Scott Robinson's Honda Experience

[jagtiger]

We recently bought a 2006 Honda Civic EX (feb 22, 2006)at Scott Robinson's Honda (hawthorne, Torrance, Ca) and our experience was a "NIGHTMARE".

The salesman named Tamer did the paper trick to us. During the sales pitch he showed us a paper with a lower price of the car. He told us that he can ask his Manager to even lower the price of the car and probably get more for our trade in while we sign the paper works.

After signing the paperworks the sales manager(forgot the name) came in and told us that he could not give us the initial price that Tamer gave us and jacked up the price. So I know something was not right. It smell fishy - So I told them that I'm going to be back the next day. But the salesman offered me free oil changes, Car Insurance for thirty days, more money for my trade in, and he would take care of taking out the navigation/dvd system in the truck the very next day..he said he would take care of us..So I was made to believe in all this &*&(*^)*.

By the way I was also talked into buying a $2100 warranty and $650 GAP insurance. The 30 day insurance coverage was out of the picture they gave us 10 days...
I went back to the dealership for the Navi/Audio system and was promised day after day. Finally, after complaining to the manager it was taken out of the car...the wires, cables, harnesses we're all gutted off.....most of was not usable. Now I have to spend atleast $300 or more (those are not cheap wires)for the alpine cables/harness..what a waste.

Now FOR the good part - After 4 weeks - Toyota Finance company called us that we are going to be 2 months(march 01 and april 1) overdue for the monthly payment of the 4runner that we traded in to this dealership. They said they will take action against us and we are liable not the dealership. I cant believe this is happening to us..I immediately called SCOT ROBINSON HONDA and talked to Ernie Rivera (business Manager) but he just gave me the run arround- he transferred me to Jennifer(accounting I guess) which took my number and said will call me back immediately after she talk to Toyota Finance..She claimed that they already sent the payment on Feb 28..I told her that it's very important that they act on this matter immediately and she took my number and said that shell call me back right away...

I waited and waited for 2-3 hours NO CALL..I called the dealership only to find out that she already left for the day..what kind of people does this??? Now our CREDIT REPORT/STANDING will be negatively affected if the payment wasnt made since we are applying for mortgage to buy a house....

I just want to get rid of this Honda and buy a LEXUS again. There's no comparison with the people and the service. Yeah Of course you pay a LOT Less for a Honda but I dont mind spending a bit more for good service.

I REALLY REGRET HAVING TO BUY A HONDA CIVIC....

here's some review:
http://www.dealerrater.com/dealer/Scott-Robinson-Honda-review-12460#25371


Sorry guys I have to vent...Now I'm faced with a ruined CREDIT and POSSIBLE penalties/legal issues for non payment of a car loan (trade in) damn... :frown: :frown: Can anybody point me to the right direction on the best way to deal with the whole situation. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Daedalus]

If they broke a written agreement to pay off the car then I think you can always get a court order later to have the discrepancy removed from your credit history.

Glad to read your review, I'm very close and I will keep it in mind in the future. I'll probably never buy a Honda, but I'm sure I'll know people who will.

 

[NsXMas]

...I'll probably never buy a Honda,....

why is that? I mean why are you on a Honda/Acura website then?

Just curious...

To Jagtiger - sorry to hear about your experience. Next time sell your own car yourself, don't do trade-ins. You get taken on the trade-ins no matter where you go. And buy used if you can. Depreciation on new cars are the enemy of financial independence.

 

[NSXrunner]

Don't blame the maker, blame the salemen. :smile:

 

[Daedalus]

LOL! Yeah, you got me. NSX excluded, I probably would never buy a Honda. I only mean that there's no Honda out there that I think I would ever buy. Just nothing to my taste. Mostly I'm not a fan of FWD cars, but even their RWD cars aren't high on my list.

 

[jagtiger]

Don't blame the maker, blame the salemen. :smile:

Nobody is blaming the maker...but I believe the product is only as good as the customer service...It's all about the ownership experience...and I totally REGRET the whole thing!! :frown:I regret buying this CAR!!

 

[DrVolkl]

"After signing the paperworks the sales manager(forgot the name) came in and told us that he could not give us the initial price that Tamer gave us and jacked up the price. So I know something was not right. It smell fishy - So I told them that I'm going to be back the next day. But the salesman offered me free oil changes, Car Insurance for thirty days, more money for my trade in, and he would take care of taking out the navigation/dvd system in the truck the very next day..he said he would take care of us..So I was made to believe in all this &*&(*^)*."

