Honest, consultative, fast, polite and professional. What more could you ask for? Foreign Auto Center has worked on my car on two occasions and both times the experience has been positive. Can't recommend them enough.
Foreign Auto Center, Inc., conveniently situated on Prospect Street, is, in my professional estimation and based on the frequent, genuinely high praise from numerous foreign car owners and mechanical enthusiasts I know, the undisputed authority for specialized European and imported vehicle service, consistently delivering diagnostic excellence and repair work that stands head and shoulders above general mechanics. Everyone I’ve spoken with consistently praises the in-depth expertise of the technicians who understand complex European systems, the transparent communication regarding necessary repairs and costs, and the remarkable commitment to using high-quality parts, emphasizing that the center successfully provides dealer-level service without the exorbitant pricing and impersonal feel. I’ve learned from their narratives that the atmosphere is one of focused competence and high ethical standards, making it an exceptional, high-value choice for maintaining sophisticated vehicles that require expert, meticulous attention. My subjective conclusion is that Foreign Auto Center is an irreplaceable, highly skilled specialist shop - a mandatory stop for any serious foreign car owner - so if you value honesty and absolute expertise, do yourself a favor and entrust your vehicle to them immediately!
I have worked with Foreign Auto Center to replace brakes and calipers, a turbocharger, and various other smaller problems. Ted is straight forward , always explains the options, and is upfront about the cost. Ted has been totally honest about what work needs to be done. They are the only one I will take my car to. We are lucky to have Foreign Auto Center in Cambridge.
Very honest and helpful when I came in with a gas smell coming from my Mazda CX. They thoroughly investigated and were very straightforward about what was worth checking/replacing. Will be back!
My car battery kept dying and I had to jump my car every time I needed to drive. I wasn’t sure what was wrong and was worried it might be something expensive. Instead, they diagnosed that the connection between battery and car was a bit loose and just needed to be cleaned and tightened.
They were completely honest, and didn’t even charge me because it was such a simple repair. I really appreciate how fair, kind, and community-minded they are. I’m so grateful they didn’t take advantage of my lack of car knowledge. I am truly grateful!!
Did great work on my Lexus NX. Was due for new spark plugs, oil change and tire rotation and they had it all done within hours. Much cheaper compared to what a dealership would’ve charged. Will be bringing my car here from now on.
This place has 5 stars for a reason; HONESTY! I took my car here to get a second opinion on my brakes after another shop said my brakes needed to be replaced. This place called and said the brakes were fine, and quoted me only the necessary repairs. I will be coming here from now on, because they are quick, fairly priced, and above all else, honest. I highly reccomend Foreign Auto!
Honest, Kind, and Fantastic Service! Foreign Auto Center is easily one of the best auto shops I've ever been to. I originally went in for a simple oil change on my girlfriend's car, but when they discovered an exhaust pipe issue, the owner took the time to explain the problem and my options in a way that was clear and easy to understand. I really appreciate how honest they are. The price for the oil change was fantastic, and I left feeling confident that I was in good hands. The owner's kindness and willingness to take the time to help are what set this place apart. It's a great place to bring your car and I highly recommend it!
Foreign auto center is an excellent, honest, and trustworthy shop for for Japanese and German vehicle repair. I've taken 3 of my cars to Ted now and have had a very positive experience with all of them. The quality of their work is top notch and is priced very fairly compared to other shops or dealers. It is hard to find a quality, trustworthy mechanic and I wouldn't take my cars anywhere else
Getting your car serviced / fixed is a very particular thing. Been coming to this place for a little over year and I can't say enough good things. Ted, Jimmy, and the entire team are very candid about the issues with your car, and wont try to sell you stuff that it doesnt need. If you're in the cambridge area, do yourself the favor and come here.
I had multiple warning lights come on during a trip to Boston and brought my car to Foreign Auto Center, Inc. The mechanic diagnosed a potential valve body transmission issue within a day, didn’t charge me, and suggested it might be covered under warranty. He assured me it was safe to drive home — and he was right. The repair was fully covered, saving me nearly $3,000. Incredibly honest, knowledgeable, and helpful — highly recommended!
Was not sure if something was wrong with my brakes to my Mazda. They took it in, had a look, gave me a diagnosis but said it was fine, and then didn’t charge me. Overall it was a great experience, and will be the first place I’ll go to if I have car troubles!
Absolutely phenomenal shop! The mechanics here are incredibly skilled, honest, and transparent. They patched my tire quickly and didn’t even charge me for it. It’s rare to find a place this trustworthy — I’ll definitely be coming back.
Foreign Auto Center is an exceptionally good shop. Easily the best I've ever worked with.
Each employee I've spoken with, especially Ted, has been clear and up-front about what's going on with my car. They'll tell you what's a safety issue and what's a "keep an eye on it" issue, and they've never put any pressure on me to do anything.
Add in the very reasonable prices, and I won't be going anywhere else!
