concerned about brakes, exhaust. Regular maintenance. My 10 visit. My wife uses Virgil and introduced me. I'm over 70 and have been to many many mechanics/maintenance shops. Virgil's is simply the best. NEVER fixes what isn't broke. NEVER overcharges. NEVER does anything but a first rate job. I'm always relieved when I leave--I know my car is good to go. Chris Johnson read more

Virgil and his crew are probably the only guys I let maintenance my Toyota Camry these days, as i have had terrible experiences with other mechanics in the past. They are the most knowledgeable staff I have encountered regarding Toyotas and beyond and will make sure your car is running perfectly every visit. The rates are reasonable and transparent. You can't beat the value you get with the level of service they give. read more

Toymasters is hands down one of the best mechanics around the city. Virgil is knowledgeable, professional, and will go to great lengths to discover how to best service your Toyota. He's got the mom n' pop shop vibe with a seasoned expertise that delivers quality and value like the car has been factory renewed. His prices reflect the authentic quality of his service and he stand behind safety and customer satisfaction. Thank you, Virgil, and team for helping us to feel safe and for keeping the car we have in top shape! Longevity is sustainable with Toymasters, I feel confident in this! read more

Toymasters are great! Total care, decent pricing and decades of experience. Virgil, the boss, is a total diamond!

Im feeling grateful to have Edwin & Virgil at Toymasters taking care of my car today! Its rare to find an honest communicative pragmatic mechanic in LA. Highly recommend! read more

When I got my Land Cruiser, I was looking for a reputable shop to take care of it to make sure it lasts a long time. Toymasters is just that. They're timely, priced fairly and a pleasure to work with. read more

Great service! I came in for an oil change and an air conditioning service. The team was professional, friendly, and explained everything clearly. They also noticed that a few clips were missing under the car and installed new ones without me having to ask. I really appreciated their attention to detail and the fact that they looked out for things that could become a problem later. I'm very happy with the service and will definitely come back. Highly recommend! read more

Extremely honest, Good people run this place and these people are skilled craftsmen when it comes to building engines.

Toymasters are specialists for all things Toyota. Virgil is honest, reliable and gets the job done. I can't recommend Toymasters enough.

Decided to modify my Rav 4 Prime and I can't say enough good things about the work Virgil and his team did on this build. They installed a 2 inch lift kit from LP Adventure along with new wheels/tires. Professional job all the way. The lift looks incredible. Also had 2 hood lights mounted and the work they did installing these was like it came out of the factory. The way they installed the button inside the car was perfectly ergonomic and everything works great. These guys can truly do it all. If you want your Toyota cared for with the most attention to detail- this is the place to come. read more

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Virgil at Toymasters did an excellent job troubleshooting my Prius-c, and completed repairs on time and at a good price. It's great piece of mind having a trustworthy and capable mechanic when you need one. Highly recommended! read more

Virgil is the man! After my previous sedan became a total loss, I was shopping around for a used SUV as a replacement. After a lot of research, I filtered down to a Gen 5 RAV4 Hybrid due to the balance between reliability, size, fuel efficiency and look. After doing a lot of research on the car, I knew I wanted to find a nearby shop to take care of it. Well I was able to call Virgil and get advice not on services but if THE USED CAR PURCHASE. He helped me even before I owned the car that I would potentially service through his business. I eventually bought the used car and he was able to screen it for issues that even the dealer missed on the pre-purchase inspection. His transparency, expertise and genuine car for the car and customer is hard to come by and I will be returning for more services in the future. read more

Best place to take your Toyota - Lexus - Import vehicles for any repair and maintenance. Highly recommended. Virgil is the best Master tech, experienced and very knowledgeable. He is awesome, pleasure to work with and he will give you reasonable price. Good job on my Sequoia AC repair I'll take my other Toyata and Lexus here all the time. Thank you Virgil. read more

