I would recommend this shop to anyone. They are quick and honest about repairs. We have used them for inspections as well. Very friendly, responsive with any questions and upfront about any costs. read more

High quality work at a fair and honest price. R&D automotive can help with anything from an oil change to an engine swap and everything in between. Give them a call, I'm sure they can help you read more

I can't thank Michael enough for fixing my car today and in such short notice. From the customer service, to answering my many questions, being done on time and walking me through everything was absolutely perfect! I am now a dedicated customer and will always refer you guys. Thank you again Michael for everything today and making sure my kids and I get around safely read more

went way above and beyond my expectations! So nice to be able to trust someone in the automotive business! What a blessing

My son-in-law used r&d once everything went well in the price was reasonable. Because of that I returned and had them install a dealer part which I brought with me a turbo boost sensor took Michael the mechanic all of 5 minutes to put in they charged me $110!!! Nothing else was done at that time except plug in the reader to check the engine light. I was still basically a happy camper. However a week later I made an appointment for 2 weeks out which I confirmed the day before for 11:00 a.m. and Jim the owner confirmed that they would receive me at 11:00 the following day. Upon arrival I was told we cannot do that we don't have time!!!! I said what do you mean you don't have time I called you yesterday to confirm today's 11:00 a.m. appointment Jim and you said it was great. He then again said I don't have time today to do it!! I said how about this afternoon?? He then said I don't have time today or tomorrow and I don't know when or if I will have time!!! Very very rudely. Not only did he confirm I made the appointment two weeks in advance confirmed the day before and then was treated that way like my car did not matter he then proceeded to take in another couple who had a SUV probably who was offering him more money on a different repair..... Rude is not the word!!!! What a jerk and an idiot!!!! I went up the street and got a better price at Metro's transmission so he ended up doing me a favor he probably would not have installed the actuator for the turbo boost properly anyway!!!! Absolutely would NOT recommend, I REPEAT I WOULD NEVER EVER EVER RECOMMEND THIS AUTOMOTIVE PLACE. JIM WAS VERY VERY RUDE COULD CARE LESS ABOUT MY TIME OR MY CAR.!!! read more

My last mechanic passed away in 2019 and it's been very difficult finding someone else to work on my 1967 Cadillac convertible. I finally found the right place and it's Jim at R&D Automotive. The motor for the top stopped working and I've been calling around trying to find someone who was even willing to look at it. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I called at least a dozen different shops until I found R&D and spoke to Jim. Jim was very upfront with me and said that he hadn't worked on this before, but was willing to take a look. Jim did what you expect a good mechanic to do: figure out what's working and not working. And then be able to fix the problem. Unfortunately, the motor for the power top was the problem and needed to be replaced. It wasn't cheap, but the power top works now and I can finally actually wash the car! Jim is what I look for in a mechanic and anyone I do business with. I wholeheartedly recommend his services to those in need. read more

We love Jim at R&D! Such a great owner. Good honest man you can trust. We take all our vehicles to him (we have 4, ours and two teen drivers) It's so hard to find a good mechanic who won't rip you off. We've been taking our vehicles to Jim for a few years now. We would rather give our money to a small business than a crooked dealership. read more

Jim is great. He has really helped keep my vehicles running down the road. When something comes up I know I can count on Jim to figure it out! read more

Owner does a great job at fixing and figuring out what is wrong with our cars. My husband is a sudo car collector and says they can fix almost anything. Always a pleasure working with them! read more

Called about a stabilitrack error on a 2016 Chevy, I'm familiar with this issue and know it's not that bad. They wanted 80$ to even look at it and just tried to tell me how dangerous it could be. Really that's fair proof of a automotive shop trying to take advantage of it's customer read more

I brought my Hyundai Sonata here when the check engine light came on. Jim spent quite some time trying to figure out what was wrong. I ended up leaving my car there for almost a week until they figured it out. They got to the bottom of it, communicated throughout the process, and gave me a very reasonable price. I'll be using R and D from now on! read more

