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A-1 Toyota
New Haven, CT
1,141 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
Service Communication
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 1,141 reviews
August 16, 2016
No fuss experience From beginning to end my experience at A1 was very easy, no pressure and accommodating. Everyone I spoke with from Sales (Mitch), to finance (Carlos) From beginning to end my experience at A1 was very easy, no pressure and accommodating. Everyone I spoke with from Sales (Mitch), to finance (Carlos) to Service (Dan) have been helpful. It's obvious that customer service is very important to them. I will continue to recommend A1 Toyota. More
by aroach
Helpful August 16, 2016
Sales consultant with expertise, patience, manners I met Sunny Dhawan after visiting many Toyota dealerships. What an unexpected pleasure. On a boiling hot day, he showed me multiple Highlanders, tryin I met Sunny Dhawan after visiting many Toyota dealerships. What an unexpected pleasure. On a boiling hot day, he showed me multiple Highlanders, trying to find the best model for me. He never tried to up sell as I found at some dealers. He listened, explained and never pushed. He gave a very competitive price and am equally competitive trade-in. Ask for Sunny when you visit this dealer and you will be in more than good hands. More
by Consumer Pro
Employees Worked With
Sunny Dhawan
August 16, 2016
Excellent experience Buying a car at AOne Toyota was an excellent experience. Everyone we dealt with was very professional . There was no pressure. All of our requirement Buying a car at AOne Toyota was an excellent experience. Everyone we dealt with was very professional . There was no pressure. All of our requirements were met. More
by nrecine
Employees Worked With
Carlos Orozco, Mitchell Burban
August 16, 2016
Very attentive and accommodating I just leased a new Scion tC, which is my 3rd car from A1. This whole sales experience has by far been the best! First of all, I went in with my Dad w I just leased a new Scion tC, which is my 3rd car from A1. This whole sales experience has by far been the best! First of all, I went in with my Dad who has a bad back and can't sit or stand for very long. My sales rep, Sunny, was excellent at expediting the process while still being very thorough and not making me feel rushed. He, and several other members of the staff (including GM, AnnaLynn Wheeler, Dawn Wheeler, and several others), were very attentive and accommodating to both me and my father. They even offered to bring over a different chair or to let him sit in a different office/room for more comfort. Sunny listened to what I said I wanted and once I narrowed down my options, he presented me with a very clear written breakdown comparing the prices with and without some of the accessories I was thinking of adding. It honestly couldn't have been easier! I decided that I wanted a color that they didn't have on the lot so they would have to "order" it. He then brought Mustafa (from accessories) over to help go over all of the "add-on" options as well as which packages would be best for me as far as price and efficiency! Mustafa was excellent...knowledgable, quick and thorough, and very nice! This appointment was on a Monday and my car was ready to be picked up by Thursday! Unfortunately for me, I was in the ER and had to have emergency surgery that day. Sunny sent me a "get well" message that day and then kept in touch with me to find the earliest day/time that I could go pick it up with the least amount of wait time possible! He arranged his schedule to get me in early in the am before it got busy and went out of his way to make sure everyone involved in the process made it as quick and easy as possible. Lastly, Angel Ramos was very nice and very prepared. He went over everything in my contract and was very straightforward about which care packages would be worth the money for me. I thank everyone at A1, including the many other people I didn't mention by name that were friendly, accommodating and helped make the experience as easy as it was. More
by JA_603
Employees Worked With
Other Employees :
Sunny Dhawan, Angel Ramos
August 10, 2016
10 out of 10 We just leased a Rav4 Hybrid. Our experience starting in the door with David Bryce and out with Carlos Orozco was a 10 out of 10 from start to finish We just leased a Rav4 Hybrid. Our experience starting in the door with David Bryce and out with Carlos Orozco was a 10 out of 10 from start to finish with 10 being the highest rating. Thank you A-1. More
by Satisfied custome
Employees Worked With
Carlos Orozco, David Bryce
August 10, 2016
No pressure, just option 😃 I never knew I will be driving off the lot in a new 2016 camry se thank you A1 Toyota, I'm to join the Toyota family I never knew I will be driving off the lot in a new 2016 camry se thank you A1 Toyota, I'm to join the Toyota family More
