The Auto Depot

Jim and his team went beyond the call of duty during the time of my purchase of a BMW . They insisted on fixing everything on the car BEFORE delivery . They always kept me rolling in a loaner in the meantime . Jim is creative in his deal-making and always is looking to make the transaction a ""win-win "" for both parties. He gave me a fair value for the trade in of my Maxima unlike most of the other ""jerk-arounds "" that I spoke with at other businesses . I will be sending a lot of friends here . Refreshing ! more

I purchased my very own first car here from Jim in 2003. Jim was so informative and was very understanding and was able to work work with me. I purchased a red 1991 Acura Integra LS and it has ran like a champ all these years! I still have this car till this day and I would not trade it in the world it has been so realiable! It is now 18yrs old and has now over 191 thousand miles that of course I put on it and it still drives like a champ! I have a friend that purchased a 1992 Honda Civic here and she loves her car! I recommend all my friends to go here because if you need to get started and need a good realiable car I would definetly go here! Pros: Great cars! Great deals! Cons: They need a bigger place parking is a little tight more

Jim and the crew at the Auto Depot saved us time, money and energy!!!! Our 1992 Toyota Celica experienced catastrophic failure - we were getting quotes to put it back on the road for upwards of $4K. Jim not only put us back on the road for dramatically less, but identified other issues, fixed / replaced them and all for 1/2 of the other estimates. Auto Depot communicated clearly and checked in with us before ever doing the work for approval. There were no nasty surprises when it came time to settle up!!\r \r The workmanship was top notch, and Jim, Mark. Mike, and Barbara were a joy to do business with. We HIGHLY recommend them to anyone when it comes to the pains of cars, trucks, and the repairs / costs they can inflict! Pros: Quality workmanship, honesty! Cons: Needs a new driveway... HAHAHA more

My boyfriend and I needed to buy a car. Being new to Austin, we did not have a good sense of where to go and who to trust. After some research, we decided to give Auto Depot a try and are happy we did. Following the examples of Jim and Mark, everyone is friendly and helpful. Jim owns the place yet he took the time to show us cars and go on a test drive of the Honda Accord that we bought. Jim applies no pressure, so it is an informative experience rather than a tense one. The problem with any used car purchase is that one never knows. Jim uses an unique approach to take as much uncertainty out as possible. First, they really take the cars apart there in making sure that they have no glaring problems. Indeed, cars for sale may often be in some state of disassembly. To back up their thorough checks, Jim provides a great one-year warranty. Basically, Auto Depot makes you as confident as you can be when buying a used car. The fact that they emphasize Hondas and Toyotas helps. Jim?s willingness to back his cars provides a good feeling of security. Jim really goes out of his way to help. We were driving a rental car from the airport. Since only one of us could drive, Jim had one of his men drive us to the airport to drop off our rental car three days early (and save $200) and then bring us back to pick up our Honda Accord. All at no charge. In addition to finding a car, we also feel like we found a place we can trust for car care. Overall, our car is in immaculate condition and so far has run well. It is a pleasure to drive. Thanks you Jim and Mark. \r Best wishes, Ye and Kevin more

I love this place. I took a car I had 'accidentally' bought somewhere else to them for a buyer's check. They gave me a low estimate on the check up and then fixed the only problem without adding to the price. Unbelievable. I will definitely be back. Plus it's an upbeat place..... more

Recently purchased a newer model of the Toyota Camry wagon that Auto Depot had helped me keep alive (and running beautifully) for many years. Where most similar auto shops would have given the new car a quick once-over and tune up before sending on my way, Auto Depot delivered a comprehensive reconditioning, end-to-end, pre-emptively seeking out and fixing anything that might potentially evolve into an issue, even if not likely to become apparent until well after the timespan of their 12-month warranty. All staff were totally accommodating of my inquiries as far as status, routinely inviting me into their shop to get an overview of where everything stood, what they were doing, why, and when it would be done. The result is a beautiful machine that far exceeds my hope and expectation, indistinguishable in performance and obvious value, to me, from a new Toyota. The last camry wagon lasted me in excess of two decades, and I anticipate at least as much from this one. Sincerest appreciations to Jim, Mark, and the entirety of Auto Depot's exemplary and enthusiastic crew, for ensuring that the car that I took home, would be far-and-away beyond anything I might have hoped. Pros: the rare certainty that you've gotten more than your money's worth Cons: they're swamped - this type of reputation keeps them busy. If you see something you like, don't delay more

