Minit Automotive Calgary — Car Repair in Calgary

Reviews of Minit Automotive Calgary

• Miguel

  Added 2016.09.26

  If it was possible to leave a lower rating I would. I cannot warn people away from this place enough. I brought my car in for an out of province safety inspection and from the very beginning I had a very unpleasant experience. Mind you, I knew I would fail initially, knowing I needed to repair a cracked windshield, but I wanted to know exactly what I was working with. When I picked up my car, the windows were all down and the car was parked outside and unlocked. I called them later that day to attempt to schedule a reinspection, they told me that they would call me back. After waiting, I called them back after a week and I was informed the mechanic's license had expired "the day after he had inspected my car." Of course, after I paid nearly $200 for the initial inspection I was locked in with Minit Automotive lest I pay an additional $100 to go elsewhere and start the process all over again. I attempted to call the shop for the next week to get a timeline when I could get my car reinspected, met with: "the mechanic was out of the shop" EVERY TIME I called in. They pulled me along with promises that the mechanic would maybe have his license in a few days and would do the reinspection for free. A MONTH later, the mechanic had his license updated and I was able to get the car reinspected, as promised, at no additional charge. However, suddenly the check engine light was on and would not pass the car. I'd had a preliminary check done at Ford the same morning, reporting the car was in excellent condition. The light had never previously come on and was not on the write up from the initial inspection. They failed the inspection. Fed up at this point, I told them I was done working with them and would pick up the car. Upon arrival, the car was still in shop and I had to wait 30 minutes for them to give me my keys. While waiting, I expressed my dissatisfaction with the service and questioned the suddenness of the light coming on. The mechanic proceeded to YELL at me that it was my fault for "taking the car away from him." When I said I felt I had been manipulated as a customer, he again YELLED at me in front of several customers that his "personal life isn't any of [my] business." When I explained that I was not interested in his personal life but felt it would have been more honest to have been upfront about the expiry of his inspection tickets within 24 hours of performing the inspection on my car so I could go elsewhere (as I was expecting an initial fail, due to the windshield), he proceeded to again YELL over my attempts to reason with him, to which I began to cry. I then proceeded to say that I will be mentioning this in the review of the shop met, yet again, with him YELLING at me to "go ahead [he] do[es]n't f**ing care." When I was finally handed my paperwork and keys, I had a small scratch on the driver's side door, and when I turned on my car: the check engine light was not on. I then turned the car off, shocked, and took a video of my dash as I turned the car on and off again. I drove home and turned the car off and on again, taking another video. I tried again later that evening, and again the next day. The check engine light was not on. I went to another shop that evening and scheduled an inspection for the following morning -- it passed almost immediately and I was able to go home that same afternoon. Furthermore, as I had explained my circumstance to them, they informed me there wasn't any sign of a check engine light status in the memory of the car's computer. After driving all the way back home to Edmonton. The check engine light still did not come on.
• Logan

  Added 2016.09.12

  Update: I felt I needed to add to this because I went back last week for a final bit of work - a new water pump and an estimate on replacing my rear sway bar that I thought I had broken last winter on a hidden curb. Josh said he figured a new pump would bring my heat up even more. Annnnd.. Again I was totally wow-ed with the afternoon phone call report from Josh. My water pump was fine so he knew it was something else which ended up being a clogged bleeder line. My coolant system is now 100% and the heat burns my hand if I put it too close to the vents. Oh yes and my rear sway bar was fine, it needed two bolts which cost me nothing. Again, a huge amount of money saved and more importantly to me - satisfaction I've met some honest mechanics!
• Connor

  Added 2016.08.16

  I have been here a couple of times for work on my car and the service is amazing. On most occasions, I have my car back within one day. They call me to keep me informed on the status of my car. Usually they can fit me in for an appointment within the next few days too which is great! They have also done some small repairs that they notice when my car is in the shop at no extra charge. They answer all my questions (as I'm not well versed in automotive mechanics) and help me understand completely what is going on with my vehicle. Even when I'm dealing directly with the mechanics and not the service desk, the techs are awesome. I will continue to bring my car to them. Friendly, fast service.
• Sean

  Added 2016.04.05

  I was sent here because of finding rust in my coolant. My heat had been terrible for a long time and I was putting off the heater core replacement job. I just wanted to get my coolant fixed so the engine wouldn't overheat. Josh, one of their mechanics, called me later that day and told me he got me heat and it felt like I'd just won a contest or something - I was not expecting that! He had worked on it for hours and didn't charge me full price. When I arrived to pick up my car I got to speak with Josh and another mechanic there, Ronald, and these guys really care. They worked late to finish up my difficult old car. Now it's like new again at a fraction of what I thought I'd be paying! Thanks guys!!
• Nicholas

  Added 2016.03.09

  Apologies for the long-winded review, but I wanted to divulge as much as possible of the horrendous experience with this shop and warn people away from having any similar experience to mine. I felt absolutely manipulated and taken advantage of by this company and the one particular employee who chose to conduct himself in an abhorrent way: insulting and embarrassing a customer to the point of tears. Take caution, go literally anywhere else.
• Jeremiah

  Added 2014.10.12

  Best service and rates in town!
• Chase

  Added 2013.10.18

  Absolutely terrific customer service. They kept me informed, gave us honest opinions and followed up with us to make sure our car was still going fine a few days after our appointment. Best mechanic in the city!