Lakeland Ford

Not only was the used car sales manager rude, offensive and just a plain and simple fast-talking typical "used car salesman", but he actually insulted my intelligence. They made promises to fix things with and just a plain and simple fast-talking typical "used car salesman", but he actually insulted my intelligence. They made promises to fix things with the used car and at the end of the day they never fixed it and we spent several trips, made several calls with no return, and was so frustrated with the whole experience that we wish we never purchased from them and will never. More

My name is Lawson Nichols, on Dec.31, New years eve, I bought a 2004 Ford Ranger Edge. I paid cash.It had an oil leak and and so I couldn't take it home at the time. On January the 3 I got upset and calle bought a 2004 Ford Ranger Edge. I paid cash.It had an oil leak and and so I couldn't take it home at the time. On January the 3 I got upset and called to demand my money back. A manger(I don't remember his name) talked me into taking the truck and they would fix the oil leak. The next day they called and told me the oil leak was fixed and I could pick up the truck. The oil leak was not fixed There were also two other things they were going to fixed. The steering wheel was off about 1/8 turn and there was only one key and promised to have me another one made they cost about $60.00, which I never got. I had the oil leak fixed at the cost of $150.00 and I was so disturbed i didn't take the truck back until today (9-20-12). I wouldn't have gone back then but I had 2 free services. Today I talked with Jim Hancock. He is the manger of the service department, a very nice guy to talk with. He told I should not have waited so long to bring the truck back,about 9 months, but he would see what he could do. He fixed all the things and had me another key made. Yes I would buy off Lakeland Ford again, but the people I deal with would have to be LIKE JIM HANDCOCK. He is a trufull man. A credit to Lakeland Ford. Thank you Jim. More

Avoid, particularly if you have to drive more than a few miles to get there. Don't believe anything they tell you over the phone. I was considering a car they had and, knowing it would be a 45-minute dri miles to get there. Don't believe anything they tell you over the phone. I was considering a car they had and, knowing it would be a 45-minute drive each way, negotiated everything up front, including the value of my trade-in. I described the car in detail including flaws, gave the VIN, and even told the person I talked with (John Richardson) its KBB value was about $4,000. As part of the deal, he had his GSM (Robert) run a Carfax and told me he would give me above-market value on the trade in, or $6,000 ("plus or minus a nickle depending on condition") for the car. I made it very clear I didn't want to drive out that far without a clear deal, and he told me that was what I'd get. The total deal was enough to convince me to choose this car over the other one I was considering, and I drove out, only to have the used car manager (Scott - who looked exactly like what you'd expect from a used-car: someone well-practiced in lying with a straight face) tell me it had poor "paintwork" and "wasn't all there" and he could only give me $4,000. These problems were apparently invisible, because he couldn't point out anything you wouldn't expect in an average-condition 2003 car with 115k miles on it - exactly what I described. Another dealer there looked at it and admitted it was in "average" condition and worth $4,000-4,500, as I hold told John from the beginning, but which I was promised $6,000 for. They agreed to up it to $4,500 and then refused to move from there, despite a call to John Richardson, who had no explanation for his earlier $6,000 number. Evidently they assumed that after driving out there I would just shell out the extra $1,500, but I refused to deal with someone with those ethics and left. Altogether this wasted about 3 1/2 hours of my time, when I'm already working 14 hours/day at my job. Overall I guess I approached the situation a little naively and didn't realize they'd blatantly lie like that to get me in the door, but I'm not prepared for this level of deception... in my job all I deal with on a daily basis are real estate brokers and lawyers. More

Watch yourself dealing with these folks. I purchased a Ford F150 from Bob, who seemed like a really nice guy. Dealt with Chris, the finance guy, who worked up paperwork pretty much for the deal that I wan Ford F150 from Bob, who seemed like a really nice guy. Dealt with Chris, the finance guy, who worked up paperwork pretty much for the deal that I wanted. Left happy. However THREE WEEKS LATER, get a call from Bob that I need to "come in and sign a piece of paper that got missed." When I asked what specifically, he had to hang up and talk to Chris. When he called me back, he said it was because "they had to change banks," but didn't know any of the details. I asked for Chris to call me and he said they did have to change banks, but the rate was only "slightly higher," but wouldn't give any details over the phone (like I'm really going to go in and let him con me into a crappier deal). I'm taking my trade back and my business elsewhere. I suggest you do the same. More

