With over 20yrs of automotive sales experience, I value excellent customer service above all else. Love to help people with finance needs and credit hiccups. Started in 99' at a VW/Nissan dealer and 20yrs later, I find myself back with VW! Huge Animal lover and have 3 wonderful pets Lucille, Stephie, and Kitty. I learned excellent customer service and incredible attention to detail from ABT Appliance & Electronics back as a teenager. Please stop in and say hi!
Read moreDealership Experience
6 yrs, 1 mo
Industry Experience
25 yrs, 8 mos
101 Reviews
Write a Review101 Reviews of Michael Zafiriou
October 21, 2024
Alonzo & the VW team were fantastic. Our Passat was repaired swiftly and communication from the team was excellent. We will definitely return. Our Passat was repaired swiftly and communication from the team was excellent. We will definitely return. More
Other Employees Tagged: Alonzo Bass
July 20, 2024
VW of Downtown Chicago is the best service department. I ran into an issue with my car and I’ll be honest, I was pretty upset. I was assuming it was going to be a difficult headache to deal with but Fred I ran into an issue with my car and I’ll be honest, I was pretty upset. I was assuming it was going to be a difficult headache to deal with but Fred and Mike Z are complete gentlemen and made this a wonderful experience. Really great dealer leadership from those two. Thank you! More
Other Employees Tagged: Fred Borek
June 27, 2024
Was unhappy that fault recurred in my car. The dealer took care of the issue and ultimately handles the manufacturer issue well. The dealer took care of the issue and ultimately handles the manufacturer issue well. More
Other Employees Tagged: Herberto Delgado, Luis Tinoco, Fred Borek
April 30, 2024
Mikę Szafraniec isTHE best service specialist with whom I have ever dealt with. And I compare him to the service managers at Loeber Motors Chicago where I did all my car business (I was a consistent Merce I have ever dealt with. And I compare him to the service managers at Loeber Motors Chicago where I did all my car business (I was a consistent Mercedes owner) for 25 years; Land Rover Winnetka (Range Rover 1992-2016); and Imperial Motors Jaguar Wilmette where we dealt for our family vehicles. He is superb. Beyond being extraordinarily well mannered and professional in these changing times he explains everything that has to do with the condition and maintenance of my last purchase of a darling little VW beetle - an incomparable little errand and fun car. I feel safe with him advising me on my car. And that is paramount to me. Second the maintenance costs and the purpose is the dependability of my vehicle! The VW Downtown Chicago dealership has been renovated to a very high level and his professionalism exceeds even that. Mike recently reviewed my warranty with me as I was not able to get a response for the warranty department. I expect that if he continues to be my service professional I will keep the vehicle along time and service it at VW Downtown Chicago. I cannot say enough positive things about Mike because his service and client attitudes are both deep and comprehensive. I believe he is perfect. I will recommend VW Downtown Chicago 1) because of him, 2) because of its appearance, and 3) because of its location. I hope nothing changes. More
Other Employees Tagged: Mike Szafraniec
February 22, 2024
Absolutely horrible, after the deal was finalized about 5 hours of being there I realized I was taken advantage of. The group of managers in the office are rude, giving side eyes and kept their head down the hours of being there I realized I was taken advantage of. The group of managers in the office are rude, giving side eyes and kept their head down the entire time. Felt very uncomfortable. Mike Z made it seem like I was getting a great deal, charged more than what the car was listed, didn’t include the “dealer discount” listed on their site, lowered my allowed mileage from 10k to 7500 per year without my knowledge. I will never recommend someone here. I was a loyal customer since 2018. They wouldn’t work a good deal with me and after 2 hrs of sitting there trying to talk a lower cost I got up to leave and that’s when I was pulled into an office. Mike was sitting at his computer adjusting numbers while i was standing next to his desk. He was not transparent at all. He didnt disclose the selling price and didnt talk about what the residual amount would be after my 36 month lease term. When I stated i wanted to pay $400/month, one of the sales reps name Julian said “okay you want to pay $400 so how does $499 sound”? I should’ve walked out right then and there. Yes i will say this was also my fault for not reviewing documents before signing them in the finance office. I was extremely tired with a horrible headache. I was at the dealership since 10am at Honda next working a deal for a new car for my husband which was AMAZING and it was a breeze. So simple and easy compared to VW., and I was at VW til 6pm so by that time i agreed to the monthly payment I was advised of and made the deal. When i looked over the papers the next day i wanted to cry. The vehicle on their site stated $36,780 MSRP minus a $2837 dealer discount bringing the price down to $33,943 on their site! My paperwork shows im paying $37,799 MSRP plus the fees, taxes bringing my total to $41,755. I