Reference Automotive

Tim Wallace

★★★★★

5 years ago

My Vanagon died on the way to North Cascades NP. We got a tip that Reference Auto was the place to go for prompt and knowledgeable service. We had the van towed there in the middle of the night and showed up at his shop the next morning with a rental and the hope that he could get the van fixed by the time we came back through - oh, and I had lost the only key to the van at this point as well. Josh was incredible. He let us set up our camp kitchen in front of his shop and make breakfast for the kids. He had the necessary parts on hand and in an hour he had the van running, three new keys cut and included a hideakey box to avoid similar catastrophe down the road. His knowledge of Vanagons was peerless, and his honesty, fairness and friendly, chill persona made a potential disaster into a fond memory and good fortune to have found such a VW gem. If you are ever in the region (I live 3 hours south and will be back) and need van work, there is only one place to go; Reference Automotive.

Trevor Dickinson

★★★★★

2 years ago

When I found myself with the exhaust of my van threatening to completely fall off, Josh helped me out in a cost effective way that got me back on the road quickly. He is honest and friendly and works hard to get work done on specialty import vehicles like Delicas. Cheers!

B Byrd

★★★★★

8 years ago

Josh is conscientious and skilled. He has a true passion for vanagons. His experience is an asset to diagnosis and repairs.

Stephanie He

★★★★★

7 years ago

Josh is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. We stopped by while he was about to leave, and he took the time to help us diagnose a battery issue under the seat, and direct us to where we could find a replacement battery. If we were local, Josh would be the trusted mechanic we go to with any future issues. Highly recommended! Our van: 93 Eurovan Weekender Westy

M Heyer

★★★★★

a year ago

Took my kei truck in to get an acceleration issue looked at. We talked about the issue for a couple minutes, then Josh opened the motor hatch and fixed the problem in 15 and didn’t even charge. Excited to bring my truck back to have some work done to it. Real cool dude

Jon H

★★★★★

a year ago

Josh and his crew did an awesome job repairing our Hiace. They were fast and did quality work at reasonable prices. Highly recommend!

Kathleenleen McSpeert

★★★★★

3 years ago

Josh is a great, passionate and honest mechanic who knows his way around a Vanagon. We were on a road trip and having an irregular but persistent issue with the ‘90 Westy not wanting to start in the afternoon on hot days. Other times it started fine. This is something that we were told could have dozens of causes and others were baffled by. We were able to get into Reference Automotive on short notice. Josh had it diagnosed, fixed and we were out in about an hour. An all around amazing experience. He would be our regular mechanic if we lived in Bellingham.

Jonah Keith

★☆☆☆☆

Edited 3 years ago

Even though Josh is an acquaintance, he dramatically overcharged me. He was having a hard time removing my wheel bearing and it took him a long time due to lack of experience and limited equipment. He charged all of these hours (three times the going price). His work failed soon after I received my truck, but he told me it was normal for the bearing to leak oil at first. I had to move and couldn't bring it back in when it kept leaking. Now that I'm back, he's blowing me off and not covering his failed work since it has been over a year and he told me he only covers his work for a year. I brought it to another shop and they told me the seal was damaged and they needed to replace my drum brakes because of oil intrusion. Meanwhile, Josh continues to blame me for his failed work. Why would I make this up? It would be difficult to find lower quality or a higher price. Consider this a bad reference :)

Miles Tarr-Raines

★★★★★

3 years ago

We brought our 87’ Vanagon in for a badly needed fuel tank reseal which they were able to knock out for us no problem. Josh was also great at pointing out a few small things they could do to help the van run better and keep us rolling along safely. I also appreciated that he kept me in the loop the whole week they had it with text and phone call updates. We will definitely be back the next time our van needs work!

michael utley

★★★★★

2 years ago

If you're seeking someone with more than just a job-related interest in vehicles but a genuine passion, then Josh is your go-to person. I own a JDM import Toyota truck, and discovering this place in Bellingham has been a stroke of luck. Josh treats your vehicle as if it were his own. I first encountered him when he approached me in a parking lot, expressing interest in my truck and informing me about his expertise in working on such vehicles. After scheduling an appointment for general maintenance and a few specific tasks like a tow hitch installation and addressing a peculiar noise, Josh showcased meticulous attention to detail. Instead of settling for the minimum, he went the extra mile, even test-driving the truck to identify the noise I mentioned. He fixed a malfunctioning dome light, tightened the alternator belt, and conscientiously pointed out a fluid leak, providing realistic insights and making me aware of it without pressuring me into unnecessary repairs. In essence, my experience with Reference Auto has been great. I would confidently entrust any vehicle to them, knowing they exceed expectations, maintain honesty, and offer more than fair pricing. Josh's evident passion for unique cars goes beyond mere discussion—he is genuinely excited to share insights and details about your vehicle.

