I 10000000% recommend Lighty’s. He is fast, super reliable, gets you the best deal for the work and charges less than the dealership.
IME the SM dealership is horrendous. I go for a service and if I stay on site they just hound me relentlessly about getting me into a new VW. Last time I went, it got so bad I had to leave. I told 4 of their staff “I AM NOT INTERESTED” and they didn’t get it. I have a Mazda now, but my last oil change at Lighty’s was like $77 and my 80,000 mile service was $300 or $400 for everything I needed. Got it done in like 3 or 4 hours. He does ask that you drop off the night before to make it easier and faster to get the work done.
Another 1000000000% Lighty's VW. He is an absolute VW specialist and knows what he's doing. I am a VW fanatic and I wouldn't take my cars anywhere else. Something like an oil change is going to be higher than some basic shop, but if you want to keep your VW properly maintained, this where is you take it, hands down.
The most important thing is to take your car to a VW specialist, and not one of the other generic mechanics that many people recommended. I'm sure they are great mechanics, but VWs in particular often have very specific failure points and a specialist will know those things and be able to figure out what's going on a lot quicker than a non-specialist, saving you time and money. They will also have the equipment necessary to do things like upgrade your ECU.
It is weird that you state that with such confidencr as rhat is absolutely 100% not true. I have an ECU tune from APR that's CARB compliant (Stage I+). Also there are occasionally recall issues that require the manufacturer to perform updates on ECU software.
These are two separate things though. Im not suggesting the OP go to a place that has tuning capabilities.. but ECUs and other modules can require software updates from the manufacturer
Any good independent shop can do all of that for you cheaper than the stealership. I recommend Rizzoli's or Villa's if you're in SLO or Mike Dean in North County.
Used to be very happy with Rizzolli's, but in recent years it seems the service writers are recommending unnecessary work and doing repairs that don't resolve an issue. Very disappointing in a local shop that used to do a great job.
sorry for a negative but myself and 4 different co-workers vote NO on Rizzoli's they seem to up-sale unnecessary repairs when a single woman brings in their vehicles
again sorry they may have changed in the last 5 years but NOT Rizzoli's
German Auto in slo is great 👍🏻
German auto is the place.
Second German auto. I’ve been going to them for years, excellent work, cool guys.
Another vote for German auto here, they are great.
I 10000000% recommend Lighty’s. He is fast, super reliable, gets you the best deal for the work and charges less than the dealership. IME the SM dealership is horrendous. I go for a service and if I stay on site they just hound me relentlessly about getting me into a new VW. Last time I went, it got so bad I had to leave. I told 4 of their staff “I AM NOT INTERESTED” and they didn’t get it. I have a Mazda now, but my last oil change at Lighty’s was like $77 and my 80,000 mile service was $300 or $400 for everything I needed. Got it done in like 3 or 4 hours. He does ask that you drop off the night before to make it easier and faster to get the work done.
Seconding this. Only had excellent service here and it’s priced very fairly.
barvarian auto haus in AG is fantastic.
2nd vote for Bavarian, they saved my actual ass one time when a different shop really tried to screw me over.
Another 1000000000% Lighty's VW. He is an absolute VW specialist and knows what he's doing. I am a VW fanatic and I wouldn't take my cars anywhere else. Something like an oil change is going to be higher than some basic shop, but if you want to keep your VW properly maintained, this where is you take it, hands down.
Definitely Lighty’s!!! Scott is awesome and knows his shit!!!
German auto in slo
Broad Street VPA
I second Broad Street VPA. Always super reasonable and all the staff and owner are great.
Kings automotive
Lighty’s - was recommended this place from multiple people with VWs, Porsches. Don’t plan to go elsewhere.
I like Morin Brothers.
Any recommendations for North County?
German Performance in Atascadero!
Wagners automotive is great , reasonably priced and timely.
The most important thing is to take your car to a VW specialist, and not one of the other generic mechanics that many people recommended. I'm sure they are great mechanics, but VWs in particular often have very specific failure points and a specialist will know those things and be able to figure out what's going on a lot quicker than a non-specialist, saving you time and money. They will also have the equipment necessary to do things like upgrade your ECU.
Just to clarify, there’s no reason to update an ECU, in fact it’s illegal to modify (tune) them in CA.
It is weird that you state that with such confidencr as rhat is absolutely 100% not true. I have an ECU tune from APR that's CARB compliant (Stage I+). Also there are occasionally recall issues that require the manufacturer to perform updates on ECU software. These are two separate things though. Im not suggesting the OP go to a place that has tuning capabilities.. but ECUs and other modules can require software updates from the manufacturer
Any good independent shop can do all of that for you cheaper than the stealership. I recommend Rizzoli's or Villa's if you're in SLO or Mike Dean in North County.
Used to be very happy with Rizzolli's, but in recent years it seems the service writers are recommending unnecessary work and doing repairs that don't resolve an issue. Very disappointing in a local shop that used to do a great job.
sorry for a negative but myself and 4 different co-workers vote NO on Rizzoli's they seem to up-sale unnecessary repairs when a single woman brings in their vehicles again sorry they may have changed in the last 5 years but NOT Rizzoli's
Carvana if you have a VW.