I recently found myself with a vehicle whose repair expenses were way more than the car was now worth. I had already been looking at other options to see where I could find the best price. On the eve of my most promising appointment I took my old car in to sell it back to them. It was quick, easy & when they inquired as to what I'd be getting, I told them I'd found a 2004 Civic, 47K miles & at a great price that was well below what I'd been approved for. Their response was music to my ears. ""We've got that & we've got it cheaper."" That was that. I test drove the car & loved it. They explained the previous owner had two vehicles, moved & only took one. The vehicle is now 5 years old & only has 48K miles. It was impeccably clean with no body damage. Never been wrecked AND they were right, it was cheaper. So much so, that with title, tax & license it still came out to less than the sale price the previous guy was offering on his civic. Plus, this one was a better color. They even gave me a full year/12,000 warranty. Now, where the car is great, after about 3 days the temp dropped to freezing. As I go out in the morning, I find that my battery is dead. I Immediately call them up. It's explained to me that since the owner had it sitting for a while, it could be the combination of that & the freezing temp, that caused it to faulter. I was initially sick with worry that a used car buyers worst nightmare had come true. I was wrong. It really was only the battery & not only did they drive over to give me a jump but they picked up the car the next day (I had to use it to get to & from work.. it worked all day except in the morning) and replaced the battery with a new one, at no charge of course. It's worked beautifully ever since. They're really honest guys. My boyfriend & I are very firm believers in their work, customer service & their prices. They work on both our cars & will continue to do. Mark, Jim & Will.. Thanks!! more

My wife's Sienna was in an accident with body damage to the front-right area only. Insurance estimate was a couple of hundred dollars above the value of the vehicle and they were going to total it. Had I decided to keep it, it would also have a salvage title which I really did not want (drops vehicle value). I got a better quote from a local bodyshop (reputable with lots of ads on TV too) which helped me persuade the insurance company to not report it for a salvage title. This is because now the cost of the repair no longer would exceed the value of the vehicle. They would still declare it a total loss in their books (they are allowed by law to do this even if the repairs are as low as 70% of the vehicle value). I kept the van after I got an amazing quote from Jim (about $1000 lower than the quote that saved my vehicle). Jim was upfront with me about which parts would be new and which ones would be reconditioned ones, basically explained to me how he was going to make his super-low quote a reality while performing a quality repair. I know the Chronicle awards really helped me in deciding to go with Auto Depot.\r \r In the end, I was very satisfied. There was one small problem I had (turn signal lens was not fastened securely) which was addressed within an hour of my reporting it to them over the phone (""come on in and we'll take care of it for you"" was the friendly response). \r \r I forgot to mention that I also had a dent in the rear of the vehicle (from a previous bump with a mailbox) which I had put off repairing because all quotes were around $400-$500. Jim had his guys take care of that while my car was in their shop. What a deal! \r \r You do need to ask questions, if you have them. Jim may not burdon you with all the details up front but he will answer any and all your questions honestly and tell you more if you seem interested. Auto Depot is way north and I live way south so I can't use them regularly but I will use them for special projects. Pros: Value & customer service Cons: Parking is a challenge more

I went to buy a vehicle from Jim that I saw on craigs list. I don't know much about cars, and I really feel like I was seen as a good way for Jim to make a few bucks. The ad online mentioned nothing of a salvaged title. But that is exactly what the vehicle had. \r \r On a positive note,Jim was good with working out payments for me, because I wasn't able to get a loan from my bank.\r \r But the truck was a heaping pile of junk. They talk about the 65 point inspection that all the vehicles go through, but this truck didn't pass my 5 point inspection! When I took it for a test drive the first time it was fine, we just went on some neighborhood streets and maxed out at maybe 35 miles an hour. I had to go to work so I couldn't do a full on test drive. A few days later when I took it out on the highway on my second test drive, that was another story. It drove very rough to say the least. When I mentioned the loose steering the mechanic who went with me on the test drive his exact quote was ""It probably needs new bushings, we can fix that for really cheap!"" If I wanted to pay to get work done to a car I would fix the one I already have, that I don't have to make payments on! They might have quality vehicles here, but if you decide to purchase from Auto Depot make sure you have it checked out by someone else. \r \r As far as their repair work is concerned, they seem to do a good amount of it. but I have no experience with that at all, and never will! more

I had a humming noise in my front left tire. My son told me that It could be my Wheel barring and needed to get it fixed right away! I called Auto Depot and Jim answered confirming by the noise that It was indeed the wheel barring and he could get me in same day or next which ever was best for me. As it turned out I made the decisson to purchase a newer car and not put more money into my existing car. I purchased a car that same day and called to see if Jim would look at it for me to make sure that I wasn't purchasing a lemon. He scheduled me for the next day. They treated me like they had known me forever,and this was the first time we had met. He and his crew did a complete go over, and told me that My new car was in good shape. While I waited I spoke to his wife and watched T.V. My experience was a very good one and I will continue to go there for my car needs. more

I had the very unpleasant experience of having my vehicle broken into in my own driveway early on a Saturday morning. Broken glass everywhere ? damaged trim ? it was a mess. Of course everywhere seemed to be closed when I wanted to get it fixed on Saturday. But Auto Depot was open, and Jim and his staff was very friendly and helpful. This is the type of place that is the complete opposite of a big car dealer ? sure, the facilities may not look as nice, but I would rather not pay for that. For free they tried to fix my damaged trim on-the-spot; although that didn?t work out, they made the effort, and didn?t try to nickel and dime me. What you do pay for is a nice job and fast work ? they called around and did have to wait for a day or two for a part to be delivered, but had it fixed within hours of getting the part. They were flexible in letting me leave my vehicle there so I wouldn?t have to coordinate dropping it back off later, etc. In summary, for a great price you?ll get a great product ? I hope I don?t need their services anytime soon, but if I do I?ll know where to go. The ONLY downside is that the management is so friendly they tend to get off into political discussions, so be warned ? still worth it for the price, no matter who you are voting for! Thanks again Jim - much appreciated. Pros: service, hours and availability Cons: probably should expand to a new ""shop"" with more space ... but then again, I would rather not have to pay for that! more

