San Diego has always had a strong car culture, but as the newer generations of drivers come in, modifying a vehicle has become an opportunity to stand out and speak up, giving them a mobile canvas.
San Diego County is the second-most vehicle-populated county in California. There were over 3 million vehicles registered in San Diego County in 2024, according to data released by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
While many people use their vehicles for only their daily commutes or for running errands, there is another side of the automotive world many don’t see — the art of modifying vehicles.
There is a growing scene in Southern California where people dedicate their time and effort toward building ride they can call their own. Every car is different and every one of them tells a different story.
North County San Diego has become a big part of the car community as the region is a middle ground for car enthusiasts down south and up north to meet up.
Jose Chamu is an Escondido local has built a following in the car scene with his brand AINTLOW, which has gained popularity on social media. Chamu described AINTLOW as a streetwear brand associated with cars.
“There’s two meanings for the name: one being a sarcastic way of explaining our cars. We drive low cars, so we mention we ‘ain’t low.’ The other meaning relates to the feeling of being broke and down, to now being on the come up, so one ‘ain’t low,'” Chamu said.
Chamu drives a dark blue 1999 Infiniti Q45 with one-of-a-kind pinstriping.
His car is the epitome of transforming something old into something new to express personal style. Chamu says his car reflects the meaning behind AINTLOW and the idea of building yourself from the ground up.
Palomar students are also embracing car culture in many different styles of vehicle modification.
Adam Ryan Ruiz is in his final semester of kinesiology, but his true passion is his car.
Ruiz was brought up around after first being introduced to them by his dad and grandfather. Adam drives a metallic teal 1965 Ford Fairlane 500.
“There’s not a part of that car that hasn’t been touched,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz plans to make a few small upgrades in the future, but for now his focus is on maintaining the vehicle’s “beauty, drivability and reliability.”
“Balancing school, work and the car was a bit of a challenge for a while because I had no other form of transportation, as she was my first and only car,” Ruiz said.
While working in child development, Ruiz found commuting every day a bit challenging since the car had issues due to its age.
The biggest issue has been the motor, which has needed replacement and multiple repairs.
In 2025, Ruiz won the Goodguys Staff Pick Award at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
The Staff Pick Award is a recognition given to a standout vehicle at the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association event, selected directly by the organization’s staff members.
“Treat them well, and they’ll treat you well. It’s definitely a blessing to have these kinds of rides,” Ruiz said. “Time is a huge thing with these cars, and honestly, so is money, but if you have the time and you’re willing to do things yourself. You’ll save quite a bit and you’ll only gain more of an appreciation towards what you have and what you’ve built.”
Justin Quach is a first-year at Palomar College, currently majoring in nursing. Quach drives a 2014 Lexus GS350 and has been consistently changing its look.
Future plans include wrapping his car in a new color and a new set of wheels. In his hunt for new wheels his goal is to find some that will give him better fitment on his car to allow it to sit lower to the ground.
On top of his auto ambitions, Quach is a full-time student and works two jobs.
“Work and school balance can be difficult at times, especially while dealing with issues that my car may experience,” Quach said.
Running into issues with his car can be stressful and even lead to anxiety, according to Quach. But the downsides of building a car are balanced by all he has learned by working in his vehicle himself.
Across San Diego, college students express their individuality through a variety of vehicles. To them, their ride is more than just a means to commute to class.
Samuel Solano Escoto is originally from Tri City in Oceanside and studied mechanics at a MiraCosta.
He has two BMWs: a blue 2015 435i and a 2015 silver M4 F82.
The 435i was originally his daily build and was made to look good in the streets and make some heads turn. It’s on airbag suspension, three-piece wheels, and a tune making it roar across town.
His new vehicle, the M4 F82, he described as a weekend car. It doesn’t go as low as the 435i and has less camber. With his aggressive tire setup, he is able to push up to 500 horsepower while having a custom tune on it. Overall, he said it an ideal weekend car to go out and have a blast driving in.
Even with the excitement of having a weekend car, Solano said keeping up with both vehicles is not always easy.
“It’s been all right … there’s days I have enough time and energy to go out to meets or just work on the car, and there’s days where I don’t even have enough time to wash them,” Solano said.
Despite the struggle of balancing work and his vehicles, he sees cars as a means of self-expression and a way to express creativity and commitment.
From Escondido to Oceanside, local drivers are using their vehicles to build more than a look. They are building community, identity and a space for themselves within San Diego’s larger car culture, one project at a time.
