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Advantec Auto Repair
Categories: Automotive Auto Repair Automotive Body Shops Auto Repair, Body Shops [Edit]
2828 Adams Ave(at Utah St)
San Diego, CA 92116
Neighborhood: University Heights
(619) 248-9519
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 6 pm
Sat 8 am - 2 pm
About This Business:
Certified 3M & Solargard Window Tint & Clear Bra Installer. Only the best Window Tint in the industry make it into our shop. Quality Window Tinting is… read more »
308 reviews for Advantec Auto Repair
308 reviews in English
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Review from Jill H.
4/15/2012
I've found my new mechanic! Very impressed with this place! Brought my car in right when they opened on a Saturday at 8am and it was done by noon.
Got a 30k service in my mini cooper and it was less than $300. They changed oil, air filter, gave it a tune up, fuel injector cleaning and overall safety inspection. Car purrs like a kitten now.
I'm convinced the dealer (Crevier Mini in Santa Ana) where i bought this and 'supposedly' got service under warranty didn't do squat. -
Review from Julia E.
San Diego, CA
3/25/2012
The staff is very friendly and confident. Gilbert is an honest mechanic and won't try to joop you or anything. They'll explain anything you want to know about your car. I had my tires changed here, my clutch replaced as well as my brake pads and rotors.
Reasonable prices (cheaper than anywhere else i've been to) and wonderful service. -
Review from Ted M.
San Diego, CA
2/20/2012
Sean and Gilbert are the most skilled and honest mechanics I have ever met! They've kept my rust bucket of a Land Cruiser alive and running for the past few years without over charging me. I admittedly don't know anything about cars other than where the gas goes and how to change a tire. They've shown me where the problems are and often times provide me with a variety of options on how to fix them in a long lasting, affordable way.
If these guys would get into the financial planning business, I'd probably ask them to handle my money too! Super honest and great customer service! -
Review from Laura L.
San Diego, CA
5/17/2012
Took my 2007 BMW in for new brake pads and rotors since my 4 year warranty expired on my car. I was extremely happy with their service and price. Sean gave me a great price. The staff was friendly and confident. Advantec will now be my "go to" whenever my car needs service. Sean even paid for my coffee next door at Twiggs while I waited! I didn't give 5 stars because I was told 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours and waited 2 1/2 hours. But I was very happy with the work and the mechanics.
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Review from Maria I.
San Diego, CA
2/23/2012
These guys are incredible. As a stereotypical idiot female, I've been driving around with no breaks for quite some time. Of course I had no idea to check on it until it started making shrieking noises that let everyone know I was on my way as soon as I left the house. So I decided I had been embarrassed enough by it and that I should get it checked out (safety was never a concern). I get there and these guys are straight up with me on what I should do, in plain English, and no attempts at selling me crap I don't need. And they gave me a cheaper option for the problem too. Just so I don't have to hang out in a garage again I did what they told me I should. They changed my brakes/rotors/other unknown things I don't understand about in less than 1.5 hours and even gave me a discount because I had to wait.
They are officially my mechanics now:) -
Review from Laine L.
San Diego, CA
5/16/2012
The guys here are awesome, came here for brakes last month and was in and out in no time. I have to go back and get tires. I have been meaning to go for a while but just moved and have not got around to it yet. I will soon though cause I do not want to be on the side of the road !
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Review from Amanda M.
San Diego, CA
1/27/2012
AWESOME customer service!
Example: My car had a burnt out headlight. I had a replacement bulb but was having a hard time installing it myself. Brought my car to Advantec and asked if they could replace the light for me. They told me they could provide a bulb and install it for a minimal price. I told them I already had a bulb and Advantec then proceeded to install it free of cost! I then attempted to tip the guys $10 for helping me out, however they turned down my tip and said they were happy to help.
The guys here are reliable, kind and honest. A good auto repair shop is hard to find. Now that I have found one I am not taking my car to any other place.
Thanks Advantec! -
Review from Danny L.
San Diego, CA
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Efficient, professional, and no up-selling. Extremely pleased with their services and will bring my business back here in the future.
