Review: Best Automotive Service/Mechanic in the Clearwater, Florida Area

I've been living in Clearwater, Florida now for just under three months. There were two types of new services that topped my priority list: finding a really good hairdresser, and finding a really good, honest auto mechanic. No woman should ever be without either, and EVERYONE deserves a really good auto mechanic.

Having moved a number of times over the past decades, it's often been a trial and error search for a mechanic - but the best way to find the really good ones is by word of mouth and references from neighbors and friends who are clients.

It was through great references that I found Supreme Auto Care, located at 1450 10th Street, South, in Safety Harbor, Florida. (Safety Harbor is a Clearwater suburb.) Their phone number is 727-797-5552; they can also be reached by email at service@supremeautocare.net. Supreme is opened from Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., and Saturdays by appointment. Credit cards are accepted. Like most shops now, they don't provide a 'loaner' car, but for minor repair work, you're welcomed to wait in their reception area for your car to be finished. The facility is exceptionally clean and tidy, as are the employees.

Supreme Auto Care is not a huge shop, but the only thing that they don't do in care car is body work. Owner Mike Meer and fellow mechanic, Tim, have over twenty-five years experience in auto repair, and have been located at the same location for the past sixteen and a half years. Brenda is the shop's receptionist and office manager, and is extremely efficient, pleasant and responsive.

I've had Supreme take care of my car on two occasions, both of which were extremely satisfactory. What I really like about these guys are that they do what they say they're going to do - nothing more, and nothing less. My first visit was for basic maintenance, including an oil and filter change and alignment. The seat adjustment feature was also broken and frozen in place. After doing the basic service work required, Tim gave me an estimate to fix the seat's mechanics before proceeding with the work. (It was a very reasonable $80 for him to take apart the motor, discover two missing screws that had fallen out, and reassemble that motor.) They had also provided me with a written, detailed estimate for additional work to be done on some hosing. Both time, they took my car in at the scheduled time, I was able to wait for the work to be finished, and my bill was exactly what their written estimate stated. No more, no less - and no surprises, just quality work from hard-working, local, CERTIFIED mechanics who take pride in their work and in customer satisfaction.

As an existing customer, I now receive emails on a regular basis about current and ongoing specials and discounted rates for certain services. I also (and you will, too!) get a discount as part of their referral of new customers program.

One of my new neighbors has a 2008 Toyota which she'd bought new, and for which she paid an additional $1,000 for their extended warranty from the dealership where she'd purchased her car. About eight months ago, her car needed work done to it, so she took it back to the dealership, warranty in hand. Despite having already shelled out a thousand dollars for an 'extended warranty', the dealership charged her another $600 for the repairs - which were relatively minor. It's been my experience that HER experience is not uncommon: one of the worst places that you can take your car for repairs is a dealership. (She also had to wait three days for her car to be fixed, but was provided with an inexpensive 'loaner' car during that time.) I've read reports that the bulk of the money made by dealerships is not the sale of cars themselves, but on jacked-up prices for repair work that some owners feel must be done by their car's local dealer only. The truth is, a certified mechanic - emphasis on the 'certified' part - can work on pretty much any make and model of automobile.

Supreme Auto Care is the kind of auto repair shop that doesn't just want your business; it wants your REPEAT business, and that of your friends and neighbors as well. I highly recommend them, without reservation!