City Volkswagen of Evanston

We were completely scammed - this dealership does not put any sticker prices on the cars. You are carted off to a warehouse where they tell you that all of the used cars of a certain model are in the same p any sticker prices on the cars. You are carted off to a warehouse where they tell you that all of the used cars of a certain model are in the same price range so that you can just pick one you like based on the colors you like when, in fact, the cars differed in price significantly and of course, we were given a price on one that was significantly higher. Then, they have advertised web prices that are significantly lower than what they offered us - they don't tell you about the different internet prices at the dealership so bring in a copy of the advertised web price - don't get screwed like we did. Also, the cars are only pre-certified so you pay an additional 1,500 at least added to the price of the car to certify it so you can get a decent finance rate. They also make you pay a 500 used car fee because they have to pay to have the cars shipped in from other places. I don't know if anyone else charges this, but be prepared for it. They also don't tell you that after you have agreed on a price, the warranty is so basic and minimal that they get you to purchase another extended warranty which adds a significant added cost into the price of the car. They are just not up front with the prices and are deceptive to deal with - what happened to ethics? More

The whole deal happened in April. I got my mazda and traded in my 1999 car for a measly $1000. Way lower than the blue book value. We were going to donate it, but the sales person insisted that they w traded in my 1999 car for a measly $1000. Way lower than the blue book value. We were going to donate it, but the sales person insisted that they will give us a great price for the trade in. I would like to know where you learn to lie with such enthusiasm. How do these people go home at night and sleep soundly?! Well, this wasn't the first bad omen. The WORST PART ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE WAS WHEN WE GOT A CERTIFIED LETTER FROM THE CITY OF CHICAGO SAYING THAT WE WERE STILL THE REGISTERED OWNERS OF THE 1999 VEHICHLE, WHICH WAS FOUND WITH ILLEGAL DRUGS IN IT AND MY HUSBAND HAS TO GO TO COURT NOW. THEY NEVER FILED THE PAPERWORK!!!!!!!!!!!! I called the sales manager and told him to fax me the documentation of the transfer so we can stay out of court. He took my name and numbers and I haven't heard from him since. It shouldn't take that long to find paperwork and the gravity of the situation SHOULD have made him extra expedient!! Now I have to call again today and I am sure nothing is going to happen. I wonder if they are avoiding me because they are still tied to the 1999 vehichle with the drugs in it. The whole place seems shady to me. Their service SUCKS. We signed up for an additional service package which got us 2 years standard maintanence. The first time my husband takes my car in, the service people claimed that they did not have us in our system and my husband had to pay for the service. Turns out, the geniuses mixed up the names of someone else who apparently had their car in for service. Someone with a very middle eastern sounding name...my husband and I are CLEARLY not middle eastern. So, again, a hassle to get our money back for extreme lack of attention to detail. Their "car washes" after each service amounts to dumping water on the car and not drying it. Sometimes this will lead to getting your car back in worse appearance than when you brought it in. I got a new car to avoid dealing with my prior dealership, Jennings Volkswagon, because my experience with them was so awful. Now I am going 0 for 2 on satisfaction. Is there an honest dealership out there?!?!?! More

After going through the usual price hagling game, my wife and I gave in and bought 2 cars in the same night. We enjoyed the V.W. models, but after a 8 days we recieved a phone call informing us that V.W. nee and I gave in and bought 2 cars in the same night. We enjoyed the V.W. models, but after a 8 days we recieved a phone call informing us that V.W. needed $5000 more because of negative equity in our trade. Why is it that we were not informed of this in a couple of business days? When I made a phone call to Autobarn I was told that there was nothing that they could do. Sadly, it is dealerships like this that give the industry a bad name. Shame on them. I should have gone to Luxury Motors as I planned. By the way, my 2007 Jetta had to be returned to the Autobarn the day after I purchased it because it was smoking and had a cracked CV boot. More

Long story short: Went into the dealer to get info on my lease because no one would tell me over the phone. Once there, no one seemed interested in helping me until I started poking around the offices. I ta lease because no one would tell me over the phone. Once there, no one seemed interested in helping me until I started poking around the offices. I talked to the Finance guy who informed me that due to the low mileage on my car I could "for sure use it as a downpayment on a new car". So, I looked around, took two cars on a test drive but was unable to test drive the exact car I wanted because, according to the salesman "we don't have it here, but I can get it". I left the dealership but was contact by the salesman the next day by phone. He told me he could get me a "great deal" on the car I wanted. When I asked again if he had obtained the car, he responded that he had not as he could not do a dealer trade for inventory only. I wound up driving to Evanston again only to find out that the car I wanted (color, trims, options) was no longer available and had not been available for some time. Instead of admitting he had no idea what he had been talking about he insisted on placing the blame on the inventory, despite my having listed exactly what car I wanted. Instead of just leaving, I figured I'd at least find out how much I'd get as a downpayment on my current lease. The salesman made me wait over an hour while he pulled up the account info from VW Credit, then had the car appraised. All the while he would point out other cars that were "similar" to the one I wanted. When I repeatedly told him that I was not interested in another car and that I just wanted to know what my car's trade-in value was he would just get up and say he was going to "look into it". After being there over an hour and a half and complaining to a sales manager the original salesman came out to once again show me the list of inventory they had. I told him one last time that I wasn't interested and wanted to know the trade-in value of my car. He left again, this time conferring with five other salesmen at the dealership. I started walking toward them and the salesman, along with another salesman came out to tell me that they had no car in the color or trim I wanted, but could get me a slightly used one. I demanded they hand back my keys and left the dealer. No car, no quote, no apologies, just wasted time. I complained to VW of America and I received a call from the Finance guy who left a message on my cel about the lack of inventory, not mentioning the salesman's behaviour or the quote on my car. I called him back and after a twenty minute phone call, could not get him to commit to a quote, stating that he did not know what it was and he had no idea what had been going on (even though he was one office away from where this had all happened). While I did receive an apology nothing was taken care of. The VW of America rep called me and admitted that the Finance person had also refused to give her the information on my car. She called my experience "horrible" and asked if there was anything she could do to remedy the situation. Since there was nothing short of closing the dealership down, I told her that while I might be interested in purchasing a VW, I would definitely not be doing so from the Autobarn. I highly recommend avoiding this dealership. More

