I had brought my car in here for a timing service ( timing belt water pump, tensioners, rollers, etc) because Gary actually quoted me about 30-40% cheaper than a dealership and other shops in the city. It took longer than expected given the shop was busy, but that's expected given how long it takes to execute the service. Anthony and the staff were always helpful and friendly, I will definitely come back for future maintenance. read more

Friendly guys. Knowledgeable and honest. I went there for general inspection. Not like some auto shop, they don't trick you for spending unnecessary money. I'm really lucky to find them as the PCP ( primary care provider) for my car ! read more

I reached out to Gary after my converter was stolen from my Kia and they were SO helpful during the process of getting it fixed. I can't recommend them enough read more

I had to wait a lot longer than I was told to get my vehicle back. A delay in getting parts plus the aftermath of a large snow storm did not help. After the long delay the job was finished at the price quoted. Someone knocked the mirror off while they had the car parked outside. They replaced the mirror at no charge. Took the car back because of a noise. They fixed it at no charge. The noise was not related to the repair job they originally preformed. They take care of their customers. read more

Had contact the owner Gary about my headlights didn't take him long to answer me back told me to come in and he'll have me taken care of came in the guys working there were friendly and knows what they doing Nico is the mechanic who fixed my lights got in didn't even have to wait long for him to fix my headlight beam pattern told me to if it's not looking good come back they would help correct it again great and friendly place highly recommend read more

My car needed new brake pads and they provided a great service. The quote was instant and helped guide my decision. Anthony and Gary hooked a great deal too. They were able to get top tier parts for a great price read more

I cannot recommend Transtastic MORE!!! I was very nervous about finding a car mechanic in the city of Chicago that wasn't going to take advantage of a girl that knows very little about cars but I knew that wasn't the case with this company. Transtastic was the absolute best. They not only took care of me quickly but MADE my experience so easy. I didn't know that my tire lock key was missing and they quickly strategized and was able to help me with this issue. They ordered me a new lock key without problem. They were also able to replace all 4 brake pads and rotors quickly and efficiently. My car stops on a dime now!!! Thank you for this wonderful experience. I can't wait to be back for my next oil change. read more

I haven't had a car since I moved to Chicago 7 years ago, so I didn't know of any mechanics in the area. I contacted Gary because of the positive Yelp reviews on a Saturday evening and he responded promptly. After a text and phone conversation I scheduled an appointment for an oil change and inspection for the upcoming Tuesday. I am extremely happy with the service I received both beforehand and during my time in the shop. Everyone was professional, competent and respectful of my time and my wallet. There's a reason that their Yelp reviews are so good. They provide good service and value and clearly are interested in making me a long time customer. I plan to use this business for all my future maintenance and repairs. read more

I got a diagnostic and it was free! I felt very comfortable with the results and feel like they are honest mechanics and offer the best solution. I will be back to get the repair next week and will update the review. read more

Great experience! very nice and honest staff, helped with my catalytic converter after it got stolen

My battery died and they lent me their handheld jump start. Incredibly helpful, will be giving them my business

Honest shop! Gary was very helpful and explained exactly what needed fixing and why. Very trustworthy business to do business with.

I can't recommend this place enough. My car broke down about week after my dad passed and I had no idea what to do. Took it in, found out what was wrong, it's as good as new a two days later. It's such a relief to find spots in the city that truly care about you and your vehicle. If you're having problems with your car, bring it here, don't even think about it. read more

I received a quote within 10 minutes and the quote was also by far the cheapest. They do amazing work and have great customer service.

Very quick turn around with my car for a great price! Always responsive. Will be coming back.

