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September 2023 by Joshua Gagnon
DO NOT TAKE YOUR VEHICLE HERE!!!This is a review of Alan's Auto RESTORATION on Saint John Street in Portland. This is not a review of the Alan's Auto Service on Riverside. (The Alan's Auto on Riverside is a great shop, the head mechanic is very knowledgeable and is fair with his pricing and work. Many people confuse this and it's the reason their are some positive reviews on the Restoration shop.)This is the most accurate representation of a typical encounter with Alan's Auto Restoration. I do not know how any customer would leave his shop any bit satisfied, in fact by the time I had my car back from his barb wired compound, I wanted to sell it.Alan will probably respond to this review with a big long response about how he helped write the Maine State law to help consumers be fairly treated by the Auto repair industry. Well Mr. Lawyer, you helped write that law only to benefit you! You use that law to strong arm customers into repairing things they never approved, but because they signed one piece of paper at drop-off, that covers you.Alan made no mention of his VEHICLE MAINTENANCE ANALYSIS before drop off, but will still do it at almost $400. That simply benefits Alan, to find more stuff wrong with the customers car that he will fix, and charge them for, without approval.Alan can't simply follow his own law, "29A M.R.S.A. § 1805, Notices.A repair shop must post the following notice in a place where it is reasonably likely to beseen by its repair customers. The notice must be completed with information on charges andprinted so that it is conspicuous and can be read by the average person."His labor rates and the rest of the required information are not even posted in his shop! But the picture of Alan with Angus King when he was governor found room on the wall.Once Alan sent his first "weekly bill" I told him to stop working on my car. The car had been there for almost a month at this point, he didn't touch it for the first two weeks. I checked his detailed bill over and he charged me for numerous things that I specifically told him on the phone 'DON'T TOUCH', but he had the signed authorization on drop off to cover him in a court of law (remember he wrote that law!)I called him and argued my points to him and told him I wanted the charges reversed, because I didn't authorize them. He told me that's what I have to pay if I want my car back. So I didn't talk to him for a week, he then filed with the state for ownership of my car. He did not wait the 90 days as Maine State Law requires.I called him up a week later and settled the bill with him, surprisingly he took a small amount off a $2500 bill. I paid him the following week and he finally released my car from his barb wired compound! And I thought the story with Alan was done.I get a call over 2 months later that the state has awarded Alan ownership of my car. I can't understand this, I had paid the bill and picked my car up 2 months ago?! Well Alan did not alert the state that I had properly paid the bill. So he "legally" stole my car out from under me! After talking to the State, I find out he has stolen almost 20, YES 20, cars from his customers in the last 14 years.Now I have spoken to many mechanics that all say they have never seen a shop need to use this law, so why has Alan used it so much?Is this the experience you want to have to get your car fixed? Alan is a crook and a thief, but acts like your best friend when you drop the car off. He will lull you to death on the phone about how the old cars are hard to find parts for, and act like they are performing rocket surgery on your car. When in reality, he is just lining his back pockets with your hard earned money by lying and cheating on your bill. But don't worry folks, this is not just how a customer feels about Alan, his mechanics feel the same way about him. And once they see how he operates his business, they leave.So thanks Alan for being an example of what not to do. I will bring my car to all the mechan
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July 2021 by Sean Ashcraft
I can't say enough good things about the Alan Auto team, they do simply amazing work there. I recently purchased/imported a low-mile 1983 245 Turbo from Italy after 21 years in long term storage there and it needed to be gone through thoroughly. I sent it off with a long list and they went through and performed each task to perfection. Not only that, but they made improvements and updates to things not on the list, with my approval first of course, to make the car run as good as new. They're very communicative and let you know what's going on every step of the way so there are no surprises. Alan is a wealth of knowledge and Andrew is a master mechanic and problem solver and along with the rest of the team there they make for an unbeatable combination of Volvo experts. I would not hesitate to take the car back to them for additional work if needed, and/or any restoration work needed in the future. Thanks to everyone there for making my experience a phenomenal one, we will definitely work together again!
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April 2021 by Chrystie Henderson
Our 1990 240 DL was restored by Alan and he and his team did an outstanding job. When done the car looked like it just came off the showroom floor when it was purchased new. Alan's attention to detail is outstanding. They kept us informed weekly of the progress with pictures and decisions that needed to be made. They delivered on all their commitments, very professionally! Highly recommend Alan to anyone restoring a Volvo. I live on the west coast and shipped the car to Alan in Maine because I felt they were the best and I was right.
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March 2021 by Adam Sise
They have taken great care of my classic Volvo, finding rare parts and fixing difficult problems. No better place for know-how of these great machines.
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March 2021 by Jon Levy
If you need a REAL Volvo mechanic, soup to nuts, wiper blades to transmission rebuilt, this is the best shop in the world. But, you should know that they mostly handle vintage RWD Volvos, that I know of. This place is the REAL DEAL, no BS, Honest and Caring! Alan Auto Restoration is very easy and fun to work with. Alan's team is meticulous and they are all Experts in their field. I cannot say enough good things about my experience working with Alan Auto, and even during the COVID Pandemic, they are very helpful to make sure I am aware of everything that was happening at any given time during my repairs.
