DARCARS 355 Toyota

Unlike other posters here, my experience with these folks - as an internet buyer of a new Camry I found on their web site - was pretty decent. Perhaps it helped that I'd already decided on exactly what I wa - as an internet buyer of a new Camry I found on their web site - was pretty decent. Perhaps it helped that I'd already decided on exactly what I wanted and was OK with the price their automated response system emailed me, so product selection and cost were not issues and there was no real "selling" process. When I visited the dealership with that email in hand, they honored the offer without any games or pressure. There were the expected attempts to sell an extended warranty, "paint sealant", and a service agreement, but these were suprisingly low key key and non-persistent. They readily honored my request to remove dealer advertising from the car and provide me with copies of anything I signed, and after a credit check had no problems with my paying with a combination of credit union draft and money market fund check. It did take about three hours to finally drive away with the vehicle, but that time included an unaccompanied test drive, and the finance manager's resolution of some issues with a recently-changed computer system in his office. While it's too soon for me to assess the quality of this dealer's service (the subject of some other posts here) my buying experience was favorable and I feel I drove away with excellent deal. More

It took 3 weeks to order a radio for a Sienna. When the radio came in the customer was not informed. Customer called and was told radio was sent back and would need to be reorderd. No explanation was given radio came in the customer was not informed. Customer called and was told radio was sent back and would need to be reorderd. No explanation was given on the reason why the customer was not informed about the fact that the radio had arrived. Reordering took another 3 weeks. Customer made an appointment and dropped off the car the night before the appointment. A voice message was left at customer's voicemail requesting additional information about the radio. Customer had clearly indicated that the radio installation was to be done under warranty. This further delayed the installation of the radio. Since the warranty department and service department are under the same roof, common sense would dictate that the assistant service manager would call warranty department and get whatever information he needed about the radio, as opposed to seating on his butt and waiting for the customer to call. How many customer would know the descriptive code of their radios? How many service people would know that without looking up that information? IMO this kinda service sucks. We pay big bucks for these cars and we expect to be treated fairly. More

(My comments reflect only on the 355 Toyota used car sales department and their service department) <br><br>I'm a little surprised at the poor ratings for this dealership. I bought my '03 ECHO from the sales department and their service department) <br><br>I'm a little surprised at the poor ratings for this dealership. I bought my '03 ECHO from the used car division and later had a few items repaired on the car under warranty. Everyone I dealt with was friendly and the service people seemed to know what they were doing. They kept me informed of the progress of my repairs and reminded me of when my next scheduled maintenance was due. The only thing of potential concern was that they couldn't diagnose a strange whirring noise in my engine; they finally told me it was normal and nothing to worry about. They had attempted to correct the noise on a previous visit...if it was normal, why didn't they tell me at that time? Other than that, their repair work on my rear defroster and radio antenna was good.<br><br>When I came to pick up my car, the cashier asked if I would fill out a customer satisfaction survey. So maybe they are trying to correct some customer service problems they've had in the past.<br><br>I also should add that 355 Toyota has the most comfortable lounge I've ever seen in any dealership, with TV, computer jacks, food machines, video games for your kids, etc.<br>----------------------------<br>5/9/2005<br>I just want to update my review. I've had my Toyota ECHO for several months now, and I recently inquired with the dealership (not the "used cars" guys I dealt with before, but the "new cars" and service wing) about getting a CD changer installed. They told me that it would void my comprehensive warranty if I had a CD changer installed at any commercial store other than Toyota. Naturally I had been comparing prices, and Best Buy and Circuit City were offering changers at $150 and up, with free installation. I inquired about the cost from the dealership: $600 with $90/hour installation. Now, it normally costs much more to get such things installed at a dealership. What I object to is the blatant use of FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) tactics to try to trick me into going with the dealership. The dealership blatantly lied to me about the warranty, and even claimed that their service people wouldn't even touch my car if they saw I had an aftermarket CD player! I later called Toyota HQ to confirm: the only part of my warranty that would be affected is the CD changer itself, which of course wouldn't be covered. And yes, the Toyota service people would still be required to "touch" my car for other types of repairs.<br><br>Incidentally, my car came CD player-ready (meaning there was a cable in the trunk where a changer could be plugged in). I inquired with the dealership about whether their technicians would "touch" my car if I plugged a CD changer into the trunk. "Nope!" was the reply. Well missus, I guess I'll just take the two screws out and remove the player before I have any work done. Then we'll all rest easy, now won't we ? >:-( More

