Solana Beach Auto Repair

Do You Have A Spare Tire? Do you have a spare tire? No, not the got a spare tire around your waist, the one that should be in your trunk. Got A Spare Tire? Many new cars don't come with a spare tire anymore (half of the cars manufactured in 2015 did not have a spare) and it's one of the few things about your car that you really need to care about. If you ever have a tire problem, you can bet it will be at the worst possible time and place. Even if you belong to an auto club or have break-down coverage, things get complicated if you don't have a spare tire for them to install. We'll be glad to check your air pressure and adjust as necessary. And if your car didn't come with a spare tire, we advise you to carry a can of Fix-A-Flat in your trunk. Fix-A-Flat will inf ... read more

The recent acknowledgement by VW that it installed software to cheat U.S. emission tests is disheartening. While VW is suffering a backlash from the scandal, losing $25 billion in market value since the news was announced, the implications for VW owners is less certain. The automaker is the largest car company in the world and recently said that 23% of new cars sold in August in the U.S. were diesels, which translates to around 7,400 vehicles. Recently Fortune Magazine published some suggestions that answer the question: What can I do about the VW diesel recall? Check your car model The EPA ordered the recall of nearly 500,000 VW and Audi cars that are equipped with 4-cylinder turbo diesel engines. The recall covers cars made from 2009 to 2015, and includes the following models, all of which are the diesel versions: 2009-15 VW Jetta; 2009–15 Beetle ... read more

We've compiled a list of the 14 Best Car Movies of All Time according to MotorAuthority. Are you a car buff? Do you love car movies? Do you like lists of the Best Car Movies? Well you're in luck! And the winners are: The Fast and the Furious (2001) Bullitt (1698) The Cannonball Run (1981) Gone in 60 Seconds (1974) Smokey and the Bandit (1977) Vanishing Point (1971) American Graffiti (1973) The Italian Job (1969) Christine (1983) LeMans (1971) Days of Thunder (1990) Senna (2010) Rush (2013) Cars (2006) If you agree or disagree, we'd love to hear your comments and suggestions. What is your favorite Car Movie of All Time

Auto Repair Customers are 65% Women The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence estimates that Auto Repair Customers are 65% Women.  And 9 out of 10 women responding to a recent Car Care Council survey said they believe auto repair shop operators treat them differently because they are women. Kelly Johnson, Service Manager DRIVE AutoCare 128 N. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach, CA At DRIVE AutoCare we understand women may not always feel as comfortable in an Auto Repair Shop as men but that is certainly not an excuse to treat them any different. We love our women customers and we are taking the following steps to improve the experience of our female customers: We have the ONLY female Service Manager in North County San Diego When customers walk in our door, we always do our best to welcome them and make them feel comfortable When explaining repair and maintenance issues, we use laymen&rsquo ... read more

Don't Neglect Car Maintenance Following these 6 Tips to Improve Car Performance with the help of your favorite auto repair shop will increase automotive value, comfort and safety: Pay Attention To The Check Engine Light: According to CarMd.com, 10% of all drivers have a check engine light on at any time and 50% of those drivers ignore the light for more than 3 months. Ignoring a "check engine light" can be an expensive mistake that impacts fuel economy and have a snowball effect that can cause other problems or even risk safety. The #1 reason for a check engine light is a malfunctioning oxygen sensor which costs less than $500 to fix but ignoring it can reduce gas mileage by as much as 40%. Change Your Oil and Other Fluids Regularly: The most common mistake drivers make is to extend oil change intervals ... read more

Nothing will shorten your car's engine life faster than missed oil changes. Changing motor oil is a simple, inexpensive service that’s widely touted as the single most important part of your car’s maintenance schedule. Motor oil’s primary function is to cut friction. Over time, oil accumulates contaminants and loses viscosity and the resulting friction causes engine parts to rub together. Parts wear out faster and the damage caused is largely irreversible without an engine overhaul or replacement. But advances in technology and increased consumer awareness have created some confusion regarding the proper interval between oil changes. So, how often should you change your oil? It really comes down to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule for oil change intervals as their guidelines are designed to keep your car in good running condition for a long time. To make life ea ... read more

COMEDIANS IN CARS It really is a "show about nothing." We love Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Jerry Seinfeld's video web series now in it's 6th season. Each week, Jerry is joined by a friend as they enjoy a drive in a classic car to a local restaurant or coffee shop, all the while sharing stories and more than a few laughs. Guests like Chris Rock, Steven Colbert, Jimmy Fallon and Jon Stewart will make you laugh out loud and the guests are only superseded by Jerry's classic car collection. The list of Season 6 cars include a Lamborghini Countach, a VW Super Beetle, a '57 Chevy, a Morgan Roadster, a James Bond-style Aston-Martin DB5, and a Ferrari 308 GTB

It's the great debate of the Independent Repair Shop Vs Dealership! David Vs Goliath! But what do studies actually say about this heated topic? We hear it all the time, "I'm a dealer guy, I always bring my car to the dealer for repairs." So we've wondered, are dealers a better value than your local mechanic? We may have a slight bias on this topic but who better to ask for a fair and balanced view than Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports 2015 Repair Satisfaction Survey found that when your car is ailing, odds are that you’ll be more satisfied with an independent repair shop than with a new-car dealership. The annual survey of Consumer Reports subscribers found that independents outscored dealership service once again for overall satisfaction, price, quality, courteousness of the staff, and work being completed when promised. With few exceptions, the entire list of independent ... read more

We often wonder whether it's best to lease or buy a new car. According to LeaseGuide.com, it's not possible to simply say that one is always better than there other so they have provided a summary of Lease vs. Buy for your benefit: The SHORT-TERM monthly cost of leasing is always significantly less than the cost of buying. For the same car, at the same price, over the same term, with the same down payment, monthly lease payments will always be 30%-60% lower than loan payments. This is still true when compared to 0% or low-interest loans offered by the car manufacturers. The MEDIUM-TERM cost of leasing is about equal to the cost of buying, assuming the buyer sells or trades the vehicle at loan-end and the lessee returns the vehicle at lease-end. Comparisons sometimes show buying to cost a ... read more

FIND CHEAP GAS Running on Empty? No, it's not just an amazing song by Jackson Browne. Sometimes you really are running on empty and that goes for your wallet too! Even though the price of gas has declined this year, you can rest easy if the "E" on your fuel gauge begins to glow ominously. Just download GasBuddy and the app will map gas stations for you by city or zip code. The app also lets you sort results by distance or price. It really does find cheap gas! Download it free from the Apple ... read more