Central Auto Group

I had set up an appointment in advance to see a 34,000 mile 2001 Pontiac Trans Am VIN # 2G2FV22G012137414. Just prior to the test drive the sales manager handed me a CarFax which identified 5 significant mile 2001 Pontiac Trans Am VIN # 2G2FV22G012137414. Just prior to the test drive the sales manager handed me a CarFax which identified 5 significant repairs that this car had had under warranty back in 2002-2004 (engine rod bearing replacements (15,155 mi), powertrain computer replaced, catalytic converter replaced (5547 mi), front brakes resurfaced (6500 mi). During the test drive the car shook heavily at highway speeds and pulled hard right under heavy braking. It was at that point that my salesman George, who was along for the ride said he knew that would happen because the rear tires were shot. He didn't think the car should even be on the road. The car was priced well-enough though that if after the tires were replaced and another road test done the car might still be worth buying. The engine was smooth and there didn't appear to be any lasting damage from the earlier engine repairs. I put down a $500 deposit w/o lining out the words non-refundable on the form. And the next morning when I decided to back out of this deal, I couldn't get my refund money back for 3 months. I had some concerns about the rod bearing work and whether this car was beat on by the first owner rather than just an unlucky break. I was assured that the car was not beat on because they knew the owner personally and that I would never regret buying it. Good enough. I trusted my salesman at that point. The next morning, I called GMC customer service to find out more about just what was done during that rod bearing replacement and if there should be any concerns as this car racked up more miles down the road (it only has 34,000 mi). GMC customer service then read off all the warranty repairs this car had ever had. Imagine my surprise when there 5 more repairs that didn't show up on the CarFax. It was only later that I found out that CarFax only lists reported repairs. If they are not reported they don't show up. Those repairs were 6 speed gear shifter replacement, full brake replacement (5547 mi), full exhaust system replacement (5547 mi), front door window regulator replaced, and a 2nd catalytic converter replacement (17,792 mi). This car was starting to look like it was truly beat on during its first 2-3 yrs of life. GMC customer service had me call a local dealership to get more technical info on the rod bearing work. The service manager at that GM dealership looked up the car again and was amazed at the 10 warranty item repairs that it had. In a nutshell he said this car was potential trouble and to steer clear of it. He would never buy such a car. He said full brake replacement by 5500 miles on any US car built in 2001 was a huge red flag. And a second catalytic converter by 18,000 miles was almost unheard of. Having the above information I called the dealership Monday morning, less than 24 hrs since test driving the car. My salesman didn't want anything to with the complaint and immediately transferred me to the sales manager. I basically said I was very uncomfortable with this car and wanted out of the deal. He agreed to do that. I also said I wanted to get my deposit back. He said that shouldn't be a problem since no additional money had been spent on the car other than the tires and driver's window not working (2nd failure on that). Those problems they knew about before I got there and had already ordered the parts. The sales manager said he would run my situation against the general manager and call me back. His demeanor suggested to me that he was confident I would be satisfied. A full day passed and no phone call. I called back and left messages twice on the sales manager line. No call backs ever occurred, not even from my salesman who was such a buddy during the whole inspection process. They didn't even offer me alternatives, they just refused to respond. It was at that point that I checked into BBB. I felt my chances were better with my c/c company and BBB than bothering to drive back an hour to discuss it with them. For the right person (ie a mechanic) it was probably an ok car. But not for me. In any case my c/c company denied my claim on the deposit only because I signed for a non-rerundable deposit. It didn't matter to them that the car had undisclosed problems unknown at the time I had placed the deposit. I initiated a BBB complaint in January when all other options seemed to have failed. And within about a month of my BBB complaint (3 months since the initial deal) I received a call from dealership management looking to make things right for me. Seems that new management is cleaning house and trying to resolve all outstanding complaints. I received a refund check so the issue has been resolved. It's unfortunate it took 3 months to rectify this and a lot of anxiety on my part thinking I'd never see that money again. But the management of the dealership seems to have made efforts to ensure this type of behavior by their sales staff doesn't occur again. More

I found everbody friendly and they made the experince very easy .I am driving a 2o12 fusion and really love the ride,i did research for my trade and got what i was looking for and was able to drive away very easy .I am driving a 2o12 fusion and really love the ride,i did research for my trade and got what i was looking for and was able to drive away in my new car that same day. Susanp More

