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A-1 Toyota
New Haven, CT
1,140 Reviews
In the early 60’s, the owners of a local garage received a postcard announcing the production of a new four-wheel drive vehicle. At the time, the automotive industry was producing only one other vehicle in this category, so the owners thought this might be a good opportunity to introduce a new four-wheel drive vehicle that they would be able to sell as well as service. The postcard was answered and the response was the founding of the first Toyota dealership in New England and the beginning of what has become a very successful endeavor for Dominic Galardi, Anthony Buglione and A-1 Toyota.
The history of A-1 Service began before this. In January of 1951, Dom joined his father-in-law, Tony Buglione in a partnership that included a gas station and used cars. The station was located on the corner of Olive Street and St. John in New Haven.
In the late 1950’s, a new highway system was breaking through the neighborhood, people started moving to the suburbs, and with the limited space they had already outgrown, A-1 looked for a new location.
The new site they chose was in East Haven. The partnership grew to include Dominic’s brother, Andrew.
Their new location, occupying a city block on Main Street and the sign reading A-1 Auto Service, Inc., became a landmark for many.
In 1963, A-1 completed the building of the first Toyota showroom on the East Coast. In 1966, just three years after opening their dealership, A-1 became the second largest Toyota dealership in the country. Toyota’s line-up featured only two vehicles at the time, the four-wheel drive Land Cruiser and one of the first economy cars, the Tiara.
Over the years, A-1 Toyota continued to grow and in 1980 moved to their current location on Amity Road in New Haven adding the Dodge franchise that dueled with Toyota until 1990.
A-1 Toyota’s line-up looks far different than it did in 1963, but the basis for a successful business has continued. The business is still owned by the same family, and Domin
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This rating includes all dealership reviews, with more weight given to recent reviews.
Sales Price Transparency
Service Price Transparency
Trade-in Experience
Purchase Time
Finance Experience
Workmanship
Service Time
Hours
Sales/Showroom
Monday 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday Closed
Service
Monday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday Closed
Parts
Monday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday Closed
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Showing 1,140 reviews
June 20, 2018
Excelent The service is so excelent, Carlos Rodríguez It made me feel in trust and in family. I going to recommend this dealer in my family and friends. The service is so excelent, Carlos Rodríguez It made me feel in trust and in family. I going to recommend this dealer in my family and friends. More
by Cathy1723
Employees Worked With
Carlos Orozco, Carlos Rodriguez
June 17, 2018
The Go-to person Emerson is the best person to go to when you lease or buy a car. He explains everything in a calm and accommodating tone that everyone could not only Emerson is the best person to go to when you lease or buy a car. He explains everything in a calm and accommodating tone that everyone could not only follow but enjoy. The perfect person for the job. His greatest feat that distinguish him from the rest is that he goes above and beyond to help out customers pay at an affordable price. The only down side is that we need more people like hi for it will help out many people in the long run. Very thankful to have people like him around. More
by Elimilangonzales
Employees Worked With
June 17, 2018
Customer service Kyle was very helpful to us,he found us the perfect car and was very helpful in answering all our questions.i would recommend a1 Toyota to all those w Kyle was very helpful to us,he found us the perfect car and was very helpful in answering all our questions.i would recommend a1 Toyota to all those who are seeking a new vehicle. More
by MARIAF1981
June 16, 2018
Good experience overall but a few small glitches Kylie our salesperson was very helpful & accommodating. Made the process go smoothly and resolved an intially a frustrating situation when we tested o Kylie our salesperson was very helpful & accommodating. Made the process go smoothly and resolved an intially a frustrating situation when we tested our 1st car. No fault of Kyle’s a glitch with another staff member resulted in us test driving a car & we were ready to make a purchase on it to then find out it was already sold.... Thankfully we found an alternate car we liked and Kyle threw in a perk to make the situation right. Day of delivery a few other glitches, had to wait on our car’s certification paperwork due to an administrative mixup & then the paper work signing technology which usually speeds up the process did slightly slow us down due to an IT issue. Overall the experience was good and would recommend the dealer to others looking for a vehicle. Staff are very nice and helpful. Plus a lifetime of free oil changes you can’t beat that! More
by BrianSkiBum
Employees Worked With
June 14, 2018
Great customer service and nice people and they are very helpful and friendly and they know everything about the products and He loves to help people and nice people and they are very helpful and friendly and they know everything about the products and He loves to help people More
by Aahmad19993
June 14, 2018
Exceeded expectations, top notch service ! I was looking for a new car and I was made to feel very important. Emily was very polite, professional, knowledgeable and cooperative and answered all I was looking for a new car and I was made to feel very important. Emily was very polite, professional, knowledgeable and cooperative and answered all my questions thoroughly. I was so pleased with her service that I told my friends about her. Normally at car dealerships, employees seem to be rushing me to make a purchase. But Emily was giving me all of the information I needed and gave me time to think. It was the best service I’ve received yet. More
by Urooj926
Employees Worked With
Emily Spaulding
June 12, 2018
Great sales experience Sales rep. Amjad, mgr. Gary, fin. mgr. Carlos were all professional, courteous, and very detailed. Our experience was different from the hard sell p Sales rep. Amjad, mgr. Gary, fin. mgr. Carlos were all professional, courteous, and very detailed. Our experience was different from the hard sell presentation at other dealers, More
by jerry
June 12, 2018
car purchase i had a terrific experience was not sure how to handle the purchase but Armando, frank, and Jose' all rallied around to make this happen! very cordial i had a terrific experience was not sure how to handle the purchase but Armando, frank, and Jose' all rallied around to make this happen! very cordial in every way I certainly recommend coming here they always had their best interest in dealing with the customers not only in my experience but I saw it for myself while there making the purchase I was hesitant at first even though I bought my first Camry from A-1 but each time I would go to have my vehicle serviced they would treat you as if you were or are part of their family! I am very impressed! thank all of you for helping my wife & I to make this purchase. More
by sidrowrolla
Employees Worked With
Other Employees :
Armando Muniz
June 11, 2018
No haggle or upselling I was looking for a new car and was not looking forward to it. I hate the haggling and sneaky price manipulation. A-1 Toyota has none of this. The pri I was looking for a new car and was not looking forward to it. I hate the haggling and sneaky price manipulation. A-1 Toyota has none of this. The price that I got for my car was significantly less than all of the other dealers and it was the first price they gave me. The salesperson I dealt with, Emily Spaulding, did not try to upsell me on anything I didn't want and worked with me to get me the best price on the items I did. I would recommend this dealership to anyone More
by TheTimMachine
Employees Worked With
Emily Spaulding
June 09, 2018
Best car buying experience ever. Al’s approach was friendly and unguarded. There was no high pressure sales tactics, just honest to goodness knowledge and experience mixed with the w Al’s approach was friendly and unguarded. There was no high pressure sales tactics, just honest to goodness knowledge and experience mixed with the warmth one gets when being with family. Working with Carlos in finance dept was also a great experience. Really down to earth character with a great personality. He made the sales paperwork a breeze. More
by Mark
