Hopewell Tire & Auto Repair

Reviews 3

TI

Tim Quigley

Ridiculous markup on parts and they ALWAYS find something extra to repair. I went with it for a while as I was new to town, they were close to my house, and I was just too busy to look elsewhere. But, when they quoted me $650 ($366 parts, $270 labor plus tax) to swap the spark plugs in my Murano (it is a complicated job so I knew it wouldn’t be cheap), I finally looked elsewhere and decided to really look into the last bill I got from them. First I looked up the parts for the spark plug replacement myself on the web and realized they were marking them up 3-4x. So, I decided to go to another shop. Glad I did…total cost was $315 (111 parts, 195 labor, plus tax). Parts alone in the Hopewell estimate were more than what I paid for the entire job at another shop!!! When they gave me this quote, they had just replaced the PCV valve (73.06 plus parts) on my Murano. A quick web search tells me that one typically replaces the PCV valve and spark plugs at the same time because both jobs require removal of the intake manifold. They never mentioned that potential cost savings probably because they wouldnt have offered it even if they did both jobs at once. On the same visit, they charged me $52 to install a cabin air filter. Yeah, you have to pull the glove box out, but it still takes me less than 20 minutes to install it myself. On top of the install charge insult, they charged me $41.88 for a filter I can get at a local parts store for $9.49. Thats a 440% mark up for an air filter. I might accept that labor cost and mark up if it was just that and an oil change I was having done, but I had over $1000 of work done on that visit. The final insult...when I picked up my car up from this $1000 service, the check engine light comes on literally 500 yards down the road. I drove back, they checked the code and said the idle was too high (and I could see that it was and it wasnt like that when I dropped it off). The guy said if it happens again, theres a part that sometimes goes bad (of course there is) and will need to be replaced (like I said, always something else with these guys). I left, drove home and the light came on again. The entire way I could see the idle going up and down erratically. When I got home I searched the web and found out there was a "calibration" procedure one must go through when this happens (and it often does following the repair they did - namely cleaning the throttle body, replacing PCV valve, etc.). I followed the process on the web and 1 minute later my car was idling normally and the light hasnt come on since (and that was several months ago). If I bring the car back to them, they would have replaced the part that controls the idle instead of just calibrating the computer. Oh and if they suggest the engine, brake line, or coolant system “flush”, run the other way. Unless you have a specific problem or skipped maintenance for a long while, this is nothing but profit for them. Just search for the procedure on the Cartalk website where they call the flush machine the "Fleece-o-matic". I wont be going back.

A

Anonymous User

Blown away by the honesty and great service! My daughter is a freshman at UGA. She called Saturday evening saying her 2000 Ford Explorer would not start. She and her friends had tried to jump it with no luck. It sounds like the starter to me but on Sunday morning, I’m off from Marietta to Athens with a new battery in tow, hoping that dad can save the day! I was going to try to jump it but the UGA parking deck was tight. I looked at the battery and noticed it was a three year battery on its fifth year on a cooooold day so I was thinking it may very well be the battery. I install the new battery and we confidently hop in to get some lunch. She turns the key and Click Click Click….. Dang, It IS the starter! Luckily before my trip to Athens, I searched on the internet for a shop in Athens with great ratings just in case it was not the battery. It looked like Hopewell Tire & Automotive was very highly recommended. The Explorer is a stick so I push the Explorer out of the parking spot and start pushing across the parking deck. My daughter pops the clutch and is cranks right up…… (This must have been an enjoyable sight as many students and a policeman are watching from afar a fat dad push start his daughter’s Explorer across a parking deck by himself.) We leave the car Sunday night at Hopewell Tire & Automotive. After talking to Hopewell Tire in the morning, these professionals get us up and running fast. Apparently all that was needed was battery cable repair for $48 bucks! Hopewell Tire & Automotive also fixed the window washer pump which my “home town” mechanic said was a problem with a circuit board in the dash. Hopewell Tire said “nope, it’s just a fuse”. Now it works perfectly too! This dad will be telling numerous other dads with kids at UGA how well Hopewell Tire and Automotive took care of my daughter and me. I sincerely thank Hopewell Tire & Automotive for their excellent service.

DA

Dan Perrin

We have been taking our cars here for about 6 years. My families 5 star experience has never changed over 6 years now. Here are a few examples. My first trip to Hopewell was due to my wife car stalling out and not wanting to start for several hours after the stall even leaving her stranded at the store for several hours. We took it to the dealership twice and because they could not get the car to repeat the same behavior they told us there was nothing they could do. Luke on the other hand, determined to fix this issue for us, took the time to drive the car for several miles a day in order to get the car to stall again. Long story short they went above and beyond and was able to fix a complex electronic/ computer issue with a modern car that the dealership could not. Every time I go to have routine maintenance done I am always greeted by friendly staff and often time the owner comes out to say hi and ask if we need anything. They have free cokes Yall. Other places have old coffee and expensive vending machines. My In Laws for Christ sake are never satisfied. Ever. They delay vehicle maintenance at their home in Florida and wait until they come visit Athens because they have such a high opinion of Hopewell Tire and Auto. Lastly They have been known to take customers to work who drop off their car early and then drop there car off at the office for them. How many stars is that worth???? In an age of declining customer service Hopewell still delivers the old time red carpet and exceptional 5 star customer experience

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