Super fair pricing from these old school NASCAR fan American auto mechanics !!! Had some issues with a Yukon XL which were quickly resolved at a very fair price, for your domestic auto needs this is a compelling value in San Marcos. read more

I originally started going to R&D because I had a coupon for discounted oil changes. I did one oil change and it seemed fine. Since we needed new brake pads and that was on the coupon too we decided to take our mazda5 there. They did a good job replacing the pads and resurfacing the rotors. We took it back a few months later for another oil change. Which brings me to my most recent service appointment. We needed another oil change and our rotors replaced. My brakes were shaking like crazy. I took it in told them I needed new rotors and an oil change. He called me back an hour later and said we needed new brake pads as well. I told him he had replaced the pads just 8 months ago and asked him how much life was still on them. He said about 40% and said he had no record of that service in the computer. I had the receipt and he realized that the service was under my husband's name instead of mine. He ended up changing the rotors, doing a front alignment and the oil change. The job was done well and I am happy with the service that was provided and the willingness of Jim to work with us and make sure I was completely satisfied . read more

Knowledgeable mechanics. Did a great job on my 2005 Lincoln LS. Installed an oil sending unit.

Jim and his team have been very helpful with my '61 Thunderbird. He backs up his work, and gets it right the first time. Thanks Jim! read more

Happy to finally find an independent mechanic and business with high integrity! R&D was recommended to us by Allen's Wrench nearby as they work solely on Japanese model vehicles. So, called R&D to make an appointment and spoke to Kim, so kind and attentive! Before knowing exactly what my son's Chevy Cruze required, she did a bit of research and offered to start off with a brake inspection for $60 and if work is required, the amount is applied to the cost of the parts/labor. All went well and sure enough, the timing could not have worked out to our benefit, his brakes were completely gone so it needed new front brake pads and rotors too. The work was complete in just a couple hours. Great to meet Kim and look forward to returning here from this point forward. read more

I was referred to R & D Automotive Repair from another shop who was unable to do the repair I needed. Jim, being a GM Master Certified Technician, was knowledgeable about the repair I needed and had the proper tools to do the job correctly. He went above and beyond my expectations twice and completed the work for a very fair price. Because of his expertise with GM vehicles, he also found some issues that could have been disastrous if they we not taken care of early. All in all Jim saved me $100's of dollars and I'm confident in his work, having almost made my career as a mechanic, I know a good shop from a bad one. If you have a GM vehicle in or around the San Marcos area that needs service or repair, you'd be nuts to take it anywhere else. read more

First visit to R & D automotive! Thanks Joyce H. for giving me the number for this business. It was close to my home in Escondido off the 78 exit at Rancho Santa Fe. I spoke with receptionist- Kim on Wednesday while at work because my 2012 Honda Accord wrench icon light lit up at the beginning of the week. Kim got me an appointment for Thursday ( my day off) afternoon. The two mechanics were kind & helpful when I arrive close & the business dog-Rocky came out to greet me too! I felt comfortable & relaxed while my car was being analyzed. About 45 minutes later I'm starting up my car to go home! Thanks Kim, Jim, & Joyce too! See y'all next time! Recommend this automotive business read more

Thanks Daniel! My car broke down In front of O'rielys in San Marcos. They immediately pointed me to Daniel @ R&ds auto a few short blocks away. Daniel was right there to greet us and acted if my car was 1st priority .. Came out ran the tests & had it fixed within a few hours. I had my dog and sister from out of town with me in the car. His caring & attentive nature made all the difference ;)!! Thank you! Definitely take my car again!! read more

I'm beyond happy with Jim and his team. I'm very selective on who works on my mustang. I tried the shop out in my GMC Jimmy first a few times, and they nailed it. They are so flexible to work with, personable, and always go above and beyond. Stop thinking about it and bring your mechanic needs here. read more

These guys are great! A mechanic you can trust is a very valuable thing and Jim is exactly that. Thanks so much Jim and the R&D crew!

