Lefty’s Automotive

This is not a good place to go for auto repair work based on my experience. I had the longest brake line replaced in my vehicle for over $ 500.00, a single brake line and they never removed the old original line (it was just snipped and left behind), they just used a roll of cheap bendable line (not stainless and not even the same gauge as the other lines) which costs nothing and bent it into place without securing it into the proper brake channels which both streamline and anchor the line. Pathetic! I will be writing a letter to the BBB as well. They lied to me about a ceramic break pad «falling apart» and that a new caliper was required too (stated one price and raised it to another and called it «cost» ($ 80.00 for a generic caliper?). I believe they tried to get off the fused/​rusted line, broke the caliper and pad while doing the job and concocted some pathetic fib so that they could avoid being at fault. Both the owner and the manager are not straight shooters. I am sure you will get the mom and pop shop shpeel about how honest the business is and a lot of other malarkey. I was quoted over a thousand dollars to replace the catalytic converter but I bought a brand new one for $ 350.00 and had installed for $ 100.00 (actually $ 80.00 but I gave the good mechanic an extra $ 20.00).
Beware of dishonest mechanics and look elsewhere, this is not a place to do business with, period! Heck, Pep-​boys is better. Read reviews, look around, ask questions and find the best mechanic that you can! Good luck.

I’m actually surprised these guys aren’t rated 4.5−5 stars. Sure, their prices are a bit higher than the local average, but the quality of service is very high. I’ve been in a couple times and they’ve seen me immediately on both occasions and fixed my problems. Take your car into Lefty’s and get it right! (Oh god, did I just invent their new slogan? Sorry.)
Oh, and they give you a courtesy car while yours is in… nice.

Recently had my vehicle inspected and oil changed. Couldn’t ask for better service. Glad that the inspection was included with the oil change because I found out a few other things that needed to be fixed on my vehicle. Plus they took me to my vehicle while it was on the lift and showed me what was wrong. I’ll definitely be going back for my next oil change and may have other devices done. Great job!

Lefty’s is practically next door to my parent’s house and we have been using them for years with great results. I recently had to go through the stress of my car failing its emissions test and the guys at Lefty’s helped me through the long process of getting the catalytic converter replaced and repeated re-​testing to see if the car was ready to take back for the emissions test. They were very flexible about letting me bring the car in whenever I could for a re-​test. My car finally passed the emissions test today so I am very relieved!

Gave them $ 2000 for needed work, no biggie. However, I picked my car up with lights on the dash that were not present when I took my car in. They said to bring it in if battery light came back on. A few days later the car stalled and battery light and check engine light came on. Took it in. Turns out it needs much more work. I opted to sell the car and not do the work but they still charged me the $ 86 diagnostic fee. This to me is unreal. I just gave them $ 2000 for work and bring the car in for issues that weren’t present before I took it in. Bad timing? Maybe, but to nickel and dime the diagnostic fee is ridiculous. I have spent close to $ 5000 in the past year there. Not going back.

Terrible place rip off always a slightly oil leak so they can charge to clean engine. Had a gasket put in they put it in wrong i hope they will correct it will see

It’s extremely stressful finding a shop when you’re in need of a repair. Even though I haven’t been here in a year or two, I’ll never hesitate to recommend them to anyone and everyone I know. They did my repairs quickly and gave me a fair price. As a female, I was concerned I was going to get ripped off, but when I told my friends and family how much I paid, they were really impressed with the pricing. Now they too have a place to go when something isn’t quite right with their cars. Thanks Lefty’s!

best place to have your oil changed to replacing your engine if needed! honest hardworking professional business and get a loaner free so you dont miss work. been going here for years ! great place! ask for jim or bill and get your wheels fixed right the first time!

I got stuck taking my 07 Nissan to these con artists because my alternator went out. I was orginally quoted $ 900.00 for the alternator and a battery. I said that I would get a battery on my own to save on cost, to which I was informed they would give me the battery at cost.
I go to pick up my car and the total came to $ 854.79. I informed the mechanic that that was a ridiculous price, to which he replied that I needed to be smart and realize that he uses superior parts. Well I’m smart enough to know that I’m getting ripped off, especially since the national average for an new alternator is between $ 400-​$ 600. I came home and looked up alternators for my vehicle and discovered that the most expensive one is $ 178.00, which these con artists charged me $ 328.98 for and I highly doubt they used the most expensive part.
I informed them that they had me over a barrel due to the fact that my car didn’t run, but this would never happen again. They will never get a dime of my, my family or friends hard earned money. So to add insult to injury, not only did these guys rip me off, they talked down to me like I was just some dumb chick who didn’t know what she was talking about.
If you like to be overcharged, treated like a piece of garbage and talked to like you’re dumb, then this is the place for you. However if you’re the type of person who likes to be dealt with fairly and treated with an ounce of respect, then find another place to get your car fixed.
UPDATE…
2 days after picking up my car, I went for a day trip up to Wisconsin, only to breakdown in Kenosha. My car stalled and would start but would die again once idle, which is what I paid an arm and a leg to fix. Now here I sit, 5 months pregnant stuck on the side of the road in Kenosha with a car that doesn’t run. There is a special place in hell for con artists like Lefty.