I have never been to a dealership that has treated me so well and has made me feel so great about a purchase!!! I went to this dealership two years ago and was very turned off by the management and the sale well and has made me feel so great about a purchase!!! I went to this dealership two years ago and was very turned off by the management and the salesman. The new management and staff was the best i have ever dealt with in my life!! Keep the staff you have there now and keep doing what you are doing. Thank you for everything!!! More

Truly terrible experience, they are the stereo-typical evil car salesmen - no wonder car sales people are given a really bad name. No contracts were signed and when I backed out of the deal, they would no evil car salesmen - no wonder car sales people are given a really bad name. No contracts were signed and when I backed out of the deal, they would not give back my deposit. Legally they do not have a leg to stand on. DO NOT USE. There are several Ford dealers in the area that are honest and less manipulative. More

I had a great experience from the website to the finance office. The sales reps were very friendly, honest and helpful. They stayed late to help me complete the sale. There were no surprises when I got t office. The sales reps were very friendly, honest and helpful. They stayed late to help me complete the sale. There were no surprises when I got to the finance office. I got a great deal on a new car without any stress or discomfort at the dealership. The staff was not pushy or aggressive at all. The whole experience was very positive. I highly recommend this dealer. More

Dave was absolutely wonderful to work with from the first email to the delivery of my new Ford. He took care of me like family and expedited my buying process. He also did not forget about me after the sale email to the delivery of my new Ford. He took care of me like family and expedited my buying process. He also did not forget about me after the sale. I would recommend anyone go online to www.centralautogroupct.com and work with Dave. He will give you the best price right up front and will do as much work as possible prior to your arrival at the dealership. I will never buy a car from anyone or anywhere else!!!! More

Dealer absolutely refuses to refund deposit. They threatened to ruin our credit rating as well as sue us because we didn't purchase a car from them. They made several threatening phone calls to our h threatened to ruin our credit rating as well as sue us because we didn't purchase a car from them. They made several threatening phone calls to our home and we have one of them on tape to verify. Please avoid this dealer at all cost. They will take you for all youre worth. More

We had three issues with this dealership. First, they scratched the window getting the price sticker off and we were told that the window would be replaced. Second, the bank informed us that the dealersh scratched the window getting the price sticker off and we were told that the window would be replaced. Second, the bank informed us that the dealership had cancelled the loan they arranged for us and had accepted one at a higher interest rate. This occurred on the same day. We would have never found this out if the bank hadn't sent us a letter telling us the lower interest rate loan was cancelled. Third, they couldn't be bothered to attach the front lisence plate to the car. We found it in the back after we got home. When we contacted them over these three matters, we got the "Central Auto Group Shuffle". No matter who we needed to speak to, they were not available to take our call. Finally we reached the dealership president. He told us that he was going to a convention and he would have his VP call us. If we were not satisfied when he returned he would get "personally involved". He also told me that the "finance guy Eric B. was no longer employed there". Neither one of them ever bothered to call us. After a month of getting the run around, we finally sent an E-Mail saying that if we didn't get satisfation soon, we were going to contact Mazda USA and Mazda ,Japan. We then received a very rude and abusive E-Mail from the president. We decided to concentrate on getting the window replaced and the lisence plate put on. I called the service department to make the appointment and was told that they would check to see if the window was there and would call me back in "minutes". One week later they still had not called. I called them again and was told there was a note in my file about the window getting fixed but he had to talk to "Brian" first and would call me back. Of course I never heard from him. All this time the salesman Eric Gates, would not reply to my E-Mails to him. I finally drove to the dealership to make the appointment in person. Upon being informed that Brian had not responded to him, I asked chris the service guy to talk to Brian then and i would wait. He agreed and when he came back to me he told me that Brian would be right out. Brian never did come out, but the president did. When I told him I was all done talking and would he please tell the service dept. to replace my window and attach my lisence plate, he became enraged telling me that it was his dealership and he does whatever he wants to there. No one tells him what to do, not Mazda USA or Mazda Japan, no one. When I reminded him that the dealership had promised to fix the window he told me that it was too bad. He was not going to fix the window, and he did not want me in his building anymore. I was to leave and not come back. I left and haven't been back. I would suggest that no one do business with these people. As can be seen from my experience, after they get your money they don't want to know you. I will never never do business again with central Mazda or any other member of the Gates Auto Group. Run, don't walk as fast and as far away from these people as you can. More

