San Diego Auto Repair

When shopping for a car, we're hoping to strike that golden combination of a car that's affordable to care for, meets our needs, and won't leave us stranded on the side of the road (or worse). New cars are getting better and better about going the distance, but it sometimes seems that the older technology (pre-computer) can last forever. While it's impossible to know yet how long a car made in the last few years is going to last, all we can do is look at a manufacturer's track record to make an educated guess. But what about those cars that rarely break down, and get 100,000, 200,000 or more miles on them and still keep on truckin'?   That's what this Reddit discussion wanted to know. Here at Convoy Auto Repair, we see just about everything at one point or another ... read more

It’s a heavy burden to bear when your job is to drive brand new cars supplied by manufacturers for a week – fully detailed and with a full tank of gas. No, really, it is. (Why does no one ever believe that?) Well, it can be when the vehicle delivered to you all shiny and new turns out to be a bit of a disappointment. It’s rare to road test a horrible new car, as most new models have plenty of things to recommend them even if they aren’t to your particular taste, and as an impartial journalist you should approach each vehicle in the mindset of a person who would be interested in such a car. It's not all doom and gloom. Often times you find yourself really enjoying driving a car you were sure you weren’t going to like. This was very much the case with a mint green 2015 Fiat 500 1957 Edition: thanks to an enjoyable 5-speed manual and handsome brown leather interior (only Italians could make that work), it was the car’s quirky demeanor which mad ... read more

There’s nothing quite like buying a car. The stress of making the right decision, the excitement of having a new set of wheels … few purchases have such an impact on your day-to-day life. If you’re like most people, when you’re looking for a fresh car, you’re looking for something used to get the most for your budget. December is the best time of year to buy a used car, partially because plenty of others are buying new and selling their old rides. Take advantage of these used car buying tips and you'll have the perfect new set of wheels! Here are 5 tips to help you make the right call when you’re out looking: 5 Tips for Buying a Used Car Consider a Certified Used Car If it’s in your budget and you’re looking for a later model, a Certified Used Car from a dealer can offer you the factory extended warranty for no additional cost and the cars are often the nicest-of-the-nice in terms ... read more

Southern California is known across the country as the place with the mildest winters. While those of us who live here may know how lucky we are to have 70 degree days all year long, sometimes we still want to see the snow or participate in winter sports. Lucky for us, there are quite a few places within a short drive where the full winter experience can be had! Winter Day Trips Near San Diego Ski Resorts Mountain High Mountain High Ski Resort opened their ski season on November 25, just in time for some Thanksgiving slopes! This resort is a short 2.5 hour drive from San Diego, and they create their own snowpacks each year to provide SoCal with a full ski season. There’s a glut of cabin rentals, hotels, and other lodging options if you’re looking to make a long weekend of it, but with that short drive time many San Diegans find themselves with season passes! Big Bear The second most popular SoCal ski resort is Bear Mountain. This popular destination is a short trip f ... read more

There are some times in life when you don’t have the luxury of deciding when to get a new car. Accidents, mechanical failure, life changes...these things can all mean a quick research period and an urgent hunt for the perfect new or used car. For others, they know what they want and it’s a very particular model, special order even. And for still others, they know it’s time to start the hunt, they have some loose requirements, and they want a good deal. So, when is the best time to buy a car? Image: Flickr New Cars Fall/Wint ... read more

This week, you've probably got turkey on the brain. You may also have certain Black Friday deals lurking in the back of your mind. We're stressed with finding the perfect gifts for our loved ones this time of year, as that magical combination of thoughtfulness, practicality, and generosity seems impossible to find. Allow us to suggest an alternative to waiting in line in the middle of the night this Friday to get a generic "big box" gift (or worse, patronizing businesses that are open on Thanksgiving Day): car parts. You may initially think that gifting car parts isn't interesting, or romantic, or even thoughtful. We disagree. Car parts make great gifts – yes, even for your wife. Not convinced? Read on! Gifts for Car Lovers New Battery Nothing says “I love you” quite as much as a new battery. Just imagine your loved one struggling to start their car on a dark and rainy night in a deserted ... read more

We're almost officially into the holiday shopping season, which means commercials for jewelry and perfume and various other things no one really needs are going to be stuffed on every viewing platform until December 25th. Among those are the commercials and advertisements that show a very happy recipient hugging a very pleased gift-giver standing in front of a shiny vehicle with a giant red bow on a snowy driveway. How could you not win gift-giver of the century with a car? Plus, a car is something the recipient probably actually needs (or is at least more practical than jewelry), so wouldn't a car make the perfect gift? The answer is no; you should never buy a car as a gift. There are many reasons why you should never buy a car as a gift. Car makers capitalize on the idea that we should get gifts we deserve. This notion is meaningless, because by definition a gift is something given without it being earned and without pa ... read more

The holidays are the busiest travel season of the year, but not everyone is headed back home! The winter season can be the best time to take a little road trip with family or friends and enjoy some quality time together. Here are a few of our favorite holiday destinations!   Image: Flickr Holiday Vacations Palm Springs If you’re looking for swinging, happening place to spend the holidays, look no further than southern California’s own desert oasis. The ret ... read more

It’s been an odd summer for San Diego, and we’re supposed to have a wet winter. Are you ready for the slick roads and unexpected occurrences while driving? When the roads are wet, stopping times are increased because of a loss of friction on the roadway, and sometimes because of water on your brake rotors. Have you inspected your rotors and brake pads for signs of excessive wear? What you should look for: Brake pad wear Most brake pads have “wear detectors,” but sometimes those can be inaccurate or your pads might not have them. In a full brake system inspection, techs will take a look at the material left on your brake pads using a micrometer and making sure your pads will stop you in an emergency. Brake rotor wear Brake rotors not only wear down over time, but they can also warp. If you have had a serious emergency stop recently or forgot to take your parking brake off, you might want to have your rotors checked for warpage. If rotors are allowed to get ... read more

If you’ve ever seen the movie or read Stephen King’s novel Christine, you know how horrifying the idea of a haunted car can be. Between the self-locking doors and automatic driving, she was a killing machine. And she was limited to the technology available in a 1959 Plymouth! Just imagine what kind of horrors modern day haunted cars could pull off! Image: Flickr We’ve all felt at the mercy of our cars’ quirks before. Some door lock remotes need two or three presses to work, some alarms refuse to turn off, some automatic seats have minds of their own, but today’s cars make looking haunted easy. Here’s a spooky story about a modern car that looked haunted: Don’t Lock The Doors Once a customer had a unique problem. Her Mini Cooper had started acting up on a dark and rainy evening. She wen ... read more