Curry’s Auto Service

Hasn’t been the same since the Monroe buyout. When they were locally owned, this was THE place to bring your vehicle. They were honest, communicated well, and did amazing work.
The last few times I’ve been in, I dropped my vehicle off for an appointment and then hours later would have to call and get a status update … usually they would say they were behind & hadn’t started. So much for my appointment. The last 2 times, when calling for status, I’ve had to remind them about items I’d asked them to fix. On my last 2 oil changes, they didn’t rotate my tires (included with the service), instead offering me $ 20 off when I pointed it out.
My most recent visit left such a bad taste in my mouth, I’ve called everybody I’ve recommended this place to and told them to stop going here.

Came here today to get a tire patched. It was urgent as it was a big hole and the plugs would not hold. I have a new tire coming in a few days but asked if they could patch in the meantime. They hooked it up with the patch and didn’t even charge me anything! Would have been a 5 star experience even if I had to pay. Great place will definitely be back.

The staff here found a number of issues during a pre-​inspection for a car I was considering purchasing. Thankfully they have a very comprehensive inspection and can find issues even if engine codes were cleared or erased by shady dealers. They saved me from buying a disaster. Great customer service as well. Highly recommended.

If there was a zero — that’s what they would get. I don’t know what happened since they were bought out — but they are extremely dishonest, ineffective and hesitant to honor warranty work. As a matter of fact I was encouraged to seek out another Curry’s. My car was leaking and I was told it was necessary to take immediate action. After the diagnosis I told them it was under warranty and their story changed. Suddenly it was something else that was leaking. I went ahead a paid for the new work but it turns out it was neither issue. Please go somewhere else and save yourself a less than honorable experience. Their staff has no integrity.

I can’t even begin to get into the entire story, but stay away from this place. My husband would love to take them to small claims court for what they have done to his car. We are hundreds of dollars into trying to fix what they have done to his car for all that was to be a simple oil change. Their staff is untrained and experienced and cannot even change oil They failed to put the gasket on my husband’s car and his car has been leaking oil ever since. I would stay far away from this place. They have been our worst nightmare!

my girlfriend took her car here for a «free state inspection». She left with a rejection sticker and a estimate of $ 600 to fix the front strut mounts & bearings. I’m not quite sure if these «free state inspections» were just a lure to get work out of an unsuspecting customer, but I ended up replacing the strut mounts myself and they didn’t look too worn.
Also, I tried to get an over-​the-​phone estimate on brakes pads and rotors, but the guy said that he’d have to «take a look at [my] car first». I asked him why he couldn’t just give me an estimate and he said that he’d have to talk to someone else. Left me on hold for 5 minutes and never came back. I hung up.
These guys could be better.

Definetly go here if you want to overpay. I was quoted $ 700 to install lowering springs on my car. $ 700 ??? wow.
The install should take no more than 2.5 hours. The labor rate for Curry’s is one of the highest I have ever heard.
Very nice customer service.
After that brief call I will not be going back.

