They fix my car very quickly and had the best prices compared to the other shops in Carbondale.

Great experience! We had a bad noise under the hood when we were far from home. Gator looked at the problem right away, diagnosed a bad AC compressor and repaired it promptly and we were back on the road again. Nice people, smart, well informed, reasonable and kind. What a lucky break!

Called Gator as Karen came highly recommended by many community members. Perhaps I caught her in a tough time, but she had my car for a total of 6 weeks during the fall semester. She was very kind and communicative by phone and seemed very helpful. However, the first time my car was in the shop for an assessment for two weeks, then I had to return again a week later, because another problem popped up. At that point, my car stayed in the shop for 4 weeks. There was a third issue, but I ultimately decided she was not the fit for me. In total, I was charged nearly $1000. I made my way to another mechanic and they ran a full diagnostic test and had my car up and running in one day for a little more than $400. I was also informed that my coolant cap was incorrect, which was placed there by Gator. I guess locals have the best luck here, but if you’re a student, checkout Today’s Technology Auto Repair behind the mall - more affordable and taught me so much necessary info for my car! I really hate to leave a bad review, because this place is clearly dear to the community... unfortunately, I did not have that same experience.

They have always done a great job on my automobiles and have been reasonable with their prices.Always kind and courteous and very knowledgeable!I recommend them to my friends and anyone who needs automotive work done.

When people ask where Id recommend taking a car to be repaired, I always say gator. Sometimes they take a bit longer then other places but they always do an amazing job and are the most honest people when it comes to what work needs to be done. I was quoted of $1500 at the Autoshop in Carbondale for work that Gator took care of for less then $1000. And the work is quality I havent had to go back in months. The the car now runs better then it did before it was having problems. They are usually pretty busy with work so its a good idea to call and ask when would be the best time to drop off the car. They always call and explain what work needs to be done and estimates given have always been good. Theres nothing more you can ask of a car repair place. 5/5 take your car to gator!

Gator is very professional. Ive never had a problem at all after their services. Karen is a wonderful person & cares about her customers

Karen is awesome! She does a great job at a fair price.

They really need to verify who they are talking to before giving out information. What was thought of as a kind and generous gift, wound up getting taken back due to a case of mistaken identity, and they didnt do anything to make it right.

Karen is sweet I love her at gator automotive and she fix all my vehicles

Ive taken my truck here for the last three years. They do fantastic work and have the fairest prices compared to anyone else around. Ive lived in four cities in the last several years and by far Gator has been the best mechanic Ive been to. The owner Karen is always friendly and honest.

Absolutely the best machanick Ive ever been to so polite professional and AFFORDABLE! Would absolutely recommend to everyone with car trouble

Prompt service. Good selection of tires.

While visiting the area, we needed to have our car checked for a noise it had made while on the road. Local acquaintances referred us to Gator Automotive. This is a substantial and well established business led by Karen. She is a real pro, and a well read Lady as well. Wish there were such a shop near home.

Karen who is the owner is nice and will work with u but I was slightly disappointed because they had my BMW for almost a month before I paid. She allowed me to do a payment plan but I paid it off faster than expected and when I was done paying they had my car for another 3 weeks. When they were done, I still had to take it back after a week because it kept cutting off after I started it and wouldnt stay started. Come to find out it was some hose they fixed free of charge but I believe it was something they didnt do in the 1st place which is why she didnt charge me. Overall Im satisfied but it took too much to get me satisfied.

Awesome people. If parking lot is full. The must do something correct. The fix everything from broken door latch to replace engines.

I didnt know about this place until my car dealer sent me there for brake repair. Highly recommend. Very friendly and professional. Excellent work as far as Im concerned. I would recommend this place and I also will be keeping them for any future work. Thanks Gator Automotive!!!

Great staff, knowledge, good pricesMy go to repair shop

They fixed us up good and fast

Karen was great the work they do there is honest and u can depend on the work they do 2 b correct my husband n I both have benefited from their sevices.

Karen is the best. I trust her completely.

While it did take a while to get our vehicle back, the owner was willing to work with us and offered full transparency about the repair which was done wonderfully.

Best place to get your car fixed will not RIP you off

As someone who does 90% of my own automotive repairs, I was frustrated and concerned when my a/c went out on my Suzuki. Parts are hard to find and usually expensive. Karen was kind, professional, determined, and affordable. I left knowing I have a service center I can trust. 14/10 recommend

Awesome work. Told them my problem, they diagnosed it, fixed it, and even gave me a ride to pick it up. I wouldnt recommend anywhere else.

Fantastic service fair pricing for excellent work.

I love the honest service that Gator provides!!

Karen and her crew have been working on our cars for 30 years. Shes always been the best.

Honest work at honest pricing. Owned and Operated by a female! Karen is great. She gives you a timeline and 96% of the time it is done by then. Never have we found cheaper pricing. She finds the issues and gives you quotes if there is an issue she calls right away

I would recommend this shop to ANYONE! They know what theyre doing and even with how busy they are theyve always been happy to help with any automotive questions Ive had!Again, they are usually busy so you may not get the work done the quickest but itll be done correctly, fairly cheap and she will check in with you whenever its necessary so you know what is being done to your car and why.

