University Heights Automotive

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.

Named Top Shop in the Country by Motor Age magazine, Rad Air Complete Car Care has been servicing roadsters in the Cleveland area for more than a quarter of a century. Beginning as a radiator and air-conditioning repair shop in Parma Heights, the locally owned auto franchise has expanded to 10 Northeast Ohio locations that perform such services as brake work, tune-ups, electrical repairs, tire and suspension maintenance, and fluid adjustments. Rad Air is a AAA-approved auto-repair center that offers a lifetime warranty on its work and advises clients on what repairs are needed, recommended, and on each car's birthday wish list.

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.

Since 1919, three generations of Ziegler family members and friends have overseen the vehicles that have made their way into Ziegler Tire. The 24-location auto shop, which began as a modest operation by brothers Oliver and Harold Ziegler, now enlists computerized diagnostic systems and ASE–certified technicians to scout and fix automotive maladies. The skilled technicians outfit personal and commercial vehicles of all types and sizes with new wheels and tires from brands such as Michelin, Dayton, Firestone, and Uniroyal and perform a vast repertoire of routine-maintenance services to extend the lives of automobiles and to stave off a resurgence of penny-farthing popularity.

The Polish Shop's techs cleanse cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans from the inside out with detailing services that adhere to a strict 25-point checklist. After transferring interiors' loose items and change into a protective bag, staffers spend three–four hours buffing light scratches, shampooing fabrics, degunking gas caps, and peeling away tar deposits. After freeing windows of built-up film and polishing mirrors to a reflective sheen, techs conclude with a final inspection, making sure that surfaces shine, insides sparkles, and bumper stickers feature correct punctuation.

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.