A-1 Foreign Auto Repair

It was refreshing to deal directly with one person (Kathy) rather than what it was like to get a quote /​information from a dealership (getting bounced from parts to service and back again etc). I was able to schedule an appointment for my (relatively minor) repair during a holiday week and they took care of it first thing when they opened so I could wait with the car. Pricing /​timelines were clear, competitive and came in as quoted. I will definitely come back to A-​1 Foreign Auto Repair if I need any repairs in the future, and I would recommend them to anyone searching for an honest, hardworking mom & pop shop!

The best of the best :-) Been going here for years and always a very happy customer!

Kathy and John are extremely knowledgeable and trustworthy and work at reasonable prices. I am very glad I was referred to them!

I know my car is in good hands when I bring it here! Kathy and John are so knowledgable and I trust them 100% with my 2012 Audi A4. I recommend this place to anyone who wants real talk about their car issues, no bull and no hidden charges.

These guys are great! I have had work done by them in the past and they always do a great job with prices that are fair. Recently I went in because my 4 year old had managed to stick a quarter in the air bag. Every time I turned I could hear it rolling around. They took the car in right away and fixed it with no charge! This just demonstrates the kind of people that they are. Do not hesitate to take your car here.

Went in needing a brake light for my Audi A3.
All the other shops were too busy for just a small job.
Not A1. They took care me and I was on my way.

Great shop! I have a unique old car (1976 Fiat Wagon). Over the years, this shop has managed to find parts and fix any problems that have cropped up. By comparison, most smog shops cannot even figure out where to start — I often have to point them in the right direction.
From simple fixes, to chasing Italian gremlins that live deep in the engine, I am always confident that the fix is done right and their prices are always fair. From all the late model cars I see around there, they seem to be as good with today’s cars as they are with unique old ones.

Amazing! I dropped off my car to get a busted throttle cable repaired — and I had it back repaired properly THE NEXT DAY. They called me several times in between and kept me aprised of the process.
I walked away with such peace of mind — John worked on my car and told me the throttle cable broke because the previous guy installed it incorrectly, and it was rubbing against the gas pedal area eventually wearing through. All repaired and rerouted, and an even stronger cable was put in place.
Thank you SO much A1 Foreign Auto! You guys will be getting my business from here on out — it is SO hard to find such speedy and thorough mechanics you can trust these days, so this is seriously a goldmine of a find.
two thumbs up, would give more if I had them!

I took my car in for service and was extremely happy with the service I received. My service manger was Justin Mills and he was so helpful and took great care of me. I will go back and I highly recommend them.

I just moved in the area a few months ago. Found this auto repair service right next to my home. John was very kind and came over to my garage to help me to connect the batteries in my car and taught me a few things about my Mini Couper. Will definitely go back and recommend to my friends in the area.

I used to take my Touareg to the VM dealership in Sunnyvale (I know. i know.)
Somebody recommended A-​1 to me, so I brought my car in with what I thought was a transmission problem.
John quickly diagnosed the problem as a busted drive shaft, ordered the part and had it repaired same day.
Best part, is Kathy called and said the car is ready and came in, get this; «…under budget» what? I NEVER heard that before from a shop.NEVER.
They showed me the broken part, and explained what had gone wrong.
We are all looking for a mechanic that is honest, transparent, skilled and fast.
You will find all these at A-​1. Search is over.

All I can say is this is one of best shops I have ever been too. I love supporting family owned small businesses and this is one that everyone should go to. I had a bolt fall off my brake caliper on my Nissan Murano and was in need of a new bolt to help get me back home to San Francisco. I called A-​1 and they agreed to stay open for me so I could drive over there and have them look at my car. Not only did they find a bolt and fix it, but they also did a check of the rest of my calipers to make sure my care was safe. I cant thank them enough for their service I would recommend them to anyone. If you ever need your car worked on, call A-​1. Thanks!!!

