Nice Guy Auto & Transmission

G. Villa

★☆☆☆☆

Edited a year ago

This place will tell you that there is a problem, or create the perception of a problem with your vehicle, one that does not exist. This place is the reason why I don't trust mechanics to touch my '96 4Runner with 375,000 mi on it. They think I'm a sucker coming in the door, and told me things are wrong with it that aren't, likely because I'm a female. I'm not naive to the fact that my vehicle has issues given the age and mileage. I've had this vehicle for 26 years and I know most of what goes on under the hood and elsewhere on it. I decided to trust Nice Guy Auto to simply change the oil. Less than 24 hours after getting it back from them, I noticed a very large oil spot under it, about 8-10 inches wide. I touched it with my fingers to validate what it was, fresh amber oil. I checked the oil and found it to be low on the dipstick. I took it straight back to Nice Guys Auto and told them what I had found, assuming the oil plug or filter was not tightened, something simple, just human error. The next day they call to tell me, they've looked at it and there's a lot of oil all over the engine, which admittedly there is, some of it fresh oil, looking like it had been poured on it instead of in it. Their assessment on the invoice read "rear valve cover gaskets need to be replaced, maybe the oil pan too, will start at the top and work their way down". Mind you, it was not leaking at all before they changed the oil. Not a drop on my clean concrete driveway, and then all of a sudden it's leaked almost a quart of oil in around 24 hours? I told them no thank you, we would be picking it up and I would be taking it to my mechanic. I took it to my regular shop, which is quite a drive but well worth it, and showed them the recommendations from Nice Guy Auto. My regular shop had changed the valve cover gaskets in November of 2023, and driving barely 5,000 mi in the time since, I knew they weren't the issue. My mechanic checked it thoroughly and found nothing wrong with it. So did Nice Guy Auto make a mistake or was it a deliberate attempt to try to sucker someone into unnecessary work on an old truck? Either is possible. I am thankful I saw the problem you all created before enough oil had leaked out to tear up my engine. The first picture was less than 24h after they changed the oil. Second picture is 6 days after they "checked it", reporting on paper, that the valve cover gaskets, etc needed to be replaced. No leaks. No additional work done.

Emily Wilcox

★★★★★

11 months ago

These guys are amazing! I am from out of town and brought my car in without an appointment because it was smoking on the highway. They helped me right away, refilled the oil and did a thorough safety assessment on the spot. The person who helped me was extremely helpful, friendly, and knowledgable. So grateful for genuinely caring people in this business!

Candy Rhodes

★★★★★

10 months ago

Absolutely amazing and right on time! Serpentine belt snapped 85 miles away and was towed there and taken care of in a very professional and timely manner! The owner, Jason, is a true gem who shows great compassion and concern for people, and their vehicles! Excellent experience all around!

kate mattingly

★★★★★

11 months ago

There is no false advertising here. These Guys are Nice and they are the Best!! Super clear with what repairs are needed and why, and available to answer all sorts of questions about cars and maintenance. They are really smart, kind, and patient. Have been taking cars to Nice Guys for years and I know their service has extended the functioning and lives of these cars! Cannot recommend more highly (and cannot understand how any sane person could have had a bad experience at a Nice Guys shop)

Mike Cox

★☆☆☆☆

Edited 2 years ago

Paid $1800 to have my CV Axle, Struts and Joints replaced on my driver side. Was informed I also needed a ton of brake work but came to find out via second opinion that my brake line had been cut most likely during Nice Guy’s service due to axle being near the brake line. Returned and they basically told me to pay more money for a problem they caused. Edit: To the Owner, again, your staff repeatedly pressed me to get new brakes and rotors with the initial job. After getting a second opinion I didn’t need either and was shown that my line was cut. You did not do me a favor by following up on work you did, it was the least you could do as a professional. Nothing is obvious about a baseless opinion to deflect blame, the car had not traveled that far since the initial work was completed and your staff initially acknowledged 4 months was not too long for an issue to have occurred based upon the type of work that was done. Your response just reiterates that you are not a business I need to spend my time or money with.

Karrie O

★★★★★

10 months ago

Came here for my state inspection - they were able to work me in. They're conveniently located close enough to me that dropping my truck off was doable so I could walk to and from home when it was done. They were honest and upfront with what was needing to be done, and didn't overcharge me. The guy at the front desk was very friendly and helpful. I will be a returning customer!

Marti B

★★★★★

a year ago

Excellent service and honest. They quickly diagnosed and replaced the leaky exhaust manifold on our Subaru (and only the section that needed replacing), at a much better price than that quoted by the dealerships. Damien & staff were a pleasure to work with. Highly recommend.

Abel Castillo

★★★★★

4 months ago

These guys are top notch , assisted us when we had car trouble down the road. The business name matches the quality of the employees.

Eric Jackson

★☆☆☆☆

10 months ago

I really wanted to think I was a lil crazy, but after reading other reviews, I may have correct in my assessment. I took car there and the first they said after going over it was that there was NO oil in it. I had changed the oil myself a few days prior and added 5 qts. There was no where else for the oil to be because I hadn't driven it much and it wasn't on my garage floor. Then they said there was NO oil pressure so they would replace whatever could cause that. That didn't work. So they replaced something else. After that they suggested a new engine over spending more time to figure out why there was no oil pressure. Of course they suggested an engine that wpuod be around $5k. I opted to wait and think. They said it was safe to drive the car home if it wasn't too far. Now finally I take it to another shop that was suggested to me and I just got off the phone with them and they are telling me that the car has plenty of oil pressure and I may not need a new engine but there is coolant leaking into the head possibly. I really didn't want to believe that Nice Guys were full of it, but something told me to just not go any farther with them after the intion $1k plus that I spent there. Why can't people just do right?

