), (619)266-9287(home), (619)708-8816(cell). His class is $50 per 2.5 hour(in 2001) and he can speak English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese.
4. driving test: You have to make an appointment for driving test. For the test, you
have to use a car with insurance. You can use the driving school’s car to take the test.
5. Useful Driving Tips:http://adtsea.iup.edu/adtsea/resource_library/teacher_resources/driver_study_guide.htm
Driving Tips Video: http://www.mpi.mb.ca/English/dr_tips/60sec.html
- What kind of car should you buy?
Free decision guide by AutoTrader
and MSN CarPoint.
How to Choose a
"Right" Car? from Samarins.
Reliability ratings from
MSN or from
JD Power consumer center,
Safety ratings from
NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
- Free pricing by Kelly Blue Book and Edmunds.
- Classified ads by AutoTrader, Cars.com(San
Diego Union Tribune) and Yahoo Autos.
- Check the vehicle history from Carfax
Vehicle History Report. The
price is $14.99 for a single report, or $19.99 for unlimited two-months access.
- Make a call: it is good to make a call before go to test drive. You
should make it clear after the call:
year & model
options (power window, power mirror, power seats, CD, etc.)
milage
Vin number
clean title or not
ever in accident
How is the body ( if you care )?
How it runs?
Anything needs repair?
Do you have all the service records?
Has the timing belt been changed?
Are you the first owner?
Are you a dealer or private seller?
Do you have the smog check of the car?
and the always asked question: Why do you want to sell it?
(but don't believe everything.)
Finally, you should ask for the address if you want to
take a look:-)
- You’d better read the information on registration & title from DMV
before buying a car.
- How to check a car by yourself? A
good article about this is from MSN
CarPoint.
- If you want to buy it, you’d better make a mechanical check first.
The price for a basic check is about $30, and for a complete check is
about $60.
- Does the owner has service records? Owner’s
manual? Smog check?
(According to the website of DMV, it’s the seller’s obligation to
provide the purchaser with evidence of a valid smog certification)
Have you checked Carfax Vehicle History
Report?
- Ask for the endorsed title – this is the certificate that proves your
ownership on the car.
1. Buy insurance.
The insurance I am using
is “Farmers insurance group, agency: Jao. H. Kim”, located in 7750 Dagget
St., Suite 206, tel:858-278-7727 or 619-203-7717(page).
It’s near Convoy & Balboe. You can take bus 41, transfer to 27 at
Balboe and get off at Convoy& Balboe.
Some people use "California
Brokerage", (619) 283-9999, 2848 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92104.
But it's far if you take bus :-) Seems it's a good choice if you have only
learner's permit.
There’re also many people who use “AllState Insurance”. The
two agents are: Zeng Jing, 858-268-7010, her office is at 7323 Convoy Ct # B111, just
in front of the 99 supermarket; Patrick Wang,
858-623-3344, 8650 Genesee Ave # 108.
AAA club also provides auto insurance.
You can find many other insurance companies in the
Yellowbook.
2. Go to DMV to transfer the ownership in 10 days.
3. Join the AAA Club. They provides free maps and emergency assistant. It seems USECU has $10 off
coupon for the first year membership.
4. Make maintenance regularly according to the previous service records.
Generally, oil change is necessary every 3000 miles and complete service
is needed every 30,000 miles. More
advice about car maintenance can be found at your manual and CarTalk:Advice
at Cars.com.
1. How does the car work? Look into the
engine, transmission, brake, AC…
Cars.com Car Talk Car Advisor: Have
text and graph for many maintenances. Also have a very cool interactive
car demo!
HowStuffWorks.com:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/sc-engines-automotive.htm
2.Don’t you want yourself to become a car expert? Read the “How to” from:
Edmunds.com Tech
Center:
Tells a lot of tips about how to keep your car going and going and going.
NAPA Online:
provides many tips on repair
and service and also problem
diagnosis.
Car Connection:
provides.
3.Where to buy auto parts?
AutoZone: http://www.autozone.com,
6085 Balboa Ave. San Diego, CA 92111. Mon-Sat:8:00 AM - 10:00 PM Sun:9:00 AM - 9:00 PM.
(858) 279-8771
NAPA: http://www.napaonline.com,
7440 Convoy St, San Diego CA, 92111. (619)696-6272.
Auto Work: besides Hometown Buffet
Al & Ed’s Autosound: 5789 Miramar Rd, very kind & honest guy. For car audio.
4. What to know the brands, logos, and prices?
Car companies, countries and brands
Car logos
5.How to drive like a Moron? Read the tutorial at http://www.doggiesnot.com/
carefully. What's a "Moron"? (You can look the dictionary of http://www.m-w.com/home.htm)
The following is a brief statistic from the maillist cssa@ucsd.edu about the garage shops. I just
count the number of people who said whether a shop is good or bad. (date: 20020302 -
20020521)
shop Good Bad
On Time : 0 20 (6670 Miramar Rd # C, 92121, (858) 452-9999)
BAD: 1906 1918 1926 1934 1944 1946 1950 1951 1954 1966 1967 1972
1974 1975 1976 1981 1984 1985 1988 1993 1996 2001 2004 2008 2015
5675 6506 6512
Pacific Auto Service: 0 1 (messages: 1970)
TAB's Toyota : 0 2
TAP Auto Care(convey): 0 1
Mira Mesa Auto Techs: 7 0 (9560 Black mountain Rd Suite A, 92126, Tele number:(858)693-6209 Mr Chen)
Good: 1849
G. Win Auto : 4 1 (8448 Miracrest Pl # A, 92121, Tele: (858) 457-2008)
Good: 1917 1986 2002 2020
Bad: 1979
Japanese Auto Tech : 2 0 (6696 Miramar Rd # N, 92121, (858)546-8363)
Good: 1853 2029
Star Auto (Dowdy) : 1 0 (9220 Dowdy Dr # F-G, 92126, (858)578-6315)
The Brake Shop : 1 0 (5750 Miramar Rd)
???
: 1 0 (8873 Balboa Ave, #ABC, San Diego, CA 92123)