P W

★★★★★

a year ago

One of the finest unheard of mechanics around! Specializing in vanagons to boot! I recently had a brake job done and my car is stopping smoother than ever. If you have any mechanical needs I highly recommend bringing your vehicle to Reference for service.

Juniper Belmont

★★★★★

a year ago

I was referred to Josh by a number of friends and I am so glad I got my car fixed up at Reference. Not only were the prices extremely fair (where previously I got outrageous estimates from shops) but he tossed in, for almost no cost, a few minor fixes I needed while waiting for the parts I needed for my breaks to arrive the same day. AND Josh walked through everything that I needed to get repaired, while at the same time making sure I could actually see with my eyes what's going wrong and why things needed to get fixed. And then he walked through his process of repairing the car. At the same time my car was being fixed, Josh was helping an apprentice with their own project. It is clear that Josh cares not just about cars, but people, and he makes sure I gain new knowledge so I'm not heading into the repair blind. This attention to education is something I, as a nerd, appreciate quite a bit. I really, really loved my experience and I know I'm going to come back here for all my car repair needs. I encourage you, dear reader, to do the same!

Mason White

★★★★★

a year ago

Quality shop! Josh knows lots about cars and does work efficiently and for a fair price. Would recommend! (Plus cool decoration)

RICHARD SCHWARTZ

★★★★★

8 months ago

Josh mentioned he would like to be a yoga instructor, the perfect temperament for someone trying to keep Vanagons alive and well! We made it all the way from Seattle to Bellingham on our Alaska trip before noticing an issue of concern (par for the course when on a Vanagon safari). He assessed the situation for us, walked us around the van for a pre-trip inspection and then took care of what needed to be done and pointed out things we should keep an eye on. Alaska here we come! Addendum to my review. For years we have not been able to use the heating/cooling controls on the dash to get outside cool air into the van, the air was hot no matter how we set the control levers (not fun on hot days). We have put off dealing with it figuring the entire dash would have to be pulled apart to get to the cables and it would cost a fortune. I mentioned it to Josh and he immediately grabbed a few tools, hopped into the driver's seat, popped off the cover over the gauges, and made a few adjustments. It took all of 10 to 15 minutes. Today we have cool fresh air coming in! Clearly Josh knows every square inch of these vans.

Kat Schaumberg

★★★★★

2 years ago

My whole family has trusted Reference Automotive for years and we always appreciate Josh's kindness and automotive ingenuity and craftsmanship. He's honest and worthy of his pricing. I purchased a '92 Delica a few years back and Josh has been my #1 mechanic for this speciality diesel import. I recently found myself in need of some mechanical questions on the side of a road, Josh answered immediately to help me make some sound decisions and promptly sourced parts. Highly recommended!

Brennan Zelener

★★★★★

2 years ago

Just wow. I've been on a road trip from Colorado out to Washington in my 87' Syncro Westfalia and started hearing a whooshing noise that I thought was a wheel bearing. Josh was recommended by other shops in town for Vanagon work, and after calling him and driving over to his shop he immediately hopped in my van with me for a test drive to help understand what noises I was hearing and what might be wrong. Good luck finding another mechanic who cares enough to do that today. Over the next week Josh did a handful of truly challenging repairs to my suspension and frame. He welded and repaired my insanely rusty lower control arms (something I knew needed done for years but didn't know anyone capable of locally), and in the process he discovered that my upper spring mount had basically rusted away and might break-through at any time. He repaired the frame properly - which I can see in the finished product. My Syncro is now driving better than it ever has in my ownership and Josh has made it clear that he stands behind his work if I have any follow-up trouble. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Josh to the next Syncro owner in need of a great mechanic, and I'll probably drive all the way out to Washington again in a few years to have Josh work on other systems that need fixing.

Patrick Gillham

★★★★★

a year ago

Josh and team at Reference know how to keep VWs and other vintage vehicles road worthy. Josh knows the idiosyncrasies of these vehicles that most mechanics don’t. Reference does excellent, timely work at a fair price. They also can help you prioritize and budget repairs and services. They got my westy ready for a 3000 mile road trip on AK Highway (it had been un-driven for 2 years prior). Vehicle ran like new from Bellingham to Skagway and back, with many miles on rough road. Will definitely go back to Reference in the future. Thanks Josh and team!