Varna auto is a great little shop near Cornell University. I have several vehicles and have most of my maintenance work done here. They typically get me in right away. The mechanics working there seem top notch. The owners are friendly and I've never had an issue with the quality of work done there. When I leave; I feel like the work has been done correctly and I'm safe going down the road. read more

Varna Auto Service - Varna auto !!! - Auto Repair Near Me - Ithaca, New York

I brought my vehicle (Mazda CX-5) to Varna Auto because the brake warning light was on and I was unable to disengage the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB). After diagnosing the car, they told me both rear EPB actuators and calipers needed to be replaced. I approved the repair and paid $1,124. They later called and said the car was fully fixed and ready for pickup. However, when I arrived, the brake warning light was still on and the EPB was still not functioning properly. I immediately informed them. The next day, they re-examined the vehicle and told me the parking brake control module had lost communication and that they could not fix the issue. They referred me to a Mazda dealership for further repairs. In other words, after charging me over $1,100, the original problem remained unresolved. When the vehicle was returned to me, the brake fluid reservoir cap was missing. The reservoir had been temporarily covered with plastic, and I had to return the following day to obtain a replacement cap. This raised serious concerns about the level of care taken during the repair. I spoke directly with the owner, William Chen, who has been very unprofessional and dishonest throughout the process, about my concerns. During our phone conversation, I explained that I was disappointed and did not want to keep parts that did not resolve the issue. He initially stated that he could return the aftermarket parts (though not the OEM actuators). However, after speaking with someone else at the shop, he changed his position and said he would not return the parts or issue a refund. Overall, I paid for a repair that did not fix the problem and was then told to take the car elsewhere. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this shop. read more

Simply put, I cannot recommend Varna Auto highly enough. They have done great work on my cars for many years now (mostly Honda sedans and Toyota minivans). For the most part, customers usually interact with William, the owner; William's wife is often there , too, and is equally lovely. One of the things I like most about Varna Auto is that William and his colleagues are always willing to listen to the customer describe what's going on with their vehicle. They're pleasant, patient, and ask really good questions trying to get to the heart of the problem. And they certainly don't try to rush folks out of there, like some other shops do. I have lived in Ithaca for nearly two decades and, over the years, I've dealt with just about every auto mechanic in the area -- many of which have undergone repeated ownership/management transitions during that time period. While I've had some good experiences here and there, as a whole it's been EXTREMELY difficult to find an auto repair shop that: 1) has integrity; 2) performs consistent, quality work; 3) doesn't completely rip you off with huge cost markups or invent fictitious problems for your car; 4) charges you an amount similar to their initial estimate; and 5) doesn't have a customer waiting room that's filthier than a sleazy hotel bathroom. Just like with any independent repair shop, I wouldn't necessarily bring a vehicle to Varna that has a super-complicated or model-specific problem. And the best part is, William will tell you the very same thing! For example, one time my minivan's automatic sliding door broke, and he said at the outset I'd be better off taking it to the dealer, since the dealer would have the correct parts in stock, mechanics who really know that particular model, and so forth. The fact that he didn't insist on having his shop do the job speaks volumes regarding the integrity and high standards of this auto repair shop. It's also important to know that Varna Auto (as of this writing) is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays. It's a family-run business, so they're not open weekends. While they're pretty firm on the 5 p.m. closing time, if you're running a bit late and call ahead, they'll usually do the favor of sticking around for you to arrive. (And of course there's always the option of dropping your car off after-hours.) Again, while no auto repair shop is perfect in all ways, I highly recommend Varna Auto! read more

Very nice on phone to discuss my car's issue. Does anyone know their hourly rate before I go? I forgot to ask. Thanks.