Don’t take your car here

Karen and her team are the best in the area. Its very simple - they provide high-quality services, excellent expertise, and most importantly - you can trust them one hundred percent when they talk to you about your car. Weve been coming to Gator for many years. Highly recommend.

Great work .my soecond time service!

Great customer service and work. Karen goes the extra mile. Hourly rates are better than dealers and workmanship is better IMO.

Been going here for years! They do have a longer than normal wait time, but it’s totally worth it. They are honest and knowledgeable.

Awesome place. Karen gets you in, diagnoses the problem, orders parts, and has you out and rolling in no time at all!!! She has a great bunch of guys working for her. A great little Mrs. Fix it!. A very automotive intelligent young lady with a wonderful personality, and a big heart. The #1 place in southern Illinois for auto repair.

Highly recommend Gator Auto. Love taking my vehicle here! Karen runs an extremely professional and honest business. The first time I took my car in for an oil change and asked for a fuel injection service (which was recommended by a different vendor), Karen recommended otherwise based on her assessment, when she could have done it and made extra money. Another time, I had to get my wheel replaced and she gave me an estimate of cost, but I declined the recommended alignment service and she was happy to accommodate.

When I got my new Chevy suburban I had it in 3 different shops trying to figure out why it kept dying while driving not one of them could figure it out. So my grandma suggested Gator and they was amazing I havent had any issues since with it dying. I take my vehicle here now for everything. They are amazing and very friendly also. I love taking my vehicle to Gator.

Took our vehicle there, because it had the strong smell of antifreeze when using the heater. It needed a new heater core. After having the vehicle for a month we got it back with a leaking sunroof, and a new heater core that only blows mildly warm air. They looked at it again, and had generally no good explanation. Total waste of money.

Best autoshop in the county.

I trust Karen in every way. Her ethics and knowledge and approach to life, work, society are the very best. Her waiting area’s periodicals tell it all! And if you need it, you can get a hug. Plus she will introduce you to others in waiting area. Oh, she and staff also truly solve all car problems!

Gator Automotive is the best! I have know them since I moved to Carbondale, IL, in 1996. Karen and her mechanics are great at what they do. She is fair and remembers all her customers by name. Her prices are fair and she explains what you car needs. She is not just a great mechanic, she is also a wonderful person.

Best place to get car repair done. Prices are good quality work. They explain everything in depth. They give you options. They work with the customer and care about them. LOVE GATOR KAREN IS AMAZING

Got NO problems with Karen and her crew! Theyre practically around the corner from my place, so I can drop the car off and walk home! Theyve done a great job on my assorted vehicle issues -- gave me a better quote on the repairs than the dealership, too. Now, if they only vacuumed the interior afterwards ... ;-)

More than satisfied with my experience so far. Theyve worked with me when no one else would. She went above and beyond to find an engine for me that otherwise couldnt be found. Will not have any work done elsewhere!

Karen and her staff are some of the most honest and knowledgeable mechanics in southern Illinois. Karen knows her stuff better than just about anyone. She is also one of the most honest. She wont tell you to have something done if it doesnt need done and wont pad your bill. The only drawback with Gator is the wait time. She has such a large volume of customers that turn around time is frankly slow. But that volume of customers should tell you something.

Reasonably priced, quality work. When she say my car will be done by ghe end of the day it gets done, might be 6pm but it gets done.Good about fixing what I need done now and letting me know what can wait.

My very first place to go when I have something come up. Reasonable prices and Ms carren is great at handling things.

Karen and the guys in the shop are very friendly and knowledgeable. They have come in at or below my hometown shop that I have always been loyal to several times. The work is always done well and on time (if not early). The shop looks plain, but the people are priceless.

Excellent work.

The one, and only.

Karen and her staff at gator automotive strive to go above and beyond in the quality and integrity of work that they do. She considers all angles, and works to present the best option not just to fix but to make a long term repair to the vehicle. If you want things done right by someone who is willing to go the extra mile to ensure that the she fixes the problem rather than just fixing the apparent issue.Background:I have a 04 ford f150 with a 5.4 Triton, long story short I kept driving it after skipping a tooth on the timing chain. The damage done was all my fault, Karen not only suggested replacing the essentials but also recommend other maintance that could be done to prevent this costly mistake from happening again. If you live in the area gator automotive is where everyone recommends.

Thieves. Would rate lower if I could. Took forever to get the belts replaced and they charged me $70 for a general check without even asking me. People I have worked with also stated they are slow and questioned the quality/trustworthiness of their work...

Always great service, fair price for service👍

Karen and the staff are great! Honest work, honest price and reliable repairs. Only place we take our cars.

One of the best grass roots auto repair shops I have ever been to. I highly recommend them.

Great customer relations. Reliable service.

They do great work at a reasonable price

Gator is my favored place for repairs. Karen and George run their business with solid morals. I have done business with them for years and I recommend them.

