Pittsburgh Automotive

For the staff at Double Take Auto Detailing, maintaining a vehicle's appearance is just as important as changing its oil or feeding the tiny horses that live in its engine. That's why techs can shine up cars with three levels of auto detailing—Silver, Gold, and Platinum. All packages begin with a hand wash for the vehicle's exterior and to clean away dust and grime. Once cars put away their bath toys, the staff can perform more heavy-duty aesthetic services, including tinting windows and repairing minor dings by using a process that maintains the original paint job.

Though Moon Flight Car Wash and Coffee might seem like an unusual assemblage of businesses, its mission is clear: to offer clients fast, efficient services that don’t require them to leave their vehicles. Customers can cruise through an automated car wash, pick out their favorite drinks and treats from a drive-thru café menu, and finally have that car-horn honk-off they’ve always been meaning to do. For night owls, Moon Flight's self-serve washes are open 24 hours a day, and the coffee shop serves Kiva Han Coffee and Enrico Biscotti starting in the early hours of the morning.

Pets also can receive a cleaning in one of Moon Flight’s self-service dog-wash rooms, which are stocked with two shampoo formulas, skunk-odor remover, conditioner, and a blow dryer. Left smelling fresher than a rose auditioning for the lead role in a bouquet, well-behaved dogs can trot over to the drive-thru window to receive a free treat.

Castrol oil has lived an impressive life over the past century, from helping boats and planes set new endurance records to lubricating cars that, over the years, have broken the land-speed record 21 times. Today, those very products fill up everyday engines, including those at JMJ Automotive and Express Lube, where a knowledgeable staff nurtures vehicles with the prized lubricant. Technicians ensure that transports run efficiently and safely through a full gamut of services, such as state inspections, tire rotations, fuel-system maintenance, and intricate repairs, and top off each and every oil change with a complimentary vacuuming and giant lollipop for the tailpipe.

That Stereo Shop's staff specializes in modern auto integration, leveraging their expertise to equip cars with audio, video, and security upgrades. Digital sound blossoms from speakers by brands such as Kenwood and Infinity after technicians transform basic factory stereos into sonic amphitheaters with iPod-compatible components. GPS navigation systems, security alarms, and remote starters from CompuStar further equip motorists with gadgetry that enables smooth, worry-free commutes. Lest exteriors feel left out, technicians outfit windows in SunTek tinted films that add style to the car and keep the cabin's high-tech equipment out of sight. They also dress vehicles in vinyl graphics and banners that portray company advertisements or lifelike flames reaching toward hood ornaments made of marshmallows.