Union Street Garage Inc

MilHouse D

April 9, 2012 at 08:19 AM

GREAT experience! I visited Union Street Garage because my check engine light was on. Jon and his team quickly ran a scan for trouble codes and then he clearly explained what was wrong and what my options were (this all took about 10 minutes). Jon even told me I should call my dealer because it might be cheaper to get the work done there depending on my warranty. To wrap it all up, he filled all 4 of my tires with air. All of this, for no charge at all. I totally trust this auto repair shop, had a really great experience, and will definitely come back!!

Gerald K.

January 26, 2012 at 11:51 AM

I had brakes and rotors replaced, and I'm returning tomorrow to have new tires put on. (he doesn't sell tires, but will advise you to buy them online and have them shipped there to be done.) Checked with him about whether he'd work on a friend's car with a turbo engine problem, and he suggested that while he could and has, that there are other shops that would probably do a better job with those sorts of problems.

Alice T

December 7, 2011 at 01:51 AM

This is the best spot to park if you are ever in the Union Area.  Parking is pretty tough once you hit 10:00am.  Great restaurants to eat around the area, but parking can be a mess.  The people at this garage are really really friendly and kind and I enjoy just dropping off my car and just sitting and chatting with them.  They have great service and the location of the parking lot is at a great location as well.  Very happy that they are around.

Lois

October 15, 2010 at 06:09 PM

I have been going to Union Garage for 20+ years.  John and his colleagues are so honest.  My father was a mechanic, and I've been screwed over by mechanics.  John and Joel (John's brother) have put in many hours on my car at no charge more times than I can count.  I wish I could put into words how great these guys are.  They will always try to do everything to save you money, but make sure the car is repaired properly.  I think they are the greatest and I'm so happy they aren't old and won't retire in the near future.  They are the best.

Kelly S.

April 23, 2010 at 01:39 PM

I think I'm the same as nearly everyone - I am terrified of 1) bad service for something I know nothing about and 2)being ripped off for that service.  I have had four great experiences with Union Street Garage and totally trust the owner, John.  I have paid significantly less for things like brake replacements than I did for the same service at another place on Geary three years ago - yep, same car.  They also do all kinds of nice little complimentary things - nice, nice guys.

Lisa R

April 18, 2010 at 01:27 AM

If I were to write my own Chinese calendar, this would be The Year of the Car.  And no, not in a good way.  I love my car, I do.  She runs well most of the time, and got me through 4 years of a harrowing commute with no issues at all.  And then came 2010.  Just a short list for those of you keeping track: 2 times having car jumped, 1 new battery, 1 break-in (resulting in 1 new passenger side window), 1 smog check, 1 door that will not unlock with my clicky thing, 1 big dent with a note "your car has been hit by a rollaway" (rollaway what? car? bed?), and 4 big leaks.  And it's only April.  Whew.I hate hate hate taking my car in.  I don't know anything about cars, mainly because it didn't break prior to 2010.  I feel like I'm getting ripped off.  And I generally do not enjoy businesses that only operate when I'm at work.That being said... I was quite happy with Union Street Garage!  I started driving my car one day and found about 3 inches of water on the passenger side floor.  I convinced my fiance to take my car in for me, and he took it to Union Street Garage - his old trusty place.  The car stayed dry (although a little mildew-smelling!) for a couple months, until the big rain storms of March came along.  I took my car back into Union Street Garage, and John told me that he had already cleared out the blocked drains last time, but he would take another look.  Turns out I had found enough leaves to clog my drains again.  He cleared them out for me again (free of charge!). John's parting advice?  "Stop parking under trees."   Even I can handle that one.

Buddy R.

March 4, 2010 at 01:18 PM

Fixed my car and it was cheap.  Can't say anything else other than I will ALWAYS take my car back to them.

Marisol Ac

February 22, 2010 at 04:38 AM

Union Garage is a wonderful place to take your car. Jon and his crew are honest, hard working, and reliable. I would highly recommend his shop above all others.

Heather

December 13, 2009 at 12:24 PM

My car's heater suddenly stopped working, and being from Florida, I didn't have a mechanic here in the city yet.  I called Union Street Garage on a Saturday and was told that they were closed, but if I brought it by, the owner would take a few minutes to look at it.  I went fully expecting to have to bring it back on Monday for a repair.  John looked at the car quickly when I got there and checked out a few different things under the hood.  Turns out it was just a stuck valve.  He fixed it and sent me on my way...with no charge!  I highly recommend this garage to anyone and will be taking my car back for any future repairs.

T H

November 11, 2009 at 08:42 AM

I completely agree with all other reviews here. John and Joel(?) were so helpful. They even drew pictures to help me understand what needed to be fixed. Being a female who knows nothing about cars, I found them to be very honest and helpful.  I completely trust them and recommend them to everyone. They charged $120/hr for labor.

Jaime S

October 19, 2009 at 02:54 AM

Gotta spread the word about this neighborhood, non-corporate place. They are the best. My husband and I have been going to them for basic service and minor problems for a few years. John, who I believe is the owner, is so nice. He really takes the time to talk to you and seems genuinely passionate about his job. He is very fair with pricing and very trustworthy. I have never felt like he was trying to tell me to do something that my car really didn't need. I have taken my car to him for a second opinion after a laundry list of "issues" from the dealer. He gave me the real scoop and saved me about $2000!  Everyone could use a good, reliable, honest, fair mechanic. This place is it.