We’ve been taking our 06 Z4 & 05 X5 to A1 Foreign Auto for the last 2 years. Purchased both cars used, and have been taking a good value out of them — Thanks to A1FA.
This would be otherwise as I had quickly learned it at the beginnings when the ultimate driving machinery tried replacing my entire soft top for ~$ 4,500. For what it really could have been a few bucks clipped cable job at A1FA as I realized after my quick visit to the retailer’s garage. Still left a good $ 900 for them.
At A1FA, John comes to you with the part and clearly explains its function or malfunction translated to a language what everyone with basic engineering skills understands. He is hands-​on with every incoming vehicle, and one cannot just find that few decades of experience in diagnostics everywhere. He is also proactive on inexpensive upgrades and tune-​ups. For instance, John had just some cheap sensors or parts to newer and revised factory models replaced on the SUV.
Kathy is a wonderful help in admin: She is up to date with latest legal procedures and provides the motorist with useful insights and practical suggestions to paperwork. Her reference to a body shop worked, too.

Another great experience! Top notch customer service and very professional. I came in for an oil change and a quick look at the car to make sure that everything was normal. I found out my brakes were severely low and needed to be replaced, so I got that done as well. I really appreciate the honesty and respect they give their customers.

5 stars all the way! I went in because my car was shaking and I heard that it happens when the tires are a little flat or not balanced. John took a quick look around my car and noticed that my tread was dangerously worn… Like you can see the wire mesh worn! I was on my way to Tahoe that afternoon and I could’ve blown a tire!!! He quickly got his peeps to change my tire to my full size spare.
Another time I went in for a smog check. For some reason, my VIN number didn’t match the actual vehicle I was driving… Uh, I’ve had this car for 7 years and noone knew! The computer kept showing that I was driving a Honda. No, sir, it’s a TOYOTA. I’m quite certain of it. Well, they fixed that and my smog passed with typical high mileage colors… With over 300K miles on it some numbers will be a little atypical :)
Thank you so much for GREAT service!!!

My iPhone 5 is very slim and slid right under the driver seat of my Saab. There was no way for me to get the phone out from under that seat. I dropped by A-​1 Foreign Auto Repair this morning and they took time out of their busy work to unscrew the seat and get the phone out. I have had our cars serviced there for the past few years and so they didn’t charge me a cent. My Subaru is going there on Friday for service. I love the customer service and their loyalty to their customers. Andy

I recently relocated to Mtn View and sought an independent maintenance and repair shop for my Honda CR-​V. I used to rely exclusively on Honda dealerships but grew tired of up-​selling and hefty premiums. I also wished to cultivate a longer-​term relationship with the person (s) who did the actual work on my car. Enter A-​1 Foreign Auto, which I discovered on my new favorite website,
. A-​1 passed RP’s rigorous screening and is the only «Top Shop» near me. A-​1 is owned and operated by a husband and wife team-​Kathy and John-​and has a long list of happy repeat customers.
Kathy and John are good, honest, and trustworthy people. Both have cultivated impressively extensive knowledge of cars and are happy to share it with me, including explaining in detail the work my car requires and the merits of any parts or fluids they use.
I am happy-​and relieved-​that I discovered such a quality shop near me. I look forward to working with Kathy and John for many years to come. So does my CR-​V.

I have been going to this mechanic since 1993. It was the best discovery ever. They are always honest, fast, and affordable. I am so happy with this shop. The front office person is so nice and they get your car ready when they say they will. They will go and find just the part you need. I have never in all this time had any problems with the work done at this shop. They are the best!!!

This review is for the «Smog Service» only. I drove by A-​1 Foreign Auto Repair and stopped in to get a smog check for the DMV. It was really quick (15 minutes) including paperwork and payment.
The staff was nice and quick. I’d come here again if I needed a smog check.

Exactly what you expect from an Auto shop, epic customer service and genuine professionalism from the front office to the service bays!