OT : buying a car...dealership recommendations

[latazyo]

Im going to be buying a used car

I am just wondering if anyone can recommend or recommend against any area dealers

I see the big guys on tv all the time (sinclair, suntrup, don brown, and whoever is at 270 and lindberg), but don't know anything about their reputations

I am looking for a used civic or similar and would prefer something out west if possible, but will travel for a good dealer

I have already been to Elco on Manchester and Vincel Honda on manchester

thanks in advance dudes

 

[latazyo]

your favorite dealership will appreciate your name drop next time you're in!


looks like Im headed towards a new Honda

so Ive got mungenast, vincel, huey's, and bommarito to choose from

they all have the same car I want and all the same MSRP

 

[jbarone]

Stay away from Suntrup. I ordered a car, put down a fat down payment and waited over a month for the car to come in. It never did. I went to another dealer, they located the exact car I was looking for, 3 hours away and had it delivered. I picked it up 2 days later. Then I had to go and get my DP back from Suntrip. Suntrip just kept giving me excuses. 2 weeks later I got my DP back.

 

[latazyo]

jbarone,

thank you very much for that review

suntrup was high on my list of possible dealers because of their seemingly too good to be true $5000 over trade in promotion

 

[levon15]

Sometimes what is seemingly too good is actually true though.


If your trade is worth $1000 then getting $6000 is even better. I dunno. Buying a car is worse than anything I can think of it a such a joke. Make me wanna go to target and haggle for a better price. Why is buying a car and a house the only two major mainstream markets that allow haggling.

 

[jbarone]

Hondas are so the way to go. I've had a few and you can't kill them. I don't think they have any plans to file bankruptcy either.

If you have more time to shop look at the VW Jetta and Passat. Great cars and come pretty loaded at base.

 

[HOC]

I've worked on A Lot of Honda's. Can't go wrong there. Didn't really care much for working on VW. Just a completely different product.

 

[scbadiver]

I worked for the Suntrups years ago and I cannot say enough bad things about them and thier operations. I would walk or ride a bike before I spent one lousy cent with those idiots. The rest you mentioned, probably all about the same, ok. You may want to look at Toyota though, just my preference as they pay my bills LOL. I bet fade will recommend Toyo too!

 

[HOC]

Worked on as many Toyota as Honda. They are good too.

 

[latazyo]

I love vws, however this is my wifes car and she is set on Honda. May also check out toyota but don't really like corollas and our budget is under 20,000

Her current car is an 89 prelude and she swears by them

 

[jbarone]

I had an 87 prelude it rocked. It was super fast.

 

[Fade]

Toyota or Honda all the way!!!! If your looking at a Toyota I could hook you up with a salesperson that will not do you wrong.

 

[scbadiver]

I would really advise against ANY VW's. I do a bunch of claims on them and they are VERY expensive to fix. VW does not believe in any repairs, they replace assemblies. I cannot even get parts for them if somebosy wants to repair it. If anything all goes wrong with the transmission, you replace the entire thing, usaully to the tune of $4k or more. I just couldn't see anybody affording them these days. If you get one, get rid of it when the minimal warranty they offer is expired.

 

[Ranginute]

Would have to agree with scbadiver on the VW repair bills. Seemingly cheap fixes can run absolutely crazy prices. If I were buying a VW, I would negotiate a long term warrenty into the sales price. Hold out until they throw in the 60K warrenty, then pay the difference to expand it to 100K.....that is what I did with my Nissan.

 

[jbarone]

I aggree that VW's are expensive to fix. Unfortunately you would need to wait way longer than 100k to have it break down. So warranty won't matter much.

Dealer wanted 1250 to change the timing belt on my 03 Passat. I'm doing for 300. Cost of repairs is a major factor if your planning on keeping the car till death.

 

[Dert42]

frank leta honda.
Have bought 3 cars from them.
Customer service is awesome!

Civics can't be beat!
I bought my civic new in 03. It's got 120 k miles on it and is running fine.
It has needed exactly 0 mechanical repairs ever!
My next car will be a civic. Butthats probably a few years away...
No car payments is a good thing!

 

[scbadiver]

Just did a transmission claim on an '05 VW beetle, 46000 miles, replaced trans for low low price of only $6678.72. I think I'll buy two of them...NOT. I haven't paid that much for most of the cars I've bought!

 

[latazyo]

don't get me wrong, I love VWs and my family has owned many of them

BUT - the service cost is what forced me out of a Jetta and into an Elantra

I love hyundais too, they are not the cars they used to be, but they do not have anything she is interested in

I am looking at Leta, Dert, thanks for the suggestion

I also really like the guys down at Vincel, they have been helpful over the past few years with this prelude

Fade - I would also be interested in your Toyota dealership, please let me know where its located and we'll stop by and check out the selection

 

[Fade]

Pappas toyota

10011 Spencer Rd
St Peters Mo
63376

Ask for Tony Overcamp Or Karen Treadway. Dont forget to tell them John L sent you.

 

[zt444a]

John can hook you up at Ike Pappas. Their service department (well John anyway) is not bad either!

I'd stay away from Suntrup on any deal. Didn't their service department at Suntrup Ford get busted using used parts on repairs on new cars or something like that a few months back?

With all the deals dealers are giving on new cars, if your credit is good, I'd see if it is possible to swing a new car. Matrix or Corolla.