SOUTH BAY VOLKSWAGEN

Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of SOUTH BAY VOLKSWAGEN:
THIS WAS THE WORST CAR-BUYING EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS DEALERSHIP TO ANYBODY WHO IS INTERESTED IN BUYING A CAR. AFTER DRIVING 3 HOURS TO GET TO THIS DEALERSHIP TO PICK UP WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A HELL OF A DEAL, I GOT SCREWED.

THIS PLACE SOLD ME A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE THAT HAD, SUPPOSEDLY, PASSED A 74-POINT INSPECTION BEFORE I REACHED THE DEALERSHIP. I PURCHASED THE VW BEETLE DURING THE DAY AND SAT IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR 3 HOURS. WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE I DROVE THE CAR HOME. LITTLE DID I KNOW ALL OF THE TROUBLE WAS JUST WAITING TO SURFACE.

THAT NIGHT I TURN THE LIGHTS ON IN THE CAR AND COME TO FIND OUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK. BOTH OF THE REAR BULBS WERE BURNED OUT. WHEN I KICKED THE CAR INTO REVERSE I FOUND OUT THE PASSENGER REVERSE LIGHT WAS OUT AS WELL. THAT IS $200 WORTH OF SERVICE, NOT DONE.

THE NEXT DAY I WAS IN THE CAR AND WENT TO PLUG AN AUXILARY CABLE INTO THE AUX PLUG FOR MY IPOD AND THE PLUG ON THE CAR'S END FELL THROUGH AND BROKE. IT WAS LIKE SOMEBODY HAD JUST GLUED A FEMALE END OF AN AUX PLUG INTO THE DASH OF MY CAR FOR LOOKS. SO NOW MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE BROKEN, MY REVERSE LIGHT ON MY PASSENGER SIDE DOESN'T WORK, AND THERE IS A HOLE IN MY DASH WHERE MY AUX PLUG IS SUPPOSED TO BE. BUT THAT IS NOT ALL.

I GO TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK, AND THE LATCH WON'T RELEASE ALL OF THE WAY. SO THE CAR THINKS THE TRUNK IS OPEN, BUT IT WON'T LET ME CLOSE IT. THE CAR NOW WON'T LOCK AND WON'T STOP BEEPING AT ME.

AT THIS POINT I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT A VW DEALER BY MY HOUSE, THINKING THAT SOUTH BAY VOLKSWAGEN WILL TAKE CARE OF THE BILL ONCE I GET AN INVOICE. THE AUX PLUG AND THE TRUNK ARE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE LIGHTS ARE NOT. I CALLED THE SALES MANAGER AT SOUTH BAY VW AND NICELY EXPLAINED THAT I NEEDED THE $200 CHARGE FOR THE LIGHTS TAKEN CARE OF. HE BASICALLY ACCUSED ME OF LYING ABOUT THE LIGHTS AND SAID THAT I "NEVER SHOULD HAVE REMOVED THE CAR FROM THE LOT WITH ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS."

WHEN SOMEBODY BUYS A "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED" VEHICLE, DO THEY HAVE TO DO A 74-POINT CHECK ON IT THEMSELVES? THIS SALES MANAGER WAS VERY DEFENSIVE, AND ACCUSED ME OF HAVING A "CRAPPY ATTITUDE." HE TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD NEVER PAY FOR THAT SERVICE TO BE PERFORMED AT RIVERSIDE VW OR ANY OTHER VW LOCATION, BUT IF I DROVE THE 3 HOURS TO SOUTH BAY, HE WOULD HANDLE IT FOR FREE.

WHAT KIND OF A DEALERSHIP HAS THESE KINDS OF STANDARDS? THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD BUYING A CAR. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY WOULD SPEAK TO A CUSTOMER IN SUCH A NON-PROFESSIONAL WAY. IT IS AN $800 ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THE CAR WAS SOLD. GOOD THING THE AUX AND TRUNK ARE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY.

IF YOU WANT TO BUY A CAR HERE, DO IT KNOWING THAT THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO SELL YOU CRAPPY CARS THAT THEY NEED TO GET RID OF. THEY HAVE NO REGARD FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND PROBABLY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED" VEHICLE IS.

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Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: Yes

My Review of SOUTH BAY VOLKSWAGEN:
One of the only dealer in Cali in Summer 07, where you can find 2008 R32's without any mark-ups. They say it's their policy to not mark-up the price, and it shows in every aspect of the salesmanship.
I basically phoned them on Sunday evening, picked up the car Monday night. Never seen the car until I picked up, no lies, no hidden fees, The sales manager, Mannuel even told me the full price over the phone so I knew they are not playing any games.

Salesperson Jamie knew about the cars well, went through the details of the car which I didnt know. This is very rare since a lot of salesmans out there know nothing about cars but how to slip-in extra stuff for money.

A lot of dealers in Socal mark up the price of R32 from 5000 to 10000(!) and they act like it's normal. Since it is summer, I even see marked-up Beetle Convertible in VW Pasadena. (bad place to buy cars)

I live in LA and had to drive down there just to find the right price, but I think it was worth it.
If anything else come up later from VW which will be hard to find, I will try SOuth Bay VW first.

I would say I was treated like a valuable paying customer, and I highly recommend it even though for most of you it's like driving down to Mexico (its right above border on the map)

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Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: Yes

My Review of SOUTH BAY VOLKSWAGEN:
I LOVE MY NEW 2008 R32, SOUTH BAY VOLKSWAGEN DID THE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET MY LIMITED EDITION BLUE R32, IM REALLY HAPPY W/ THE DEALER SALES FINANCE AND THE SALES MANAGERS, THIS IS THE 5TH VW THAT I BUY FORM SOUTH BAY VW.

THANK YOU !!!!!

BOBBY Z

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