We are Loyal customers for so many years! We have been coming to the auto shop and have our cars Camry 2000 and Tacoma 2007 being fixed by Mr. Virgil. He will fix your car in a timely manner. He will give you an honest and thorough summary of what happened to your car. Pricing is very reasonable. He will make sure that your car will run smoothly when you get it back. Mr.Virgil and the team take pride in their work. Overall, Great customer service! read more

Toymasters Auto - Toyota Tacoma - Auto Repair Near Me - Studio City, California

Virgil ensures my ride is always in prime condition, making recommendations only when necessary. No matter the issue, he knows my truck, the service that's needed, and keeps everything ready to go for whatever I throw at it! I always enjoy chatting with Virgil at the end of the visits! There is no other place I would take my 4Runner. read more

Toymasters Auto - Auto Repair Near Me - Studio City, California

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Virgil is amazing, he's incredibly knowledgeable and willing to teach you about your car. He's honest and straightforward, and doesn't recommend anything you don't need or want. He's my go-to for my Toyota. read more

I've been coming to Toymasters for about 7 years. I have an older car, a 2004 Toyota Matrix with 250K miles, so it's important to me that I feel safe before going on longer road trips. I trust Virgil (and Carlos), which I think is the most important thing in a mechanic. They've found and fixed some tricky problems over the years. And I trust their judgment on which things are urgent and which are not. They also work late sometimes if I need the car back sooner. I'll keep coming as long as I have this car. read more

Toymasters is the best auto repair shop in Los Angeles. My wife and I have been taking our cars to Virgil for years. Recently I took my car in after a major malfunction in its computer based engine. Instead of charging me thousands Virgil recommended I take it to the dealership as he suspected it was under a recent revision to its warranty. I took his advice and it cost me NOTHING! Another less reputable outfit would have rung up a huge bill. Thanks Virgil. read more

Virgil and the team at Toymasters go above and beyond to take care of you. They are informative, honest, cordial and reliable. I have been coming here for years and trust them with all my car needs, knowing I will be treated kindly and given a fair deal, while my service is thorough and top tier. They are such a gem of the neighborhood! read more

I came to get my oil changed and the service was super quick for a good price. Will definitely be coming back !

Amazing service helped me in my time of need when my own dealership wouldn't take me. Found an underlying problem that toyota somehow missed. Would highly recommend and come back again read more

Not only is Virgil a master at his craft, he is an absolute pleasure to communicate with. He is always clear on the project, what it entails, and what the price will be. In addition to all that, he is lightening quick on turnaround times, more times than not, same day! If you own a Toyota, skip the dealership, this is your place! Stellar work by a standup guy. read more

Brought my 2008 FJ down to the gang at Toymasters. Rats ate my wiper and power cables. They did a fantastic job diagnosing and fixing the problem, quickly and gave me a great rate. No surprise there, I've been going to them for 15 years -- had a new water pump and alternator put in before this. Always exemplary service and straight shooting. Exactly what you want when you need an honest assessment on your Toyota. Great guys! Highly recommend! read more

I have taken my cars to Toymasters for well over 10 years or so. I recently brought in my Lexus NX in for its 70K mile check up. Virgil and his team were thorough in their inspection of my vehicle and I felt their pricing on services was fair and honest. There is a reason Toymasters has been in business for as long as it has and I will continue to trust them to ensure my auto safety and comfort. Thank you, guys! read more

I came in with a busted alternator, and they were able to fix it within 24 hours! They even replaced some busted hydraulics under my hood and gave me a quick oil change. This was my third time coming into Toymasters, and they've consistently done a great job with everything I've needed. read more

I've brought my Toyota to Toymasters numerous times over the past 6 years....for various repairs, oil changes and replacement parts. it's a very trustworthy and honest place. Virgil and his mechanics are experts in keeping cars safe and in perfect condition. Today I needed a battery replacement. Within 20 minutes the new battery was installed and my car is running perfectly once more. I really trust Virgil and everyone at Toymasters. They're professional, kind and reliable. I highly recommend Toymasters because of their honesty and dedication. read more