Sorry to disagree with all of these good reviews, but I must. The service was very rude, overpriced and I will never ever go here again. I never in my entire life have had someone refuse to take a credit card to pay for something when advertised they will. I actually had to call the police in order to get my car back. He insisted on only taking CASH for my vehicle. The offer quickly explained that he must take my credit card and must immediatly surrender my car upon payment. I instead payed to get my car towed from there to the mechanic on Ashland and Roscoe. Including paying for the tow and for my "storage fees" at transtastic I saved well over $1000. Warning: NEVER pay cash for auto repairs. read more

For years I have been trying to collect for myself a trusted doctor, lawyer, and mechanic. I've found my mechanic. This place is fantastic. I brought my Saturn wagon in a couple of months ago because I was fed up with the shady auto shop in my neighborhood. The neighborhood guys cost me almost two grand and had never actually fixed the problem. I left my car with Steve while my husband and I were out of town and not only did he fix everything, but he coached my husband and I on how exactly to talk to the bum mechanics in order to get their bad repair fixed properly. I trust Steve implicitly and I plead with you to try him out. You will never need to go to another place and you will never have to worry about someone being dishonest with you. Not only will Steve fix everything for as little money as he can, but he'll walk you through exactly what he did and won't look down on you if you don't know anything about cars. Highly, highly, highly recommend. read more

Steve is really nice and helpful - knows cars and is an expert at converting it to layperson terms. I sat for a while as they were fixing the brakes on my car and was lucky enough to witness him dealing with a few customers. He walked every single one of them through an itemized inventory of what was being done to their car and why it needed it. Friendly and good mechanics are hard to come by - Steve has both qualities in abundance. read more

I have only been there one time but my experience was very good. I spoke with Steve (the owner) before bringing my car in. The engine light came on, and not knowing much about cars, I was weary of getting ripped off. Steve explained to me my options and the device he uses to obtain the code from the car's computer to diagnose what's wrong and other further diagnostics he might need to do. After obtaining the code, he called me back with the problem before fixing it. Steve was able to get the part from the dealer and I had my car back the next day. He explained the itemized bill and only charged me .5 hours of labor. Most service places never charge less than 1 hour labor! And Steve gave me back the old part. So overall, I was very happy as Steve is a nice guy. If he has time and is not busy manning the front service desk, he will even drive you to the bus or L stop. I recommend Transtastic if you want a place that will not take advantage of you. read more

When my car started leaking steering fluid like it was it's job, my boyfriend and I needed to do something fast. I chose a few mechanics from Yelp who had gotten great reviews, and yesterday we started making calls. Steve told us we could bring the car in the next morning (this morning) and he would take a look at it. He hypothesized that the issue was probably a leak in the hose, but that it could be something more serious. So, this morning we drove the car in...it was there by 8:30. By 10:30 Steve had called with a diagnosis (it was leaking hoses, like he thought), and by 4 we had the car back. Not only was Steve knowledgeable and fast, but he was also extremely affordable. The leak was fixed for just over $200. Steve has definitely made loyal customers out of us. We know we can trust him to give us a fair price and excellent service. We couldn't be happier! read more

I'm a frequent Yelp user, but I've never felt passionate about anything enough to write a review. Transtastic changed that. My 1994 Camry doesn't owe me a dime, but when the starter blew last week I was sure it would be more money than the car is even worth. After compiling a list of ten 4+ star reviewed mechanics I called around for quotes. Steve had been highly recommended AND gave me the lowest price. They even arranged a tow - I just dropped off the keys and went to work. Steve called four hours later saying that the car was done. A-mazing. I can't say enough great things about the experience: fast, quality service at a great price. Steve and his staff were all really nice guys, too. Highly recommended. read more

Went here for an oil change with oil and filter that I had already purchased separately (because I like Synthetic oil, and he doesn't carry it in stock). The owner was very friendly, and had my car done in about an hour. The best part: He only charged me $10 in labor to do the oil change! read more

FINALLY I can trust my mechanic! It only took me 34 to find Steve, but I am so glad I did. I cannot say enough wonderful things about my experiences here. Transtastic has worked on a number of my car issues including brakes and car stereo cd jams. Steve is dedicated to finding a reasonably priced solution to any of my minor crises. He is always patient with my never-ending questions and random pop ups at his shop. He even gives great referrals so I can fix issue he cannot, like tires, on the cheap. Steve is willing to buy factory parts from my dealer and then install them himself. I would rather give him my money than those other yahoos who are always trying to nickle and dime me. Did I mention how nice it is to really TRUST your mechanic? I think it's effing priceless. Thanks Steve! read more

