Had both trans axle seals done, as well as a valve cover gasket. In less than 2 years, 2/3 seals are already again leaking as far as I know. Clearly poor quality work. when I spoke to Zach about my issue (in particular the leaking transmission seal which nearly trashed my trans), he was rude, dismissive, and kept interrupting while I tried to explain the situation. He is a detriment to the business by being allowed to answer the phone. I made it clear I wasn't asking for something for free, and he didn't seem to acknowledge it and continued speaking as if I was demanding free service. After four days of calling off and on, I never even got a quote from them. My father and I have been loyal customers for close to 10 years, and thought they could be trusted to do good work. Avoid unless you enjoy being talked down to and having the same repairs done repeatedly. Additionally, at a previous service, they stole/forgot to put my belly pan back probably assuming I wouldn't notice.
Their website also lies about being BBB accredited.
UPDATE: After having the trans axle seal done, my new mechanic noted that all of the screws holding the cv axle in place had been stripped to hell and had to be replaced. The last person to do anything with those screws was Smitty's.
After having my car towed to a Tires Plus for my engine having seized in my VW Jetta, my mom searched for auto services in Gainesville, Florida that specialized in foreign vehicles so I could gain a second opinion. Upon taking it to Tires Plus, they deemed it a spark plug issue, but upon further evaluation my car needed a new engine. Smitty’s determined that I did in fact need a new engine, but continued to inform me that the spark plugs in my car did not belong to my car. Turns out Tires Plus removed my VW stock spark plugs and replaced them with knock-offs that weren’t even compatible with my vehicle. Taking into consideration how expensive cars and parts are these days, I wasn’t too taken aback by the price to have the engine replaced; it would’ve been more expensive to purchase a new-used car, that was older and had more miles than my current vehicle. After getting my car back, I did have an issue with overheating, but upon calling I was able to bring it back in immediately and have it fixed promptly, for no cost. I appreciated that I was educated by those at Smitty’s and not treated as an idiot, as many auto shops unfortunately do, as a young woman. I will be returning to Smitty’s for my oil changes and any other issues that ever arise. I will never go back to a VW dealership (as their diagnosis of my vehicle years prior and instructions for me is what ultimately led to my engine seizing) or any other auto shop again.
My car is driving better than ever after going to Smitty’s. I initially took it to the dealership and was told my transmission was faulty and that I either needed a new one for $13k or new car. I took it to Smitty’s for a second opinion, and they determined that nothing was wrong with my transmission and that my brake connector had been *very obviously* cracked. I have been mentioning concerns about my brakes for about a year and was consistently told by the dealership that nothing was wrong with them. I live in Inverness and will be willing to drive over an hour to go to Smitty’s in Gainesville for any future car needs.
(DO NOT!!! I REPEAT DO NOT EVER TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO THIS PLACE. These people are absolutely unexprienced crooks, thieves, liars, as well as con men. I drove a perfectly good running volkswagen into this shop for a new water pump install. Only to have my car barely running at all, when picked it up the very next day. Prior to allowing them to do the work. I was totally assured and convinced by Zachary Curtis. That they have a certified volkswagen specialist, and a great mechanic (Durand Collins) who works european car's. Even went as far to say that they've successfully worked every kind of except a Lamborghini. So he quoted me a price of $1,023 and I agreed. I was told to drop my car off the next morning, and I did. He said it should be done by the end of the work day. I said okay and left. 2 hour's later he calls saying that his mechanic found another leak at the (flange) plastic piece. I asked how much for total repair. He $1,350, and I agreed. He also claimed that some line was broken, while his mechanic (Durand Collins) was doing the work, but he would repair it. So stated that they would keep my car overnight, because he had to order the other Part (flange). It should be done by 2pm the next day. I said okay. So the next day I called around 11am for an update on my vehicle. He then mentioned something about a fuel injector fault code. Something my car has never had period. I assured him that I just had scanned my car last week. So he went on saying that they can do the repair for $750 more. I said no. That sounds like an issue that your mechanic caused, because my vehicle has never had any fuel injector, or fuel related issues period. He said he'll call back in an hour, and my car was nearly done. Zachary called me around 1:30pm to come pick up my vehicle. I got there and crank my car, and the ENGINE light is on flashing. The EPC is on as well. My EPC light had'nt been on in 2 years. A simple coil pack fixed that. Its been running perfectly since then. My car is barely driving at this point.Actually struggles to get up to 40mph. Put it in reverse it barely works. Sounds and runs terrible. I was charged $1,200 and they refused to refund. These people destroyed my vehicle
I thought my water pump had gone out. A job that would have cost over $1,500 due the difficulty in where the water pump is located in my vehicle. I had prepared myself mentally for the disappointment but Christmas came early for me. Zach at Smitty’s was a God sent Angel! He could have been like other mechanics and took advantage of me knowing that I was fully prepared to accept that it was the water pump. But instead he took the time to do a proper diagnosis and turns out it was a $400 fix. And even got it all done in one day! This year for Thanksgiving I am grateful for honest mechanics like Zach!
