LAcarGUY

"I would not buy a car from Santa Monica VW or Pacific VW. I prefer to deal with honest, ethical businesses."

"My first Mirai was totaled in a car accident and I wanted to get back into another one. I spoke with the finance manager and the first thing I told him was that I didn’t want any of the warranties. I had purchased one for my previous Mirai and felt I wasted my money. He told me that it was already on the contract and that Toyota Financial requires I take all warranties if I want the 5.49% APR instead of the 15.49% APR. I figured I could cancel the platinum warranty and the saving in interest rate would pay for the other warranties. A week later I spoke with Toyota Financial, they said I DID NOT need to purchase the warranties to get the 5.49%, which meant I was lied to I called the finance manager, he said he remembered I told him I didn’t want the warranties but claimed he never told me I was required to purchase the warranties in order to get the 5.49% APR. I was furious!! After much arguing and grief, he said he would cancel the Platinum (which I could do myself) and also the tracking warranty. I was so stressed out at the time between the previous car accident, the lawyers, doctors that I agreed to not take any actions and settle for just those two. After four months the platinum was refunded but not the tracking warranty, even though it had been deactivated by the warranty company four months earlier the finance manager. When I told the finance manager refund for the tracking device was not cancelled, he said they don't refund tracking warranties and he never told me he would. Then started to accuse me of lying on my application about where I work and my income. This was a threat to get me to back off. I pointed out his name was on record four months earlier for the cancellation for the tracking warranty and why would he cancel it if I wasn't going to a refund? He checked his emails which confirmed the above. Suddenly he became Mr. Nice, promising to get the refund. I eventually got that refund, but was still stuck with the paint and windshield protection I didn’t want. This was a horrific experience. I will no longer trust Toyota of Santa Monica or any of the other LA Car Guys locations."

"LA Car Guy Owns Genesis Santa Monica and a lot of other dealerships. They care zero percent about customer service. They have people working as service advisors who know nothing about cars or service and just horseplay all day. They lie to you about what they doing to your car, service department takes short cuts. Then they try to get you for a bunch of money. GM of SM Genesis doesn’t care neither does the service manager they say call Genesis corporate but if you’re not the original owner of car they won’t help. Genesis is a super cool great car but I messed up taking my car to Genesis Santa Monica thinking I would get the best service but all I got was lies fraud and haven’t seen my car in a month Their service provider said “ we don’t change fluids or inspect wires on a 60k service we just check for recalls and change oil”. A month and a half later when I had to bring my car in for check engine light that’s what I was told. The lied about doing 60k service I tried to call GM several time never call back"

"Based on my painful experience with one of their employees, Kevin Nguyen @ Pacific Subaru, and reading other reviews, I would highly recommend AGAINST associating with this business. I would be extremely questionable about other dealerships they are associated with. I would also HIGHLY recommend to give out as LITTLE personal information as possible as they will utilize this for their own devices. This includes your name, email, phone number, the basics and keep track of where they are taking that information if you need to give it and be familiar with their policies on information. Kevin, in particular is an extreme vulture and highly sensitive, if you tell him no, he will pester you to the end of time. With so many dealerships out their, why waste your time, risk your money and identity?? Don't let a vulture pressure you, they are desperate and desperation in this business are red flags."

"Let’s talk about a horrible car buying experience. This is coming from some who has worked in the auto business as a finance and sales manger. I came into Santa Monica on Oct. 5th to look at a car I saw online. I was unable to finance to car because of the age of it, not a big deal. They had a 2012 Honda Fit that met my needs and agreed to move forward on purchasing. Came in the next day to sign the paperwork and get a time frame of when the car would be ready, since it was recently bought by the dealership and had not be recondition yet. I was told by my sales person that it would be ready in a week. After waiting a week and no word from my sale person or the dealership I call for a status on the 13th, was told I wasn’t ready and it would be an additional week. They offered to pay for my rental car, which I agreed. After waiting an additional week “I” call, because again no one is reaching out. Was total the vehicle will be ready the following day, Saturday 21st. I turned in my rental car. Went into the dealership around Noon on the 21st and was told the vehicle was getting detailed and would be ready in a few hours. I’m getting a little impatient but ok I’ll wait. I go get food and come back after a few hours and the vehicle still isn’t ready. I waited 5 hours from them to bring up the wrong car. I was told that there was some bad communication and that my vehicle wasn’t ready. I was given a car and the Used car manager told me he would reach out on that Monday with and update. Monday comes and goes with no phone call. I call the next day and talk with a Sales manager and he was the only person that actually communicated with me. After a few hours the sales manager called me back saying the vehicle will be ready tomorrow after 2. I come in the next day, Oct 25th, The vehicle is brought up and I’m at a lost. Vehicle isn’t detailed, passenger side mirror was replaced but not painted, hub cap is missing. This vehicle was not ready. They keep trying to have me take as it was and I said no, I want to take it finished. Not having to buy a plane ticket to head home to see family, they offer to pay for it which is fine. I’m told the vehicle should be ready when I get back on that Monday, which would be Oct 30th. Enjoy my trip and as I’m at the airport once again no update from the dealership so I call for a status. Was told the vehicle was ready. I arrive and looks as complete as it can be. Hub cap is still missing but was told it will arrive later that week. I take the car and find empty food containers in the glove box, interior light is burnt out and one of the parking lights is burnt out. Now this is where I’m at a lost. During this time I was told by the used car manager and sales person that my Rental car, Ubers, and flights would be reimbursed to me. I save all receipts and emailed them it to them. Also told them that I didn’t want the gap insurance since I never got the contract for it, nor any of the papers I signed, and was also told by the Finance manager he couldn’t add it on. I also requested them to pay my first months payment since I didn’t have the car the whole first month. After totaling all that together I was expecting a check for $1430.73. I ask when I could expect that and never got a clear answer. I called that Friday Nov. 3rd and was told it was ready. Called the following week on Nov. 7th and was told that the mailed in to my address in Sacramento when I told them I wanted to pick it up. I ask what was the amount and sales manager told me it was for $800. I said they need to cancel that check I need the General Manager to call me and explain what is going on. Since that time I have not received a call from this dealership and I have call, left messages with no answer. I have called their “corporate” office with no call back. I guess the only next steps is to contact legal services. Be aware of the LA car guy auto group."