Drayton Automotive / Santa Barbara, California

Rating: ★★

Auto Repair & Service

Address: 436 State St, Santa-Barbara

Postal code: 93101

Phone: (805) 564-1105

For a job done right, guaranteed, at a price that`s right!

* World`s largest transmission specialists...with more centers than all other transmission chains combined * Complete Car Care: Brakes, Tune Ups, Exhaust, Shocks, Cooling Systems, Oil/Fluid Changes *40 years of satisfying customers * You are never far from an AAMCO--over 700 locations across North America * More than 25 million vehicles serviced * Specialists in all types of transmissions...automatic or manual...front wheel drive, rear wheel drive or four wheel drive...domestic or foreign * Certified technicians trained in the most complicated system in your vehicle * The latest, state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and procedures * The peace-of-mind offered by the best warranties in the business * Trusted by hundreds of major fleets * Specialties: Cars, Trucks, RVs, Imports, Domestics, Fleets * AAMCO centers honor most extended warranties

Reviews:

Scam artist

This is the one of the worst stories ever. Ed quoted us $4000.00 dollars to do about everything besides the engine work and any interior or exterior work on a 1963 dart that was in pretty good shape. He was just servicing and replacing running gear things like listed above. He had the car for 4 years. We called him a least every 6 months and he would give an excuse about how he was about to start. We eventually decid... view moreed we did not think he was actually going to do any work, but he had the car up on stilts with the wheels locked away so we could not just go get it. I received a ticket in the mail for the car. It was rear ended once, and the front light chrome pieces were stolen. Ed also removed the valve cover for no reason and could not explain why he did. I live an hour away from Ed, when I finally saw the condition of the car and the fact that he was still not working on it, I told him I wanted the car back. He tried to say we should give it to him. He apparently fixed the rear ride height. He did nothing else. He did not give us a refund on the $2000.00 we gave him. He said he was stalled in working on the car because I moved. I really have no idea what that would have to do with him fixing my car at his shop, but this is the kind of excuse he gives. I have always had the same two phone numbers and he could always have called me if he had any questions. Of course there were no questions from Ed due to the fact that he did not do the work. I finally got the car back and had to install a battery it was missing, replace a water pump due to electrolosis from sitting, adjust the valves and replace the valve cover, put lug nuts back on that he did not put on and replace the brake master cylinder. I drove my car to his shop and had to have it towed home. AAA was very confused about this situation. Ed had the audacity to say he was waving the storage fees. I am not sure why he did not fix my car as we agreed, but i feel like I was dealing with a scam artist. I will admit that we made some major mistakes. We should not have given him so much money up front and we should not have left the car there for so long, and we should have checked on the car more often. I was foolish trusting and just really hopping he would do the work. Ed is very convincing and seems to be an honest guy, its unfortunate that things turned out this way. Ironically when I was first there, I asked him about all the cars he had in his parking lot, he said he has no one that works for him, that should have been an clue. Also he told me a story about how someone was not paying him for a car he had up on stilts. I did not see the indicators, i guess I was blind from the excitement of having my car fixed. I have lost all motivation to keep this car at this point and have given it away to someone who can work on it themselves. I have four kids, so someday when they all move out I will give it a go in my own garage but for now, my dreams of owning and driving around on Sundays in a classic are over. Due to my poor decisions and Ed Drayton`s dishonesty.

Jesse Barnett / 2/12/2011

best repair in town

Helped me out alot with my car, was fast and very polite, I brought my 1997 Toyota Camry to Drayton Automotive after it overheated. I am a student and didn`t want to lose my only transportation to Cal Poly Pomona. Drayton explained the damage was bad, but with a headgasket/valve work and new piston rings while the head was already off it could give me many more miles of service. Well I graduated June 2009 and I put 1... view more24k on the engine! for the total of 247k !! What made it so nice to drive is Drayton made small improvment that made the car perform quick and responsive. I got great gas mileage and in 4 years only did front brakes and shocks, oh yeah, tires. Drayton Automotive may not have the bells & whistle but he can sure fix a car. Great repair shop.

pegasusinsb / 10/26/2010

VERY GOOD AND EFFICIENT SERVICE!!

I have known Ed for many years and he`s the one who does the oil change in my car since then. I have found on him a very honest, courteous and efficient person. Also I`d like to mention that he really has a great and affordable price. Thank you Ed for all those years changing my oil. ; )

SBcity / 10/25/2010

DO NOT TAKE YOUR CAR HERE.... EVER!

I am very late in writing this review only b/c I took my car to Ed Drayton automotive several years ago. At that time I was working at Bucatini and felt like Ed was someone I could trust. He ended up taking a lot of money from me and he always had a great reason for why the part he had ordered was not in yet. Being in my early 20s at the time and believing he was a good guy was just plain stupid on my part. He f... view moreinally had to give me his car so that I could drive around while he kept my car. He never told me that the job would take more than a couple of weeks, let alone 4 months. I had to file a complaint against him with the BBB and finally got my car back and fixed but it was an absolute nightmare. I do not know how this guy is still in business. A close friend of mine took his car in to Ed`s about 2 months ago and is dealing with the same problem so I know that my issue was not an irregular occurrence for Ed Drayton. He should be shut down. DO NOT TAKE YOUR CAR TO ED DRAYTON!

kmfthea / 7/21/2010

Worst experience I have ever had

I would first like to say that I have never made a complaint against a company in my life. I took my car here to get the power steering pump replaced. Initially the part worked fine but then started making unusual sounds. I guess the part was faulty. Since the part was under warranty, I called Ed Drayton to get the part replaced. After calling him for 3-4 months every week he never sent the part despite his promises.... view more As a result I have filed a complaint against him with the Better Business Bureau (he already has another complaint against him). I would not recommend anyone taking there car there.

hanham / 11/9/2009