San Diego Auto Repair

While there's never really a bad time of year to buy a greener and more energy efficient new vehicle, tax time does provide an excellent opportunity to buy your green dream machine, especially when that new car (like these electric models) comes with generous government incentives and tax rebates. Traditionally, buying an electric car is a wise move right before the end of the year, when you would have to separate the purchase along with your tax returns due April 15th. Whoops, little late for that now. Fortunately, buying an electric car now offers the best of both financial worlds, and the benefits last into 2015! By investing your tax refund from 2013 on an electric car in 2014 and taking advantage of this year's federal incentives, you're going to get to claim that purchase on your 2014 taxes and get a sweeter refund in 2015. But if that's too much math for you, trust us when we say that buying an electric vehicle now definitely has its benefits, so get on it. Inv ... read more

As electric cars grow in sales and popularity, cities throughout the United States are catching up with their infrastructure to support these alternative vehicles. However, there are a few cities that make it little easier for electric car owners. Here are the first 5 of the top 10 cities for electric cars based on per capita charging stations reported through PlugShare! Also, it's Earth Month, so maybe  now is the time to consider an alternative fuel vehicle if you don't already drive one! Image ... read more

Did you know Convoy Auto Repair performs hybrid car repair and maintenance? While most hybrid and electric car warranties require repairs to be performed at the dealership, routine maintenance can be performed by any auto repair shop, often for far cheaper. ) Our mechanics take part in ongoing training in order to service the latest hybrid and electric vehicles to ensure each customer is receiving the highest quality care regardless of what type of car they drive. Once your electric car is out of its warranty, you can get any hybrid car repair or maintenance done anywhere you please. Hybrid cars, especially, have most of the same parts as traditional cars, and those parts will need replacing and servicing as time goes on. Even all electric cars have many of the same parts that need attention over the years. Why not bring your car to Convoy Auto Repair? We offer plenty of extra conveniences to make your auto repair experience as ... read more

Sometimes when you’re car shopping, buying a brand new car just isn’t in the cards. Between the expense of the new car itself, the cost of taxes and registration, and the eventual cost of depreciation, many buyers turn to the used car marketplace to save money and still have a reliable vehicle that fits their needs exactly. That said, there are plenty of reasons why buying used is actually preferable to buying new in just about any situation. Recognizing the value of an older vehicle can save time, hassle, and all sorts of stress. Here are some of the benefits of buying used: Image: FlickrRecalls If you’re buying a used car from a dealer lot, you can bet all the recalls on the car have already been taken care of, and if they haven’t been, it’s the dealer’s responsibility to ... read more

There are thousands of vehicle makes and models for those in the market for a pre-owned vehicle. Buying an older car doesn't have to be a shot in the dark - not with so many amazing choices on the market today. We’ve already covered #10 – 6 of the top 10 used cars, and here is the remainder of our picks to #1! With so many choices available, you’re sure to find the perfect car for your lifestyle, budget, and taste on the used car marketplace. Image: Flickr#5 - Mazda MX-5 The MX-5 may not seem like a very bold choice in a vehicle, but that’s exactly why we think it’s a solid family mover. This Mazda powered minivan is one of the more unique vehicles out there, since it’s based on the popular Mazda 3 platform, but built wi ... read more

When it comes to buying an older car, there are countless options available. No matter what your tastes and needs, there are numerous used (or pre-owned, if that's your preferred lingo) options out there, and numerous price points. If you’re ready to start your search for buying an older vehicle, we’ve put together some great options to jump-start your brain. Here are our picks for number #10-6 of the top 10 best older model or used cars available: Image: Flickr#10 - Toyota Highlander The Highlander combines family-friendly features like 4 doors, seating for 5, and a large cargo area with the legendary Toyota reliability. Toyota came out with the model in 2001, which means there’s a wealth of options available in the used marketplace, which can vary in features, mileage, and care, depending on your budget and needs. #9 - Honda Accord The Honda ... read more

Modern cars have lights for everything channeled through sophisticated computers full of reminders. When you first get a newer car, it’s typically under warranty and the dealer turns off the reminders when you go in for the services. As your new car ages, you might decide to postpone a scheduled service, or do some maintenance in your own garage. But how do you get those pesky lights to turn off? Image: Flickr First, take a look at your owner’s manual and make sure you aren’t doing any damage by turning off the service reminder light without performing the service - there is a reason these lights are on! Some cars have an oil change reminder light, a service that many people choose to perform in their own driveway. Other cars have a service light that comes on at specific mileages (30K, 60K ... read more

Older Car Care There are few things as frustrating as car troubles. In addition to not being able to get around, you are often looking at expensive bills and a struggle to understand what’s wrong. Older cars have these issues more frequently, making the owners of these cars question whether the trouble is worth not having a car payment. You already know that regular maintenance is crucial to keeping an older car on the road; we identify 6 ways to get the most out of car maintenance and necessary auto repairs, making it easier to save time and money on your car. Image: Flickr How to get the most out of your auto repairs Provide a detailed description of the problem to service writer First and foremost, make sure you fully explain the problem your car is having to the se ... read more

Driving Alternative Fuel Cars in San Diego Like we've said before, alternative fuel cars are pretty great, but people want to know how they actually drive. We're here to answer that question; having driven the latest and most popular alternative fuel vehicles for the better part of a week (only up and down the notorious Southern California freeways, but to be fair that can be quite the punishment), we better understand how alternative fuel cars really drive. If you're looking for our thoughts on diesels or hybrids, check out Part 1. For now, we're going to discuss the latest and greatest plug-in hybrids, all electric cars, and those really alternative fuels, hydrogen and natural gas. Plug-in Hybrids Image: James Hamel2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid vs ... read more

Alternative fuel cars are great - they save you loads on gas, they do a pretty decent thing for Planet Earth, some get you into the carpool lane on your solo commute, and they're even starting to look pretty darn stylish. But how do they drive? Dear readers, we are about to tell you which alternative fuel cars we think are the future and which ones we could hardly tolerate during our brief time together. Just to be clear, we drove these cars like we normally would drive a car and abstained from cruel or unusual tests, unless you count the insane freeways of Southern California as cruel and unusual. And in some of these vehicles, doing just that was torment enough... but we'll talk about the Nissan Leaf in Part 2 (ba-dum-bah!). Brains and Beauty - Fun To Drive Alternative Fuel Cars We have got a lot of automotive ground to cover and a bunch of different ways to refuel each of these vehicles. So pay attention, you don ... read more