If you love your old Volvo, or any car, take it here! This was my first visit to Popular Mechanix, and I was thoroughly impressed. I feel like Ive found a shop that will care for my car as much as I do. They are a very professional and modern shop and kept me informed via text every step of the way. No unnecessary up-selling. Just great, honest work! They have DEFINITELY made a customer for life

I cant say enough about the professionalism, courtesy and customer service at Volvo Service . Oscar goes over and above to explain and help people. I witnessed this not only for myself but seeing how he and his staff treated all of their customers both times I was there. A reliable and honest place, I am definitely making this my first stop for any car issues.

This my 2nd experience using Popular Mechanix to fix my 67 vintage volvo. Another professional job done!!! I had some issues with my drive train that several other repair shops were not able fix. Andrew and his crew in addition to fixing newer vehicles, take pride and seem to enjoy working on classic cars too! Here is how it went for me... Delivered car on a Thursday, got updates by text with photos, by Monday afternoon problem solved. Andrew determined there were two issues: a misalignedexhaust, and a poor quality transmission mount. Car drives great now.Although I live in East Bay, its worth the trip to use Popular Mechanix - theyve earned my business, and I value their honest, straight forward way of doing business. Keep up the great work!!!

Popular Mechanix has been a life saver for my 1984 Volvo - aka Moonbeam. It is the only place I know of that has technicians who have the expertise and patience to work on older cars. After just two visits, I know that I can trust Andrew and his crew to do the work that needs to be done and to charge a fair price. So, if you want to take the anxiety out of having repairs done on your car, contact Andrew, you will be glad you did. Thanks Andrew and thanks to all the crew at Popular Mechanix for all your help!Mary Aschenbrener

Andrew is a very experienced and skilled mechanic. He carefully explains the work that needs to be done and gives you an accurate estimate of what it would cost. The shop is excellent, and has the personal touches of what you would hope for from an independent service.

I have a very old Volvo (2001) and my signal indicators and emergency lights went out. Popular Mechanix really searched for and found a solution to the problem. Because of the age of the car, there were no guarantees it could be resolved. and I couldnt possibly drive the car without, at least my signal indicators. I was relieved and grateful.

First time here and everything was easy and well done. They have great communication and are super friendly on top of it. It was also a nice treat to have my car washed and cleaned after service, something I havent seen as a perk in ages.

Excellent communication with me by text and phone starting from before the visit (I had to have my car towed in) throughout the 3 days they had my car. Everyone I interacted with was friendly, professional and informative. Services were performed as expected and my car had been cleaned inside and out when I picked it up. They definitely made a good first impression on me!

I recently used popular Mechanix for a service on my car and received a fantastic service from Andrew and his team. They were extremely efficient and kept in constant contact via text and informing me of any work that needed doing before they attempted any work. I will surely use their service again! Furthermore the car was returned expertly washed and detailed. Thanks Andrew!

Andrew and his team were great to work with. I recently came into the possession of a 2006 Volvo and needed to get it checked out to make sure there werent any major looming maintenance issues. I left a message and heard back quickly and was able to schedule a drop-off for the next day. After then communication was done via text which was super easy and efficient. I was quoted a reasonable price to inspect the car which would be credited towards up to an hour of labor should repairs be made. I thought this was awesome (depending on how long the inspection took).I dropped off the car just after they opened and by that afternoon had received an update with an estimate of what needed to be done and what was optional but recommended (it was nice to not feel pressured to get the non-essential things done). I opted to go with the recommended things (again, super easy via text) and the car was ready for pickup by late afternoon the next day. Obviously the turn-around time will vary depending on parts but I was so happy these repairs were able to be done so quickly. They even were able to take care of some very minor irritants without forcing me to do a full, much more expensive, repair job on them (E.g. an issue with the 12V accessory socket).I highly recommend this place. Everything was super easy, quick, transparent, and trustworthy. Additionally everything about this place felt clean, organized, and COVID-safe.