While I would definately recommend this dealership for purchases, I would recommend against using the service department except for warranty work. Our experience in December of 2010 with the sales (used) purchases, I would recommend against using the service department except for warranty work. Our experience in December of 2010 with the sales (used), finance, and document departments, as well as with the General Manager, were good. Everyone made us feel appreciated even though we were buying a used vehicle. But the new personnel in the Service Department during 2011 did not seem as friendly as those who were there in December when we purchased our vehicle. I just felt as if I were a problem to them rather than a valued customer. The only one that made me feel welcome was the cashier in Service. Later, when I returned for service Patrick seemed more friendly and most recently (12/19/2011) I dealt with Stacey in the Service Department and in the future he is the one I will seek out when I need Service. He was very friendly and attentive to my needs and questions. My reson for not recommending the Service Department except for covered warranty work is the excessive cost of repairs. Shortly after purchasing our 2002 Focus, it developed a roar while driving. The Service Department (Patrick) determined it was a front right wheel bearing and a left rear wheel bearing. As my wife was taking the car to NC we had the front right bearing (which we were told was the worst and unsafe) repaired at a cost of just over $300. We were given a quote on the repair of the left rear wheel bearing of over $400. When my wife returned from NC the left rear was much louder and as I was at a repair and tire shop I have used for over ten years for all our tires, I asked about the cost of repairing the left rear wheel bearing. It was $115.00 and I had it done the following morning. It was only 45 minutes from the time I entered their front door, until I had paid my bill and was leaving. Due to this large difference in cost, the dealership is not competative and we instead send all our friends and family to All American Discount Tire and Muffler on north 98 in Lakeland and we will continue to do so in the future. Again, we do recommend this dealership for purchases, but at leass than half the cost for repairs we cannot recommend them for repairs. More

pEOPLE WERE FRENDLY AND LISTENED TO OUR WANTS.THEY ANSWERED ALL OUR QUESTIONS AND GAVE US PLENTY OF TIME TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE OUR DECISION. ANSWERED ALL OUR QUESTIONS AND GAVE US PLENTY OF TIME TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE OUR DECISION. More

Get everything in writing (bait and switch) Don't get extended service, or maintenance agreement (scam)--- demand to see the real invoice (not the phoney one they present to you) extended service, or maintenance agreement (scam)--- demand to see the real invoice (not the phoney one they present to you) More

Michele was awesome to have as our salesperson. She was very knowledgeable and helped us make the right decision without pushing us to make one we weren't comfortable with. We were very happy with our expe very knowledgeable and helped us make the right decision without pushing us to make one we weren't comfortable with. We were very happy with our experience and would buy a car here again. More

Michelle was a pleasure to work with. She made me very comfortable, setting an easy rapport right from the start. She mad me feel like no question was too idiotic, and she presented her knowledge of the comfortable, setting an easy rapport right from the start. She mad me feel like no question was too idiotic, and she presented her knowledge of the vehicle in a concise, easy for me to understand way. Michelle's professionalism was head and shoulders above a couple of the other local dealers I had visited. I would definitely return to Lakeland Ford and Michelle to purchase another vehicle. More

I HAVE WORKED WITH CHAD IN YOUR SERVICE DEPT. ON SEVERAL ACCASIONS AND HE HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL. MY FIRST VISIT AT YOUR DEALERSHIP WAS FOR BODY REPAIR AND SADLY YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKIN ACCASIONS AND HE HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL. MY FIRST VISIT AT YOUR DEALERSHIP WAS FOR BODY REPAIR AND SADLY YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE CAR NOW. I HAVE WORKED WITH CHRISTIA,BODY SHOP MANAGER, AND CURRENTLY WITH KC AND THEY HAVE BEEN HELPFUL & PROFESSIONAL IN EVERY WAY. THESE ARE PEOPLE I KNOW BY NAME IN YOUR DEALERESHIP, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS I HAVE HAD BRIEF CONVERSATIONS AND EVERYONE HAS BEEN FRIENDLY. YOUR COMPANY IS ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR PEOPLE AND SERVICE. YOU CERTAINLY HAVE THEM COVERED. IN CLOSING,I HAVE SPENT SEVERAL THOUSAND $DOLLARS WITH YOUR DEALERSHIP AND IT HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE MENTIONED AND THE QUALITY OF WORKED PERFORMED.------PLEASE LET THEM KNOW AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. HERSHEAL MCDONALD More