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Marvin K. Brown Auto Center
San Diego, CA
37 Reviews
Historically, California begins in San Diego. America's finest city is known throughout the world for its unique climate, natural harbor, canyons and tablelands. But most of all it's known for all its cherished traditions of hospitality and neighborliness. It's a place where a handshake on a deal still means something.
Marvin K. Brown, born in Detroit, Michigan and founder of Marvin K. Brown Auto Center in Mission Valley, believed in those respected traditions. He came to California in 1911. He loved San Diego and made it his home in 1938. He served as Sales Manager for San Diego's Don Lee Cadillac and, through the war years, as its General Manager. After supervising various Los Angeles GM Dealerships, he knew the finest city was the place to be. In 1950, he had the opportunity to buy a dealership of his own in San Diego and opened for business in downtown. He loved the town and the people and saw opportunity and exciting development in store for the future.
And San Diego loved him too. His pre-high rise downtown dealership flourished. He was a popular figure in San Diego life: President of the San Diego Motor Car Dealers Association, active in the Lions Club, La Jolla Presbyterian Church and a seven year board member of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce. Brown always had his eyes open for expansion and growth; the kind of vision that marks each and every successful San Diegan.
Jim Brown joined his father in the business in the 1960's after college and a stint at the General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan. Jim Brown learned the family well, from parts runner to Used Car Manager, and succeeded his father as dealer principal in 1964. Brown Senior's vision of San Diego's growth rubbed off on son Jim. And in 1967, Jim Brown chose one of the wild sides of the San Diego river for the new expanded home of Marvin K. Brown Auto Center. It stands there today, overlooking the incredible economic development his dad foresaw. He has also been very involved in the community and served as President of the following: San Diego Hall of Champions, San Diego Holiday Bowl, New Car Dealers Association of San Diego, San Diego Crime Commission, San Diego Chapter - Multiple Sclerosis Society, Chairman of Super Bowl XXXII...just to name a few.
Marvin K. Brown broke ground for new expansion in 1965 in Mission Valley. Marvin K. Brown is San Diego's exclusive and largest Cadillac dealer in the County. It's professional staff is committed to the same quality and exacting standards that go into each vehicle produced by the prestigious Cadillac motor car division.
"Buying a car at Marvin K. Brown Auto Center is different," says Jim Brown. "We want San Diego‘s GM car and truck business now and in the future. We‘ve sold and serviced many thousands of cars here since 1950 and we have a reputation for quality that our friends and neighbors expect from us. We want to continue earning their respect."
Jennifer Brown is now the Dealer / Operator and a third generation family member. Visit us today!
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Hours
Sales/Showroom
Monday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Service
Monday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday Closed
Parts
Monday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday Closed
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Showing 37 reviews
February 29, 2024
Watch out for this Dealership. Sneaky crooks with attitude and no care for customers. This dealership is full of liars and cheats. If you bought from here check your car for a trac Sneaky crooks with attitude and no care for customers. This dealership is full of liars and cheats. If you bought from here check your car for a tracking device. We purchased a New 75k car that they added a tracking device and failed to offer any explanation or detail on a aftermarket accessory that tampers with factory wiring harness. They snuck it in the paperwork with abbreviation and never brought it up in conversation. This is purely an add on they try to sneak in and force customers to buy. 200$ device and charge customer 1000$. When confronted by childish manager Jake with instant attitude after being caught he wants to hear nothing and has no care for customer service. After a month of arguing he sends a refund for 995$ without the tax he charged. Dirty ! After 5 unreturned emails and calls I call GM directly and had them push to have dealership get device removed so I didn't have to hear loud pitch siren sound off during driving at random. My new car was drilled into and factory wiring harness was cut into to install this Mickey Mouse device so the dealership could come up on $800. From beginning to end pure attitude and zero help to make right. Jake and sales reps made this purchase regrettable and disappointing. STAY AWAY FROM THIS CIRCUS ACT DEALERSHIP. Drive the extra mile to find a dealership that respects their customers that are spending hard earned money. What a joke. Eventually these guys won't have a job. More
by UNIONMIKE13
Employees Worked With
September 25, 2023
I recently had triple surgery due to colon cancer. I purchase a 2500 HD pick up truck for around $70,000. My truck’s Center Console was in the locked position. The salesman and I were unable to unl I purchase a 2500 HD pick up truck for around $70,000. My truck’s Center Console was in the locked position. The salesman and I were unable to unlock it. I also order a storage compartment for under the back seat and a step bar for people to step on/off when entering/existing the truck. I was waiting for the step bars to be delivered so the dealer may install them. I told my salesman I would not be available for three to four weeks after up coming surgery. Now it has been four weeks since my surgery. I called to set an appointment to have my truck serviced. When I called, the employee said her name was Robbin. I found later Marvin K. Brown does not have an employee named Robbin. The employee lied to me about her name. Robbin stated she did not have a record of my after market purchase order. I went to the dealership in my truck and with my receipt. Their service man was nasty to me because I was upset about being lied to and the dealership not having record of the parts and labor I prepaid for. I told their service man to either install my parts or refund my money. He asked which did I want to have, a refund or work performed. I told him I did order the parts and wait for parts to arrive and prepay for labor if I did not want the parts installed. I asked, if he was stating he did not want to install my parts and accept my