We had three issues with this dealership. First, they scratched the window getting the price sticker off and we were told that the window would be replaced. Second, the bank informed us that the dealersh scratched the window getting the price sticker off and we were told that the window would be replaced. Second, the bank informed us that the dealership had cancelled the loan they arranged for us and had accepted one at a higher interest rate. This occurred on the same day. We would have never found this out if the bank hadn't sent us a letter telling us the lower interest rate loan was cancelled. Third, they couldn't be bothered to attach the front lisence plate to the car. We found it in the back after we got home. When we contacted them over these three matters, we got the "Central Auto Group Shuffle". No matter who we needed to speak to, they were not available to take our call. Finally we reached the dealership president. He told us that he was going to a convention and he would have his VP call us. If we were not satisfied when he returned he would get "personally involved". He also told me that the "finance guy Eric B. was no longer employed there". Neither one of them ever bothered to call us. After a month of getting the run around, we finally sent an E-Mail saying that if we didn't get satisfation soon, we were going to contact Mazda USA and Mazda ,Japan. We then received a very rude and abusive E-Mail from the president. We decided to concentrate on getting the window replaced and the lisence plate put on. I called the service department to make the appointment and was told that they would check to see if the window was there and would call me back in "minutes". One week later they still had not called. I called them again and was told there was a note in my file about the window getting fixed but he had to talk to "Brian" first and would call me back. Of course I never heard from him. All this time the salesman Eric Gates, would not reply to my E-Mails to him. I finally drove to the dealership to make the appointment in person. Upon being informed that Brian had not responded to him, I asked chris the service guy to talk to Brian then and i would wait. He agreed and when he came back to me he told me that Brian would be right out. Brian never did come out, but the president did. When I told him I was all done talking and would he please tell the service dept. to replace my window and attach my lisence plate, he became enraged telling me that it was his dealership and he does whatever he wants to there. No one tells him what to do, not Mazda USA or Mazda Japan, no one. When I reminded him that the dealership had promised to fix the window he told me that it was too bad. He was not going to fix the window, and he did not want me in his building anymore. I was to leave and not come back. I left and haven't been back. I would suggest that no one do business with these people. As can be seen from my experience, after they get your money they don't want to know you. I will never never do business again with central Mazda or any other member of the Gates Auto Group. Run, don't walk as fast and as far away from these people as you can. More

First of all it was nothing but a pleasure working with Diane! I did not include her when I rated customer service. She was an exception to how most people would perceive a typical car sales person. If Diane! I did not include her when I rated customer service. She was an exception to how most people would perceive a typical car sales person. If there was a car that I could have purchased for the deal I received elsewhere from her I would have gladly done so. John Gambardella, on the other hand, embodied the perfect stereotyped car sales person, rude, arrogant, and smug. He acted as though he were doing us a favor for even talking to us. I explained to John that I was car shopping still, but very interested in a Ford he was selling. He recommended I put a down payment on the car because they were having a sale over the weekend. I was under the impression that I would receive my money back if I did in fact find a car that better suited my needs. I was also very late for work. They handed me a bunch of papers to hurry up and sign before I left for work. When I asked what I was signing the reply was, “proof that you left a deposit.” I told them I really had to go and they said they would give me my receipt on Wednesday when I returned. I found a more suitable car elsewhere in the meanwhile (a better deal less miles, newer, and less expensive). When I returned John was smug, handed me my receipt and circled “no refunds.” He said it is only 100$. I work hard for my money! 100$ is not something I am going to just write off. A compromise was arrived at with Sparrow where we could use the 100$ toward service. Honestly it was really money that I was just not prepared to spend. I feel that I was intentionally mislead and cheated. I am wondering are we are all going to have to start to bring lawyers to buy a car soon? I will tell everyone I know to stay away from Central ford (John told me that does not bother him!) Maybe it will bother you? Sarah Erb E-mail sarahjanelovesbulldogs@msn.com (860) 608- 1477 More