Manhattan Auto Center

John did a great and fair job with replacing a radiator and rear brakes on a Mitsubishi. I have been looking for a mechanic to start regularly tuning up my aging car and I have found it.

Bottom line: honest and good. They want my review to be longer but I really have no more to say.

I’ve known the owner John for years and he’s awesome! Honest, reliable and trustworthy! Hard to find qualities in a mechanic nowadays. If your car or truck needs service please give them a call. I recommend Manhattan Auto to everyone!

I used to work at a Nissan Dealership. In fact I was a Service Advisor there myself. In fact the dealership is right next to my house nearby the Manhattan Auto Center but won’t name it directly just to cover my behind. But yes I saw firsthand how that place hustles every dollar they can get from every customer. If your car is under warranty you are golden, if your car is not under warranty then the advisers being on a 4.5% commission (yes that 4.5% of sales is the only thing they get on their paycheck no hours just straight commission) that their eyes light up because that means they are going to make a decent paycheck that week! And at a 4.5% commission how much money in sales do you need to make to pay your bills when warranties don’t make them any money? That should say enough as it is right there.
Well anyways, knowing all of this even I do not trust the Service Advisors there or trust that AutoNation Nissan Dealership in general as even being friends with the Service Manager and Service Advisors even I could not get a hook up. So I went ahead and called on my old team of mechanics to do a side job for me and they said yes and that they would do it for $ 850 to $ 950 for replacing a Catalytic Converter for my Nissan but the problem there is that since the Service Advisors would be charging me about $ 1,350 to $ 1,600 (not including sales tax) for parts and labor I was going to have to sneak the car in the dealership without anyone seeing me which could easily be done but then I would have to be incognito not being able to stop by in person to check out the work and laying low and just way too much trouble in general.
So with my predicament of being on a tight budget and a dead Catalytic Converter in my car I told my neighbor and best friend about it and he said he has used John at Manhattan Auto Center before and that John is a great guy you can trust and does great work for a great price (probably because he doesn’t have like 5 acres of land/​buildings to pay rent to and a hundred plus employees crying about their past due bills each day haha) and so yes I went to John and up until this Unilocal review he has had no idea that I was once a Service Advisor at Nissan making a living off of that poverty stricken 4.5% commission on sales so with all of that said you definitely know that this Unilocal review is super legit as I say that John gave me no charge for a Diagnostic when the Nissan Dealership charges one labor hour for a Check Engine Light Diagnostic at $ 135.00 and not to mention that the dealership’s service team also always does their diagnostic report to include a bunch of other bullshit that isn’t even wrong with the car to make more money and John did a free diagnostic, instantly told me it was my Catalytic Converter that was out and needed to be replaced (which I already knew and didn’t tell him and was simply testing him) and quoted me at a price I cannot say in public but let’s just say he did it for a price that has motivated me enough to make this Unilocal review of 5 stars and for me to give him my car repair business for as long as I need auto repairs (the rest of my life of course haha) and made me want to let everyone know that when it comes to mechanic shops in the South Bay, this guy and his shop is the most legit auto repair shop I have ever seen and the most legit you will ever go to!
Thanks John!

I have had nothing but easy, pleasant experiences with John and the others at Manhattan Auto Center. I once overheard him send away business because the repair he was asked to make was covered by the owners warranty. Good people fair pricing and thus far the best of all no surprises

John is an excellent, honest mechanic. I know for a fact that the City of Manhattan Beach’s head mechanic sends City vehicles to him when they are overloaded, so you know he’s good. His prices are extremely fair, especially for Manhattan Beach. He’s a nice guy, too.

The most important part of any auto repair service center is honesty, trust and integrity. Unless it needs to be done he doesn’t do it. Always a smile and best of all, as a woman I can trust that I wouldn’t be taken advantage of.
Johnny has been servicing my vehicles for 30 years and I recommended him to all my friends and family. Everyone that goes there loves him!

The most trusting auto service. Friendly environment. Reasonable prices. I took my car to another mechanic and he gave me a quote that was overpriced. My friend told me about this place and I’m glad I listened to him. He analyzed the problem and gave me very good service with a reasonable price. I recommend this place %100.

Really fast even during lunch! I took advantage of the 20% off Unilocal coupon. Only $ 48 with certificate. I was only out of the car 8 minutes when they said my car was ready. Friendly staff. Quick service.

My brakes started making noise and I was worried. I stopped by to visit John and he did a 1 minute inspection and said my brakes were in great condition. I was shocked my his honesty and transparency. That is so rare to find today and genuinely care about your customer. Thank you so much for being honest and caring! I will go back when I need my brakes to be changed. Plus,
I drive a luxury car and I was worried it was going to cost me $$$$$ to replace them. Thanks John!!!
Must go here!

Manhattan Auto Center is the best repair shop I have ever encountered in my 36 yrs of car ownership. John, the owner, and his staff, Hugo and Daniel, are the most honest and competent mechanics I have ever met. I have been a customer for 3 yrs. In that time, they have rebuilt my Honda Civic (2006) engine, replaced shocks, struts, wheel bearing, rotor, brake job, alternator, battery, and basic oil changes. I drive a lot. My car has 227,500 miles. And thanks to Manhattan Auto Center, it will keep running. They are the least expensive of any other place. I have complete trust in them. If it does not need repair, John will tell you. Total transparency in their business. No deception No upsale. The real deal. It took me all these years to find him. He is a keeper. I have referred many friends and relatives to his shop. Thanks you Nancy L. for recommending him to me. I do not give compliments unless deserved. Thank you John for restoring my faith in auto mechanics. You’re the best.

