Vehicle owners in the New Braunfels and San Marcos area no longer have to drive into Austin or San Antonio for service. Hill Country Yota Works, a locally owned automotive repair shop specializing in Toyota and Lexus vehicles, is offering its specialized services to owners throughout the area.
Owner Fred Means worked as a Toyota dealership mechanic for decades and was always encouraged by friends and family to open his own business. When he noticed a need for a local auto repair shop in the area, he took the plunge into business ownership.
“Fast forward to COVID in 2020, and that just solidified things for me,” he said. “[I told myself] ‘win, lose or draw, I’m going to give it a try and see what happens.’”
The benefits of being local
Means and his lead technician Chris Biediger have over 40 years of experience working on Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
As a small business owner, Means said he loves getting to interact with customers and provide a more personalized experience. In addition, there was a need for access to quality Toyota & Lexus repair in the Hays and Comal County areas.
Hill Country Yota Works offers high-quality vehicle repair without the hassle of the dealership.
“For most families, their vehicles are the second-largest investment they’ll make other than their homes,” he said. “You want to take that to someone that you know is going to do a good job.”
The local business is also a member of the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce and sponsored the Canyon High School football team this year. Means said he’s passionate about community involvement, and Hill Country Yota Works sponsors events from other local businesses throughout the year.
What to know about regular vehicle maintenance
Means said it’s important to bring vehicles in for routine maintenance and have them looked at by the same professional over time. Individuals driving around locally will have much different needs than someone who uses their vehicle to travel for a living, and a customer’s regular maintenance professional will know that, he said.
Routine maintenance is vital to protect one of individuals’ most important investments. On Toyota and Lexus vehicles, Means said the interval for oil changes and tire rotations is 5000 miles.
Outside of routine maintenance, customers can expect larger services such as fluids, filters, and spark plug replacement in 30,000 mile increments to keep their vehicles running smoothly and safely.
Another tip for vehicle owners is to pay attention to their cars as the seasons change.
When the weather fluctuates, things start happening to vehicles and individuals might experience a dead battery or an A/C that is no longer cooling, Means said. But rain or shine, Hill Country Yota Works is prepared to get customers’ vehicles up and running.
Scheduling service
It’s a good idea to get vehicles looked at before starting any kind of road trip, especially during the winter holidays or spring and summer breaks when people might travel to visit friends and family.
To help keep customers safe, the business is offering free road trip inspections through the end of the year. The full vehicle assessment looks over the entire vehicle from headlights to tail lights, filters, fluids, tires and brakes.
Means’ biggest piece of advice? Get your vehicle checked before there’s an issue. For more information about Hill Country Yota Works, visit the Facebook or Instagram page. To contact the business, call 830-609-9022 or email [email protected]. For walk-ins, visit the location at 533 River City Drive Ste. 103, New Braunfels.
The above story was produced by Senior Multi Platform Journalist Summer El-Shahawy with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
