Alan Auto Volvo Services

Run, don't walk... Insisted on $4k in "repairs" on car only worth $1.8k. Became violent when asked to stop work. Be forewarned more

Alan's Auto Volvo clearly cared about my old Volvo and....cared for it! Sure I spent some money to get things repaired, but, as much as I hate to admit it, she isn't invincible!? Thanks for TLC that is hard to find nowadays! See you again when the time comes. more

I recently purchased a 2007 Volvo XC70 in part because I knew I could eventually install two third row rear-facing seats to ferry around extra children when needed. However, when I started to ask around to find someone who could install the seats for me I had some trouble. One fellow not far from my home who has exclusively worked on Volvos for decades said he could do the job but when it came down to it he gave up and declared it couldn’t be done. Not easily discouraged, I called at least 20 Volvo dealers and mechanics along the Eastern Seaboard getting a variety of answers about whether installing these seats in my car was possible or not. This search led me to Alan at Alan Auto Volvo in Portland, Maine. When we spoke on the phone he was always very patient with me and assured me that the job was possible and that they could do it. As promised, his mechanics had the installation complete by the end of the day. I was tickled with their success and pleased that they had a loaner for me as I waited for the work to be done. I was so impressed with Alan’s expertise and the fair price I paid for the work that needed to be done, that even though I live three hours away from the shop I plan on making the folks at Alan Auto my primary mechanics. more

Alan Auto is a very special place. Alan attention to detail with regards to keeping my 1991 740 running well, along with all aspects of running his shop with a deep respect for the environment is noteworthy. From Alan’s retro dot matrix printer to his obvious passion for all things Volvo, visiting the shop is always a true adventure. I didn’t expect to have the Volvo I bought from Alan for so long, or that it would end up driving across the country and back along with many other miles. The car has never left me stranded. As my son, who has the car now pointed out, “I have rescued many friends with newer cars that broke down”. The mechanics at Alan Auto have a deep knowledge and respect for Volvo cars old and new which always gives me confidence as I write the big check. more

Maintenance, repairs and customer service continue to exceed expectations for the 2+ years we have brought our Volvo to Alan. Repairs are always on time and loaner cars always offered. I wouldnt bring our Volvo anywhere else! more

Got an "older" Volvo that your local shop can't seem to get right or they’ve scared you to death with the repair cost? My wife and I own 4 of them from 1971 to 2007. They are all serviced by Alan and will be until he doesn't want to open his shop for business any more. They all receive a VMA (Vehicle Maintenance Analysis) yearly and we know the status of each car and its repair needs. The hour that's spent on that diagnostic check will keep any surprises from happening and let you plan on what’s to come, in an order of priorities that should keep most of us from applying for welfare. Alan is a communicator and will explain in great detail any or all of the fixes that need to be or have been applied to your vehicle. His well seasoned staff and number one office manager (Beth) are well versed in almost everything Volvo (automotive). They all are there for same reason, making your Volvo run, drive and feel as it should. In case your sensing a little bias here your correct as I’ve known Alan for a long, long time and oh yes there’s the same bias for Volvo as I’ve worked for and on them (in my youth), admired and driven them for that same long time. J. Kendall Cornish, ME more

I had the best experience going to Alan's Volvo, start to finish! Everyone I came in contact with, went above and beyond my expectations. They gave me all the information, whether it was good news or not. I appreciate their honesty. Any issues that come up, I will be calling them first. I truly love my Volvo and feel it is well taken care of when I leave it with Alan. I would recommend them to anyone who values honesty and professionalism. more

I have been taking my 240 to Alan for almost 2 years now. His extensive knowledge of the model keeps me coming back. He has in depth knowledge on every part, allowing him to quickly and knowledgeably assess when to use aftermarket parts vs when to pay the extra for the Volvo name. His thorough mentality can occasional cost more, but after having 2 'repairs' by other shops that left me stranded on the side of the road I always go to Alan to ensure that the job is done right. He also has the experience to explain when and how to preform preemptive maintenance. As a true Volvo enthusiast, he was happy to chat with me for long durations about what parts of my car were likely to fail next, where the rust generally sets in, etc., and how to prevent these occurrences. He was happy to share insider knowledge that allowed me to make many minor repairs on my own, even at the expense of costing him more business. I take my car to Alan because I want him to not only patch the problem, but to approach it with a detailed understanding of the car. He fixes problems once, so that they don't come back again. I know that I can be confident leaving his shop that I won't end up on the side of the road. more

I have been using Alan auto to maintain and repair my Volvo xc90 for the past 5 years. Alan is a wonderfully knowledgeable mechanic and person. He has never told me to do any repair to the car that was not necessary and because of his care my Volvo has run wonderfully. I have invested lots of money into keeping my Volvo running well and it has paid off. I consider Alan my volvo's doctor and take his advice and honesty to heart. Alan and his wife Beth are a treasure. If you have a Volvo this is the place to bring it. more

