The Heart Under the Hood | Performance Auto Care of Topeka
By JENNIFER LECLAIR | Photos by BRIAN PETERS
A hundred years ago, Americans were falling in love with the freedom of the road. Cars were simpler then: loud, mechanical and easier for mechanics to work on. Despite all the advancements in automotive technology, one thing hasn’t changed: people still want mechanics they can trust.
Performance Auto Care of Topeka’s motto is “quality you can trust.” For owners and operators Tim, Mary and Jacob Johnson, that means building relationships with customers.
RUNNING ON FAMILY VALUES
Though the business officially opened in April 2016, the Johnson family’s relationship with engines, tools and grease-stained driveways began decades earlier. Tim Johnson spent more than 25 years working on autos and aircraft, and his passion became part of the family’s daily life.
Along with his wife, Mary, their children learned early that working on cars, bikes and lawnmowers was normal in the Johnson household. Before long, Tim and his son Jacob were spending hours together working on anything with an engine.
Jacob’s childhood curiosity grew into a career. During college, he fixed cars for fellow students in the campus parking lot to help pay tuition. After graduation, a short stint delivering parts for NAPA led to a job offer from Danny’s Car Care, a family-owned shop where he began to imagine what owning a business with his father might look like.
Seeing a family-run shop succeed planted an idea.
“I saw the dad passing the business on to his sons,” Jacob said. “And I started thinking that I wanted something I could someday pass down to my kids, too.”
Jacob’s vision for his family, combined with his desire to work on European imports other shops refused, led to Performance Auto Care.
HIGH SERVICE, NOT HIGH VOLUME
The team is small: Jacob as a full-time technician, Tim part time, Mary as office manager and a handful of other technicians. That’s because the Johnsons say they run a low-volume, high-service operation.
“We care more about the customer than making a quick dollar,” Jacob said. “We spend hours fighting warranty companies or researching recalls because we want our customers to get the best value, even if that means a dealer should do something for free.”
Their honesty often surprises customers, he says. The Johnsons frequently tell customers, “You could have this done for free under a warranty. Let us show you how.” This means something to customers in an industry where they often feel vulnerable, usually because of concerns around costs and a lack of knowledge.
Mary says she tries to change that dynamic. As the first point of contact, she wants to make customers feel comfortable and heard. When a technical explanation becomes too complex, Jacob steps in to break things down so customers understand and can make an informed decision.
As vehicle repair prices rise, often exceeding $1,000 even for routine issues, customers want to feel confident they’re spending their money wisely.
“We want people to feel they understood enough to make a good decision,” Jacob said. “Not just that we told them to.”
UNDER THE HOOD
Despite massive advances in automotive engineering, one constant remains: cars still break down, and they still require expert care.
If anything, the need is greater today than in the past. A century ago, many drivers could tinker their way through minor repairs. Engines were mechanical, not electronic. Today’s vehicles rely on dozens of computers, sensors and communications networks. Many failures stem not from mechanical breakdowns, but from miscommunication between onboard systems.
While chain stores rely heavily on basic scan tools and quick part replacements, the Johnsons say Performance Auto Care has become the shop other shops call when they can’t diagnose a problem.
“You have to enjoy solving puzzles,” Jacob said. “Diagnostics now is 90% computer work: reading data, analyzing communication, understanding why one module isn’t talking to another.”
The tools required are expensive. Jacob’s primary scan tools cost $12,000 each, with software updates of $1,600 every six months. A full set of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) diagnostic tools for all brands exceed $200,000. He weighs each investment carefully to keep the shop current with technology.
Customers travel not only from Topeka, but from Wichita, Emporia, Junction City and Kansas City. Even out-of-state RV travelers have been known to reroute vacations to return to Performance Auto Care for service, Jacob says.
One couple from Washington passed through Kansas while traveling the country. After their first visit, they changed future road trip plans to return.
SHIFTING GEARS
Performance Auto Care’s community impact goes beyond car repair. The Johnsons say they have visited customers in the hospital, attended graduations and funerals, and mowed yards for elderly clients recovering from surgery. They also maintain friendships long after customers move away.
“It’s different working on someone’s car when you know their kids’ names,” Jacob said.
Being a small, personable shop is why they hesitate to expand, he adds. More locations might dilute what makes their shop work.
“You can’t replicate the exact people who built this culture,” Jacob said. “Success comes from taking care of your customers. The people who walk through your doors today deserve the same care we’ve always given.”
In the next five to 10 years, the Johnsons plan to keep doing what they do best: staying current with automotive technology, maintaining relationships and providing quality work.
They’ll keep restoring classic muscle cars from the ‘60s and ‘70s. They’ll keep diagnosing problems other shops can’t solve. They’ll keep working on community projects, like the vintage aircraft tug for the Combat Air Museum. And they’ll keep welcoming new generations of Topekans as customers.
Every day, Jacob says, he is grateful he turned his childhood hobby into a career. And Mary, despite never intending to work in a repair shop, says what she loves most is simple: “I get to work with my family.