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Review from Steven L.
San Diego, CA
12/8/2011
Much props to Gilbert and his crew. I needed an oil change and after scouring Yelp! for days on the "right place" to go, decided to hit up Advantec due to its consistently good reviews and proximity to my abode. I went in without an appointment, Gilbert greeted me and took down my info, told me it would be ready in 30 minutes. In 25 minutes I was given a call to let me know my car was ready.
$35 for the whole thing, and yes, that may be on the higher side for some, but you are paying for efficiency and no BS. Seriously. I've been to the more commercial garages where either you need an appointment or have to wait hours for a simple procedure to be done. Then, after being told your car is ready, have to spend another few minutes listening to how your car won't make it out of the lot if you don't get done what the "specialist" has told you to get done right that second.
So, if it means paying a few bucks more for honesty and quality... I'll take it. Thanks, Advantec crew. -
Review from C K.
San Diego, CA
3/28/2012
Just had my front rotors and brake pads changed in less than an hour! No BS, no upsell, just great service at fair prices! I won't take my cars anywhere else!
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Review from Patricia Patti P W.
San Diego, CA
11/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Pretty Over Yelped by now. I read Mae C and K10 M's reviews of this place. They are pretty reliable Yelpers and I do remember writing Mae an email two years ago asking if this place was really that good and she said it was.
Thanks girls, I have gone here three times now. These guys are TOTAL gentlemen ( a word I hardly use anymore sadly ), they are nice to the ladies and are honest. I took my car in yesterday, it took about three hours because they had get parts from the Ford dealer but they did a great job. I will be coming here from now on.
Anyhow, I spent my time making up for leaving an hour early from work the day before so the wait doesn't bother me.
The positive reviews here on Yelp about this place are spot on.
Thanks Gentlemen, see you in 3K miles! :) -
Review from fat m.
San Diego, CA
11/3/2011
Their other location is 3752 Park Blvd (between Robinson Ave & Essex St).
I decided to try Advantec based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews on Yelp -- especially for a service sector that is notorious for being screwy. I was not disappointed.
There are some things that I thought did not exist in the realm of man. The short list: unicorns, a free lunch, the Loch Ness Monster....and honest auto mechanics.
Thanks to Advantec, the last one has been debunked! This is hands down the best auto shop I have ever utilized. Shawn, who is the owner/manager is awesome and runs a tight ship. These guys have helped me discover and fix botched jobs from screwy mechanics. They give upfront estimates for simple jobs and, for more complex jobs, they call you and discuss everything (and show you everything) before proceeding. The pricing is very fair and turns out to be much lower than going to any other place or the dealership. They do not overcharge for parts and never overcharge for labor. They also don't try to convince you to do more than you intended to -- if they recommend anything at all, it is because your car really needs it, so you should probably take their suggestion. The service is fast and they never keep you waiting any longer than necessary.
I seriously love this place and I never thought I would say that about an auto shop! -
Review from Jordy D.
San Diego, CA
1/2/2012
I took my 2004 Hyundai Accent in recently. After my last oil change, the mechanic at Meineke told me about a few potential issues. I told the guys at Advantec what was going on with my car (lots of noise when the clutch is engaged, oil leaking out of the engie because of a broken valve cover gasket). Gilbert told me that the clutch noise was most likely a transmission issue and it would be pricey to diagnose. He suggested I just leave it alone until it becomes more dire. The shop replaced my valve cover gasket at a good price ($79 for the part, $70 for labor).
I got my keys and began driving home when I noticed that the check engine light was on (it had not been on when I took the car in originally). So I pulled up back in front of the shop and told Gilbert about the check engine light. He popped the hood and used his diagnostic tool to see what the issue was. He explained that something must have been undone when the computer system reset itself (setting off the check engine light). On my drive home, the check engine light was not on.
However, later that evening the check engine light came on and remained on until I took my car back to Advanctec 3 days later. Gilbert used his diagnostic tool again and told me that it was a problem with the car's idling system. I got a call a few hours later that my car was ready. Everything was fixed and I wasn't charged anything. Car's running well now.