by Bigl
August 09, 2016
Very helpful The sales person explained every detail clearly and patiently answered all of my questions. She worked very hard to offer the best suitable car accord The sales person explained every detail clearly and patiently answered all of my questions. She worked very hard to offer the best suitable car according to my likes and needs. Thank you Amanda for your friendly and respectful service. I'm well satisfied with my purchase and happy with my first new car. Thank you Angel for making my wish a reality. You guys make a good team!!! More
by yarisely
Employees Worked With
Angel Ramos, Amanda Botto
August 08, 2016
Wonderful customer service! Very professional.It was a great experience. No pressure.Efficient service.Would recommend to my friends.Amanda Botto was very thorough in her explana Very professional.It was a great experience. No pressure.Efficient service.Would recommend to my friends.Amanda Botto was very thorough in her explanation and answered all of my questions. More
by Vlad1
July 22, 2016
Need a MAYBE selection on recommending this service center. I said that I would NOT recommend A-1 Toyota to anyone only because of my more recent visits to the service department. I won't go into too much detai I said that I would NOT recommend A-1 Toyota to anyone only because of my more recent visits to the service department. I won't go into too much detail, but over the past year or two, I have been starting to feel like the service technicians do not do what they're supposed to. Numerous times I've said I've had leaky this or that and each time they said they did not find anything. I have probably spent close to $8,000 or more in the past 3 years on repairs and some of the same things are still happening. I don't know much about cars and have not found a mechanic that I completely trust yet so I feel like I'm at the mercy of what they tell me. I am honestly starting to think that A-1 Toyota only wants to take your money. Don't get me wrong... I've been going here for service for nearly 14 years and have always had a great experience with the service writers. I hope the service writers aren't trying to recommend things that need to be done when they really don't, because I HAVE brought my car to a local mechanic in the past to get a 2nd opinion and they have said that the recommended work from A-1 was NOT needed. And regarding this, one time when I brought my car there for service, the technician saw me (I won't divulge his name and I'm not sure if he works there anymore) and pulled me to the side and quietly told me that whatever was being recommended (I can't remember what it was anymore) to have done DIDN'T NEED TO BE DONE. I thanked him profusely and this was the beginning of me feeling suspicious of the business ethics at A-1. Back to my experiences with the service writers... I've had the pleasure to deal with Ken Perrone and Tom Opuszynski for most of the times. They were both excellent and I felt comfortable with them for the most part. More recently I've been working with Tariq Muhammed and so far HE IS AWESOME!!!!!! I could listen to him talk all day! I hope he is one of the honest, good guys with good ethics. Since I've just started having him as my service writer, it's too soon to tell. But like I said, so far it's been great working with him even though my car is having problems. Just once he never called back to let me know the status of my car... he gets a pass this time. Tariq... until I get to know you more, you get 4 stars. ;) P.S. I might be getting a new car soon. I'm a little bit on the fence about buying from A-1 because I'm nervous about having to deal with the service department down the road if things start happening to my car and I get the feeling that something fishy is going on. And this is sad to feel this way considering: 1. A-1's location is so convenient for me, and 2. I really have had such a great experience with the friendliness of most of the employees that I've had to work with... Carol, Melissa (who works in accounting now I think), Ken, Tom O., Tony, and now... TARIQ!!! These are the ONLY REASONS I want to come back. I feel a certain loyalty because of them... SOOO NICE to deal with. It's the actual service on my car that makes me question everything. More
by lia007
July 20, 2016
Very professional and courteous A-I has always been a top notch organization. I have just purchased my 4th car from them. I plan on using them again. Carlos, part of the Finance team A-I has always been a top notch organization. I have just purchased my 4th car from them. I plan on using them again. Carlos, part of the Finance team, was very helpful and knowledgeable. It was a pleasure working with Mitch, my sale rep. More
by jeffrey1963
Employees Worked With
Carlos Orozco, Mitchell Burban
