The positive dealership experience thread

The toyota dealer thread got me thinking about the positive experiences I've had. All dealerships aren't so bad.

By far the best dealer I've ever dealt with was a Lexus dealer. Back when we fist found out we were having a kid I had been looking for an SUV type thing to replace my wife's cavalier. The lexus dealer usually has a bunch of pre-auction cars in the back of their lot that they sell for halfway decent prices and I happened to notice an RX300 back there for a killer price while on my way home from work. I showed up greasy and sweaty and still got treated like someone that was actually going to buy a car. The saleswoman worked damn hard to sell me that RX300, and it was the cheapest car they had by a HUGE margin. 180k miles, in need of a transmission, but in 100% perfect cosmetic shape and with full service records. Every time I showed up to buy parts they'd offer me a cup of coffee and a bagel, and I was always instantly greeted by someone, even when I showed up covered in grease up to my elbows. The mechanics there thought it was just hilarious that I was doing a trans swap on an AWD RX300 in my garage without a lift.

The second best was at the now defunct Langs Mazda. I was there for warranty work and was waiting around since I couldn't get a ride. One of the salesman noticed me checking out an RX8 and brought me the keys. Even after I explained I was just waiting for my car he told me I looked bored and should go have fun.

We've purchased two cars from our local Pontiac, GMC, Buick, Toyota dealer. Both cars were Pontiacs and both special ordered. The experience was amazingly pleasant and seamless, so much so that we wrote a letter to GM praising the dealer.

In my experiences, I've either been treated well in the service dept. but only so-so by sales....or vice versa.

Also, for the most part (wish this didn't sound somehow sexist) it seems that buying almost anything from a woman is more pleasant than buying the same thing from a man. I had a nice experience buying my first Honda from a woman, the same dealership could NOT sell me another car by any of their salesMEN.

Much as I hate to admit it I had a good experience when we bought a Toyota for my wife many years ago. They even basically offered us the same $$'s for trade in as we'd been advertising our previous vehicle for 3 months with nothing but Nigerian scams in the way of interest. Now the vehicle itself was a POS from start to finish, but the buying experience wasn't bad. At first. The experience went sour 6 months later when things started going wrong and came to a head about a year into purgatory (Toyota ownership) when the headlights started melting, yup the lens was bubbling and distorting. When my wife went in to complain the service writer started accusing her of fitting higher power bulbs which we hadn't done, when she stated that we'd done nothing to them he became beligerant, rude and called her a lier. He chose the wrong person to mess with. After being called a liar to her face my wife went straight to the overall manager of the dealer. One very apologetic guy, one loaner and the car was returned to us repaired and cleaned two days later. After that when ever she went in (regularly) they were sweetness and light to her.

Oh, and buying my Volvo was a joy start to finish, they pandered to us in every way. Whenever I've been back for any reason they are still very very polite. I'd recommend them to anyone. I do feel for them as a Volvo dealer in SE Michigan though, as with the sale to Geeley and thus the loss of A plan to all those Ford families I'll bet their sales will plummet.

i just recently bought a new-to-me 2010 xterra at, of all places, a dodge dealer.

the guys in the internet department were very helpful, always friendly and never gave me any high pressure tactics like i got when looking at one at the honda dealer. another honda dealer went high pressure when i said i wanted to look at some other cars before i made my decision, all but calling me a chicken for not buying right away.

the guy i dealt with at the toyota dealer was also very helpful, unfortunately 4runner prices start high and stay high, and to get the same price i paid for the X, i would have had to get something out of warranty with 40k+ on the clock.

Like I've already said, every Saturn dealership has been good. Very good experiences at the local Mercedes/BMW/LandRover/MINI/Maybach/Chrysler-now-Hyundai dealership. Although we could be slightly biased, the salesmen we've dealt with have all been friends of my dad, one a long-lost frat brother.

I have always had a good exsperiance with Simmons-Rockwell. Always good sales people and almost everything is thousands below list, new and used.

My only Issue is on the used car list, they do not state what store individual used cars are at. This wouldn't be too bad except there are 5 stores over a 100 mile stretch.

I just bought a '06 F150 from a dealership thats been in business since 1921 and my grandpa has a picture of himself in front of their old storefront in the '40s with his Ford. Plus they have Saleen and Raptors for you to oogle at... Les Stumpf Ford in Appleton, WI- nice people.

Do you "love your Les Stumpf Ford"?

I bought my Mazdaspeed3 from Bill Britt Mazda in Fredericksburg VA. Excellent service. Negotiated over email about the price. They honored it. I was in and out within an hour with a new car.

Great guys there.

Called them up a second time as the fiance is looking for an SUV. They told us they had a used CX-9 from another dealership but wanted to check it out before offering it to us for sale. Come to find out the car has some issues that they told us about and refused to sell us the car because they felt they couldn't stand behind it. They then promised us that they would contact us when a suitable unit came on the lot. They did too.

Nothing but respect for guys who run a dealership like that.

I had a great experience with the service department at Performance Ford in Windsor, ON Canada. I brought my 99 Cougar in for a fuel pump recall. About an hour after I drop it off I get a call from the tech saying "I noticed that one of the brackets on your aftermarket exhaust is cracked about 3/4 of the way through. Do you want me to weld it up free of charge?" I happily agreed. When I went to pick up my car, the service advisor asked me if I still had the receipt from my first replacement fuel pump (instead of dropping the tank I expanded the electrical access hole in the sheetmetal above the pump and took the pump out through there, so it was pretty obvious). He gave me a phone number and told me that if I can find my receipt for the replacement fuel pump that I could call that number and get a refund.

