This was the second time taking my ancient Acura MDX to Chris, both times because the dealer was unable to tell me whether a proposed and expensive repair could solve a problem. Each time, Chris was able to immediately understand and explain what was wrong and what it would take to fix it; in addition, each time, he also proposed alternate solutions at lower prices that he thought would be adequate. And they were. He is smart, knows and understands cars, and even seems to feel affection for some of them! I cannot recommend this place highly enough - I'm tempted to go look for some other thing wrong I can take to him. read more

This is hands down the best auto repair shop that I have ever used. They go over and beyond what is required. I had a hard to find problem and they researched it and found a solution. I will never take my vehicles anyplace else! read more

So after my previous issues with their repairs still making squeaking noise, they admitted to me that they did not know what the issue was. That being said, Peter gave me some money back from my repair to figure it out somewhere else and that is something that I genuinely appreciate and is above and beyond considering the repairs they did do are remaining. I mean that's honestly the best customer service at a car shop I have EVER experienced. So take a chance and take your car here. read more

Excellent quality service done by professionals!! The team at Coastal Foreign Auto Service treats your vehicle like it's their own. I can't say enough about the speedy service, we brought our car in at 8am for front brakes and they had us back out on the road in 2 1/2 hours!!! One of the most important things you gotta have, is a honest and reliable mechanic. This will be our go to shop for all of our car needs!! It's not a coincidence that they have five stars with excellent reviews, they earned it. Thank you Coastal Foreign Auto Service for taking care of us!! read more

Amazing team that will take care of you and that is very knowledgeable- 100% would recommend going to them !

We just left Hoehn Honda after 40 years. It took a lot to get us to leave. Found an honest, high-quality shop in Encinitas, where we can talk directly to the person who works on our car, as well as the owner, Chris who will have all of our maintenance and repair work from now on. He would not let us pay him for what he did. When did that ever happen at a dealership? read more

Quick appointment call and maintenance was fast and at a competitive price. If you ever need maintenance come here highly recommended.

Want to start trusting your mechanic? Coastal Foreign (Chris) is your place. Having an abundance of cars ranging from 1930's to present for well over 20 years, this shop is HONEST and FAIR. As a collector of vehicles and a mechanic as a hobby - this shop has been our go-to and we will continue to appreciate their expertise! read more

The best of the best - a mechanic of real integrity. I was told by another shop that I needed new brake pads and rotors for both axles. I wanted a second opinion and ask Coastal to take a look and they came back saying one set was in decent condition and the other should be replaced. Their pricing was very fair, and I was happy to avoid a potentially unnecessary repair. The new brakes performed beautifully during a long road trip. They are good guys as well and I'd recommend them for service! read more

Lived up to the reviews. The real deal for an auto service place! First time going there and a great garage. Gives honest advice about what to do. So honest that it was shocking. Said my car didn't need much (I'm into preventative maintenance) -- how many garages tell you that? And that I don't need a fuel injector cleaning (dealer had told me to get it) as that service is unnecessary. Peter (service rep) seems like a good guy. I will be coming back. Best of the garages in "auto service row" (there must be a half dozen garages in the same shopping area). Thank you. Note: this review is my honest opinion and no one put me up to write it. I have no prior relationship with them and simply happy with the service experience. One more thing - notice that they don't respond to any of the reviews and let their work speak for itself --- this is a positive in my book ... compared to all the "Yelp whores" out there that either bask in positive reviews or rebut every negative review! read more

Highly recommended! Just used Coastal Foreign for the first time for rear brakes, an oil change, and new cabin filters, and they were great! Dealt with Chris and Peter and they are both so nice and helpful. Also very importantly- the price was reasonable and my car feels great! Definitely my family will use Coastal Foreign again for future needs. Thank you again to Chris and Peter! :-) read more

Hands down the absolute best!! I was referred to Coastal years ago by a friend and now I only trust them with both of our vehicles. Chris and Peter are honest and fair in everything they do. Great prices, great communication and great service! Just all-around great guys!! read more

These guys are amazing! Always reliable and give honest service and respond quickly to my requests. I took my car in because it was making a noise underneath and it turned out to be a part that was hanging from below. They responded quickly and took a look at the car and did not charge me for the service. I recommend them highly!! They have always been great to deal with! I will continue to bring my car to them for all my services. I have been seeing them and they have been taking care of all of my cars for the past seven years. Thank you again for your fabulous service and responsive care for my Audi A6 and all our family vehicles. read more

Coastal Foreign Auto Service is the best repair shop I've ever been to my last shop I went to for 13 years and once I went to coastal I never look back there's so accommodating so professional and all-around great people you never feel like you're being taken advantage of, read more

Brought our son's Subaru in for major repairs (head gasket/head cylinders, timing belt, fuel pump...). Sheesh! Great communication and helped coordinate max amount from warranty company. Excellent customer service and support. Thank you! read more

Peter and Chris are great mechanics, honest as the day is long and the service costs are very fair. Highly recommend Coastal Foreign Auto.

