Ron Tonkin Honda

I saw a car/price I liked online and talked to Adam. I was told to expect a fair trade in value based on kelly blue book (kbb.com) trade-in values so I took an afternoon off work and went in to do what sh was told to expect a fair trade in value based on kelly blue book (kbb.com) trade-in values so I took an afternoon off work and went in to do what should have been an easy transaction. When I got there, the closer guy, Jason, made a lowball offer for my trade... 25% under the kbb trade value and tried to justify it by showing me auction values for a car that wasn't even the same model as mine. After pointing out the problem, Jason told me a long, irrelevant story about selling his Tahoe and wasted my time. He then asked if I would pay kbb full retail for his car to "balance" the deal. It's crap like this that gives dealers a bad name. I didn't appreciate the dishonesty and having my time wasted. I won't be back. If you go in, do your research on the value of your trade and hold your ground. More

I had a great experience purchasing a new 2011 Honda CR-Z from Ron Tonkin Honda. I checked out their inventory online and requested a quote on a particular vehicle. They didn't end up having that car in stoc from Ron Tonkin Honda. I checked out their inventory online and requested a quote on a particular vehicle. They didn't end up having that car in stock, but their Internet Manager, John, went the extra mile. He immediately suggested other dealers in the area that they could pull similar cars from, and offered to pick up vehicles the next state over. I ended up going with a different car that they had in their showroom, and the in-person sales experience was great. John and his associates got us in and out quickly and efficiently, and kept the upselling to a minimum. I'm happy with my purchase, and I'd recommend Ron Tokin Honda to anyone in the Portland metro area. More

I had positive experience with Ron Tonkin. Obviously, they want the best price they can get and I wanted the best deal I could get. They aren't a non-profit. Everyone who works there has to earn a livi they want the best price they can get and I wanted the best deal I could get. They aren't a non-profit. Everyone who works there has to earn a living. When I emailed Ron Tonkin the lowest offer I had received on-line, which was lower than their offer, they countered with much better deal. They respected my request not to contact me by phone. I emailed their offer to the other dealers and other dealers replied they couldn't match it. When I looked at the car, of course, the salesman tried to sell me the options, but when I made it clear that there was no way I was going to pay for them, that they were not something I wanted or needed, I was not pressured. I did buy a different option, was completely aware of the technique used to get me interested, which was well done sales strategy that made me smile because it was choreographed well, but it was option I wanted, and I did not feel any pressure. It is their job to have options and try to sell them. I enjoyed the sale and part of the experience was observing implementation of effective sales techniques. It was no different from a high end restaurant where the waiters learn to get people to add the dessert and coffee after dinner because these are high profit items. Same with the options on cars, I would guess. I don't feel I have to buy dessert but I often buy it because I decide I want it. I left with lease deal for Honda LX that was better than any other dealer offered, even with the option I chose. I don't expect any problems with service. More

Internet-searched all Honda dealers in OR for new 2011 Ridgeline. This dealer/salesman was #1 in: pricing, follow-up, negotiating and delivery. As a salesman by profession, I am always very skeptical/cyni Ridgeline. This dealer/salesman was #1 in: pricing, follow-up, negotiating and delivery. As a salesman by profession, I am always very skeptical/cynical. John Haddock and his managers exceeded my expectations. Have not dealt with service so jury is still out. So far, so good. More

