Everything Glendale

Filed Under: Automotive Services, Guest Bloggers, Lexus of Glendale

[This is a guest post by Phyllis Harb, a realtor who also publishes the highly ranked LA Real Estate Blog.]

Who doesn't appreciate a luxury car? My first automobile was a used Maverick, and it was hideous! After several years of working as a loan processor, I was finally able to afford both a down payment and a monthly payment for a new car. I had my heart set on the Mazda RX7, but due to affordability I settled on a Honda Accord.

My only complaint with the Honda was the poor service at the Glendale dealership. I needed some part for a repair (it's been so long, I can’t remember what), and the dealership scheduled at least three or four appointments with me. My mom met me at the dealership and then dropped me off at Glendale's Allstate Savings & Loan (which was merged out of existence during the late 80s). After several hours at work, I phoned about the car's progress. Each time I was told the part wasn't in, was never in, and that they would call me when the part arrived and reschedule.

The first time, I felt it was an honest mistake; the second time I asked repeatedly if they were certain that the part was there; I think it was the third or fourth repeat of this fiasco when I complained to both the Better Business Bureau and Honda headquarters. The response from the Glendale dealership was that I was no longer welcome–they were refusing me service.

I later drove a Ford Explorer (what was I thinking?), then two Jeep Cherokees, and finally worked my way to the Lexus. Originally, at the time, the Lexus SUV was less expensive than my jeep. I finally splurged on the sedan.

I love the car, but it has never been about the car; it has been about the maintenance experience. As a matter of fact, I am at the Lexus of Glendale this morning, sipping a complimentary cappuccino, and using one of their two computers at the time of this writing.

What am I here for? A complimentary car wash! No service, just the car wash, and I was in and out in less than 30 minutes.

When I do have my Lexus serviced at the Glendale location, I am courteously and quickly dealt with. They offer complimentary shuttle service and often provide a free loaner car upon request.

Lexus of Glendale
1221 S. Brand Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91204
800.640.4479
www.lexusofglendale.com

Hours:

For Service, Parts:
Monday-Saturday: 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

For Sales:
Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Sunday: 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.


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Filed Under: Automotive Services, Chevron, Gas Stations, Shop Reviews

When you move to a new town, you tend to seek out your local necessities so you can start feeling at home. In my book, these include the local post office, a nice market, a gym, and a smattering of reliable food options. Before I moved to Glendale, this short list never included a local gas station. Service stations are so ubiquitous that I just gassed up whenever I needed it. Or rather, my husband gassed up, since princesses don't pump gas.

When my family moved to Glendale about five years ago, we settled in pretty quickly. The fact that a lot of the north-south streets are alphabetized and on a grid helped a lot, but we really started to feel at home when we found "our" gas station.

Located just a few blocks from our home, this 24-hour Chevron station (formerly a Mobil) has everything that other gas stations offer, including good snacks, gift shop items, and a car wash, but this one was special. When we walked into the convenience store, we found it clean and well-stocked, with very friendly staff, especially a gentleman named Rimon.

We are still impressed that they are on the cutting edge of gum and breath mints. Sometimes we buy breath fresheners here that we can't find anywhere else, such as Hershey's Ice Breakers "Pacs," mouthfuls of goodness in meltaway packets that dissolve on your tongue. Mmmm.

But what really won us over was the bathroom. As you know, if you're out and about and really desperate, you don't care what condition a gas station bathroom is in, since you'll take anything. But this one is wonderful: clean, spacious, and lovely. It even has a chandelier! If the owner cares enough about his customers to maintain such a nice bathroom, then we'll do our part to patronize his business, even if it sometimes costs a few pennies more.

As much as we can, we fill up here. When that little red gas pump lights up on my dash, I will push my gas-guzzling SUV (don't judge) home, so we can make it to "our" gas station. And, now that my daughter has her own car, she has become a regular, too. She always gets a friendly greeting and she wouldn't think of going elsewhere.

It's the little things in life that make us happy on a day-to-day basis, and this Chevron station turns an unpleasant chore into a pleasant respite.

Chevron
Owner: Feiruz Ennabe-Ayoub
825 N. Central Avenue
Glendale, CA 91203
818.240.6134


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Filed Under: Automotive Services, EZ Lube, Glendale Lube Center, Jiffy Lube, Oil Change

I've been to oil change stations that are part of a chain (Jiffy Lube, EZ Lube, etc.), and I've always ended up driving away with the feeling that I've been overcharged or lied to or both.

You've had this experience before, right? You go in for a quick oil change, but the technician tells you about how there are a half dozen things wrong with your car that needs fixing and that he just happens to be able to fix them? And then he issues an estimate in the hundreds of dollars, and suddenly that $20 coupon you're holding in your hand doesn't quite seem like the bargain you were expecting?

The thing is, I'm one of those people who knows next to nothing about cars, and mechanics can easily scare me into submission. After all, who wants their automobile to blow up?

Fortunately, I stumbled across Glendale Lube Center a few years ago, and I've been a loyal customer ever since. Since they are authorized to do more than oil changes, they will on occasion make recommendations (a new air filter here, fuel injection service there), but it never feels like some high-pressured sales pitch. I trust what they're telling me, and their recommendations never come across as urgent prophecies of impending doom. They usually give me an estimate of how long I can go without, say, an automatic transmission drain and fill.

When I swing by weekday mornings or afternoons, I'm usually in and out in under 10 minutes. If you're there during peak hours or if they're unusually busy, it might take 20.

The cost of a basic oil change fluctuates, but it'll always match or be less than what the Jiffy Lube across the street is charging. (Today, for example, Jiffy Lube was advertising a $21.99 oil change; Glendale Lube Center was offering $21.95.)

Admittedly, Glendale Lube Center isn't as pretty as Jiffy Lube or EZ Lube (Glendale Lube Center needs a new sign and their waiting area and soda machine look a bit run down), but, for me, good service from people I trust trumps aesthetic beauty any day (at least when it comes to oil changes).

Glendale Lube Center
605 E. Harvard Street
Glendale, CA 91205
818.243.5282‎
http://maps.google.com/maps?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=glendale+lube+center&fb=1&view=text&latlng=15715834591134643926

Average Oil Change:
$21.95-$26.95

Hours:
Monday-Saturday: 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

By the way, they used to honor competitor coupons. I don't know if they still do this. Ask.


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