Hixson repair shop caters to luxury vehicles

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

photo Stan Gilbert, technician at Elite Automotive Repair on Hixson Pike, works to replace a mass airflow sensor on a Volkswagen Jetta.

• Name: Elite Automotive Repair

• Owner: Greg Skiles, 54, a 25-year veteran in the car business who previously worked at Infiniti and BMW dealerships

• Location: 4606 Hixson Pike. The 3,300-square-foot facility includes seven bays and a waiting area.

• Service: Maintenance and repair of luxury vehicles, including Mercedes-Benzes, Jaguars and BMWs

• Staff: Two employees: Skiles and mechanic Stan Gilbert. More will be added shortly.

• Initial investment: $25,000

• Started: May 1

• Biggest challenge: Letting people know where the shop is and what service it offers

• Biggest reward: The challenge of running your own business. "Having your own business is very rewarding, and I tend to be a workaholic," Skiles said.

• Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday

• Rates: $90 an hour

• Five-year goal: Skiles said he has a three-year lease at the site. "We hope to buy the building and eventually sell the business," he said.

• Phone: 531-4629