Need a reliable honest mechanic in the city? Transtastic is the place to go. I recently received a car from my parents and, being a first time car owner, did not know where to go when my car decided not to start. After consulting with Yelp, I decided to bring my vehicle to Steve. This was the best choice that could have been made. I got the car to Steve on a Wednesday morning, Steve looked at it that day, ordered parts, and had it ready to go on Thursday. Has worked like a charm ever since. Steve explained all of the work that he performed, going into great detail about the repairs (albeit I only understood about half of it). Next time I have car issues, the first name that will pop into my head is Transtastic. read more

YAY for finding a great mechanic!!!!! Because of Yelp, I found Steve at Transtastic. I use synthetic oil, so I brought my 5 quarts in and he charged $14 for the oil change, filter, and labor. That's awesome in my book!!! Also, my appointment was suppose to be at 5:15, however due to suckass Ashland traffic, I was there at 5:30. They were SUPER NICE about it and told me not to worry! After my oil change, Steve was telling me that I shouldn't wait so long to do another (when using synthetic you can go upto 15K miles w/o oil change). In my case, I really should be changing at 7500 miles. So, I'm glad that he is looking out for me. When he pulled out my car, he noticed that my left brake light was out and replace it for free!!! :D So happy Yelp guided me to him and I def. will be back! read more

An oil change for under $20? It is a reality at Transtastic (with a coupon) not to mention that Steve is a straight talking car expert who knows the solution to any problem, even if he can't fix it. Basically Transtastic kicks ass, I am lucky that the best mechanic in the city is only 5 mins away. read more

Gary and his team have always been excellent, honest, and helpful. They give me the best price, let me know exactly what needs to be fixed now and what can wait, and often give me great deals on multiple services. For today's visit, I came in for a check engine light with no appointment and they were able to fit me in easily. They also ordered a part for me instead of making me drive down to the store to get the part, and installed it for free. Love these guys; they're the only mechanics I'll to to! read more

This guy is on point. I just took my 07' Honda Accord here to have him look at a A/C issue that Cool/Heat couldn't diagnose without charging me $250. Steve was quick to check on the vehicle, let me know it was a faulty relay + undercharged system, and got it all up and running for less than what the competition wanted to charge me just to diagnose the thing. Guy is also pleasant to talk to (he's engaging and will take time to explain things and talk to you) and is good on communication (uses both calls and text messaging to update you). I'll be coming back here for sure for my next mechanic need. read more

Thanks to Yelp I found my way to Steve in May, and I have to say that Transtastic is the best shop I have ever dealt with. Since then, I've taken two different cars to Steve, and he never fails to give accurate, informative, and reliable service every time. He will treat you like a person capable of understanding your car and will give you the information in terms you can understand. Everything from the diagnosis to each line item on the bill is explained in detail, and Steve will give you more detail if you ask for it. Transtastic is a full-service gem of a shop on the Northside, and they work on both foreign and domestic cars. I'm convinced they can't be beat. read more

Steve's the man. He'll talk your ear off about what's wrong with your car and why, and this is a great thing. He also has a lot of great things to say about local dealerships, towing companies, etc and is honest and sincere. If you're looking for an "expert" in the field that knows how to dumb it down for you nicely so you understand what he's talking about, Steve's your guy. I'm moving soon and wanted to go out of my way to give him a "thank you" for all the help over the years... read more

I highly recommend Transtastic! Steve, the owner, is the best I've found yet. He took a holistic approach to my car's problems; He asked lots of questions, listened and tried to figure out what had caused the problems in the first place. He really took the time to explain what had gone wrong and what he had done to fix it. He even took me back into the garage, and with my car up on the lift, walked me through what had gone wrong and the repairs he made. In 16 years of driving, I've never been shown service like this. He got the work done fast and for a fair price and I will definitely be back in the spring to fix the air conditioner. read more

When my car didn't pass emmissions, Honda quoted me over $650 to replace 2 sensors. So I called Steve at Transtastic, and he quoted me almost as much, but because he's a pro and he cares, he figured out that only 1 sensor was bad, and was able to do it for only $444, saving me over $200. Those of you who are interested only in price can stop here, but I want to say that he was very knowledgable and able to tell me why one of the sensors was so expensive because it did way more than you would think, and also had 49 steps in the installation sequence. He was able to save me money because when he called to order the 2nd sensor, the parts people told him no one had ever ordered that. So he looked at the wiring schematic and discovered that both sensors were working from the same fuse. He replaced the fuse and there was no need to replace the 2nd sensor. Steve is very professional and will answer any question you have in a thorough manner, using all the proper technical teerms, but explain it to you even if you don't know anything about cars. I am so pleased at finding him that I will never go back to the Honda dealer or look for anyone else to work on my car. read more