I really appreciated the honesty and straightforwardness that I experienced at Advanctec. I'll be a return customer for sure. -
Review from C F.
San Diego, CA
11/5/2011
I'm actually really reserved when it comes to ratings, and Shawn (owner) deserves every star.
He quoted me over the phone.
He didn't pressure me into anything I didn't want.
He was honest: I asked for a new radiator; he said that wouldn't always solve the problem of overheating instead of just replacing it and sending me on my way. I was right, though, as he confirmed the nasty leak at the bottom of the radiator.
He guaranteed his work and labor.
He gave me the old radiator when requested.
He was transparent about the parts he uses.
He asked me to call him if I ever had a problem with one of his mechanics.
I've found my Honda mechanic for San Diego! -
Review from M M.
San Diego, CA
7/1/2011
First time there- went to have them check the brakes, replace oil and replace lights that were out.
They cleaned the brakes and said there was no need to replace them +1
The replaced the oil and lights no problem +1
Customer service +1
Did not try to sell me additional service +1
Done in a timely manner +1
If you are like me (someone who doesn't speak car), you can feel confident going to Advantec Auto Repair.
I rarely write reviews; however, I think it is important to write one in this case because I am sure there will be many others, like myself, who are looking for a good car shop that doesn't make them feel like they are getting bent over everytime they go. If you are surfing around looking for a place to go- you can safely stop your search now and select Advantec. -
Review from Taylor M.
San Diego, CA
9/29/2011
5 stars for returning my call promptly.
Called and left a message and within FIVE minutes, Gilbert got right back to me with a quote,,,,2 quotes,,for my brakes on my hubby;s 94 MX3 Mazda; he said between $150 to $280 depending on whether new rotors and what type of brake pads. ONLY place that gave me a quote over the phone!!! (I called Meineke, Brake Depot, etc)
Stay tuned, the car goes on Friday(tomorrow) morning.
I update this review then.
Ok,,we went, we came, we saw we left happy!
Gilbert quoted me $280 for new rotors and pads on the phone, and $280.10 was the final bill since, in fact, I did new new rotors.
Very personable fellow, and damn good customer service!
I guess I should take off a star for the 10 cents, lol! -
Review from Nice G.
San Diego, CA
11/7/2011
I met Sean today at the Adams Avenue location. Nice guy, straight, knowledgeable and friendly. Looks like a good bet.
He asked me to have my 20' Chevy Express van towed to his 2nd location on Park Bl where they have more room. He helped me get a low price from a towing company he had at his fingertips -- saved me money.
At the Park Bl location I was greeted by Gilbert the location manager. He was on the ball. Gilbert had my dead van running before I left the parking lot. He nailed the first issue within 5 minutes, literally. I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do with it from here.
Good mechanics are not easy to find.
"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship"
(Casablanca, 1942) -
Review from Anna S.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 4/4/2012
Sean, you did it again!!! Thank you for saving me $750! To make a long story short, my car failed smog at a smog and repair station. I called Sean to get a quote for the repairs and then brought my car to him because I trust him so much. He took one look under the hood and told me that I didn't need any repairs and that is should have passed smog. After taking it to a "Test Only" station, it passed! He could have totally taken me for a ride and I wouldn't have known the difference. Now the Bureau of Auto Repairs for the state of CA is investigating the original company that failed my car because it passed elsewhere. Even the state inspector said it should have passed! Advantec and all of the staff are amazing and I have referred at least 5 friends to them. I cannot be more grateful! Thanks guys!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/1/2010
This is the third time I have taken my vehicle to Advantec. Every time I go I feel as if they are as… Read more »
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Review from Pearl L.
West Los Angeles, CA
9/10/2011
Great service!
My bf recently took my car in for brake pad replacement and they were completely transparent and informative about their services.
They showed him exactly what the issues were with my brakes and they completed the service in a ridiculously fast time. I was even given a discount on labor! I would recommend this place to anyone who needs any car repair done at an affordable and quality price. -
Review from Dro M.
