Estimated: 11 min read

A customer story about 40 years of trust, a Jasper engine warranty honored without question, and why a lawyer calls [atc] AutoCenter the only shop he recommends.

The verdict after 40 years: this is the only shop I recommend

Richard Ingram has been a customer since the early 1980s.

He’s a lawyer. His job is evaluating credibility, holding people accountable to their word, and knowing when someone is telling him the truth. He’s been doing it for decades.

And after 40 years of bringing his vehicles, including a mix of Mercedes, Ford, and Chevrolet, to [atc] AutoCenter on Gordon Highway, his assessment is straightforward.

“If you want to pay to get your car repaired one time, you go to [atc]. If you want to flirt around with what you’d consider a cheaper price, I think you’ll know when you’ve made that mistake.”
— Richard Ingram, [atc] customer since the early 1980s

Everyone he’s recommended to [atc] has thanked him for it.

They don’t guess

Richard describes the [atc] approach the same way every time: like a good doctor.

“They’re going to get it in there. They’re going to break it down. They’re going to call you and tell you what they see, just like a good doctor would. And nobody does that in this industry, to my knowledge, other than [atc].”
— Richard Ingram

That’s the process in practice. When you bring a vehicle in, [atc]’s ASE-certified technicians run a full Testing & Analysis, scanning for fault codes, checking all vital fluids for level and condition, and test driving the vehicle to verify your concern before pinpointing the root cause. You get a call explaining what they found, in plain language, before any work is approved.

No guessing. No work done without your sign-off. A written estimate before anything starts.

Richard points out that when something is hard to replicate, [atc] asks questions rather than assuming. They’ll call and ask for more detail about what the vehicle was doing, so they can use your input alongside their technical knowledge to get it right the first time.

“Just like a doctor, they’ll call you and ask about symptoms. If they’re having trouble with something, they get back with you and say, ‘Tell me more about the problem you were having.'”
— Richard Ingram

That’s not a small thing. Most drivers have had the experience of describing a problem, being brushed off, and getting a bill for work that didn’t fix it. Richard hasn’t had that experience in 40 years.

What honest Testing & Analysis actually looks like ●      Fault codes scanned and explained in plain language ●      All vital fluids checked for level and condition ●      Test drive to verify the concern before any work begins ●      Pinpoint testing to confirm the root cause ●      Written estimate provided and approved before work starts ●      A phone call if they need more information from you

The Jasper warranty worked exactly as promised

Richard has bought multiple vehicles from different manufacturers over the years. Not all of them make it to the end without a major mechanical issue. A few needed engine work.

[atc] uses Jasper remanufactured engines and drivetrain components, and has for 25 years. Richard found out firsthand what that partnership means when something goes wrong after the install.

“I had trouble with one engine. Not because of [atc], but just because it’s inevitable you can have trouble with even a rebuilt unit. But no questions. Took it in. They took that motor out. Jasper issued another one. Put it back in. And the warranty was extended again from that point. Nothing out of my pocket.”
— Richard Ingram

That’s the Jasper warranty working as designed. No friction, no pushback, no bill for the second installation. The warranty clock reset from the date of the new install, so Richard left with full coverage on the replacement engine.

Richard also noted that [atc] works with extended warranty coverage on his vehicles. Instead of sending him to a dealership, they coordinate with his warranty provider directly, and the repairs are often covered under the policy. One shop handles everything.

For drivers managing older vehicles with extended warranties, that matters. It’s the difference between navigating two separate service relationships and having one shop you trust do it all.

You can see the full warranty terms [atc]’s warranty page. The NAPA Peace of Mind Warranty covers 36 months and 36,000 miles. The TechNet warranty and [atc]’s own shop warranty each cover 24 months and 24,000 miles.

A lawyer jealous of customer service

Richard’s professional frame on [atc] is worth paying attention to.

“I’m a lawyer, and customer service is a hard thing to deliver. But I’m jealous when I see how strong their customer conversations are over the phone and in person. It’s almost envious. It’s as if they went to a special school.”
— Richard Ingram

He’s not flattering them. He’s making a comparative judgment from someone who lives in the world of difficult conversations, high-stakes communication, and clients who expect to be heard.

His observation: the staff at [atc] is genuinely motivated and genuinely interested in your problem. You can tell from the parking lot. When technicians are moving a vehicle in or out of a bay, they speak to you. They look like they want to be there.

“Their staff likes doing what they do. They’re motivated, highly interested in your problem, so you never feel like you’re getting pushed back or ignored. It looks like a family. Really does.”
— Richard Ingram

That’s not a small observation. It’s what 50-plus years of family ownership looks like from the outside. Brian and Chris Weeks didn’t inherit the shop. They grew up in it, earned engineering degrees, came off the racing circuit, and bought it in 1999 because it’s what they’d built their lives around. The team reflects that.

Depth of knowledge you can’t fake

Richard points to Brian and Chris directly when describing why [atc] is different.

