Hi Tec Automotive

I am German but that is not the reason I drive a Porsche. It was just the best fitting car available. It could have been an xfiniti again or some other nice SUV. But we got the Porsche from sonnen. Also a German owned company.
But the service over there at sonnen sucks at least in our case. Promised call backs where forgotten, things that have been talked about ignored well that kind that brings you away from your car dealer ship. But I am so glad I found these guys. They doing Porsche as it is there's. Always fast and well original parts aren't cheap but they try to be reasonable in labor. So if you have a German car make sure you stop by when you have trouble with your garage. Its worth to stop by and let them have a look. Thanks guys

I have been taking my 2015 Boxster here for years. I would never take it anywhere else. The entire crew is knowledgeable, skilled, and professional.

They have both a repair and sales side, so I often poke my head into the sales side to see some amazing beauties.

Doesn't matter if you have a classic 70's Porsche, or something brand new - this is the shop to work with.

I used Hi-Tech for a few years to service my '06 911 and had trusted them wholeheartedly. However when I purchased an '83 930 and took it to them for an initial inspection, I was sadly exposed to an entirely different side.

I had made numerous calls for advice to Brad throughout my purchase process from a private owner. The car had not seen service in many years. From my initial test drive of the car it was clear something was not right. It was very hard to drive the clutch, it was super tight. I had also noticed the idle rise about 500 rpm when the clutch was depressed. I am NO mechanic, just an enthusiast and these issues were readily apparent to me. I was also new to Air cooled 911's so did not no what was normal and what was not.

Upon Brad's advice I took the car to them for a 30k service b/c that is what the odometer showed. Our understanding was that a PPI like inspection would be part of that service. Seemed like a perfect plan as I needed to know what was what with the car.

I had an appointment for a Monday but had a work trip that week so I took that car in on the Friday before I left it there for the week I was gone. I met with Brad during drop off but as we talked through some stuff we were interrupted a few times by another customer. I neglected to mention the idle and clutch issues I had noticed. Again they seemed obvious to me and surely the EXPERTS of air cooled Porsche's would certainly notice.

Well the following Monday (day of the appointment) and Tuesday went by and I did not receive a call from Brad. I assumed I would get an assessment call and then need to approve any work items. By mid-day Wednesday I called them. Brad sounded hurried and scattered and said everything was great and they were almost done. He said a few mechanics drove the car and thought it was great to which I took surprise but thought well ok great. . what do I know.

Friday came and called to come get the car. I was told all was great. I asked well what about the idle issue. Brad said "what idle issue". Oy boy . . .

When I arrived a few hours later the entire story changed. Now suddenly I was told the motor needed a rebuild that something was not right with the crank. But here please pay us the $2500 bill for servicing your engine!

These experts had not noticed what was so obvious to me. How is that possible I thought??

The way I can best understand, they did not touch my car until late Thursday or early Friday. Did a quick oil change and valve adjustment without any sort of inspection or analysis. What I wanted as a customer more than anything was the inspection and analysis. What THEY wanted was to sell me a 30k inspection. Essentially a $2500 oil change and valve adjustment.

I am upset with them because even though Brad took responsibility for never actually inspecting the car (in follow up emails) he would not take any fiscal responsibility. All of their work was useless and thrown out and the motor needed a total rebuild.

They are a busy shop, they clearly do mostly very good work. We are all human and make mistakes. It would have been very gratifying if they had given me ANY sort of discount/fiscal acknowledgment and accountability for not doing the work that I as a customer wanted vs what they were focused on. They hurried my job and missed a major issue but wanted full payment anyway.

Brad and I exchanged numerous emails where he acknowledged what I said above but refused ANY sort of fiscal responsibility. I see them as small minded, individuals unable to see past their own desires. It is unfortunate because I liked them very much. I tried very hard to reconcile but was refused.

I do not recommend working with these guys.

I took my new to me 2001 boxster for a post-purchase inspection after driving up from LA.

Part of this inspection includes battery, "scan," "hold down," and "cables." See my attached photos for proof.

The next drive after inspection my car was acting funny electronically and stopped completely while at a red light. Complete death. I had to push it aside and wait hours for a jump to pop the frunk.

I was extremely disappointed to find that the only problem was that the battery negative cable terminal had slipped off. Hi Tec did NOT reattach the clamp properly or failed to tighten it during their inspection. This kind of super simple problem could have been prevented with some attention to detail--which is what I thought I was paying for.

