Toyota of Lake City

As with every Toyota dealer, you have a sales person that greets you, takes you on a test drive, and then passes you off to a Sales Manager. I had the unfortunate experience of dealing with Han Song, the Ass greets you, takes you on a test drive, and then passes you off to a Sales Manager. I had the unfortunate experience of dealing with Han Song, the Assistant Sales Manager. This individual attempted most of the usual unscrupulous methods of price inflating that I have only read about. Let go through the list: 1. Stating that the printed "invoice" that he gave us was an accurate accounting of the cost associate with the car we were buying from the factory to the dealer - WRONG. It had nearly $1,500 in holdbacks that the dealer would immediately get back upon sale of the car. 2. He brought out a "cost sheet" that had a Dealer Prep charge of over $1,000(!!!). The factory pays the dealer to prepare each and every car for sale. No one should ever have to pay for this. 3. He attempted to include the dealer's flooring costs (the loan the dealer must take out to acquire each car). However, he failed to mention that the factory covers this ~$150 burden upon vehicle sale. And yes, the flooring costs listed on his "pricing sheet" were highly inflated. 4. The worst one was trying to include the destination charge as part of the base cost of the car, which he then added a percentage mark-up to. The destination charge is always a separate line item that never gets included as a basis for mark-up. I strongly recommend not going to Lake City Toyota. Do not expect anything better than this type of behavior from Toyota "Sales Managers" as they all behaved the same way at each of the four dealerships I had to visit before finally buying a car. It is unfortunate the dealership owners condone this nonsense (and they do), because it generates nothing but mistrust and anger for customers that will promptly use the Internet disseminate their bad experiences. This was easily the single worst car buying experience I have ever gone through. More

Called on Tuesday to see if the car was still available for sell. Got a no, but then 4 min later received a call a call back that the car was going to be sold to an employee. However if I want it, it would for sell. Got a no, but then 4 min later received a call a call back that the car was going to be sold to an employee. However if I want it, it would go to me first and the employee can wait. With that said we made an appointment for Saturday to come buy the car. Lo and behold! Got there and the car was sold. Yet during all those time I talked to Syed a few times, and not once was there a mention of the car being sold. Not happy, wasted time, and gas driving there. More

I bought my Prius here and my experience was ok. Prii (yes, that's the pretentious-sounding official plural form of "Prius") have been in very short supply post-earthquake in Japan and I've been shopping (yes, that's the pretentious-sounding official plural form of "Prius") have been in very short supply post-earthquake in Japan and I've been shopping around for a month without any dealer willing to come down even a dollar on price. Some of them didn't expect to have any in stock until Labor Day. To add insult to injury, none of the dealers were willing to come back with financing better than 4.9% even though I have a stellar credit score. I almost bought a Civic (which is a great car too), but in the end I couldn't do it because it wasn't a Prius. As an aside, there is no logical reason for me to buy a Prius since I live 3 miles away from work and Prii are selling at MSRP or above, but it has been my top choice for a car for years. I actually had a dream where I bought a Prius, so really, there was no substitution for me. I considered waiting until September or the end of the year because I know prices are going to come down when supply increases, but in the end, I just couldn't wait that long. My friend told me that since I'll be driving a new car for awhile, I should just attribute the extra money I paid to a "rounding error." I would not say that the salesmen at Toyota of Lake City are more honest than any other dealer (bottom line is that they don't owe you anything), but they were the only ones that were willing to give me 1.9% financing on a brand new Prius. Nick Shami, the Assistant Sales Manager, was the best person out of all the people that I dealt with there. He was patient, nice, and less pushy than others on the team. He was also able to secure the financing that I needed to make my dream car a reality. In terms of knowledge, Wayne LaBeau was able to answer all my Prius-related questions. When I went in to pick up my car, he spent an hour walking me through all the different features of the car. I liked him too. Roy Vimal was my initial point of contact (I submitted an online inquiry), but I didn't really get a chance to talk to him since he was never there when I went in. I did correspond quite extensively with him over email and I thought he was a bit pushy without having much to offer. However, his constant presence in my inbox informing me of the new Prii they received continually piqued my interest - and I guess it worked to draw me into the dealer. The only advice I have to give about the Finance Team at Lake City Toyota is: DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Realize that all dealers are going to offer you extended warranties and exterior protection packages at exorbitant prices. If you're interested in these packages, research how much others are paying before committing to buying anything. The prices on these items are very very very negotiable. The dealer's primary goal is to make as much money from you as possible because once you commit to a car, you are a captive audience and the dealer will try to sell you as many additional options/package as you can afford (or not afford). It's not their fault, but it may not be in your best financial interest to buy these add-ons. Toyota of Lake City offered me the extended warranty and the PermaPlate protection package for what they told me was below market cost. I went home, googled it, and realized that others either paid much less for these add-ons or realized there was not much worth in them. The only good thing I can say about the Finance Team here is that they were flexible and let me remove the extended warranty and the PermaPlate package from my purchase. I did get a snide "How many times have we redone your paperwork?" comment at my last visit though. (I suggest googling user reviews and opinions on the PermaPlate packages before even going into the dealer.) At the end of the day, I'm driving the Prius I wanted because of Toyota of Lake City. I'm very happy about that. It drives like the lawnmower of my dreams. More

