Darling's Chrysler Dodge Augusta

Thanks to Don M. Emery-Salesman and Jim Ropella- Finance Manager for finding us two great vehicles that not only fit our needs, but fit the budget we had to work with. We are very happy with our experience Manager for finding us two great vehicles that not only fit our needs, but fit the budget we had to work with. We are very happy with our experience at Darling's-Augusta. I've known the salesman, Don for years and it made our experience so much better knowing that we were dealing with someone we could trust. Dealers always tell you what a great deal they are giving you and yet you so often leave still feeling like you could have done better.This was the first time I've ever left a car dealership really feeling like I had gotten the best deal. Thanks for a great car buying experience!! More

There were not a lot of reviews about Darling's Hyundai in Augusta, which is why I am going to the bother of writing this review. The two reviews I could find were from a couple of years ago, very negativ in Augusta, which is why I am going to the bother of writing this review. The two reviews I could find were from a couple of years ago, very negative, and specifically mentioned bait and switch. The manager of the dealership at that time had commented on the review and apologized - don't beleive it! That is just the beginning of what they pulled. This review is the guide to the classic nightmare car sales dealers you've all read about. In fact, if you've ever read articles warning customers on the tactics (read tricks) that sales people try to pull, these guys were probably consulted. Slime from the word go. Couple of weeks ago, we had put out sales quote requests over the internet to several dealers within an hour's drive of our home. Then on a Saturday, we get a call from Tim at Darling's saying they just got the car we were asking for, right off the truck, and he thought of us and called right away. Do we wanna come see it? Sure. Get to the dealership, and this Tim is with a customer, which is not a problem. It's a Saturday and that's his job. However, his job is not to come into the room we are waiting in and comment on how this customer he's got is, and I quote, "jerking me around" and wasting his time. Ooh, Tim, gee, that makes me scared of you. You mean business so I better just buy a car from you right this second. I wouldn't want you to have to, and I quote again, "ask him to just leave". GET THE PAPERWORK!! Tim means business. Seriously, it was very uncomfortable for us. Honestly, I wouldn't have cared overall if this hadn't been step one of twenty. A few minutes later, he says he'll take us out to see the car. We get there, and it's not the right model. Not just a case of not the correct version/trim of the model we want, it's not the model. And Tim says, oh my, did I tell you it was an Elantra, oops, I meant Accent. Really, Tim? Really? You work at a Hundai dealership and to you, one Elantra is another's Accent? Cause they look so much alike and rhyme? We stay and see where this is going. Downhill is where it goes. Two hours of downhill. Let's start with trade in. This was fun. Not only had we researched NADA, KBB and Edmunds on our trade in, we had taken it the day before for a full inspection and repair quote at a dealership. So we knew EXACTLY what needed to be fixed, what it's "condition" was, and the fair trade in value averages. We were very realistic and had range of acceptable numbers. Tim starts off this part with "We never do this, but for you..." and I literally have to stop myself from laughing out loud. Yeah, we're buddies. The sheet workup starts with an exaggerated high start value so Tim can show you the line by line breakdown of all the money they had to deduct to get to your trade "offer". Which is, of course, really low. Now remember, we just had it inspected the the very day before for this exact reason. Oddly enough, those were the only numbers on paper we saw the entire time we were there. Despite asking to just "see the numbers and we'll take them to our bank", this guy would not put anything down on paper. The week before, at Bill Dodge Hyundai, our salesman had worked up an offer on a car we were considering, including the trade in value of our car (for which we actually got exactly what NADA had quoted) and printed out our copy. Not this guy. Didn't want us having any paperwork. Not even when we were in the finance department would they put numbers on paper. Guess you can't haggle if you don't have a number, right? Anyway, add to this things like trying to sell us the classic fabric coating and undercoating crap - another bite your lip to stop from laughing in his face moment - and chasing after other customers who were just browsing in the showroom while he's supposed to be fixing up our deal. The kicker: actually *arguing* with us that our bank would not be able to beat their financing offer. After two hours of dealing with this pushy "professional", we went home exhausted. Even recalling the experience, I can't remember every detail because it just makes me tired. We had just enough energy to email our salesman at Bill Dodge Hyundai and tell them we'd be in on Monday to make a deposit on an Elantra with them. My advice: stay home and poke a fork in your eye, it'd be less painful. Seriously, stay away and save yourself the headache. More