Automotive in Sacramento

In Polar Bear Auto Care's warehouse-size shop, ASE-certified techs slip under hoods to fix or install air-conditioning and heating systems. Those systems are nearly identical to the factory units, as many of the systems they install are made by the same manufacturers. On their walls hang hundreds of parts, with more stored onsite, including new heater cores as well as compressor mounts for car models from the years 1965 to 1999. This lets them work on all kinds of vehicles, from brand-new cars and tractors to RVs and vintage UFOs. They back up their services with a two-year or 24,000-mile warranty, which extends to electrical repairs as well as the maintenance of steering, exhaust, and brake systems.

The squad of specialists at Tint Works dresses standard coupes and sedans with Solar Gard tints. After calling and setting up an appointment, motorists can steer their horseless chariots into the shop, where technicians will use a computerized cutting system to slice and dice the high-quality film until it meets the vehicle's demands. Tint Works' staffers will help customers decide on a level of darkness for their tints, which can reject up to half of total solar energy and block 99% of harmful ultraviolet rays, thus protecting interiors from premature fading or embarrassing seatbelt tan lines. The 90-minute tinting service comes with a lifetime warranty that protects against peeling, bubbling, and discoloration.

At Dirt Buster's Car Wash, the staff strives for a sense of community just as much as they do for cleanliness. Each locally owned wash participates in a variety of efforts to support the surrounding businesses and charities. They might help with fundraising, or partner with organizations such as the Placer Food Bank and Toys for Tots to aid people in need. They also offer discounts for customers affiliated with area schools?you just need to show your student card, school team fan gear, or the stolen head of a rival team's mascot.

Attendants at each location hand-wash and vacuum vehicles as the most basic service. From there, guests can request packages that include paint protectant, tire dressing, and underbody washes in addition to the standard wash. Detailing services, on the other hand, spruce up cars both inside and out with deep-cleanings and a three-step buffing process.

With more than 30 years in business, the team at Premier Car Wash have gotten their process down to an environmentally friendly science. They use only green products from Blue Coral, and rinse cars clean with recycled water they treat themselves. And because their teams can complete a wash in around 20 minutes, they conserve about half the amount of water that's used during at-home washes in driveways or Buick-sized bath tubs. Though their service is speedy, it does not sacrifice quality—every wash unites both exterior and interior treatment, including vacuuming, a wipe-down of the dash, and an undercarriage rinse. Customers can also choose to add extras such as sealant and rust inhibitors, or detailing services that include carpet shampooing, and leather treatment.

Dads can be pretty protective of their cars. Mike's dad was no exception, but as a kid, he was handed a cloth and allowed to help with the waxing. It instilled in Mike a passion for auto care that has never waned. "As a teen," he says, "I was into muscle cars and, while my car might not have been the fastest, it was always the shiniest."

Restoring that new-car appeal to a vehicle is something of a passion for Mike, and at Mose Auto Detailing he indulges this sense of perfectionism by restoring cars to the shimmering gems they were when first driven off the lot. Accumulated brake dust, "bird bombs," and "just divorced" paint signs are no match for Mike, whose brushes, buffers, and leather treatment gear delves into car nooks and crannies.

With 15 years in the automobile industry under their toolbelts, the proprietors of 2K Performance know how to run an auto repair shop right. First, they fix and maintain just about everything: fuel pumps, fluids, filters, cooling systems, exhaust and emissions, front and rear differentials, and complete engine rebuilds. Because of the technicians' comprehensive knowledge of all things on wheels, customers never have to take their rides elsewhere for more extensive upkeep. In addition to their basic and comprehensive services, the team at 2K Performance also offers an array of soup-up services to transform buggies into rubber burners, and the shop is adjoined to SacTown Pros for those seeking new windows and hi-fi sound systems.