Eph’s Towing

 

5/6/26 QFC parking lot, Magnolia

Shortly after I had pulled out of the Fishermen’s Terminal parking lot last week, I knew something was wrong: The Miata’s clutch would barely engage, and shifting into each gear was a struggle. I pulled into a nearby QFC lot.

Eph’s Towing, recommended by Chuck’s Auto, came to my rescue. When I told Ephraim how questionable the car’s operation was, he decided to maneuver the car out of the parking space and align it with the tow’s flat bed by hand! I was impressed and relieved to see him treat my 30-year-old baby with such care.

Many towing services won’t allow the owner to ride along in the cab, but Eph was happy to take me along. It turned out that we are both Seattle natives and Franklin High grads (although he was probably four decades behind me)! I enjoyed hearing how he got into the towing business and how grateful he is for the flexible work, which enables him to spend more time raising his two young kids. Currently renting a house in Burien, he and his wife are saving toward buying a home. Despite Seattle’s well-known unaffordability, they like it here and hope to stay.

Eph securing my baby to the tow bed (photo reference)

As he dropped me and my Miata off at Chuck’s Auto, I wished Eph well and later left him a five-star review on Google (which he had requested in response to my words of gratitude).

Epilogue: The faulty clutch cylinder was the one that had been replaced just under three years ago (another towing incident that had required a much longer sketchwait than this one), so it was still within warranty. Whew! An automotive bullet dodged, and the Miata rides again!