Active Green & Ross Tire & Auto Centre

Marco and his team very helpful. Quick, efficient, good pricing and they explain things. Helped me out with my 2005 Ford Ranger a bunch.

Okay. So I have had good experiences at AG&R at the gerrard street location, so when I brought my car here, I assumed it would be a similar experience. However it was less than expected.
I had called about an oil change and A1 service on a Honda civic (aka, oil change, fluid check, tire rotate/​check) and the technician I spoke to said that if I wanted it done the next day that I should come at 7:30am when they open. So I was there at 7:30 am (actually I was there at 7:15 and waited). I walked in, and approached the desk at 7:30, and the guy working, whom I saw arrive ten minutes prior, didn’t really greet me, he just waited for my question. So I started with, «I called yesterday about an A 1 Service; was it you…» he rolled his eyes and said «it might have been» between bites of Tim Hortons breakfast sandwich. So it continued on.
Anyway, I gave him my keys and asked how long, he said his technicians weren’t in yet so probably around 8:30 when they get in, and hour after. (9:30) I left to get some stuff done in the area returning at 9:15. Then I sat there until 10:15. I then got called to the desk. I can see my car, still hoisted, tires off. He says «your break pads need replaced, you are down to only a few milimeters (like 1.5)»
[new break pads are 8−10mm].
I said, «what does that entail?
Reply (condescendingly) „well, you probably break hard“ (I raised my eyebrows, to which he recovered by saying) „because it’s an automatic, I drive a stick so I can downshift and break less“ You are also in Canada where there is a lot of salt, so you should probably get the better pads that are ceramic»
Me: «How much?»
Him: «I can get the parts here and put on by 11:30am»
Me: «How much?»
Him: «ehhh about 500 $ premium»
Me: «and for non ceramic? «
Him: «$ 400»
So at this point I’m out. That is way too much for this job as the tires are ALREADY off the car. (Which is half the work of the job).
The break down: if you go to Canadian Tire or Napa… the break pads are 100 $ for premium for the consumer. «Employees/​auto ppl» get the for about $ 40 – 50 $. Naturally there is a mark up. To install the break pads it’s a few steps to install (remove a few bolts, 12 mm wrench, check calipers etc) once the tires are off. A professional would take about 10 minutes a tire. Again… naturally there is a minimum labor charge of an hour.
So theoretically $ 100 on parts (which entails a 50 $ mark up) $ 100 on labour… which has a minimum. Should total 200 $ (hell…even if you threw in a 50 $ charge for overhead of the half our you were on the hoist… you’re looking at $ 250. Not $ 500.
So if you don’t have any options to find someone you can trust… at least do some research. ie. Bring in your own parts (it’ll cost you less) make sure you know exactly what they want to do. (If the pads are at 5 mm you have quite a while before they sqeak/​or it gets even close to metal to metal) etc. Get itemized and detailed reciepts. Remember your technicians name.

This Active Green + Ross location gets an easy five-​star rating for customer service, quality and competitive pricing.
I called at 10:30am for a quote ($ 630 — all-​in — for four Michelin Defenders on a 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring) and by 2pm on the same day I had new tires, a 4-​wheel alignment done and a new cabin air filter installed. No up-​selling or typical sales schlock either.
I was honoured an expired discount offer on the Michelin Defenders and they knocked $ 10 off the alignment. Not bad.
All in all, I couldn’t have asked for more. Very happy with the service and would recommend this location to anyone.

Deceiving pricing, regularly offering to get things done that aren’t required, and charge for work not completed.
I used to go to this venue to get my new tires from them, as well as my oil changed. I hadn’t been there in a while, but last time I went, they quoted me a price of $ 30 for their oil change, however when I got there, they actually charged a whole bunch of additional fees on top of it, making it at least $ 40 + tax. I felt that to be very misleading and dishonest.
During my visit, they told me that my vehicle needed an alignment which I had them perform, only to later find out that it hadn’t been done at all, when I went to another garage who checked it for me and advised that it could not have been done the previous time, since the front two wheels were facing in the opposite direction, and it’s not possible that in that short of a period of time that the alignment could’ve gotten that far off. The other garage also gave me the before and after alignment readings (and they let me keep the print-​out). Where-​as this shop shows you some before & after alignment readings after they’re done, but never lets you keep them, so I wonder if they’re even from my vehicle).
They also recommended to have my pollen air filter, as well as the air filter under the hood changed. They told me that they’d only charge for the parts, and the labour would be free, however the price they quoted me was way higher than what the dealership charged for the parts, so I passed on it. I later got a new air and a a new pollen air filter, and I realized that although the pollen air filter was definitely in need of being changed, the air filter under the hood looked like new.
I was never a huge fan of the way they work on a first-​come first-​serve basis, and estimates on when the vehicle would be ready are usually quite off.
They did give me a ride home and back to the shop, which was nice. However the man who drove me, didn’t even say «hi» or «bye.»
All-​in-​all, considering my last experience at this venue, I have no interest in returning there what-​so-​ever.

I didn’t have a good experience here. First of all the staff at Active Green + Ross lied to me about getting my car looked after immediately when I called them, but when I got there it turned out that they were busy and didn’t have time. I had no choice but to leave my car there since it was already towed there.
They didn’t look at my car until just before they were closing and after 2 phone calls. They told me that they could fix it by the next morning at 10, so I went there the next morning — Guess what, it wasn’t ready because they were waiting for a part to come. So when the part did come, gets installed, and an hour later — guess what, they tell me that the part they installed was defective, I couldn’t take my car, and that they had to re-​order another one and wait another day .
The part they got was a defective refurbished part — I ask them why they didn’t get it new. They lie to me and say only refurbished parts are available for my car (I know they lied because I checked afterwards to see if there were new parts). In summary, 2 lies and slow service, I don’t recommend this auto centre.

I’ve been here twice, both times for alignments, several years apart. The first time, they said they did the alignment no problemo. But, the steering wheel was way off center when I got it back. I was young and stupid back then, so I let it go. Then, more recently, I thought I’d give them another chance (I also live walking distance from this place). Got my car back after the alignment, and it still pulled to the right. Went back for an ‘adjustment’ — they claim ‘4-​wheel computerized alignment, btw — and when I got it back, it was even worse! Not only that, but the tech actually left a locking pliers attached to one of the steering end links. Dingbats!
Too bad that place at Dufferin and Dupont closed — their old-​fashioned, non-​computerized alignment was the best any of my cars ever had :(

Before I knew my way around the city and had no idea where to turn for tire work, oil changes and the like, I looked locally. Having used to live about a ten-​minute walk from this place, I would often drop off my car and then walk back home. I soon moved out of the neighbourhood but still found it difficult not to take my car here. Maybe it was a matter of convenience, but driving 20 minutes out of your way and then taking a bus back to the subway tells me that there’s probably something more than just convenience at work here.
This Active Green + Ross is pretty much like most others you’ll go to. Dealing mainly in tires and light maintenance, they are friendly, efficient, and decently affordable for the work that they provide. Testament to this are two things; that I would keep going out there to get work done after I moved, and that my car kept running after I left. Never had an issue with these guys when I’ve used them. Need tires, oil changes, muffler work, it’s worth the drive or walk out if you’re in the ‘hood.