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August 2020 by V. M.D.
I have worked with Alan Auto on major restorations over the past twenty years, and have three award winning vintage Volvos as a result. There is no better, more experienced Volvo restoration specialist in North America that I am aware of. The staff is friendly, professional, and highly skilled, with the vast majority of all work, mechanical and body, done in house. The facilities are spacious and first rate, and the entirety is well maintained , well supplied, and unusually clean and tidy. Their pricing is not cheap, but fair --- restoration work, whether for an Aston or a Volvo, is always going to be expensive and probably twice as much as expected. Alan himself is incredibly knowledgeable and still very much engaged in the process, which is what it is all about really.
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July 2020 by Gerri Fitzgerald
Alan is the best; we had our 240 transported all the way from Dallas, Tx.We had to rely on him doing what he said because we aren't locally. Alan is trustworthy and I consider a man of God. He not only became our repair guy, he also became a friend. Our 1993 240 is chugging along -lol
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November 2019 by Jakeornot
Never agree to anything without a complete work order no matter how minor it might be presented as being, including who will work on the vehicle. Have nothing done no matter how desperate you might be without dealing in person and with the signed work order signed by both parties. Adhere to this procedure. Do not waiver, no matter what.
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April 2019 by Dan Fahey
Alan is condescending. He took my car hostage. I needed a fuel pump. My car was originally from Connecticut. It had never had a inspection sticker. All I wanted was to fix the fuel pump but since it had never had a sticker he said that the lights, tires, and horn needed to be replaced. Be that as it may, he called me and threatened to call the police if I left his lot in my car. I hadn't got my tax money back so i asked my mother to help me pay for his "service" and when she called to pay he had gone on a wild shopping spree. He fixed everything but the fuel pump and it cost me more than a thousand dollars and it stalled not even 24 hours off the lot. I brought it back to him like an idiot and this is when he took my car hostage. since my mother was using her credit card i had to literally asl permission to take my own car back after his secretary told me he left it running for 6 hours in his drive way. I took the car even though he told me "You're not a paying customer." I'll never go back. I might sue him for doing work that i didnt want done.
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January 2018 by Paul Drinan
Great work by Igor. He kept us in the loop with problems and progress, making sure to get approval before we spent our hard earned money. We appreciate the open communication and recommend his service.
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September 2017 by Norwood Beveridge
Long and painful process- starts with pointless intake where he notes things like “missing original cigarette lighter†and “frayed seat belt†and ends with a box of metal parts and empty wallet. If you are lucky, the thing you came in for has been fixed, if not...
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September 2016 by Tate Pinto
Alan, Igor and the team at Alan Auto truly take care of you. If you are looking for a quick cheap fix he may not be your guy, but if you drive a volvo, want it repaired without shortcuts to know it is in top running order this is the place. When my wife and I brought our car (2005 v50) in the first time on a friends recommendation we thought we were going to fix what was needed and sell the car after the winter. Now we feel like the car was given a 2nd life at 125k miles and we don't have to think about a new car for years. It drives amazing, we are told every time we pick up whats next to look out for (and sometimes save for) and we finally have a mechanic in our area we completely trust. All that and free loaner cars...
My wife and I are so pleased with Alan and the team we are thinking of buying another Volvo for me.
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September 2016 by Allison Watters
I recently purchased a 2007 Volvo XC70 in part because I knew I could eventually install two third row rear-facing seats to ferry around extra children when needed. However, when I started to ask around to find someone who could install the seats for me I had some trouble. One fellow not far from my home who has exclusively worked on Volvos for decades said he could do the job but when it came down to it he gave up and declared it couldn’t be done. Not easily discouraged, I called at least 20 Volvo dealers and mechanics along the Eastern Seaboard getting a variety of answers about whether installing these seats in my car was possible or not.
This search led me to Alan at Alan Auto Volvo in Portland, Maine. When we spoke on the phone he was always very patient with me and assured me that the job was possible and that they could do it. As promised, his mechanics had the installation complete by the end of the day. I was tickled with their success and pleased that they had a loaner for me as I waited for the work to be done. I was so impressed with Alan’s expertise and the fair price I paid for the work that needed to be done, that even though I live three hours away from the shop I plan on making the folks at Alan Auto my primary mechanics.
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September 2016 by Dana Swenson
Alan, Beth, Igor and the team have serviced our Volvo for many years. They always do a fantastic job, always on time, and always offer a loaner. Customer service consistently beats expectations; for example - dropping off a vehicle after hours, advice on tires for the Volvo and even other vehicles, and more. Highly recommended.
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September 2016 by James West
I had the best experience going to Alan's Volvo, start to finish! Everyone I came in contact with, went above and beyond my expectations. They gave me all the information, whether it was good news or not. I appreciate their honesty. Any issues that come up, I will be calling them first. I truly love my Volvo and feel it is well taken care of when I leave it with Alan. I would recommend them to anyone who values honesty and professionalism.
