If you kick the tires, rummage around in the glove box and look under the hood of a new auto repair shop in Marana, you'll find something solid: Experience.
The store's three co-owners, Patrick Lopez, Marty Rivera and Mark Anaya, have around 70 years of combined automotive know-how.
Five years ago, the men met while working for another auto-repair company. They discussed buying the shops from the owner and made plans to do so.
"The owner eventually wanted to retire and when it came time to do the deal, it fell through," Rivera said.
The trio decided to move forward with a slightly altered version of their dream. Instead of taking over someone else's brand, they made their own.
"I have the technician experience, Patrick has the marketing experience and Mark has the dealership experience," Rivera said. "We just had to put it all together."
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"As operators of the corporation we worked for, we were trained to be owners," Lopez said. "That negative news (when the original deal fell through) kind of glued us together."
The co-owners found a building with six service bays at the southeast corner of West Ina Road and North Meredith Boulevard and opened MPG Automotive Services in February.
Dat Vo, 35, took his 2004 Ford Taurus there for service on a recent Tuesday afternoon. He has taken his car to the shop more than once because they do a good job, he said.
"They don't give you the run-around," Vo said. "They tell you what needs to be done and if you want to get it done, it's up to you."
All three men worked their way up the ranks of the automotive-repair world.
Lopez, 40, got a job as a parts driver at age 18. Rivera, 45, was hired as a general service technician right out of high school. And at age 22, Anaya was hired as a service writer at a local dealership.
Rosemary Smith, 67, was at the shop that Tuesday to get the oil changed in her 2001 Chrysler Town & Country.
"The first thing I get here is respect," Smith said. "These guys are honest and I have sent other women to them for that reason."
The partners opened a second shop at 1401 W. Valencia Road on June 8. Anaya, 42, is managing that location.
"We're trying to treat everyone like family. We don't push. We educate the customer," Anaya said. "There's enough honest business out there for everyone — we don't have to make it up."
Tune it up
What: MPG Automotive Services.
Where: 3571 W. Ina Road.
Phone: 744-7997.
Hours: 7:30 a.m. -5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m. -5 p.m. Saturday.
Cost: Oil changes start at $19.95.