I first went to Alan Auto on a whim - my 1984 Volvo 240 broke down in Portland and I could hardly make it the mile to Alan's shop. I was weary at first, Alan can come off as arrogant -- but after talking to him and coming back to the shop a few times, I realized he was just kinda intense. And once he realized I was serious about my car, and loved it a lot, he was really happy to educate me and work with me to understand what was going on. I am a Volvo owner who likes to know what mechanics are doing, and why. I don't take kindly to service that doesn't make sense. Alan fixed my initial problem (the running/starting) and found out that my mass air flow sensor was broken. I had replaced that part just a year before and I was bummed, to say the least. Alan worked with me to get a refund from the parts shop in Portland, Oregon where I got the last mass air flow sensor. He got me $200 back from the shop by talking to their mechanic! It was awesome. Since then I've brought my car in for body work (yes, body work is expensive, if you don't want to spend 1k or more then don't deal with the rust on your car, or figure out how to fix it yourself :) and for general maintenance. Since the body work I've made it clear to Alan that my priority, now that my 240 is in pretty good shape again, is to be able to drive it where I need to go. He responded really well and has been cutting me deals, giving me parts (used, of course), and calling me when cheap parts are in that he knows I need. Alan loves Volvos, and if you love your car I definitely urge you to take it to Alan Auto! I've learned a lot about my car from Alan. He is an intense guy, but if you specify your needs and make your expectations really clear you can have a great experience at this shop! My car is looking and running better than ever. more

Alan Auto is the only repair shop I will use for my Volvo. I have a 2004 xc 90 which has been maintained for four years by Alan Auto. The expertise and knowledge of this shop is outstanding and I am pleased to say my Volvo drives like a new car because of the care it receives. If you want the best service for your Volvo this is the place to go. more

I have a 2001 XC Volvo wagon which I have been taking to Alan for the past 8 years. Because of the excellent care the car has received at Alan's it runs like a charm. Alan is very responsive and listens to my descriptions of irregular sounds or behavior on the part of the car and has been able to solve the problems. He is extremely thorough - leaves no stone unturned, so by the time the car is ready to come home, I know it is in terrific shape. Another aspect of Alan's business which I appreciate enormously is the free loaner whenever my car has to spend a while in the shop. more

We bought a 99 Volvo V 70 X.C last year A local garage had taken a look at it, and assured me it had been all checked out and was a "good car." The car made five trips back to the original garage in the first month.Obviously, it was time for a new shop. Alan spent an hour going all over the car and presented me w/an itemized of work to be done to our car. In addition to the itemized list was an approximate cost of each job. He also rated each job on scale of one to four as to how soon we needed to address each problem.His work has been outstanding. more

When having a loaner car I got into accident with it. I never had this issue before, and had to file insurance claim. I thought no problem, as mine being primary it should of covered damage to other vehicle I hit. However, I was wrong, and it didn't cover anything. My insurance company wanted to say Alan Auto insurance to pay, and be the primary carrier. This is not the case when taking loaner vehicle, due to loaner agreement I signed. It clearly states you are agreeing you have full coverage that covers the loaner car. And any damage caused to other you hit. I was fine with this, as this is case with any rental care taken out. I had to fight my insurance company to pay. Therefore, I had to take full responsibility for it. I needed help, and advice on what to do! Alan Auto helped me the whole way with advice, advocating for me and giving me resources to help. It took over a mouth to win the battle, but I did. And it was due to their help, and my persistence that I won. more

I went to Alan Auto Volvo Services to repair my 1997 Volvo 850 instead of purchasing someone else's vehicle of neglect. The Vehicle Mechanical Analysis was something I liked. It was integrated and sobering, but not far off of what was expected. Things come up in repair and I was made aware, and had say in, before any unplanned surprise was resolved. Between Alan, and Igor the technician, I felt encouraged to participate and enjoyed the opportunity. A loaner car was available for use. I have had this car "fixed" many times. I went to Alan Auto to have it repaired. It was a good decision on my part. more

Good: Alan Prosser and his team have deep experience with Volvo cars. I just completed a three-year restoration of a 1965 Volvo 1800S. The shop performed comprehensive mechanical modernization as well as complete restoration of body, paint, chrome, and interior components. Alan is a perfectionist, and does an excellent job of communications during the process. He has outstanding suppliers (including Denis, a body and paint man who delivered a magnificent,straight body with better than factory gaps).. Bad: A major restoration with Alan Auto requires patience, in part because the shop does both restoration and regular maintenance work, and in part because the shop has more work than people to do it.. Other: Overall, I am delighted with the work performed. The body, paint, and chrome are spectacular, and the formerly geriatric 45-year-old car has been returned to a state of performance and safety equal to when it left the factory. Alan and his team are trustworthy and genuinely nice to work with.. more

I went to Alan for a problem Portland Volvo gave up on--and expected a last ditch effort before replacing my 10 year old S40. The good news is, Alan and crew quickly diagnosed the problem, fixed it, and brought my car back to life...I won't be car shopping for a long time...Alan is a true encyclopedia of Volvos, a specialist's specialist... more

Alan has worked out his own style of service based on a thorough understanding of Volvos and a systematic approach to maintaining and repairing cars. He insists on making a diagnostic examination of the car first so the owner knows what repairs are needed and what are the highest priorities. He gives you his best estimate at that point and you choose how much to do or how little to do. Inevitably surprises are discovered and the estimate will change, but Alan always keeps you informed and does his best to explain it. If you care about your car, Alan's the man for you. more

I asked Alan a simple question. How much to replace a transmission in a 1998 Cross Country V70 AWD Volvo. After giving me info as to what they would do before they decided it needed a transmission, I asked the question again. Alan REFUSED to even give me a quote. I then said to him, "Well, since you won't give me a quote I guess we are done here." His reply, "I guess we are." This left and extremely bad taste in my mouth, and I will never give Alan my business, and neither should you. more

alan will lie to you and steal your money. avoid his shop like the plague that it is! more