Weve been customers for nearly fifteen years. We appreciate the loaner cars made available, the courteous and prompt service. Andy and his crew are professionial and honest-costs have always seemed fair. Our cars are over 20 years old-Hope this doesnt jinx us!(lol)

Andrew and team are a shining example of what a solid, friendly, knowledgable, local repair shop should be. Professional and quick service, very very honest and up-front about repairs. Andrew will let you know if a repair is a must-have, should-have, or nice-to-have and wont push repairs on you that can safely wait if need-by. I cant recommend a repair shop more!

I was, as usual, so happy with the service received. The problem with my car was quickly diagnosed and repaired.I very much appreciated that even though I called at the last minute, Andy accommodated me.Thanks, Andy.

Knowledgeable, friendly and willing to give put information free of charge!

These guys were great.Honest, clean, responsive. They lent me a loaner car (same model as mine) while they had my car for 2 days...and to my surprise my car was washed and detailed when I cam to pick it up!Highly highly recommended.

I was very impressed by my first experience with the Volvo service and repair I received from Popular Mechanix. They were very accommodating to my situation, and offered prompt solutions to a somewhat mysterious mechanical failure. Their excellent detective skills were matched in quality by their professionalism and customer care. I will absolutely be returning should my Volvo 240 ever break down again in San Francisco. Prices are high, but so is the cost of living here.

Ive been going to Andy for years. Hes pragmatic and will never upsell you on service you dont need. He finds a way with every service to go above and beyond - washing the car, fixing something small without charging me. Also, his shop is one of the few that you could eat off the floors its always so clean. He works on other cars aside from Volvo and if I had one, Id take it there too!

I reached out to get a check engine light diagnosed on my 2009 Volvo XC70 and they quoted me $500 for the diagnosis. Thats insane.Even the dealer down the street quoted me $245 for a diag. What drugs are yall on?

Great Service. My 93 Volvo wagon was running hot and I also neededbasic maintenance. They fixed the thermostat, new brakes, new battery andsome other things since the car is very old. Also they detailed and washed the car. She now runs and looks great. Its like having a brand new car.Again great work.

The team at Popular Mechanix are great. Their knowledge of Volvo cars is excellent. Ive had them take care of 4 different cars over the years and I have always received great service and the highest quality of work. The team is friendly and provides options for all repairs. If you own a Volvo, this is the only place you should bring your car to for maintenance and repairs.

Look No Further... This is the Volvo Repair Jackpot. If you want outstanding service from a team that will treat your car like it is their own, then this is the place. Ive been going here for years after my pockets were emptied from going to the Dealer for service. Popular Mechanix was half the price for twice the work. They even have loaner Volvos ready on site at no extra charge. Every staff member there must have to pass some kind of Customer Service Test cause they are all Friendly, Reliable, Honest & Happy to be there. The shop is clean and so is my car (Volvo S60) when I pick it up. The Owner Andy is Super Helpful and even stayed late one time when I needed a light bulb replaced & some anti-freeze. I HIGHLY recommend them and have yet to find a shop as competent & willing to go the extra mile.

I could not have had a better experience. The team was very communicative and fast with my s40 a/c repair. Thanks again Andrew and team.

I have been a customer since the beginning of this year. Honestly, I had given up hope that the problems befallen my Volvo were able to be solved. From the moment I stepped foot into the shop I was impressed with the orderliness and cleanliness of the place. They were able to fix a recurring coolant leak that had previously stressed me out and cost me a lot of money. They figured it out and got it right and I am now a loyal customer for all my Volvo maintenance. A couple weeks ago I was contacted by them about evaluating LED headlamps for my v70 XC. I took them up on their offer of free headlamps (and installation) but I had really high expectations of what these lamps would do for my night-time driving experience. I am glad to say that the lamps greatly exceeded those expectations. Driving at night is a joy. Visibility is greater, objects on the road such as markings and signs pop visually and I can see pedestrians more clearly. The white quality of the light is able to let me see where I am going which makes for an overall safer driving experience. I am grateful to Andy and his team of professionals.

I can’t emphasize enough how good this place is. They’re professional and above all honest, which is a trait hard to find among mechanics. They performed a very complex and lengthy repair on my XC90. Andrew kept me posted throughout the whole process. They went above and beyond to deliver an outstanding repair. It’s not a cheap place, but newer Volvo’s aren’t cheap to maintain. If you need an independent Volvo mechanic that’s honest and professional this is your place. Can’t thank them enough for the job they did.