The reason I gave one star is that there is no zero-star option. This is absolutely the worst experience I had with a car mechanic. Their service is expensive, they are very unprofessional and rip off their old customers. The check engine light in my car is on. So I brought my car to them. After they did some inspection, they gave me two error codes and told me the ABS system needs to be changed, which will cost $1830+tax. I refused to repair it. And then they charged me $216 for the inspection. As you already can see, their service is extremely expensive. They charged me $216 for just the inspection. The next day I brought my car to Autozone. The staff there did the inspection for me for free and gave me the same error codes. I also talked with several other mechanics around the town and they say they only charge less than $100 for inspection and they told me even the Nissan dealership wouldn't charge $200 for inspection. I have no idea how Varna auto dares to charge $200 for inspection to me. The people there are very unprofessional. What is astonishing is that the Autozone inspection finds another error code, which is related to transmission. And after consulting AutoZone staff and several other mechanics, everyone agrees that this error code is the reason the check engine light is on. So I asked one of the mechanics to fix the transmission for $200, and then the check engine light is off. The thing is that AutoZone inspection didn't use anything fancy. I think they just used a very regular OBDII reader, which you can buy on Amazon for $40. It is ridiculous to see how unprofessional the people at Varna auto are. The owner there rip off old customers and recommend unnecessary services. Before this incident happens, I am actually a regular customer of Varna auto for an oil change, inspections, etc. Even though their prices are slightly expensive but I trusted them for their services. Actually, just before this happened, I had my car inspected there. Back then, they recommended changing the tire. But this time, they recommended changing the brakes. As you can see, they really recommend unnecessary services. Moreover, I now even suspect they might sabotage the car during the inspection so that they can get more money from their customers. I am sorry I wrote this long and bad review. I am the person who usually leaves a good review or just lets it go. But I can't allow Varna auto to keep hurting this community. After this, I will also report them to the automotive regulations department/consumer agency. read more

We have brought our Subaru to many shops and finally feel like we've found the perfect one. The folks who work here are so friendly, courteous, and kind, and are very sweet with our kids. They are also conscientious mask-wearers, which we appreciate since we have immune-compromised family members, and they have a clean, comfortable little waiting room. They have a very cute little dog, too! They have handled several repairs and an inspection for us, clearly explaining what needs to be done and going above and beyond to turn things around quickly. The pricing is reasonable and our overall impression is that they are very honest. The quality of their work is great - here, we've never had the unfortunate experience that we have with other shops, where we get one thing fixed only to have to come back the next week because the repair needed more work or something else has somehow gone wrong. We will definitely keep coming here and will recommend them to others. read more

William is the most honest and knowledgeable auto mechanic in town. You know that feeling when you're not sure whether you're being ripped off or overcharged for something? Well, you'll NEVER experience that with William, ever. We go to him for everything. When necessary, he's been able to get parts in immediately and finish needed work very quickly (but thoroughly), and he's given us great advice about cars, too. He and his lovely wife are warm, welcoming, courteous, and conscientious. Seriously, the best. Go to Varna Auto and you won't regret it! read more

Varna auto is the only place that can get you in at a reasonable time for a reasonable price, while still doing quality work. My car has unfortunately had a multitude of issues the past few months, and every time I call they're able to get me in either same day or next. Most places around here are booked out for weeks! It's also easy to get to - it's located across the street from a bus stop so it's pretty easy to drop off and pick up, even if you don't have a ride. Best part is, my car is usually ready to go the same day too. Best shop I've gone to in Ithaca so far for sure read more

Excellent service! Called today and only waited 30 minutes to get my tired checked and everything went smoothly! Recommend 10/10

We have been going to Varna Auto for 18 years. If you are looking for an auto shop that is honest and fair price then Varna Auto is the place. William and his crew do outstanding work and only change for what only needs to be done. We trust Varna Auto with all our vehicles. read more

William, the owner was very nice and honest. Perhaps one may perceive him as a little blunt as well, but at least, he is not trying to steal my money. I went to the dealer -- honda of ithaca -- for a recall and they came back to me with a million problems on my car. They quoted me $3000 dollars to place all my brakes, my steering rack, and the ball joint. Oh, and they also wanted to charge me $35 to replace one of the rear brake lights. Since I only put 10,000 miles on my car after I bought it from another Honda dealer and most of the maintenance was done back then, I suspected the dealer was seriously trying to rip me off. Multiple professors in my department at Cornell recommended to Varna Auto. So I called them the next Monday and they were able to squeeze me in that day. Turns out, I only need to replace my rear brakes and William told me that my front brakes can go for another 6 months or so. Other than that, they don't see any problems with the ball joint nor the steering rack. They also replaced my rear brake light for $15. Oh well, I know $15 isn't the best price, especially when I used to have a mechanic on the West coast who would only charge me less than $10. But at the end, I only paid about $250 for the brakes (pads and rotors) and the light. Varna is the only auto mechanic I will go in Ithaca from now on. read more

Long story short, Varna Auto is the best place I've ever found! Honest, reliable, friendly, super helpful. The work is always done to perfection, the price is reasonable, the staff are beyond competent. And the owner, William, is the one who sets the tone for all this good stuff. His care and respect for both his customers and his staff is amazing. You walk in a customer and you walk out a devoted fan. I'm so glad that Varna Auto was recommended to me by another customer when I first moved to Ithaca almost 9 years ago. I've recommended Varna Auto to everyone I know and they've always come backed and thanked me for the recommendation. That says it all. read more

