04-27-2009, 10:37 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 35
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Mechanic Recomendation in Los Angles CA
Hello,
Could some one please recommend a Good Alfa Romeo Mechanic in Los Angels or Orange County California, Thank you very much, Rick 505-818-5198
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04-27-2009, 11:09 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Ventura, CA
Posts: 2,217
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Rick,
The only shop I've ever dealt with is Santo's Italian Car Service in Northridge, CA. You can reach them at 818-701-1614, and ask for Santo or Anthony (aka ITALCARGUY on the BB). If you search through the AROSC forum, you will find reference for other Alfa service places in SoCal. Your phone number is from New Mexico, are you visiting, or have you moved here?
__________________
Gifford
'72 Super, '67 GTV --> SOLD
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04-27-2009, 11:24 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2006
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Alfa Mechanic in Los Angeles CA
I bought a car there, but the cost to have it shipped to me is high ($1000) for that price maybe I can get it repaired, I dont know what it needs, maybe a head gasket? How much could a head gasket replacement cost?
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04-27-2009, 11:27 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Atascadero, CA
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Stewart Sr. and Jr. at Alfa Performance is one of the best with decades of Alfa under his belt. They are in Orange County.
PH: 714-279-0500
__________________
comancheflyer
61' Giulietta Spider
90' Graduate Spider
83' 911SC Coupe
60' PA24-180
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04-28-2009, 12:59 AM
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 60
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My vote goes to Omega Motorsports (310)836-3160. Talk to Uwe.
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04-29-2009, 01:02 PM
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what about Alfa Milano in West Los Angeles. Aguilo is a trained Alfa mechanic from Alfa Romeo Factory who has been doing buisness here since 1979. He is at 310 652 2404.
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04-29-2009, 02:10 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: near Pasadena, CA
Posts: 992
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by 360 BLUE
what about Alfa Milano in West Los Angeles. Aguilo is a trained Alfa mechanic from Alfa Romeo Factory who has been doing buisness here since 1979. He is at 310 652 2404.
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Either Alfa-Milano or Santo's- depends on whichever is more convenient?
__________________
1966 Giulia Super (current)
1966 Giulia Super (R.I.P.)
1967 GTV (R.I.P.)
1955 1900CSS (R.I.P.)
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04-29-2009, 09:31 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Los Angeles
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:))))))))))))))
I have known and dealt with all of them for years. I think allot depends on the kind of a car someone wants to fix and of course ones budget. Those would be the two main factors in my opinion.
They have all been of help to me at different times. There is even one more no one has mentioned yet (Johns Alfa Romance)......Benny is a great guy as well. My advise call around and get some estimates regarding the type of work needed and make an informed decision based on the conversation and the price. None mentioned will do your vehicle harm.....Just my opinion.
T
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07-02-2009, 11:58 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 49
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Benny at John's Alfa is fantastic. 323-933-2707 If you want to make your Alfa faster or just keep it running properly, go see Benny. The shop is on the corner of Pico and Hauser. I've had Alfa's for 20 years and John's Alfa has always been very reasonable and quick too!
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07-03-2009, 10:15 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dexter, Michigan USA
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Wanted Mechanic Recommendation in Los Angeles, CA
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Vehicros
I bought a car there, but the cost to have it shipped to me is high ($1000) for that price maybe I can get it repaired, I dont know what it needs, maybe a head gasket? How much could a head gasket replacement cost?
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I can't give you a price for a head gasket repair other than to say, the gasket is rather inexpensive, it's the labor that runs up the bill; for that reason, Pat never paid to have a head gasket repaired but did it himself instead.
Below is a link to a listing of Los Angeles County Italian Car Repair services with names, addresses, and telephone numbers. You can read the other posts and comments about experiences with the various services. I've never used anyone except Alfa West on the list, but it may have changed hands since Pat and I used Alfa West, it was 20+ years ago and run by an older Italian guy, who knew his stuff.
I've heard good things about Santo's and have visited the shop on occasion with Pat when he was working on stories for cars they were working on.
Link: Ferrari | Lamborghini | Maserati | Alfa Romeo | Auto Repair | Service | Los Angeles Ca
There are also numerous other threads on the bb about this topic if you search for Alfa repair/service in Los Angeles and/or Orange County or Southern California.
HTH.
__________________
Cheryl
(Not an authority nor SME
on anything, just PATSYF)
Last edited by Pat Braden; 07-03-2009 at 10:28 AM.
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07-03-2009, 05:03 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2004
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I have heard all the above are fine mechanics. I use Alfa Italia (818) 841-6959 in Burbank, and I have great trust in Onofrio and Vitorio Deleonardis.
Steve
1961 Giulietta Spider
1992 164
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07-04-2009, 12:24 AM
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Alfetta Nut!
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alfa World, USA
Posts: 1,961
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Maybe I'm just feeling cranky or something, but this story brings a big WTF to my peabrain. I mean, you bought the car in LA while living in NM, as a non-runner, and don't know what is wrong with it??!! Huh? What model and what did you pay? What makes you think that all it needs is a head gasket? My advice if you are serious is to borrow someone's truck, borrow someone else's trailer and go get your car. You are going to be spending the next few years sorting out your Alfa, so you might as well get acquainted. 
On the other hand, if you are not a person who is mechanically inclined, I strongly suggest that you do one of three things:1) Have one of the aforementioned shops get your car and do a complete refurb, if not an all-out restoration. Cost$$$$$ 2) Get the car and have someone in New Mexico do it. Cost$$$$ (NM has lower labor costs) (Notice that the cost of transporting it is not even a factor.) 3) Dump it for whatever you can get, and go back to the drawing board. This time buy the best car you can find, instead of a non-runner 3 states away. Cost$$ - $$.5
That's right: the cost of buying an excellent car is about half of what it will cost you to refurbish or restore a mystery-mobile. Unless of course you can do all the work yourself in which it's even less, because the time you will put in will be astonishing. 
