Charleston Auto Sales

Don't Trust Anything Jim Says! In general, don't be tricked by the pleasantness of your first experience with this dishonest guy. I bought an '09 Subaru Forester with 135K miles fr In general, don't be tricked by the pleasantness of your first experience with this dishonest guy. I bought an '09 Subaru Forester with 135K miles from him in October. The dealership came recommended to me from a friend, and I had a pleasant experience in the showroom. Rachel helped me look at cars and was nice and helpful. My test drive was fairly uneventful, but I noticed a slight rattle sound that happened when I accelerated quickly. Just before buying the car, I told Jim about the noise and he assured me of the car's inspection before sale and welcomed me to get the car checked out by another mechanic. Now, I'm in medical school and bought the car just before a busy rotation that did not allow me much free time to get it checked out immediately, but to me the sound just sounded like a rattle of something external that just needed to be tightened and didn't worry me too much. A few weeks after I purchased the car, Rachel called to ask how things were going, and I mentioned the noise again. Again, she welcomed me to take the car to a mechanic. Six weeks later, once my busy rotation was over, I was about to head home to GA for the holidays when multiple warning lights came on. At Jim's advice, I took the car to Suby Doctors in Charleston (the shop that works on cars for Jim and also does his so-called "pre-sale inspection"). After Suby Doctors ran diagnostics, they said the warning lights indicated that I needed to have my catalytic convertor replaced. I also informed Suby Doctors of the rattling noise I had been hearing. The owner of Suby Doctors listened to the noise and immediately told me that the noise was called an engine knock, that my engine was in danger of falling apart at any time and needed to be completely replaced or rebuilt. He said he couldn't tell me whether or not he would recommend me driving my car home to GA for the holidays or not. When I communicated to Jim what Suby Doctors had told me, he doubted what I said and called Suby Doctors. When I talked to Jim again, he said I was making a bigger deal out of it than I should, and tried to say the noise wasn't there when I bought it. He said there was no way the pre-sale inspection by Suby Doctors would have missed such a serious problem. He told me the only thing he could do for me was sell me an extended warranty for the engine of the car, and that I needed to buy the warranty right away so that if something did happen to the engine soon the warranty company wouldn't think something fishy was up. He told me he didn't have to do anything for me and that selling me the warranty was even being nice because technically he shouldn't sell me the warranty if something was wrong with the engine (like the engine problem was my fault!). He said if something happened to the engine too quickly that the warranty company might not cover the repairs to my engine. So in summary, Jim either dishonestly sold me a car that he knew had a serious flaw in it or failed to catch a serious flaw in his supposed pre-sale inspection. Then he proceeded to try to convince me the noise that I heard when I bought the car wasn't there and couldn't have been missed by his mechanic. Then he refused to do anything else for me except dishonestly (by his own admission) sell me a guarantee that wouldn't even guarantee a repair on my engine. I have taken it upon myself to make sure that anyone who reads this review doesn't fall for what I did. Now I'm stuck with a car that is in danger of breaking down at any time, and a second mechanic told me the car isn't even worth repairing and should be sold or traded in for another car. Don't let Jim waste your time and money. Also, please note that the SC lemon law only covers cars with fewer than 100K miles. I'm currently looking for any other legal options I have. More

Awesome Experience Bought a 2004 Subaru Outback LL Bean Edition. Had a great car buying experience! Jim made is super easy and hassle free!! Definitely will reco Bought a 2004 Subaru Outback LL Bean Edition. Had a great car buying experience! Jim made is super easy and hassle free!! Definitely will recommend! More

Great experience....good selection! I had been checking out Subarus for a couple of weeks and Jim Gerow at Charleston Auto sales had the best selection and the best prices in the area. H I had been checking out Subarus for a couple of weeks and Jim Gerow at Charleston Auto sales had the best selection and the best prices in the area. He printed out the carfax on three different Outbacks in my budget range. The first car he had to take out to get gas and when he returned he told me that the car wasn't ready and needed something fixed. So I drove the other two. One manual 2.5liter and the one I bought, a 3.0 liter LL Bean edition from 2001. I was a little hesitant at the mileage (162k) but when I read the carfax. It was one owner with two full pages of service records. The front and back rotors had been replaced. As had the thermastat, radiator fan and the a/c compressor. Regular oil changes as well. I've waited a couple of weeks to write this review and can say that the car is solid and drives very smooth. I couldn't. Be happier with my purchase and the overall experience of buying a used car. Thanks Jim! More

Very Good Experience Anytime you buy a used car you have to enter the process with eyes wide open. You're taking a chance and if you don't buy a warranty, you're on your o Anytime you buy a used car you have to enter the process with eyes wide open. You're taking a chance and if you don't buy a warranty, you're on your own. I bought a great Forester from Jim about 9 months ago which was recently totaled. I test drove a 2011 impreza that I had some concerns about after the test drive. Jim sent me over to Suby Doctors with the car after I raised a concern about a ticking noise that was coming from under the hood. He acknowledged that it seemed abnormal and offered to fix the problem that Suby Drs. thought may be the issue. Ultimately I purchased another car elsewhere but Jim was very helpful and I truly appreciated his willingness to address my concern. If you're in the market for a used Subaru, check out Charleston Auto Sales, but remember to do your research and have the car checked out as buying used is always a risk. More