Virgilio at Toymasters is the best mechanic I've come across. After the Pep Boys (poop boys) wrote off my electrical problem and made it worse, Virgilio took my 1999 Toyota 4Runner in and fixed it and got all my battery level output and wiring up to Toyota standards. Seriously, if there's anyone who knows cars- especially your old Toyota off road toy, Virgilio is your guy WITHOUT breaking the bank. There is no hustling, misinformation, or malpractice performed here that you do see with other mechanics, such as Pep Boys. When you go to Toymasters, you are ensuring the best mechanical care for your car hands down. I would recommend Toymasters to anyone with any car issues. Thank you Virgilio!!!! read more

With out question, my number one shop I bring my vehicles. Virgil at TOYMASTERS is an amazing guy. Always goes above and beyond. Their work is always preformed with care and in a timely matter. Couldn't ask for a better shop. If you're in the San Fernando valley (studio city) area and have a Toyota, Lexus, Hybrid, JDM, Off Road, or High performance vehicle this is where you take it. I personally have a highly modified 4runner. And TOYMASTERS has no fear in getting into aftermarket upgrades and getting them installed correctly! Need a re-gear since you went with a larger tire? They got it. New upgraded aftermarket radiator and cooling systems to keep your rig cool in fast approaching so cal summer? Done! Go check them out. You won't regret it. read more

Toymasters Auto - 08 Toyota 4Runner - Auto Repair Near Me - Studio City, California

I can't recommend Toymasters Auto Clinic enough. I brought my Toyota FJ Cruiser here to get the 4WD fixed, replace the radiator, and replace a CV axle seal. Virgil and his team did an amazing and timely job on my car. You should strongly consider bringing your car here before the dealership. Toymasters has legitimate experts that specialize in Toyota and Lexus. After a poor experience at another auto mechanic, Virgil took a lot of time to answer the questions I had about my car. I'll never go anywhere else. read more

Toymasters Auto - Auto Repair Near Me - Studio City, California

Virgil is an honest man with integrity. All though I didn't fix my car with them, he gave me an honest diagnosis that allowed to me to move forward with clarity in this next stage of fixing my vehicle. - Kyle (92' Toyota pickup) read more

Virgil and his crew are absolutely brilliant mechanics. I truly believe they could fix any problem. I have taken my 1989 Toyota pickup to them 3 times now, and they have done a perfect job every time. They repaired the EGR system when Chk Eng light came on, fixed the throttle position sensor when truck was running rough, and installed new timing chain set. Virgil knows Toyotas inside and out, 30+ yrs of experience, and you will not find a more honest, hardworking and knowledgeable guy. He's a nice guy to talk to too. Do yourself a favor, go here. You won't regret it read more

Toymasters Auto - Auto Repair Near Me - Studio City, California

The only place I trust in LA to work on my Tacoma. Toyota certified techs who are up front and honest about what service is needed and what can wait. read more

I have been taking my car to Virgil for years. When I moved to LA it was difficult to not have family nearby/ my dad to look at my car. Virgil has been my home away from home and after being completely taking advantage of by 3 car places in LA (Santa monica auto repair... terrible) lots of places know that you don't know anything about cars and they can overcharge you and double charge you and who knows but once I found Virgil it was one breath of fresh air to take my car to someone I could trust. Really reasonable prices, amazing customer service, great quality, great job! Could not recommend this enough!!! read more