Love these guys -- been taking care of my wheels for years. Always reasonable and nice to deal with. Wipers didnt work after most recent service (HUGE storm in Tahoe) but everything else working great -- thank you!!

Popular Mechanix is my new crew of friends to service my (original owner) 1965/544 Volvo Sports Coupe. They are invested with me in keeping my car road-worthy. They have access to vintage parts and are dedicated to helping to maintain authenticity and reliability. Their shop is orderly, the staff is responsive and pricing is clear/fair. Im grateful for the honest collaboration.

I have only great things to say about Popular Mechanix. Ive taken my 1990 Volvo 240 to them for many, many years, and the quality of their work means I will be taking it for many more. Thorough explanation, consistent communication, clean work space, and warm personalities are all part of their strengths. I feel complete trust in their assessments and work. They truly set a standard for exceptional car care and customer service.

Popular Mechanix continues to provide prompt and first rate service at a fair price. PM services all our cars -- Volvo and other -- and we wouldnt have it any other way. Thanks to Ruth, Andy and everyone.

If you own a Volvo go here. Andrew and team are amazing. Thats it.

Theyre are very knowledgeable and keep you informed about the health of your car and help guild you on what needs to be address and what can wait. Ive had great experience with them working on my 92 240 d wagon.Glad to be working with a Volvo specialist since I have an older car.

Popular Mechanix provides excellent service. They took the time to explain what needed repairs and helped me prioritize what needed fixed right away and what could wait. They even lent me a loaner car at no extra charge! This is now my go-to garage for my Volvo.

Andrew and his team ruined my 2015.5 Volvo and my entire year. I went there for overheating problem. Car had a trouble code for 1)Thermostat and 2) Cooling Fan. Andrew replaced the thermostat and transmission flush which I asked for but car kept running hot. Andrew and his team accused me of driving the car aggressively or too much (for uber&lyft). Then they charged me $360 for diagnostic and they couldnt figure out why the car is overheating. Then Andrew advised me replacing the water pump. He charged another $1,500 for the water pump even though there was NO signs of failing water pump. Car kept overheating. Andrew told me that I should replace Electronic Control Unit(!) or the radiator. I told him I want t replace the fan which we shouldve done in the first place. He quoted me $2k for a cooling fan! I took my car to Burlingame Volvo and replaced the fan for $900 and all the problems were gone. They charged me almost $2k for nothing! I took my car there once again for check engine light and Andrew told me that I possibly have a blown head gasket and he would replace it for $5,000! I went to Volvo dealer and they told me it was not a blown head gasket but the fuel injectors. This business costed me $2,000 for no reason, and a water pump. Andrew himself is a nice, respectful man. Although I do not think that he and his team is competent enough to work on new generation Volvos. And they are ridiculously expensive.

I have been bringing my car for little services. My car was coming up to my 120K service. This was my first major service and I couldnt be more satisfied with my service. I like that they note what services I will be needed for preventative maintenance service. I love my 1996 Volvo 960 and want to keep it running. Highly recommend them for taking care of your Volvo!

While sometimes the rate can be high, it is worth every penny of it. They are the most accommodating and professional shop I have ever used. With their care my car will surely last for well over 300K.

A1 service. Overall the place is fantastic. Andy knows what he is doing and the rest of the staff greets you with a smile. The best part is the free key chain they give you when you get your car back so its like they do the work for free and you are actually paying for an expensive keychain Thank you everyone at Popular Mechanics.

Popular Mechanix continues to exceed my expectations as a full service auto center. Andy, the owner, runs a clean, local, genuine shop in downtown SF. PM offers loaner cars, flexible schedules, up to the minute status, and more. Volvos, unlike most European cars, are often tough to diagnose - Andy and his team knows whats up and how to make your European auto function at factory spec.I enjoy going to PM for everything from tricky engine sensor issues to an oil change or even tire rotation. I do not trust any other mechanic working on my Volvo.