This shop really helped me out and had me spend less instead of more and that is priceless! This place is rare. He also taught me a lot about my vehicle that I will always remember. Definitely recommend and would come back again. Thank you Ted and the entire crew!!
Ted at Foreign Auto is the best mechanic I have ever used. I can trust him to be honest about what my car realistically needs and he always works with me to make sure I’m comfortable with the service and understand what is being done. He even has old parts in the office he uses to demonstrate (to someone like me who knows nothing about cars) what he is fixing. He is kind and flexible and communicative and fast with turnaround. Cannot recommend Ted enough.
This shop is a gem in Cambridge. A group of genuine people who provide great service and care about their customers. Ted is straight forward and honest, always prioritizing what's best for you and your car, instead of trying to fix more just to make more money. I had an issue that they easily could've charged $1500+ for but instead he advised me to take it to the dealership because it was still under warranty and they would cover the cost to repair. After encountering many shops that make you feel like you have to watch your own back and protect yourself from unnecessary cost and maintenance, Foreign Auto is a team of great people that you can trust.
Excellent shop. I took my Mini (F60) for service. It’s the first service I’ve needed outside my car’s warranty and had a good, transparent conversation about the potential issue, the service cost, and recommendations. Earned a new customer for the life of my Countryman.
Really honest and nice shop. I had a brake-related warning light come on, and they checked it out and told me the issue, and then told me that while the part was $3K they wouldn't recommend installing it, as there wasn't an actual safety issue and car would pass inspection (and it's as much as the car is worth). They also checked out the car to see if anything else needed to be fixed, and didn't charge me anything! So many places would have taken advantage and told me I needed the part, or at least charged for looking. These guys have my business for good.
I was leaving my kid's place in Somerville MA to drive back to Pennsylvania (or so I thought) when my 2007 Toyota Tundra wouldn't start. She called Foreign Auto where she and her fiancee have taken their cars for years and Ted worked me in. Two days later I was on the road with a new starter motor at a very reasonable price and all was well. Ted and Jimmy did great work and the service was excellent and friendly. I highly recommend Foreign Auto Center!
My whole life I have been searching for an auto mechanic I can actually trust, and I feel like I have finally found them! Could not recommend this place more. Careful, thorough, reasonably priced, and always conscientious of trying to save me money. So appreciative!!!
Very timely, transparent, and reasonably priced services! I had my timing belt and spark plugs replaced and they charged me ~$1,000 less than the VW dealership quoted me. It’s been about a month with no issues on the replacement parts. I highly recommend this business!
I stumbled across Foreign Auto after my car failed inspection 2 years ago. Finding Foreign Auto was the best silver lining of that situation! Ted has always been so personable, helpful, and always willing to go the extra mile to help me understand what's going on with my car since I am definitely not well equipped in car-issues. His business is always extremely fair priced and honest, which is not always what I have experienced living in Boston. Recently I had an issue with the body of my car, and Ted connected me to another well-established local business right away. I couldn't be more thankful for their business and their kindness. I will always come here for all of my auto repair needs!
These guys are some of the most honest and excellent folks out there. They are super transparent with whatever they are fixing, never overcharge and also give very solid advice on what repairs need to be made. I've had a great experience with them, and strongly recommend them to anybody looking for a reliable and high quality shop in the Greater Boston area.
I was incredibly impressed by the folks here -- I brought my car in, and they diagnosed the issue, but they advised me that I could get it fixed cheaper somewhere else without voiding the warranty, and they strongly recommended I take it there. They then talked me through how to get a cheap tow to the other location and refused any payment except a tip from me. They were kind and professional and communicative throughout -- really good and honest people. I don’t usually write reviews, but I wanted to share this rare gem of a positive experience with an auto service. Thanks so much, Ted & Jim!
I won't take my cars anywhere else (6 years running). Very competent mechanics who are unbelievably honest and helpful. After all of my good experiences my in-laws and all of my friends now come here, everyone is thrilled with Ted and his team.
Ted is very trustworthy and his prices are extremely fair. Most recently i went for a second opinion after the dealership tried to convince me to replace an engine cooler for $2k. Ted did testing and diagnosis and told me i did not need a replacement and didn't even charge me for the time his team spent looking at his vehicle. I would recommend anyone to go to Foreign Auto Center for their car service needs!
This is my second time going to Ted at Foreign Auto Center and both of my experiences have been fantastic. Once for a coolant leak and another time for new brakes on my Audi A3. Ted is so very kind, trustworthy, communicative, punctual and he definitely knows his stuff. He is very honest and never tries to upsell nor does he try to force additional services down your throat. Pricing is incredibly reasonable and they always get the job done well within the time frame that he tells you. One thing I really appreciate about Ted is that he's always willing to explain what the issue was, how it was fixed, and even goes out of his way to show me the parts he's fixed/replaced to so I can have a visual and learn a bit more about my car. I'd recommend Foreign Auto Center to anyone with a foreign car in the area!
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