Big Al's Mufflers and Brakes

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  Robert
2 months ago
A good honest shop. Patrick quoted us a price and upon discovering there would be less labor involved he called to tell us it would be 75% less than quoted. Turn around was within the business day and we were on our way. Great service and we appreciated the honesty especially considering we were "ready" to pay the quoted price so hearing this was awesome! The savings really mattered for us. Thanks !!!

  Autumn Carey
8 months ago
Was recommended by Chilton s to go to Big Al s and the owner of HotBox recommended talking to Pat.Came in first thing in the morning at 8:28am and they took me in early. After about 15 minutes they were able to tell me the issue. Pat asked if I was military, I said my husband was a vet and he applied a military discount which was a great surprise! Affordable prices, excellent customer service, quick repairs -I ll definitely be going back and recommending Big Al s in Suffolk to anyone needing some muffler fixes and repairs.Pat and the Big Al s Team rocks.

  NFM Racing
4 months ago
Just had some exhaust work done here and they did an amazing job and finished it SOOO quickly!!! Totally recommend!

  rebecca channel
2 months ago
Didn't like my car, but was really nice about it. My car is running really well!

  Keeping It Real
a year ago
I had a very nice experience. I was welcomed with open arms I was hungry and he offered me a banana lol with coffee they took care of my car in a snap. I had recently had surgery and I was great full for how they took

  Brittany Irwin
3 years ago
One of my favorite local repair shops. I always take my cars here first because I know they will be honest about what I really need even though I am a woman. I know more than the average woman does about cars and I respect they don't try to take advantage by saying I need services I don't. They don't charge an arm and a leg for services they do provide and the guys are always friendly.

  Daryl Murray
5 years ago
Excellent experience, needed a couples welded in place to get rid of an old exhaust repair and was in and out in less than an hour. The gentleman at the counter (wish I remember his name, but seemed like a manager) was very pleasant and had a conversation as I waited, which made time pass easier. Prices were amazing as well. I will definitely be back to this location again for any exhaust work!

  Brian Reichelderfer
a year ago
They open at 8 30 I got there at 8 37 and was told they were already booked for the day . Then he told me to buy a exhaust online , I only needed to get new hangers installed and the exhaust realigned with the back bumper. I just felt like he didn't want to be bothered with it, it's sad cause they have done a lot of exhaust work for me.

  Gregory Smith
3 years ago
These guys are the best. Had two broken hangers and was charged twenty dollars to re weld them back up. The dealer wanted over three hundred to fix it. Cant beat that. I will definitely give them return business.

  Robert Hunter
a year ago
Great set of guys there. Pat is a delight, honest, and helps you understand what is going on with your vehicle. Robert is very knowledgeable, who is also very helpful. They get the job done right.

  Mr. White
9 years ago
Stopped in today after sitting at another establishment for vehicle maintenance for 5 hours and given false information of my repair with no explanation of the repairs. Jesse the manager was very honest and upfront with what I was facing and gave me viable options and helped me in anyway he could. He and has staff went above and beyond the "call of duty" today for me and I would recommend this establishment to everyone who wants honesty and professional service!!!

  Leif Warrock
4 years ago
Didn't even use them because the initial customer service was so bad. I had a coupon from the Big Al's website and asked if he would accept it, he essentially laughed it off and told me in a very rude tone "No, I have more money than that in the supplies." I even called 2 more Big Al's locations, one of which also did not accept it, but he was MUCH nicer in letting me know. Will always be carrying myself to Portsmouth to avoid this location.

  John
5 years ago
Call about noon, see if he'll have time for your car at 2. Then get there about 1 and do the paperwork and be prepared to wait for 3 hours and your car is done. Or if you can which i can't, drop it off at 8 and it's ready by 2 /3 PM.Workers are pretty good and Al seems like a nice guy. Basic auto repair i don't know how to do but they do.

  Tony Hill
a year ago
Excellent customer service, efficient and professional automotive service for a reasonable price. First come, first served, so don't come here late.

  Ray Woodmancy
a year ago
They installed my calibers rotors and brake pads for a very decent price and the crew were great to talk with and very knowledgeable

  Molly M
7 years ago
Never had a problem w/ this shop location. To the person who claimed this shop is full of high schoolers.. I have only seen oler people working there. The front desk worker has always been very homes/ helpful. Not sure why others are claiming this place is bad, only thing I can think of is maybe they used to have different staff.If you've used them before but not recently, try them again. The workers I've encountered were reasonable. Nothing was overpriced, infact , I was amazed at how affordable repairs were. .

  Jr Jackson
4 years ago
They got me in that day, they done good work took time to get them right..

  Miguel Lopez
a year ago
I needed a muffler delete on my Audi , I was told they don't work on Audi. So that makes them incapable of working on cars ...they pick and choose and i called district and they said they are franchised Suffolk location. That means they aren't even big Al's , they are some other guy just using the name to run the business. Go to the Portsmouth location, there they will work on any make and my model.

  Kimberly Perkins
7 years ago
I went to big al's on friday due i thought one of my convertors were bad but it wasn't.The manager patrick and his team went above the call of duty to fiqure out what was wrong with my car. Big Al is a place i will start going to for my oil changes. They were so very warm and friendly. The customer service was excellent .Great team, great job. I give them a five star.I had a wonderful experience.

  Eric Coard
5 years ago
Patrick was extremely helpful. Helped me figure out the suspension vibrations/rattle in my F250 truck, he ordered 3 sets of parts to make sure he got the right ones on the first try, performed the work super fast and the rattle is gone. Couldn t be happier.

