When he was growing up, New Orleans native Craig Bohn had two great loves: automobiles and the Coastal Bend. He has since brought those two together as owner of Corpus Auto Service at 2732 South Padre Island Drive in Corpus Christi.
“My grandfather owned an automobile business in Louisiana, so from a young age, I developed a strong passion for cars,” Bohn told Corpus Christi Business News. “Also, my mother’s family is from the Coastal Bend, so I have loved this area my entire life.”
Bohn worked as a consultant in Houston in the early 1980s. He began living the dream in 1984 when he and his wife, Linda, moved to Corpus Christi and purchased a longstanding auto mechanic business, which was then called Wolfgang’s Auto Repair Shop. Now Corpus Auto Service, the business continues to be known for its top-quality, safe and reliable auto repair services, Bohn said.
He attributes three factors to the company’s continued success: 
1. It is a dedicated, customer-focused, family-run business.
2. It offers a wide variety of high-tech scan and diagnostic tools for all makes of vehicles, including European cars.
3. It has a team of certified, highly skilled and caring professionals who do the work. That team includes a shop manager, two ASE-certified master technicians and an auto service technician.
The business philosophy of treating customers well was part of what enticed shop manager Buddy Godfretsen to join the team. He was working as a body shop fabrication manager for a dealership. The hours were long, and his wife wanted him home more. She also wanted him to find a less stressful job. 
“Craig and I met a few years ago, and he invited me to join his team,” Godfretsen said. “Now, I love what I do. Other corporations focus more about numbers and how much money to make. Here at Corpus Auto Service, it’s more focused on the people.” 
ASE-certified master technician Jeremy Balmer left the bright lights of Las Vegas and a conglomerate for Corpus Christi. He found his work home at Corpus Auto Service. It was while in Las Vegas that he began to see the value of customer satisfaction.
"I started doing independent diagnostics and repair because I didn't like how other unscrupulous repair places were taking advantage of customers, especially women or senior citizens who didn’t know any better,” he said. 
He also started customizing vehicles, a few of which have appeared on the History Channel TV show "Counting Cars.” When his wife got a job in Corpus Christi, Balmer came along. He found Corpus Auto Service through a help wanted ad.
"I like that we’re an independently owned shop and that we try to take care of people like family and let them know specifically what needs to be handled as opposed to selling them things they don’t really need,” he said. “I like how we take care of people as well as we can.”
The proof of that boast is that customers keep coming back — as do their children. 
“Because the shop has been here since 1984, we have longtime customers whose adult children continue to get their cars serviced at the same place as their parents,” Balmer said. “Most of our repeat customers, which are a lot, rely on us for honest, quality service. They know we’re going to take care of them.”
Another aspect that sets the company apart, Balmer said, is the ability to repair foreign or import cars.
"As far as shops, we have the widest variety of scan tools and diagnostic tools for the European market to communicate with the vehicles because they are so complex,” he said. “Everything we do is digital. We handle a wide variety of challenges when it comes to cars. We’re not the cheapest in town, but we do have some of the smartest technicians here, and we provide high-quality service and have a stock of hard-to-find foreign parts."
Corpus Auto Service is one of the only automotive repair shops in town that can work on Audis, Range Rovers and Mini Coopers, Godfretsen said. It specializes in all makes and models of cars as well as European, he emphasized. 
“We provide any kind of services on import and any other cars from oil changes to complete overhauls,” he said. “The challenging part is keeping expensive, foreign parts in stock. The easiest part of the job is having a great relationship with our customers. We know them on a first name basis.” 
Part of good customer service is offering advice on how to prevent trouble before it starts. With summer in full swing, Balmer advises the following tips to beat the heat when it comes to taking care of your vehicle.
• Make sure your AC is running properly by checking the antifreeze mix. If it’s too watered down, it will boil over too easily.
• Check that the cabin air filter is in good condition, allowing air to move more freely through the system, which keeps the temperatures comfortable.
• Tire pressure increases with temperatures, so check tires midday to make sure they’re not over-inflated, which can cause uneven wear and/or a a blowout.
Other customer service bonuses include a one-year warranty on repairs; free Wi-Fi in the waiting area and free local shuttle service if you don’t want to stick around during the work. 
“We truly care about each customer who walks through our door and do everything we can to provide the highest level of auto repair services that you will find,” Bohn said. “Our values are simple and can be expressed in one sentence: We are honest, caring professionals working hard and smart to help our customers take care of their cars.” 
 Corpus Auto Service is located at 2732 South Padre Island Drive. For more information contact (361) 855-6421 or visit corpusautoservice.com and facebook.com/corpusautoservice.