| rev:text
| - Okay, time to update the review and give some credit.
The GM returned my call a few days after my last update (which noted that I had left a message and hadn't heard back). He assigned a salesman named Rick, who would work with me to find the right vehicle.
Rick began sending me emails with vehicles to view, and we went back and forth for a bit to clarify price range, trim level, acceptable makes and models, and so on. Autonation has stores all over the valley, and Rick had access to vehicles that were not listed in the online inventory. He did a lot of legwork for me! I looked at a couple of cars that were out of my price range and then warmed to the idea of looking at cars that were considerably *under* my maximum price. I asked to see two of the inexpensive cars (one was in Chandler and the other in North Phoenix. Rick contacted those dealers and was told by both that the vehicles were at a special "sale" in Chandler, and I could view them there.
The sale was taking place in the parking garage of the credit union. Of course there was a hook to get you to sign up with the credit union and finance through them. Lo and behold, the two vehicles were not at the sale...but my assigned salesguy wanted to show me vehicles on hand that were more than two times the price of the ones I'd expected to see there. When I said I would go see the two vehicles that were reported to have been at the sale I was encouraged to let the salesguy at the sale go with me. I declined that offer, saying that I would work with the salesman who was doing all this legwork for me. It would appear that Rick was lied to: the other dealers said the cars I wanted to see were at the sale, when I arrived it was bait and switch, and then they tried to steal Rick's customer (me). There was some bad-mouthing of Rick ("he should have come with you"). No honor among thieves I guess.
When I relayed this episode to Rick he quickly sent someone to North Phoenix to get one of the cars while I went to the Autonation store next door to view the other. The one from up north fit the bill. One of my requirements for purchasing a used car is to have my mechanic check it out first. It was Sunday, and the auto shop was closed. There was a little hiccup ("the car can't stay here overnight, it has to go back to North Phoenix"), and then another when it was suggested I buy the car with a 3-day return policy (not doing that because my mechanic's review would be the deciding factor in whether I wanted to buy the thing). Both hiccups were smoothly resolved when they stuck a dealer plate on it, gave me a BCA to sign (Borrowed Car Agreement), and let me take the car home overnight.
Next morning my trusted mechanic checked the car over. He gave me a printed "Check over purchase" invoice that stated: "CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE!!!!" Yeah! Four exclamation points! I called Rick and made an offer that was quickly accepted. A few hours later I was at the dealership writing a check for partial payment (it would take 1-2 days for my credit union to fund the loan for the balance). They left the dealer plate on the car so I could take it home until my loan was funded and I could pick up and deliver the check! That is what I call OUTSTANDING customer service.
There was one other little hiccup: the car was taken in trade with only one key and one independent key fob. I commented that an additional key fob would cost a couple hundred dollars. Rick told me that the type of fob (separate from the key itself) was only around $75. When I went to the dealer to get one I learned the key fob cost $130 plus another $65 to program it. Like I said: an additional key fob would cost a couple hundred dollars. I opted for two extra ignition keys and no extra key fob for a total of $25.
One slightly sour note: at every dealership I visited, at some point in the sales process the GM was brought out to make my acquaintance. There was a point when Rick wanted to bring his GM to meet me, but I got brushed off ("he's helping this other gentleman now"). I had the feeling the GM was not interested in meeting me.
If you've read this far I hope this review has convinced you that Autonation Nissan is a "safe" place to buy a used car.
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