Run fast. Run far. I am embarrased to say that I own a Run fast. Run far. I am embarrased to say that I own a vehicle from these crooks. While the Honda vehicle itself is great, this team has proven to Run fast. Run far. I am embarrased to say that I own a vehicle from these crooks. While the Honda vehicle itself is great, this team has proven to be unscrupulous liars. When I originally began looking for my Honda CRV, I went to my closest Honda dealer (Dick Hannah Honda - see the separate review) and was quickly violated by their team and gave the Tonkin team my business. At the time, I was so unravelled by the previous experience at the other dealership that I didn't realize that I had walked onto a dealership who worked in the exact same sales model - pressure the customer and promise the moon. What started out as a base LX package with an "internet price" of $21,665 rapidly ended up being a $25000 sale. That being said, it was my fault for letting them pressure sell me into the added options. I knew I'd have a second purchase coming up in a month or two, so I expected to bat .500 by getting a "good" deal on the next one.... right.... This past weekend (less than 90 days from the initial purchase) we picked out a car from the online inventory and I called the original salesman. He didn't remember me but acted like he did. Regardless, I honored my word by giving him the chance to make a second deal off of me. We drove the car, we liked it, we wrote down the sticker price of $19860 (for a Honda Fit Sport with Navigation) and he verbally said we could take $515 off so they could sell it to us at "invoice". We did not have our trade-in car with us, so we told him we'd return in the morning to close the deal and trade the old car in. When we arrived the next morning, we came prepared with print-outs from KBB.com (Kelley Blue Book) as the Honda website redirected us to it. The "Good" trade value for our vehicle was $2025; the "Fair" value was $1525. With no time to spare, our sales guy took the car back to the service bay and had the used car manager appraise it. He came back saying he'd be willing to give us the "Good" value minus some money for tires and repairs. What he neglected to mention was that his "Good" value was our "Fair" value since he was doctoring up his appraisal printout from KBB! If indeed the vehicle would qualify for "Good" status, then why was he trying to offer us only $900!!! We challenged him on his incorrect values and he played make believe for about a half hour while he doctored up more fake documents with more fake trade-in values. (I'd hate to see his family albums after he gets done Photoshopping everything - I bet their "European" vacation photos are really in Hermiston, OR or Weed, CA!!) Finally, he negotiated that he'd give us $1300 for the vehicle as if he were doing us the biggest favor in the world. We looked at their offer sheet and noticed something odd about it...other than the fact that they front-loaded $3500 of services that we didn't want.... The sticker price we had written down from the night before had gone up! That $19860 minus the promised $515 was now $21K instead of being $19345! We called the sales guy on this, but he played dumb and acted like we were lying about the sticker price. Arrrgh! I'm not a violent person, but if ever I wanted to punch someone in the face, it was then and there right on the showroom floor! One thing led to another and he finally called out his finance manager who tried the age-old trick of switching financing variables around to meet a "desired" monthly payment. He thought it would be just fantastic if we had a nice low payment of $293 for 84 months for a $19000 car. Hmmmm...we calculated that out to be roughly $24000 with $5000 in his pocket. He challenged me very indignantly when I called him on it. I told him if I wanted to continue extending the term of my loan to get the payment amount I wanted, I'd be looking at a $110,000 Porsche, not a $19,000 HONDA FIT!!! Again, he took that as a buying sign and personal challenge and promptely turned his sheet over and started to frantically write out the numbers hocus pocus that dealerships train their finance managers to do. At that point we had to leave. My sales guy who I had extended the gracious opportunity to get a second sale (mind you, this was within a 90 day period) was painfully cavalier about having us walk out. I think his exact comment when we told him axiomatically that we were going to look elsewhere was "...oh well, its just the beginning of the day...". What a jerk. More

Saw online deals and went by to check them out. Ran my crdit and was told the ONE car I Could buy. Intimidated and embarassed, I bought the car. It seemed like a great deal and they kept telling me what crdit and was told the ONE car I Could buy. Intimidated and embarassed, I bought the car. It seemed like a great deal and they kept telling me what a STEAL it was. They INSISTED on some stupid tracking device for $800 (dealer cost). By insisted-I mean INSISTED and got a two year warranty @ $2,000 and the car was $9450 alone. Then the "Gap Insurance" again-no choice there.....funny about how many choices I was NOT given. Well the car is hunk of crap. First the xxxxxxx sales guy won't give me the MASTER KEY or the ASOLUTELY NECESSARY REMOTE-THAT ALONE WAS MENTAL WARFARE. Wow, they were so nice, they gave in. The Lights on the radio were dead-whoops-a recall. Then, the seat belt didn't retract-another basic honda staple. They were so nice that when I got the car back AGAIN the oil was low, someone had a dog in my car, the transmission was malfunctioning, the brakes didn't work, the battery was old and needed to be replaced.....and the car is less than 25 days old. Oh-and the transmission light is still on. Off to RON TONKIN HONDA.....THE PLACE THAT SELLS YOU A CAR TO NEVER DRIVE ONE. More

Last minute options markup - through online sales department - STAY AWAY!!! by noahdavis on 05-13-08 (06:15PM) Pros: Sales rep was nice Cons: Installing $600 worth of options after department - STAY AWAY!!! by noahdavis on 05-13-08 (06:15PM) Pros: Sales rep was nice Cons: Installing $600 worth of options after we agreed on (and put a deposit) on the purchase price I'm writing this minutes after getting off the phone with their GM Pat. I had reserved a Base model Honda Fit a month ago w/ no options. We agreed on a price, in writing via email. I gave them a $500 deposit and they even sent me a VIN # of the vehicle. Literally an hour before I'm about to pick my wife up from work and get our new car, I get a call from our sales person, Mark telling me that there was a mix up in the service area and they added some optional accessories to the car, some of which can't be removed! Not only that, but it's $600 worth of crap that we don't want, never asked for and were told when we reserved the car, we weren't getting! They even offered to remove the mats and trunk tray bringing it down to $400 over what I'd agreed to pay. When I talked to the manager about it, he agreed that it was a mix up on their end, but that we'd still have to pay for it, or wait another month for the next shipment. He stated that they were popular cars and most people want options with them. They'll probably sell my car to some sucker in the next week. The thing that kills me, is they had a satisfied, guaranteed sale (with a first time car buyer no less) 99% of the way complete and they're willing to let it go. And over $400 RETAIL! I may have been a special case, and this may have been a rare screw up on their part. This was an opportunity for them to show that they'll take care of their customers if things get weird (as they can easily get weird, when buying a car) - and decided not to. Anyway, I'm doing the only thing I have the power to do as a consumer. Write this review of them and post it on as many public forums and tell as many people as I possibly can. If you live in Oregon, please don't go to a Ron Tonkin Dealership. Buy elsewhere. I had a horrible, horrible experience. More