Steve at Transtastic is the most honest, hard working mechanic in Chicago and I would know because I have looked and looked for years. I have a BMW and anyone who has a foreign car knows just how expensive repairs and maintenance can be if you just go to the dealer. I had no issues with my car for 9 years but had a nagging rumble and rattle happening which led to me failing my emissions test a year ago. When I brought it in I said I think I need a tune up (which is about $600 for my car) after he diagnosed it he said,"You dont need a tune up, you have a busted hose which is about a $40 fix" He in no way needed to tell me but he did and that is just what he does. I have told numerous people about his service and they have all told me similar instances of great service with an honest approach that has saved them time and TONS of money. So I say again...Steve is the most honest, hard-working mechanic in Chicago. If you don't believe me, take your car in for pretty much Anything and see for yourself. I assure you - he will be your mechanic for life! D. DeSanto Uptown, Chicago, IL read more

I have been taking my two older Camry's to Steve at Transtastic for more than 5 years now and I swear by him. Having older cars that have issues from time-to-time, I believe finding a mechanic you can trust is so important and not that easy to find. Me not being one who is too mechanically inclined this is so important. With Steve you can be assured you are in good hands. He will diagnosis the problem efficiently and explain the issues to you in easy to understand terms. Most importantly, I've found his charges to be more than fare (sometimes too fare honestly; even steering you AWAY from costly repairs you may not need yet!!). I tell all my friends that I've found the best mechanic in the city and he is right here in a great neighborhood on the North-side. I completely trust Steve and his work and he is such a genuinely nice guy you won't be disappointed , you will be in good hands. Please support your local businesses that deserve it! read more

Based on the quality service, knowledge, and expertise Steve has earned a loyal customer. My 2008 Ford Escape wasn't driving right and it was the first time looking for a mechanic in the city. A friend of mine pointed me in Steve's direction saying he was a legit mechanic who will be straightforward and honest. He made sure I fully understood what was wrong with my car, and what needed to be done. He literally had me under the lift and showed me what he would have to do, and why my car wasn't working correctly. We discussed the estimates and my budget and sure enough he was able to help me out and make it fit. He serviced my car promptly and kept me updated throughout the entire process. I will go to Steve for any of my car troubles, and recommend him to anyone else who needs work done on their car. read more

Great and fast service! I would recommend them to anyone! I got my oil chance and tires rotated in less than 40 minutes.

Amazing top notch service! 5 stars!!! Quickest oil change I've ever had. Would definitely recommend to everyone! Personalized service, great people, can't say enough good things about this place! read more

I can safely say, from having lived in Upstate New York, Chicago, New Hampshire and now Pennsylvania, that you will not find a more honest auto mechanic then Steve. I met him over 12 years ago and I'm glad to see he continues to get 5 star reviews. I don't know what is more impressive, his customer service or his expert knowledge or his sense of fairness. Again, I've been around quite a bit, but have not, NOT, ever received the same level of service elsewhere. read more

If you need any repairs at all go see Steve. I lived in Chicago for years and was recommended to Steve from a friend when I needed to keep my old Honda running. For about 6 years he did both major: (clutch, tune-up, timing belt...) and minor: (oil change, headlight replacement, brakes) work for me. He is honest and really takes the time to explain what the problem is and gives you options so you don't feel like you're getting snowed. I recently moved back to southern California and thought I found a good mechanic. Yesterday my clutch pedal felt loose so I took it to this new guy to check it out. He told me he needed to drop the trans in order to take a look and find where the apparent leak was. Just to do that would be 6 hrs and about 700.00. Thankfully I decided to call Steve and ask his advice. He was able to tell me what was most likely the issue, ballpark price, and what to say when looking for another mechanic. He was totally right. The repair cost me 300.00 total and I can drive my beater for just a little while longer. He's great at his job and he's a damn nice guy. read more

It's hard to find a good mechanic you can trust in a big city, or anywhere for that matter. When I was new to Chicago, my brakes suddenly took an unexpected turn for the worst on my way home from work. Steve was highly recommended to me and was able to squeeze me in. I know next to nothing about cars, this is something that could probably be taken advantage of, but I definitely trust Steve. He took the time to explain the issues my brakes had in a way I could understand and even showed me the old parts that needed to be replaced and why. More recently, my car had a very tricky problem that kept making the check engine light came on. Steve didn't give up on finding the problem and was extra considerate of the cost while doing it rather than starting with the most expensive options that may not have solved the problem. Steve goes out of his way to provide quality service and this is why I will continue to be a loyal customer and would recommend him to anyone for any car issues big or small! read more

