San Diego Auto Repair

When your mechanic calls you and gives an estimate for repairs, how do you know if it’s fair? Most people aren’t as technically proficient as a mechanic or automobile engineer are, so it’s tough to understand what all the items in the estimate actually are and why they’re necessary. We aim to make the mechanic estimate a little less mysterious and more transparent so you’ll be to get your car fixed without worrying about being ripped off. Read on and start understanding mechanic estimates today. What’s In an Estimate? While the exact contents from an estimate vary from shop to ship, generally, the auto mechanic estimate can be dissected into six main parts: Customer/Vehicle Information, Parts, Labor, Miscellaneous Charges, Flat Fees, and Summary of Charges. Make sure that all of these sections are accounted for in the estimate and are itemized to ensure there won’t be any hidden costs Now, it’s time to break down what each of these parts ... read more

As soon as you buy a car it starts to depreciate, but there are several steps that you can take to lower its depreciation as much as possible. Taking care of your car, ensuring that cosmetic defects are fixed quickly, and keeping regular maintenance will ensure that you get the most money when it comes time to sell it. ​ Keep the mileage down as much as possible The more long trips that you take with your car, the greater the wear on it and the shorter its life will be. You won’t want to drive it much more than 15,000 miles per year. When traveling long distances, try to use other methods of transportation instead of driving if you are trying to protect your car’s value, or rent a car. Also keep in mind that the lower your odometer reading is when you sell your car the more you’ll get for it. Keep the interior and exterior clean Simply keeping the interior of your car clean will go a long way in maintaining its resale value. It’s one of the major differenc ... read more

We’ve all heard horror stories about botched repairs or high charges at both dealerships and independent repair shops. But how do you decide where to repair your vehicle? The truth of the matter is that either option can be good depending on the quality of the shop and its reputation, and either option can be bad if the shop or the dealership has a bad reputation. You have to do your research on the independent shop or dealership that you are interested in and also consider pricing and repair time. Here are the pros and cons of repairing your vehicle at independent shops vs. dealerships: Cost Matters One main thing to consider is that an independent repair shop will often cost less than a dealership. Dealerships almost always tack on a premium with their repair services because they have more overhead costs and other costs. Or, they simply are looking to make a higher profit and know that the ... read more

What Makes a Good Used Car? Buying a good used car takes a bit of research and preparation, but you can definitely find a good deal on a used vehicle and save quite a bit of money compared to buying a new one. No matter what used car you buy, you’ll still have to perform your due diligence to ensure that you buy a good used car and avoid the lemons. Here’s what makes a good used car. Test drive the car Test driving the car on the highway and in the city will help you catch any unreported problems. If you can test drive it on more than one occasion it’s even better. You’ll also get to feel what it’s like to drive the car which is important if it turns out that you don’t like how it drives. Try to take the car up an incline and drive it at least 65 mph to ensure that it properly on the highway and in steep conditions. Get the maintenance record Most responsible car owners will have a maintenance record of their vehicle. Ask the owner to show when oil ... read more

Well, it’s finally over. The best four-ish years of your young college graduate’s life are over and they have a piece of paper proving how educated and employable they are now. And whether your graduate plans to continue their education or they’ve already started the job hunt, reliable transportation is critical. But why settle for just any old car? A used car is the smart choice for college grads saddled with obscene amounts of debt, and it can also speak to their personalities. Let it also speak to their major! We selected five cars that match 9 popular majors, all of which are excellent picks new and used (though it makes more sense to buy used), and all of which we’ve been testing since 2009. Major: Geology or ArcheologyCar: Subaru Legacy The Legacy is the four door sedan version of the Subaru Outback wagon, and for some reason gets much less attention that its high utility, all-wheel drive sibling. Sure, the sedan exterio ... read more

San Diego’s known for having nearly perfect weather pretty much all the time. So when the sun’s overtaken by a chilly, gloomy gray in the months of May and June, it takes many newbies and tourists by surprise. However, locals are quite familiar with this time, affectionately known as “May Gray” and “June Gloom.” There are plenty of scientific explanations for May Gray and June Gloom in San Diego, and you can research them all you want – but it’s not going to change the reality that summer feels more like Maine than sunny Southern California. But fear not! Even when the beach is too cold for your two-piece, there are still plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to keep seasoned locals and first-time tourists happily occupied. Here are our best tips on how to escape May Gray and June Gloom in San Diego (and if we’re lucky, we’ll skip No-Sky July and Fogust th ... read more

When shopping for a new car, you need to be careful and avoid rushing into a deal. Why? Because with a bit of patience, you can save some money. You will need to do a bit of haggling in order to get the lowest price possible, and, although you shouldn’t expect to save a ton of money, there is always some bargaining room when it comes to the price of a new car. Here’s how you can get the best deal on a new car. Don’t buy on your first trip It’s in the dealership’s interest to close the deal the first time you walk in the door. I ... read more

If you’ve decided to go off-roading, safety is a primary concern and there are several things that you should do to prepare for your adventure. Be sure that you are very familiar with how your vehicle works, and don’t try to exceed its capacities.  No matter what vehicle you use, you will want a few features at minimum including: 4 wheel drive, locking differentials to pull your vehicle through rough terrain, knobby tires, off-road suspension, and a powerful engine. There are dozens of other off-roading features that have been added to some of the more recent off-road models such as skid plates and off-road dampers.  Some good recent 2015 vehicles for off-roading include the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro, Nissan Xterra Pro-4X, Jeep Wrangler (both the standard and the Rubicon), the Land Rover LR4, Toyota Land Cruiser, Ram 2500, and the Ford F-150.  In general, you want to use a vehicle that has been designed for the specific purpose of off roading, otherwise you ris ... read more

Although you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at our roads in a sprinkle of rain, the winters in San Diego are usually not very cold or unpredictable – especially compared to the winter weather in most of the rest of the country. But that doesn’t mean come spring and summer we aren’t itching to bask in the extra few degrees of warmth or hop in the car to go for a drive like we used to when gas wasn’t hovering around $3.50 a gallon. We’re predisposed to take a road trip in spring or summer because that’s when the kids have breaks from school, but it’s also nice that the rest of the country is a little more aligned with our weather, making driving easier on us and our cars. The Great American Road Trip is an experience everyone should have at least once, and whether you’re taking the kids, the in-laws, your significant other, a group of friends, or are looking for solo time, here are our favorite cars for the open road. Just remem ... read more

The test drive is arguably the most important aspect of buying a new car, and skipping it is one of the biggest mistakes car buyers make. Even if you know the exact model you want – options and all – it’s crucial to get behind the wheel before signing any papers. This is especially true when buying a used car. But there’s more to the test drive than just finding out whether or not you fit comfortably in the driver’s seat. How you handle yourself at the dealership let the salesman know if you are desperate for that particular car or if you are a wise shopper taking the time to find the smartest deal. Our best advice is to always test drive three different vehicles that fit your needs. Then ask the sales person for their card and let them know you will return if you decide that’s the car you want. If they pressure you or make you uncomfortable in an attempt to keep you from leaving, don’t go bac ... read more