I have worked with Smitty's for over a decade for both personally owned vehicles, as well as fleet vehicle repairs and even body work. I've always found his services to be honest, fairly priced, and his staff to be polite, courteous, knowledgeable and solid with the repair work done. They can very busy, but always seem to get me in quickly for repairs, and return the vehicles quickly. I absolutely love talking to the staff, and I appreciate the superb reputation that Smitty has had in this community for a very long time! There's no better small business I would rather support when I need repair services. Their work is solid, even with imports!
I have taken my VW to Smitty’s since 2007. He was my first choice as a mechanic and the reviews are CORRECT - totally awesome shop. IT is a small shop but they can tackle any vehicle make or model. Currently they work on my Ford Escape. Zach (Smitty’s co owner) repaired my vehicle in record time and at a great value. Dump the dealers and over priced import shops. If you are fair - these men are fair. Appreciate them and don’t bother with anyone else - and you may know the dealer I refer to.
Smittys saved the day! Stuck on a Florida highway in a 2002 VW Eurovan Camper travelling from Mass….. From the first call for rescue to getting us back on the road they where outstanding Assisting us in getting a hotel transportation and keeping us updated on the progress I would absolutely recommend the shop they where professional and reasonably priced too! Thank you Smitty, Zach and Durant for a job well done!
I had been having problems with the electrical fan in my 2004 Grand Cherokee and was struggling for MONTHS to get Midas on Archer to take care of the issue. $2000 and 4 "repairs" later they said they couldn't fix the problem and I took my car to Smitty's.
Within 24 hours they had diagnosed the issue as a slow electrical fan and said it would only be a couple hundred to replace, as we already had the replacement part purchased (Midas, on the other hand, said my head gasket was broken and quoted me almost $4k to repair). Smitty's also went a step further and identified a leak in my brake fuel canister, and rotated my tires! All of this came out to under $1000, less than a quarter of what I had been preparing to spend.
The two main takeaways here: stay as far away from Midas as possible (because they will create issues with your car and then bill you to fix them) and go to Smitty's Auto instead. They've absolutely earned my loyal business going forward!
Smitty’s saved me thousands of dollars of unnecessary repairs. I was facing a $6,000.00 bill at Volkswagen of Gainesville. Smitty’s fixed my engine problem for a fraction of the cost. In this day and age, it is refreshing to find a company that does professional and competent auto repair at a reasonable price! I thank God that they exist in Gainesville. I will recommend them to everyone I know and will trust them with all my future repairs! Signed, Satisfied Customer!
I took my vehicle to this shop from a recommendation and they diagnosed and charged me over 300 dollars to fix it. Two days later the same issue happened with my vehicle so I called this place and took my car back there for almost a week and they charged me almost 300 the second time totalling to 600 or more to have my car fix. The same thing happened about two days later engine light came back on. I am not going back to this shop and I recommend if you have a 2018 model car or better do not go to this shop. The mechanic did not know what he was doing the service was horrible and this place is the perfect example of a no good shade tree mechanic.
