FEATURE FRIDAY: Comedian-Turned-Automotive Expert on Cars, Ownership, and His Mission to Help

For this week’s Feature Friday, meet …

NAME: Shahe Koulloukian

TITLE/COMPANY:  Owner/Mazvo Car Care Center

WEBSITE: MAZVO.COM

Shahe Koulloukian has spent more than 40 years in the automotive industry and more than 30 years leading Mazvo Car Care Center, dedicating his life to changing the way people think about car ownership.

His mission? To educate first, repair second, and bring honesty back to the driver’s seat.

Koulloukian is also the author of Car Confidential: Insider Secrets About Automobile Ownership, Car Maintenance and Road Safety, which features a wide range of topics to help educate drivers in a straightforward yet humorous way, and host of The Car Confidential Show podcast. He aims to empower drivers through education and honest conversation, helping them see their cars not as status symbols, but as tools of independence.

Koulloukian’s advocacy has been featured on local and syndicated television, where he continues to champion self-awareness, integrity, and confidence behind the wheel.

Here, he tells us about driving at 13, shifting mindsets, and being a stand-up comedian.

Tell us about Mazvo Car Care Center …

Mazvo Car Care Center is more than a repair shop: It’s a place built on trust, education and respect for drivers behind the wheel. For over 30 years, we have focused on helping people understand their cars rather than simply fixing them—each visit should be an engaging conversation rather than transaction. Our mission is to equip car owners with real knowledge that empowers them to make informed decisions, protect their budget, and drive away happier than when they arrived.

What first inspired your passion for cars?

I was 13, sitting on two phone books in my uncle’s tow truck when he said, “Drive.” Snowstorm. No license. No fear. I pulled up to a stranded car, and when the driver asked how old I was, I just said, “My uncle sent me—what’s the problem?”

I popped the hood, sprayed the throttle, and brought it back to life.

The look of sheer amazement that the 30-year-old man gave me is the day I fell in love with what fixing something could mean for someone. Many years later, when my mother was overcharged by the same repair shop I was working for, that was the day love turned into a mission. I realized the real repair needed wasn’t under the hood—it was in how people were treated. That’s when Mazvo was born: to educate first, repair second, and bring honesty back to the driver’s seat.

What’s the most common mistake car owners make when it comes to maintenance?

They don’t take the time to learn about the basic components of their car beyond its color and features, making the transition easy and risk-free. While owning one comes with great responsibility, that commitment often goes unused due to convenience issues.

My top mistake in car maintenance is when people treat it like an afterthought rather than a responsibility. People wait until something breaks, warning lights flash, or the tow truck arrives before taking action—waiting until something finally gives.

Cars don’t fail overnight—their failure may start silently at first before finally manifesting into full-blown damage and emergency costs. Learning even the basics of listening could save thousands and reduce stress significantly; understanding your vehicle as part of its partnership can extend its lifetime and decrease any associated stress for repair cost!

You’ve described what you do as “emotional car care.” Can you explain what that means?

“Emotional car care” is about understanding that car ownership isn’t just mechanical—it’s psychological. Every car decision, the purchase of oil changes to upgrades, is tied to emotion: vanity, pride, fear, nostalgia, even guilt. I’ve spent decades helping people untangle those feelings so they can make smarter, calmer choices. When you take emotion out of panic and put it into awareness, you stop reacting and start understanding. My goal is to help people build confidence, not dependence—because caring for your car isn’t really about fixing what’s under the hood, it’s about shifting what’s in your mindset.

What motivated you to write Car Confidential, and what’s one insider secret every driver should know?

At first, I wrote Car Confidential as a TED Talk. The response was great—except for one small detail: it was way too long. There was just too much truth to fit into 18 minutes. With so much misinformation and manipulation in the automotive world, I realized I couldn’t just give a talk—I needed to start a movement.

Writing the book became my way to reach everyone, to empower one reader at a time while calling for a larger wave of advocacy and accountability.

If there’s one insider secret every driver should know, it’s this: cars don’t lie—people do. Your vehicle will always tell you what it needs if you learn how to listen. Understanding that simple truth is how you stop being a customer … and start being in control.

Between running a shop, writing a book, and hosting The Car Confidential Show, what part of your work excites you most right now?

What excites me most right now is seeing the message come full circle—taking what I’ve learned from decades under the hood and turning it into conversations that change how people think.

Through The Car Confidential Show, I am able to communicate directly with viewers and listeners, giving true education and empowerment to an area that is frequently dominated by fear and confusion. The real payoff is watching folks go from intimidated to confident in their car decisions. It’s no longer just about restoring cars; it’s about changing people’s mentality.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone who’s intimidated by car repair or maintenance?

Don’t be afraid to admit what you don’t know—be fearful of staying that way. Cars can be intimidating, but they’re only mysterious when you hand over all the control.

Start small: ask questions, read your owner’s manual, and learn what each dashboard light means. You don’t need to become a mechanic; you just need to understand the basics well enough to make confident choices. Remember, knowledge isn’t just power—in car ownership, it’s protection.

Where in Scottsdale might we find you on a day off?

On those perfect Arizona days when the sun behaves and the air feels just right, you’ll probably catch me running or riding along the canal before grabbing a bite at Olive & Ivy—where good food and better people always seem to cross paths.

Late afternoons usually find me at the Hyatt Regency, cappuccino in hand, taking in that view of the lake that never seems to get old.

When the night rolls in, I’m all smiles at ShinBay Omakase Room, and if the evening still has stories left to tell, I’ll close it out at AZ88—where the music, the crowd, and the cocktails always know how to listen.

Dream car: what’s in your ultimate garage?

I’m a big believer in practicing what you preach. No dream car, no fantasy garage, just a trustworthy, dependable Toyota Tacoma that starts every morning and asks for nothing but gas and respect.

If I ever want a thrill, I’ll rent one. Because the truth is, people love to brag about their “dream car,” but let’s be honest—it’s a box with four wheels designed to take you from point A to point B. It’s not jewelry, it’s not status, and no one really cares what you drive except you … and maybe the valet if you tip well.

For me, the real dream isn’t the car—it’s the owner. The one who drives with purpose, not ego. That’s freedom.

One thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

Of all the things I’ve been blessed to do, the one that usually catches people off guard is that I spent five years as a professional stand-up comedian, touring across the U.S. and even performing in Las Vegas with a few television appearances along the way. Turns out, timing a punchline and diagnosing a car problem aren’t all that different—in both cases, you’ve got to listen carefully before delivering the fix.