Yeah...you got hosed. When I see crap like this, I walk. Simple as that. Car salesmen are dirty mofos by nature. You have to go in with your gaurd up. Obviously not everyone is a crook, but in that business you have to watch your back. You bought the warranty after they jacked the price? You bought GAP insurance from the dealership for $650?? My gap insurance for my NSX was $250....and I bought my GAP insurance from my lender (i.e. bank...the dealership should have nothing to do with this). I'm sorry man, but you need to take a lesson in car buying 101.

If some sort of bait/switch occurs, you get the hell outa there. It's that simple. My advice is to get a lawyer.

 

[jagtiger]

Thanks DrVOlkl! Yeah..We came in there in good faith and you're right I should have walked away...but I was put in a situation to believe that most people have conscience....But besides all that everything was okay until Toyota Finance contacted us that we are late in payment for the 4runner that we traded in a month ago to Scott Robinson's Honda ..THAT'S IT! It's just totally unacceptable!!

They have the trade in for almost a month and havent paid off the loan ...what were they thinking?... they didnt even contact us that there was a problem or anything like that...I told Toyota Finance that we have papers showing that Scott Robinsons Honda have our car as a trade in - But Toyota Finance said it doesnt matter because we are the one liable and that they're going to go after us ..I have to spend 4 hours trying to contact this people and they're not the nicest people you want to talk to... :frown: :frown:

I might have to hire a lawyer before my CREDIT is ruined?? Any other options??

 

[CKS Papa]

Henry,
You should have posted on SW forums and asked for recommendations for a Honda dealer. I would have said to go to Honda World in Westminster and contact Matt Piercy.
Matt helped us out in getting our Odyssey. Matt also now has an Acura dealer and bought himself an NSX too, and going nuts modifing it! He is now also a Prime member,
he goes by the name pierceman.
Perry

 

[H-carWizKid]

Wow.

I would love to read the Dealers rebuttal on this one.

 

[DrVolkl]

I might have to hire a lawyer before my CREDIT is ruined?? Any other options??

Try contacting Honda of North America (is there such a thing??). They need to know what their dealerships are up to. File an official complaint with them and threaten to take legal action. See what happens.

 

[H-carWizKid]

Try contacting Honda of North America (is there such a thing??).

Yup there is, and guess where their headquarters are-

Torrence Ca.

Jag- I can get you the address if you need it, I hope you are able to get this resolved. Smells awfully shady.

 

[jagtiger]

Henry,
You should have posted on SW forums and asked for recommendations for a Honda dealer. I would have said to go to Honda World in Westminster and contact Matt Piercy.
Matt helped us out in getting our Odyssey. Matt also now has an Acura dealer and bought himself an NSX too, and going nuts modifing it! He is now also a Prime member,
he goes by the name pierceman.
Perry

Hey Perry,

How are you doing? Thanks! I could have ask for a reccomendation from you guys. I just thought generally Honda has a good reputation amongst it's dealers. I should have stick with Lexus - now I've realized that there's no comparison between the two. Appreciate the info - I'll keep Matt in mind.
Hope to see you on April 30th! Take Care!

 

[jagtiger]

Yup there is, and guess where their headquarters are-

Torrence Ca.

Jag- I can get you the address if you need it, I hope you are able to get this resolved. Smells awfully shady.

Hi Carwizkid,

Pls PM me the info..Thanks!

 

[H-carWizKid]

Hi Carwizkid,

Pls PM me the info..Thanks!

Done.

 

[nsxtasy]

Yeah...you got hosed. When I see crap like this, I walk. Simple as that. Car salesmen are dirty mofos by nature. You have to go in with your gaurd up. Obviously not everyone is a crook, but in that business you have to watch your back. You bought the warranty after they jacked the price? You bought GAP insurance from the dealership for $650?? My gap insurance for my NSX was $250....and I bought my GAP insurance from my lender (i.e. bank...the dealership should have nothing to do with this). I'm sorry man, but you need to take a lesson in car buying 101.

If some sort of bait/switch occurs, you get the hell outa there. It's that simple.

I agree. I'm sorry to hear that all of this happened, and any dealership that engages in such sales tactics, which are deceptive (but unfortunately totally legal, so a lawyer may not get you anywhere) is scum. However, you allowed all of this to happen, when you could have simply said no. You let them change the price on you; all you had to do was say no and leave. You also agreed to pay $2100 for a warranty and $650 for gap insurance. Don't say "you were talked into buying"; you agreed. You could have said no, and you didn't. Take responsibility for your actions. It takes two to tango. You were just as willing a victim as they were as perpetrators.

