5 /5 Margot Subscriptions: A couple of weeks ago, I hit a patch of gravel while driving, temporarily lost control of the steering, and skidded into a curb. I wasn’t going fast, but it was enough to break my front right lower control arm. Oh—at the time, I had no idea that’s what I had done. All I knew was that the tire was completely cattywampus—crookeder than a dog’s hind leg, as your grandpa might have said—and it was not moving.
As I was frantically trying to arrange for a tow while my fellow morning commuters expressed their sympathy with honks and colorful hand gestures, a guy passing by in his work truck pulled over and asked if I needed help with a push. I explained that I was pretty sure the front axle was bent, the car was immovable (and possibly totaled). That’s when he introduced himself as Johna, a mobile mechanic with MD Automotive, and offered to assess the situation.
Braving traffic, he crawled under the car, immediately diagnosed the problem, and even gave me a rough estimate of how much it would cost and how long it would take to repair. Truly, if I was destined to have this particular accident on this particular day, it was a godsend that someone so friendly and knowledgeable happened by. Johna helped me get my car into a safer place (I could drive a very short distance in reverse), gave me the owner’s business card, and bid me a good day.
I called Ryan Mura shortly thereafter, and Johna had already apprised him of my situation. Ryan was also very professional, quoted me a fair price for the repair, and set up a time to fix my car as soon as the part could be ordered/retrieved (a few days later). I had never used a mobile mechanic service before, but it made sense that their lower overhead meant they could charge significantly less than a brick-and-mortar automotive shop. I was so impressed by both Johna and Ryan that I decided to green-light the repair.
Come the morning of the repair, Johna arrived punctually, installed the new lower control arm efficiently, and checked related systems like the brakes. Upon test driving, while the car was once again drivable, it was clear the alignment was significantly off. Johna explained that alignment jobs require highly specialized equipment and precise calibration—something best done at a shop with the right machines and tools.
I really appreciated his frankness and honesty about his limitations as a mobile mechanic. When I took my car into the dealership the next day to get the alignment fixed, they told me that whoever had repaired the control arm had done a really good job.
Ten out of ten times, I would work with Johna and Ryan again. They were highly personable, highly skilled, and displayed a high degree of integrity in how they conducted themselves and their business (my repair was guaranteed for a year, by the way). While I hope I don’t need any more car repairs anytime soon, I feel like I’ve found my forever mechanics with these guys.
If, like me, you’re hesitant to use a mobile mechanic, consider this your word of encouragement. Five stars all the way.