Downtown Toyota-Subaru of Oakland

Beware of Downtown Toyota of Oakland – My Experience The sales manager, Marlon Brown, didn’t deny that his salesperson Senall lied and manipulated me into buying a car. He leaned back smugly and pointed at sales manager, Marlon Brown, didn’t deny that his salesperson Senall lied and manipulated me into buying a car. He leaned back smugly and pointed at the contract: “You signed it.” Once you sign with Downtown Toyota of Oakland, you may be legally trapped because you have to prove that they manipulated and misrepresented. Please don’t sign anything unless you’re okay with: • Paying thousands more than other Bay Area dealerships. • Being misled to believe you're getting a good deal by fake promotions, fake urgency, and sales pressure. • Being forced into add-ons like LoJack at $1,100 over market value. • Being tricked into buying a fake Toyota maintenance plan from a third-party. • Being lied to about cancellation policies and pushed to sign new contracts giving them extra time to process refunds. This happened to me, and similar stories are found on Yelp, Reddit, BBB, and more. Important Advice & Red Flags 1. Read Reddit, Yelp, Better Business Bureau reviews and complaints before stepping foot into this dealership • Many others report the same shady tactics at this dealership. 2. Don’t Pay Over MSRP • I was told all dealers charge markups just to survive. This is false. Just 10 miles away, One Toyota of Oakland and also Toyota of Walnut Creek, sell all vehicles at MSRP, no forced add-ons. I would’ve saved ~$5,000 total. 3. Walk Away from Forced Add-ons • I said no to markups and add-ons. Senall claimed LoJack could not be removed. That’s false—others have had it removed. They pick and choose. 4. LoJack Is a Ripoff • They charged me $1,995 for Lojack, a product worth $895. It’s even on U.S. News’ list of “14 Things You Should Never Buy at a Dealership.” 5. Hybrids Aren’t That Rare • I was told if I didn’t buy immediately, someone else just called who would and there wouldn't be more for months. He said that hybrid car are "scarce". But One Toyota had multiple available the same day, and Downtown Toyota advertised more later within the month. Don’t fall for the scarcity lie. 6. Beware of the “Toyota” Maintenance Plan Scam • I was shown red Toyota pamphlets, told 100% of customers purchase the maintenance plan. I later found out the maintenance plan was from “Portfolio One,” not Toyota. 7. You Can Cancel Without Visiting • In order to cancel the fake Toyota plan, Marlon Brown insisted I drive 1.5 hours back to the dealership, falsely claiming it was required to check mileage. In truth, the Portfolio One contract only requires you to mail or email the cancellation information. • He then said I had to sign a new cancellation agreement giving them 60 days to refund instead of the contract’s 30 days. I refused. • I followed a lawyer’s advice and complained to the DMV. Weeks later, I finally got a refund. In Summary: Downtown Toyota of Oakland preys on uninformed buyers. If you refuse their mark-ups or add on, they'll let you walk away. They’ll just wait for someone more trusting to walk in. I was that person. Don’t be me. Take these steps: • Shop around. Take screenshots. Get deals in writing. • Assume anything they say about anything is false. Check out Yelp, Reddit, or BBB reviews for the real deal. • Don’t pay over MSRP. Ever. • Avoid all add-ons—including LoJack • Don’t sign a new cancellation agreement Please learn from my mistakes. Share your story if something similar happened to you. More

After an awful experience, I was going to articulate exactly how badly they treated me, but as I saw the reviews, I learned this was the typical experience. Short story, I made an appointment to drive 2 exactly how badly they treated me, but as I saw the reviews, I learned this was the typical experience. Short story, I made an appointment to drive 2 hours to see a car. Amanda texted me to confirm the car was in inventory and they'd see me that afternoon and to ask for VIP Manager (oh, the irony here). When I arrived, one jerk of a salesman told me the car had just sold, I asked for the manager and was told the car sold the previous day. I showed him the text from Amanda saying it was in inventory, he answered that she's in Florida and is just a scheduler, so she wouldn't know. I've had great experiences with a dozen dealerships in as many years. Not this place. Never again. More

They would not sale me the vehicle at the advertised price unless I purchased additional options. Which i confirmed there was not contingency before i traveled over 3 hour and was pre-approved by my ba price unless I purchased additional options. Which i confirmed there was not contingency before i traveled over 3 hour and was pre-approved by my bank. More

The majority of the staff are very helpful and explain the service(s) needed. They also work hard to get the job done in a timely fashion. the service(s) needed. They also work hard to get the job done in a timely fashion. More

Kevin Goh is the man! Always helpful and great insights on maintaining my car to avoid the big-ticket expense. Thanks, Kevin! Always helpful and great insights on maintaining my car to avoid the big-ticket expense. Thanks, Kevin! More

Mixed review. Sometimes they were able to solve the problem, other times they blamed the driver. When I got Subaru of America involved, they helped me more and so Sometimes they were able to solve the problem, other times they blamed the driver. When I got Subaru of America involved, they helped me more and solved the problems. More

Kevin is an excellent communicator, explaining what service is needed for my car. He is personable and reassuring. The car is returned clean without left-over materials from the techs. I also liked service is needed for my car. He is personable and reassuring. The car is returned clean without left-over materials from the techs. I also liked having a ride home while my car was being serviced. More

Darrel was very helpful and the was service was fast very reassuring that my car will be safe and fun to drive reassuring that my car will be safe and fun to drive More

The sales person I work with, Terry Rowan was very cordial knowledgable and worked clearly with the management team making it pleasurable and not pushy . I appreciate his patience and dedication. cordial knowledgable and worked clearly with the management team making it pleasurable and not pushy . I appreciate his patience and dedication. More

I haven't been to the dealership yet. I have been contacted by the salesmen, they seem personable and knowledgable about their inventory. I am going to stop by the dealership soon. I have been contacted by the salesmen, they seem personable and knowledgable about their inventory. I am going to stop by the dealership soon. More