SOMEONE AT THE 355 DEALER WAS HERE AND RATE HIS ON DEALER...NICE TRY...OOP 2.1 IT WAS 1.2 BEFORE. NICE NICE<br>And HERE is my problem with Those WAT DO I NEED TO DO? morons.<br>I had trans problem tha DEALER...NICE TRY...OOP 2.1 IT WAS 1.2 BEFORE. NICE NICE<br>And HERE is my problem with Those WAT DO I NEED TO DO? morons.<br>I had trans problem that should had been fixed under warrenty. Yes! The 60,000 mile warrenty, because my car was under 60k. I went there and I tried to fix it under warrenty but somehow I couldn't because your dealer was too poor to get it fixed or was I? Anyways, I was sick and tired of arguing about stupid warrenty and I just wanted it to get fixed so there, I paid $ 1376.04 on Mar,31.04 and I waited for two month and one day, I've got a phone call saying that you fixed it and it's good as new, feels baby. Well, not exactly, and how the xxxx did he come with that "baby" quote? How did his mother treated him!!! anyways I was happy at that very moment even though it's was not under warrenty but who cares I got my car back so I went down there and the first thing I did was Test drive. Like I expected from morons, it was not Fixed, advisor Howard S Feld(old man with smelly breath, hew) and one of thier crew saw it and they said they didn't know what was wrong with it and then there they were making 1 second hypothesis. The answer was come tomorrow becuase it's closing time...what a job<br>Next day, I went there to show and test drive with their SPECIAL Tech-Team Leader, he said that he knew what exactly was wrong with it and he had no problem fixing it. He also said "I have MR2 and I know all about Celica don't worry, I will fix it" Oh yeah, I have a girl friend and I know how to treat your mom. Another month later...Same thing happened, call from dealer, test drive, and same problem. At that moment, I thought arguing these xxxxxx was wasting time and Pointless. Have you ever tried to talk to your pet like a hamster? After 3-4 hours of waiting He finally adjusted my clutch setting, which helped a lot on jerking up at the start. Still nothing fixed. Few moments later, this tall skinny guy so called supervisor showed up out of no where and told me "I HAVE 69 FERRARI AND EVEN FERRARI NEEDS TO GET WARM-UP BEFORE START"(Yeah, you should because you don't have that much time left old boy, enjoy while you can) and I said "I sit in the parking lot for 30 minute to get warm up but the grinding noise is still there" he siad "wait 40 minute if it doesn't work ya, wait for a hour or two" Where did he learn that? Prison? I don't wanna wake up two hours before the school!! Do you? More

I seriously think they are just stupid. I bought a new car there and it had a slight nick in the bumper that they said they would fix. When I went to pick it up - they couldn't find the car! It was lock car there and it had a slight nick in the bumper that they said they would fix. When I went to pick it up - they couldn't find the car! It was locked up in the body shop and no one had the key...it seems the body shop staff work different hours than everyone else. They knew I was coming, and they knew when I was coming but didn't do anything to make sure the car was there.<br><br>They forgot to put the credit card key in the car which I asked them to make and they said I would find it in one of the compartments.<br><br>They were so slow getting the registration for the car that the temporary (60 days) tags EXPIRED and then when they finally got the registration, it was WRONG.<br><br>They are quick to say "Sorry" but never do anyting to fix it.<br><br>There phone lines were out for two weeks and they could take messages or return phone calls.<br><br>They don't know anything about selling cars or providing good service to customers. <br><br>I would NEVER recommend them. More

Armed with complete financing and a sight draft, I attempted to enjoy driving away a new Toyota from this miserable dealership. After being insulted for two hours, being interupted, being addressed i attempted to enjoy driving away a new Toyota from this miserable dealership. After being insulted for two hours, being interupted, being addressed in a nasty tone of voice, having to reiterate over and over which additional services I was not interested in, being literally lied to several times, never being able to complete a sale in a business- like manner, never having a professional present capable of signing a check per banking regulations and dealing with people incapable of providing their last names or a business card, I came to the conclusion that this dealership was xxxx bent on not selling me a car. Calling the headquarters of Darcars to complain about the strange behaviors and activity at this dealership was a similarly unproductive experience. Perhaps I should conclude that God does not want me to own a Toyota? Even if God intends me to drive a Toyota, I'm certain that it is not from this ghastly dealership. These people literally will not let you stuff money in their pockets until you let them insult you. So why fund such behaviors? A lot of nicer dealers are out there ready to treat customers decently in a tight market. And if the buying experience is this bad, one can only imagine how bad the service might be.... More

Today was my worst nightmare for asking about the shuttle service to Shady Grove station. I arrived at the service center aroun 7:40 AM and finished the formalities by 7:50 AM. I aksed about the shuttle (bec service to Shady Grove station. I arrived at the service center aroun 7:40 AM and finished the formalities by 7:50 AM. I aksed about the shuttle (because I need to attend one meeting at 8:30 in Bethesda) and was told that the shuttle will be ready soon. At 8:02 driver of the shuttle came from some other place (seems to be shopping) and told us (other person waiting for the shuttle) that he will be ready in minutes. At 8:04 the person named " Dorry Mohsen" came and told us the shuttle needs gas and will be ready soon. To our dismay we found the driver is working as dispatcher (carrying some paper works to and from Service center to main building). At 8:12 AM I aksed blue team (my car is seviced by them) about the shuttle and he called the driver and the driver arrived at 8:15 but without picking up us he went inside the center and vanished. When aksed about the shuttle Mr. Dorry Mohsen raised his voice and said "the shuttle will be here any moment" and when asked why he did not mention that shuttle will be late (about 20-25 minutes) due to some dispatcher's job by the driver (I would have walked to the station and attend my meeting easily in due time) he agian raised his voice and said the same answer. After getting this answer I walked to the Shady Grove station and arrived even before any sign of the shuttle on my way to the station.<br><br>Regarding their business, DARCARs is basically liar. It is for sure I would not buy my second car from DARCARS and would not recoomend. For would be buyers "DONOT FALL INTO THE TRAP OF DARCARS PROTECTION PLAN". More

This dealer is the worst dealership. I got my toyota from them and after that, they never want anything to do with me. On top of that, they ripped me off bad!!! I later found out that that is the way the own them and after that, they never want anything to do with me. On top of that, they ripped me off bad!!! I later found out that that is the way the owner Darcars operate. Cuz the service was so bad, I hated the car also. After driving my brand new Solara for lest than 2 months, I decided to trade it. I went to another dealer nearby called Darcars VOlvo to get my S40. I didnt even look at the name. To my dismay, it was the same company as the 355 toyota. Darcars Sucks. The methods they use is outdated. Someone need to tell them that this is 2003 and not 16th century. I will never recommend this company to anyone cuz they dont deserve the kind of service they provide. It doesnt matter how much u are paying for a car, everyone deserve first class service. I dont even give them "1". They deserve "0". More