San Diego, CA
1/14/2012
Apparently Labor is $95.00/hour here..... Don't read these fake reviews, they will NOT install any of your parts for FREE... or even a proper inspection. Poor customer service, It's true , If you try to negotiate on parts/labor they tell you to take a hike. Location is horrible. I wouldn't recommend getting anything repaired here unless you live within a mile radius and need an urgent oil or fluid change..Nothing more. honestly.
Comment from sean d. of Advantec Auto Repair 1/19/2012
Dear Dro, How cheap can you be? Can we come over your house… More » -
Review from Robert P.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 4/14/2011
And here's the email this PSYCHO sent me, regarding a refund:
---look i could give a rat ass what you what u think, understand. i dont give a crap what you say or spread around . u cant read? i told you i will give u a refund look at the last line. so if you want to come in a get your money that is fine. but cut the bullshit you are a victim. I am not going to kiss your ass. You really think i am worry about your review? leave it the way it is, you are telling the truth. again come in and get your money. come in and get your money, come in and get your money is that clear enough?---
I don't wanna go anywhere NEAR this lunatic, or give him my address for a "refund"1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/11/2011
$250 for a right upper ball joint replacement..... I don't think I need to say any more. These guys… Read more »
Comment from sean d. of Advantec Auto Repair 4/14/2011
To yelpers, we try our best to service everyone as best as… More » -
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Review from Cynthia C.
San Marcos, CA
Updated - 4/12/2011
WOW!! REALLY!! I'm so glad I didn't give any business to these JERKS! Their response to my review...
"Cynthia,I forgot you are the only customer that called. I bet if you flick your wrist everyone around you will be on there knees to serve you "PRINCESS". "
RUDE, RUDE, RUDE. You guys know NOTHING about customer service!! Ill make sure to tell EVERYONE NOT to come here.Listed in: DONT take your business…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/30/2011
Called to get a quote. Was told they would call me back.... 2 days later still no call! Took my… Read more »
Comment from sean d. of Advantec Auto Repair 4/11/2011
Cynthia, I forgot you are the only customer that called. I… More » -
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Review from J R.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 3/28/2012
honest hard working and nice People.
This is my no 1 Place to go to when I need my Car fixed Tuned up. I am very happy to Found them and i want to do my part by spreading my great experience. We are moving in less than a week because of husband job and the van we are going to use won't start. Not now!!! Well we got the van the Next day with a new starter new Tires a total check up and they gave us oil and coolant for our Move from San Diego to Tampa. My Husband came home telling me how great they were and it didnt Cost us an arm and a leg. If I could ill bring them with me to Tampa, because honest reliable mechanics are hard to find.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/30/2010
Found them on yelp and have been there a couple of time when I needed repair on my car or just… Read more »
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Review from JöHnNy A.
3/17/2011
:-|
So far so good.. just dropped off car this morning... Jerome was friendly on phone, but Gilbert took my orders today and was just as friendly and service oriented.
He line item'd what needed done on the vehicle siting that he's just calling them as he sees them. (And yet my regular mechanic disagreed.)
I like the attention they paid to my vehicle and the free inspection. Though I went with my regular guy.. Advantec was a good go to for a second opinion.
(Advantec came highly recommended...)
3 Woofs A-Ok.. though they claimed a few more items wrong with my car than what my regular mechanic inspected. I'm not sure I agree with them. -
Review from Justin S.
San Diego, CA
7/25/2011
Good, fast, and honest service!
Only negative for me is the lack of parking.
My check engine light popped on, so after checking Yelp I headed to Advantec. They gave me a free engine diagnostic. After discovering what was wrong they explained it to me gave me a cost estimate and then, wait for it... Told me that it probably wasn't worth the cost! Additionally my ABS light has been on for a while so I asked them to look at my brakes. They checked them out, again free of charge!
While certainly not the most professional or polished place I've ever been to (it's a garage what can you expect), their honesty, speed of service, and reasonable pricing will get my repeat business for sure! -
Review from Sara P.
