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We're considering buying a used car (maybe new if we can spring for one). We've narrowed down to a honda or toyota, preferably hybrid. We see a few dealerships on the map and will likely try a few of them but in your experience, did you like any of them?
I've had two great buying experiences with Fred Anderson Toyota which was preceded by two less than impressive attempted buying experiences with Leith Toyota.
I also had one unpleasant service experience with Leith Honda nearly ten years ago but I'm not sure that's relevant any longer.
Too funny - I was made miserable by Fred Anderson's service department, and actually preferred my interactions with Leith when shopping for a new Toyota (and never forgave Marc Anderson for the bait/switch attempt). That said, I bought a Mazda
We visit Leith for service (on Capital) and like it. They have always been excellent and offer fair prices. We have a Prius.
There are some seriously amazing deals on used hybrids with the lull in gas prices. If we were shopping now I would hands down be buying used and looking extremely hard at the Volt.
Worst buying experience ever was at leith Toyota. The sales manager literally held onto my husband's door and wouldn't let him close it when we decided to leave. Awful, and we ended up leasing a Hyundai.
A few years later, we wanted a Camry again. Marc Jacobsen pulled a bait and switch and gave me numbers that greatly exceeded my estimates. Southern States gave me okay numbers, but a clueless salesperson. Visited Fred Anderson who is very close to our house. The salesman was polite, very experienced and non confrontational. He was unable to provide me with pricing while I was at the dealership due to a computer glitch, but promised to call and email me within a couple of hours. I never heard from him until a few weeks later after the CSI survey lady called to follow up.
By that time, I had purchased the Camry from Pinehurst Toyota through USAA. Easy breezy transaction and excellent pricing.
Never looked at Honda - I wanted blind side detection on both sides of the car, not just the right hand camera (which I found distracting).
PS Based on DH's professional experience with dealerships, I would USUALLY expect the management and sales style to be different between the new car, used car and service departents. So my poor experiences with new car purchases might have been entirely different if I were buying used.
That said, I take my Toyota to Fred Anderson for warranty and free service, and their follow up still sucks, including forgetting to call me when the car is done.
I'll be delighted when my 2 years free service period is over and I can pay out of pocket at WASP.
We're considering buying a used car (maybe new if we can spring for one). We've narrowed down to a honda or toyota, preferably hybrid. We see a few dealerships on the map and will likely try a few of them but in your experience, did you like any of them?
For used, also look at other sources. The last couple I bought I found through Craigslist. Wherever you go, even if it is a "certified" car from a dealer, take it to an independent mechanic for an inspection, as a condition for purchase.
For new, look at places like Costco, TrueCar, etc to eliminate the headache of negotiating with the dealer. If you want to go on your own, do the negotiation through e-mail/text instead of at the dealership.
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