Its very comforting to find any type of business that you can trust, but when its your car, that’s extra special. From a simple oil change to my complex manufacturer issue, they have always been informative without being the least bit pretentious. Advice comes across as neighborly, even when outside of their scope of practice: «Get that deep scratch fixed before it rusts and costs you more.» This place is great.

Don’t want to leave a great review for them…
Then they will be busy when I need to stop by!
Alas, I can not lie.
Great guys, great service and prices cheaper than manufacturer’s shops.
Funny thing is a tech at Sears told me about them years ago!
Thanks guy!

I can’t believe we’ve lived in the neighborhood for 15 years and have waited this long to go to Lefty’s!!! While we were fine with our previous mechanic, Lefty’s went above and beyond to help us pass our emissions test on our 2003 Ford. Not only did they address the problem with our catalytic converter, they repeatedly tested our car until it passed, and then submitted the test to the state for us, saving us substantial time at the emissions testing facility. They’ve now got a lifelong customer!

I have a olé’ 1986 Oldsmobile Delta. 88 that I thought was on its last leg! They were respectful in everyway, shape and form. The car has always been Garage kept, but still we were never told it would cost an arm and a leg. We got a phone call before the work, we gave the go ahead, if we needed more done that was necessary we were called always.
I am HAPPY TO SAY I GOT THE CAR BACK NICE AND PEPPY !!! We also has nice people who talked to us and was given a ride home and no one does that! We are happy with our NEW AUTO MECHANICS FOR OUR OLDER CARS !!!
We thank them for being a CARING AUTO SHOP!!! By all means go to Left’ys Automotive you will NOT BE SORRY !!!

Lefty’s is my new go-​to mechanic. What really makes them stand out to me:
–They’re honest. They explain in clear detail what is wrong with your car and why, what’s a priority, and what can wait.
–Everyone I’ve spoken to on the phone or in person is friendly and courteous.
–After hours drop-​off is available.
–They’ll pick you up and drop you off from work or home. I haven’t used it, but I also hear they have a loaner car.
–Prompt, quality service.
–They have a great oil change/​full inspection coupon.

Just took my car here for the first time. Great and friendly service. So glad to — and I’m telling everyone to check this place out when they need auto repair. No one wants to have car trouble but I feel this is a very honest place.

I am so happy to have an honest, friendly and efficient mechanic in the neighborhood.
I always bring my Murano to them for service. What I really like about them is if you have to leave your vehicle at the shop, they will give you a loaner car for FREE! What shop does that, especially nowadays?
Also, if they can’t fix or find a problem which you describe, they will not charge you labor, they don’t charge a damn thing. For example, my airbag light was on for a week. I took it in and they could not find anything wrong with the airbag via the computer diagnostic check. They told me if it comes back on immediately bring my car back in. They gave me my keys back and I didn’t have to pay for anything. No labor charge. Nice!

They charge you what they say they will charge you, they get it done when they say they will too.
They have loaner cars that are just fine.
They will tell you what you need to worry about in the future and help you prioritize work to fit your financial circustances. They are your partner in automotive ownership and you can trust them.
Thanks Bill and Jim, you are great!

With so many automotive repair shops in Chicago, I turned to Unilocal for assistance. I decided to do a neighborhood search and found Lefty’s highly rated. I decided to give them a go as they were also featured in the Chicago Magazine’s Best Repair Shops in 2008. The did an excellent job repairing my car and even offered a loaner vehicle to me for 2 days free of charge. They are open, honest, and reasonably priced. The only setback I had was when the horn they replaced broke, but they took the vehicle in and fixed it free of charge.

We have been taking our cars here for a long time. The price is always fair, they do not try to up sell you on things you don’t need and they fix things right the first time. Just brought my car in there the other day and they pointed out that I needed new tires, but they weren’t pushing us on getting them from Lefty’s. They just wanted to let us know. Obv it is cheaper to get them done at Costco and they were fine with that. They fixed my air, tune up and oil change and the price was right. A rare mechanic you can really trust.

I like to take great care of my car. Previously, I considered myself a «dealership person.» Unfortunately, there is a disreputable dealership of which I finally tired, and decided to give Lefty’s a try. I have not been disappointed. I feel we have been given honest and fair advice. I have never felt pressured to do anything with our car. They always seem pretty take-​it-​or-​leave it with their advice. The pricing has always seemed reasonable, too. When I’m in the waiting room, it seems to be filled with long-​time customers, which is always a good sign.
Also, when I did have my dealership issue and I came to them for a second opinion, they actually let me come stand under my car and they went one-​by-​one through the things the dealer was suggesting and why I didn’t actually need to spend any money on my car. They did not charge me for that visit. That experience definitely earned them my repeat business.