22/04/2016

I had to take a quick moment to write this review because I was really pleased with my experience at Infamous.
I had this clunking noise coming from the rear passenger side of my Subie every time I would drive slowly over bumps. Two mechanics I had gone to already could not figure it out. When I brought the car in to Infamous, Mike quickly diagnosed the problem and had a feeling that the source of the problem were bad sway bar end linkages. He didn't have the parts on hand so I made an appointment to come in a few days later and get it taken care of. Mike quoted me for an hour of labor and he completed the job in an hour while I waited. He pulled the car up, and to my surprise, did not even bother test driving it to see if the noise was gone. That was how confident he was. He knows his Subies!
After I paid and drove off, I had this grin on my face because the noise was finally gone! Thanks Mike! This is where I'm taking my car from now on!

Run D.

Source: YELP

14/03/2016

As others have stated before: Mike knows Subarus (and cars in general) like nobody else! And I don't mention this lightly. Being an autocross and amateur motorsports enthusiast, I have had a LOT of work done on my Subaru over the last 10 years. I have taken my car to generic shops and 'specialty' shops that specialize in motorsports. They have all either been adequate or sub-par. Even other supposed 'Subaru experts'.
Infamous Performance is the first shop that has exceeded my expectations every time I come in for an upgrade or a problem to be fixed. Not only does Mike diagnose quickly and accurately, he often comes up with innovative solutions that saved me money in the long run! This combination of expertise and honesty is almost nonexistent in the auto repair/service industry.
One example is when I had AST coilovers installed at Infamous Performance. It was recommended that I get my car corner-balanced after the install, to make sure the weight-distribution is optimized. However, when I took the car to get corner balanced, the other shop told me that it was already balanced! Mike saved me over $150 right there. And he did the ride height adjustment by sight!
Bottom line is: You can get it done CHEAP and wonder if the work will hold up or you can get it done RIGHT by an expert that also CARES about your car!
Mike and Dylan are the BEST at what they do. I will not take my Subaru to anyone else. Customer for life here.

Kee C.

Source: YELP

18/06/2016

If you have a Subaru and want to get the best service...take your car here. Mike is a very knowledgeable mechanic that is well versed in diagnosing existing problems and explaining solutions that make logical sense.

Nick C.

Source: YELP

02/07/2016

I purchased a set of front/rear KYB strut mounts at
as i did a full swap of my suspension on my 2006 Legacy GT. Turns out, the front strut mounts that were sent were not compatible with my car. I notified Mike and told him the mounts were not working. MIke told me that I would need to return the parts, and upon inspection to see if it was in "new condition" a determination would be made if the refund would go through. Not only that, but he would charge a 15% restocking fee for the return.
I called BS. Why would the customer be charged a restocking fee for a product that was improperly advertised on the website? If you go to their site, it has a "select a vehicle" option; it provides a list of compatible parts to your selected vehicle. This is pretty standard for most car sites who offer aftermarket parts. Turns out, Infamous didnt do their homework and listed incorrect parts for my car.
Mike finally conceded and said because it was listed incorrectly, there would not be a 15% restocking fee. But he deflected the issue to KYB, saying it was the manufacturer's fault.
I sent the two front strut mounts back to their return location, and the total cost to ship the falsely advertised product cost $25.04. I emailed Mike to notify him that I thought it was messed up that I had to cover the cost of their clear mistake and asked for options to get reimbursed. MIke gave me a link to their company policy stating "If the product is damaged, defective, or missing pieces we will cover the return shipping." Mike again claimed "we are not responsible for typographical errors (especially ones provided by the manufacturer) and return shipping is the responsibility of the buyer." That burden was placed on the customer. He also compared this faulty policy to making returns to a local store: much like a local store would not reimburse a customer gas money to make a return, his company would not reimburse return shipping costs. WTF?
Here's the underying problem: Their website is garbage and lists wrong parts, and their customer service is several notches worse. They treat customers as if we are deliberately trying to screw with their business. I just want a fair refund on an incorrectly listed part! Is that too much to ask?
Mike is currently running a full 4th of July ad on
, NASIOC, iwsti, and all of the Subaru forums to sell aftermarket parts. BUYER BEWARE, do not trust this guy or the content of the website. If you order a part from their site, and it is incorrectly listed, then prepare to spend money to return it because Mike takes no accountability for his mistakes.
KYB Front Strut Mounts: $104.98
Return shipping for incorrect KYB Strut Mounts: $25.04
Why would anyone want to ever purchase from this guy again? 25% of my money was expended on this purchase because Mike doesn't know how to adequately provide customer service.
BTW, one month later, the wrong part (KYB Strut Mounts (SM5361) is STILL listed on their website.

