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A-1 Toyota
New Haven, CT
1,143 Reviews
In the early 60’s, the owners of a local garage received a postcard announcing the production of a new four-wheel drive vehicle. At the time, the automotive industry was producing only one other vehicle in this category, so the owners thought this might be a good opportunity to introduce a new four-wheel drive vehicle that they would be able to sell as well as service. The postcard was answered and the response was the founding of the first Toyota dealership in New England and the beginning of what has become a very successful endeavor for Dominic Galardi, Anthony Buglione and A-1 Toyota.
The history of A-1 Service began before this. In January of 1951, Dom joined his father-in-law, Tony Buglione in a partnership that included a gas station and used cars. The station was located on the corner of Olive Street and St. John in New Haven.
In the late 1950’s, a new highway system was breaking through the neighborhood, people started moving to the suburbs, and with the limited space they had already outgrown, A-1 looked for a new location.
The new site they chose was in East Haven. The partnership grew to include Dominic’s brother, Andrew.
Their new location, occupying a city block on Main Street and the sign reading A-1 Auto Service, Inc., became a landmark for many.
In 1963, A-1 completed the building of the first Toyota showroom on the East Coast. In 1966, just three years after opening their dealership, A-1 became the second largest Toyota dealership in the country. Toyota’s line-up featured only two vehicles at the time, the four-wheel drive Land Cruiser and one of the first economy cars, the Tiara.
Over the years, A-1 Toyota continued to grow and in 1980 moved to their current location on Amity Road in New Haven adding the Dodge franchise that dueled with Toyota until 1990.
A-1 Toyota’s line-up looks far different than it did in 1963, but the basis for a successful business has continued. The business is still owned by the same family, and Domin
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This rating includes all dealership reviews, with more weight given to recent reviews.
Sales Price Transparency
Service Price Transparency
Trade-in Experience
Purchase Time
Finance Experience
Workmanship
Service Time
Hours
Sales/Showroom
Monday 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday Closed
Service
Monday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday Closed
Parts
Monday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday Closed
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Showing 1,143 reviews
June 23, 2018
Easy and pleasant! Having worked with Ken Perrone for something like 40! Years, I obviously am very pleased with his service. Quincy answered all my questions and gave m Having worked with Ken Perrone for something like 40! Years, I obviously am very pleased with his service. Quincy answered all my questions and gave me a comprehensive overview of the many features in the new car. I was very impressed with his knowledge and communication skills. More
by Evl1937
June 22, 2018
Best new car buying experience ever Starting with Jerry Bell telephone sales pleasant, patient and knowledgeable about explaining vehicles I was potentially interested in. Talked feature Starting with Jerry Bell telephone sales pleasant, patient and knowledgeable about explaining vehicles I was potentially interested in. Talked features stock and price. When I went to dealership he greeted me and gave me over to his most experienced sales person Fariz “Dodo” Dadic. Wonderful person who had the car ready for test drive and he carefully.explained all the cars features. Patiently answered all questions and the price was as quoted to me on telephone. Paul Wright, the Financial Service Manager concluded the sale again in the most pleasant and professional manner- again a wonderful man. Picked up the new Toyota Prius Prime Advanced two days later and “Dado” greeted us with car in perfect presentation and explained any additional questions on its operation. Also told us about their service department, free lifetime oil changes and other perks the dealership gave with the car. This truly was the best car buying experience my husband and I ever had. In this complicated world never felt any pressure. Just comfortably and well taken care of. More
by Ilene R
Employees Worked With
Other Employees :
Paul Wright Financial Services Manager - rates as 5 stars Excellent
June 22, 2018
Seamless experience Amjad, Frank, Hatim and the entire team at A-1 were wonderful to work with. We will be shopping here again. Thank you for your service! Amjad, Frank, Hatim and the entire team at A-1 were wonderful to work with. We will be shopping here again. Thank you for your service! More
by GJoon
June 20, 2018
Excelent The service is so excelent, Carlos Rodríguez It made me feel in trust and in family. I going to recommend this dealer in my family and friends. The service is so excelent, Carlos Rodríguez It made me feel in trust and in family. I going to recommend this dealer in my family and friends. More
by Cathy1723
Employees Worked With
Carlos Orozco, Carlos Rodriguez
June 17, 2018
The Go-to person Emerson is the best person to go to when you lease or buy a car. He explains everything in a calm and accommodating tone that everyone could not only Emerson is the best person to go to when you lease or buy a car. He explains everything in a calm and accommodating tone that everyone could not only follow but enjoy. The perfect person for the job. His greatest feat that distinguish him from the rest is that he goes above and beyond to help out customers pay at an affordable price. The only down side is that we need more people like hi for it will help out many people in the long run. Very thankful to have people like him around. More
by Elimilangonzales
Employees Worked With
June 17, 2018
Customer service Kyle was very helpful to us,he found us the perfect car and was very helpful in answering all our questions.i would recommend a1 Toyota to all those w Kyle was very helpful to us,he found us the perfect car and was very helpful in answering all our questions.i would recommend a1 Toyota to all those who are seeking a new vehicle. More
by MARIAF1981
June 16, 2018
Good experience overall but a few small glitches Kylie our salesperson was very helpful & accommodating. Made the process go smoothly and resolved an intially a frustrating situation when we tested o Kylie our salesperson was very helpful & accommodating. Made the process go smoothly and resolved an intially a frustrating situation when we tested our 1st car. No fault of Kyle’s a glitch with another staff member resulted in us test driving a car & we were ready to make a purchase on it to then find out it was already sold.... Thankfully we found an alternate car we liked and Kyle threw in a perk to make the situation right. Day of delivery a few other glitches, had to wait on our car’s certification paperwork due to an administrative mixup & then the paper work signing technology which usually speeds up the process did slightly slow us down due to an IT issue. Overall the experience was good and would recommend the dealer to others looking for a vehicle. Staff are very nice and helpful. Plus a lifetime of free oil changes you can’t beat that! More
by BrianSkiBum
Employees Worked With
June 14, 2018
Great customer service and nice people and they are very helpful and friendly and they know everything about the products and He loves to help people and nice people and they are very helpful and friendly and they know everything about the products and He loves to help people More
by Aahmad19993
June 14, 2018
Exceeded expectations, top notch service ! I was looking for a new car and I was made to feel very important. Emily was very polite, professional, knowledgeable and cooperative and answered all I was looking for a new car and I was made to feel very important. Emily was very polite, professional, knowledgeable and cooperative and answered all my questions thoroughly. I was so pleased with her service that I told my friends about her. Normally at car dealerships, employees seem to be rushing me to make a purchase. But Emily was giving me all of the information I needed and gave me time to think. It was the best service I’ve received yet. More
by Urooj926
Employees Worked With
Emily Spaulding
June 12, 2018
Great sales experience Sales rep. Amjad, mgr. Gary, fin. mgr. Carlos were all professional, courteous, and very detailed. Our experience was different from the hard sell p Sales rep. Amjad, mgr. Gary, fin. mgr. Carlos were all professional, courteous, and very detailed. Our experience was different from the hard sell presentation at other dealers, More
by jerry
