Auto Service in Bedford

Lube Stop has been lauded by both local and national press outlets for its Sustainability Program, which decreases the environmental impact of the shop's auto services. Its signature EcoGuard oil change, for example, refreshes engines with re-refined motor oil. Lube Stop also recycles oil and antifreeze, and it plants two new oil-filter trees for every one it chops down.

Besides eight kinds of oil changes, Lube Stop provides multipoint inspections, tire rotations, battery replacement, and other maintenance and repair services. More than 240 employees—who receive continuous training to keep up with eco-friendly practices—helm the company's 37 Cleveland- and Akron-area locations, all of which offer E-Check emissions-testing stations.

SpitzerCares.org hopes to fund a million meals in 2012 through food pantries, shelters, kids’ cafés, and backpack programs. For every dollar it earns via community car washes, donations, and fundraising events, SpizerCares.org can provide four meals to northern Ohioans in need. Patrons can keep up with the organization’s progress online as a ticker shaped like an apple tallies the number of meals SpitzerCares.org has shelled out so far this year.

All About Autos’ detailing technicians rely on both scientific potions and old-fashioned elbow grease as their tireless wrists scrub cars with pH-balanced soaps and glazes formulated to remove scratches and dings. Chrome polishing, window washing, and tire dressing populate the detailing roster, joining interior treatments including vacuuming and steam cleaning. Beyond the two- to three-hour detailing sessions, the techs also dress engines, replace broken windowpanes, and stock accessories such as remote starters.

Owner Justin Donaldson originally founded Donaldson Autosport as a detailing company, but, because of his passion for modern sports cars, he has since added maintenance and performance services to his menu. While some of Justin's technicians detail chariots to a state of new glossiness with carnauba wax, sealants, and detailing clay, others perform basic maintenance, such as brake tune-ups and oil changes. Drivers longing for improved performance can enhance their roadsters with superchargers, short shifters, and cartoon motion lines.

Whether behind a desk or inside a service bay, Motorcars Toyota's friendly staff and troupe of factory-trained technicians unite drivers with new and used Toyota vehicles and keep existing autos running smoothly. The techs keep convenient weekday service hours until 3 a.m., helping drivers coordinate state inspections and oil changes or kick off the car's birthday with some midnight maintenance. The shop's collection of Toyota factory parts withstands hard driving, and all services benefit future car buyers in the long run, as 15% of each repair becomes a credit toward the purchase of a new vehicle. While cars undergo outpatient repairs, a convenient stable of Toyota rental cars improves short wait times with 24-hour roadside assistance and access to the factory's latest makes, models, and variations on new-car smell.

The Kuhns' long line of entrepreneurship began in 1920 with a Sinclair Gas Station. Today, it's Jerry Kuhn's Kwik Car Wash, a full-service car wash that's been shining up Cleveland-area autos for the last 60 years. And the Kuhns are still at the helm with a skilled team—which includes Jerry's granddaughter—providing services such as soft-cloth washes, interior vacuuming, and tire dressings. The wash techs clean cars quickly with basic washes or can spend up to one hour executing more thorough detailing. During those more thorough details, they glaze exteriors with teflon sealants and rub in triple-coat shines to bring out the paint job's original showroom color. Then, they make the interior sparkle by shampooing the car's carpets and dreadlocks and wiping down the dash and console.