Derek H.

Source: YELP

13/06/2016

I took my car in for a clutch replacement, about a week ago. I arrived at 8am and they adviced me that the car would be done by 5pm. It was about 1:30 when i realised they had finished my car. I was so impressed on how fast and knowledge they were with my car. They told me that they work on so many FR-S/BRZ s that they know the car inside and out. I am really happy with the service they provided. Also, the labor costs were the lowest in all san diego/ escondido area. I would definately bring my car back for service and repair.

Jesse S.

Source: YELP

13/04/2016

Dylan and Mike at Infamous are amazing. They know their stuff! Very professional and honest. Highly recommend coming here for all Subaru needs!

Jasmin M.

Source: YELP

30/10/2015

Great work done on my car and Mike and Dylan really know their stuff. I even came late to my appointment and they still took me in (but please be on time!)
They are very transparent on their pricing and total professionals. Would go to them again!

Julian Y.

Source: YELP

28/05/2016

This guy deserves more than just 5 stars but that's the yelp max. Had a bearing replaced and he knocked some $ off the estimate because it took less time than anticipated. And since my car had another unrelated defect that annoyed him, he went ahead and took care of it for grins. Great guy, great business. He's doing it right down there! Ten stars

Tamas T.

Source: YELP

14/11/2015

I heard about Infamous Performance and Tuning from
. Their rate for suspension work was the best in town (in many towns actually). They swapped my old stock to KYB Excel-G strut and Swift spring. The job was done on time. They know their Subarus. I'm satisfied.

Mel X.

Source: YELP

10/12/2015

Mike is fantastic! He has helped me with my car on 2 occasions and I have been VERY HAPPY with his work and customer service. The first time my car was making a weird noise - Mike was able to diagnosis it quickly and did not over charge for his service. The second time my clutch went out and the dealer quoted me $1900 for the repairs and service. I called Mike and told him what the diagnostics from the dealer came back with and he quoted much lower so I towed it to him. Not only did he do the work for much less than the dealer, he was able to complete the repairs UNDER his initial quote! I would absolutely recommend him to a friend and I will definitely be returning! Thanks Mike!

Krista R.

Source: YELP

11/02/2015

I found Infamous Performance through a car forum I frequent for my FRS. After calling to get a quote from Mike for an oil change, rear differential fluid change and transmission fluid change (All MOTUL fluids, which they do carry in stock), I took in my car at the first available appointment.
The location is in a good spot, near the freeway enough that you don't have to drive too far in. You will know you have arrived at the shop when you see the many tuner cars parked in the back and front. When I arrived for my appointment Mike immediately began writing up my services invoice and then took my car into the shop area. Their waiting room also includes a second room with some aftermarket parts that you can look at. Infamous Performance knows how to handle lowered cars so there is no worries if you bring in a very low car. I did get a chance to chat with Mike while i was waiting, and its very obvious that he has been in the scene for quite some time. He is very knowledgeable and has had many years of experience in the tuner scene, with years and years of experience behind the wheel of high powered vehicles.
The prices are very good and the work very high quality. I will probably be coming here for all of my major maintenance work on my FRS. They also Dynotune at this shop. They are a full performance and tuning shop so they can probably get any aftermarket part that you may need/want. Great shop, Great Staff, Great Work!

Lam N.

Source: YELP

23/02/2016

Mike and crew over at Infamous performance did an awesome job on my Scion. Been here a couple times and have not been disappointed. Nice, clean shop, good work, and reasonable prices. Would definitely come back here if I need some more automotive work done.

Darren W.