I was able to bring my Mustang in to be looked at without any advanced notice. Steve read the OBD codes right away, and was able to diagnose the problems after a little research. He was super helpful, was able to diagnose the problem, and then told me exactly what was going on with my car - all very quickly. For my car's particular problem (sensor/software related), I needed to bring my car to the dealership, but it was great to know what the problem was before having to bring it to the dealer for their expensive diagnostic stuff. I will definitely be coming back to Steve's for all my future work! read more

I live in the neighborhood and my wife and I have brought our cars to Transtastic for years. Steve is a sincere and honest individual. He has never over promised or over sold his services. It's not easy finding such character traits in the auto repair industry. I feel lucky to have such a great mechanic nearby and would highly recommend Transtastic to everyone! read more

Is this guy for real? So after hearing great reviews, I brought my Infiniti G35 sedan for an oil change. I bought my own oil and filter because I only use Mobil 1 synthetic. I was quoted $36.00 for labor. Yes, $36.00 to just perform a simple oil change, remember I bought the oil and filter. Is this guy crazy? I mean does he think he is in the Gold Coast or he is changing the oil in a Ferrari? As you probably could guess, I did not proceed with getting an oil change there. I went elsewhere, where I paid $12.00. Obviously , I will not be returning. read more

Wow! All the great reviews are no coincidence. Steve is amazing! Yesterday we had the lovely experience of having our car booted 10 minutes into staying parked in a 15 minute parking spot. It was awesome. After paying a ridiculous amount to get the boot off the wheel was grinding like crazy. Also, awesome. I called Transtastic this morning and was hoping to get it taken care of. We figured it was a minor thing but it definitely needed attention quickly. Steve basically diagnosed the problem over the phone and told me to bring it in. If I had a few minutes he said he could probably fix it right on the spot. I got there a few minutes later and Steve could not have been nicer. I explained about the guard plate that often gets bent, and took care of it in 10 minutes. When he was done he said I should take a quick drive and if anything else was acting up to come right back. I asked Steve, assuming all is fixed, how much I owed him for the quick fix. He told me not to worry about it. If something more substantial is needed on the car to bring it back in. I was stunned! And I will follow his advice. I will be back for sure. What a pro and what a great guy. In the middle of a crazy day in a crazy week, Steve really came to our rescue in more ways than he realized. I can guarantee that I will be back with any car issues in the future. I can't recommend this place more. Thank you Steve! read more

Transtastic is fantastic. Shortly after I moved to Chicago, I hit a bump and my oil light came on. My car was towed to some place in gold coast and I was given an estimate that was higher than my car was worth. I knew I was probably being taken advantage of- Ohio plates-being female-young. Maybe I don't know anything about auto mechanics- but my intuition is pretty reliable. So I looked in the phone book and found Transtastic. They totally took care of me- and saved me hundreds. I've had nothing but the best service ever since. Not only are these boys honest, accomidating and friendly- but they're also very hot. read more

It is true, you get very courteous and professional service here. I brought my car here after reading the yelp reviews, but have found the services to cost more than other places, and sometimes I was told I needed work that turned out not to be necessary. About a year ago my check engine light came on and I brought it in. It was $75 to get a diagnosis, and the prognosis was that I needed a new catalytic converter, and for my car it would be $2000 for the parts and another $1000 for the labor. Steve told me I definitely needed to get it done because the car would not pass inspection. I decided to wait. Days later the check engine light went off on its own. Months later, I took it in for the required inspection and it passed. I'm not sure what happened exactly (did my car heal itself?) and I'm not saying he was lying to me, but anyway, in this particular situation it worked out well for me to have waited.. I'm not saying don't heed his advice, but perhaps get a second opinion if it is something major and costly. I've started going to Elite Auto in Rogers Park and like them a lot. read more

Dealing with cars is not my favorite activity. Thank goodness Steve enjoys it. I have referred my friends, colleagues, wife, and mother (EVEN MY MOTHER!) to Steve at Transtastic. It takes a lot of great work, trust, and a reasonable approach to business for that to happen. I will continue to support Steve and Transtastic and recommend you do as well. read more

