Terry’s Custom Auto Works

Terry is seriously a blessing. He is definitely a mechanic you feel you can trust. Finding a reliable mechanic you can trust is always a struggle and i just happened upon Terry. I always brag to my friends about how wonderful my experience always is. He really walks you through everything that needs to be done. I had been given an estimate a little over what I could afford at the time and decided to wait on some brake repairs. The next day when i came to pick up the truck, he had just done everything and told me he didn’t feel comfortable with me driving off and not having done all what was originally quoted. He said i could just pay him back in the next 6 months or so over time no sweat. Terry is the real deal. I showed up and he had taken pictures and showed me everything he had done. He is what every experience at a mechanic should be. Not to mention he has some pretty cool stories if you get to chatting!

I found Terry on accident and I have never had a more pleasant experience with a mechanic. I always feel he is being honest and will tell me if it’s an easy fix instead of ordering a whole new part if it’s unnecessary. He is fair and honest and always makes time. I have been loyal for a couple of years and love seeing the beautiful classic cars he can fix up. At some point I would love for him to cherry mine out!

I had taken my car in a few weeks ago as recommended by a friend. Not only was Terry readily available he was up front and honest with the repairs he was going to do and how much it would cost on scene. As it was my only means of transportation he was able to get the repair done quickly. I had a quite a large indent in the side rim of my wheel well which was repaired so perfectly when my boyfriend picked up the car he needed to call and ask which side it was on because there was no reminisce of any damage. I would HIGHLY recommend Terry to anyone who needs their cars repaired.

I advise all my friends to use Terry’s shop. His work is always done promptly, the work is reliable and the pricing is competitive. Eastlake neighborhoods best mechanic, hands down. Thanks for everything you do Terry, you are an asset to the community!

Terry attempted to charge me for, oh, between $ 2K and $ 3K over the cost of the job because he thought it would be helpful to estimate out a bunch of work I didn’t want to get done and then conveniently «misunderstood» our phone conversation in which I clarified what I wanted done.
After a phone call with Terry in which he told me to «calm down» (SO popular with the ladies, amirite?), accused me of changing my story and of «arguing» with him all in response to my asking him several times to simply tell me what work he did and what my total was, I was far too angry to talk to this dude in person, so my daughter went in and asked him to show her which stuff on the estimate was about fixing my headlight (the job I originally went in for, which included some frame and body work). He tried «It’s right there on the estimate!» a couple of times. Yeah, it was right there along with all the other crap he put on there to «retain value» even though I told him we have no plans to sell the car. «It’s right there!» he told her and she said, «Pretend I just walked in off the street with that car and I want to leave with my headlight working. Walk me through which items on this estimate make that happen.» He did, reluctantly, and when the total was several thousand less than he told me on the phone, she said, «Okay, this is what we’re paying.»
Here are some details from letter I wrote him when I still believed this was a misunderstanding of some kind. I no longer believe that – I believe this guy hoped I’d just pay the bill, and I almost did.
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Terry,
I went to you with a headlight out. I needed my headlight to work. You kindly offered to rig up a headlight for free, which I declined in favor of doing it right. We verbally agreed that meant replacing the passenger side quarter panel and front bumper, pulling out the frame, and replacing the window-​cleaner reservoir. You ballparked this at «at least $ 1500.» I said I could do that or even $ 2K, I just needed to fix my mom’s car that I broke. [Terry later told my daughter that I «fabricated» that number and that I was «delusional.”]
You then began suggesting additional things you could do to ensure that if we ever resold the car it would retain its value. I told you that was not my intention, but you said you’d take off anything extra that I didn’t want. I guess I should have stopped you there because what I ended up with was a written estimate for a bunch of work I didn’t actually want done.
When I called you back to clarify what I wanted done, it was my intention to communicate to you that I wanted the original work that I came in for, not including extras like a hood and a windshield and a rear bumper and all the stuff you said would help «retain value.» I can’t tell you exactly what I said, and the fact that you «wrote it down» doesn’t change the fact that I believe I did my best to communicate what I wanted and you misunderstood. [Terry told me repeatedly «I stood right here and wrote down what you said,» as though that proved I was full of it.] You originally said you took responsibility for that, but today you accused me of «first you didn’t want the hood, and now you’re saying you didn’t want the rear bumper» as though I’m changing my tune because, what, I’m just flighty like that, I guess.
Further, when I asked you to give me a rundown of what work had been done, you began telling me that I needed to «calm down» and when I said I didn’t call to argue, when I reiterated that I was asking a question and needed information you still had not provided, your reply was «You ARE arguing with me.» You interrupted me repeatedly attempting to propose solutions when I tried to get you back around to just telling me what work was done until I finally had to insist on just getting a total out of you. You took issue with my «tone» while on this end, I was just trying to get you to answer a question. That question seemed to come off as an accusation and I really don’t understand why except that it’s clear that this miscommunication means that your customer isn’t thrilled at the end of the day.
I was really looking forward to bringing you my van, but I really am upset now, and there’s really no way.
This sucks.
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Knowing what I know now, I can see how he attempted to manipulate me into being so upset I simply paid the bill and went home with my tail between my legs. How many people has Terry done this to? I don’t know, but I suspect I am far from alone.
Oh, by the way? He specifically pointed out that some people who work on cars attempt to take advantage of women and assured me he was not one of those. I’m…skeptical.