“Gus & Joe, I just want you both to know how much I appreciate everything you do for me.  You do such good work on my car and past car.  You go beyond expectations.  I am always satisfied.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

-Denise Reid, 09/02

“Thank you for all the work you’ve done to keep my little red Honda running.  I rally appreciate the honest, good quality work you guys have put in to keep her in good shape.  She’s 10 years old now and thanks to you guys I now she has many good years left.  Thanks a lot!”

- Kristin Vader

“Thank you so much for fixing my car on such short notice – the first week in September.  It’s running great!  It was so kind of you to work extra late just to fix it for me (and I know you worked late – after all, I picked it up after 6:30.  You guys are great!”

- Karen Brogan

“I just wanted to say thank you again for all your help with my cars.  You guys were so nice and very quick to get the job done in one day all the times I’ve been in.  I can’t thank you enough!”

- Gina Cert, ’92 Pontiac & ’00 Camry, 08/03

“What can I say, Gus, but what you did for me this week was so important to me……..taking the time out of your very very busy day to make sure that the car I bought was a good one.  That really meant a lot to me.  I could not have picked the right car without you knowledgeable help!  You are so good to me.  Thank-you!”

- Rose Marie, 10/26/00

CARTALK REVIEWER COMMENTS
See original posting on: www.cartalk.com

My family has gone to Volsar for years (about 20). They are the best; they are a small family run shop. They are always honest and fair. The work is ALLWAYS done in a timely manor. I have had them teach me how to fix my own car. I've gone to them with simple repairs that I could do myself and had them tell me what to buy at the store and how to fix it myself. (Without charging me a dime for the diagnosis or the advice) If all mechanics were as honest as the ones at this shop, people would have a whole different outlook on the profession. I moved to a town 20 miles away and continued to bring my car to them. Last year I moved to a town that is roughly 40 miles away and I cannot find a good mechanic in town. I currently need work done on my car and I am actually going to bring it to this shop and rent a car for the day. All though it will cost me to rent a car I feel that the price is well worth what I'd save in being ripped off by another mechanic. The only problem that I have is they are not open in Saturdays' anymore !! They were, but about 5 years ago they decided that spending time with the family is more important and who can fault them for that!! p.s. For those of you who work in Boston, the bus stop is right outside the door !!!!

- reviewer #14516, 2000

Joe and Gus are the real deal. Funny, straightforward, honest. One time, another garage wanted to charge me for a new alternator. Joe checked it out -- a fuse he replaced for free! They fully explain their repair work and save any replaced parts for customer inspection.They do not differentiate between men and women -- I get the same fully-detailed descriptions as the men. All four of my sisters go to Joe and Gus with their cars too. And we all drive different makes and models. If the thank-you and Holiday cards that line their office are any indication of their happy customers, I'd say they're all set. Bus stop to Sullivan Station (Orange lline) right out front.

- reviewer #33159, 2001

Gus is a great mechanic. This is a small shop but they know the meaning of service. I first went to Volsar because I thought I needed a new clutch (my previous mechanic told me that it was at the end of its adjustment). Gus found that he could adjusted the clutch, and I got over 15,000 more miles on it (and saving a coupld of hundred bucks). He didn't charge for the adjustment, and I have been using Gus ever since. When I junked that car, I bought a pre-owned certified VW. Since the VW is under warranty, I have been forced to use the dealer shop for warranty repairs. I still use Gus for oil changes and non-warranty repairs. I refer my family and friends to him. They require an appointment but the work is always done the same day and with friendly service. Gus is always up front and honest with the work done and the cost.

- reviewer #33884, 2002

I found Volsar Automotive through this site [www.cartalk.com] when I needed to get my Pontiac Firebird worked on; the check engine light had been on for a couple of weeks, a headlight went out, I was due for an oil change, and I had just heard a noise from the clutch that worried me (even though it seemed to go away). I did some research on-line about the noise from the clutch and concluded that it was likely the throw-out bearing. When we took the car in, my wife and I chatted with Gus (the owner) for about twenty minutes while waiting for a cab. He listened to my description of the noise from the clutch, asked a few questions, and said that it sounded to him like a throw-out bearing (I hadn't told him about my conclusion, so he wasn't just trying to tell me what I wanted to hear). Rather than suggesting a labor-intensive (and thus expensive) investigation of the clutch, he said that at this point we shouldn't worry about it and that nothing else was going to be damaged as this part started wearing. I picked the car up after work, and got the report. The computer had spit out three codes from the check-engine light: two reports of the engine running lean, and one problem with the emissions control system. Gus said that they tracked the lean problem to a vacuum leak, and fixed it. He explained that the other code was probably a result of the engine running lean, and it would have been hours of labor to investigate it separately. Rather than doing that work and collecting the check, Gus said that they left it alone; if there was a separate problem with that system, the check-engine light would come back on and we could bring the car back. This was exactly how I would have chosen to have the problem handled (and, in the month since the work was done, the light hasn't come back on). All told, it was $140 for parts and labor to fix the engine problems, change the oil and filter, and put in a new headlight. Two opportunities to fleece the customer were passed up. I felt good about the service and the personality of Gus. Though I cannot directly answer the question of how a woman customer would be treated alone, Gus spoke equally to me and my wife when we chatted in the morning, and answered her questions as directly as my own. We will be taking this or future cars back to Volsar for future work. I have no connection, other than this experience, with Volsar Automotive, the owner, or any of its employees.

- reviewer #51824, 2003

They replaced my alternator, same day, for about half the price of the dealer's quote. They called before doing the work, and called when complete. Better yet, they were actually friendly. While I was in the shop, several other people came in, and they were all treated well - so I've got to compliment their customer service. Tell Gus you heard about him through this site. He's been there 20+ years and doesn't advertise.

- reviewer #63278, 2005