Be careful. I repeat, BE CAREFUL! I used this shop several times and it wasn’t until I moved to AZ that I realized all the unnecessary work they were doing on my car. Let’s start with brakes — they replaced my rear brakes twice, and my front brakes once. When I was leaving to drive my car to AZ the shop told me that I would need new front brakes in 5k miles. That was in July 2011, it is now May 2013 and I still haven’t needed new brakes and I’ve put over 20K miles on the car. I’m taking the car to an honest shop here in AZ that doesn’t recommend services that aren’t needed. I showed them the paperwork from Curry’s and they were shocked.
Now for the real horror story. In 2011 the followin happened and I received an apology, but I would like my fellow Unilocalers to be aware:
On February 22, 2011 I called and spoke with Bill Posthumus to place an order for 4 Continental Extreme Contact DWS Tires. Bill said the tires should arrive by 24 or 25 February. I hadn’t heard anything on the 24^th so I called and spoke to Bill and he told me that 3 of the tires arrived and the fourth would arrive the following day. The following day I hadn’t heard anything so I called again and spoke with Bill who told me the tire was on the truck to be delivered and he would call by COB with status. He never called. I called February 28 and spoke with Terry Cox. Terry located the tires and I made an appointment to bring my car in the next day, March 1, to have the tires installed and a power steering repair performed. Bill had previously told me on February 22 that I needed a power steering flush on the car in addition to the hose and reservoir replacement. I asked him why I needed that service since I already had a flush performed in August 2010. He told me the flush didn’t exchange the fluid so I would have to get it done again when they replaced the power steering hoses and reservoir. I don’t know if Bill thought because I was a female that I didn’t know what a power steering flush was, but I didn’t appreciate him lying to me and telling me that the flush that I had performed didn’t exchange the fluid. A power steering flush IS an exchange of the fluid. I confirmed this while on the phone with Terry on February 28 and Terry made sure the flush wasn’t included on my estimate. I arrived on March 1 and asked Terry for a copy of the estimate. I was shocked that the price was double what Bill had quoted me on the phone. It turns out the estimate was written for 8 tires instead of 4 so Terry corrected it and I left the car to have the services performed and picked it up that afternoon. On March 2 while reviewing my receipt I noticed I was only charged for 3 tires. I called March 3 and spoke with Andrew Gunn and informed him of the error so that I could be properly charged. He didn’t thank me for bringing it to the attention of Curry’s or apologize for the inconvenience of me having to call repeatedly about the tires. On March 11 I noticed a bubble on my front left tire, a clear manufacturing defect of some sort, possibly from the curing process. On Monday March 14, I took the car in and had Andrew take a look at the tire. He immediately blamed me for the bubble and said I had hit something. I told them I hadn’t and that it was clearly a manufacturing defect. He became verbally abusive and sarcastic, telling me «Oh yes, because you’ve never hit a pot hole in your entire life, not you» and then used an analogy of catching someone with a «smoking gun» and still not being able to prove the person committed the crime so they got away with it. The verbal abuse left me in tears. I was upset that Andrew would question my honesty. I made the phone call to get charged for the fourth tire, how many people would have done that? Once I was in tears, Andrew said he would replace the tire at no charge. I took the car in on March 15 to have the tire replaced. I was told it would take 20 – 30 minutes to replace the tire and it was over an hour.
So, I repeat, BE CAREFUL and get a second opinion. I wish I would have.

This is the worst auto repair place I have ever been to! I normally don’t write reviews and actually, this is the first time I’ve commented on Unilocal because I truly think they are a scam. I’ve taken my car in three times and each time they tried to fix something that wasn’t broken. In 2011, I took my car in for an oil change. They were very friendly and pleasant, I’ll give you that. A couple weeks later, my oil pressure light would come on randomly. I thought it was just a coincidence since my car was getting old. Couple months later I took my car in to get a state inspection and they failed me for an oil leak. The guy came out and explained to me in a very professional way that it is their job to find out where the leak is coming from and to provide a solution. He then said that I would have to replace the pinion shaft and other minor recommendations and quoted me ~$ 1,000 for the entire job! I told him that I needed to think about it and he said that if I don’t get it fixed, then he will have to fail the inspection. So, I left and got another independent inspection done and I told him that I had a small leak. When the guy was done, he said, «He failed you for that!?» and passed the inspection. Since then, I took my car into Advanced Auto for a free electronic engine check and they recommended that I replace the oil pressure switch. I bought the part for $ 50 and my dad replaced it in less than 30 min. And the leak stopped! So a year later, I decided to give Curry’s another chance since they COULD have diagnosed the problem incorrectly. So, in 2012, I took my car in for another inspection. The same guy came out and told me that I needed some BS work done and quoted me ~$ 1,200. Otherwise he would have to fail the inspection. By this point, I was boiling mad and just walked out. I took it to a local gas station auto shop and explained to him that I think Curry’s is ripping me off and I need a new state inspection. He said that he will still have to do a thorough inspection and report any issues. I told him that’s exactly what I needed. After he was done, he looked at me with confusion and said, «Your car passed without a problem.» I haven’t had ANY issues with my car since. Curry’s take advantage of the state-​inspections to recommend things that you don’t need to fix, otherwise they will fail you. Don’t take your car to this place, it will cost you THOUSANDS of dollars. What a horrible way to run a business.

