Union Square - Somerville Community Blog

Mike's Wins Boston Auto Repair Award 11 Years Running

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Mon, Feb, 15, 2016 @ 18:02 PM

There's nothing better than starting off the new year, with great news. This year, we can once again claim to be winners of the Angie's List 2015 Super Service Award! That's 11 years running!

As most people know, the Super Service Award is the most prestigious of all the Boston auto repair awardsAuto Repair Boston Award and the toughest to win. Angie's List subscribers hold service providers to the highest account. They seek an unparalleled level of service and let their fellow members know when and where they get it - and when and where they don't. To put it simply - it's the gold standard!

We were the first and only auto shop in the entire state of Massachusetts to win the Super Service Award back in 2005 - and we've won it every year since! That's not something we plan on changing any time soon!

We're happy to share the news about our big win with the Mike's faithful - and eager to let the rest of the community know that there's a local guy who comes highly recommended, whenever they need help! 

Have you tried Mike's? Do you need another reason? Give us a try! We know your experience will be...just super!

Tags: Boston Auto Repair, Boston Car Repair, Super Service Award, News, Awards, Quality

Boston Auto Repair Shop Gives Winter Car Tips

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Fri, Jan, 08, 2016 @ 15:01 PM

The cold has finally arrived: it's wintertime! Our Boston auto repair shop has been busy getting our customers' cars ready for the big chill. In case you haven't shown your car any winter love, we're happy to share some tips put together by the good folks at SpareFoot - they'll help get you prepared for winter!

Boston_Auto_Repair_Winter_Tips.png

Still have questions about getting your car ready for winter? Just give us a call or come in - we're always here to help!

Tags: Boston Auto Repair, Vehicle Fleet Maintenance, Car Tips, Boston Auto Service

Boston Auto Repair Tips: How To Jump A Car

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Thu, Oct, 22, 2015 @ 11:10 AM

Fall is here and that means waking up to some chilly mornings. It's the time of year when we start to get phone calls from people saying that they have a dead battery and need a jumpstart or a tow to the shop. In fact, a lot of people tell us that they don't know how to jump a car. That's something everyone should know! And Mike wants to make sure you know it! So, we're happy to share this great infographic we found that shows how easy it is to jump a car.

Boston_Auto_Repair_-_Jumping_A_Car

As you can see, jumping a car is simple! Afraid you won't remember how to do it? Print this infographic and keep a copy of it in your glove box! And if jumpstarting your car doesn't work and you're looking for a Boston auto repair shop - we're always here to help!

Tags: Boston Auto Repair, Boston Car Repair, Car Tips, Boston Auto Service, Infographic

Boston Auto Repair Tips: Check Engine Light & More

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Tue, Aug, 18, 2015 @ 17:08 PM

Many of our customers have questions about the various lights that often illuminate a car's dashboard. After all, it can get a bit confusing. At Mike's, we want you to know what your car is saying when it speaks to you. Our friends at the Car Care Council have put together this great infographic - which is sure to help!

Boston_Auto_Repair_Check_Engine_Light

So, when it comes to dashboard lights, you're now armed with some handy Boston auto repair tips. And don't forget - if you ever have any questions, just call us! We're always here to help! 

Tags: Boston Auto Repair, Boston Car Repair, Car Tips, Boston Tire Shop, Check Engine Light

Boston Tire Shop: The Penny Test

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Fri, Jul, 17, 2015 @ 13:07 PM

As a Boston tire shop, we get questions all the time about the proper time to replace tires on a car. The best course of action is to bring your car to a reputable service facility. However, there is a quick way to gauge the condition of your tires that you can do yourself! It's an old trick known as the penny test.

Our friends at the Car Care Council do a great job of describing the penny test:Boston_Tire_Shop 

Simply stick an upside down penny, with Lincoln’s face toward you, into the tread on both the inside and outside of the tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln”s head anywhere, the rubber has worn down far enough to warrant a new set.
 
To be safe, we’d recommend performing this test monthly – even with new tires – because the penny can also tell you if your tires are wearing unevenly. Uneven wear can occur because of over- or under-inflated tires, unbalanced tires or simply from a car’s natural weight dispersion and suspension geometry. If there is a noticeable difference in the tread wear between the front and back tires or on an individual tire, it’s best to take the vehicle to the mechanic and have it checked out.

And remember, there's a lot more that can go wrong with tires than just wear - from dry cracking to shifted belts - so it's always best to have a trained eye looking out for you. Thankfully, you have us! We're always here to make sure that your travels are safe ones!

Tags: Boston Auto Repair, Boston Car Repair, Car Tips, Boston Tire Shop, Tires

Boston Auto Repair Award: A Decade of Excellence

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Thu, Mar, 19, 2015 @ 09:03 AM

Throughout our history at Mike's, we've earned many accolades. With every new award comes a sense of pride and a reminder that we are in the business of helping people. Earning our most recent award has elevated us to a category of distinction that no other Boston auto repair shop can claim.

Mike's Automotive Services has been awarded the 2014 Angie's List Super Service Award! Why is that such a big deal? Well, allow me to explain....