Don't let the fact that Steve's standing next to a guy in a gorilla suit discourage you from taking your car to him. Steve and his crew are a great group of mechanics and they work fast and don't talk down to you if you don't understand carstuff. I don't understand carstuff, and I've always been happy with there service. read more

The first and last mechanic I think of in the city. I have gone to five different mechanics in Chicago. Four of them left a lot to desire. But Steve earned my business because he took the time to explain things to me, a car neophyte, in a very clear and concise way, even drawing out things on paper and showing me in person what was wrong. Twice he has sent me away when there has been nothing wrong and no work needed on my car. He easily could have had me for $500+ total, maybe more, but he was honest and upfront. And he does good work. Nothing I have had worked on has every caused problems again. As long as I live in the city within 10 miles of this place, I will go out of my way to give him my business. I don't live nearby his shop anymore, but there's no question I will make the trip back. read more

I am so happy to have found Transtastic for my car maintenance needs! I needed to swap out new license plates on my car, however the nails were so worn down that I was unable to unscrew myself. After calling around a few places and getting some high quotes for this service, Transtastic was able to get me in for an appointment the next day. The receptionist and technician were both friendly. I am so grateful Transtastic performed this service at no cost to me. All in all, it only took about an hour for this to be completed. I don't know much about car maintenance, but I trust these people to give me a straightforward assessment at a fair price. I would recommend Transtastic to anyone! read more

I thought I needed a trans guy bc my mechanic didn't do trans stuff. Turns out there was nothing wrong with my transmission- However Steve identified other issues that my regular mechanic should have recognized just driving my car. Things that I have been complaining about but they didn't address. Steve even adjusted something with my brakes without charging me for it. Needless to say, Steve is now my new general mechanic! Without giving you the step-by-step details of my experience with Steve, let me give you the highlights of why you should take your car there... 1) He KNOWS what he is doing- truly a "car doctor". He describes everything to you... even if you have no idea what he is talking about. And if needed (which I needed) he will also take the time to dumb it. 2) He is nice, personable, and appreciative of his customers. 3) You can TRUST him- the hardest part about finding a mechanic! He won't take advantage of you- will not tell you to fix something unless it is necessary. You won't be disappointed if you take your car to Steve! Do it. read more

I have been taking my cars to Steve for a few years now, and he is always friendly, accommodating, honest, and thorough. Recently my check engine light went on, and it turned out to just be a gas cap issue, so he reset the system for free. I definitely recommend this place!! read more

Hard for me to imagine giving any auto repair place 5 stars, but Steve deserves it. My car was making a strange sound whenever we used the brakes so I didn't have much time to do any research on mechanics. I looked up Steve's reviews on Yelp, found that they were generally pretty good and went with my instinct that Yelpers are a good crowd and generally are not wrong. My gut feeling was right this time. Steve was great - I actually called him after hours and didn't leave a message, but he quickly called me back and asked if I had called him (!). I told him my story and he told me that he opens tomorrow at 7:30. When I arrived, Steve was there and he took my info and called me right when he said he would with an initial diagnosis and cost. When I came back to pick up my car, Steve had all 4 of my brakes out and he showed me how each one looked. (One of my brakes wasn't wearing at the same pace as the others). I thought that was really great that he was able to show me that. All in, I have no problem recommending Steve to anybody. He's a nice guy and a week into my new brakes, it looks like I don't have any problems, so I'm happy. read more

Steve has provided such valuable service. First, we couldn't figure out what was wrong with my car, but he was diligent and determined to fix it...and did! He kept me informed along the way and the price wasn't too shabby considering the hours and hours of labor he had to put into it (I think he even ate a lot of the cost). I've called him since with other car questions and he takes time out of his very busy day to answer me fully. He's an honest guy who performs his work with a passion for helping others. Trust him! read more