I received a coupon for a free winter maintenance service and 50% off oil change and tire rotation. I schedule my appointment easily online for lunchtime on Friday. I decided to wait while my car was getting serviced. They said it would be about an hour and a half. Damon is SUPER friendly and helpful. While I was waiting they offered me BBQ that they just got for everyone in the shop! Yes please! It was lunch time so it was perfect!
The technician came out and said everything looked fine, but they replaced a few bulbs for free, and he recommended replacing my battery. He said it would take 10 minutes. It did, and when I walked out of the shop, they discounted everything so much that I essentially only paid for battery! Damon stated that «we have to give you a reason to keep coming back.» I surely will and will also recommend Curry’s to anyone that asks. Thanks guys!

Curry’s Auto Center is convenient to many in the South Riding area; however, don’t let the convenience make you a sucker. In the past, I have taken my BMW there for an estimate, and somehow they managed to be more expensive than the dealership. Unfortunately, the quality of the work is not very good and the mechanics are not competent.
I recently had tires installed on my vehicle at Curry’s simply because no one else had the tires in stock. I was preparing for a snow storm that never materialized.
At any rate, while installing the tires, they noticed that I needed new rear brake pads/​rotors, and it was time for a major service on the vehicle (Inspection II for BMW). They were willing to do the Inspection II for $ 1026 and the brakes for $ 557. What a bargain!
So, I simply declined based upon past bad experiences with Curry’s. So, I took the vehicle to Autoscandia in Herndon with BMW Master Mechanics on staff. They looked at my vehicle and had a slightly differnt perspective. They could complete the Inspection II for $ 460. In addition, they pulled the tires and inspected all of the brakes. The service manager informed me that ~ 20% of the pad was left and changing them would be premature. I thought it was strange that Curry’s said my brakes were on the brink, and the sensors were NOT making any noises.
I have had other interesting experiences with Curry’s, but I will leave it there. Be very careful with these guys unless you have money to blow.
YMMV
06

First thing to keep in mind is that reading reviews for mechanics is tricky. It’s important to realize if someone is shooting the messenger or not, and sadly auto mechanics are in the business of often delivering bad news.
That said… I’ve been a Curry’s customer for over ten years now. I’ve never received anything less than exemplary service, expert work, and scrupulous honesty from obviously knowledgeable employees. Curry’s is not the kind of place where the mechanics are more salesmen than technicians… they won’t try to sell you on gimmicky services, unlike some other outfits in the DC area (one tried to get me to fill my tires with nitrogen instead of air because «nitrogen molecules are bigger and the tires won’t leak as much…»).
It would take up most of the page for me to describe the positive experiences I’ve had with Curry’s. I guess most illustrative would be my recent experience. I have a Ford Expedition. The engine started skipping when I was driving at highway speeds, and just a couple of days ago the engine started violently vibrating at idle, almost like a misfiring spark plug (or three…). I called Curry’s where Stephen got me a time the very next morning. They went over the car and Alan was very plain in telling me they couldn’t replicate the problem and they weren’t going to throw money and parts at it. Frankly, I think many other mechanics in the area would have told me bad coils/​plugs and charged me a few hundred to replace it all. Alan also gave me a list of things to look at on the car which weren’t related to the problem at hand, which is most appreciated and I’ll be taking the car back to Curry’s to get these things done.
When I picked up the car (which actually now seems to be running perfectly… figures), I arrived with my 5 year old daughter. It being Valentine’s Day, Alan very graciously gave my daughter a little box of candy. That little thing just describes Curry’s perfectly.
There’s no higher praise that I can give Curry’s…it’s an honest business in an often dishonest profession, and there’s no place I’d trust more to take my cars. Bring your car here and your trust will be rewarded just as mine continues to be.