I am disappointed by the level of attention to detail they displayed with my P car and I would recommend that others avoid this shop. I hope Hi Tec can do better work in the future for others or make it up to me personally.

Update, in response to the business owner: I think the battery portion which includes scan and check of the cables should have caught this. Part of a battery scan involves looking at/interacting with the terminals and the cable check should include checking the ends of the cables (terminals).

I had my two porsches, a 911 and a 356 serviced at Hi Tec for many years. Looking for an honest mechanic? There is none better than Deven!

When I had to sell my cars I turned to Greg at Hi Tec Sales. The first thing he asked me was whether I really wanted to sell, as parting with classics can be an emotional experience. He found a buyer for the 911 right off the bat and recommended selling the 356 at auction. He did an outstanding job in the presentation and kept me informed every step of the way. Due to his fastidious attention to detail, the car sold at a very satisfactory price. In my opinion, Greg is a consummate professional and his low key persona made a difficult parting bearable.

Richard K
Muir Beach

Hi Brad,

I read what you wrote, but the car is is only kept inside for 20 years, and ALWAYS ran. I literally drove it there. Never any issues. The motor worked. You did a tune up - Now the motor doesn't work.

-$2100 (1st) with you, and It didn't run when I tried to pick it up (now engine doesn't work), then
- $2800 (2nd) service (read previous review where Owner Deven told me I need to replace drop link (but they just "replaced" it lol)

I picked it up the 3rd time, drove it home, and now the car doesn't run at all. RECAP: $5,000, time there Nov-March, and the car that always ran, now the motor doesn't even run.

The car always ran. I bring it to you and the only way it will move is with a flatbed tow truck.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/t2bi4lqhywe41w8/Thanks%20.mp4?dl=0

Anyone that cares about their car shouldn't bring it to Hi Tec. That's the point.

You have no integrity. In fact, I have new issues (noise in 1st gear wasn't noted at initial inspection (attached), drop link that was "replaced", needs replaced, and the whole motor not working - I mean, It always worked and you suggested a tune up - now it doesn't.

No one should bring their car there.

ATTACHED:
-"Check Engine" current status non running engine - taken today.
-Initial Inspection - No noise noted -
-Tune up Invoice $2100 - supposedly drop link fixed
-Tune up Invoice $2881 - supposedly tune up

RESULT:
Engine doesn't work and you suggest fix the drop link (supposedly you replaced.

Buyer beware 10x

Dear Deven,
Unfortunately it is not a fictitious review. My car did come there and you are the only person who helped me. The only Hi-Tec Auto I have been to is the one located at 779 Anderson Dr in San Rafael, where you are located.
Instead of being honest and talking about how to solve the problem you decided to milk me and my insurance company.
I highly recommend getting a NAS and having records at two different addresses (they talk to each other). Obviously you are not good at keeping records.
Also, you could contact me through Yelp, it is not off. Why lying? Not that I am saying you should....
There is nothing else to clarify other than what's written here. Everything written here are the facts and truth and I approve this message.
I feel I need to point this out publicly that you are not a good an honest mechanic.

meh. I took my car in for a basic service and to fix the rear light indicator warning that would come on randomly, despite the lights working fine.

They replaced the lights anyway and gave the car back. The warning indicator lit up on the drive home, so I guess they didn't check to see if the repair worked. No big deal.

I bring it back, they said they fixed it. On the drive home the lights came on again.

I bring it back, they said they fixed it. Indicator lights turn on after driving for 5 minutes.

They also didn't put the car back together properly, one of the panels was hanging off.

At this point I gave up. I wish they would actually check to see if the repair worked before giving the car back. Huge waste of time.

Rudest ever - do not go there. The worst experience just walking in the door: Shockingly bad. They should be embarrassed.

Coolant leak on a Porsche I just purchased from a private party. Took me in right away and were extremely professional. Explained diagnosis right away and gave an accurate time estimate. Awesome shop.

The staff at Hi-Tec are highly experienced, professional and very friendly. You can't find a better car repair/maintenance service anywhere, particularly for Porsche, Audi, BMW etc. They recently let me come by for a last minute repair which was a life-saver. Hi-Tec...Yes!! Thank you so much!!