First class service. My Ford Explorer needed a new water pump a very labor intensive job. Jim replaced it for a fraction of what the Ford garage wanted. He also fixed another issue that my car had had for years but the Ford garage wanted too much to repair. Follow up phone call from Kim to check I was happy with everything was much appreciated appreciated. I trust them explicitly with my vehicle. read more

This place is AMAZING! Didn't know how good my car could drive until I got it back from R and D automotive. Kim at the front desk was very friendly, informative and helpful. I had previously gotten a quote from my regular mechanic for $900 for the repairs my car needed. Jim at R&D fixed all the problems with my car and more for $328! Needless to say I have a new mechanic and will be recommending them to all my friends and family. Thanks guys read more

Kim(the lady who answers) is super helpful and very friendly. They are taking care of a lot of problems in ONE DAY. I have yet to meet machanics in california that are as honest and helpful as these people. They have made loyal costomers out of us. read more

I took my car to R & D recently with a check engine light and lots of panic because I needed to drive to Texas for a funeral the next day. Not only did they fix the problem and make sure my car was totally safe for the drive (and very quickly, might I add), but Kim at the front desk was so nice and dealt with my tears and drama like a champ. My husband and I will definitely be bringing our cars to R & D from now on. read more

We brought brake parts to the shop for brake rotor and pad replacement. On the phone the labor is $90/hr. It took about an hour to get it done but we were told to pay $190. In the end we got charged for one hours work after some unpleasant negotiation. I hope the shop can standardize the price for routine work so we don't have to be surprised by price increase. read more

Brought in my 2004 Dodge Neon the other day with some shaking issues at 70 mph. Great customer service! Friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. Diagnosed the issue for free and offered me a great price on four new tires. I will be back read more

R and D is a breath of fresh air in the car repair world. If you are anywhere in San Marcos or North County and have a GM vehicle, this the place. It's a family run shop, the owner Jim is a great guy and he works hard and is very honest and timely. The labor rate is also very good for this area, he quoted me $80/hr but what impressed me is how he worked hard to take an $900 repair and make it into a $600 repair with some extra effort and elbow grease - which goes a long way in my book. My wife's Cadillac SRX blew its power steering fluid high pressure hose. I towed it into Jim on Tuesday morning, and he took a look at it and identified the problem. He gave me a quote on it for $400 for the parts and labor (it's a cadillac part so they are hellaciously expensive). Cadillac came back and said that they didn't sell the hose, just the assembly with the pump and the hose. He called me mid-day and sounded genuinely bummed out saying that the cost would rise by $300 because he couldn't just get the hose, and that he thought it was ridiculous and hated having to raise a price after a quote. I told him to do it, and he said he'd have it by morning. Now the good part: He didn't settle for this situation. Being the expert he is, he knew the engine in and out and knew it was also used in Chevy vehicles. He called the Chevy dealer and talked to one of his buddies, and found that he could get the same hose a la carte and make it work with my perfectly good Power Steering Pump. Turns out Cadillac only sells the assembly so they can make more, but Chevy sells the pieces individually. I drove in at the end of the day and he surprised me by having it ready, waiting, and saving me the $300. A less classy guy would have taken the easy way out and just got the Cadillac part and charged me the money. But this extra step to find out alternatives and save me money will have me coming back for more. Need another example of honesty? My trusted mechanic in Mission Valley told me the Caddy had 4mm of brake left on the front and that I should change it at the next oil change. With this unexpected repair, I asked Jim to look at the brakes and see if they were needed. CHECK. He said 4mm, I could still drive on them for 5K-10K more but I should replace them soon. I was pleased with the honesty - and had him do the brakes as well. Out the door, it was $250 for the brakes (and that is Centric Ceramic brakes for Cadillac, not cheap). The dealer would have easily charged me $400-$500. Jim gets 5 stars for running a great shop, being honest, and going the extra mile. Take your car here, you won't be sorry! read more

