Airport Marina Honda

Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Airport Marina Honda:
Where to start...

I went in looking to buy/lease a Honda Civic Hybrid after finding a dealership ad online. The ad was $4K down on a lease & $129 /mo. I showed them the ad and first said it was a typo. I asked what the typo was - they couldn't tell me. Later when I brought the ad up again they claimed that it was for the regular Civic, not the Hybrid Model despite clear labelling on the ad that it applied to the Hybrid Model. Since they wouldn't honor the advertised lease I told them I might be interested in buying instead of leasing if they could make me a good deal (this is where it gets good).

The sticker on the car (non-navigation model) had the MSRP labelled somewhat accurately. The actual MSRP is $22,600. I think they had it listed as $23K+. The best part though is the dealer asking price: $31,500+. Yes that's right, almost $9K more than the MSRP and about $2K more than the top of the line Prius. The invoice price on these cars is $20,789 by the way so they are looking at a hefty 50%+ profit (assuming they pay invoice which they probably don't since they are "the highest selling Honda dealer in LA"). That also assumes they sell the cars at that price (the sales manager assured me they sold three very recently).

After the test drive they take me in and begin their 4-square dealing beginning by asking for the "standard" 1/3 downpayment (before the credit check mind you). While I pointed out that a down payment of 1/3 is hardly standard despite what their sheet of paper said I like making big down payments to keep the monthlies low so I told them I would be willing to put a third down (or close to it) as soon as they deducted $10K off the price of the car.

At this point I was passed off to the "fleet manager" who supposedly has access to better deals. After a nice round of negotiating where I kept saying there was no way in hell I was paying beyond MSRP since I could go to any dealer in town and get close to MSRP (Remember the whole reason I went to this place was because of the FALSE ad they posted on the internet)and he kept telling me that I'd have to wait a month to get cars at other dealers I thanked him and attempted to leave while he was explaining that it would be totally worth it to pay $10K more for a car so I wouldn't have to wait a month to get one at MSRP some where else.

Sorry if I'm boring you but the story does not end there. After it was clear the sale wasn't going to work we started negotiating a lease. They asked me how much a month I'd like to pay and I returned to the add I brought in and told them I wanted the advertised terms (ends up being about $300 a month if you figure the down payment into the monthlies). The sales associate took my offer into "the back room" so they could determine if they could do the deal. They must have the Greek Senate back there because I sat there for two full hours waiting when they finally send out one of their financial people who told me there was no way they could do less than $400 a month on top of a healthy down payment (even for people with the best credit). Really? It takes two hours to figure out that an offer that is half of the minimum you "can do?"

When they asked them why they wasted two hours of my time when they could have just looked at the offer and rejected it they told me "that's just how it works." Wow after over three and a half total hours at the dealership I finally get an honest statement.

Moral of the story - buy your Honda somewhere else.

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Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Airport Marina Honda:
Dishonest crooks... Boiler room tactics... 7 hours... Promised pricing not honored...

Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else... If you are not able to find an honest Honda dealership, buy another brand...

AVOID THIS BOILER ROOM and try to find an honest room to do business...

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Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Airport Marina Honda:
DO NOT GO TO THIS DEALERSHIP!! They are underhanded, sneaky, greedy and disingenuous. They have "Dealer Markups" on every vehicle. Don't waste your time.

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Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Airport Marina Honda:
I bought a 2008 Honda Civic SI on May 3, 2008. There was an additional sticker in the window next to the list price of the car I purchased. This sticker read:

"Dealer installed options: Premium audio system - $3,000".

During the negotiation process, I brought up the $3,000 stereo many times, saying I didn't want to pay $3,000 for that and let's try to get the price down. We finally agreed on a price, but now I realize there was no dealer installed stereo. The paperwork I signed after agreeing to the deal is not the same paperwork that was on the car. It does not indicate a dealer installed option. What is does indicate is a dealer MARKUP of $3,000. I am confident that the sticker I saw on the window was not the same sticker that I was asked to sign after the deal was agreed upon. I brought up the "$3,000" dealer-installed stereo multiple times in the negotiation process, but I was never corrected or told there wasn't one. I believe the dealer put the incorrect sticker in this car, realized their mistake during our negotiation and made sure I signed the correct sticker at the end of the process when I signed all of my paperwork. They listened to my complaint but refused to do anything about it. I will never shop there again, and I will do everything I can to let prospective customers know this is a dishonest dealership.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Airport Marina Honda:
I bought a 2008 Honda Civic SI on May 3, 2008. There was an additional sticker in the window next to the list price of the car I purchased. This sticker read:

"Dealer installed options: Premium audio system - $3,000".