“Both young men are highly educated. They didn’t just graduate from high school and say, ‘My family has a business, let’s dive in.’ They went to college. Got their degrees. They’ve always been interested in cars. It’s in their blood.”
— Richard Ingram

That’s a description of something real. Mechanical engineering degrees at the ownership level means the people making decisions about your vehicle aren’t guessing either. They’ve run down complex problems in school, on the racing circuit, and across 50 years of CSRA repair work.

Richard draws a line between what [atc] offers and what an average mechanic can provide.

“Being technicians, not just mere mechanics, they have been through training. They’ve made interest in schools and furthering their education in modern cars. They’re able to run down a problem better than an average mechanic.”
— Richard Ingram

The ASE certifications across the [atc] team reinforce this. Certification isn’t a one-time credential. It requires ongoing training as vehicles change. For a customer maintaining multiple vehicles across multiple makes, that depth is the difference between a shop that can handle it and one that refers out.

What 40 years actually means

Loyalty at this level isn’t built by one good experience. It builds across dozens of visits, different vehicles, different problems, and different moments where a shop either does the right thing or doesn’t.

Richard is clear about why he’s still going back.

“There’s no doubt about that. I didn’t show up because I just know them. I show up because they’ve been there for me. You can pay to get your car repaired one time, and you know that problem’s extinguished. You can’t beat that.”
— Richard Ingram

He also describes the recommendation pattern the same way other long-term customers do. He tells people about [atc]. They haven’t tried it yet. Once they do, they thank him.

“Everyone that I speak with about car repair, I recommend [atc]. And the response you usually get is: I haven’t tried them yet, but since you said that, I probably should call them.”
— Richard Ingram

That’s how a forever mechanic spreads. Not through ads. Through customers who’ve had 40 years of evidence.

If you’re deciding between shops, or you’re tired of relationships that don’t hold up, read more about how [atc] approaches long-term vehicle care: making the right car repair decision.

What this means if you’re looking for a shop you can stay with

Richard’s story isn’t about one repair that went right.

It’s about what a shop earns when it tells the truth across four decades. When the warranty works as described. When the team shows up the same way every visit. When a lawyer who evaluates credibility for a living calls it the only shop he recommends.

If you’ve had a repair that didn’t hold, or you’re carrying a quote you’re not sure you can trust, that’s exactly what [atc] helps you sort out.

Richard’s challenge is worth taking seriously: give them a chance to look at your car. See the difference. Schedule at the Augusta location at (706) 738-7812 or Grovetown at (706) 303-3333.

In short

• Forty+ years of trust doesn’t come from marketing. It comes from a shop that calls you before it starts work, tells you what it finds, and fixes it right the first time.
• The Jasper remanufactured engine warranty covers parts and labor on a replacement unit if a problem arises. Richard experienced this firsthand. Nothing out of pocket.
• [atc] coordinates with extended warranty providers directly. Older vehicles with extended coverage don’t need a separate dealership relationship.
• ASE-certified technicians with engineering degrees at the ownership level means the people diagnosing your vehicle have the training to run down complex problems.
• A shop that earns the recommendation earns it across years, not visits. See how [atc] approaches long-term care: making the right car repair decision.

---

Frequently asked questions

 

Does [atc] AutoCenter work with extended warranties?

Yes. [atc] coordinates with extended warranty providers directly. If your vehicle has a warranty that covers drivetrain components or other repairs, the team can work within that coverage. Customers often find this means they can handle repairs at [atc] instead of routing through a dealership.

 

What happens if a Jasper remanufactured engine has a problem after it’s installed?

[atc]’s 25-year partnership with Jasper Engines and Transmissions means the warranty is handled without friction. If a remanufactured unit has an issue after installation, Jasper issues a replacement unit, [atc] performs the swap, and the warranty period resets from the date of the new install. No additional cost to the customer.

 

What warranty do I get on repairs at [atc] AutoCenter?

[atc] offers three warranty tiers. The NAPA Peace of Mind Warranty covers 36 months and 36,000 miles. The TechNet warranty and [atc]’s own shop warranty each cover 24 months and 24,000 miles. Jasper remanufactured drivetrain components carry their own manufacturer warranty on top of that.

 

How do I know [atc] won’t recommend repairs I don’t need?

[atc] provides a written estimate and requires your approval before any work begins. The Peace of Mind Inspection that comes with every visit gives you a full picture of the vehicle’s condition, including what’s in good shape and what can wait. If a repair isn’t worth doing, [atc] will say so. That’s the honest advisor approach the shop has operated on for 50-plus years.

 

What makes [atc] AutoCenter different from other shops in Augusta?

[atc] is independently owned and operated by Brian and Chris Weeks, who hold mechanical engineering degrees and have been in the automotive industry their entire lives. The shop is ASE-certified, a NAPA AutoCare Center, and Elite Ethics Certified. [atc] has operated in the CSRA since 1972, with family roots in the industry going back to 1952. It’s not a franchise. It’s not a chain. Every decision about your vehicle is made by people with a stake in this community.