Swanson Automotive Services

Great Volvo specialty shop. Just wish I could afford them. Online appointment scheduling, which is awesome. Detailed e-​mailed estimates. I did my first factory scheduled maintenance with them on my new-​used S40. The invoice they gave me for it was awesome, listed everything they checked and noted items that should especially be looked at the next time you take it in. Had a great conversation with the owner, Fred, when I picked it up. Very convenient to get to from the Green Line for pickup/​drop off (2 – 3 min walk). My only gripe is their prices. I’d love to take it to them every time, and would if I could afford it. You get what you pay for, though. I had one major repair that needed to be done on top of the scheduled maintenance and a couple more minor things that I wanted to get quotes from elsewhere, and they were a little pushy about having them do it, but hey that’s their prerogative so I can’t blame them. I think I saved about $ 200 going elsewhere though for the big repair, their price was basically the same as the dealer. I would describe them as dealer quality work at a dealer price, except you can actually trust them!

We’ve been bringing Vo’s here since 1996. Fred and the team are a model business: excellent communication, total transparency, customer-​centered (they now have on-​line scheduling). In fact, many health care organizations could learn fom SAS.
I am on Volvo #3 — others were 12+ years old. We were once on the Cape during rainy season and an electric window wouldn’t close, Fred walked us through fixing the mechanism with a butter knife (saving us from finding someone/​dealer and $$$$). When feasible, the team has offered me rebuilt parts AND purchased parts back for reconditioning. They always let us know how to prioritize needed repairs, as it is true that Volvo parts are pricey. I have NEVER felt that labor charges were unfair, in fact these guys go the extra mile because they know their customers and maybe could charge more (hopefully Fred won’t read this).
My daughter used to sit in the waiting room and play with an etch-​a-​sketch, she’s going to college soon. In her 18 years, she has never had to sit by the side of the road in a broken down Volvo.

My battery died while parked across the street from Swanson today in the pouring rain. Fred didn’t hesitate in asking one of his guys to give me a jump to get me on my way to a meeting. Never had a car serviced here but today’s interaction is an indicator of the kind of customer service you can expect at Swanson I recommend them 100%.

Big fan of Fred and the guys here. I’ve been coming here since 2000 and am on my fourth Volvo. These guys will give it to you straight-​if it needs to be fixed, they’ll tell you. If it doesn’t, they’ll also be honest with you. Good, quality Volvo repair with Volvo parts (or Fred finds high quality substitutes). I would highly recommend this place for your Volvo.

Brought my car in for its 105k check up. Price was reasonable compared to other Volvo shops (of which I’ve been to many around the country). Staff was friendly, gave me no BS, and didn’t mind answering all my little questions or explaining to me their findings. Conveniently located next to the T. I’d go back.

This shop is a dishonest. I brought my car in for a minor problem and they were completely unable to address it and in the process charged my 1200 dollars. I took it to another mechanic who quickly diagnosed it and charged me a quarter of the price. They take advantage of people who aren’t car experts to put money in their pockets.

These guys know their cars. If you have a small problem, make sure to suggest the small solution. Ie. a sticky brake pedal — does it need wd-​40 or a new little vacuum thingy so it resets properly? They have found used parts for me and been creative on solving some repair issues.

I found this Volvo repair shop by following a 30-​year-​old volvo and asking the owner where her repair shop was.
I went to them several time for every-​5000 mile service and didn’t notice anything wrong with Swanson.
That being said, I wasn’t so happy the last (and final) time I visited them.
They wanted $ 400 or so to fix the standard «high-​security» lock on my trunk. My key had broken off in the lock, and they said the lock would have to be replaced, and that I’d never be able to get the key fragment out of there. I gagged at this price and went home and searched the net a bit.
For $ 15 I ordered a key-​extractor from a locksmith supply and was able to remove the broken key myself for $ 15 and 20-minute’s work. Now that I know how to do it, I could do it a second time in about 15 seconds. (That would come out to an hourly rate of $ 96,000/hour if I charged as much as Swanson!)
Another reviewer has attacked this feedback, saying that I should have taken my car to a locksmith instead. Well, if this is so obvious then the guys at Swanson should have told me to go to a locksmith instead of trying to fleece me themselves. Furthermore, removing a key fragment is so easy that they really should have been able to do it! (I was able to do it on the first try, and I’m neither a locksmith nor a mechanic.)