1sunni1

★★★★★

4 months ago

i was highly satisfied with the customer service, skills, advice, and fair pricing from these genuinely “nice guys”!

brendon meekins

★★★★★

3 months ago

I took my ford focus here and the customer service was excellent along with the work.

Krissy Mohit

★★★★★

3 years ago

The guys at Nice Guy took great care of me and my 2007 Mazda. Paul at the West Ghent location was super helpful and kind. He called me to provide me with updates every step of the way-- and presented me with different options to get me back on the road before Christmas.within my budget. Jason, the owner, was extremely accommodating and honest-- giving me an idea of how much I could expect to pay, even before my diagnostic, based on his experience. I plan to come back to Nice Guy after the Holidays to have my brakes done-- this is my new auto shop FOR SURE. I won't go anywhere else. Thanks guys!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS 🎄

Brett Sutcliffe

★★★★★

2 years ago

Great experience. I have a cruddy but reliable old car that needed a lot of repairs done. To be honest I feel like a lot of shops would have not even worked on a car that old. I understand the conventional wisdom is that if your car is old and cruddy and needs a lot of fixes, just get a new car. But after the used car market got crazy during COVID, I decided that it would be better to just fix the car i had with problems I knew about instead of buy another one at bottom dollar (still more than I can afford) with problems that i /wouldn't/ know about yet. Well of course when they opened it up they found more problems to fix, but they knew I was pushing my budget limit so they threw in those few odds and ends fixes for free. I did not expect something like this and without it I would not have my car and I am very grateful. I'm not saying come here and expect free things. I'm saying that if you come here you can expect some actual decency. If you have had a hard time finding decency and honesty with a mechanic like I have, I would say give these guys a shot. Thanks again Damien, I'll be back for an oil change

james mason

★★★★★

a year ago

My wife took our Honda Accord in and was early and they had not opened up yet. The owner , Jason realized my wife was sitting in the car and brought her in early to get started working on our vehicle. He solved the problem that we were having with our vehicle while my wife waited. This a great and honest place of business and I will be taking my vehicles there for service in the future.

Heath Vincent

★★★★★

a year ago

Sun roof was letting water in. I kind of knew it was clogged drain channels but I'm not familiar with popping the panels off to clean it out so I took it to people who knew how to do that. There was a pool of water in the front passenger side. Was going to be a mold problem. They fixed / and cleaned the channels. dried the passenger side and cleaned it up. No more humidity issues in my car. Job well done - Thank you!

Denise Herr

★★★★★

3 years ago

I've taken my car to Nice Guy Auto several times and they've always been friendly, honest, and communicative. They squeezed me in last minute before a holiday weekend and managed to fix my headlight, even though it turned out to be more complicated than a burned out bulb. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a mechanic in the Norfolk area.

Hope Knight

★☆☆☆☆

a year ago

Just a PSA for everyone DO NOT take your car to Nice Guy Auto off in downtown Norfolk. I brought my car there last Thursday for a belt that snapped and they originally quoted me 150$ on the phone. I then bring the car in and wait an entire day for them to call and tell my boyfriend it would be 375$ (he’s so nice and just said okay) I then called back and was like look I was quoted 150$ I understand that is just an estimate but what exactly is causing this major of an increase if it’s just the belt still. He then said oh well my boss told me to charge you an extra 30 minutes for what it’s wrapped around and it took my 2 hours just to get the belt off alone i then said look this is me and my boyfriends only car and I cannot afford 375$ for one belt replacement if you have any wiggle room at all and could please work with me I would really appreciate it he said let me call my boss and I’ll get back to you. He calls me back maybe 5 minutes later and said I’ll give you a 20% discount so it’s $310 instead I say okay great I think I can do that he then tells me due to the holiday weekend it won’t be ready until Tuesday, understandable. Welllllll Tuesday rolls around and guess what he hasn’t had a chance to get to it… well I thought all he was doing is throwing the belt on and sending me on my way. It gets to be 12 ocklock yesterday and I’m fed up. My boyfriend finally gets the call and he tells him well guess what now we found 2 other things wrong and we will be nice and not charge you for the labor but it’s going to be an extra 150$ I get on the phone at this point and say no no I have literally only set aside the money for the $310 you quoted me how did you not notice these other things were wrong in the ”2 hours” you spent trying to remove my belt I would just like you to fix what we discussed so I can come pick up my car he says alright and hangs up. I get a call not even 10 minutes later and he says my boss said it was a liability so you can just come pick up your car the way it is we aren’t doing anything to it. So after FIVE DAYS I got my car towed to JT at Accurate Tune Plus on Monticello Ave and he has been the most kind and helpful person I’ve ever met I made a mistake not just paying the tow truck fee and bringing it to him in the first place. JT charged me a total of $320 to fix the belt the tensioner and one other thing I forgot the name of so 10$ more than I was going to pay nice guy after my “discount” for just the belt.