) to smaller, cosmetic things (bent wind shield wiper, broken antenna) though nothing was deemed urgent. Along with the list came a estimate of cost (for all the things they do; they don't really do body work). After answering my questions, informing me of what was most urgent and what could be put off and giving me the news that overall my car was in excellent condition, I asked how much I owed. Nothing. Not a dime. I know chain places will do "free engine light" checks, but they were really thorough with me and trustworthy and did not once try to get me to fix something unneeded or nonurgent. Once I save up to do some of the suggested work I am certainly bringing my car here, almost looking forward to it. read more

Had 2 90s Volvos and I always took them here. On one visit, Mitch was being interviewed on camera for a Swedish documentary. The film makers were trying to learn why there were more old Volvos in Portland than Sweden. I'm sure the lack of salt on the roads helps all cars last longer here, and Alamo makes it easy and affordable to keep old Volvos running. Two misconceptions I heard before owning a Volvo: One, they are costly to repair and two, don't by a turbo cause they go out. I never had those experiences. I will say, the leather seats wear out over time, and the a/c is too expensive to replace for this climate. read more

I had recently purchased my first Volvo; a red, 15 year-old Cross Country wagon I affectionately named Ruby (although she did suffer a bit of name-calling the first few weeks of ownership as she had an array of undisclosed problems the previous owner, of course, failed to mention). Regardless of her imperfect condition, I was head-over-heels in love. It's a feeling only fellow elder-Volvo owners know well. Having just relocated to Portland, I wasn't thrilled about finding a trusted, local automotive mechanic (mostly because I'm pretty sure that's considered an oxymoron), as I've experienced my share of aggressive, near-criminal transactions from dealerships to local shops in the past. I know having a vagina often exacerbates these experiences, but I consider myself a pretty knowledgeable car owner, reading entire manuals, researching issues using code readers, and making common repairs requiring a little research and elbow grease. ...But you don't need to know NUTHIN' dealing with Mitch, Dennis, and Brandon over at Alamo Automotive. I have never had such a positive experience addressing vehicle repair. Not only did they get to know me and my vehicle, they reciprocated my love and enthusiasm for older Volvo cars - if that wasn't completely obvious as their entire lot is brimming with mostly cars at least fifteen years old. After completing the repair of my vehicle and diagnosing a recurring and mysterious oil burning smell, they not only came in under budget, but prepared an entire list of services I would need, triaged them in order of most urgent, and provided prices for all of it. Who does that??? People who really, really care about keeping your Volvo on the road for 100,000 more miles than you expected. That's who these guys are. Alamo Automotive has three things that are almost impossible to find together at any shop, anywhere: complete honesty, lowest cost, and specialized lifetime experience. They don't have three things that some shops might have but are essentially meaningless: a comfortable waiting room for you to fart around in and drink shitty coffee (you get a great price because they aren't in the business of charging you to remodel their shop), a useless receptionist to pass on messages (sometimes they're not able to answer the phone when you call - because they're actually working on your car!), or surprise upsells (because they're honest and want you to come back if you need them). Protip: be respectful and give them a couple weeks notice to make an appointment; they very obviously are the best in the entire region and have deservedly gained an almost cult-like following. I'll be taking my Volvo in again soon. Just for preventative maintenance. And because I like Mitch's hugs. read more

Alamo is awesome in that they are honest, good workers who will not over charge you and give you straight up options on what can be done. These guys have none of the b.s. factor you get at other shops and I would never, for a second, doubt what they say needs to get done on my car... and I'm a cynic. The ONLY drawback here is that they are not in a hurry to do anything, even answer the phone. If you don't mind waiting a bit and dropping buy to set up an appointment.... this is the BEST place for Volvo repair in Portland. read more

Nice guys; had to take my business elsewhere in an expeditious situation, where I'm totally satisfied. It's difficult to get a hold of these guys because they're just so busy. Best wishes with your search! read more

I have a 27 year old volvo that i nurse along most of the time, but some larger repairs came up that i was ill-equipped to fix on my own. They were fair, honest and up front. Thats rare in mechanics these days (especially for a woman driver) and they have earned a customer for life. Give them a call! read more

Talk about customer service. Much like a similar review, my 87 Volvo 240 was experiencing some severe starting issues...as in it wouldn't start. I've brought it to other Volvo specialists and had replaced hundreds of dollars of parts in attempts to fix the problem and to no avail. I've spent countless hours scouring the internet and was just about ready to give up until I had the good fortune of meeting Mitch at Alamo Automotive. I called four times - one time I swear I thought I reached a fax machine but didn't give up. That fifth time, Mitch picked up and damn near diagnosed the problem over the phone. I was prepared to have the car towed to his shop but after a five minute conversation, he told me I could pick up a part (for free!) and he would show me how to install it (took 2 minutes) and if it worked, I could return days later and pay the $60 for the part. Who does that?! It seemed too good to be true but got home, replaced the parts (so easy, it was as simple as pulling a fuse and unplugging a relay - a child could do it. The car starts every damn time. I called Mitch elated and he was so nonchalant - just said to stop back by and pay for the part. OMG. Please give these guys business. read more

This shop is from another era when doing a damn good job at a reasonable price was more common than today.