A couple weeks ago I needed some work done on my car. Because I work full time and I was getting ready to leave Friday night I was concerned that I'd have to work out some kind of half/public transportation half carpool situation that would have taken me an hour and a half to get to work (usual time 20 min). Fortunately not only did they take my car and do everything I requested - they did it at an incredibly reasonable price. As a woman a lot of mechanics try to take advantage of me, not realizing I know enough about cars to get by. Not once did these guys try and sell me on something I hadn't asked for, or already knew I needed work on. On top of that, they stayed open an hour and forty five minutes late to get the work done and let me come pick my boy up. He runs excellent now, I got safely through my weekend trip and it's been smooth sailing. Any time I need something I will be coming here, and I am recommending them to EVERYONE! read more

So stoked to have found these guys! They take great care of my Tahoe. Another mechanic that was recommended to me passed me onto R & D as he only deals with foreign cars but sends his wife's car to Jim and company. This place is legit! read more

Jim and his crew there do a great job on all my cars. I have taken my truck, BMW 530 and my 2001 Nissan Altima... Always honest and give me a great deal. I recommend them to everyone I know read more

R&D saved my car! My Chevy Impala kept saying "ENGINE OVERHEATING STOP ENGINE" I have had bad experiences bringing my car in at other places but I looked on yelp only to find this 5 star automotive service shop. And 5 star it is! I made a phone call and the nice gentleman told me to bring it in so he could look at it. After a diagnostic reading he told me my temperature sensor pig tail was ruined and then he told me I needed an oil change. The price was very reasonable, 33$ for the oil change and additional charges for the labor/parts. After 2-3 hours my car was ready and it is as good as new. Very GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE and they are fast and efficient. Will definitely be coming back:) read more

I had a horrible grinding noise in the front of my 2004 Yukon and was referred to Daniel at R & D. Clean shop, very helpful, top notch operation. Had the work done promptly and at a great price. If you want a shop that is honest and won't steal your money, go visit R & D. read more

Daniel at the front desk and Jim were amazing! I don't know a lot about cars and they helped me get my car started and running again! I was treated as if I was one of their daughters, and did not take advantage of my shortage of knowledge at all. I would definitely recommend to all of my friends! read more

This is a small family owned business. As long as you make an appointment, they're quick, accommodating & helpful. I got a groupon for 5 oil changes & tire rotations & it was definitely worth finding this gem! read more

Jim saved the day. After replacing my starter motor myself, my 2002 GMC Yukon ran great. Then suddenly she would not start. Everyone around at my industrial complex came over to help trouble shoot and none of us could figure out why my 40 amp ignition fuse kept blowing. I had it towed to R & D Automotive. We pulled in around 4:30 on a Friday afternoon and I expected my work truck to sit there over the weekend. Jim jumped right on it and within about 20 minutes found that a heat shield that slips onto the starter was touching one of the electrical leads causing a short and blowing the fuse. He stayed late, fixed the problem and got me back on the road before 5:30 so I could baby proof some homes over the weekend and only charged me $40 for his trouble! GREAT honest old school mechanic! Thanks again Jim! read more

R & D Automotive is the best place to take your car, truck or SUV. They are very honest and very competitive with their pricing! I have taken my Tahoe there for any and all my repairs since the shop opened. Jim always keeps me updated with the progress of my repairs. Everyone at the shop has many years of experience and know how to get the job done. If you need an honest mechanic go here. read more

Hands down the very best auto repair place that I have ever dealt with. I had horrible grinding in the front of my car the night before I was due to leave town. I brought my car in at 4:15 and by 5:00 p.m. the work was complete and I was ready to hit the road. They wasted no time ordering the parts and put a mechanic on each wheel to replace my brakes/rotors. I have never received such great customer care and accommodation. The prices were beyond fair and when the work was completed the actual invoice exceeded the original estimate. They honored the estimate price ~ WOW!! how often does that happen?. As a single person on a budget this made a huge difference!! I will be a life long customer!! Thank you gentlemen at R&D ~ YOU ROCK!!! read more

VERY HONEST. The owner only recommends what is necessary. VERY fair price with on time service.

Fast, honest, and well priced service. The mechanic pointed out a problem with my car that I was unaware of. He was also honest enough to point out to me that it should still be covered under my warranty and that I should take it to the dealership. The shop isn't anything fancy, but the people inside are awesome. read more