We have used them since 2000, in many locations and with many cars. They have always done solid work for us and never done anything unnecessary. The crew is solid & you can’t beat Damon’s warm welcome.

curry’s was awesome. last night i discovered that one of my tires was completely flat… i researched places in my area that provided my tires (hankooks) and found that curry’s did. about 830am i called them and explained that i wasn’t sure if the tire could be salvaged or if i needed a new one. they told me that even though they had a full day, they would see me whenever… i brought the car by about 20 minutes later and they said that no matter what they would have it ready by 5pm… they dropped me off at my office with the promise to call me when they knew if i’d need a new tire or not… they called before 11am and said they’d need to keep the car and replace the tire but made sure that i’d be able to get lunch without it. and called me well before 5pm to tell me that it was ready with the new tire. they were helpful, prompt, true to their word. they even offered to pick me up from work. everyone that helped me was professional and beyond courteous. in less than 24 hour of noticing that i needed auto service, they fixed everything in my car and even checked the brakes! i am definitely going to take my car back there and recommend to anyone that needs auto assistance!

While house-​sitting in Chantilly, I discovered that I needed brakes. When I phoned Curry’s, the individual whom answered, was very courteous, and willing to explain the details of what I was going to have done. He was very clear that the cost & time may vary — that it would depend on what they found when they diagnosed the brakes. I had a feeling I would need rotors too, but honestly was a bit in denial.
When I arrived, the person that greeted me stated almost the exact same details (*CONSISTENCY*, I like) about my car. They had already set up a profile for my car, being the first time I had visited Curry’s, so I didn’t have to rehash that info again. It drives me crazy when you call a business, talk to them & give information, make an appt, and then when you get there, they quiz you again, as though they’ve never talked with you before. He offered me a seat in the lobby, or a ride home. The lobby — a quiet ambiance, with a small flat screen, couches, complimentary beverages & snacks… VERY CLEAN, so I opted to take a seat. Since it was such a mellow atmosphere, I popped open my laptop, could make phone calls, etc.
The diagnosis (dun, dun, dunnnn)…okay, the toughest part was to my pocketbook 8-​) They were very detailed in the quote. The shop manager took time to come over, sit down & review the details. Nice, since most places would either give you a paper quote (without reviewing), or just verbalize the details (without giving a physical paper quote). I’m a visual person, so the paper quote was best for me to fully understand the costs associated with each step. Uggghhhh, I needed rotors as suspected.
Once I had the quote in hand, I asked for a few minutes, called another mechanic that I had done business with for a quote, they quoted me 175 $ cheaper. I also tried Honda of Tysons Corner (the dealership where I purchased my car) — nothing drives me more nuts than getting a voicemail at a place of service (they obviously did not need my business; they were busy enough). I returned to the lobby, spoke with one of the guys who had been helping me, and they assured me that they would make it work. TAD-DAH…3 hrs later, new brakes, rotors, and a tail light they changed at no charge.
During their diagnosis of my brakes, they did a once-​over everything else on my car, and also noticed the windshield wiper was torn. I requested new wipers during my brake service. They forgot to do them during our recap of everything at the end, so they did them at no charge.
Curry’s also has a frequency card, that accumulates on a dollars to points system, resulting in money off of a future service. AND, it’s not one of those gimmicks where it is impossible to acquire rewards.
I will absolutely use Curry’s again, especially for any major work, as the detail they included made me feel very comfortable in making a big decision such as brakes. I am in the area pretty regularly for work & visiting family — GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE wins every time!
THANKS CURRY’S!!!