Auto Depot is by far the best place I've been to for auto repairs. They are professional, efficient, fair and have fixed everything on my car each time something was needed. When my air conditioning failed I took it to the Honda dealership who hassled me, charged $160+ just to look at it(some b.s. story about freeon) and then said it could cost upwards of $2000 to fix it. My sticker shock resulted in a very hot summer waiting to get it fixed. When my passenger window fell down I could not wait to get my car fixed any longer. The guys at Auto Depot were friendly and fixed everything for under $600. When I went back after my radio was stolen because my turn signals were no longer working, they solved the problem, replaced a fuse and sent me along for free. They have my gratitude and loyalty. I now recommend everyone I know to go to them. Thank you, Auto Depot. more

I was looking for a specific Honda and ran across an add for a Honda CRV. This is when I happened upon The Auto Depot. It was on the other side of town so I first chose to do my homework and check them out online. There was an abundant amount of information and reviews. I made a phone call to Jim and he said to come on in. The CRV was exactly what I'd been looking for. I had checked many used car lots and was surprised to find none of them warranty the cars they sell for $10,000.00 plus. This bothered me, so when Jim was quick to offer me a one year warranty for an reasonable additional cost, I jumped on it. This was Spring 2008, and Jim has made good on each promise he made. I am another satisfied customer who will recommend The Auto Depot to anyone looking for a dependable car on a budget. more

I have bought 2 used Mercedes from Jim, and he's become my source for cars! \r \r It took him a little while to find my current car and get it ready for me, and I've been more than pleased with the results. \r \r I have an appointment this week to preview another Mercedes that Jim recently acquired. Where else could you find someone who knows what you like and keeps an eye out for it?\r \r Thanks, Jim, and keep up the good work!\r \r Keep up the good work, Jim! more

I sold a car to Auto Depot. The transaction was simple and easy and I was paid immediately. Thanks Jim! more

I just bought a 95 Honda Civic from Auto depot after much searching.The car looks and drives like it is brand new,and I am very happy with it.The man who sold it to me was named Jim and gave us a good deal on a great little car.All the staff was cool in a relaxed atmosphere.I would totally reccomend this place if you are looking for a used car. Pros: Everything Great more

I am very pleased with the body repair work done on my 1997 Toyota Camry. I gave Jim a check and things happened... and I couldn't get back to the Auto Depot till nearly 8 months! But Jim never gave me a problem or hassle. He remembered and didn't try to give me any ""line or try to ""take"" me about taking so long.\r When I finally brought my car in for repair, it was done in three days and I had a beautiful car again! \r The mechanics did a look over and I soon took my car back for all the necessary recommended timing belt and all that Toyota guidelined. Pros: Nice People Cons: tight parking more

I love my new lil Lexus! Thank you guys for helping me and putting up with all of my craziness in buying this car! I am so happy that you worked with me and got me into such a great new (used) car. You guys (ALL) went above & beyond and I am very thankful - Cliff, Mike, Barbara & yes, you too JIM...all my best and all my thanks!! It's kind of a ""crazy"" place (in a good) way & yes, it's definatly keeping Austin wierd (in a good way) - so THANKS AGAIN!! more

Are you shopping for a quality used car at a fair price? My wife and I purchased a 2000 Toyota Solara at The Auto Depot for roughly $3000 under the Blue Book price. Jim, the owner, was very up front about the rebuilt front end on the vehicle. Exceptionally clean inside and out and mechanically sound (we had the vehicle checked out thoroughly off site), we decided to take our chances and have never looked back. Jim buys and resells cars on a regular basis...and in our case...he threw in a 90-day warranty to seal the deal. That said, be prepared for a eclectic mix of autos when you visit the location. Many are parked out front in various stages of repair or disrepair. more

I bought a 1986 Honda Prelude from Jim Earnst in 1996 and was so pleased with the deal and service after the sale that I have since purchased two more cars. Jim has been honest and out front before and after the sale each time (even when it cost him money!) I guess that's why he has more business every time I go by. I was a professional mechanic for ten years so I know when I'm being ""led down the primrose path"" and I can tell you I felt comfortable enough with Jim Earnst to buy my daughter's first car from him. I'm reasonably sure that car would still be in the family if it hadn't been totalled. Even then it protected my daughter and her passenger very well. The bottom line is this. A car is a risky purchase -new or used- and a warranty is only as good as the person who backs it. Jim has never failed to honor his warranty and that is why I will be taking my Camry (bought from Auto Depot in 2004) in for a repair that is to tough for me to handle, and I am confident it will be done correctly. more