This company is amazing. They do fabulous work and are beyond fair! I used to feel nervous going to get my car serviced, not anymore! I've never had such a great experience at any other car service company. They actually did give me peace of mind!! Thank you, Chris and Peter and the whole staff! read more

Called to make an appointment to install a catalytic converter shield on my Prius. Job was done quickly. The price was absolutely the most competitive price. The work performed was great. read more

I have a 2008 ML 350 with 100K + miles on it. I bring it in every 5K miles or so for an oil change and check up. The team does great work and always gets ahead of any needed repairs before it becomes a bigger problem. I love working with them and highly reccommend them for any Mercedes owners. Very Fair prices and always have your best interest in mind. read more

Brought my Acura in with a check engine light on. Chris was very helpful and was quick addressing the issue. He sent me off with clear advice topped off my oil before I left. read more

A friend recommended this shop to us a couple of years ago. We've had nothing but great service. They are honest, helpful, provide great service and are very accommodating. My husband has a non-traditional schedule and sometimes it's hard for us to get a vehicle picked up. Even though that parking lot is packed, they always help us out giving an extra day or two to keep it if needed. Last month we had two cars break down in the same week. They fixed the problems and gave us some suggestions to give the vehicles a bit more life before we have to replace them. We are in good hands with these folks and have no hesitation recommending them. We are very happy. read more

I did not have work done here. For the best reason. After describing my issue with my Honda he referred me to the person who could help me. I called and that solved my problem and saved me a lot of money. I appreciate that they listened and gave good advice and a good referral. read more

I've been getting my car serviced there since 2008. I'll never forget bringing my 1999 328 IC I had just moved here from Maui. I got my first job at an Italian restaurant in the Plaza. I didn't have enough cash, or credit. Peter (who is no longer there), allowed me to write a predated check so I could have my car fixed and returned to me so I would have it for work. Chris, who has filled in some mighty big shoes, has always taken such good care of me. The energy there is very special! You can tell that every customer feels like they're best friends with the CFAT. And then you realize, and so do you! Sharon Alexander read more

These guys were great. Wish I lived near them so I could get my truck serviced there on a regular basis.

Called and spoke with Peter about a brake issue I was seemingly having. He couldn't have been more helpful and friendly on the phone. I made an appointment and brought my Mazda CX-5 in to be looked at. Peter checked out the car and let me know brakes looked good. He could have sold me something I didn't need, but told me my brakes looked great and I had a lot of life yet. I will definitely come back when I need brakes or anything else. Super impressed and 5-star service. read more

Every time I've taken my car to them they have been helpful and affordable. They're a fast, efficient, friendly and have consistently helped me find cost effective ways to get my car running in tip top shape. My Yelp review on Volvo will not be nearly as complimentary. read more

Been going to Chris for many years, great guy! Friendly and honest and does excellent work

I can't say enough good things about these guys. I've been going to them for years and it's so refreshing to find a group of honest mechanics who take pride in their work and really strive to provide excellent customer service and reasonable estimates for auto repairs. Our last experience was perhaps one of the best. We took my wife's car in because the tail light stayed on and drained the battery even when it was parked. Luckily it wasn't a major issue. The only problem was a small gasket underneath the break pedal. They actually replaced the gasket for the cost of the part ONLY. Never in my life have I gotten and auto repair bill for $2.89. And that's exactly what it cost me for this latest repair at Coastal Foreign Auto Service. They've definitely got a family of customers for life. Excellent x 10 in every way! read more

The world's changing so fast... more equality, less racism, higher vibes... even legalized marijuana! Is it cliché anymore to say that it's hard to find a mechanic that you can trust? My dear friend, Rachel, who I trust completely, heartily recommended the crew here. I brought my l'il MINI convertible, and they took excellent care of her, er, it, er, they...? Whatev's. This shop rocks. I heartily recommend them as well. read more

**Chris and his team rock!!** I can't imagine taking my vehicle(s) anywhere else. I could brag and brag and brag but if you're looking for someone who considers your time, is resourceful, and genuinely cares not just about your vehicle but your safety in it, Coastal Foreign Auto Service is amazing. Though I hate going (due to the inconvenient situation of my vehicle(s), it's comforting to know that I have a place I can turn too and count on. Thank you Chris and the team at Coastal Foreign Auto Service. read more