  Paul
9 months ago
Took my Jeep in for brakes & muffler work. Couldn't be happier. Thanks Pat. Your my go to guy from now on.

  M Knight
6 years ago
Very honest place. Took my car to the NEX Little Creek for an oil change and alignment. They said I needed work done on my car (2k+). I went to Big Al's to have the work done and they did not see anything wrong with the car and the work the NEX said needed to be done doesn't need to be done. A place will continue to visit for any car repair.

  Dragken Gaming
5 years ago
I made a phone call about welding on an Oxygen bung on my exhaust for a wideband sensor on my 240sx. Pat told me to bring it on up and they would look at it. Mike got it on the lift and they let me show them exactly what I needed done. Pat the manager is an extremely nice guy and Mike was super knowledgeable and straight forward. I highly recommend this Big Al's and will be frequently visiting this spot for any future exhaust needs. Tha k you all again for the extremely great care and personable staff. If I had 6 stars I would give it to this business.

  Thomas Harper
7 years ago
Fraud... They had special for a $20 oil change. When I get there it's a typed out paper posting staying they are out of basic oil. Which is fine, but it wasn't believable because it looks like some time was taken to type it up and it wasn't a big priority. So they basically used that to get people in only to sucker them into a higher price oil change... Smh really felt they tried to pull a fast one on me. #badbusiness

  Joe Naneville
6 years ago
My wife and I bought a 2000 Chevy S-10 that apparently had some brake work done prior to us buying it but the system was not properly bled. Big Al's did a great job bleeding the brakes on my wife's 2000 Chevy S-10. I know some of you are saying to yourself why not bleed them on your own. Sure, it is simple enough on most vehicles and I did bleed the truck brakes with some improvement, but not the improvement I expected. ABS requires special tools and equipment if air is trapped in the ABS module. Big Al's in Suffolk has the proper tools and equipment. From the Wynn Brake Flush machine to the Solus Scan Tool by Snap On, Big Al's is equipped to take on any brake job, even the latest and greatest ABS systems.Unfortunately, one of the brake lines broke (fortunately it happened there instead of on the highway) during the fluid flush but Big Al's was able to put a new line on at a cost that didn't bite my wallet. Sure, I could have pitched a fit because what started out as a $70 job turned out to cost me a little less than $200, but things happen. Especially if your vehicle is older. Estimates can't see the unforeseen. When all was said and done the brakes on the S-10 feel awesome!One review said the manager is a drunk and another review said the place is gross and full of high school graduates because they wouldn't put a straight pipe on his race car. Not true. The manager I dealt with, Patrick, is very pleasant, down to earth, and knowledgeable. A real nice guy and seems very honest. The mechanic that worked on our truck, Mike, certainly wasn't some high school kid but an older gentleman and based on the work performed on the truck an excellent mechanic. Even the young man Ricky, who we mostly seen do oil changes and some welding work, graduated from an accredited automotive repair school and was close to obtaining his master ASE certification. He told us that he didn't plan to work in the car industry as a career and is now pursuing HVAC certification. Ricky is a nice young man. The customer waiting area and restroom are clean and far from gross. We waited over four hours and were comfortable. Trust me, my wife would have headed for the door quick if the place was gross. BTW, Virginia law says that although the vehicle will pass inspection without a muffler, it is a violation of state law for the vehicle to be operated on the highway without it. I can't blame Big Al's for erring on the side of caution.I do most of my own car repairs. However, there are times when you just don't have the proper tools (I don't own nor would I want to pay thousands for a Solus from Snap On), abilities (e.g. I'm not a welder), or even time to do a repair. Maybe you just don't feel like doing a repair because it is just too dang hot or cold. Whatever the reason, I have done business with Big Al's for many years and never had any problems with their work or prices.

  brandon walker
2 years ago
Great service and had my car completed in a few hours. Best price I have found yet and welds looks great.

  Brian Williams
5 years ago
The outrageous way this location charges people is ridiculous. A tune up for a 2012 kia rio with 2 coil packs for 500$? Are you kidding me? Maybe if you were more reasonable on your unrealistic pricing, you may have more vehicles sitting in your parking lot waiting to be worked on. Rent must be ridiculous in Suffolk. Not. Just called three different locations, offering a $200 differnce. It s not like they had to go to the back of the engine, the plugs and coils are right on top. Next time it will be done at home. To be continued. . .

  pkty757
9 years ago
Not to mention a $375.00 for a mufflet and two tail pipes but the fact that a lady with her two little girls ran out of gas and coasted to the parking lot on a very hot day and asked for help. She offered to pay if they had a little gas to help get her to a gas station. The manager said he could only let her use a gas can if she left a deposit and walk a mile or so to the next gas station. He said he could not allow any of his employees to help unless the volunteered but they would have to clock out first. He said he could not help her. I got pissed and said no you can help her you just choose not tobut I will.. So after the now crying lady and her two girls went back out to sit in their hot van I told her to come back inside where it was cooler and when they finished my truck an hour and a half later I went to my house, got my gas can and went back and gave that lady some gas. She offered to pay me but I was just happy to help. She said she would pay it forward. I cant belive they could not take ten minutes to help that lady and her kids.

  Towana Harris-Lawson
2 years ago
The staff was very friendly & helpful. The man @ the counter was able to answer my questions. They did a good job on the work that I wanted.

  Lonna Nelson
3 years ago
Thanks Pat, the manager for squeezing my granddaughters car in!! I had the pipes done on my Tahoe few yrd ago and price was good, you did a nice job on my granddaughters too, thanks again!!!