Start 2026 Right: Reliable Auto Repair & Preventive Maintenance in Connecticut
January 1, 2026
By:
Ceglarz Auto Repair
The Shop Blog · West Main St. DispatchNew Britain, Connecticut · Vol. 2026
★ Best of New Britain Herald · 2026 Winners ★
Ceglarz Runs the Table
Six categories. One shop on West Main.
The readers of the New Britain Herald have spoken — and they said the same name over, and over, and over again. Here's the story of a hometown garage's award-season victory lap.
Model year 2026 · Six “Best Of” trophies on the clock
Award Season · Story No. 1
The Night the Ballots Came Back
Filed from 581 West Main Street · Best of New Britain Herald, 2026 Edition
Some shops win an award and frame it behind the counter. Ceglarz Motor Repair & Sales is going to need a bigger wall. When the New Britain Herald published its Best of 2026 results, the same address showed up in the Auto section not once, not twice, but six times.
Best Auto Body. Best Auto Parts. Best Auto Repair. Best Oil Change. Best Tires. Best Used Car. That's not a good night — that's a sweep, the kind of across-the-board showing that only happens when a shop has been quietly taking care of a city for a long, long time. The Best Of results aren't picked by a panel or a committee. They're voted on by readers: the neighbors, commuters, and lifelong New Britain families who actually sit in the waiting room, hand over their keys, and drive the work home.
EXHIBIT A — The official 2026 results page, Auto section.Source: Connecticut News Media Inc.
Look down that column and a pattern emerges fast. Category after category, the same three lines repeat like a chorus: Ceglarz Motor Repair & Sales, 581 W Main St., New Britain, 860-224-3532. In the Best Auto Repair category, Ceglarz shares the honor in a tie with Kensington Auto Services LTD of Berlin — a respectful nod between two hardworking garages, and the only category all year that anyone managed to split with them.
“For the experts in cars... call Ceglarz!”
— The shop's own motto, now backed up by six reader-voted trophies
What does it take to win six categories at once? It means the person who came in for a $40 oil change and the person who needed a full collision repair both walked out impressed enough to remember the name months later, find the ballot, and write it down. It means the family that bought a used car off the lot trusted the shop enough to come back for tires. It means parts, service, sales, and bodywork — four different businesses under one roof — all running at a level readers considered the best in the city.
In an era when independent garages are squeezed between dealership service centers and national chains, a hometown shop pulling off a near-total sweep of its city's reader poll is genuinely rare. It's the automotive equivalent of a diner winning best breakfast, best lunch, best dinner, and best coffee in the same year.
The 2026 Trophy Wall
Every tag, punched and hung with pride
Category 01 · Winner
Best Auto Body
Dents, dings, and full collision work — readers voted Ceglarz the shop they trust to make it look like nothing ever happened.
Category 02 · Winner
Best Auto Parts
The right part, on hand or found fast. A parts counter good enough to win a citywide vote is a parts counter worth knowing.
Category 03 · Winner
Best Auto Repair
The flagship category — shared in a rare tie with Berlin's Kensington Auto Services LTD, and the heart of what Ceglarz does every day.
Tie · Two great shops
Category 04 · Winner
Best Oil Change
The most routine job in the book, done so consistently well that readers made a point of saying so on the ballot.
Category 05 · Winner
Best Tires
From Connecticut winters to summer road trips — the city's pick for where the rubber should meet the road.
Category 06 · Winner
Best Used Car
Buying used takes trust. New Britain voted Ceglarz the lot where a handshake still means something.
6 Wins 1 Shop 2026
Behind the Counter · Story No. 2
Meet the Crew (and the Corvair)
A portrait of the people who made the sweep happen
Awards don't fix cars. People do. And at 581 West Main Street, the people are easy to find — they're the ones lined up out front in the shop photo, standing next to a gleaming sky-blue Chevrolet Corvair like proud parents at a graduation.
EXHIBIT B — The crew, the shop, and one very photogenic Corvair.581 West Main St., New Britain
There's owner Piotr Ceglarz, the name on the sign and the standard-setter for everything that rolls out of the bays. Beside him, Chris Podkowiak handles sales — the friendly first handshake for anyone shopping the used-car lot or hunting for a specific vehicle through the shop's car finder service. Tom Brown is the tech, the hands-on problem solver turning wrenches in the back. And rounding out the lineup is Jonathan Barrett, listed — with the shop's trademark sense of humor — as “Apprentice,” quotation marks and all. Every good garage has one title like that.
