Manhattan Auto Care — Local services in New York

When you pay top dollar for something you expect top dollar work and service. This is definitely NOT TRUE if you take your car here. There's not a lot of auto shops left in lower Manhattan, so when State Farm listed it as one of the places nearest me I decided to give them a try. What a mistake it has been. I own a 2013 Ford Focus ST that needed body work on drivers side quarter panel from being sideswiped when parked. The work somehow totaled up to almost 9k with deductible. No problem it’s an insurance claim. The problems came immediately after I took the car back. Driving out of the garage, the shifter cable mysteriously snapped, leaving the car unable to shift out of 1st or go into reverse. I asked Richard what happened he said he’ll take a look. He charged me $1000 to replace the cable with OE parts and labor and $140 diagnostic fee and $140 lift fee. This is like double what other places would charge normally… but I chalked it up to convenice and I needed my car right away. When I picked up the car the shifter now shifted thru all of the gears but now I can push the shifter past where it normally “slots” in, in gear. I thought that was weird and asked Richard to look at it. I was told this was “normal” and I shouldn’t push the level too far. Fast forward 6 months later, the cable snapped again this time while I was driving my mother around on Mother’s Day. I had to drive the car from Bayside Queens to Richard’s shop in first gear with no way to reverse, but slowly I made it. You’d think that Richard would honor this repair and address the problem but when presented with it again he tried to blame it on me for driving it “too hard or something” and will need to charge me $140 again for diagnostics. Mind you this is only 6 months from the time he repaired it. After much haggling he agreed to waive the fee, took a look at the car then said he would need to send it to his transmission guy in Brooklyn, with no mention of any other fee. Guy in Brooklyn (Miguel 247 56th st) seemed knowledgeable and reasonable and gave me a quote of $425 to fix it. I wasn’t happy about it, but I guess it had to be done. So I authorized the $425 but then next thing I know car gets returned back to Richard and he gives me a bill for $950+. Bill was $135 for parts then 3 hrs labor + $140 diagnostic fee + $140 lift fee. When I disputed the bill he said you either pay now or I will add the daily storage charge for each day it sits here. Bottom line is if you value your time and money AVOID this place like the plague! He will blame you for everything and nickel...

So, I bought my first car November 20, 2021 as my 44th birthday gift to myself. December 7, I went to Trader Joe’s after work near my new job in LI, and some 75 year old man backs into my right rear door after not checking his rear view mirror. Since it was his fault, I had to get an estimate through his insurance. I get to Manhattan Auto Care after speaking to Richard who said they’re usually not open Saturdays but would be there that Saturday…nobody’s there (or at least anywhere I can see them). After waiting and checking back for an hour, I get in my new-to-me car to head home and my battery is dead. 🤦🏽‍♀️ I’m kind of glad I waited the 3.5 hours for roadside assistance to go get my battery changed at the dealer I bought the car from, because I finally catch Richard coming out to get in his car and ended up getting my estimate started. I liked his straightforward attitude and decided to use him instead of another repair service.

Richard was great from the time I met him till the time my service was complete. When I went in to drop off my car for repairs, he asks if I want him to call Enterprise. I let him know I already had a car reservation, then he informs me that they would pick me up to get my rental. Enterprise had not only previously let me know that this service was offered. That not only saved me $2.75 on the subway but also saved me from the germs and annoyances of the subway! Lol.

I went to pick my car up this afternoon. Not only was the dent fixed immaculately, but my car was cleaner than when I dropped it off. I will be using Manhattan Auto Care for my mechanic from now on.

Thanks again, Richard and team!

Edit 11/3/22: so, some lady rear ended me at a stop light (yes, I was completely stopped) two weeks ago and just shy of my one year anniversary of owning a car. Of course I wanted Manhattan Auto Care to take care of me. The way my bumper was damaged required a whole new bumper, so thanks Rich for not just going with their estimate.

I pride myself on keeping a clean car inside and out, and when I picked up my car yesterday, it was cleaner than I’d left it! It might just be the fact that I missed my “Ruby”, but she also seems to pick up faster than before I dropped her off. As always, they were professional, courteous and gave me candy!

Once again, Rich & team...

My insurance company made an appointment at this auto shop for an inspection of my vehicle, which was involved in a hit-and-run.

When I entered the shop and said I had a 130pm the guy behind the counter looked at the clock and thenl looked at me like I was an idiot. He very rudely just told me to talk to his assistant. Then he started pointing outside asking if that was my vehicle. I said no and that my vehicle was in his garage. He then got visibly angry and told me he was looking at a mirror in the garage. How was I supposed to know he was looking in a mirror?

He then started acting like he was an Army drill instructor and was bossing me around about how I needed to pull my vehicle outside. I kindly obliged despite his incredible rudeness.

He came outside and started taking pictures. I asked if he would be able to physically inspect the vehicle and he said no. A physical inspection was necessary because of how the accident occurred. He told me he would not do that, so I told him I was leaving.

He then left this cute little message on my claim with the insurer:

THE CUSTOMER WAS BELLIGERENT HE WANTED TO START A FIGHT AN ALTERCATION WHEN HE CAME IN ,HE WAS USING FOUL LANGUAGE AND BEING OUT RIGHT INDIGNANT HE TRIED TO HIT ME WITH HIS TRUCK WHEN HE DROVE OFF HE DID NOT ALLOW US TO FINISH HIS INSPECTION

First off, stop being a child, sir, and learn how to use lower case letters and punctuation. Second, all of this is a lie. I wanted to start a fight? What an idiot. I never made any threatening language or actions, and I certainly didn't try to hit him with my vehicle. Third, you weren't doing the inspection my insurer hired you to do, so why would I let you finish it?

It's pretty clear to me this guy is just full of anger and looking to take it out on someone. He was rude from the moment I entered his office and made zero attempts to actually be...