My experience at transtastic was above and beyond what I expected. I brought my car in with break issues. I was worried that because my car had so many miles on it, it wouldn't just be your typical new pads I would need. Turns out I was right, and although my car issues were more extensive than I would have liked, Steve did a great job of explaining EXACTLY what needed to be fixed, and more importantly, WHY. He does a great job of breaking down your bill and giving you as much detail as possible. Although I ended up paying more than I was hoping (only due to my cars issues, NOTSteve's pricing) I still left the shop feeling like I got a good deal and had a full understanding of every penny I spent read more

It's not easy to find an honest, talented, and cost conscious mechanic so that's why I won't go anywhere but Transtastic. Steve always keeps in touch with you during the repair and sticks very close to his estimates. Exceptional work and service make this the only shop to go to on the north side. He even works on classic cars if you give him a little notice. All around great experience every time. read more

I wouldn't say Steve was "hot" as one other review said, but I would agree with everyone here about how great Steve is. I've been going to him for many years (since 2002) and I've never been disappointed. He actually saved my life once a few years ago b/c, when in for an oil change, he said very calmly, "Hey, Hsuan, you wanna see something?" And he points his finger at my disintegrating front brake pads! There was hardly anything left, and who would know b/c (1) the brake light never came on, (2) they weren't making any strange noise. My wife and I are still loyal customers b/c Steve is honest, doesn't try to pull any fast ones on you, and thoroughly explains what he will be doing and what is on the bill. There are never any surprises when we go to Transtastic. And if he has to do something unexpected, he'll call you first, and explain what needs to be done, why, and how much it will cost. read more

Awesome Mechanics! Steve, the owner, really knows his stuff...he diagnosed my problem (TWICE) over a 2 minute phone conversation! Reasonable rates, and EXCELLENT service...you leave understanding what was done on your vehicle. He informs you of your options and leaves the decision totally in your hands. read more

Steve was referred by family and yelpers alike. He was great and took care of me and my car. He checked my trans for a long trip, and replaced a battery. Basically, an overall great experience that was not too pricey and I didn't feel any of the work was unnecessary. read more

This is the best garage I have ever gone to. Steve is friendly, accommodating and so reasonably priced. This is a great place for women to be able to bring their cars and know they are not going to get ripped off or talked down to. I moved to the other side of town, but I still bring my car here. read more

First, my story: I want to Transtastic about a month ago because my steering was a little loose--I was hoping I just needed an alignment check, but it turned out that 3 things were wrong with my car: (1) one of the little bolts that holds the steering things in place was loose and rattling around on the driver side front wheel; (2) on the passenger side, the bolt thing was not fitting tightly, and had become worn down; and (3) the actual shoulder-looking thing that holds the steering thing in place was also worn down. All of these things combined was giving me a lot of play in my steering, and would eventually lead to the steering system on my car breaking permanently, which is bad. Okay, now for my humble review of the service: As you might have noticed from my language in the previous paragraph, I don't know a lot about cars. My memory of Steve's explanation of the problem is primarily visual, because he took me in the back, and pointed at the "steering thing," the "bolt," and the "thing that holds the steering thing" (he gave them proper names, which I have forgotten). So although I cannot remember their names, I can remember seeing exactly what was broken and I understand what it would take to fix those things. Incidentally, I didn't end up fixing my car. To repair my car would have cost approximately $1200, which is more than that old car is worth. As I was sitting in the waiting room, I had been wondering if I could just have one of the three things fixed that I had described above, so that I could drive the car for a few months safely and then get rid of it (I'm moving out of state in a few months anyway). In fact, Steve suggested that I do exactly that, and fixed one of the problems (the bolt thing, which was really bad) for $200 so that I can drive my car for my last couple of months in Chicago. He printed me out an estimate of the other repairs that would be necessary for anybody to do who would want to buy the car, so that I could have that for when I try to sell it. All in all, I was extremely satisfied with the service I received at Transtastic, and would go back there in a heartbeat if I weren't about to sell my car. Oh, and I don't know what the gentleman who posted below is talking about with the credit card thing--they definitely accepted my credit card! read more

I heard about Steve from a friend over 5 years ago and haven't let anyone else work on my car since. One of the things I like most about Steve is that he teaches me something about my car everytime I take it in, and does so in a way that doesn't make you feel stupid, which I think is pretty rare. Steve is a solid mechanic, honest about what is going on with your vehicle, and straightforward about what he would repair if it was his own (and what isn't necessary/worth the money/etc.). Steve does a thorough job in a timely fashion and for a reasonable price. Steve himself is very kind, humorous and incredibly passionate about the work he does. I highly recommend taking your vehicle to Steve. Do it, and then tell your friends! read more