The review is overdue, but hopefully I can help some other folks along the way. The main gist here - be aware of what you need, get a SOLID price for the repair, and don't get cheated or gauged. My background - beginner to intermediate level with auto repairs. I own/have owned multiple classic cars, and I can do *most* repairs on vehicles without computers, if/when I have the time (and/or patience). I initially found Toymasters after I bought my '86 4Runner several years ago. It was a beater, and need a lot of work, first of which was a new engine as a result of a blown head gasket. The engine install was fine and moderately priced. My main issues here were small, so I didn't think much of them (a couple broken connectors, etc). After 6k miles or so, the engine developed multiple oil leaks, from both the oil pan area, and the timing cover. Apparently these engines "have a tendency to need a sleeve" on a specific part around the timing cover so they don't leak, according to the engine builder - fine, ok, let's get it fixed. However, the shop claimed they weren't the ones who had installed the oil pan (even though it was the same oil pan that was on my original engine...) and blamed the engine builders, thus charged me for this repair. After paying for these repairs, I get home, park the car, and come back out a few hours later to the oil pan still leaking, and the power steering box gushing fluid onto the pavement. As an aside, Virgil had mentioned to me that, if the crankshaft pulley is "so stuck we can't get it loose, we will put a breaker bar on the pulley, and then crank the engine to get it loose," in reference to the need to remove the timing cover. Well, the steering box is located directly in line with where that breaker bar would spin if that had happened, so my guess was that it was collateral damage. I called, pretty frustrated at this point and feeling like I was now experiencing the "fix one problem, cause two more" type of mechanic. They took the car back and fixed the issues at no charge. No harm, this time, except for my lost time and irritation. Next, I have them replace my shocks. I requested Ranchos. I come back to find he's installed KYBs, and insists we never talked about Ranchos. His only offer is to "change my front steering piston to match the KYBs." I had just replaced the front piston myself with a Rancho piston which, of course, was higher priced than the KYB piston. As well, I was charged the original price for the entire job, which was supposed to include Rancho shocks, which are valued at a higher price than the KYBs. Sketch. Haven't learned my lesson yet? Nope! Second to last experience - AC repair. I asked them to convert my AC system from the old unhealthy r21 to the newer r134a. They charged me $1400 for the change over and refresh/rebuild, which did not include any new components. It pumped cold air for less than two weeks. Flashing forward, after I had sworn I'd never go back there, I started going through the AC system myself. When you do an r134a conversion, every o-ring in the entire system needs to be replaced to hold in the new, higher pressure Freon. How many were changed, you ask? ZERO. Final experience - I bought a vehicle that I'd been searching for for a while, and it ended up having a couple exhaust leaks (classic Bronco). This is obviously not a Toyota, but exhaust is exhaust, so I asked if they could help, and they mentioned they could. When I returned, Virgil mentioned it was "550 because it was hard to find a part we needed," which is a blatant lie. He handed me the bill, which stated $550. I was irritated, but I was still going to pay. I handed him $600. He then went to his computer, added $100 to the bill, and handed me a new bill for $650. WHAT THE HELL?? Obviously I handed that back to him, but, to ice the cake, he then insisted that I had only handed him $500, not $600. Seriously, dude? The worst part - within 2 blocks of leaving the shop, my rear axle started making horrible noises. I called, livid, and he mentioned "don't you remember, we were playing with the switches? Something must have happened." No, false, that did not happen. I took it to another mechanic, and the rear differential was blown. It seems like most of the other reviews are for regular maintenance or very simple non-complex repairs. Either way - I'd suggest you steer clear and find an honest mechanic. read more

I've owned 5 Land Cruisers over the past 10 years. 2 FJ62's and 3 FJ80's. I trust only one place with these, Toymasters. Virgil and his team are the absolute best in the business and do the job right. This place is a hidden gem in the valley. I've had everything from the rear main seal, oil pan gasket, birfields rebuilt and brakes and rotors redone. It always ends right back to factory spec. Virgil is thoughtful and meticulous with his work and Carlos and the boys take great care of the vehicles. The shop is safe and secure in a great little area off Ventura Blvd. I've notice a couple negative reviews, I can honestly say those reviews are the complete opposite of what I've ever experienced and I have a handful of buddies in the Land Cruiser community that trust Toymasters as well. One of the best!! read more

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ABSOLUTE GEM. I have a 2010 Land Cruiser 200 and I've been searching for a Mechanic who can show this car the love it needs. A REAL mechanic. I've been to plenty of off road style shops and they often ignore the mechanics. Virgil took me immediately, diagnosed (and physically showed me the issues) and fixed in a timely manner. Fair pricing and quality work from someone who truly cares and thoroughly knows about a TOYOTA. Will be trusting him with this car for the rest of its life. 818 legend! Real business. read more

