By Chris Wilson

When you pull your car onto Newberry Rd., you’ll probably already feel the difference that Tuffy Auto Service Center has made in the vehicle’s performance. Tuffy owner/manager J.W. McNeal says that’s part of what keeps his customers loyal.

“It shouldn’t be hard to have your car worked on,” McNeal says. “We try to make car service as easy as possible. We keep the building clean and organized and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Tuffy, which has been open in Jonesville since February 2002, began doing business in Toledo, OH, in 1970. The franchises are locally owned. McNeal has lived in Jonesville since 1966 and is a graduate of Newberry High. “It’s amazing to own a business four miles from where I grew up,” he says. Tuffy Automotive of Jonesville has five employees, all of whom work on a non-commission basis. Two of the technicians are enrolled in the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification program at Santa Fe Community College. The other technicians have been factory-trained.

“You’re not going to be sold something that you don’t need,” says McNeal. “We take all of our customers out to their cars and show them what’s wrong or what’s needed to properly maintain their vehicle. We’ll save your parts and encourage you to look at them.” McNeal says that’s all part of building a relationship between the shop and its customers. “When people come here for the first time, it’s like a first date,” he explains. “You have to meet the mom, shake hands with the dad and sit on the couch and talk for a while.”

Every first-time customer at Tuffy Automotive of Jonesville will receive a free first aid kit for their car, a pen and a “thank you” note from the staff. McNeal says every vehicle that pulls into his shop is treated with respect and care. “Cars are sometimes a family’s second largest investment (next to their homes),” he says. “It’s an important part of the family. It’s how you get to work, get to school and get to church. We keep that in mind when we’re working on cars. We want to make a difference.”

It’s that respect that has kept Michael Collins, the pastor at University Lutheran Church, a loyal Tuffy customer for four and half years. “J.W. is dependable, honest and trustworthy,” says Collins, who owns five vehicles. “He lets you know what’s going on. You don’t have to worry about unnecessary work being done on your cars. And, he stands behind his work, which is important to me.” Collins, who has four children, says he hasn’t taken his cars to any other auto service center since he moved to town. “I know if I am out of town, I can call J.W. and he’ll take care of my car in an honest and professional manner,” Collins explains.

As far as the services Tuffy offers, you can have the technicians take care of anything from routine oil changes to huge and sometimes costly repairs. Tuffy does work on mufflers and exhaust, brakes, alignment, suspension and front end repair, tune-ups, heating and cooling systems, power steering systems, starting and charging and all preventative and factory-scheduled maintenance to keep your car running at peak performance.

Villages of West End resident Tracy Tozzi says her car has had everything from new brakes, air conditioning work, work on the fuel injection system, oil changes and new tires for the four-plus years that she’s been taking it to Tuffy. “I switched to Tuffy from going to the dealership,” says Tozzi. “As a woman, I always had the feeling like I could be ripped off. J.W. is so different. He’ll bring me into the garage and show me what’s going on and he really explains things well, so that I understand. He is so trustworthy.”

One of the more recent additions to the performance-enhancing jobs that Tuffy features is the NitroFill Nitrogen Tire Inflation System. The NitroFill generator fills your car’s tires with more than 95 percent nitrogen, a gas that is free of the moisture that deteriorates rubber. NitroFill is said to increase the life of tires, improve fuel economy, braking and handling and maintain the proper tire pressure. The same system is used in NASCAR racing and military and commercial aircraft.

As the technician works on your car, you may decide to wait in Tuffy’s lounge area, complete with comfortable couches, a children’s play center with toys, a TV and complimentary coffee, cold drinks, fresh fruit and other snacks. Even the restroom is decorated like it’s part of a home and it is kept immaculately clean.

Tuffy Automotive of Jonesville is located at 14145 W. Newberry Rd. Suite 101. For more information, call 332-0500.