initially went in for the R-Line but downgraded to the SE for the price. Had i known what I was paying i would have taken the car i went in for. I feel 100% regretful with my purchase. I went into another dealership yesterday just to see what deal i couldve gotten. I could’ve been paying wayyyyyy less. I received No dealership discount, No presidents day sale, no $500 customer loyalty cash. All advertised on their site and went straight out the window because none of that was honored. The car I got is great, the deal is complete trash and I 100% regret my decision to do business again with them. Their Presidents’ Day sale, their Dealer Discount, $500 loyalty cash advertising is ALL FAKE. Please save your time and go to another dealership. One that’s honest at least. On the flip side, Syrell was great, a great people person, understanding, he tried getting me a deal but the managers dragged their feet to approve anything to the point I got up to leave. Matthew in finance was amazing, also very personable, had great conversation, and very professional. (I also emailed Michael Z with my concerns 4 days ago and have yet to hear back) More
Other Employees Tagged: Julian Perez, Syrell Fuel , Matthew Bogdan
February 12, 2024
Jocy and every outstanding performer at Chicago Downtown Volkswagen were just great. This car dealership epitomizes the idea of “Customer First.” Jocy has an outstanding work ethic, a lovely manner with cu Volkswagen were just great. This car dealership epitomizes the idea of “Customer First.” Jocy has an outstanding work ethic, a lovely manner with customers, and a commitment to making all who walk in the dealership happy. She’s a bright, smart young woman. More
Other Employees Tagged: Mike Szafraniec, Jocy Barrera, Rocco Cesario
December 22, 2023
This place is a complete joke. The GM is terrible typical low down dealer ship. I came in out of state to purchase a vehicle that they told me they had in which they didn’t. Mike t The GM is terrible typical low down dealer ship. I came in out of state to purchase a vehicle that they told me they had in which they didn’t. Mike the GM was terrible, very mouthy and talked down on me. There are many many other dealerships. Stay away from this one. More
Other Employees Tagged: Julian Perez
September 25, 2023
Michael Lichter and his service team are absolutely fantastic! I recently began a three year lease of a 2023 Tiguan. The car is a perfect fit for my family. However, when we got the car to our home the fantastic! I recently began a three year lease of a 2023 Tiguan. The car is a perfect fit for my family. However, when we got the car to our home there were some things not working. Michael, connected his in house experts with the experts from VW and found the problem and got it fixed up right away. Thank you, Michael for your patience and most appreciated assistance. More
Other Employees Tagged: Angie Berg, Shaun Scriven, Julian Perez, Angel Santana , Michael Lichter
September 25, 2023
Thank you Michael. I appreciate the time that you gave and concern that you showed to me when my newly leased Tiguan was having trouble. Thank you for putting Mike on I appreciate the time that you gave and concern that you showed to me when my newly leased Tiguan was having trouble. Thank you for putting Mike on the case to get the issues cleared up. He did a great job solving the problem. Through your patience and leadership I now drive my new car in style with peace of mind about safety. More
August 11, 2023
This dealership knowingly sold me a car with toxic fumes and lied to me that there was nothing wrong with the car. They said the fumes I smelled were from outside the car, from paint fumes from detailing wo and lied to me that there was nothing wrong with the car. They said the fumes I smelled were from outside the car, from paint fumes from detailing work they did in the lot where they stored the car. So like the gullible trusting person that I am, I believed them and purchased the car. Of course, as Soon as my daughter got in the car later that night she smelled the toxic fumes. And anyone else who gets in the car also smells them. The dealer himself confirmed that he smelled the fumes when I brought car back. They then performed some kind of defumigation of the car which did nothing to improve the odor. They then claimed they could do an even more aggressive type of defumigation guaranteed to remove any odor. They again lied to me and said the car was ready to go and no longer had any odor. When I picked car up they brought it to me with windows down. Suspicious right? Yeah but I again fell for their lies, unable to smell the odor due to windows being down. Of course, a day later the toxic fumes were clearly still present. My daughter, my son and wife all have health conditions placed at risk by this toxic vehicle. And I get headaches everytime im in this car. In other bad reviews of this dealership they offer to refund purchases of cars (with far fewer dangerous issues) they sell. No such offer has been made to me. They are happy to repeatedly lie to me and place the health and well being of my family at risk. I rarely post reviews as I support and give businesses the benefit of the doubt, so take this as your warning not to visit this dealership. More
Other Employees Tagged: Julian Perez, Kelia House , Terrell Barry, Kamille Moreno