receipt. I told him that was fine. I would go to another dealership to have the work performed. Even though the man knew I had cancer and was recovering from surgery, he continued to be nasty towards me. He stated he wanted to be treated with dignity and respect. I told him I have been respectful. I did not cuss nor raise my voice to him. I asked him while we are talking about dignity and respect, how does he think I feel after spending 70K on a truck, being lied to, having my order lost, and his belligerent attitude was being respectful to me, the paying customer? This happened yesterday. I am going to ask for my parts tomorrow and plan to go to Kearny Mesa Toyota and have parts installed. I paid dealership prices and was being asked if I wanted the work I pre paid done. Obviously, he did not want to do the work on my or bother to find out why my order was not in their system. My deceased father worked for GM over 35 years. I couldn’t believe the way in which MKB management and employees were acting. I no longer will purchase any car produced by GM and I would not recommend anyone conduct business with MKB. MKB tried to take advantage of a senior citizen trying to recover from cancer who’s family has been buying new cars from GM for nearly 50 years. If MKB will treat me this way, imagine how they will treat a new customer like you. Buy Toyota!! Not from Mossy, they are equally awful. Buy from Kearny Mesa Toyota. If you need help in service, ask for Earnie, he was awesome!! More
by Paul
December 14, 2022
One star is a higher rate for this lossy service department. Stay out is my honest advice. The service reps for check-in are down-staffed and slow like xxxx. Each has a separate client database ther department. Stay out is my honest advice. The service reps for check-in are down-staffed and slow like xxxx. Each has a separate client database there for clients to communicate with the same rep in order to get things done. Their system is personal dependant no system dependent, which leads to service reps providing their phone number to clients so you are going to be under their time and poor judgment. Horrible is my ranking to this place. More
by vowel.00-pulsar
Employees Worked With
Louise and Chris from service check in reps
October 25, 2022
Terrible service department! !! I HAVE 2022 ESCALADE UNDER MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY , BUT IF YOU DONT MIND LEAVING YOUR CAR THERE FOR DAYS AND GETTING A CALL STATING THEY DID NEVE !! I HAVE 2022 ESCALADE UNDER MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY , BUT IF YOU DONT MIND LEAVING YOUR CAR THERE FOR DAYS AND GETTING A CALL STATING THEY DID NEVER GOT AROUND TO DIAGNOZING THE ISSUE , THEN THIS IS THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR YOU. THE SERVICE MANAGER GARY IS NO HELP JUSTIFIES THEIR LACK OF COMPETENCY BY CLAIMIMG "DUE TO COVID", THEY DO NOT OFFER A CAR RENTAL , ALL THEY OFFER IS A LYFT, THAT CAN ONLY GO 10 MILES OUT SO IF YOU LIVE IN CHULA VISTA YOU ARE xxx OUT! THEY ALSO TELL YOU IF YOU WANT A DIAGNOSIS ON AN ISSUE BE PREPARED TO LEAVE YOUR CAR 3-4 DAYS, AND THATS WITHOUT A RENTAL, HOW DO THEY THINK PEOPLE GET TO WORK?DO NOT USE THIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT , THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NON-EXISTENT! More
by CUSTOMER
Employees Worked With
GARY (SERVICE MANAGER)
December 31, 2021
I purchased a certified pre owned 2017 Chevrolet Trax here. Driving it home, the water pump failed. OnStar wouldn't cover the tow since MKB is an Auto Center, not a Chevy dealership even though they are here. Driving it home, the water pump failed. OnStar wouldn't cover the tow since MKB is an Auto Center, not a Chevy dealership even though they are a GMC. Sales covered the repair. 4 months later another repair in the vacuum hose. The car is not very good, but the service is great. Oscar Monroy in Service goes above and beyound. More
by Futureguy80
Employees Worked With
Oscar Monroy
November 29, 2021
One of the worst sales team, and not only that, the worst service I have ever encountered in a dealership, the up sale was horrible, communication is non existent, we have a 2019 CTSV , not a cheap car, yet service I have ever encountered in a dealership, the up sale was horrible, communication is non existent, we have a 2019 CTSV , not a cheap car, yet we got it in, and no one comes out to revive the car or my wife in the service department , so my wife gets out, and tracks down someone, apparently the cars coming in have a particular service agent , and the guy never showed up, we dropped of the car for an oil change and service, we dropped the car off at 0800 this morning, the guy calls about 1 hr into it (0900) and proceeds to tell my wife the car needs a fuel system flush, and a brake fluid flush, so I pick up the phone with the owners manual opened in the service section and I asked where in the Cadillac service manual is this specified , all up sale services, and yet here we 1600hrs and no call that my car is done . This is a first for me , the over night oil change ….. HORRIBLE , STAY AWAY FROM THIS DEALERSHIP UPDATE: Greg W has wrens my business and my respect . He will make things right , and not make excuses ….. More
by dave_q
Employees Worked With
Chris
May 09, 2021
Purchased a $65K Certified-used Yukon XL on 05/08/21 (yesterday). Didn't notice anything wrong with it during test drive. But when driving it home I start feeling vibrations. Turns out there is transmis (yesterday). Didn't notice anything wrong with it during test drive. But when driving it home I start feeling vibrations. Turns out there is transmission issues and the vehicle jerks and shakes when changing gears. How was this vehicle even Certified in the first place!? Upon calling them back for help, the feedback I got was to "use your warranty coverage at your dealership". Of course I know I can use my warranty coverage my guy! My point is that I shouldn't have received a vehicle in this condition for $65K of my hard earned money! The dealership doesn't want to help in anyway, this is simply a sales transaction for them. As long as I signed the papers, that's it. They are giving me the cold shoulder. I fear that I have purchased a car which will give me problems for the life of it, and I am sick to my stomach. Avoid this dealership. More
by 2017 Yukon XL
Employees Worked With
Fred
April 02, 2021
after buying a car I saw in the contract that I was additionally sold insurance without notifying about it, the cost of insurance is $ 995, be careful when buying from this dealer additionally sold insurance without notifying about it, the cost of insurance is $ 995, be careful when buying from this dealer More
by Bogdan
Employees Worked With
Joe Combs
