Automotive in Bellevue

Inside the 5,500-square-foot garage at Homan's Auto, ASE-certified technicians fiddle with engines and batteries while meticulous detailing crews scrub away dirt and grime from cars, boats, and RVs. Using diagnostic equipment, the skilled team sleuths out and repairs vehicular issues, from transmission troubles to chocolate syrup seeping into the engine. While the teams work, customers relax in the waiting area amid free WiFi and frothy cappuccinos, or they can hitch a ride to work or home aboard the free shuttle.

The experienced car coddlers at Todd Archer Hyundai drain and replace the liquid lifeblood of most auto makes and models during a 30-minute oil-change package. After auto ardents lubricate the parched car's desert-dry throat with up to 6 quarts of oil, they'll rotate its tires to even out wear and tear on its wheels and minimize bickering between tires about which bridge to take to get to the airport. Then, a car wash expels stubborn dirt and debris to leave the chassis beaming and shining. Finally, the mechanics comb the car in a complimentary multipoint inspection to confirm that it's a safe, highway-worthy vehicle and not just a horse and buggy with an AM/FM radio taped to the harness.

At Tuffy's, motor-vehicle caregivers spruce up patrons' horseless carriages and prepare them for a new season of dutiful service. After installing a new oil filter, auto artisans remove the old sludgy glop clogging the car's arterial system and replace it with up to five quarts of Valvoline 5W-30 or 5W-20 conventional motor oil (a $31.99 value; diesel or synthetic oil costs extra). The staff will also rotate tires to prepare four-wheeled wonders for safe gliding (a $12 value) and make sure air-conditioning systems function properly to bring riders to the brink of coolness faster than Fonzie’s leather jacket ($9.99). Finally, a pair of fresh wiper blades (up to 22")—grown locally by organic-blade farmers—supplants worn-out window-rubbers ($22) and a specialist conducts an extensive 41-point maintenance inspection.

Technicians at Auto Boss carefully usher dirt off the premises of cars during 30-minute interior and exterior sweeps. Outer shells forfeit smudges to an arsenal of soaps and waters as the shiny complexion of their dealership youth floods back to their façade. Technicians fuss about the tires until they're sparkling and free from puddle muck, and then explore the deepest clefts of door jambs to expunge buildup. Next, staffers pop the hood and scrub the engine clean, treating it to a rejuvenating bubble bath as a reward for motoring the car and babysitting the pistons. Astute vacuums conclude the wash as they do a final run through the interior, sniffing morsels and debris from the seat cracks and hidden crevices.

Heartland Jiffy Lubes enjoy the benefits of being under the Heartland Automotive Services umbrella, putting them in good company along with more than 435 Jiffy Lubes nationwide that service more than five million customers each year. They specialize in the Jiffy Lube Signature Service Oil Change, which comes standard with a fresh-from-the-box oil filter and up to 5 quarts of quality motor oil, plus a comprehensive lineup of other vehicle maintenance checkups. Highly trained technicians also perform cosmetic and mechanical services including inspections, emissions testing, transmission service, and counseling for 1960s Corvettes that are going through a mid-life crisis.

Ray draws on 20 years of experience in the auto industry to oversee every facet of his eponymous business. He and his team can fix ailing parts from suspension to steering in foreign and domestic vehicles, and perform oil changes and checkups to keep cars running smoothly.

Since 1988, Auto Care Super Saver has been helping car owners save cash with maintenance punch cards redeemable at local auto shops throughout the course of a full year. These cards come loaded with all kinds of prepaid services, including at least three full-service oil changes with up to 5 quarts of oil, lube, and a new filter. Depending on the location, punch cards may also feature tire rotations, brake inspections, engine-light readings, air-conditioning performance tests, and other repairs and inspections essential to a car's well-being. Customers can transfer the punch card's benefits to any ride, ranging from station wagons to sports cars to feral merry-go-round mounts.