Replaced my broken gasket at Smitty's and was assured that it was fixed. However, the gasket started leaking within a few days due to the defective gasket used at Smitty's. Had to get it fixed again at another workshop who honestly showed me the problem. Disappointed with the rude customer service and the fact that they tried to rip me off since I did not know much about cars.
I would recommend taking your car to Smitty’s. They are up front about the scope of the work and costs associated with repairing your vehicle. I needed a new engine for my Kia— they located a quality and reasonably priced used engine. Although the seller was located out of out-of-state, my car was returned to me in less than a week. The staff was extremely patient with me and didn’t mind answering any follow-up questions I had about the process.
I'm new to Gainesville and was nervous about finding a good mechanic without prior word-of-mouth recommendations. I found Smitty's though google reviews and was so relieved! Their services were very fairly priced, and Smitty himself gave me a lift to and from the shop. Smitty is a wonderful guy, and it's evident just by talking to him that he cares about providing thorough service. The repairs I needed were finished quickly, and my car drives like new again. All around wonderful experience and will 100% be calling them the next time I need some work done on my car. Whether you've got a Volkswagen, a Honda or something else, this is definitely a great place to take your car.
Its hard to find a trust worthy mechanic and I believe I just found one! They took their time to explain the repair process and how long it would take. Smitty even took me too an from work while my vehicle was being repaired. Fair pricing and awesome customer service. I would recommend them to anyone!
I took my 10-years old car to the VW dealership for a routine maintenance check, they came back with a massive list of items that needs to be fixed and a quote of $2648. So I took my car to Smitty's. Without looking at VW's list, they did a thorough checkup of my car and identified the same items. To my surprise, their were able to do all the repairs at one-third of the VW quoted price. Smitty and his crew are honest and hardworking people. I will recommend them any day.
I must say that I am very pleased with the service I had. I was back on the road in no time and I wasn’t taken advantage of like Pep Boys tried to do me. I would highly recommend Smitty’s Auto Service to anyone. Everyone is friendly, hardworking, & knowledgeable. I was even contacted the day of service to see how good my car rode because I’m not even from Gainesville. Thanks again for your services & I will be a returning customer if I have anymore trouble. God Bless!
My 02 VW Golf was misfiring pretty bad and I had no idea what was going on. Smitty’s recommended a tow company, diagnosed (correctly) the issue and fixed it in half a day. Car has been running good as new for over a week with no unexpected issues. Price was extremely reasonable. 10/10 would recommend.
I had a problem with my car on the afternoon of Memorial Day weekend. The local dealer said, 'forget it', but my window was broken and would not close. I was also a stranger in town and didn't know any car service places. i called Smitty's and he told me to come over. He not only found the part, which wasn't easy because the car isn't exactly new, but they also installed it immediately, and I was on my way within two hours. On top of it all, they charged me less than the dealer would have. Thanks, Smitty.
Yet again, I find myself impressed by the service and work of Smitty's Auto Repair. I know firsthand how tough it can be to find honest, friendly, and competent car repair, so seeing it firsthand time and time again at Smitty's is rewarding in and of itself. I've always found the work to be superb, timely, and fairly-priced, and Smitty himself couldn't be friendly or more open about the timetable and price of the job. It's hard to imagine ever bringing my vehicle anywhere else. A well-earned, honest five stars from me.
Smitty's is a shining example of what customer service and quality care should look like. The gentlemen there have provided nothing but the best for me each time I've visited. Though I recently got a summer job as a delivery driver which in and of itself is a death sentence for your car, Smitty's has somehow managed to keep my car alive and well. I absolutely see myself sticking with their service for the entirety of my time in Gainesville. If you want service that you can trust in for a price that won't gouge your pockets then I really think you should give Smitty's a visit.
I took my car in for a general inspection before my road trip. They are very nice and friendly. Price is reasonable. First drive on my way home I noticed there was smoke coming out of my car, a lot of them. I also noticed that whenever I hit the brake, my car would make noise when it stops. It was not like this before I took the car in! I took my car back. They assured me they were going to fix it for free. It turns out that there was a hole in the gasket they replaced. I understand things like this happen, I still feel like I can still trust them. My car drives nicely now.
