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July 2024 by Aleks Bakhtin
Waw, what a relief, my breaks work!
Came in with no appointment. Josh squeezed my diesel wagon in with no fuss. Fixed all I wanted plus a lil more.
Very good experience.
Thank you!!
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June 2024 by Mason White
Quality shop! Josh knows lots about cars and does work efficiently and for a fair price. Would recommend! (Plus cool decoration)
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June 2024 by M Heyer
Took my kei truck in to get an acceleration issue looked at. We talked about the issue for a couple minutes, then Josh opened the motor hatch and fixed the problem in 15 and didn’t even charge. Excited to bring my truck back to have some work done to it. Real cool dude
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May 2024 by Juniper Belmont
I was referred to Josh by a number of friends and I am so glad I got my car fixed up at Reference. Not only were the prices extremely fair (where previously I got outrageous estimates from shops) but he tossed in, for almost no cost, a few minor fixes I needed while waiting for the parts I needed for my breaks to arrive the same day.
AND Josh walked through everything that I needed to get repaired, while at the same time making sure I could actually see with my eyes what's going wrong and why things needed to get fixed. And then he walked through his process of repairing the car. At the same time my car was being fixed, Josh was helping an apprentice with their own project.
It is clear that Josh cares not just about cars, but people, and he makes sure I gain new knowledge so I'm not heading into the repair blind. This attention to education is something I, as a nerd, appreciate quite a bit.
I really, really loved my experience and I know I'm going to come back here for all my car repair needs. I encourage you, dear reader, to do the same!
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February 2024 by Melissa Longfellow
Great service and experts in VW and other classic German cars. Josh the owner is top notch. This garage is a hidden gem. Go find it! I will not take my VW anywhere else.
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December 2023 by michael utley
If you're seeking someone with more than just a job-related interest in vehicles but a genuine passion, then Josh is your go-to person. I own a JDM import Toyota truck, and discovering this place in Bellingham has been a stroke of luck. Josh treats your vehicle as if it were his own. I first encountered him when he approached me in a parking lot, expressing interest in my truck and informing me about his expertise in working on such vehicles.
After scheduling an appointment for general maintenance and a few specific tasks like a tow hitch installation and addressing a peculiar noise, Josh showcased meticulous attention to detail. Instead of settling for the minimum, he went the extra mile, even test-driving the truck to identify the noise I mentioned. He fixed a malfunctioning dome light, tightened the alternator belt, and conscientiously pointed out a fluid leak, providing realistic insights and making me aware of it without pressuring me into unnecessary repairs.
In essence, my experience with Reference Auto has been great. I would confidently entrust any vehicle to them, knowing they exceed expectations, maintain honesty, and offer more than fair pricing. Josh's evident passion for unique cars goes beyond mere discussion—he is genuinely excited to share insights and details about your vehicle.
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September 2023 by Bellingham Resident
Josh is honest and passionate about the work he does. Great work and backs up any misfortune, I’d recommend him and would use him again
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July 2023 by Kat Schaumberg
My whole family has trusted Reference Automotive for years and we always appreciate Josh's kindness and automotive ingenuity and craftsmanship. He's honest and worthy of his pricing. I purchased a '92 Delica a few years back and Josh has been my #1 mechanic for this speciality diesel import. I recently found myself in need of some mechanical questions on the side of a road, Josh answered immediately to help me make some sound decisions and promptly sourced parts. Highly recommended!
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July 2023 by Trevor Dickinson
When I found myself with the exhaust of my van threatening to completely fall off, Josh helped me out in a cost effective way that got me back on the road quickly. He is honest and friendly and works hard to get work done on specialty import vehicles like Delicas. Cheers!Service: Body & Trim
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July 2023 by madi b.
The alternator for my Corolla went out two days before I had a flight to catch. Extremely panicked, I attempted to find a shop that could get me in the same day before the weekend. After calling multiple shops with no luck, I was recommended reference automotive. I called not realizing the shop is closed on Fridays. After realizing how stressed I seemed, Josh dropped everything on his day off to help. He was able to quickly find the parts needed and replaced the alternator. He even let me watch him work on the car and explained what he was doing. I am extremely grateful for Josh's kindness and quality of work he provided. I would definitely recommend Reference Automotive for anyone looking for a quality shop in the Bellingham area.
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June 2023 by Brennan Zelener
Just wow. I've been on a road trip from Colorado out to Washington in my 87' Syncro Westfalia and started hearing a whooshing noise that I thought was a wheel bearing. Josh was recommended by other shops in town for Vanagon work, and after calling him and driving over to his shop he immediately hopped in my van with me for a test drive to help understand what noises I was hearing and what might be wrong. Good luck finding another mechanic who cares enough to do that today.Over the next week Josh did a handful of truly challenging repairs to my suspension and frame. He welded and repaired my insanely rusty lower control arms (something I knew needed done for years but didn't know anyone capable of locally), and in the process he discovered that my upper spring mount had basically rusted away and might break-through at any time. He repaired the frame properly - which I can see in the finished product.My Syncro is now driving better than it ever has in my ownership and Josh has made it clear that he stands behind his work if I have any follow-up trouble. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Josh to the next Syncro owner in need of a great mechanic, and I'll probably drive all the way out to Washington again in a few years to have Josh work on other systems that need fixing.Services: Auto body & trim repair
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January 2023 by Brandon R.
My Vanagon had intermittent starting issues and persistent misfiring. I spent a lot of money in parts and time trying to diagnose myself. After months, I decided to take the rig to Josh at Reference Automotive. Josh was super knowledgeable, personable and happy to chat about vans. He quickly fixed what I fumbled with for months and ultimately never figured out. Josh is probably the most well-equipped person in area to work on your bus, Vanagon or Eurovan. I'm sure his expertise extends to a number of other classic Euorpean vehicles as well. Really stoked to have the van back on the road and will certainly be going back in the future.
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January 2023 by Ash Goddard
Found Reference Automotive in a pinch and Josh stepped right up to get the work done in a snap. He then took the time to walk me through some other issues/questions with my weird JDM van. I'm looking forward to getting it even more dialed with his help soon!Service: Electrical
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January 2023 by Dom Buker
Great shop! They know how to correctly fix most anything on your classic VW or JDM Vehicle! Great people!
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November 2022 by dennis lewis
Josh is always super informative and truthful.Also will tell it like it is, which is a hard to find quality in a mechanical world.
