First Honda

Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of First Honda:
I WOULD NEVER SEND ANYONE THERE! They did total fraud! When I first went in I told the sales guy I wanted an ACCORD with no money down and a $250 car payment, FINANCED. They said they had to check my credit and see what I can afford. They told me I was signing papers for my credit check, in reality it was for a lease! When I told them time after time I wanted to FINANCE NOT LEASE! I wanted an Accord..They leased me a CIVIC! I told them I had nothing down...They followed me home and stated I needed to give them two checks for a down payment of $1500! They said I had to get the car leased because I had bad credit and that was the only car I could afford...I went to Honda of Thousand Oaks, and the GM there told me I had great credit and for the price to lease an ACCORD was actually $258 exact! Which means the payment for a leased CIVIC should be WAYYYYYYYY less! They said I could have finance an ACCORD for $366 a month!!! Even they don't understand why they would do this to their customers! We have tried to contact the GM and the VP and no response. We returned the vehicle the next morning and hoped they would see what they did and "Unwind" everything. But, they just keep saying it's too late. We just hired an attorney! So do not go to FIRST HONDA OF SIMI VALLEY!!!

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Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of First Honda:
I would recommend that if anyone is looking to get a new car that they go to DCH Toyota of Simi Valley or at least the Honda dealer in Woodland Hills. The reason why I say this is because the customer service, quality of work, and overall experience at this dealership is horrible. They first seem really nice and that they are willing to work for you, but the truth is that they just want to work for themselves...to fill their quota. I went in looking to finance a new 2010 Honda Insight w/ navigation and bluetooth. They came up w/ a financing deal for me and I was happy and going in the next day to settle the deal. They ended up calling me saying the need me and my to talk to the bank as well as my grandfather to get the financing secure on the vehicle I wanted, that was strange but we did it. Then the next day they call me and tell me the financing was approved and they have a way to go. Which made me so happy, at the time. So my grandfather and I drove all the way from Canoga Park to Simi Valley to sign the deal and get the car, however when I got there the car I wanted didn't even seem like it had been prepared or even washed and I just figured that they eventually would. So I waited about 20 minutes and then the sales woman tells me to come outside with her and she tells me while pointing to a two-door civic all washed, that they didn't get me approved on the car I had been looking at and come for, but for this civic that they picked out for me. My grandfather and I couldn't believe what a scam there dealership was and how they would make us drive all the way from the valley saying the deal was approved and then treat us they way they did.
So my grandfather and I ended up going to DCH Toyota of Simi Valley where they were friendly, worked a better finacial deal, and never even thought about scamming me. And I ended up getting a brand new 2010 Prius w/ navigation, bluetooth, and advanced technology that I actually love way better.
So my OVERALL recommedation for anyone looking to go to First Honda of Simi Valley, is that you definately should not even waste your time unless you want a car picked out for you instead of by you.

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Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of First Honda:
I went through the same exact issue regarding the VIN etching scame. I contacted the dealer via the internet through Edmunds, requesting a quote on a new vehicle. They quote a price on the car, which I was ok with compared to other dealers. I then call the salesperson and they start saying there are accessories installed they have not included in that price. Funny thing is, the vehicle just arrived that day or the prior day...the salesperson did not even know where it was, I had to show him on the back lot. Still had all of the plastic protection on it, and they were fighting to not remove the accessories from the price, even though THEY WERE NOT EVEN INSTALLED YET. And, the accessories they have listed are GROSSLY overprice; searching the internet other dealers sell direct for 1/2 to 1/3 of what they where pricing at. So we get to the final price and start filling out paperwork. They place a price sheet in front of me with all of the details, and what do you know, there is some charge in there right below the base price with some meaningless accronyms to make it look like a tax for about $400. I ask what it is, and they state, "oh, that's the vin etching theft prevention measure we put on the cars, sorry, forgot to mention that." I say BS. They intentionally do not mention this charge hoping you will overlook it. I've never paid for this, and never will, and was already not happy about these overpriced accessories they were forcing on me. I got up and walked out. They later called and begged/pleaded for me to come back (still wouldn't remove the vin etching charge). I told them remove the charge and I'll return. I e-mailed them the articles showing what a scame it is and how their cost to have the etching done is at most $10/car. Word of advice, ask about every charge that you don't understand, and refuse to pay for the VIN etching scame. When's the last time you heard of anyone having their car recovered due to VIN etching. Even the thieves know their way around this one. In the end, they refused to remove the charge, so I bought at another dealer at a much lower price, and feal much better about the deal I finally received.

