San Diego Auto Repair

Technology has transformed the way we live--from how we work, to how we listen to music--and car repair is no exception. The influence of technology in the auto and auto repair industries have made the process car repair much different than it was even five years ago. Today, you’re much more likely to see your mechanic reach for their tablet first--before their toolbox. Here are the 5 ways that tech is changing car repair. Diagnostics Gone Digital The biggest way that the auto repair industry has been influenced by tech is through the ability of computers to do advanced diagnostic work. By hooking up the diagnostic software to your car, mechanics can cut down the time to run a full inspection of your car from 8 hours to under an hour. The diagnostic software can test each area of the car independently so that the issue can be specified quickly and accurately. So when you see your mechanic reaching for their computer or tablet as soon as you bring your car in with trouble, they ... read more

Image: Flickr If there’s anything that San Diegans love more than outdoor adventures, it’s craft beer. With perfect weather year-round, every weekend is the perfect opportunity for a road trip and no road trip is complete without some liquid refreshment at the end of it (stay classy - no drinking and driving). Unfortunately, there are fewer disappointments more epic than cracking open a delicious beer at the end of a long drive and encountering a warm or skunked brew. Oh, the humanity! However, there are ways to avoid this tragedy. We’re here to let you in on some craft beer secrets – what are some beers that travel well on long road trips? First off – the container. Beer growlers most often hold 64 fluid oz. of delicious beer and generally are made of brown glass or stainless steel. “Why ar ... read more

Newsflash: it's already August. Parents are thinking about back to school, vacations are wrapping up, and the summer heat is just getting started. Just because the end of summer is near doesn't mean squat to the sun; August and September are San Diego's hot weather months. And when temperatures start to climb so high that you’d do almost anything to escape the heat (including go to the mall), then you know it’s time to take a drive in your convertible to a cooler locale, preferably near an ocean or other body of water. This long enjoyed ritual of taking a top-down convertible drive to nowhere in particular (although we do have a collection of the top summer driving routes) means it’s just as important what car you drive to get there. We've taken five highly varied convertible options that all serve different budgets, tastes and numbers of passengers to bring you the top 5 convertibles for an end of summer drive. A convertible is best enjoyed during the summer months with just a driver ... read more

The automobile and cinema came of age technologically and in common society around the same time in this country and both are intrinsically linked in our minds as forms of personal entertainment. Nowhere is this notion seen more clearly than in the good old fashioned movie car chase or big screen car stunt much like you see in the very popular “Fast and the Furious” franchise which has yet another sequel coming soon to theatres this summer. With summer right around the corner and glorious action-packed car movies that follow, here is our list of ten of the best movie car chases and stunts.. We’ll wager you are familiar with more than one or two of these scenes. Now remember, these driving feats were performed by professionals often with the help of CGI image wizardry so don’t try this at home. Or during your morning commute. “Goldfinger”—(Aston Martin DB5 with machin ... read more

The type of car you drive has dictated a part of your status, personality and lifestyle since cars became mainstream in America, and car marketers know this. Cars are marketed to different lifestyles for exactly this reason, and just how marketers go about this task is a peek into the different lifestyles themselves. While there are many logical reasons behind the types of cars we buy, car buying is also highly emotional as few other things we buy say as much about us as our cars do. Car marketers do a great job of knowing their intended audience and tend to hit the nail on the head when it comes to presenting a specific car to a specific lifestyle. Here is how different types of cars are marketed to different lifestyles: Trucks: Ah, the truck. At least here in America, the truck will probably always be marketed towards the rugged, manly, git-r-done types. A huge part of this is because trucks are the workhorse of all vehicles, and those in those rugged, manly, git-r ... read more

We're often asked why our customers should take their cars to Convoy Auto Repair and not one of our competitors. Our answer? We're have some of San Diego's best auto mechanics. While we can't necessarily speak to the abilities of our competitors, we can speak to the abilities of our mechanics and the kind of atmosphere we create at Convoy Auto Repair. Our auto repair technicians are all master trained technicians - we hire from the best auto mechanics in San Diego. In addition to being ASE certified, our auto repair technicians live, eat and breathe cars and car repair. They really, truly love what they do and go out of their way to help their customers. Watch our video for more about what makes Convoy Auto Repair attract San Diego's best auto mechanics, and why it's such a great place to work (or bring your car in). You can also check out our YouTube channel and find our other videos and some f ... read more

To those who may not be aware, we have our very own YouTube channel! It's loaded with videos both from us and from other awesome car sources around the web. Both informational and fun, our YouTube channel is something any car owner will be wise to subscribe to. The whole Convoy Auto Repair YouTube channel is here, which has our playlists, our recent featured video, and a few car ads we liked, just for fun. In our top video, we meet owner David Ely, who has been behind the wheel (heh heh) at Convoy Auto Repair for more than 30 years. We're pleased to introduce the driving force (heh heh) behind our successful auto repair shop - an owner who is himself an ASE certified auto repair technician and who takes an active interest in his customer's needs. As a born and raised San Diegan, David loves his city and loves meeting his neighbors. He encourages his mechanics to go above and beyond whenever possible and will him ... read more

When making a decision to purchase a used vehicle, it should always be inspected by a third party before purchase. While there are many very reputable used car dealers in San Diego, we have found over the years that we are able to uncover many needs, neglected maintenance or concerns not addressed in the dealer’s multipoint inspection process. Most dealers use entry level technicians and mechanic’s helpers to perform their own multipoint inspection punch list. While it may look impressive, it generally is pretty surface level. On the flip side, when Convoy has a seasoned ASE certified technician inspect the vehicle, they use their years of experience and a "fine tooth comb" to inspect the vehicle. This is where we discover all of the skeletons in the closet. In this particular inspection, a Convoy customer brought in a Volvo they had just purchased from a very reputable dealer. After further inspection, we found an oil leak, and a possible transmission problem. Si ... read more

Want to stay up-to-date with news in the auto industry? You’re in luck! There are several blogs on the Internet dedicated to all things automobile related. Here is a list of our top 10 favorite auto blogs.   10 Great Blogs for Automotive Enthusiasts 1. Jalopnik Jalopnik is a website “obsessed with the cult of cars” and everything in the auto industry. The car coverage is not only informative, but given with a sense of humor and sarcasm included. 2. The Smoking Tire The Smoking Tire is a blog written by guys who love driving. Their approach is to provide genuine, cut to the chase information regarding car news and reviews. 3. Car and Driver Also an American automotive enthusiast magazine, this blog provides car news, tips, reviews, and an ... read more

Celebrities like to drop big bucks on luxury items, and they especially love to ride in style. Here are 5 of the most over-the-top (and expensive) celebrity cars that the rich and famous roll around in. 1. Kim Kardashian – Ferrari F430 Price: $186, 925 Kim Kardashian’s fame initially sparked from her reality show. Since then, she has branched out and made money from several endorsements. She put her earnings towards this popular Italian sports car. After 20% down, the payments average $3,800 per month. 2. Paris Hilton – Bentley GT Continental Price: $175,000, plus customization Although this car starts at a high price, Paris Hilton took it a step further. She customized this car to include a pink exterior, interior, wheels, and grill. In addition to her ultra-feminine car customizations, she ordered a $285,000 diamond-encrusted dashboard. Take that Barbie! 3. Jay Z – Maybach Exelero Price: $8,000,000 That’s right – Jay Z drives an $8 million car, al ... read more