San Diego, CA
3/11/2012
After reading all these outstanding reviews, I decided to bring my own car in this weekend. Not only I was asked for an outrageous price but I was also asked to leave my car there for days to get the job done! (I need the car for work) After hearing how much the repair was going to cost me, I LUCKILY decided to go for a second opinion! The guys where I brought my car now asked me for 600 dollars less and they'll get it done today!!! I don't know if I've just been INCREDIBLY unluckly but seems to me that some of the guys in there, can't really take care of their customers! ....Sorry but you won't see my face ever again!
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Review from Shaun G.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 4/13/2011
Went back to Sean about a year ago to put a berring on. I had bought a non OEM part that he warned me against, but he put it on for me anyway. Well, he was right; it broke on the way up the mountain. So I brought the Explorer back to him and he put the OEM part on with a warranty and an awesome discount. I took the broken part back to the auto shop and was able to get a refund.
What's more, Sean helped me with the process of filing a claim with the auto part company that made that part so that I could recoup the money I spent on labor the first time around with Sean. That's pretty awesome in my opinion. And to top it off, the company with the faulty part accepted my claim and gave me money back.
So I was given great service by Sean, and he helped me get all of the money back that I had spent in the first place.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/3/2010
So this is one of our few non-restaurant reviews and I'll make it simple.
Shawn is the mechanic… Read more »
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Review from Kristen M.
San Diego, CA
3/7/2011
Prompt, honest, good work that is clearly explained to you. The prices are extremely fair, and they do good business.
I had to get my waterpump replaced and it took them less than a day to fix everything. My boyfriend needed to get his head gasket replaced, and while it took about a week (it's a pretty major endeavor), the price was right and the work was solid.
I completely trust these guys with my car. -
Review from Allen C.
2/10/2011
I really wanted to like this place. Finding a trustworthy mechanic is about as challenging as finding your soulmate, which is to say nearly impossible. Advantec's yelp rating was sky high - 200+ yelpers couldn't be wrong, right? I bit the bullet and made the 25 minute drive down to Adams Ave for my date with destiny. Suffice to say, I didn't score.
I was here for my 60k checkup and a brake job, and the price quoted by Advantec was cheaper than the other places (including the vaunted Boulevard Automotive). The locale looked a bit shady, but the people were friendly enough. I handed over the keys and wandered to the nearby library, waiting for their call. A couple hours later I picked up the car and headed home. Halfway there, my engine warning light came on. I quickly zipped over to Boulevard Automotive, but they were too busy to look at my car. Curses! Ultimately I ended up at a small deserted auto repair shop in the middle of Mira Mesa to get a diagnosis. The technician took a quick OBD-II reading, saw that the air-fuel ratio was lean, popped the hood, and immediately saw the problem. An air hose was disconnected.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I paid over 400+ dollars for service. How can you flub up such a simple thing? My engine could have been severely damaged in this instance. This kind of mistake makes me wonder if you screwed up anything else - now I feel like I could be sitting on a ticking time bomb. To add insult to injury, the small mechanic who fixed my problem charged me $50 for 2 minutes of his time. I can't fault him for that but it just rubs salt into the wound. I was half a mind to march back down to Advantec to complain and hopefully get some money back, but decided it wasn't worth it to spend 50 minutes of my life going there and back. Though many others swear by Advantec, I don't think I'll be back here. The search continues.....Comment from sean d. of Advantec Auto Repair 2/26/2011
You are either dumb or stupid? not sure which one. If this… More » -
Review from Tony W.
San Diego, CA
3/31/2011
I could not have asked for a better experience. My 98 Mustang GT was making a scraping sound, and it was coming from the rear right side of the car. I thought it might be the bearings, and called Advantec to see when they could work with me. They told me they didn't take appointments but to come on in.
I came in at around 3:30, and one of the mechanics had me drive the car a little bit and he told me that he thought it was the brakes, not the bearings. He said to give them around 20 minutes to get the car up on the lifter and the wheels off, and he'd give me a call.