Alina C

August 11, 2009 at 10:41 AM

Very honest, reliable, friendly shop. John makes you understand the problem and treats you with respect even if you walk in without the boyfriend... Yes, I'm a girl.  No, I'm not stupid.   The only downside to this shop is that their reputation is too good for their own good. I guess my rating is not helping.  The point being that they are very busy.  So try to make appointments in advance and be understanding if they initially say it'll be ready by 2 but then at 4 it's still not done.  They will be very nice about the whole thing, but they do get swamped.

K

July 8, 2009 at 04:01 PM

Joe is the most honest and knowledgeable mechanic I've ever been to. He spent a full half hour talking to me about my car, during which we were interrupted twice by people saying "He knows what he's talking about, he's a great mechanic," and "I've been going to him for 23 years. I won't go anywhere else. He's the best."

Nima G.

April 16, 2009 at 05:20 PM

This place is your car's best friend. John is amazing, honest, funny and i can not even describe how cool.I needed a smog test, and the check engine light was on, so i couldn't pass the test. I took my car to Union Street Garage and John hooked me up! Instead of running all these crazy diagnostics and tests that cost a ton of money, called a few hours later and told me what the problem was and the estimate cost.  then he referred me to a friend of his who could get my car all fixed up much cheaper!  Before you know it, same day i got in, my car fixed and all good to go for a fraction of what it would've cost me anywhere else!Thank you John!I will go here from now on!

Reed

February 15, 2009 at 07:44 AM

Jon and his crew are the best ever.  Anytime I've had car trouble, he's been there to help.  If he couldn't do it, he's told me up front and sent me to the next place.  Absolutely fantastic to work with.

Allison F.

January 8, 2009 at 07:11 AM

Great service. Very trustworthy. Takes the time to explain everything to you... will definitely go back!

Jane P

January 6, 2009 at 10:32 AM

Jon is fantastic -- I called at 4:45pm (they close at 5pm) with a non-emergency and he told me to come by, even though it was after 5pm by the time I arrived. He helped with a minor but pressing problem by staying an hour late (and asking one of his mechanics to do the same) -- this all when I was a new customer (had never met him before). Fantastic, old-school service -- one of a dying breed of small, family-owned businesses. He's won a loyal customer!

Andy A.

December 4, 2008 at 05:58 PM

I challange you to find a friendlier, more helpful mechanic ANYWHERE in the Bay Area. I called Jon for a brake replacement because I had read so many good reviews about him. I had already gotten one quote from Popular Mechanix for over $1000. After calling around for parts, Jon quoted me a price more than $200 less, and that even included an oil change! When the job was done a day later, he took time to explain everything to me and answer all my questions. I will never go to another mechanic again as long as I live in San Francisco.

Kyla L

November 21, 2008 at 01:05 AM

This place is great. Jon is honest, funny and friendly. Along with his staff, he gets the job done right and gets it done quickly. I will return...but hopefully not for a while, since my trusty car is so good to me!

Katherine

January 27, 2007 at 12:32 AM

Union Street Garage has a couple of things going for it.First off, the service there was beyond exceptional.  I don't pretend to know the first thing about the inner workings of an automobile, but Jon did a wonderful job of explaining just what was wrong with my poor, tired car, and what needed to be done to get it back in tip-top condition.Second, Union Street Garage is at a lower elevation than my apartment, meaning that all I had to do when my car wouldn't locomote with confidence was put it in neutral and roll down the hill.

Brianne K

November 15, 2006 at 09:40 AM

As a woman, it's hard to find a mechanic that you can trust. I'm ready to admit that I'm a complete idiot when it comes to cars, and I think that mechanics can smell it on me. But I fully trust John and his staff...they are knowledgeable, kind, and trustworthy. I've taken my car in a couple of times, worried that it was about to spontaneously combust, but John has always explained what was wrong in a very basic way (so that even I can understand), and has either fixed it or just told me to quit worrying and sent me on my way. Union Street Garage is the place if you want an honest mechanic in the city!

KATIE M.

September 20, 2006 at 03:13 PM

Jon is fantastic.  When my car battery died earlier this month, I decided to check out Jon's shop because it's much closer than Carlos' shop on McAllister (although anyone who lives near McAllister and Central should go to Carlos).  He came over and jumped the car, then drove it down to the shop (about 6 blocks).  He's so calm, knowledgeable, and friendly...every customer in there when I picked up my car seemed to be a repeat. The next time She-Ra breaks down, I'll be back for sure.

phil h

June 8, 2006 at 11:00 AM

I really like this shop...Jon gave me a quick diagnosis when I brought my car in, explaining the possible problems in a way that even a non car guy (ie phil h) could understand.  Their hourly rate seems a bit high, thus only four stars, but I will definitely return because I trust them to do a good job and not rip me off.

laurence w.

January 23, 2006 at 12:40 PM

I used to think it rocked.  It still does compared to most other places, but now I go to Robert at Action Auto Care and am a lot more pleased with the speed and price of the service.  John's just way too slow for me...

Ryan C.

October 30, 2005 at 05:53 PM

[submitted before haiku time! But no question it deserves to stand.]I went there purely based on the good things said here, and can now completely verify everything that's been said before.My car was just 4 blocks away from this shop and wouldn't start. I explained the problem to Jon and he drove over to my car right that moment. He thought maybe he could get it started and save me $100+ in towing it. Sure enough, he got it going. Once at the shop, a few quick fixes to some connections fixed the electrical problem that kept it from starting (I was about to replace the whole alternator), while he highlighted a couple other problems I was going to ignore, which were actually rather critical. All told, I got out cheap, quick, and without all the anxiety.

Julie K.

August 18, 2005 at 03:29 AM

Jon is great. He is honest and gives it to you straight. A good shop is a hard find -- this shop wants you to come back instead of ripping you off the one time they see your car.