Charleston's Hidden Gem Looking to buy my first vehicle had sent me into fits of frustration and tears for weeks. I had been to every dealership in the low country, my desk l Looking to buy my first vehicle had sent me into fits of frustration and tears for weeks. I had been to every dealership in the low country, my desk littered with business cards of empty promises and lost time. I was beginning to become bitter and hopeless. I had scanned pages and pages of every auto dealer on the internet, gone from place to place, test drove at least a dozen cars...until one fateful night I stumbled across Charleston Auto Sales. I drooled at page upon page of spectacular subaru. It held every criteria I had been searching for, with options to choose from. As a charleston native soon to make a long journey to the west coast, I needed to ditch my 20 year old Volvo for something more rugged and reliable. Jim's shop fell into my lap at the most perfect moment. I went to his shop to meet with him and see his cars the very next day. Hidden under shady oaks was what I was yet to know as a beautiful gold mine. All of his vehicles were kept inside, and he carefully took them out to show two foresters to me, yet every car was clean and we'll maintained that I saw. He was fair, nice, personable as was his assistant. Jim made my car buying dreams come true and I am very grateful to have met him and purchased a car from him. I would recommend anyone to go to him, especially if you're searching for a clean and well maintained subaru. The process was quick, easy, stress free and painless. I drove my new car home less than an hour later without a single worry or regret. Thank you, Jim for a car buying experience I'll never forget! More

A "must see" Charleston, SC-based pre-owned auto dealer I just took delivery of an '05 Subaru for my son from Jim G, owner of the subject dealership. I am a big believer in his "no frills" business model. I just took delivery of an '05 Subaru for my son from Jim G, owner of the subject dealership. I am a big believer in his "no frills" business model. Keeps his expenses way down and concentrates his inventory investment in "value pre-owned" vehicles, primarily. My sense is that he moves a lot of volume and given his lack of "fixed asset debt", he would appear to have carved out a rock-solid local business. When you get a moment, check out his website and compare his "no haggle" pricing to Kelly Blue Book estimates. Some sweet deals, particularly if you shop his site regularly. All this said, I like the guy, takes all phone calls, quick to communicate, and certainly seems very trustworthy. When I need another vehicle, I'll definately give him a shot at the sale. More

It was "as is". Too bad I don't have time to give this clown more of a review than this. Some cars may work right, some may not. But based on my experience and many of the ot I don't have time to give this clown more of a review than this. Some cars may work right, some may not. But based on my experience and many of the others posted here, I would say you're better off rolling the dice in Vegas. Right after he cashes your check and you find out you're going to spend $3,000 at Suby Doctors on an engine repair that he "didn't know about", don't bother calling him. It's pretty shady how much business he does with Suby Doctors. And I'm not talking about oil changes and inspections More

Nightmare on Belgrade Ave. My daughter was a student at University of South Carolina about to graduate and her car was totaled in an accident. We are 8 hours away and she wanted My daughter was a student at University of South Carolina about to graduate and her car was totaled in an accident. We are 8 hours away and she wanted to purchase a vehicle on her own. She wanted a used Subaru Forester and found one she liked on the website for Charleston Auto Sales. I called Jim Gerow as she was driving from Columbia to Charleston to let him know the circumstances and inquire about the condition of the vehicle. He assured me that the vehicle had been inspected by his top mechanic and that he would have no problem buying this car for his own daughter. My daughter called me as she drove home to advise that one of her headlights was out and that the windshield washer would not work. She reported that the brakes were squeaking and that the front end was out of alignment when she got back to Columbia. Since she was heading to Tampa after graduation I told her to bring the car into a shop to have it looked at before she left. The result was new brakes front and rear as well as an alignment. I assumed that we had both been lucky to have just learned a $500 lesson without anything bad happening but that was not the case. She broke down on the way to Tampa at midnight and we both spent a couple of frantic hours before getting her to safety. Turns out the alternator had to be replaced and they discovered that the tires had dry rot and would also need to be replaced. It's one thing to rip somebody off for a $1,000+ and I blame myself for not doing more research on this dishonest dealer. It's quite another to disregard the safety of an innocent person for the purpose of turning a profit. Please make it a point to tell friends and family to stay away. For the record I have left messages and sent emails and have yet to get a response. More

Bad deal hidden defects looked at an 04 forester clean car test drove ok was missing slightly at idle, discussion with the dealer, he claimed it just needed a tune up he the looked at an 04 forester clean car test drove ok was missing slightly at idle, discussion with the dealer, he claimed it just needed a tune up he then offered a $500 discount to cover tune up cost. so we bought the car,. when taken for the tune up it was found #1 cyl was bad upon investigation the mechanic informed us that this cyl had had recent work performed on it, the dealer denied any knowledge of this. Took the car to a Subaru shop the dealer recommended, inspection revealed the engine was scrape and needed to be replaced cost $3000 + labor. the shop admitted they had worked on the car before. The dealer refused to help with the cost (bought as is) was his response. I can't prove it but I am sure the dealer was fully aware of the condition of the car and knowingly sold me a lemon. More

Perfect car buying experience After researching manufacturers & models for a used durable station wagon that could support my various outdoor sports I found a local used car deale After researching manufacturers & models for a used durable station wagon that could support my various outdoor sports I found a local used car dealer that specializes in pre owned Subarus. They had an Outback wagon that met all of my buying criteria, and surprisingly priced lower than comparable deals in the general area. The car had been nicely cleaned with new tires installed. I requested that I be allowed to have a local service center perform a buyer's check for me prior to any obligation to purchase, and that was granted without any hesitation. The car got a thorough inspection and when advised that the front brakes were just at the point that they would soon need to be replaced , the work was authorized by the dealer to be performed and paid for by him. I purchased the Outback wagon below blue book value for the original advertised price, which I felt was a really good deal. I learned that the dealer has expertise in Subaru products, having been a service manager for a new Subaru dealership for quite a long time. This was my first experience buying a used car from a dealer. I was pleasantly surprised and amazed how good the experience was. Thank You to the owner and staff at Charleston Auto Sales! More