My wife and I have been going to Smitty's for our auto repairs for these past nine years. We both have nothing but praise for the very high quality of the work and maintenance given to our vehicles which continue to give us excellent service throughout all this time. I would unreservedly recommend Smitty's as the best auto repair people in the business.
Best auto mechanic experience I have ever had! I broke down about 100 miles south of Gainesville, my destination, and had the car towed all the way there -- directly to Smitty's around 1am. We left the car and left them a phone message and came back at 9am to deal with the repairs. They had me back on the road with a new distributor and spark plugs, this time to my real destination of New York, by midday. Amazing service, both technical and customer, and extremely friendly owner and workers. It would be a shame if you had your car fixed in Gainesville at any other place.
I was referred to Smitty's by a friend of mine when my car broke down in the middle of the road. It was close to the weekend and I was sure that it would be the following week before I got my car back. They diagnosed the problem quickly and were able to get the parts in that same day. I had my car back by noon on Friday and the price was very reasonable. I even asked them their opinion about some other work on my car and they didn't jump at the opportunity to increase the bill, rather they said that it was not required at that time and informed me of the correct time to have the work done. Very honest and fast quality work. Thanks Smitty!!!
I brought my 2006 Ford Mustang in for inspection and the technicians there were great. They explained in detail what part of my car needed to be fixed and how much it would cost. Smitty even gave me a ride to pick up a few things I needed while my car was being serviced. Excellent Service!
No one enjoys having their car repaired when they break down. However, my experience with Smitty's Auto Service has been as pleasurable as it comes. In my experience, the customer service is outstanding, and the mechanic's work is accurate, fast and fairly priced.
When my car ( an older Ford car) broke down, somewhat unexpectedly, I was expecting a major engine service was required to get it running again. A few hours after I dropped the car off, I received a phone call, from a friendly and informative person at Smitty's, that it was only a few minor issues. I was relieved to find out that they based this conclusion based upon some diagnostic tests to see if the major engine problem did not exist.
As part of their service, they noted some other issues with the car (that I had been putting off). I felt no pressure to get them fixed (unlike some other car joints). One such service was to replace my transmission filter and fluid, which I had them perform. They were happy to fulfill my request to use a special type of synthetic transmission fluid. The folks at Smitty's even took the time to drive me to the shop (from the other side of town) to pick my car up when it was finished.
The bottom line is that the problem(s) on my vehicle were correctly diagnosed and fixed in a timely manner at a very fair rate. What is also great is that all of their work comes with a 1 year / 12,000 mile warranty; this means they stand by their work. All in all, Smitty's Auto Repair is a prototype of what a family-run auto-repair shop should be and I highly recommend them.
Excellent service. Took in my 2002 Ford Ranger for a squeaking noise in the engine compartment. Smitty was nice enough to drive me over to Satchel's so I could have lunch while I waited for them to diagnose the problem. Turns out it was a worn bearing on one of the ignition components (the part that substitutes for the distributor nowdays). Because they had to order a replacement, he then took me home (I live about 10 mins away) and picked me up the next day when it was ready. Now it runs fine, and the price was reasonable. If I have any more issues in the future, I will definitely go back to Smitty's.
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent! I took my beloved 2002 Jetta in for service about a month ago. My car was at 180,000 miles and hadn't had a full service for 3 years (my fault). I already knew from technicians elsewhere what I needed to service and the anticipated cost for each thing ($$$$$). I asked Smitty's to do a full service (I didn't tell them what I already knew) and they found every issue that I was aware of and quoted prices that either met or beat every quote that I already had noted. I had taken it in early on a Friday and they quoted, fixed and even stayed late for me finishing the mile long list of everything that needed to be done. It felt like a brand new car when I got it back. After a month, everything is still working GREAT. Great crew there.. they'll go above and beyond. Thanks again!
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