You must come here for great service, honest advice and reasonable prices! It's not the prettyest place you will go but it is pretty for your car.Qwan is the best! Be sure to ask her for her latest restaurant review:)
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17 Reviews
Had my brakes checked at another shop in La Jolla, and then went to Hillcrest Smog & Repair on the recommendation of several friends. They were recommended for being honest, fairly priced and quick to serve. I had a quote for $800+ for new struts, an alignment, new brake pads and fluids from the other place, and HSR said the struts were fine and all I needed were new pads. Done a few hours later and it was a great experience. Nice to have someone to trust with my car.
Hillcrest Smog and Repair is LEGIT!The people there are very honest, professional, and fairly priced.My car (2001 Nissan Maxima 100k miles) didn't pass smog and I took it into Bob Bowen's Automotive in La Mesa. They told me I needed to replace my two front Catalytic Converters in order to fix the problem. Their estimate was about $2,000. I decided to get a second opinion and did some research.Hillcrest Smog and Repair gave me the lowest estimate at $1,700. I took it in and they told me they didn't beleive that two front Catalytic Converters were the problem. I re-diagnosed the car and they told me it needed a new air filter and a few other parts. Their estimate was a mere $550.WOW, what a price difference. If you ever need any kind of repair, check with Hillcrest Smog and Repair first.Bob Bowen will rip you off.
Bought a brand new car (a Honda on the advice of Henry and Quan) and haven't needed the services of a repair shop yet - but they still remember me and remind my friend who brings his car in that they never see me any more. What awesome people. When this car gets old enough to need service or repair, I'll definitely be back.
Excellent service!!! Two very enthusiastic thumbs up!!! After endlessly searching the reader for an inexpensive place to get an oil change, I finally gave up after realizing that the majority of the oil change stations were in South Bay or farther up north in the Balboa Kearney Mesa area. Then the light bulb went off, duh Hillcrest Smog Test & Auto Repair is right down the street from my apartment. I decided to give them a call and the nicest, most helpful woman kindly answered all of my inquires about price and time. She quoted an hour to an hour and a half, so I decided to walk myself over to Peets and grab a coffee. To my surprise right after I paid my bill I received a phone call saying my car was finished! 20 minutes!!!!!
LOVE LOVE this place! I'm so happy I found them and they will definitely "my" mechanic shop! They greet you by name and come out to your car right away. Qwan is super helpful, friendly and informative.My vehicle was up for a smog and I took it to another Smog TEST ONLY place and it didn't pass :( my check engine light was on, 02 sensors were bad and my registration expired) ugh I know! I'm a procrastinator. I was thikning it was going to be tons of $$.They patiently waited while I got a permit from the DMV, diagnostic, labor and parts came up to $297! woohoo great price, also after your check engine light is re-set you have to run the car some miles before it can be re-smogged. Well typically it takes 30-50 miles, but mine took 200+ and I kept coming back to check if it was ready cause I need to smog it badly, they checked it 3 times for me and always greeted me with the same great service.and it finally passed smog!!! Thanks you guys, I'll definitely be back (not soon hopefully)
Very no-nonsense place.I needed 4 brakes and rotors for my Ford Explorer and it cost $421.00. It took less time than they estimated. Kwan was extremely helpful, explained everything in great detail and before they began work she even offered me options and suggestions if I could not have all the work done at once for financial reasons. I've never had any mechanic be so thorough with me, especially regarding price.There is no other mechanic in town, as far as I'm concerned.
Kwon is legit... nice and very thorough. Greeted when I got there and called back when she said she would!! Fast too.
My car had been into Hine Auto FOUR TIMES for the "service engine light". Hillcrest Smog figured it out in 5 minutes, sent the car back home with me while they got the parts (t wasn't serious) and had it fixed the following Monday. I spent over $900 dollars at the dealer. Never again. Thanks Hillcrest Smog!!!!!
What can I say. I love this place and the friendly workers! Brought my 1999 Mustang with 125,000 miles for a Smog check and passed just like it did the first time I brought here 2 years ago.I had been pushing back getting the test for a month now and just needed to get it over with. Came in around 345 on a Thursday, right when I pulled in I was met by a friendly guy at my window asking how he could help me. Told him I needed a smog check and he asked for my DMV paperwork (you need to have this). I asked how long, he said he could do it right then in 30 minutes. Hell yea, no long wait and I live just down the hill. He immediately told me the cost before I agreed. $31 and some change for the test, and $8 and some change for the certificate which they electronically mail to DMV for a grand total of $40 flat. $40 whether or not your car passes.They offered to give me a call when it was done but figured I'd just sit around for the half hour. I was out the door in 20 minutes! They are quick, they are friendly, they are reliable, and my car must love them. I will be back.
For many years i got burned time and again either by lousy or overpriced mechanics, and sometimes both at the same time... then i meet Henry and his daughter Quan, and damm! Good service, very fast, and never overcharged. They have been a blessing. thanks!
This is my mechanic. And I love having a mechanic I can trust.I read reviews, and realized they were right behind where I was living at the time, so I took advantage of the convenience, but I got so much more. They helped me maintain my old little car so well. It ran like a dream, and probably continues to now after having sold it. Can't wait to take my next used car purchase here for a once over. Quan is great at giving a prioritized list of what needs to be fixed to make it safe versus what you can put on the back burner until you have the money. Very communicative and trustworthy, but a no frills get the work done kind of place.In fact most of my friends have become customers too after being burned by other places.
Quan and her pops Henry are great people. Ive been taking my whips there for 10 yrs and they have always been honest and fair with my wife and I. Quan has many times gone out of her way to try and line us up with used parts from other places she knows of to save us some money. Its people and business owners like this in my 'hood that would make it really hard for me to move.
So far, I'm happy with Hillcrest Smog Test and Auto Repair. I can't really go on and on and gush about my experience. Let's face it; it was just an oil change. I like that Quan speaks to you, and not at you. I left feeling confident that they are an honest business. (The previous 48 reviews helped too) They also quoted me a few hundred dollars lower for a service that my previous mechanic recommended.
Just got back from this place. I'm new in town and really needed to get my oil changed. I pass this place every morning on my way to work and always thought it was closed down, as the upkeep doesn't seem up to par with the neighborhood, but I found today that I'd much rather have these shopkeepers maintain this place as is than hike up their prices. I paid only $28 for an oil and filter change!! That is fantastic considering I paid significantly more for just an oil change just a few months ago at the Firestone in Fashion Valley! And my car was ready in less than an hour! Boom! Pow!
I like this place a lot. The staff is friendly and the service is always very quick. Their prices are competitive and I've never had a problem with any service they provided me.
Great, fast service! Probably the nicest customer service I've received at a Car place. Their posted opening hours are 8am. However I arrived before 8am, and they were fully staffed and ready to take my car. I highly recommend them!
