Good Neighbor Podcast: Orange County

From Engineer To Honest Shop Owner: A-Z Tech Automotive’s Story

• Rachel Fyffe & Amir

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Ever met a mechanic who tells you not to spend your money? That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with Amir, co-owner of A-Z Tech Automotive, a full-service shop that handles both body work and mechanical repair under one roof. We explore how a trust-first approach can flip the script on car care, turning a stressful, confusing expense into a clear, collaborative decision.

Amir shares his journey from mechanical engineer to shop owner at 55, and why that background matters. He knows what repairs should cost, understands the pressure drivers feel when cars break, and built his business to remove guesswork. You’ll hear how the team advises customers to skip repairs when a car is nearing the end, and how they advocate for warranty coverage on known issues, like certain Hyundai engine problems. That means researching service bulletins, sending folks back to the dealer, and celebrating when the fix is covered. It’s not great for short-term revenue, but it’s exactly how long-term loyalty is earned.

We also dig into the human side of auto repair. Crashes don’t wait for business hours, so Amir answers after-hours calls to guide shaken drivers through insurance, towing, and next steps. The shop offers rides, keeps communication simple, and focuses on everyday vehicles they can service with confidence. Instead of chasing flashy marketing, they rely on word of mouth and consistent service, supported by basic SEO so neighbors can find them when it counts. Along the way, Amir lets us in on life beyond the shop: family time, music from around the world, and ballroom dance classes that bring joy and balance.

If you care about honest estimates, clear options, and mechanics who put your interests first, this story will reset your expectations for auto repair and body shop service. Subscribe for more local stories, share this episode with a neighbor who needs a trustworthy shop, and leave a review to help others find conversations that put people first.

SPEAKER_02:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Rachel Five.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Now, if you are looking for a one-stop auto repair shop that can handle your vehicle's body work and automotive repairs, well, that resource is closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Amir, with A to Z Tech Automotive. Amir, how is it going?

SPEAKER_00:

Going fine. Thank you, Rachel.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, wonderful. We are really excited to learn about your business. So tell us all about it.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, A to Z Tech Automotive has been around since 1989. And um myself, I am uh I'm the owner, so is my wife. Wife and I bought this place about uh 10 years ago, 2015. And uh so what we do here is body shop complete repair shop under the same roof from bumper to bumper. We don't do any classics and we don't we try and shy away a little bit about from testas. Uh they have their own uh their own shops, but pretty much everything else everyday cars, kias, and honas, and toyotas, and all kinds of makes and models. We handle them all.

SPEAKER_01:

Wonderful. Well, how did you get into this business?

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, long story, but to shorten it up in a couple of minutes, uh I'm a mechanical engineer myself and I worked in that field for many years. And uh so that of course I repaired my own cars and my kids' cars, but there was a time that I wanted uh to get back in and in car business, but I wanted to have my own business. So uh 10 years ago, I quit my work of five weeks of vacation and at the age of 55, and I thought, uh, you know, this is that this is what I wanted to do, and I didn't want to get to retirement age, and saying this is what I should have done, and so jumped right into it and then uh bought the shop uh from a neighbor of mine, and uh I was looking around to see if I could find a good, honest shop. So that took me a while to find, unfortunately, uh, the business period, and uh and I found it, and um, so I bought it from my neighbor.

SPEAKER_01:

Wonderful. Well, what do you think are maybe some myths or misconceptions in your industry?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, looking into this business, uh, that I looked into the the not only the dealerships but also the chains, I was really surprised as to uh how much misconceptions there are in this business. Uh, and uh because I knew how to repair the cars, I never was on the other end and saying, you know, I I don't know what you know repairs cost, because I I knew, but what I didn't know was uh how much people didn't know about repairing cars costs, and the trust was the main thing in my business. So then uh I wanted to create a shop that uh that it was totally trustable, and that was a good opportunity. I wanted to get in there being on the other side of it, uh, so I knew that it needed improvements, it needed uh to change that uh that conception. So that's uh that's the main thing, trust.

SPEAKER_01:

Wonderful. Now we know marketing is really the heart of every business. So how are you finding your customers?

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, we do uh we don't do as much uh advertising, maybe we should, but um, it's a lot of it word of mouth, and being in business so long because it was trusted to begin with, and I just carried it on. And and uh wife and I we drive customers home, and I want to do that to build that relationship, and the world travels, the world travels fast. Um, so we've we're very lucky to have a very good loyal customers that uh that pass the word for us.

SPEAKER_01:

Wonderful. Now, have you ever thought about doing your own podcast?

SPEAKER_00:

I have not actually so uh yeah, I not I have an SEO that does a lot of the social media uh you know items, but uh I don't do that uh myself. I I rather stay with the customers and be good at that.

SPEAKER_01:

Wonderful. Well, now outside of work, what do you like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_00:

Uh good question. Since this is my life now, but uh kids have grown, but I really like I'm a family guy, you know. So vacations with the family, enjoy a lot of time. Now that I got uh one grandkid, another one on its way. I love spending a lot of time with them. I do uh wife and I signed up for some ballroom classes with dancing. I enjoy that, and then I love music. I've got all kinds of music on my uh on my phone from every country you could think of, and I love listening to them.

SPEAKER_01:

Wonderful. Well, Amir, please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about A-Z Tech Automotive.

SPEAKER_00:

Gosh, uh, that is you, you know, it's very important to trust and being in a place where you feel comfortable. Okay, so car business is one of those that I like my customers to know us as to they throw the key and they could trust us, whatever we tell them. And we've lost some business from the customers that we tell them not to do the repairs, okay. The reason for that is because we see that you know, and a thousand bucks here, five hundred dollars there, and uh so we see that it's gonna be a problem for them and it's gonna cost them a lot of money. Tell them get rid of it, get rid of the car, uh, get another one. This is this is gonna run you dry. So, in a short run, it's not good for us because we lose business that way. But guess what? We're not looking for that one-time shot, we're looking for a long-term relationship. So those customers pass the words and then uh they come over over and again. Uh so we've, for example, we've sent uh several cars back to Hyundai dealerships because of the renew of known uh engine problems that they've had, and so they come in and we know the engine has to be changed, but we dig up some some uh reports and send them back to the dealership for warranties, and so they come back with cookies and food and everything else, they're so happy because they got it uh changed over warranty. So that's uh that's what I like. I remember, yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, yeah. Well, how can our listeners learn more about A to Z Tech Automotive?

SPEAKER_00:

Can look it up under our website, A to Z Tech Auto uh Automotive, and then uh we're a mission viejo, and uh I could provide the phone number if you like, but um we are here a lot of times, even over uh weekends and after hours, the phone number phones uh get transferred to my cell phone. I answer them because remember, we're in a body shop, so people don't plan on getting accidents, but when they do, uh especially after many years of not having accidents, they need help. Uh they don't know what to do. A lot of times they don't even remember, you know, if they have their own license, where it's at, and the insurance and all that. So because they're panicking, right? So I want them to remember only one form number and I'll walk them through it uh over the phone, what's what they should do, what should do.

SPEAKER_01:

Wonderful. Well, Amir, I really appreciate you being on the show, and we wish you and your business really all the best moving forward.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you, Rachel.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnporangecounty.com. That's gmp orangecounty.com or call 714 941 8862.