Central Automotive of S D

I was in San Diego for Comic Con last week. While on the 5, my car started making the kinds of sounds that usually mean many, many dollar signs to repair.
I called a friend who recommended this place. They quoted me several hundred dollars for the repair, which was a real bummer, but I was on vacation and I was over a barrel so I said OK. I just wanted it done.
When I picked the car up, it turned out the repair was something different from what they thought — and turned out to be much, much cheaper (I couldn’t tell you what — I don’t know anything about cars). I drove out of there for under fifty bucks!
These guys saved me, and they saved my vacation.
It’s rare to encounter an honest car garage.
Five, enthusiastic stars.

I’ve been taking my car to Central Automotive for many years. Excellent mechanics!!! Honest!!! They are the best!!!

I have been going here for easily 7 years and have always had great service and am very happy with their work. They never try to add items I don’t need.
Once, I wanted the brake pads changed and the mechanic said you have 50 percent left, you really do not need it. When I was in the market for a used car, I took it there to see if I should buy it. I was happy that I did, the car owner had welded the oil drain bolt in. What a disaster that would have been.
I am happy to refer them. I live about 10 blocks way and they will give me a ride or pick me up if I need it.

DO NOT TAKE YOUR CAR HERE. Here’s why:
I was driving my car a few blocks from home when it started smoking – A LOT. I pulled into the closest auto place I could find to find out that it was a body shop. They referred me to Central Automotive and said they would be able to take care of me.
I got out of my car at Central Automotive and the guy working there just blankly stared at me. I told him what just happened and still no response. I said, «Uh, am I in the right spot?» He finally said yes and that they would take a look at it.
He had his co-​worker take it for a spin around the block and sure enough, it was still smoking. They looked under the hood and the said the transmission fluid cap (or something like that) was loose. He also mentioned that my tires were bad. They put my car on the lift to take a look at it and said they would call me when they had done a diagnosis.
He called me back to let me know that I had a couple oil leaks that he could repair. His quote was $ 651.18 if he didn’t have to take the engine out. If he did have to take the engine out, it would be $ 1,331.18, but he wouldn’t know if he had to take it out until he started working on it… ARE YOU F*CKING KIDDING ME???
I went back there to pick up my car and told him my bf was going to take a look at it. He never attempted to show me what was wrong on my car.
I ended up taking my car to a different place to get a quote and it was THREE TIMES LOWER than the $ 651 quote. The new place also told me it was not imperative that I get it fixed right away. I have been driving my car for 2 days since it started smoking (and I haven’t gotten it repaired yet) and it hasn’t started smoking since they tightened the cap. I’m guessing that the loose cap caused the smoke and nothing more had to be done.
I am a female that does not know too much about cars, but I know when someone is trying to rip me off and take advantage of me. I will NEVER go back here.
Oh, and the only other review on here mentioned «Chris and his team». The guy I spoke with said his name was Mark, so maybe Chris isn’t working there anymore. Nevertheless, BEWARE.

I was referred here by my brake guy when I asked him for a good place that does good general repair work.
Chris and his team are no-​nonsense, straight forward, good people. I’ve had a couple of repairs, and all of my regular maintenance work done here on 2 vehicles. The pricing is more than fair, but more importantly I am sure they’re only going to do the work needed, and not one iota more. He even told me I needed minor brake work on one vehicle, but wouldn’t do the work because he knew I already had a fantastic brake guy. A very stand-​up position in my opinion.