Once again, top-drawer service, all the way. Andrew and his team are experienced and knowledgeable, helpful, and dedicated to excellent customer service. Preventive maintenance is one of their primary policies, and you should take their advice if they suggest some pro-active work or parts replacement in advance of a breakdown. This is not a business that fleeces its customers. Visit their website and their repair facility and you see right away that this is an exceptional enterprise. Ive had my 2003 Volvo S40 serviced at four different places, starting with a high-end Volvo dealership in Santa Monica that was short on technical skill and long on attitude and over-charging), followed by an excellent independent shop in Los Angeles. Third was a well-regarded shop here in SF, now out of business. In my 15 years as a Volvo owner, Popular Mechanixs beats them all. PMs pricing is not lower-tier, but it is reasonable. Their service level is high. You get your moneys worth. (9/6/2018)

These folks continue to please... First off, you get a loaner car, then everything is done & done very well.Oh, then you get a clean car back, ours is 20 years old & looks new when we get it back. What could be better? I love the YUGE cage with chirping & happy birds...

Excellent service. Andrew was informative and helpful. Highly recommended

I came here with a 2004 XC70 for a few one-off issues, but they found a number of additional items during their routine inspection and Andrew was really helpful in explaining the impact and which were important to have done. They went the extra mile, offered alternatives, and were great to work with. Ill definitely be coming back.

Very cool old car! Nicest 123 GT Ive seen in years...

With a Vintage 1985 240 DL it is often painful to the wallet to pay for repairs. But the service and care with which PM treats their customers softens the blow of the bottom line. I am well pleased with this garage and still love my Volvo of 157,000 + miles!

Andrew was great. He had great open communication with me regarding repairs and promptly texted me anytime he needed to speak with me. I’ll be coming back!

Popular Mechanix took on a tricky job with my car and stuck with it until it was solved. They stayed in touch and provided good service at a fair price.

Flawless work on my car, as always, but what I especially appreciate are all the extra touches: free loaner car, multiple extra no-charge steps like removing the accumulated murk from my headlight covers and delivering my car spotlessly washed. These are the kinds of touches Ive always wished for from a car mechanic shop, and I finally found them here.

Early Mon. morning I called to have a broken turn signal lever replaced, on a long shot that they could do it and could fit me in. They were indeed busy, but Ruth told me I could drop car and as soon as they could, they would, that day or the next. I had a call around 4 that afternoon = All Done ! Plus, Andy said one of the workers noticed my broken door lock-button and just happened to have another, so he replaced it for free ! Thank You, Popular Mechanix ! (& I have a 1995 Volvo)

They know their stuff! They also know that I am knowledgeable about my cars and are willing to speak with me about diagnosing my own issues with my cars

I have years of experience with Popular Mechanix. Excellent service and attention to detail. I am in it for the long haul with Andy and his staff. Impeccable.

My car engine died all of a sudden about 6 weeks ago. I had previously taken the car to the Volvo Dealership in SF. I took the car to them to get a diagnostic done and they couldnt really figure out the issue without them taking apart the whole engine. The Volvo dealership could only put a new engine into my car which was too expensive. I was forced to go asking around the independents. I called all of them and Andy @ Popular Mechanix instilled the most trust in me. I think all of the shops in SF are great, but I felt the most comfortable with Andy. His price was very competitive; he was extremely responsive; and he guaranteed his work. The car has been running for over a month now on a refurbished engine and so far so good! Very excited for the next 150k miles with Popular Mechanix!

My husband and I have had three Volvo station wagons serviced by Popular Mechanix over many years, and have been very satisfied with the detailed analysis, cost estimates, turnaround time and courtesy. The whole staff is well focused on doing their best work, and treating us with respect. Quite often, they provide a loaner car to keep us on the road. Their willingness to find used parts at our request to save money is well appreciated. Communication has been outstanding. Recently, I asked Andrew to help sell our 1999 Volvo Station Wagon, and through his blogs and professional handling, sold our car in one month at a better than expected price after detailing, repairing and replacing parts to provide a good buy for the next owner.

I was resurrecting my vintage 1800 and brought her in for an evaluation. Best thing was that they mapped out an incremental plan, rather than try to sell me on fixing everything at once. I was able to see what needed to be done, what I could do myself, and then let them handle the heavy lifting.