Highly recommend Varna Auto. I brought in our BMW for a few different repairs. Everyone there was helpful and friendly. They called promptly with updates and did a great job explaining what was going on with the car. A small issue arose with one of the repairs, and William and the technicians resolved it in the utmost fair and honorable way without a moment of hesitation. My family is thankful for the truly excellent customer service. read more

I've been coming to Varna Auto with my Subaru Forester for the last four years since moving to Ithaca. I was referred by good friends of mine who had been bringing their car to them for years before that. I really can't recommend them highly enough, I have been through thick and thin with them and they have been nothing but trustworthy, helpful and straight-forward. I've learned a lot about cars from them over this time, as William is always glad to bring customers into the garage to get a look at the problem, to help them understand what needs to happen and why. This spring I was especially impressed with them when I had the nightmarish situation of an engine running out of oil and breaking down. Varna found a used engine and put it in with a 90-day warranty. When the engine turned out to be a lemon in a way that couldn't have been foreseen, Varna tracked down another one and put it in at no cost to me. This was about a $3K operation and I was incredibly impressed with their professionalism. Like I said: trustworthy and honest. They've also been very helpful for friends, providing second opinions and consults on work they were considering (from other mechanics). I know that finding a mechanic is really daunting, and like dentists and doctors on here it's mostly the disgruntled folks who are taking the time to write these things so I felt driven to weigh in with this positive experience. read more

If you're in Ithaca and in the unfortunate situation of needing your car worked on, I would recommend Varna Auto Service. After being ripped off by another local mechanic, I found William @ Varna and have been going to him for 8 years now (for our Subaru Outback). He's always very budget conscious, and doesn't do work that isn't necessary. He had replaced one part and it died after a year. As one might hope--he replaced it free of charge, with absolutely no complaints. I definitely recommend Varna! read more

I was so relieved and happy to have found William and his team. I visit Ithaca frequently but don't live there. On a recent trip, my Subaru Impreza's back brakes reached their point of no return (with little warning) and I only had a few days in town. None of the mechanics my friends use and recommend could see me in that time frame (nor could the Subaru dealership, which even if it had been shoddy I felt would have been easier to hold accountable if I discovered something wrong back home in Boston). Anyway, Yelp to the rescue! Varna Auto Service was able to do the work the day after I called and was very clear and communicative throughout. At one point William called to discuss a few options and suggestions for further work. He was not at all pushy and I didn't feel like I was being taken advantage of. There was no fuss when I declined a couple of his options (new tires, alignment) while taking him up on one (a slight added cost to use some new piece of tech to exactly match the brake rotor to my wheels, I think) and adding one (tire rotation to offset the more-worn front tires issue). He framed his concerns as due diligence and I appreciated that. He was on target with his recommendations, I just didn't want the extra expense at that time and the add-ons were not yet critical for safety. Pricing was more than fair. The brakes were notably less expensive than when I had my front ones done in Boston a few months prior (makes sense in terms of market, I suppose), and the synthetic oil change was a bit cheaper as well. So all in all, I had: back brakes with machine-matched rotor; synthetic oil change; and tire rotation for around $400. The facility is neatly kept, with a bright clean waiting room if you need it. Oh, and they went out of their way to make sure I knew that the brakes themselves were covered under a warranty even if I wasn't in town, and gave me a pamphlet with necessary contact info. Great price, EXCELLENT service both on the phone and in person, and I had a happy car upon leaving. I even got the chance to recommend these guys to an Ithaca friend who was in the market for a new mechanic :) I *hope* I don't need more emergency services when I'm in town but if I do, I know where I'm going. read more

I can only write this review through the story told to me by my son in law. He is super fussy about his BMW. These people went out of their way to get a new alternator installed in record time whilst at the same time, giving my wife and him a ride to Cornell on a sick animal mission. Duty above and beyond. read more

Been going here for a few years now. The service is always good, and jobs are completed competently and in a very timely manner. Prices for parts and labor are always fair. A well run business read more

Varna auto is, in a word, exceptional. I've used Varna Auto for many years and with many different cars, and they are my go-to shop. William and his wife and canine friend are always warm and welcoming - and very accommodating to your schedule and needs. As an auto shop, I would characterize them as careful and thorough - and their prices are extremely fair. They also often present options for repairs, if possible, to fit your budget or preferences. One thing I really like is that they are often able to address problems very quickly. For state inspections, I can sometimes call and bring my car in the same morning or afternoon. Another recent example is when my car was disabled (refused to start) on a Friday before a long holiday weekend. I was parked very close to the Toyota dealer so I called them about towing and having a look at it. They said they could only give me an appointment in 2 weeks (sigh). I called William and he said to have it towed there, and he would have a look that day. Well, I had it towed there and 3 hours later he called and it was repaired. They had traced the problem in the electrical system and repaired it, replacing several defective parts. I couldn't be more pleased with them and I'm happy to wholeheartedly recommend them! read more