Incidentally, some dealerships of all makes play these games (and other dealerships of all makes don't). Don't blame all Honda dealers for the deceptive sales practices of one dealership; it could have just as easily happened with any other brand of car.

Good luck trying to get out of it.

 

[jagtiger]

Incidentally, some dealerships of all makes play these games (and other dealerships of all makes don't). Don't blame all Honda dealers for the deceptive sales practices of one dealership; it could have just as easily happened with any other brand of car.

I didnt blame all the Honda dealership? Did I? I have a owned many cars in the past and this was based on my experience buying a Honda Civic.

 

[jagtiger]

I called American Honda and the dealership and they promised to take care of this matter as soon as possible. I'll keep my fingers crossed..:frown:

 

[nsxtasy]

I didnt blame all the Honda dealership? Did I?

Sure sounds like it. You said you regret buying a Honda Civic (which you can do at any of about 600 different dealerships) and that you wish you had bought a Lexus instead. Many Honda dealerships can give you a fair deal without all the shenanigans of this particular dealership. If you had said that you regret buying a car from Scott Robinson Honda, that would make a lot more sense.

Still, I hope you can get the matter resolved to your satisfaction. Good luck.

 

[jagtiger]

Sure sounds like it. You said you regret buying a Honda Civic (which you can do at any of about 600 different dealerships) and that you wish you had bought a Lexus instead. Many Honda dealerships can give you a fair deal without all the shenanigans of this particular dealership. If you had said that you regret buying a car from Scott Robinson Honda, that would make a lot more sense.

Still, I hope you can get the matter resolved to your satisfaction. Good luck.

I was actually having second thoughts of buying a Honda civic but after reading all the good reviews I jumped on it but I forgot to do my homework on the dealerships...Which I believe thats what American Honda should be doing - their job is to make sure that their product is being offered by honest and competent dealerships....For me the CAR is only as GOOD as the service - well that's me. I'm sure we're all different. But if you're asking me If I'm buying another Honda - (But believe me I should be biased towards Honda products)..I love them but After all I've been through..I dont think so ...unless it's a NSX...:smile:

Thanks nsxtasy!!

 

[TyraNSX]

You are forgetting that car companies sell cars to dealerships, not the end customer. Why do you think all the manufacturers always fall back on "each dealer is an independent franchise" that they don't control? Unfortunately, you are going to have to count this one as tuition in the school of life.

Toyota dealers consistently get rated as some the worse. Why? 1) They know they have a good, desired product largely capable of selling itself and 2) Toyota doesn't care.
The whole process would be easier & cheaper by cutting out the middleman and ordering direct from the factory, but that will never happen.

 

[jagtiger]

You are forgetting that car companies sell cars to dealerships, not the end customer. Why do you think all the manufacturers always fall back on "each dealer is an independent franchise" that they don't control?

I really thought they do have some (quality) control on the dealerships. After the sale usually you receive a call or a letter from their customer relations dept asking for customer satisfaction survey. I thought they can actually shut you down based on reputation or performance. maybe I'm wrong.

Yes It was an expensive lesson. That's why I'm here to save you some money (tuition).

 

[steveny]

When you buy anything at all think of it this way.

I want my belly and my childrens belly to be full of good food, remember at all time the saleman is thinking the exact same thing. He and his children can have hot dogs for all I care, again don't forget the salesman is thinking the same thing about you and your family! Now do battle!!!

 

[WillErickson]

When you buy anything at all think of it this way.

I want my belly and my childrens belly to be full of good food, remember at all time the saleman is thinking the exact same thing. He and his children can have hot dogs for all I care, again don't forget the salesman is thinking the same thing about you and your family! Now do battle!!!

Ha! I can't stop giggling about that line......

 

[zahntech]

I really thought they do have some (quality) control on the dealerships. After the sale usually you received a call or a letter from their customer relations dept asking for customer satisfaction survey. I thought they can actually shut you down based on reputation or performance. maybe I'm wrong.

Yes It was an expensive lesson. That's why I'm here to save you some money (tuition).

Yes they can pull a franchise from a dealer if they are really really screwing things up but it rarely ever happens...I have worked for 5 dealers in my career and there were times when I wondered why the manufacturer let them do business the way they did....but they did:frown:

Jag PM me if you ever need to buy another car I will go with you and cut the Bullsh1t for you ....my wife's lexus?...I made the dealer an offer on it, they said no "but" ..I said have a nice evening and walked out..2 weeks later the General Manager called me and accepted my offer....You Gotta Play Hardball!