I tried this place out because I ordered tires online, and this was a recommended installer. I also checked out Unilocal,and the reviews were positive.
My experience was anything but; I made an appointment for Saturday at 8AM, several days in advance. So I show up at 8, and was told it would only take 3 hours. They were nice enough to drive me home.
11 AM – the time at which I was promised my car — passes and no phone call. I am a patient person, so I waited until noon to call and the guy says he’ll call me back. 12:30 and still no call, so I decided to call again, and the same thing. I was getting really nervous as I had plans to watch Avatar in IMAX 3-​D, in another city about 45 minutes away. So at 1PM I decide to drive over and see what the problem was.
I see my car sitting outside, and ask if my car is ready. The guy said «not yet» and tries to show me that all the bays are full; they aren’t, and then he scrambles to find some papers, and said «ok, it’s done.»
(Weird.)
So I take my car, and everything seems okay. I drive it for 15 minutes, and I hear a loud screeching sound that lasted for 10 seconds or so, and all of a sudden I get a tire pressure warning light on my dash. I pulled over, and checked my tires; they all looked okay.
However, I called the shop and they said to bring it back. I deal with the same guy again, and by this time, the movie is about to start in one hour, really cutting it close. I asked the guy «how long is this going to take? I really have to get going.» He told me to have a seat, and that it would take ½ hour. I DIDN’T HAVE ½ hour, so I left and told them I’d pick it up later.
I ended up missing my movie because there was traffic and my wife’s car didn’t have GPS.
So I pick my car up on Monday, and a different guy is there, and he can’t even explain what, if any, problem there was w/​my car. I complained about the tire pressure light and he told me that they can’t turn it off — fine, but I shouldn’t be charged so much if that was the case.
There is a serious lack of communication at this shop. First it was the lack of calls to tell me that it would take a little longer than expected for my car, (they must’ve expected me to stay home ALL DAY) and second, if they knew that they couldn’t turn off my tire pressure warning light, they should’ve told me that too.
Based on the poor customer service experienced at this shop, I will never come back again.

They are now at westfax road in chantilly. Went here to have 4 winter tires installed and for the adjustment of my parking brakes. they had courteous staffs who were helpful and knowledgeable on anything about cars.
ended up having my oil change too and state inspection since it was also due in 2 weeks time.
Loved the service !!! courtesy loaner available.

Having had a wide variety of cars over the years ranging from a Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS to a Mercedes CLK55 AMG, it’s extremely difficult to find a shop that you can trust. Fortunately, I found Curry’s over 5 years ago and still remain a customer today. Most mechanic shops are filled with sleazy people trying to sell you services that you don’t need and then they do a half-​ass job and your car spends a lot more time in the shop than needed.
This is where Curry’s is awesome. Mike Dorsey (Service Manager) is always the only one I talk to simply because I trust him to no end with my cars. I have had over 10 different cars serviced there and he’s always been straight and honest with me. He’ll actually tell me what I need to have done right now, what can wait, and what’s really not necessary. You just can’t find this type of honesty anywhere else and that’s why I keep coming back.
I also HIGHLY recommend having Curry’s check out your used car before buying. Their inspection process is extremely thorough and transparent. Over the years, I would have spent twice as much on service had I gone to dealers and gotten ripped off. And did I mention that the staff at Curry’s is actually nice? Or that their service waiting area isn’t lined with grease, but rather filled with a PS2 and free snacks? Just awesome.
They have a customer for life.

Excellent!
Being an amateur gear head myself I rarely bring my car to a shop but when the needed arises the only place I trust with my baby is Curry’s. There service writers are extremely friendly, professional and create an overall outstanding experience to an otherwise unpleasant chore (not many people enjoy dealing with a repair shop after their car breaks eh?).
Their work is top notch. I have brought 2 cars here and have never had any issues.
Mike Dorsey has usually helped me (service writer) and is a very knowledgeable and professional employee.
Just look at the types of cars sitting in this place. If they can work on exotic cars they can work on yours. Their prices are a bit more expensive than your run of the mill mom and pop shop but they are still cheaper than just about any dealer. They know BMWs very well. This is truely the car enthusiasts shop!
Also, if your looking to perform some aftermarket modifications to your ride I think they do some of that work as well.