I got that call and it took less than 20 minutes. He showed me how one of the rotors was worn down and told me that's what was making the scraping noise. He quoted me a price of $320 to get it fixed, and told me that they'd get the parts in and take care of it.
About an hour later, I was wandering around the neighborhood killing time and saw them working on the car. So I sat and waited for them to finish up. The owner of the place, Shawn, was there checking to make sure his guys did everything right. He and I got to chatting and he told me that he used to work as an engineer for Ford and that my car was pretty much indestructible with the exception of the intake manifold. He also let me know that there was a recall for that so if I had a receipt, I could call Ford and they'd give me a refund for the repair costs. This little tip by itself made the trip worthwhile because I think that cost around $700 to fix!
By 5:30, they had the brakes fixed, and Shawn gave me the Yelp discount plus a few bucks more. I walked out paying $300 to have the rotors on my rear brakes replaced and the scraping noise is gone. Things couldn't have gone better. The staff was friendly and they did the job well. You can't ask for more than that.
I used to go to Stup's Garage in Frederick when I lived in the DC area, and I had gone there since Bill Clinton's first term. I think I found a place here in San Diego that will get that kind of repeat business from me. -
Review from Trevi T.
San Diego, CA
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Found this place from the consisent 5 star reviews on Yelp. I was very pleased with the service I got from Gilbert and the rest of the staff at Advantec. I came in with smoke coming out of my hood. I explained where it was coming from, and without even looking at my car, Gil diagnosed the problem. I needed a new power steering hose, and it was ordered directly from the honda dealership. I was quoted a reasonable price, and my car was fixed by the end of the day. I also got a $5 discount on an oil change for 'checking in' on Yelp. I'm always a little wary of going to new mechanics due to the fact that I'm a girl, and I don't know much about cars, but these guys were great, and honest. I will definitely be coming back to Advantec.
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Review from Mike R.
San Diego, CA
1/3/2011
You may not believe my review when you read it, but it is all true. Like the tales of the yeti, loch ness monster and the unicorn, I present to you the tale of an honest mechanic.
Like a good doctor, you want to feel comfortable telling your mechanic about the problems under the hood. You then want to feel confident that the professional involved knows what he is talking about is going to only order necessary tests and is not going to charge you more than is actually due.
Advantec Auto repair. The first honest mechanic. -
Review from Jane G.
Fullerton, CA
Updated - 4/19/2011
Sean messaged me regarding my review and addressed all of my concerns. He seemed to really care about my satisfaction. Because of his message addressing all of the points I brought up (most people ignore some points, while addressing others), I am now amending my review with one more star.
He offered to refund me my oil change amount but I refused because I didn't have a "horrible" experience, just a "meh" one.
Although he did say that I shouldn't let his responses to other yelpers affect the way I view him and his business, I did again affirm that I couldn't help but do so. It really does reflect badly and I really do truly believe that others probably think this way also.
I am willing to give Advantec a second chance to impress me as so many others have been.
Sean's expression of genuine concern over my satisfaction really deserves for me to give him and his business another chance.
I will probably be reviewing again in the future.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/14/2011
I really, truly wanted to like this place much more than I did.
For my oil changes, I generally… Read more »
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Review from julia m.
San Diego, CA
3/3/2012
they didn't charge me to tell me what the noise was coming from my brakes. it only took 45 min without an appointment to let me know that next time i replace the brakes i need to replace the rotors.
i mentioned they didn't charge me right? -
Review from Collin A.
San Diego, CA
1/18/2011 12 Check-ins Here
Advantec. Best mechanics in all of SD. Best in abNormal Heights anyways. I have been coming here for a little over 2 years and have never been disappointed. The people are super friendly, and I find them knowledgeable. What I like the best? When they don't have the immediate answer, they research and then get back to you. Quickly. I find this great as they don't pretend to know everything. I have an old Mercedes, and they consistently come through with fair prices, and outstanding service!!
I started coming here after a neighbor of mine said they did a great job. I had gone to Shitty's service...I mean Smittys automotive on Adams. I still haven't reviewed Shitty's yet, because I have yet to calm down from them ripping me and my fiance off a few years ago.