Called to ask how much would it cost to convert my fan back over to a hydraulic fan and she told me $240 to $250. Dripped my car off on Tuesday night, Karen called me Thursday night, 8 minutes before they closed to tell me I need a hose to my fan. Got the hose off my other car and took it in Monday night. Here it is Thursday, and they still have my car. Spoke to her yesterday and she tried to tell me I owed them $400 to $450 for my car. What happened to the $250? Karen said that was just to put the fan in and not the hose. Well, when I said convert, that should consist on everything. She said I never said convert, that I said something else that I never even heard of. So how could I say something that I don’t know what it means or even know what the word is. Total liars. I loved taking my car here because they do do good work, but after this last experience, I don’t know if I will be back ever again. And they still have my car. A 3 hour job done turned into over a week. They have made my life really horrible this past week and they want me to pay $200 more. That’s a bunch of bs. I talked to her and we worked out a reasonable price, but she is a mechanic, how I know she ain’t do something else to my car to mess it up. Then she told me there ain’t no guarantee that this would even fix the problem of my car, then what the hell am I paying y’all for? WARNING/ do not take your vehicle here. She did not put any fluid in my car for my hydraulic fan. I picked up my car yesterday and by the time I got home, my car started overheating and had to pull over. Got my car diagnosed today and she did not put any hydraulic fluid in my car which has caused more problems for me. My hydraulic hose that she put on, leaks, and because of this, my hydraulic pump burnt up and may need a new fan and hose. Do not take your vehicle to her. She is a scam and is only out to get over on you and cause more problems. I promise you if you don’t have problems with vehicle right away, you will later on.

They do a great job at a great price. Finding a garage you can trust is very stressful but Gator gets great reviews for a reason. They have quickly become my only place that I will get car work done.

I was traveling in the area when my car broke down. Not only did they know exactly what was wrong with my car right away, they stayed late to fix it on a Saturday. Thank you so much for getting me and my kids back on the road safe.

Karen is the best! Weve since moved away from Carbondale, but still bring our vehicles here. Its hard to find a good mechanic, especially since she set the bar so high!

Amazing service, whether youre talking about the interaction with Karen or the work performedThey were also super accommodating to my schedule.Couldnt be happier with all the interactions I had whether that be with Karen, the owner (assumption) or the mechanics.

Good service very professional.

The owner is honest and trustworthy. Anytime Ive had an automotive problem in the past 4 years Ive gone to her because shes always been reasonable and straightforward.

Always a pleasure. Good people doing good work .

Dont take your car anywhere else.

Very helpful.

Been a customer for over 10 years. The reason is that they do a good job and charge a reasonable price.

Be aware, they try to charge you more:I ordered wheel alignment service at Gator auto for my car. They ask me to left my car there and then later on to call me that a jam nut is sealed they have to charge more. Eventually they charged me twice as usually for wheel alignment.

Karen at Gator Automotive is the best! I dont get my vehicle fixed anywhere else.

Karen is the best. I wouldnt take my car anywhere else. I strongly suggest you do the same.

Karen is amazing, she is the only mechanic I will take my car to anymore.

I needed a new tire and all of my friends said to go here. Their price for the tire, plus installation, was still $30 cheaper than Wal-Mart! They are friendly and even stayed open an hour late so I wouldnt have to wait until the next day to get my car back.

Very honest, trustworthy, good kind people, they do all my personal automotive work.

They are a conniving business that seeks to over-charge you to any capacity; I sent my car in for an oil change and a check up. They switched my odometer from miles to kilometers; effectively giving my car and additional 35000 moles.

Great mechanics and great prices. Super friendly!

I have taken cars there when I cannot fix myself for 20 years, and never go anywhere else. No need to. They noticed a rattle in the back of my sons Mazda 3 which I have never been able to pinpoint. They said bring it back and they would take a look. I did - they spend several hours, and like myself could not pin it down- maybe something in quarter panel. Never charged me a cent because they felt they did not give me a resolution.

Karen is so kind and super helpful. They do sometimes take awhile to get everything fixed.

As I drive over the road escorting OSL trucks... Karen slipped me in to get some much needed past due repairs done...kept me updated as repairs were needed...thanks KarenThanks;Bill KingAcorn Truck Safety Escort LLCNationwide services,TWIC Card HolderHave Hi Pole will travel

Karen is knowledgeable and treated me very well

I love that she is a Female Mechanic, and they do Awesome work!!!

Exceptional service and fast.

High quality work that takes forever for them to do

I like it but havent been there in a while

Thank you Karen.

Excellent service and helpful staff.

Amazing work for low prices.

There an okay place to get your vehicle worked on

Great garage.Karen is a gem!

Awful place take ur vehicle anywhere but here wont stand by the work they do and Karen is a thief

We were passing through town on a road trip the weekend after Thanksgiving, and our car broke down in the evening. They had us back on the road by 10:30 the next day.

Thank you great job!

She will rip you off! Wont be going back!

Excellent service

Gator is the best

Karen is honest and fair

Quality work