I should preface this by stating that I've never been to Transtastic (yet). But I did speak to Steve this morning and he was incredibly helpful over the phone. Within minutes he called me back to let me know that I was better off going to the dealer since a recall had been issued on the car problem I was having. I will definitely be going here for future car repairs. read more

So I have never actually taken my car here, yet, I plan to the next time I need anything done. Steve is so nice, the only reason I know this is because my Mom, after driving to Chicago from Nebraska (before that driving from Ohio to Chicago and then to Nebraska) with her 1997 VW Cabrio, there was some handling issues and a noise that she was worried about. The morning of her going back to Ohio she looked around for a mechanic to look at her car because her mechanic in Ohio said she should get it looked at. We actually called the place down the street, but since I had to work, I could not take her to the place but gave her pretty sound directions, but of course she pulled into the first auto shop she saw. Steve was there and put my mom's mind at ease, which can be a hard thing to do sometimes. Since this was so last minute all the lifts were being used, so Steve said he would drive it around and listen. He did just that and he said she would definitely make it back to Ohio, and she did. So not only does this guy know his stuff he is super nice and takes his time to help a mom in distress, without charging her! I know where I am taking my car from now on! read more

Brought in my beater 90s Nissan to Steve this morning to recharge the AC system and paid a very agreeable price. Sadly the recharge didn't do the trick and Steve was nice enough to poke around for a half hour to diagnose and narrow down the problem. He also answered a bunch of general questions very thoroughly and matter-of-factly. I will definitely return of I have issues with my cars I can't solve. read more

i don't like to write Yelp reviews (I typically avoid Yelp altogether), but this place has blown me away with the highest level of service. Steve is honest, fair, and totally trustworthy. If you check out the other 50+ reviews about him, these messages will be repeated very often (and for good reason). don't waste your time with dealerships or chains. in fact, don't waste your time anywhere else. the man is a saint. read more

I really hate to have to write a bad review, but it has to happen. I took my foreign car into this shop less than two years ago. My battery was basically dying as I was driving my car(music going in and out, lights dimming, etc). Alternator, easy fix. I called around to get several estimates and got the best feel from this shop, and it had great reviews, so I decided to bring it here. He agreed that the alternator needed to be replaced, so we went with it. Less than three weeks after getting my car fixed, the same problem kept happening. At first, he was very defensive that his work was done correctly. After finally threatening to take my business elsewhere, he offered to try putting a new battery in the car(shouldn't this be done automatically with a new alternator?). By this point, I decided to take my car to the dealership to let a specialist look at it. Long story short, after basically tearing my car apart and putting it back together again searching for the big problem for about 20 months, the verdict is that the work done when my alternator was put it was done so poorly, that now less than two years later, I get to pay for another new alternator. Maybe this shop does great on American cars, but he did not seem too familiar with my car(Lexus) and hearing the news that I now have to replace my alternator AGAIN, I just had to share my experience. So much for trying to save a few bucks by not going to the dealership! read more

Steve is an anomaly and rarity of the first degree: he is the only honest auto mechanic I know. (I'm saying this after having given most of the area auto shops a shot to varying degrees of dissapointment or disgust). Steve talked me out of spending money on him too may times I care to remember. For work that's not covered by my warranty, he's my ONLY go-to-guy in all of Chicagoland. read more

Steve is awesome. I have never trusted a mechanic, but I trust Steve. He explains everything thoroughly so you know exactly what's going on with your car. He is always friendly and willing to go the extra mile. He even lends an empathetic ear when you complain about insurance companies and dealer shops. We have a 7 year old and 11 year old car, and we will continue to go to Steve until our cars die. read more

I've been taking my cars to Steve for over five years now, and I've been consistently impressed. Steve's approach is refreshing--he takes time to listen to symptoms, volunteers to explain everything, assesses your options, etc. Most importantly, Steve always LISTENS to what you have to say. Steve's also impeccably honest. If he thinks he can't do the job as quickly or cheaply as the dealer, he'll say so. I also should mention that he's thoroughly knowledgeable, and he can prove it by taking the time to explain the problem to you in understandable terms. I try to "go local" whenever possible, so I like to use Transtastic for that reason alone. However, I can say definitively that Steve is the most thorough and trustworthy mechanic I've used--local or not, independent or dealership. There are other good local shops, but no one takes the time Steve does to make sure the job's done right. read more