Anyway, here's what I'm getting at. Advantec has phenomenal service, and killer rates. For as long as I live in SD I will be bringing my rig here, and you should too. Give this place a shot and you can thank me later!!
Oh, the only reason that I can't give it the full 5 stars is that they accidentally left my car unlocked one night with my golf clubs in the trunk. How this wasn't ganked in N.H. I have no idea. The lock is tricky, so it's partly my fault.
I'll be at the Comfort Inn
Room 112
I love you Advantec -
Review from Chris C.
San Diego, CA
4/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
We were looking for a new mechanic to fix our car. It's a 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee so it's gonna start needed some mechanical love being a 13 year old car. Heard some good reviews from a friend of ours and decided to take the car in.
The cost estimate was half the price from the mechanic we initially took our car and the Advantec mechanics were very up front about any cost that may be incurred, so there were no surprises.
The only surprise that we experienced was that the previous mechanic who worked on our car installed the wrong alternator. The mechanic at Advantec pointed out to me exactly why it was the wrong one so I was informed going into getting the other place to put the right one in.
We will definitely be bringing our vehicles to Advantec for further work and maintenance. Very fair and friendly service. -
Review from Marisa A.
San Diego, CA
2/10/2011
I absolutely ABHOR taking my car in for repairs...mainly because I know nothing about cars and always feel like I get taken advantage of.
Enter Advantec Auto Repair - my car repair ANGEL.
After multiple recommendations and great reviews on Yelp, I went in around 8:30am to find out what was going on with the wretched sound in my wheel well. My brakes had also been making a crazy sound, but I doubted there was a problem since I had them replaced eight months ago.
Sean greeted me and basically ripped my front wheel apart and inquired if I had some kind of death wish driving on it :) He told me he'd replace that wheel and recommended replacing the other one since they were both 4+ years old. He gave me a fair price up front and told me he could get it in and done in under an hour.
**ADDITIONAL PERK: Twiggs is next door, so I was able to enjoy my cappuccino in a sunny coffee house and check work email while waiting for my car.
40 minutes later, I got a call and the car was ready. Got the YELP 10% off labor discount ($3 baby!) and was out the door with two new tires for $180!
Friendly, fast, human...all I need in an auto shop. I heart them and I will absolutely be back. -
Review from Steffan J.
San Diego, CA
1/3/2012
Sean and Gilbert are as honest as they come, which is really unusual for an automotive repair shop. I've been taking my cars here for the last 4 or 5 years and don't have any complaints. Even though I am a loyal Advantec customer I always call around for estimates. Advantec is almost always the lowest. If you want no-nonsense auto repair without the BS and upselling of services you don't need, I suggest taking your car here.
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Review from Molly R.
San Diego, CA
2/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The ONLY place I will take my car. They know what they're doing and will never bullshit you.
I'm a 23 year old female and know absolutely nothing about cars, so I'm usually a prime target for mechanics who like to trick people into thinking their car is going to explode if they don't fix whatever the most expensive part is. Advantec is the opposite...they go out of their way to make sure you get everything you need done and nothing more. They even repaired my flat tire for FREE, whereas most places probably would have tried to sell me new tires. -
Review from Heather T.
San Diego, CA
2/20/2012
I was tired of dealing with Marvin K Brown to service my Cadillac. I went on yelp and saw all the positive ratings for this place. If that many people think its that good, I figured it was a good bet to try it out. I wasn't disappointed! When I dropped my car off they were very professional and helpful. They took the time to write down all of my concerns to ensure they had all the information they needed. When they found out I was going to take a cab home, the shop owner gave me a ride home to save me the cab fare! I had a long list of things I needed to get fixed / inspected on the car to prepare for my pending cross country drive. They called shortly after I got home with a quote. They were very honest, upfront and explained everything to me. When I came back to pick up the car, they had cleaned my headlights complimentary. The car was ready and my final price was under the quoted price. This place is great. I will come again and recommend it to anyone in need of a trustworthy stand up mechanic.
