McGrath Honda of Elgin

Where to start? INTERNET After doing extensive Where to start? INTERNET After doing extensive research online in search of our chosen vehicle, a low mile used Honda Pilot, I came across a 2011 Where to start? INTERNET After doing extensive research online in search of our chosen vehicle, a low mile used Honda Pilot, I came across a 2011 Pilot EX-L at McGrath Honda of Elgin that fit our needs and our budget. This dealership is over 3 1/2 hours and nearly 250 miles from our Northern Wisconsin home but we are willing to travel for the right vehicle at the right price. I started my internet interaction with Mike D. about this specific vehicle. After discussing the vehicle specifics, etc. we had come to the conclusion that we were very interested in this Pilot. Mike D. offered to also send me an email with attachments of other Pilots that had newly arrived that were not yet listed on their Website or Autotrader, etc. for comparitive purposes and I said fine. That process went on for two days with his promises and failed attempts to get us anything. All the while he attempted to get us to pay $1000 down via chargecard to hold the other specific Pilot. Which we refused to do. After we called him back a 3rd or 4th time to inquire about his promised additional email we were told Mike D. had left for the day and we spoke with another woman who promptly said we cannot place a hold on ANY specific vehicle, we can only hold or reserve a specific price. This only confused us and left us more upset as I WILL NOT PLACE A $1000 DEPOSIT ON A VEHICLE I HAVE NOT SEEN, INSPECTED OR DRIVEN, as I expect nobody would. After stating this to Mike D. via email they relented and put this Pilot on a 24hour no-charge courtesy hold. Mike D. also stated that they were very interested in our 2007 Pacifica trade and that they just sold one the other day and had numerous buyers still lined up and most likely would be able to sell our trade easily and quickly and offer us a couple thousand more than we expected. He also stated with our 700 plus credit score that we should be able to get us the 2.9% Honda Finance rates as well. So we made the appointment and on the road to Illinois we went. Internet Rating = 1 star at Best SALESMAN When we arrived and asked for Mike D. at the scheduled time we were told Mike D. was off at a fun Charity event and were shuffled off to another salesman Jesse. Jesse had no idea of our previous discusions or our concerns that we had previously discussed with Mike D. So we had to basically start over. He is a younger person and seems somewhat knowledgable on the Pilots so our Sales experience from his end went ok. He has an upbeat attitude and tried to get us answers etc. He did inform us of damage on this Pilot that Mike D. or the website failed to disclose so that was good and probably a major reason why they had lowered the price on this Pilot 3 times over 4 months in an attempt to move it. It was the plastic interior piece of the rear hatch damaged significantly but I was ok with it as it not a critical part but if you put anything in the back of your Pilot beware that with that heavily slanted floor anything that can roll or move will be slamming against that rear hatch and smashing the plastic just like this one. Upon our test drive we were told that due to their being no plates on the Pilot that we had to stay off the major roads or nearby freeway for our drive. So after the test drive only in their specific 40 mph industrial park course we went inside to start to negotiate. Jesse had someone look at our car and after about 40 minutes of waiting, he finally came out with a full asking price on their Pilot and the lowest Kelly Blue Book price for our trade. We were expecting this and refused and he said there was no room to move on the Pilot and I said ok but we need to move the trade in price up. We made a counter offer and the "I'll Check with my Manager Game" began. We were $1700 apart and the manager (Chris H.) came out once and said they could do like a couple hundred but they wouldnt do $1700. I then asked Chris H. what other hidden fees or service charges did they also add on. He said there was only the REQUIRED State of Illinois Document fee of $165. He then left Jesse try again. After 3 or 4 times of coming back to us with the same deal from his manager, the manager Chis H. took over the negotiations. Salesman Jesse's Rating = 3-4 stars. He did what he could and was friendly. SALES MANAGER Once Sales Manager Chris H. took over things went downhill very fast. Our negotiation process was at a total stand still and time was wasting with no progress to make a deal. (We had already been there for over 3 hours at this point.) Manager Chris H. proceeded to be rude, talk down to us, go back on his earlier word of "We could do a couple hundred dollars" and started to rip apart and belittle our trade-in. Our vehicle did have a little over 100K miles but it was mostly highway miles and it was absolutely spotless and a rust free Kansas vehicle from our home state and had only been up-north since July 2012. It was a top of the line Toring model and they are advertised all over for $9900 range and his offer was at the lowest Kelly book rate of $5500. He said it was all beat up and he would have to do all kinds of body work and detailing to get it right to sell. It didn't have even a scratch, not even one small dent and absolutely no rust anywhere. New tires, new brakes and a clean smoke free interior. A overall above average car. But Chris H. kept saying that they were taking a bath on the Pilot and that the stated price on the Pilot and trade in quote was completely and totally non-negotiable and it became very apparent to us that it was time to decide to buy it at that or walk. After crunching our numbers for awhile we