Let me start off by saying that Virgil and Carlos bring a standard of service that is beyond 5 stars! Everyone should be operating at their level! My 85 Toyota 4x4 pickup was experiencing power loss issues. Virgil carefully and quickly diagnosed the problem and recommended effective solutions that solved the problem bringing my truck back to normal power output. He also discovered other minor issues that need follow up next time which I am eager to bring back. The best part, is at the end, Virgil rode with me for a test drive to ensure I was satisfied with their repairs. I dont know of any mechanic that does that these days. read more

Toymasters Auto - Auto Repair Near Me - Studio City, California

After what seemed to be "engine failure", Toyota was trying to charge me $7k+ to replace the engine that had less than 50k miles which felt off. After receiving a recommendation from a friend and giving a call in a final push of desperation, Virgil predicted that the issue wasn't an engine issue but rather a computer issue. After inspecting (something Toyota also wanted to charge for), turns out Virgil was correct. Toymasters saved me time, money and many headaches with their open communication, quick service and full transparency throughout the whole process. For as long as I own a Toyota, I will be going to them for service knowing that they work with integrity and honesty. Save yourself the trouble and skip the dealerships, Toymasters is where it's at. P.S. The friend that recommended me to go here was also saved from a potentially harrowing experience and swore by Toymasters. I'll do the same for anyone else. read more

I started bringing my cars to Virgil and Carlos when I switched from older BMWS to older Toyota's awhile ago. They have done extensive work on my 1985 Pickup, making it drive and function very smooth. It had plenty of issues when I first purchased it and was visiting this shop a few times every other month to finally get it running right. They do great quality work in a quick turnaround time. I kept every receipt of jobs performed and when the time came to sell, the buyer was pretty excited to see 1) the quality of work done 2) quality of the parts used, and 3) who the work was done by as Toymasters are rather well known in the Toyota community (made the sale extremely quick). Just very recently I purchased a 1990 4Runner that blew smoke out the engine bay as soon as I got in my driveway after buying it. Great, overheated my new car. My first instinct was to call Virgil and he gladly suggested I bring it in first thing in the morning via tow truck. I did exactly that and just two days later I was back on the road with a new cooling system, wheel bearings, axles and other stuff I can't even remember. This 30 year truck literally drives like it just came off the lot and finally runs same way it looks on the outside. I can confidently say Virgil is driven by an urge to provide quality work to his customers. He's helpful, intelligent and very kind. He always tells me 'our work is only as good as the parts we use' and has shown me that time in and time out. Do not hesitate to take your Toyota to him as he's been around these cars for longer than some of us have been alive. read more

Toymasters Auto - Very reliable truck all thanks to Toymasters - Auto Repair Near Me - Studio City, California

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I am so grateful that I found Virgil at Toymasters. I own a vintage 1988 FJ62 and Virgil is the "GUY" you go to. At the time, I had 2 mechanics for my truck, and although they were good, they struggled to find parts and original parts at that. I was turned onto Virgil by another FJ guy who was actually looking to by my truck and it was a match made in Heaven. Not to mention that the shop was literally less than 2 miles from my house and I was just plain unaware. Virgil and his team went above and beyond to fix and repair the leaks I had been dealing with and now the car is beyond amazing, ready for his new rightful owner and undercarriage looks shiny and new and no more leaks! They took the time and laid out everything that my truck, (my pride and joy) needed to be in the best shape of his 33 years of Life. I trust Virgil and his team, they know Toyota's but truly know my Vintage Landcruiser very well. They really took care of him and myself. The more I talk to other FJ owners the more I realize we all have one thing in common- V I R G I L and Toymasters! They completely fixed my rear main engine seal leak, front transmission oil pump seal leak, replaced my severely leaking power steering gear box and resealed the front axel assy. and the leaking transfer case. Not to mention a new starter. My truck is now in the best shape of his Life and ready to move onward! read more

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