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ost of us don’t love taking our car to the shop. However, if the experience were more about preemptive service and fostering a long-term relationship, perhaps it wouldn’t feel so much like a chore.
It is exactly this ideology that drives Executive Automotive. Conveniently located on Rufina Street, owner Markus Schandelwein opened his doors in 2001 with the belief that meticulous maintenance and strong customer relationships can cause less hassle and more reliability out of a car in the long run. The born and raised German says he’s always loved cars, especially European sports cars. After moving to Santa Fe in the early 80s and working for an independent car shop for almost 20 years, Markus opened his own shop to care for the cars he loved as a boy. From Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen, to Austin-Healey, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, MG, Morgan, Rolls-Royce and Triumph, Executive Automotive is Santa Fe’s premier choice for repair and maintenance services.
Above and Beyond
CAR CARE Photos ANTHONY EVANS
“We take a lot of pride in what we do,” says manager Salvatore Perno. “We’re honest. We run a very clean shop. We’re car guys; we like working on cars. We wouldn’t be in this industry if we weren’t. Plus we like to foster relationships with customers that go beyond servicing their cars. We have our customers’ best interests at heart. That’s our first priority.” Salvatore notes that of the cars Executive Automotive services, approximately 40 percent are owned by women – a large number in an industry where women routinely worry about getting ripped off. “Markus has spent his entire life – especially since opening the business in 2001 – creating an environment where people feel comfortable bringing their cars,” Salvatore says. That positive approach has been noted by car enthusiasts at the Santa Fe Concorso. Many car lovers with exotic automobiles in their collections depend on Executive Automotive. “We tend to work on cars a lot of other shops won’t when it comes to exotic stuff because there are inherent challenges, be it parts, tools or know-how. We’ve got seasoned mechanics who know how to get creative when necessary,” describes Salvatore. But it’s not just the exotic cars that find their way to Executive Automotive. As long as it’s a European model, Markus and his team can service it. In fact, they have factory licensed diagnostic equipment for almost all the cars they service. This means no extra trip down to Albuquerque to see the dealer. “We have the capability of scanning the car and diagnosing problems. We’re the only ones in town with the software,” explains Markus. And to make it even easier for customers, Executive Automotive recently launched a dynamic new website that gives customers more information and allows them to make appointments online. Add to that its four technicians with 60 years’ combined experience between them, and taking your car to the shop starts to sound decidedly grand. Executive Automotive 3215 Rufina St. 505.474.7500 Exautosf.com