Great, speedy service. Very attentive, kind owners and staff. Great attention to detail and quality assurance. No price-gouging or up-selling. A true unicorn in the world of auto service! I'll never go anywhere else now. read more

I got ripped off 200 bucks and found out by a mechanic friend that they didn't even do much at all, they simply replace the part that popped out in order to make the shifting gears work again. They are not super nice people and talk down to you like you don't know anything. I do not recommend this place at all. read more

William runs a tight ship. they are always very honest and transparent about what they find & what it'll cost to fix. I've been going for years and I plan to keep going read more

I took my car here for all it's repairs for 2.5 years (until late 2011). Granted, it was a 2007 Toyota, so it only needed inspections and oil changes, but the prices were reasonable. They always let me drop it off whenever I wanted, and then I would take the bus out from Cornell and pick it up in the evening. Owners are friendly and seem to know their stuff. Location might be a little inconvenient for some, though. read more

I am shocked at all of the reviews stating William charges a fair price. I was sent here on a recommendation for an oil change which was performed quickly and with friendly service. I was pleased until it came time to pay and I was charged $82 for a standard oil change on a low mileage Ford Flex. I will never return for any service because there is no excuse in the world that would make it ok in my mind to charge $82 for an oil change! read more

Varna auto is always punctual, fair, and well-done. They never try to up-sell something that isn't needed. Great people!

We were visiting Ithaca and my brakes went out and needed to be replaced in addition to raining. These guys were great.

I can not rate this one lower. That is a pity. They will always find a lot of faults for your car and recommend you fix them. They will drive customer cars for their own business, that's what I heard when I was waiting. The boss told one tech to do so. Techs have limited knowledge. For myself, one time visit and never come back in my whole life. read more

I've used Varna Auto Services several times since I moved to Ithaca. I have nothing but praise for them. They are good, reliable and charge reasonable prices. read more

I've gone here a few times for small things (oil changes, flat tire repairs, and inspections on my Toyota), and I've been happy with the service that I've received. I haven't owned a car for very long, so maybe I can't compare a lot of different car-trouble experiences, but every time I come here it seems like the people are honest and easy to talk to. In any case, I'm definitely going to keep going here for my car-related needs because I haven't had any bad experiences yet. read more

I went to Varna auto to get my recently bought car inspected. The inspection was quick and efficient (hence the star), and my car passed it. But they told me that there were quite a few problems with the car, specially a mysterious noise coming from a mysterious box in the engine and that it was probably the timing belt or the water pump and that I was looking at at least $800 to $1000 worth of repairs. Terrified, I ran down to Trombey auto (awesome place, see my other review) for a second opinion and they told me that out of the zillion problems Varna found, only two were real, and that my car was in near perfect condition. They also said that if the problems Varna found were real then the car should NOT have passed the inspection in the first place! So either they let crappy cars pass the inspection, which is wrong, or they were trying to rip me off, which is also wrong. Forget about this place. read more

I arrived in Ithaca from Arizona about two months ago. I drive a manual and I noticed my gears not shifting correctly during the long drive here. I was worried that my drive home to AZ would end in problems so I took my car to the Hyundai dealer in town. They were perfectly nice, but the quote for the fix was pretty expensive. Varna Auto Service was recommended and I took my car in for a second opinion. As noted by the dealer the clutch was shot (my car is 15 years old), and all of the same additional repairs were suggested. However, the quote from Varna was almost half the price. That alone is incredible, but the real amazing review here is the service. William was both professional and reassuring to work with. I never once felt like I was being taken advantage of and I also felt completely comfortable explaining the issues I was having with my car. If I could, I would take Varna Auto back to Phoenix with me because I've never felt so good about having my car worked on. read more

We have used Varna Auto Service for 23 years for a variety of cars - Hondas, Toyotas, and Subarus. We have found them to be very reliable and trustworthy, and I highly recommend them. Generally can get in in a day or two, can talk to William (the owner) about that needs to be done, and can also talk to the mechanics about the different options for repairs. We have found that they are honest and that they do not try to pad the repairs, will recommend and use 2nd hand parts where appropriate. Have recommended them to many (20+) people over the years, and almost all of them have been very happy with the service they have got. read more

Never touch this Varna auto if you want to save some money. They exaggerate my car problem when i did inspection and they charged exorbitant price. Save life,and away from there. read more