I cannot say enough in praise of John and Manhattan Auto Center. I have been taking my 2003 Buick Century to Firestone for general maintenance but when I brought it in the last time when it was showing hesitation when the accelerator was engaged, they told me whatever the problem was beyond them. I haven’t got a clue about auto mechanics and called my daughter and son-​in-​law for a referral. They waxed poetic about John — both his skills and his honesty. I brought my car to him and he immediately diagnosed the problem as a failed catalytic converter. He replaced the part and found another small problem that he also repaired in less than a day. The cost seemed very reasonable and I never felt as though he was being less than completely honest with me. It was well worth my time and effort to drive from Long Beach to Manhattan Beach to have John fix my car and I will certainly do it again if (when) the need arises.

Took my car here for a quick oil check before hitting the road. I had called ahead of time for a price quote and this was by far the most reasonable in the area.
The guys there were really friendly and remembered that I called in. They said it would take about 2 hrs to get done (they seemed pretty busy with all the cars parked in the back) but they got it done in 1.5 hrs. Fantastic! They also took the time to check my engine and whatever else is under the hood because I told them I was going on a long trip — everything checked out fine and I made it on the roadtrip and back home safely without any problems.
I think I just found my go-​to auto repair place. Even better that it’s close by and I can run to and from the shop and squeeze a workout in.

I have been bringing my cars to Manhattan Auto Center for well over 10 years. John and the other mechanics here are totally honest, fair and reasonable. He never tries to talk you into work you don’t need (like most other places, and especially the oil change places). And he does a great job for a fair price. I would never take my cars anywhere else.

Great Service !!! Honest nice people!
It’s hard to find a honest place a girl can trust ! :)

Super nice people so professional and quick. I recomend to all. I got smog check and old change in 45 minuets

I have been taking my 2005 BMW 330-​i to Manhattan Auto Center since 2011 and they are absolutely amazing. I’m inherently cynical when it comes to both auto mechanics and dentists so for me to take the time to write any kind of a positive Unilocal review for someone belonging to either of these two groups says a LOT.
First and foremost, they are incredibly honest here. I suspect that I have been taken advantage of at other places (Simon’s Automotive is one, specifically) and I don’t like to throw money around so it’s really important to me to be able to trust who I take my car to IMPLICITLY. Manhattan Auto Center has totally earned my trust.
They will not do anything to your car that does not need to be done. If something needs to be done at some point in the future but can probably wait, they will tell you that, too. They are incredibly ethical and transparent in all they do. Also, auto repairs are never cheap but they definitely seem to be very reasonably priced.
John is a great guy and always greets me with a smile… he knows my car well! He’s like a really cool dad who I can always run to when a light in the dashboard turns on. It’s usually an oil leak and he usually has me in and out in 5 minutes. (But, hey, at least I don’t have a car payment!; D)
If I could give Manhattan Auto Center a hundred stars I would but, right now, five will have to suffice.

These guys are wonderful. Honest, straightforward and friendly. They explain things well.
They go great work at a fair price. They were recommended to me by several friends, and now I wish I had found them years ago. Great folks.

It’s that time again, Smog check time that is.
I was persuing The Beach Reporter and found a coupon deal for 29 bucks at Manhattan Auto Center. I know I’ve passed by this place and never knew it existed right off Sepulveda! When I drove by I almost drove into the first car place I saw on the very corner which is NOT the right auto center. Don’t drive in there. Go past it going south into the hidden driveway where Boyd’s is.
Once I pulled in, I was a tad confused as to where the office was. Apparently, the office is in the garage bay. I came across who I am assume is John. He was curt with me but took care of my car in less than 15 minutes.
I paid 40 bucks out the door and he sent in my smog informaiton via electronically but I still need to mail in my check to the state.
The garage is no frills to the max with no office and grease everywhere. Also, don’t expect any coffee/​waiting area as it is one chair facing his desk. He got the job done and that’s what matters.

One of the last great honest Mechanics!
So happy to have discovered John and Hugo at Manhattan Auto Center (MAC). The former owner of the Exxon station on M.B. Blvd. across from Target, John has been turning a wrench at his present location for about the last 10 years.
ASE certified, John is a no nonsense mechanic that will do only the work you really need and charge you fairly for it. From Fords and Chevy’s to BMW’s, Audi’s and Toyotas, he fixes them all. MAC has been keeping my 2 Lexus’, and my girlfriend’s Explorer, rolling for years.
An almost added bonus is his pricing. A full smog check runs like $ 40 with certificate while an oil change is only $ 9 if you bring your oil! Women need not worry either. The several female customers I’ve seen in the shop all seem to have been treated with integrity and respect.
A couple minor qualms: the place has zero curb appeal. The parking lot is cramped and you would never just wander in there if you weren’t looking for it. Also, it does suffer from the presence of that ubiquitous patina of grease so many such classic shops seem to be blessed with. If this bothers you, I get it. For three times the cash, I’m sure the Mercedes shop down the street is cleaner and you get free coffee while you wait.
On the plus side, located at 2^nd and Sepulveda, MAC is one of the closest «good» garages I know of near Manhattan Beach and, as of today, they now offer their guests free broadband Wi-​Fi while you wait.
Like a scruffy old dog, she may not be the prettiest pooch on the block, but if you own a car and want to feel good about the money you spend keeping it running, MAC may just become you new «best friend»!