Can't recommend Chris and Coastal Foreign Auto Service enough- this is my second experience with them and could not have been more fair- they deserve 10 stars! read more

These guys are great businessmen. They understand that loyalty is the goal and demonstrated value to the customer makes for word of mouth and raving fans, of which I now am. Cheers to Chris and his extra effort, willingness to get parts at good prices and responsiveness. Going anywhere else after reading these reviews is your loss. read more

Over time I have brought in for various servicing not just the "foreign" cars (Mercedes, BMW), but also the Ford SUV's. Mike and the rest of the team have always treated us very well - quickly diagnosed and fixed the problems at a reasonable price. While those are obviously very important (repairing,cost), perhaps as or more important is honesty. I fully trust Mike, and he will honestly tell you when something needs to be repaired now/soon,or can be put off for some period of time. read more

We've been taking our 4runner and Sequoia to these guys for the last 3 years and i must say this is the most honest bunch of guys ive met in this business. They'll tell me if its a problem that needs to be fixed now or can wait. They are always watching our pocket book and being mindful of when we should spend. I would highly recommend these guys to anyone with car issues or just to get normal maintenance. Chris and team, thank you so much for taking such good care of us. We love working with you guys and we'll be loyal patrons forever. read more

This is a one of a kind auto shop Several years ago, while talking to an employee at what is now O'Reillys one of our assistants was told about this place. Yeah, our office is just down the street and we had some really negative interaction with local auto mechanics to handle our fleet but we gave these guys a shot and wow, I have always been impressed with the quality of work and honesty coming from this shop. What makes this shop different is the fact that they actually have a concern for honesty and integrity unlike most shops around the area. Chris goes out of his way to make sure you are happy and Mark has clearly established a positive culture there that values honesty.... Yeah... Honesty and integrity in the same review from an Auto Shop. What makes these guys special is when you bring in your vehicle they start from the cheapest solution and then troubleshoot from there. They spend time in researching each reported problem and provide the most cost effective solution for the customer. I dont know how many times we have taken our cars to the Honda and Toyota dealers to be told it is some catastrophic problem and it ends up being a 300 dollar repair at Coastal that works flawlessly. These guys cannot be beat. Parking is an absolute horror but they will help you with that as well. read more

Class Act and HONEST I came in with a coolant leak of some kind. Another local place wouldn't look at it bc they weren't familiar with how to drain the coolant from a hybrid - Chris knew. Not only did he get me in the next morning ... But they fixed it the same day and it turned out to be an easy fix... I'm guessing the dealer would have charged me an arm and a leg for this... But Coastal did me right ... Go here if you want honesty and no BS read more

This place is amazing! Chris helped me throughout my car troubles and was more than helpful and kind. The guys here are as honest as it gets and it's so refreshing to finally come across somewhere I can trust. My catalytic converter needed to be replaced and Chris, while giving me the estimate, also did some deeper research. He found that some of the converters for Jeeps had been recalled in 2009. I went to the dealer to get it checked and mine was eligible! He saved me about $500 and I had some other eligible parts that also got replaced which was awesome. I took my car back to Chris afterwards to get the oxygen sensor replaced and like before I was greeted with the utmost friendliness. I highly recommend coming here if you're looking for honest, quick, and knowledgeable mechanics! My new repair place for sure :) read more

I know nothing about automobiles, and always feel a bit vulnerable taking mine in for repairs. My Lexus 400H was at the dealer's mechanic for a simple recall, then they handed me a laundry list of items I needed to have repaired. With the estimated cost being overwhelming I decided to get a second opinion, that's what lead me to Coastal and Chris. They took my car in immediately and I had an estimate within 30 minutes. I felt so thankful that Chris said I didn't really need most of the repairs the dealer had recommended. As it turned out the only item which was critical, was the replacement of the water filter. Chris is an expert and made me feel so at ease in leaving my car to his decisions. He noted that the dealer hadn't even opened the air filters to check them but had noted they needed replacement. Chris told me they were both very clean. I would highly recommend Coastal Foreign Auto to anyone and everyone. They are thorough, competent, trustworthy, quick and reasonable. The best part is that the total repair was less than half of what the dealer quoted me! Give Coastal a try, you will be a client for life. read more

I've been taking our cars to Chris, Peter, and the guys for 20+ years. They excel at what they do and have always been great to work with, friendly, and best of all, honest. read more

Trustworthy, hardworking and helpful...can't find better traits in a mechanic. They always give you the honest truth about what needs fixing. Take your car here. read more