They're also a Jag dealer and have been OK with that. 1 week just to get an appointment to bring my car in for an occasional overheating problem and then 10 days to get a water pump in stock? That was ridiculous, but they did stay late on Dec. 23rd to get it done for me so I'm really impressed with the techs.

Bob

In reply to nocones:

You know it!

I am 100% completely unhappy with every dealer service department I have stepped into... sometimes I am reminded every day.

I have never had a good experience with dealerships. With my hyundai, while the buy was pleasant, the service totally sucked (like taking the car apart to replace a door panal BEFORE checking to make sure it was the right colour) and the bmw dealer here.. they are also a honda dealer and seem to push those cars more. I would rather wait a week for ordered parts before i go back there

i just heard back from mossy nissan here in houston about my '10 xterra, this is not a positive dealer experience.

i have been under this truck, and know what the issue is, they just need to fix it. this truck has two oil pans, an upper pan and lower pan. the gasket is squeezed out between the upper and lower pans, and it seeps from there after shutdown. i told them this. the service writer wrote it down on his little sheet. before this, they repeatedly told me that it was probably just the drain plug not tight enough, which i knew it wasn't, since i'd already re-tightened it.

i get a call a few minutes ago, "yep, just the drain plug, we fixed it" "oh, and the rattle that the tech heard earlier when you rode with him, he can't find where it is, and now can't hear it, so we just rotated and balanced the tires, now everything is good!" i'm sure it is buddy, when i have to bring it back again, you're going to give me a loaner car, which i will not treat gently.

Hey, neon4891....I hear you. I live in an area (well, actually, my folks do) served by Simmons-Rockwell. Whenever I read their print ads I go crazy....so many great choices, and they always include the important stuff ie. "former rental/fleet unit" and which engine/trans. But never which store.

right now I'm on the verge of asking what store has theaccord coupe for $9999, WANT

I just bought a new Versa hatch for the Mrs. In and out in less than a hour with-get this- the deal that was advertised! Almost totally painless! The guys at Hoselton Nissan in Rochester earned a return visit next time we're looking. 12K for a nicely equipped brand new car. How can you go wrong?

Been in two dealerships for purchases. One good, one bad.

Bilton Ford in Moncks Corner SC. Great place to buy. No BS no high pressure. Walked in the door and told the guy what I was looking for. They had two on the lot, one that was exactly what I wanted and priced right. Nothing better than buying a car from a county boy.

Rick Hendrick Chevrolet in Charleston SC. Those people SUCKED and I will never set foot in a Rick Hendrick dealership again for the rest of my life even if the cars are free. I told the sales manager exactly what I was looking for when I walked in the door. I wanted a used, 1/2 ton, full size, high top, conversion van with 4 captains chairs and a rear bench seat. Big engine and towing package required. I got dragged from one end of the dealership to the other twice. They started with the 50+K new vans and after I convinced him I wasn't buying new he showed me a used 15 passenger one ton church van. I was a little pissed by then and finally asked the guy if he had what I wanted or not. The belligerent prick had the balls to tell me I wouldn't be able to find what I wanted. Claimed it was the wrong time of year and used vans just weren't to be had. I called him a lair to his face and promised him I would never buy a car from any Hendrick dealer. I did stop back by later that afternoon to show him the Ford I got from Bilton though. For some reason he didn't appreciate it.

Just got back from test driving a miata. Was quite surprised when the salesman didn't come along with me--keep in mind I'm only 20. Unfortunately, it was the same price as one in better condition with considerably less miles at a dealership down the street; I didn't even try to haggle, just told them I wasn't interested. Overall though, they treated me very respectfully. If I didn't know that they had a reputation of selling crappy cars they bought at auction, I'd for sure be back there.

My father and I used to spend a Saturday just seeing what dealerships had what cars etc. I mention the STi was coming out soon, we go to the subaru dealership near Pt. Plesant NJ. Dad's real cheap and poorly dressed, he hates 4-doors & hardtops, and had NO plans to actually be serious about selling his miata, let alone buying a car that day.

They had to nearly clear out the indoor showroom to get the only STi out of the door for a test drive. The salesperson let pops and I take it out, on our own, for 1hr!

I drove the miata back home to get it's title, him in his new STi :)

When I had my last Rabbit, I had to go to the dealer for a clutch cable, because none were available from the jobbers. I was shocked to see that it was a little more than half the price. I still remember, it was only $14. After that, I priced everything from the dealer first.

When I bought my truck, the sales guy was 100% professional, and it was as straightforward, and simple a transaction as any I've had. While putting the quote together, he asked if that was my Z24 parked out front? It was, and qualified me for a $1000 loyalty discount. In the end, he was $1300 cheaper than the cheapest price I got anywhere else, and nobody else noticed the Cav.

I love my Subaru dealership for service, but would never buy a car from them. Their asking price for both new and used cars are sky high and they don't negotiate. Before I bought my GT I made an offer on an Outback Limited and they wouldn't budge more than a couple hundred bucks. Two weeks later their asking price is lower than the best offer they made me. We had them do the clutch and timing belt on our '95 and the price was only slightly higher than the indy quote and we got a loaner. Don't shun me for this, but I also just had them do a transmission and diff fluid change on my GT. They even offered me a loaner for that even though it only took about an hour.

Friendly service, reasonable prices. Just have to drive past the actual dealership part of the dealership to get to 'em!

We have two local subaru dealers. One is further than the other. The further one always seems to be better no matter what the reason for the visit is. Oddly they are owned by the same person. So it is completely frustrating when I try the closer one out of convienance only to be disappointed afterwards. Don't think of ordering a part without a vin# at the closer one. Makes it tough when subaru interchanablity is the whole reason for ordering the part(for example, putting wrx brakes on a lesser model). My local Rover dealer was always good to me. My local 2 VW dealers were always good to me.