Everyone I have dealt with at the Autobarn has been excellent! I am a long-time customer (4 cars over the last 15 years) and will continue to be one due to the knowledgeable and friendly employees, am excellent! I am a long-time customer (4 cars over the last 15 years) and will continue to be one due to the knowledgeable and friendly employees, amazing selection of vehicles, and top notch facilities. More

I purchased a mazda from them a couple of years ago, and it had a broken trunk latch. I was told it would be fixed at no charge. It was never documented, so they would not fix the latch for me. I was also s it had a broken trunk latch. I was told it would be fixed at no charge. It was never documented, so they would not fix the latch for me. I was also sold a warranty on the car that they would not let me leave the office without buying, when I sold the vehicle there was a refund due to me from this, they have not issued the refund check and it is going on 8 months. I have hand delivered the paperwork and faxed it multiple times to get this refund check issued. They are not customer service savy. I woul never recommend this dealer. More

I just purchase new 2007 Rabbit at Autobarn and all process was easy and smooth but trouble start after delivery. At the time of purchase we call for payoff and everthing was just perfect and salesman process was easy and smooth but trouble start after delivery. At the time of purchase we call for payoff and everthing was just perfect and salesman Narcis promisse me they will payoff my loan in one week. But after 3 weeks and probable 4 phone calls from Honda finance they still didnt payoff my car. I called salesperson several times and he told me they send check but wasnt sign by owner and was bounced back. Hmmm. WHo is your office lady? Then my payoff raise for 300 in late fees and other charges posted by my bank then lies start all over again. They told be they send check and they have copy so i told them i be there to pick up a check and fax to Honda . Now i have to get in car and drive 30 miles to get a copy of check becuse several times they "fax" me copy which i never recieve. Make story short please do you self a favor and dont buy a car at Autobarn if you have payoff. If you dont is differnet story but dicount isnt worth a headache..thank you More

I would highly discourage anyone from visiting this dealership after my experience as well as others; please visit www.1.8t.org for more reviews. My clutch was burned out 20 mins after delivery. Str dealership after my experience as well as others; please visit www.1.8t.org for more reviews. My clutch was burned out 20 mins after delivery. Stranded in downtown Chicago on a Friday night at 9:50pm. I had to ask for floor mats/engine cover for the car. Was given carfax report unfortunately it didn't uncover the previous owner's history. Apparently the car was modded by the previous owner and Liberty VW told my local dealership in Milwaukee that VW had refused to cover a transmission replacement for him. He then traded the car in with a bad transmission and clutch. Autobarn refused to give me a copy of the VW 112 point inspection report. Owner Richard Fisher also refused to give me a copy after reading from it that the clutch was in fact defective during the inspection. It had a clutch bearing issue. About 3 days after getting the car back from Autobarn - they replaced the clutch although I wanted them to take the car back and void the sale (they wouldn't). They kept telling me my issue was with VW of America. A trade was my only option. I didn't want one because I obviously got a bad car the first time, why would I want another from them? I fought with them from Sept of 04 until Jan of 05. They took the car back; but wouldn't refund all of my money. Owner Richard Fisher admitted and read from the 112 point inspection that the clutch did in fact have a clutch bearing issue upon inspection - they refused to fix it before putting the car up for sale. I also think they overcharged me for Certification. I have been told it is $500.00 and they charged me $800.00. Coincidentally my trade in value was a +300.00, therefore this would nullify my gain. They also forged my credit application to Volkswagen Credit; altering all of my income information and cutting and pasting my signature from my initial application to a "new" forged application. Is this fraud? They denied knowing anything the entire time; when in fact during the sale when we discussed the warranty they said " a clutch was not covered" if I only had known they were dropping hints. The service history did disclose a transmission problem but I only got that from my local dealership after the purchase. "Planetary gears" were on the service history. The car required approximately $6000.00 in repairs- Clutch - $1200 Transmission: $3000.00 Radio: 15 hrs labor $1500.00 Alignment was off. Scratch on hatch. 3 keys were not delivered per CPO standards. Only 1 key. My advice: try Liberty VW. If you've had issues with this dealer: email me at mayhemlee@yahoo.com Thank you. More