I can honestly say I'm not sure about the work they do there, I called to have some work done on my 2004 S80 and they told me they don't work on that model of Volvo. If you're a Volvo repair shop you would think they would work on every model of Volvo! read more

Are you kidding me? Alamo is the BEST Volvo shop in Portland! Trust me, I had to go through many Volvo mechanics to find Alamo, but once did, they've been my mechanics for years. Half of the time, Mitch or Dennis just tells me what I can do to fix the car to save money. What mechanic does that? I've repaired my car many times on their advice and I've had them do repair work, as well. All in all, Alamo automotive is a trustworthy, dependable and affordable place to get your Volvo in tip-top shape. If I was forced to give a critique, it would be that it's sometimes hard to schedule an appointment because their phone is tied up from being so busy. Some complaint, eh? :) read more

Mitch and Dennis are simply the best mechanics in Portland and they only do Volvos. I was a customer there for years, and I cannot say enough great things about the quality of service and honesty. I had a 1991 Volvo 240 SE Wagon (named Bertha - it's a box car, right?) which was later replaced with a 1987 Volvo 240 Wagon (named Rebirtha after the Widespread Panic song). Back in 2005, my girlfriend was hospitalized with lymphoma and funds were tight. Unfortunately, my car broke down (air mass sensor $400). Mitch helped me out by giving me a part number and suggested finding a used one to get us by. He could have done what most businesses would have done and sold us an expensive new part, but he didn't. It isn't uncommon for them to diagnose your 240 over the phone. For example: A few years later my Volvo wouldn't start in the driveway. I called and Dennis told me to stop by and pick up a sensor and gave me instructions to replace it. I went home, dropped the glove box, plugged in the new sensor and the car immediately started. Drove it to Alamo and paid the $50 for the sensor. Who the hell does that??? Alamo Volvo did. I have since sold my two 240's (which I kinda regret and hope to find another in the future). Both people who bought my cars still take it to Alamo though. They aren't really looking for new customers since they are so busy, but will take a referral from an existing one or continue to service a car you sold with the new owners. Trust me when I say, they know those 240's better than I know the back of my hand. If I could give them 10 stars I would. Thanks Mitch and Dennis for always helping! read more

What can I say about them, that everyone hasn't been already said about this awesome car hospital........ Well first off knowledgeable owners that know what they are doing....Second I feel like they are the only honest volvo mechanics in Portland.. they don't try to rip you off! and all the years that I HAVE BEEN THE PROUD OWNER OF MANY VOLVO'S THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT TRUST! The best around.....If you can't take my word try them for yourself! You wont be sorry! read more

Mitch and the guys are The Best!! I feel So fortunate to be a customer of theirs! They had "Vern" my green, 2000 Cross Crountry for over a week and did a huge list of repairs but managed to keep the cost under a grand. I'm not a spring chicken, this is not my first car or run in with a large list for a mechanic and I Promise you anywhere else would have charged me $2k. I will NEVER take my Volvo Anywhere else for so much as an oil change. THANK YOU Mitch & Brandon!! read more

My favorite volvo shop! when I can't get in they point me to someone who can help. price's are in line, and they back up their work. and a coffee shop across the street doesn't hurt. read more

Hurray for Alamo! After bringing my Volvo 740 to Bart's Swedish Formula no less than 5 times in the last two months, I had given up hope on being able to fix my car. The guys at Bart's even described themselves as being "stumped". My car was dead on the street..AGAIN.. and I called Alamo hoping I could get it towed into their yard. Mitch told me they were full, but asked me what type of volvo I had. I told him it was a 1991 740 Turbo and he said, "Well, it's probably the fuel pump relay. If you come by the shop I'll give you the part and show you how to fix it yourself." I got the part and my friend and I fixed my car in 5 minutes. A $58 car repair, once I pay Alamo for the part. What a generous thing for Mitch to do, and he didn't condescend to me at all or treat me like a girl who couldn't possibly open the hood of a car. Give these guys your business, you won't regret it. read more

Best Volvo repairs guys EVER! One of the only things I was truly going to miss when I moved from TX was my Volvo mechanic there, but lo and behold, I found Alamo. Mitch and Dennis make you feel like yours is the only car with ample attention as needed. They know these cars inside out and their pricing is so reasonable. Wish I could give 6 stars! read more

Mitch was my mechanic for several years for 240's and 740's, he is THE Volvo go to guy in Portland OR, and he would NEVER burn anyone, his work is excellent and prices fare, I sure as hell wish he was here were I live now! All I can say is I REMEMBER THE ALAMO! Viva Le Mitch! read more