Never go buy car from this dealership!!! Seriously, I had a very disappointed experience(lots games and lies) for a SUV purchase recently. Let me tell the detail. We settled down a deal via phone and email. a very disappointed experience(lots games and lies) for a SUV purchase recently. Let me tell the detail. We settled down a deal via phone and email. The salesman said the car was available and we could go over for paperwork to secure it, and car will be delivered on the third day. We drove all the way to their office for paperwork. When we arrived to the office, they started the game: 1. the guy said unfortunately the car might not be available(he lied to us in the email that car is available) and he offered another car to consider which will be trade in from another dealership which is 50 miles away. We still want to get the original car we want, so he said he would do his best to get the car and we can first put the deposit in to secure the trade. He said he would call us in the late evening or the first thing on the next day morning to let us know. 2. We had no message from the guy on that day nor the next day morning. We called back, he said he was at home and we need to wait for another day to get confirmation. I don’t understand why he wants to hold us for such long time. He did not tell us the car was actually already sold. 3. We called the dealership, trying to talk to their manager regarding to this purchase. The manager said he is at office (the guy lied to us that he was at home) and need to check with him on this issue. The manager told us the car was already sold yesterday! (the guy didn’t even tell us the car is already not available). 4. Manager said he could get another same car for us and we asked him to email us the car spec detail. No email reply for an hour, and we called back telling them that if there is no news before noon, we will cancel the deal. 5. No reply till noon, then we called again to manager and asked to cancel the deal as he said car was not available, but the deposit cancelation need to be done by the salesman. We called the salesman to cancel the deposit, but he said this need to be done by the manager. What a joke! We spend time and energy dealing with this dealership, with true intention to purchase a car, but their people were just playing games and lying. I guess this is because they don’t have the car and want to hold us as long as possible, and try to get a purchase if we gave up in the end. This is really disappointed experience, and I would never deal with this dealership again in my life! More

Most auto salesdroids want to establish a relationship with you and have you fall in love with a car so you will buy it without thinking. I don't fall in love with vehicles. The salesdroid I dealt with with you and have you fall in love with a car so you will buy it without thinking. I don't fall in love with vehicles. The salesdroid I dealt with was able to answer all the questions I had about any of the 3 types of vehicles I was interested in during test drives and in store, or refer me to someone else who could. When I made my selection and it came time to negotiate price, etc., I knew enough to get everything in writing on a work order for the stuff not on vehicle that I would get some weeks after signing contract and taking delivery of car. I am pleased to report that they came through on everything, although the last item was late so I had to phone the Customer Care Representative ( salesdroid wrangler?), who quickly handled the matter. I met and was impressed with the General Manager and Sales Managers as well. Haven't needed service yet but can report that the 1st 6month visit for the maintenance provided free for 2 years that was part of the deal went well. Overall, I think this is best experience I've ever had with any auto dealership. More