decided that we liked the Pilot too much and would have to live with the deal. They moved absolutely no where from their first offer despite Chris H. saying they could do that. He told us he never said that and I looked at my wife and looked at the salesman Jesse and we had all heard him say it. Chris H. gave us his card and walked away. He never said another word to us or thanked us or anything. Chris H. is rude, condescending, a liar and just not a very good person to be in that type of a position. SALES MANAGER Chris H. RATING = 0 Stars or NEGATIVE 2 stars if there is such a thing. FINANCING After telling salesman Jesse to write up deal is introduced us to Finance Man James F. He was very courteous and pleasant and apologized to us at our unhappiness so far as he could see the total frustation on our faces. But on we went. He stated this process should be a fun one of getting a new car and promised to get us out in about 45 minutes. He had us sign the first few papers and told us that he would be back to get us shortly. Almost an hour went by and finally he came to get us. He started out the finance process with about a 50 minute discertation of their dealership, their wonderful service, their new million dollar car wash and a sales pitch that he shows with hand drawn sketches, charts, graphs, numbers and timelines for their nearly $4000 service/warranty agreement that he wants you to buy. We refused. More time wasted. Then he finally got on to the actual sales paperwork. That took about another 45 minutes as he made numerous mistakes and having to reprint documents twice. He typed his name as James Pilot. No that is the vehicle. He is James F. Oh well more time wasted as we arrived at 4pm and it is now nearly 9pm. Once we see the finace rate we look at each other a shake our heads. 5.99% for 48 months or 6.99% for 72months. What happened to that 2.9% rate? We totally didn't care at this point because we are already pre-approved at our credit union for 2.99% and will be immediately dumping this crappy loan. We finally got done with him about 9:30 and were finally done with this fiasco. FINANCE RATING - 1-2 stars. James F. was pleasant and knowledgable but very long winded. The process took way too long and many other people have stated that in this rating site. The finance rate was lousy. Check elsewhere first!! OVERALL RATING This whole process was completly frustating and exhausting. We felt like we were just another face, another number, another vehicle delivered. We now know that their low advertised prices are just to get you in the door and they will offer you nothing for your trade to make up for the low advertised price. So overall the deal becomes very average at best. They tout their customer lounge, their state of the art service department with hi-tech monitors and know your vehicle and your name when you drive up and not to forget their million dollar car wash and free car washes for life but that just adds to their overhead and ultimately your purchase price. None of that means anything to a buyer like us that made the mistake of travelling over 3 1/2 hours to get to them. Overall the process took nearly 6 hours. They never offered us a water or soda but only pointed to their $1.25 vending machines. The salesman and finance men were friendly. The sales manager is a jerk. On the way home I felt completly dejected and very upset. My wife was in tears with buyers remorse. I told her it was a good vehicle but the deal and the process could have been better. Not much solice for what should be a fun and exciting event. The 2011 Pilot seems great so far. If something unforseen/bad happens to the Pilot this so-called deal will be a TOTAL DISASTER. For a used vehicle purchase I would not recommend this dealership to anyone. Its just not worth the devastated feeling you will have if you do. New vehicles have more margin so maybe that process goes better. I just dont think it does? I know this rating is long but I hope its detail helps others as there are many facets of an overall good or bad sales experience. OVERALL RATING = 1 star at best! Happy with the Pilot - Totally unhappy with the rest. More

MY Background: I am a foreign national(Indian) who has been in this country for a while I was interested in buying an Accord and got a quote online and was asked to visit the store for further details. been in this country for a while I was interested in buying an Accord and got a quote online and was asked to visit the store for further details. We spoke with a rep over there and he said he is out of stock of the car we are looking for and said can order the car and then the online quote which was provided to us was not honored. We decided to leave as he have couple other options from other show rooms. Then this xxxxxx manager Mike comes out and he just keeps talking with out giving any chance for others to speak, He tries to trick us by saying why did u sign this paper(That paper was provided by the rep and we were asked to sign to get the prices of the cars available and the sales rep said that unless both parties agree on the price the sale wont happen and this looked like a standard process) and we said the same thing what rep said to us before signing the paper, he realizes we know what we are saying. Then the Insults begin..(This idiot thinks he is above all of us) he tires to compare and starts insulting all the foreign nationals. We just walked out This store treats its customers very badly and they are not at all friendly, rather than selling a vehicle and make customers their day they try to trick and insult you. I am not sure how Americans are treated here but Foreign nationals are treated very badly(researched about this after our incident) I hope this at least impacts one person and withdraw from going to this show room More