Source: YELP

03/11/2014

I'm so glad I found out about this place (shout out to Eric C's review that caught my eye by mentioning /r/subaru)!! I recently took my Subaru to the dealer due to a pretty bad squeak (my wife and I have always used the dealer for maintenance) . The cost to repair was approximately 3x more than what Mike at Infamous charged me. The work was professional and the team was very friendly and took their time explaining what was needed and why.
Mike and the Infamous team is the new second home for my Subaru.

Art M.

Source: YELP

29/05/2014

Read about these guys on the Reddit forum /r/Subaru and was not disappointed. A five minute conversation with Mike (owner, usually answers the phone) is all you need to know that these guys are legitimate. They did a complete workover on my Forester XT's suspension, gauge/short throw install and oil change, all top notch work at very reasonable pricing.
In typical import shop style, they're located in the very back of a commercial complex. You'll know you're there when you see a dozen Subies staring back at you.

Eric C.

Source: YELP

20/05/2015

They were able to diagnose a difficult suspension issue on my subaru outback. Their cost for bushing replacement was less than half of the dealer cost. The owner, Mike, worked through his lunch hour to get my car finished. Their charge for labor was much less than the time that they actually spent with the car. If you own a subaru and don't take it to this shop then you are doing it wrong.

Socrates M.

Source: YELP

05/02/2015

So I decided to give Infamous Perf a try today. It was early, I had an appointment set at 0830AM to get my transmission, diff, and rear diff fluid changed out on my 2004 STi. I traveled quite a way from El Cajon, and like I said it was early, there was traffic...I showed up earlier than expected so I was the only one there. But Mike showed up on time, and immediately he started writing the work order to the car. So I got my car lifted and and Mike came in and told me my passenger axle seal was leaking! You know I had noticed recently that I smelled the sensation of "burning oil" at the stop light or after getting out from a drive. So Mike brought me with him to their shop and showed me the leak and there was transmission fluid all over the place, the differential was smothered in what looked like "melted butter". So there was fluid obviously burning off the downpipe, and hence the smell. So in all I obviously went in for a tranny fluid change not knowing I was losing fluid over time. Mike said he can get it done in an hour worth of labor. So all the work done - manual trans, diff, rear diff, and axle seal job.... Everything turned out well. I was gone by 1030am....
The most positive thing that I gained out of this, is that I was quoted $239 somewhere else for ONLY the fluid change... I obviously paid less at Infamous, so throw the axle seal job on top of the fluid change, and the total invoice was not that much compared to the fluid-only $239.. It gives me peace of mind to know these guys are Subaru pros. Who knows what the dealership would have charged me for a damn axle seal job LOL......Infamous is the real deal, the staff was nice, they just get the work done... Infamous' services are fairly priced considering they specialize in Subarus. He does his best to save your wallet while doing his best at "not being the dealership" in terms of pricing the work. I was out in just 2 hours with all the work, I bet the Subaru dealership would have held my car with 4hrs of labor. Have a Subaru that needs some maintenance? Give Mike a call... Thank you Infamous Performance.

Jey T.

Source: YELP

06/09/2013

This is my second time coming to infamous. My car had a metallic grinding noise on hard right turns and a slight shimmmy in the right rear suspension. Todd diagnosed that it was a set of shot springs that were causing my swaybar to rub against tie rod ends and the shimmy from rear was a broken endlink. Anyway, they diagnosed the problem and did not even charge me.
Now I'm back to have my RCE springs and endlinks installed. The supplier didn't send longer studs to accomodate spacers. Mike said, no worries, i will take care of it, meaning he'll source the longer studs for me.
Mike knows his Subaru's. If you are a subie guy in no county, this is the place to bring your car. Thanks Mike for being so professional and easy to work with.
I'll be back for my next install...

Jacob K.

Source: YELP

13/03/2015

I have nothing but GREAT things to say about Infamous Performance! If you are around the San Diego/Escondido area and have a Subaru that needs any type of repair or tune this is the PERFECT place as they take pride in their craft and expertise. I brought my 06 Legacy with an expected amount to spend for specific repairs, they didn't just beat my expected price but also beat every shop I asked for a quote. I came in to talk to mike and as other reviews say he was very welcoming, I wasn't surprised at how honest and knowledgeable he was of my Subaru. Mike also pointed out things that needed to be addressed. (despite my confidence in his honesty he still showed me my used parts to reassure me) The end result is that my car can't seem to been running any better than after I picked it up from their shop. To end my review I would say 10stars if I could, honest, knowledgeable, responsive, quality, helpful and on time! I will be returning if I need any more assistance/service done In the future.