We've written about winning the Super Service Award before. But winning the 2014 awardBoston Auto Repair marks a special time in our history. You see, we were the first and only automotive shop in the entire state of Massachusetts to win the Super Service Award - that was back in 2005. That's right - no dealerships, no chain shops and no other independents - just Mike's! And we've won it every year since!

Angie's List is not some run-of-the-mill review site - it's a site that people pay to belong to, knowing that they can trust their fellow subscribers to provide honest and useful reviews. Earning their respect and admiration for a decade is something to proud of.

We're honored to accept the 2014 Angie's List Super Service Award. It's not only a testament to our hard work, but reminds us that we're fulfilling our core mission: helping people.

Here's to a decade of excellence! We're looking forward to another!

Tags: Boston Auto Repair, Boston Car Repair, Angie's List, Awards, Quality

Boston Auto Repair Talk: Warming Up Your Vehicle

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Thu, Jan, 29, 2015 @ 11:01 AM

It's that time of year again: winter! With recent low temperatures dropping below zero, the bitter cold has officially set in. And as most New Englanders know, we have a long way to go!

Around this time of year, we consistently receive the same question from many of ourBoston Auto Repair customers: "How long should I warm up my car?" The answer? Not as long as you think. You see, vehicles needed to be warmed up for a considerable amount of time back when they had carburetors. Modern vehicles are all fuel-injected, so you don't have to warm them up for very long.

Our friends at the Car Care Council put it best: “Unless you are trying to defrost the windshield or warm the interior of your car, idling is not required for today’s vehicles,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “In most cases, idling longer than 30 seconds is unnecessary. The best way to warm up your car’s engine is to drive gently at the start. Remember, a vehicle gets zero miles per gallon when idling and the result is lower fuel economy and wasted money.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “When a car idles for more than 30 seconds, it has several negative effects, such as increasing air pollution unnecessarily, wasting fuel and money, and causing excessive wear or even damaging a car’s engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs, and the exhaust system. Contrary to popular belief, idling isn’t an effective way to warm up most car engines.”

That information comes as a surprise to most people. So, unless you've got a sheet of ice on your windshield, excessive idling isn't necessary and can do more damage than good.

At Mike's, you can always feel free to ask us anything about your vehicle. Remember, a little Boston auto repair talk can save you a whole lot of time - and money!

Tags: Boston Auto Repair, Boston Car Repair, Vehicle Fleet Maintenance, Car Tips, Preventive Maintenance

Auto Repair Shop Talks Boston Gas Prices Dip

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Mon, Nov, 17, 2014 @ 11:11 AM

Have you noticed that Boston gas prices are dipping? Many of our customers ask how they can maximize their MPG. Well, with lower gas prices at hand, it's a great time to focus on maintaining and repairing your vehicle in order to maximize your gas savings! Our friends at the Car Care Council have put together a great infographic that illustrates how you can increase your gas savings even further!

Boston Gas Prices - Auto Repair Boston

With such great information, you're bound to save some money!

Have any questions about how to properly maintain your vehicle? Just ask - we're always here to help!

Tags: Boston Sustainable Auto Repair, Boston Auto Repair, Boston Car Repair, Vehicle Fleet Maintenance, Boston Gas Prices

Boston Auto Repair Award: Take 9

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Tue, Mar, 25, 2014 @ 10:03 AM

It's that time of year again - when we get to announce something that we worked tirelessly for all year long. Mike's has been awarded the 2013 Angie's List Super Service Award!

This marks the ninth year in a row that Mike's has received the most coveted Boston autoBoston Auto Repair - Angie's List repair award. Now, that's no easy feat! Angie's List customers are the most discerning of all, as they expect nothing but the very best service provided to their vehicles - and by friendly, helpful people.

Announcing that we have won the Super Service Award is one of our favorite posts every year! The award is something that every shop dreams of attaining, but most seldom do. And as some of you already know, Mike's has been receiving this award for a very long time. In fact, back in 2005, we were the first auto shop in the entire state of Massachusetts to receive the award - and we've won it every year since!

You don't have to take our word for it - take Angie's! Along with throngs of loyal customers, she has attested to the quality service you'll receive at Mike's.  

So, when the conversation moves to car repair, rest assured that both Mike and Angie have got you covered! Afer all - they're both super!

Tags: Boston Auto Repair, Boston Car Repair, Somerville Auto Shop, Angie's List, Super Service Award, Awards

Boston Auto Repair: Paying for Diagnostics

Posted by Mark Pedersen on Thu, Aug, 15, 2013 @ 22:08 PM

Like most Boston auto repair shops, when you come to Mike's, you can expect to pay for diagnostics. Our friends at the Car Care Council put together a quick video explaining why paying for diagnostics is normal and essential.

At Mike's, we always answer any questions you have in regard to diagnostic services. And we always obtain customer approval before any work is performed on a vehicle - including diagnostics. That's just one more way we're different here at Mike's!

Tags: Boston Auto Repair, Vehicle Fleet Maintenance, Car Tips, Video