This is one of my first Yelp! reviews, and it is well worth it. Steve at Transtastic is a day saver. Nay, a lifesaver. Not only does he treat you like a reasonably intelligent adult (despite how little you truly know about cars), but he will walk you through his process step-by-step. I spent all last week telling everyone I knew about how awesome my mechanic is, and let me tell you, I haven't stopped smiling. Last summer I brought my Subaru Forester in because my check engine light wouldn't turn off. Not only did he immediately see me, but it took him less than an hour to run diagnostics. Turns out my light was not essential to fix, and he walked me through why. He charged me a ridiculously reasonable price to run diagnostics, but otherwise told me to wait until I have emissions testing to fix it. WHO CAN SAY THAT ABOUT A REGULAR MECHANIC?! I promised that when it was time to fix it, I would be back. Flash forward a few months. It's time to fix this dang light. I brought it to Steve, he ordered me a knock sensor (he explained what this is so thoroughly, but like I may have let on, I know little to nothing about cars), and charged me less than he originally quoted me at. Everything was fixed and it only took one night in the shop! Then, a few days ago, my car stopped running (when it was -2) and I had AAA tow it to Transtastic. After Steve worked on it and ran diagnostics, etc, it turns out my gas gauge is a liar and my tank was empty despite the fact that it didn't show that. I felt like an idiot, and Steve DIDN'T CHARGE ME. I love Steve. I love Transtastic. If I ever leave this city, I will tow my car back to him. Give him all your business. read more

Absolutely magnificent service! Really fast, really easy, Tony, friendliest of friendly guys, explains what's needed without ANY condescension. Without a doubt, my best experience at a repair shop! read more

A truly great place if you want to support a family owned business filled with great people! This is the right place to go to for your car needs! read more

My car had a vibration when accelerating that another repair service suggested replacing the entire exhaust system. Gary listened to my description of the noise/vibration, test drove the car and identified two potential sources of the problem. After further evaluation he determined the cause was in the exhaust system, but he could repair without replacing the entire system, which saved me a signifiant amount. I appreciate his willingness to find a solution that was in my best interest. read more

This is my very first yelp review, but this guy deserves high praise. Steve is a really great person to work with, I asked him several questions regarding my vehicle issues, and he explained everything to very minute detail, plus he even drew out diagrams of the possible issues with in the engine!!! I was extremely impressed the time he took to explain everything, this is the best mechanic I have been to. read more

Gary is knowledgeable, friendly, and concise. He was interested in helping me (cheaply) find the true issue with my car instead of just throwing parts at it. read more

Timely, got in fast and left quickly. Professional, courteous, and painless. Will come back when my dealerships maintenance is up!

Yet again Steve proves to be the best auto repair guy around. As I have posted before I have worked on cars since I was young and just don't have the space to DIY in Chicago. Having a working knowledge of cars and repairs can often give you a slanted view of repair shops. Finding a mechanic you like, can trust, and can learn from is a very rare find, and Steve is that rarity. He is professional, knowledgeable and just a nice guy. He explains the issue(s), gives you options, relates the associated costs, and is honest about whether you need certain work done or not. Again, this is rare. With Transtastic you get the right solution for a darn good price. I can honestly say I will never take my car anywhere else in Chicago for maintenance or repair, and I would recommend to anyone looking to get anything from and oil change to a engine rebuild done to take their vehicle nowhere else then Transtastic. P.S. - The new location is great, just be aware that it is the N. Ravenswood Ave. that is on the west side of the train bridge. read more

I'm a big fan of Steve's and his service at Transtastic. I've had my car serviced for major and minor things and I've grown to trust his work more than the dealers and way more than the chains - and he costs half the price. Steve's replaced mufflers, corrected transmission issues (caused by a chain lube shop up the street), and helped my older car get squared away for emissions tests. One stop shop, good value, and integrity in service. Great to have him in the neighborhood - highly recommend. read more

Wonderful! Just when we had given up on our classic 1991 Volvo we find Steve and Transtastic on Yelp. He was incredibly patient. He returned all our hysterical phone calls. He kept the old parts to explain to us why all the other mechanics said it couldn't be fixed. You have earned a lifetime customer. Fabulous customer service. Clean shop. Knowledgeable. A+ read more