John D.

Source: YELP

29/07/2014

Finally a good service option for Subaru owners !

N G.

Source: YELP

11/09/2013

Very knowledgeable source for all your subaru parts.

kevin C.

Source: YELP

17/11/2013

Found some good posts about this vendor on the I-net. They specialize in Subaru. Ordered some parts online for local pickup to save some $$$ and ask a few questions about my car.
Mike took care of my online order, kept me informed, and had the parts on time. He spent close to an hour going over specific trouble spots on my Subaru, and even hooked it up to his computer for a scan free of charge!
Only reason for 4 stars is due to no repairs being done yet. I'll update once they've done some work. Their parts prices were competitive, and Mike's knowledge abundant, so I see no problem with their repair potential.
I'll continue to give them my business.

Clayton S.

Source: YELP

18/03/2014

I've been going to Infamous Performance for all my major work for some time now. A Subaru dealer here in SD was unable to pinpoint a problem on my Legacy GT Limited Wagon. I paid a ton of money and the problem was never fixed. My brother has been taking his XT Forester there and told me about Infamous Performance. Mike and his team diagnosed the issue I was having and corrected the problem. Hands down to Infamous Performance. This place really knows how to keep your Subie happy!!!!

Reg R.

Source: YELP

17/06/2016

Great service. Owner got me in on short notice for an oil change before I travelled back up to Canada. Thanks again for everything!

Donovan Neumann

Source: FBOOK

27/11/2015

Mike took care of my 05 LGT turbo issue saving me money and time compared to what dealerships would do. Upon picking up my vehicle, he let me know what the problem was and how it was fixed. The best part was when he informed me of the oil he used. Not no OEM oil but Motul which tends to be pricy. He advised what service was next for the vehicle and I was on my way. Very happy with the service even though this shop is two hours away. I live all the way in Torrance CA so that goes to show how much I trust the mechanics and the work they perform! Great job Infamous!

Mike Bartolo

Source: FBOOK

31/07/2016

He did a great job on my clutch on my 2010. I know I will be a returning customer.

Joshua Bryant

Source: FBOOK

22/10/2015

Mike is by far the most knowledgeable when it comes to Subaru. Even if he not working on my car I still call for tough questions and came up with a quick answer

Leighton Goard

Source: FBOOK

29/09/2015

Love the service. My primary shop for my Subaru! Always quality workmanship.

Jay Powell

Source: FBOOK

29/05/2014

Ive only ordered parts from Mike but his prices are very reasonable and he ships them out super quick!

Nick Cruz

Source: FBOOK

05/06/2015

Outstanding shop. High quality workmanship, extremely knowledgable in everything Subie related. Friendly as heck. Would not hesitate to recommend

Jeff Jones

Source: FBOOK

21/05/2015

Andrew Williams

Source: FBOOK

05/04/2015

Omar Gtz

Source: FBOOK

06/12/2014

Cody Madison

Source: FBOOK

06/11/2014

Brian Mendenhall

Source: FBOOK

12/08/2014

Bolo Nhean

Source: FBOOK

10/06/2014

SuBros

Source: FBOOK

26/05/2016

Great shop and guys. Helped me trouble shoot a problem that wasn't even related their work. Thanks again. I'll be back when I need servicing.

Alex Greb

Source: GPLAC

01/03/2016

These guys are great ordered a clutch kit and flywheel. They had awesome pricing and I needed a clutch kit by the weekend. Glad these guys are in socal.

Cory Lee

Source: GPLAC

21/04/2015

I couldn't bring my 05 Legacy on a weekday due to work schedule. Mike, the owner, was super accommodating and came in on a Saturday! Guy knows his Subies! Wish i found them earlier! Will definitely come back for future work.

Dan Hsu

Source: GPLAC

15/07/2015

Finally, quality work at a fair price! These guys are top notch. I have been here numerous times, and I never had any issues with the work they have done.

Russell Caldwell

Source: GPLAC

09/01/2014

Great place to get your car checked or modified. Been going to mike for years now. I trust him.

Kevin Devlin

Source: GPLAC