Good luck!! 
__________________
Randy Lee
"HAVE another cookie!!" - Don Corrado Prizzi
Randy's Italian Lot:
1978 Sport Sedan "Cecilia" A rustfree Alfetta 
1990 Mondial T Cabrio - OH MY GOD! Metallic Nirvana
Ex:
79 Spt Sdn. "Griswold" and never-driven '74 Spider sold to Harry Riley
74 Spider "Isabel" traded for "Cecilia" Thanks Ric!
(Look at Isabel now: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/spid...tml#post565887 !!)
1979 Sport Sedan Alfamatic. Traded to Wilbur for a very sweet bicycle - thanks!
All the parts cars chopped up or sent to Larry...l
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07-04-2009, 10:35 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dexter, Michigan USA
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Wanted Mechanic Recommendation in Los Angeles, CA
Quote:
Originally Posted by randyleepublic
Maybe I'm just feeling cranky or something, but this story brings a big WTF to my peabrain. I mean, you bought the car in LA while living in NM, as a non-runner, and don't know what is wrong with it??!! Huh? What model and what did you pay? What makes you think that all it needs is a head gasket? My advice if you are serious is to borrow someone's truck, borrow someone else's trailer and go get your car. You are going to be spending the next few years sorting out your Alfa, so you might as well get acquainted.
On the other hand, if you are not a person who is mechanically inclined, I strongly suggest that you do one of three things:1) Have one of the aforementioned shops get your car and do a complete refurb, if not an all-out restoration. Cost$$$$$ 2) Get the car and have someone in New Mexico do it. Cost$$$$ (NM has lower labor costs) (Notice that the cost of transporting it is not even a factor.) 3) Dump it for whatever you can get, and go back to the drawing board. This time buy the best car you can find, instead of a non-runner 3 states away. Cost$$ - $$.5
That's right: the cost of buying an excellent car is about half of what it will cost you to refurbish or restore a mystery-mobile. Unless of course you can do all the work yourself in which it's even less, because the time you will put in will be astonishing.
Good luck!! |
While basically I agree with you....giving the guy the benefit of the doubt, maybe someone told him that a California car is structurally more sound and not subject to the weather elements of other parts of the country.
Having said that, most people that buy Alfa's sight unseen know enough about them to recognize things sent to them in pictures, know what to ask for in the pictures sent, arrange to personally inspect the car or have it inspected by someone who knows something about an Alfa. Most of these people do their own work and have a wealth of experience from learning the hard way.
Imo, if he has his heart set on the car, I would get the car to New Mexico and worry about fixing it after it gets there, where he's familiar with what his offerings are and the going rate.
FTR, to the new owner to be, one sure sign of head gasket failure is a malted milk radiator cap...and if you know absolutely nothing about Alfa, you always buy the best car that you can afford, the learning curve will still be there but it will not be overwhelming as in the case of a non-running car.
__________________
Cheryl
(Not an authority nor SME
on anything, just PATSYF)
Last edited by Pat Braden; 07-04-2009 at 10:38 AM.
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07-04-2009, 04:47 PM
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Alfetta Nut!
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alfa World, USA
Posts: 1,961
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Braden
Randy,
While basically I agree with you....giving the guy the benefit of the doubt, maybe someone told him that a California car is structurally more sound and not subject to the weather elements of other parts of the country.
Having said that, most people that buy Alfa's sight unseen know enough about them to recognize things sent to them in pictures, know what to ask for in the pictures sent, arrange to personally inspect the car or have it inspected by someone who knows something about an Alfa. Most of these people do their own work and have a wealth of experience from learning the hard way.
Imo, if he has his heart set on the car, I would get the car to New Mexico and worry about fixing it after it gets there, where he's familiar with what his offerings are and the going rate.
FTR, to the new owner to be, one sure sign of head gasket failure is a malted milk radiator cap...and if you know absolutely nothing about Alfa, you always buy the best car that you can afford, the learning curve will still be there but it will not be overwhelming as in the case of a non-running car.
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To Vehicros, Bro, you have no idea how lucky you are to be beginning your Alfa ownership right now. Until a year ago a potential owner (like me) could go months and months without seeing any cars that made any sense at their asking price. Now? I see new cars on the market every darn day that leave me drooling! Fortunately I got "married" to a certain f-car that will remain nameless, or my Alfa collection would be enough to have me committed. I love my Ferrari, but Alfas are very special, and I heartily encourage you to get the disease. (I still have one too!)
Still, what I said holds true, now more than ever. Buy a sweety at todays depressed prices and you will never look back. On the other hand the cost of repairs and restoration is no less than it was a year ago, so why bother? You'll just end up up-side-down in a way you never anticipated.
__________________
Randy Lee
"HAVE another cookie!!" - Don Corrado Prizzi
Randy's Italian Lot:
1978 Sport Sedan "Cecilia" A rustfree Alfetta
1990 Mondial T Cabrio - OH MY GOD! Metallic Nirvana
Ex:
79 Spt Sdn. "Griswold" and never-driven '74 Spider sold to Harry Riley
74 Spider "Isabel" traded for "Cecilia" Thanks Ric!
(Look at Isabel now: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/spid...tml#post565887 !!)
1979 Sport Sedan Alfamatic. Traded to Wilbur for a very sweet bicycle - thanks!
All the parts cars chopped up or sent to Larry...l
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07-07-2009, 12:00 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 10
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Steve, thanks for the tip re Alfa Italia - I recently purchased an '88 Spider that has a number of small things that need tending to (speedo, power mirror switch, etc.) and their shop is fairly close to where I live. Cheers, Stuart
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