Automotive: Best Auto Repair

1. Britton’s Automotive

17242 Gothard St., Suite C, Huntington Beach; 714-841-5701; brittonsautomotive.com

Bruce Britton learned to build and work on cars, courtesy of his older brother, before he even attended high school. What began as a boyhood hobby has evolved into a lifelong successful career with the founding of his own auto repair shop, Britton’s Automotive, in 1985.

Britton is still the driving force behind the business he founded in Huntington Beach 36 years ago. When asked why he started his business, he said, “I just enjoy working on cars. I’ve always enjoyed it.”

Britton has built up a loyal following for his local business during his shop’s 36 years, with most business coming by word of mouth.

“We are very honest and we do it right the first time,” said Britton, who also likes to share his knowledge with the driving public on the shop’s Facebook page by posting useful vehicle maintenance tips.

Britton’s Automotive handles virtually all standard vehicle repairs, from engine and air conditioning repairs, to replacing hoses and belts, to servicing brakes and electrical work. This familyrun-and-operated business works on all vehicle makes and models, foreign and domestic, including vans, trucks, SUVs and luxury cars – even Hummers. Britton’s offers customers a diagnostic check while they wait so customers know right away what’s going on with their vehicle. And if a customer doesn’t want their vehicle, Britton will consider buying the used car, too.

PAUL BERSEBACH, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Bruce Britton is the owner of Britton’s Automotive in Huntington Beach.

– Amy Bentley

2. Hiro’s Auto Repair

3042 Enterprise St., Unit D, Costa Mesa; 714-545-5090; hiros-auto.com

Dai Kajiwara became an expert in repairing Japanese vehicles, particularly Toyotas and the automaker’s Lexus brand, with oldfashioned on-the-job training from experienced auto technicians trained by Toyota in Japan. Kajiwara began working as an auto mechanic at Hiro’s Auto Repair in 2000, and when the prior owner retired four years ago, Kajiwara bought the business.

Hiro’s Auto Repair was founded in 1983, and Kajiwara is the second owner. “I started my career here,” said Kajiwara, who lives in Santa Ana.

The mechanics at Hiro’s are experts at repairing all makes of Japanese cars, and they have many loyal customers. “We are a local, word-of-mouth business,” said Kajiwara, who currently employs two other mechanics and said he has enough business these days to bring on a third mechanic, which he is considering.

Hiro’s enjoys many positive reviews on Yelp. Customer Peter C. from Irvine summed them up by writing, “I rarely post reviews, but Hiro’s Auto Repair is probably the best auto shop I’ve been to.”

A Best of OC top finisher for the past five years, ExperTec Automotive owner Roy Daneshavske is grateful for the public’s support.

“Roy appreciates the public recognizing that we do our best to make everybody happy. It’s an honor to be recognized by the people,” said General Manager Gary Frahm. “Everybody here has always been told to treat the customer like you’d want to be treated when you walk in.”

ExperTec has been in Huntington Beach for 27 years and opened a second location in Costa Mesa four years ago. Technicians work on all models of cars, fleet vehicles, classic cars, hot rods and hybrids. ExperTec also supports local charities, groups and sports teams, including the Newport Beach Police Department’s Shop with a Cop program and the Southern California Special Olympics.

ExperTec recently began working with Huntington Beach Police to reduce the theft of catalytic converters from vehicles — a growing local concern — by etching license plate numbers onto the catalytic converters of customers’ vehicles.

3. ExperTec Automotive

Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa; 714-848-9222, 949-645-7722; Expertecautomotive.com