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Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of First Honda:
Was given a great, competitive quote via internet sales. Went in, ready to buy the car at that price, no extras, no financing. When it came time to pay was told that I would have to pay $389 for a vehicle theft registration that is on every car and is the dealership would pay me $2,900 if I got it back or not. I told them repeatedly I didn't want it. When it came time to sign all the sales forms, the $389 vehicle theft registration was listed under "options". When I questioned this, the finance person (wolf in sheep's clothing) told me it was listed under options, but was not optional. That made no sense. Again, I repeated that I did not want this "option" and was told everybody has to pay this and something about it lowering their insurance. Come to find out this is a total RIP OFF SCHEME by the dealership to get an extra $389 on every car. You DO NOT need to pay for this. You DO NOT need to buy this - regardless of anything and everything they tell you. They also ran my credit report without my authorization under the guise that they needed my SS# because they had to report to the government every sale over $10,000 to make sure you are not on the OFAC list. Another lie. All they need is your identificaiton (driver's license) and do not need to run your credit report for the OFAC list as it is available as a separate search/report. Do not trust this dealership for anything. The sales manager, the salesmen, the finance person --- they are all con men who lie and scheme for a living using every prop (for instance, the picture of their family on their desk, not facing them, but facing you - probably not even their real family) and excuse they can come up with to STEAL your money from you. DO NOT believe a thing they say. Do not give them your SS# or anythinng else, and most all DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR BUSINESS. Find another dealer who has a shred of honesty because you won't find it at First Honda.

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Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of First Honda:
First Honda sold me an Odyssey EX-L R&N. Prior to signing the contract, I wanted the bluetooth option available as a standard on the Touring model. They said, no problem, and it was $500. What they didn't tell me was that the bluetooth was not the same one, and proceeded to install an aftermarket model that stuck out like a sore thumb on my dashboard. Though ugly, it had these functions: CallerID, turn off my radio when a call is placed/received, auto-pairing. Upset and feeling ripped off, I went to Honda's website to find a picture of a bluetooth option. I then called the sales dept to file my complaint, the sales manager, Chris Tucker, had never heard of the Honda factory bluetooth I was talking about. I had to point him to the website so he could look it up. He called in his Service Manager, Greg, who confirmed that they had this part and could install it, for ANOTHER $500. Before I agreed, I asked whether this would then work like the touring model. They said, "It should." They claimed that they've never installed this before and I was the guinea pig, which I said that I didn't mind. "Take as a long as you want, just do it right." Now, I don't know if it was installed correctly, but the behavior is this: doesn't shut off radio, doesn't have caller ID, no interface w/ my navi control screen. Nothing like the bluetooth on the Touring Model. I offered to pay penalty to get out of this car and upgrade to Touring, the offer was FLAT OUT REJECTED! They then told me that I was stuck with this, and am unwilling to refund any of my money. I'm simply stuck with a car that has a $1000 option that I could purchase at the local Costco for $60. They are incompetent in their knowledge of their vehicles and accessories.

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Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: Yes

My Review of First Honda:
Contacted 1st Honda through internet. Blaine contacted me quickly with a really nice quote. We went out two days later to buy the vehicle and all went well. He didn't try to convince me I needed extra warranties for the car, accepted what I wanted and gave it to me. All cars have a "car theft number" on them, so I had to pay for that even though I would've preferred not to. But since price was so low, I accepted the add-on. Price was MUCH less than other dealers were offering. The main frustration was having to wait for car to be brought up and tank to be filled. That took too long. But everything else went very smoothly. Other inconvience was I was given the wrong manual, but hopefully the right one is in the mail.

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