Automotive in Sarasota

The technicians from Cruizers Car Wash commit to restoring vehicles to showroom luster, with one eye focused on eco-friendly and water-saving practices. The company's automated drive-through tunnel pampers cars with everything from a soft-foam wash and spot-free rinse to an undercarriage rinse and a triple foam clear-coat conditioner. For a bit of a personal touch, the technicians can finish up these washes by hand-drying the chassis or applying interior protectant to every nook and cranny of the doors and dashboard. The facility's more comprehensive detailing packages take this level of service one step further as the staff offers to machine buff surfaces to a lustrous sheen, remove scratches, or brand the your initials onto the catalytic converter.

Skaters blaze across Stardust Skate Center’s retro-themed, 14,000-square-foot rink amid a flurry of spotlights, lasers, and scanning beams. After retrieving their eight-wheeled rentals, friends and families strap in and set out on a circular trip down memory cul-de-sac. A giant disco ball fills the room with refracted light as foursomes choreograph roller dances to DJ-spun tunes that pump from a surround sound system synced up with the kaleidoscope of lights. After an hour or two of hairpin turns and confused wrestling maneuvers, skaters can enjoy well-earned refreshments in the complex's remaining 10,000 square feet of entertainment space. Stardust Skate Center is open for public skating on Fridays and Saturdays, and on Sundays starting October 2. Check the schedule for times.

Sullied cars have emerged spotless and sleek from Johnny's Car Wash since 1957. A soft cloth coats the frame during the basic car wash, removing layers of dirt, bird bombs, and bumper stickers made of parking tickets. Next, a curious vacuum explores and uproots jettisoned debris in cushions and crevices, windows blink to crystal-clear vision after a scrub-down, and the dash and console shrug off aggregated dust before a towel gently dries the exterior.

Since opening their first auto shop back in 1972, the staff and crew of University Tires Plus have worked closely with customers to outfit their vehicles with quality tires from the likes of Bridgestone and Goodyear. Now, with more than 500 stores spanning 23 states, they also service brakes, accomplish tune-ups, and fix heating and cooling systems. Battery problems and damage caused by potholes or driving through thumbtack stores don't befuddle them, either, with much of their work and tire sales backed by warranties.

Led by a family of motorsports enthusiasts, the mechanics at Total Motorsports service and repair vehicles such as ATVs, watercrafts, scooters, and motorcycles. The experts can work on any make and model, including imported scooters. They also sell vehicle parts, accessories such as helmets and boots, and new 49cc scooters.