During the negotiation process, I brought up the $3,000 stereo many times, saying I didn't want to pay $3,000 for that and let's try to get the price down. We finally agreed on a price, but now I realize there was no dealer installed stereo. The paperwork I signed after agreeing to the deal is not the same paperwork that was on the car. It does not indicate a dealer installed option. What is does indicate is a dealer MARKUP of $3,000. I am confident that the sticker I saw on the window was not the same sticker that I was asked to sign after the deal was agreed upon. I brought up the "$3,000" dealer-installed stereo multiple times in the negotiation process, but I was never corrected or told there wasn't one. I believe the dealer put the incorrect sticker in this car, realized their mistake during our negotiation and made sure I signed the correct sticker at the end of the process when I signed all of my paperwork. They listened to my complaint but refused to do anything about it. I will never shop there again, and I will do everything I can to let prospective customers know this is a dishonest dealership.

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Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Airport Marina Honda:
This dealership has been by far one of the worst shopping experiences of my life. I was lied to, ignored and laughed at over the course of three visits. Each time I came back was under false pretenses.

The first problem began like so...

I went in wanting to buy a Honda Fit. After two hours of negotiating a BUY, we got the figures we both agreed upon, then they asked me, "Okay, are you ready to sign the LEASE?" The word "lease" had never exited my mouth since entering that dealership. I should have known then what I was in for.

So we started negotiating a buy. We got to some slightly higher figures than I was hoping for, so I said I would look around. After looking around a bit and going to other dealerships, I realized that they had made me a decent offer. I went back in to take them up on the offer they made me, and all of a sudden, they can't do that offer anymore. They are now saying that it wasn't a real quote, and the offer was just what they were "hoping" to do for me. Another 2 hours go buy and I end up walking out again.

Two days go by, then I recieve a text message AND voice mail saying they would price the car at $1000 down, 260/month for 66 months. Great deal, right? I called three times to confirm this offer and that the deal was ready to go, including tax, title, fees, etc. When I got there, they brought out the pencil and paper and started once again with the same offer that I turned down 2 days ago! Talk about a bait and switch. When I would not back down from the offer they sent me as a text message (which I showed to them), they seriously laughed at me. It was one gentleman in particular, I wish I could remember his name. Laughing at a customer after lying to them? Ridiculous.

I have never been so fed up with a group of people in my life.

If you are trying to avoid frustration and bad business practices, then stay away from Airport Marina Honda.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Airport Marina Honda:
This dealership has been by far one of the worst shopping experiences of my life. I was lied to, ignored and laughed at over the course of three visits. Each time I came back was under false pretenses.

The first problem began like so...

I went in wanting to buy a Honda Fit. After two hours of negotiating a BUY, we got the figures we both agreed upon, then they asked me, "Okay, are you ready to sign the LEASE?" The word "lease" had never exited my mouth since entering that dealership. I should have known then what I was in for.

So we started negotiating a buy. We got to some slightly higher figures than I was hoping for, so I said I would look around. After looking around a bit and going to other dealerships, I realized that they had made me a decent offer. I went back in to take them up on the offer they made me, and all of a sudden, they can't do that offer anymore. They are now saying that it wasn't a real quote, and the offer was just what they were "hoping" to do for me. Another 2 hours go buy and I end up walking out again.

Two days go by, then I recieve a text message AND voice mail saying they would price the car at $1000 down, 260/month for 66 months. Great deal, right? I called three times to confirm this offer and that the deal was ready to go, including tax, title, fees, etc. When I got there, they brought out the pencil and paper and started once again with the same offer that I turned down 2 days ago! Talk about a bait and switch. When I would not back down from the offer they sent me as a text message (which I showed to them), they seriously laughed at me. It was one gentleman in particular, I wish I could remember his name. Laughing at a customer after lying to them? Ridiculous.

I have never been so fed up with a group of people in my life.

If you are trying to avoid frustration and bad business practices, then stay away from Airport Marina Honda.

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Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Airport Marina Honda:
I was told that the 2005 Nissan Sentra would cost me $11,900. I put $6,800 down and financed the rest. When I received the paperwork it said I still owe $8,500 not including the finance charges and interest. I am a first time car buyer and they lied to me and took advantage of my inexperience. These guys put the "slimy" in "slimy used car salesmen". I would not recommend this dealer to ANYONE!

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Reason for Visit: Service

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Airport Marina Honda:
I have been dealing with a Warranty service issue for over 8 weeks now. The biggest problem I have is that the service group does not return phone calls or messages. You have to make constant calls until you finally reach the person for whom you are looking. The customer service is atrocious. I have been using this dealer for 6 years and the service over the past 6 months has slipped from good to TERRIBLE.

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Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Airport Marina Honda:
I went in there to trade in an '04 Civic and buy two new '06 Civics. They tried to give me 5k under what my trade in was worth and played dumb when I told them the true value of the car. They tried to sell me the two new cars way over priced. They play dumb with info you give them and try to make it seem like you have no idea what you are talking about. They are the kind of slimy car salesmen and managers that I try to stay away from. At one point they insisting that I sign a contract to buy the cars even though I did not want to. In the end they just walked away from where I was sitting without saying a word and ignored me. Very rude and agressive people to deal with! I would NEVER go back and i would advise you to do the same. I ended up buying my two vehicles somewhere else.

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