Owner
Piotr Ceglarz
The name on the door and the reason it's earned.
Sales
Chris Podkowiak
Used cars, car finding, and straight answers.
Tech
Tom Brown
Diagnostics to done — the wrench behind the wins.
“Apprentice”
Jonathan Barrett
Quotation marks courtesy of the shop itself.
The photo says a lot about why the ballots keep coming back with this address on them. The American flag by the door. The Bosch service badge. The CT Certified Emissions Repair Facility sign in the window. The open bay door with work underway. And front and center, that classic Corvair — a rolling reminder that this is a crew that doesn't just repair cars, it genuinely loves them. Vehicle restoration and performance upgrades are on the services board for a reason.
Servicing all makes and models — from Monday commuters to Sunday classics.
— The whole business, in one line
And the menu runs deep. Whether it's a fleet of work vans that needs to stay on the road, an emissions test that came back with bad news, or a garage-kept classic that deserves a second life, it all comes through the same doors — with financing available for the bigger jobs and the used-car lot alike.
Work Order · Full Service MenuNo. 2026-581
Servicing all makes & models
Used car sales
Car finder services
Vehicle restoration
Performance upgrades
Certified emission repair
Commercial fleet vehicle servicing
Financing available
Six trophies is a headline. But the real story is smaller and better: a local crew that shows up every morning, does the work right, and treats every customer like a neighbor — because in New Britain, they usually are. The Herald's readers didn't discover Ceglarz in 2026. They just finally put it in writing, six times over.
The Shop Blog · Celebrating the Best of New Britain Herald 2026 · Congratulations to all of this year's winners
Informational
Why Start the New Year With Preventive Auto Maintenance?
Many major car repairs start as small issues that go unnoticed. Beginning the year with a vehicle inspection and maintenance plan can save you money, time, and stress.
Key Benefits of Preventive Maintenance:
Improves vehicle safety and reliability
Extends the life of your engine and major components
Boosts fuel efficiency
Reduces the risk of unexpected breakdowns
Helps you pass Connecticut emissions and inspections
If you drive daily in Connecticut, preventive care isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Connecticut Winter Driving: What Your Car Needs in 2026
Cold temperatures, road salt, snow, and ice are hard on vehicles. At Ceglarz Auto Repair, we commonly see winter-related issues that could have been prevented with early service.
Our Top Winter & New Year Car Checks:
Brake inspection & replacement
Battery testing (cold weather weakens batteries)
Tire tread & pressure check
Oil change with winter-grade oil
Suspension & alignment inspection
Heating system & defroster check
Starting the year with these services ensures your vehicle is ready for Connecticut roads.
Full-Service Auto Repair in Connecticut
Ceglarz Auto Repair is a locally trusted mechanic shop offering complete automotive services for most makes and models.
Our Services Include:
Engine diagnostics & repair
Brake repair & replacement
Oil changes & fluid services
Suspension & steering repair
Tire services & alignments
Check engine light diagnostics
Emissions-related repairs
Preventive maintenance plans
We use professional-grade tools and provide transparent recommendations—no unnecessary repairs.
Why Connecticut Drivers Trust Ceglarz Auto Repair
Choosing the right mechanic matters. Our customers continue to choose us because we focus on honesty, quality, and long-term relationships.
What Sets Us Apart:
Locally owned & operated in Connecticut
Experienced, certified technicians
Clear explanations and fair pricing
Reliable turnaround times
Customer-first approach
We treat every vehicle as if it were our own.
2026 Car Care Tips from Our Mechanics
Start the year strong by following these simple tips:
Don’t ignore dashboard warning lights
Schedule oil changes on time
Check tire pressure monthly (especially in winter)
Address strange noises early
Keep up with manufacturer-recommended service
A little attention now prevents major repairs later.
At Ceglarz Auto Repair & Sales, located right in New Britain, CT, we specialize in helping Connecticut drivers stay ahead of engine problems. Our team doesn’t just rely on software to run diagnostics—we listen to your concerns and use our hands-on expertise to make sure your vehicle is running exactly how it should be. Whether you're a daily commuter, a college student, or a local resident who just wants a reliable ride, we’re here to help you drive with confidence.
Take the Next Step: Schedule Your Tune-Up Today!
If you’re searching for car engine tune-up near me, look no further than Ceglarz Auto Repair & Sales in New Britain, CT. Our expert team is here to ensure your vehicle performs at its best.
📞 Call us at (860) 224-3532 or 📍 Visit our shop at 581 W Main St, New Britain, CT 06053 to schedule your car engine tune-up today.
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