Dealing with Popular Mechanix is always a pleasure: professionals supreme, not an outrageous wait for an appointment, a loaner car, and friendly people with whom to deal.

Actually, Ive had my 2008 C30 to Popular Mechanix twice, once for routine maintenance, and the other for A/C service. To say I had become fed up with the service dept at McKevitt Volvo is an understatement. Both times PM has worked on my car, it has been ready at the time promised - or before. My first contact with Andrew, the owner, was for advice only since I was getting information from several sources which did not jibe. This consultation took place by email and PM never charged me for their research and reply to me. After both visits, I felt like the folks at PM genuinely cared about the maintenance of my car, and they were not out to gouge any customer. Theyve got my business for as long as I have the C30 - or any other Volvo in the future

While traveling, check engine light came on. I called and Andrew scheduled me next day. He kept me informed of the progress.

I wrote the review below four years ago, but their new pick-up-&-delivery service is worth a second go. Because I live in a geezer house & cant get out, having Andy & crew come pick up my car, get it fixed & spiffed & disinfected to boot and bring it back in time for me to get to a doctors appt? Invaluable. Nice to have both great service and a little good news in this covid-19 day and age. (Earlier review below.)Weve been with Popular Mechanix Volvo through three decades and three Volvos and wouldnt consider going elsewhere (even if we someday drive a non-Volvo.) We can absolutely trust their ability to pinpoint and correct problems that arise, and to prevent problems in the future.

These folks have kept our 1990 240 DL alive and kicking. They know their stuff. Highly recommended!

Friendly and efficient, Andy of Popular Mechanix solved the problem when warning light popped up on the dash of my Volvo C70 within 24 hours. It is great there are still such good auto service in the City.

One again, PM delivers superior service !

When I towed my car into Pop Mech after it stalled on the bay bridge I was worried to say the least that ol blue a 30 yo volvo 240 would have seen her last day, however after a 260 dollar bill they rigged less than 12 inches of wire into the engine harness and did some other adjustments ie air/fuel mix and made a list of repairs...car died again on the way home. The owner told me initially the car would need a new engine wiring harness. (The original was breaking down) so fine.However he initially quoted me 1300 dollars saying it would take some eight hours to do it and the harness originally cost 600 from the dealer, when it was still available from volvo.So of course i started searching and guess what? search dave barton hes got almost every wiring harness available in brand new aftermarket wiring from a norwegian company with full instructions color photos etc. cost after shipping 360 dollars, time to replace engine harness in my front yard having no experience about engine wiring 4 hours!Lesson Learned: THESE OLDER VOLVOS ARE SIMPLE TO FIX, BUT POPULAR MECHANIX DUE TO ITS LOCATION IN SF AND URBAN DEMOGRAPHIC QUOTES FAR ABOVE ACTUAL COST AND USES FEAR TO MANIPULATE PEOPLE INTO MORE SERVICES.FOR EXAMPLE I WAS TOLD THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SOON QUOTED 150 TO DO THE JOB, IT WOULD TAKE TWO HOURSIPD USA SELLS THE WHOLE TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT KIT FOR 35 DOLLARS W/ INSTRUCTIONS YOUTUBE SAYS IT ONLY TAKES 20 MINUTES FOR A NOVICE MECHANIC. I WAS ALSO TOLD IF THE BELT BROKE THE ENGINE WOULD DESTROY ITSELF HOWEVER ITS A KNOWN FACT THESE OLD VOLVOS ARE NONINTERFERENCE ENGINES SO IF THE BELT BREAKS YOU ARE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT ENGINE WILL BE FINE....In the end im pretty sure the owner now knows about the dave barton site, but he wasnt willing to revise his initial quote when he called me later the next week... too bad he lost a customer already.If you have money to burn pop mech is ok at what they do, but they really didnt seem much more expert than myself after a few hours researching my car.takeaway:there is a huge online community dedicated to keeping older volvos on the road esp 240sipd usa sells parts cheap w/ instructions when neededgoogle dave barton for wiring harnesses if you plan on holding on to that older volvo.

K let you down I will have a ? York Knicks I have to be jti

Always accommodating even on short notice. Thank you Ruth, Andy, and the team.

Andrew and Ruth are the best around.