San Diego Auto Repair

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

The 2014 San Diego International Auto Show has come and gone once again, leaving us as quickly as it came. Running from Wednesday, January 1st through Sunday, January 5th, the San Diego International Auto Show is an important milestone in global auto shows. First, Southern California is the epicenter from which so many automotive trends spread across the world, and second because San Diego's is the first auto show in the actual “new year.” This show is also a great place to scope out your next car because the smaller space allows potential car buyers to compare models almost side by side, have a seat in most, and even drive a few without the pressure you get at dealerships (and even take home financial incentives from the display booths!) Many automakers new model years can begin in June of the previous year, which means we saw cars displaying ... read more

Chances are, if you're getting rid of a car it's because you upgraded to newer and better (maybe Santa was extra generous this year!). Congratulations! Unfortunately, selling your car can be a frustrating task. Even if you plan to skip the hassle and trade it in, you want your car to be in the best shape possible so you can get the most money for it. So what should you do to entice buyers or help the dealer see the value of your ride? Image: Flickr First things first: clean it up! Empty all your personal items out of car and remove any parking permits or bumper stickers. If you’re trying to sell your car to a private party, spring for a full detail. For roughly $200, you can get your car looking and smelling as new as possible with shampooed carpets, freshly waxed paint, and spotless windows ... read more

Last week, we showed you the 10 most unreliable cars of 2013, but wanted to leave some hope for the future (the new year is fast approaching - we like to start it off on the right foot). This time we're featuring the 10 safest cars for 2014, but you'll be pleased to see some stylish, high performing vehicles among the safest. Car Safety Ratings New car, truck and SUV safety is a difficult thing to gauge not only because there are two main sources of information regarding crash testing—in the United States the Federal Government runs the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), which also issues vehicle recalls, and there is also the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), which recently came out with an even more stringent test for new models, but also because "safety" can be a relative term when it comes to something as personal and important as driving. While we find the NHTSA&rsqu ... read more

Everyone loves to write about the best and brightest new cars that come out each year to the delight of auto journalists and new car buyers everywhere. But you have to admire the chutzpah of Consumer Reports for releasing a list of the ten LEAST reliable new cars from 2013, the last model year that they have complete survey records from their readers. If you're planning on making a big car purchase this month for yourself or as a gift, take these models into consideration before throwing thousands of dollars on something you'll end up regretting. Also note, Consumer Reports' focus isn’t really on “driving fun” but they do not accept advertising from any automakers and pay their bills through subscriptions from readers of their website or magazine, making it harder for ... read more

Admit it: you judge other drivers. Everyone judges other drivers based on their car and their driving habits (but come on - a Prius driver and a Porsche driver are going to take the roads differently), just like we're all excellent drivers. We all know that minivans are driven by soccer moms, luxury car drivers are rude, and lifted truck drivers have something to prove, right? As much as these conclusions are widespread, they're usually unfounded and ridiculous.  But when a car provides the opportunity for the driver to craft the ultimate expression of who he is and what his life is about (as our cars tend to be for many of us), it does open up the door to judgment. However, a recent (albeit not terribly scientific) study to connect driving habits with the type of car driven has shown that some of these conclusions aren't that unfounded - in fact, the stud ... read more

We've been talking about the next family car lately, and the SUV seems like it's here to stay. With crazy innovation seemingly every year and the largest market segment out there, the family SUV is one of those important decisions people across the country are making. More versatile than the minivan and more stylish to boot, the family SUV is something to be proud of. So what's 2014 got on the horizon? Check out part 1 of our top 10 best family SUVs here, and read on for the rest! 2014 Kia Sorento—With seven passenger seating, an available 3.3 liter 290 horsepower V6 that is the picture of potency and smoothness as well as a beautifully styled exterior, there are few reasons not to consider a 2014 Kia Sorento. This SUV is truly midsize and pretty much stands alone between the CR-V sized compact SUV segment and the larger models such as the Dodg ... read more

There is no market segment out there in the car industry that is more important to consumers or has the ability to make or break the profitability of a car company. That market segment, of course, is the family SUV segment and it covers such a wide depth and breadth of pricing, size and luxury that you could say it mirrors the state of American families today perfectly. These vehicles are the daily workhorses used by millions to haul kids to school, perform hauling duties, tow trailers and generally be pushed to the limits of their ability. So they really, really have to be good. As follows is our list of the top ten best  family SUVs on the market today and we have test driven all of them to ensure that they are the best of the best. They are all at the top of the heap when it comes to crash test safety so you can also be sure they will keep your family safe in case of an accident. And of lesser importance, they all have interiors robust enough to withstand countless juice box s ... read more

We've been talking about manual transmissions - stick shifts, as they're more popularly known - because there's just something great about changing your own gears and having extra control over your driving. Sure, automatic is great when you're stuck in LA traffic or trying to scarf a breakfast burrito on the way to the office, but for safe, efficient, enjoyable driving, manual transmissions are where it's at. In our last blog post, we showed you 5 manual transmission cars that came in under $25,000 that are ideally suited for people looking for a more enjoyable commute, who don't need to haul a lot of stuff all the time, and who want low maintenance and high mileage. This time, we'll look at manual transmission cars up to $30,000 that are better suited for a young family or someone who wants to graduate to a bit more luxury. Phot ... read more