LIARS AND CON ARTISTS!!! TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE!! LIARS AND CON ARTISTS!!! TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE!! I went to Toyota of Lake City after taking advice from a family member that they would tre LIARS AND CON ARTISTS!!! TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE!! I went to Toyota of Lake City after taking advice from a family member that they would treat me well.. …BOY WERE THEY WRONG!! To make the story short, we went shopping there on a Saturday morning and found a helpful, albeit horribly scripted, saleswoman. We found a 2011 Camry that we liked and went inside to work out the details. After playing the back and forth car sales game, we came to a sales price and financing that worked for me. I would have really appreciated the saleswoman to not try the lame and pathetic car sales techniques that *might* work on the dimwitted but that was not the case here. She tried every trick in the book. We went through the financing (closing) segment and were all set. They polished up the car, filled it with gas, rolled it into the showroom to inspect and then congratulated us on a great buy. We were honestly quite happy with the purchase at that point even though we had to put up with the lame sales tactics. 2 DAYS LATER: Received a call from the finance department stating that Toyota Motor Credit had refused our 84 month financing and would only approve a 72 month loan. They told me that I needed to come in ASAP and sign a new contract. New contract with higher payments for a car I already *thought* was mine. So after doing a bit of research online (I was a first time buyer) I learned that this is a common scam pulled by dealerships called “bushing” or “spot delivery scam”. I went in the next day and was met by an arrogant & condescending finance manager. After I explained why this situation was frustrating (wife already in love with new car, insurance paid, new parking arrangement paid) he went on to say that he didn’t appreciate my angered tone. NO APOLOGIES!! NO OWNERSHIP!! He could have simply accepted the fault and then went on to explain my options but insisted on not taking any responsibility for my inconvenience. He presented a couple of offers that were not worth resigning for so I told him that if the original contract wasn’t going to be honored then they could just take the car back right now and I’d go buy elsewhere. He answer “well you can always just stick with the original contract”. WHAT!!! WTF AM I SITTING HERE IN YOUR OFFICE IF YOUR ABLE TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT THAT I *ALREADY SIGNED*. His answer “Toyota would just like us to attempt and reduce the length of the agreement”. TOUGH #*%$!!! They should have gotten that squared away before I signed in the first place. I ended up walking out without signing a new contract and was able to keep the car with the original contract/financing. This dealership does not give a rats ass about pleasing their customers. They try to pretend they are helping you when they are taking every opportunity they can to gouge you for more money. For whatever reason, they ruined a good customer experience and a potential good reference or review to try and squeeze a few more dollars from me. Well they didn’t succeed and now they will the exact opposite response from me. STAY CLEAR OF TOYOTA OF LAKE CITY!! I know that wherever I take my business that the company is going to make a little profit off of me. I’m ok with that. All I want is to know that they appreciate my business and genuinely want to make me happy. Definitely not the experience I got at Toyota of Lake City. More

I would recommend this dealership to anyone interested in a new Toyota. Why? 1. I got the best deal. I traded an '06 Avalon Ltd for a 2011 Avalon Ltd. I got quotes from three other dealers and none came wit a new Toyota. Why? 1. I got the best deal. I traded an '06 Avalon Ltd for a 2011 Avalon Ltd. I got quotes from three other dealers and none came within a thousand dollars of Lake City. 2. I dealt with a salesman who was cordial, responsive, and who did what he said he would do. 3. I have had great follow-up from the dealership's Customer Relations Representative. More

In 2006 I purchased a new 2006 V6 Base, Toyota Rav4 from Rebecca, and the experience was easy, professional and seamless. After 3 years of trouble free issues with the car, I gave it to my Mom, who needed a Rebecca, and the experience was easy, professional and seamless. After 3 years of trouble free issues with the car, I gave it to my Mom, who needed a dependable vehicle. After the Toyota, I thought I wanted an expensive, maintenance-riddled Land Rover / Range Rover HSE, and after 1 year said 'enough was enough'. I called Rebecca, and admittedly, I had reservations to go back to a Toyota after the "Range Rover Experience". Rebecca made the transition painless. I requested copies of invoices, various vehicle demos, different pricing scenarios, *etc., etc.*, and after about a 1-week process (my doing), she absolutely maintained her professionalism. I've been to other stores, and if you're not ready to purchase, after an hour of grueling sales pitch - don't let the door hit you on the way out! My favorite quote from Rebecca: "I'm here to help, and as much as I'd like to sell you a vehicle, I'd much rather have you totally confident and comfortable about your decision." I was sold! I called her, and had her come into the store -on her day off-, to purchase my new Rav4. I was so happy with the vehicle, and the transaction, I showed it off to my good friend - who purchased an identical vehicle from Rebecca, the next day. From past experience, Greg at the Gold Team is incredible; Duane in detail works magic on the scuffs and bumps of life. All in all, I'll keep recommending 'Toyota of Lake City', and they have my future business. Good job! More

There service is always top notch. From drop off to pick up you feel very welcome. Always tell you the easiest way to fix a problem. Very honest! Thanks! The always deliver on their promise. Their pr up you feel very welcome. Always tell you the easiest way to fix a problem. Very honest! Thanks! The always deliver on their promise. Their prices are fair, they also keep you up to date on diagnosis. More

I took my 4runner to Lake City Toyota.. What a horrible experience. I just asked for a oil change and they told me I HAD buy a engine flush, transmission flush and a fuel injection service. When asked if experience. I just asked for a oil change and they told me I HAD buy a engine flush, transmission flush and a fuel injection service. When asked if this was required they told me because I live in seattle that it is... What a crock!! I mean Crook!! More