Toyota of Poway

This review is for the service department: The bottom line — less ‘up-​selling’ and more down-​to-​earth honesty would make me return as a customer.
I will say that the salesman was nice (John?), although it was quite apparent he was extremely busy and run off his feet. That lead to the feeling that he didn’t really have much personal time for me. It was also nice and convenient to be offered a shuttle ride home (within a certain radius of the dealership) and the shuttle driver was pleasant.
I checked in at John’s counter, and even before addressing ‘today’s issue’, he shoved a piece of paper under my nose of things that they recommended I should have done (but didn’t) from a prior visit (when I took it in for an airbag recall). Things like air filter changes that had been taken car of at my regular mechanic. I declined all of the suggestions.
After looking at my car, I was told I needed $ 4,500 worth of repairs (including the above mentioned items). Sorry, but I walked away. I just didn’t believe my car needed that much stuff done at that moment. I had only taken it to Toyota of Poway as I thought the issue was slightly urgent and didn’t have time to take it to my regular mechanic which is in another part of the city, not near where I now live.
I should have saved myself money, because when I did take it to my regular mechanic a week later, I was told I only needed to spend $ 500 on it immediately. Yes, there may be a few other things down the line, but not right away. And certainly not $ 4,500 worth. My mechanic went over the list of things with me that Toyota of Poway suggested and was basically like, «Nope, don’t need that, maybe that down the line, no, that’s ok…» I got the feeling she was used to that kind of thing where people first went to a dealer and felt sticker shock and disbelief and then went to them for the real story.
I really don’t appreciated the hard up-​sell. The same thing happened when I went in for airbag recalls. I almost wonder if all those recalls are a sales ploy.
Toyota of Poway is local and handy, but my experience doesn’t make me want to rush back for service. Perhaps because Toyotas don’t go wrong much, they have to up-​sell a lot to make money.

This review is for the dealership not the service center: I went to three dealerships before I stopped by Poway Toyota due to proximity to my home. For those a you familiar with the car buying/​leasing process I had been taken though the 4-​square, had another dealer take all my info when all I wanted was a basic quote and all three dealers ask me what «deal» I was referring to on which website whenever I asked about the online pricing (yes, I know that each dealership has it’s own website and pricing is dependent on availability); just overall old-​school inefficient, time wasting experiences. Everything about these experiences made me uncomfortable — just another reason I did not want to go in as a woman by myself and I do not get intimidated easily.
I went to Poway Toyota and within 10 minutes I had a quote that was exactly what was quoted on
signed by the sales manager and in my hand and zero pressure tactics to wrap up the transaction before trying to leave. I did leave only to go to Bob Baker Subaru for yet another terrible experience around getting a quote that was no where near what I was looking for OR saw online.
Side note on Bön Baker Subaru — tell me what kind of sales manager has their salesperson quote me something that was not even the lease length I had requested and was over $ 100 from what was available online telling me he was «trying to get me the best deal,» only to come back and give me the shorter lease option that I had originally requested and $ 50 less. Basically, that lost all my trust and my business.
Anyway, when I returned 4 hours later to Poway Toyota, the sales person had already pulled an option from their off site lot for me to look at and it was perfect. The thing that took the longest for me was the finance manager meeting, but only because we talked about everything other than financing for about 20 minutes. All in all, I was so happy with the experience. I even came back the next day with product from the company I work for to treat the team. I believe my sales person was Tony, the sales manager was Patrick, and the finance person was Joseph. Thank you guys.

Al was stellar!
I leased a car from Audi in mid May for myself and his service was even better during the leasing process last week for my daughter’s surprise grad present (it’s not often that she is speechless by the way). I called on Tue morning 6/​7, and I’m happy he answered my call. We did most everything by phone, he followed up as promised along the way, and I just had to do my app and contract when I arrived the following afternoon. When I got to the dealership the car was in a shaded area to view. I owned a Carolla years ago, so it was nice to see all the new features. I knew my daughter would love it… and she did! Thanks for your great service, Al. I appreciate you delivering it. You rock! Steve (finance manager) I appreciated you putting up with all my questions. :)

5 Stars for Sheri and the Service Center!
I needed an oil change, and I wanted to be sure everything else was running smoothly on my car, so I knew it had to be done at a dealer for the most reliable report. They work on Toyota’s all day, every day, so they’re used to the odds and ends that may come up with other Toyota’s.
I searched the Unilocal reviews, and Sheri’s name seemed to come up as one of the top Service Reps with glowing reviews, so I made my appt with her. She was as good as it gets. Professional, kind, fun, and quick. And of course, solid work by the techs behind the scenes.
If only they still had some of those donuts in the afternoon when I went in for service. A man can dream, right?

I was shocked to see 3 stars. This was the easiest car buying experience I’ve had over the past 20 years. I was able to complete most of the transaction by phone and email without having to step foot on the lot. We were looking at brand new fully loaded Corolla and Poway beat the best offer countywide. No nonsense when we got to the lot. Other dealers suspected a bait and switch however Hugh Morris delivered as promised. (Internet director) This purchase was for my mother and I was very pleased. Go see Hugh.

Went here for a car as a recent graduate with a new job. I said what I wanted to pay and some guy named Dane just laughed at me– like in front of me. Didn’t wait until we left… Just in my face.
Looked at like 3 cars and went up the street to the Hyundai dealer. Nicest people, worked with my budget and gave me a great deal!

We had come in here a week prior to today to take a look at a new 2016 Prius. We were approached by Valeri and explained to her what we were looking for and she had most of our questions answered. We explained to her that it wasnt a great time for us to purchase a vehicle based on the circumstances and she fully understood.
The family and I were in the area again today and decided to look at the specific color that my wife liked. Since it was a busy holiday weekend for the dealership, we didnt want to waste Valeri’s time again, so we proceeded inside to discuss our options. They met us in the middle and we agreed to terms on a new 2016 Prius 4 Touring.
The whole process was great and we tip our hats to Valeri, Cyrus, Patrick and Toby for making the process very easy for us. The time spent there was about 3 ½ hours but it was all under control. Thank you Toyota of Poway for making it a great experience for my family and I.

***Mark S from Poway Toyota: We have brought the vehicle in, a few times, and no one wants to take responsibility for this issue. Talk with the used car manager, he knows about this car and the issues. We were willing to give the car back but no one is willing to resolve this issue. So, here we are with a vehicle that we almost had a head on collision in and I cannot stress enough that we brought this vehicle in the day after it was driven off the lot! It’s all about the buck for dealerships but if something happens to my family, you will be paying more than what it would cost for the issue to be fixed.
Mark S from Poway Toyota: Are you implying that we did something to this vehicle after we drove it off the lot? We drove the vehicle to the house and during that trip home these issues showed themselves. We contacted Toyota the day after purchase… explained the issues and these were issues that were pre-​existing at time of purchase. Issues that are happening are the issues I expressed at the time. Today we almost had a HEAD ON COLLISION! DO YOU HEAR THAT… A HEAD ON COLLISION! Maybe before you comment on this situation, you should research what is happening. As expressed previously, this is a safety issue!

This dealership had AMAZING customer service! My son helped me buy a car over the internet and Toyota of Poway had the lowest price of any place! Ruben and Hugh went out of their way to find me the exact car I wanted… color and all the extras! They never changed their pricing even when they found the car I wanted but had a few extra things on it that I didn’t request. They held firm with their quote! Their communication was top notch and always kept us apprised of what was going on! Joe in finance was super easy to work with and quick on the paperwork and Dan explained everything on my car and I felt super confident when I drove off the lot. I can’t say enough about everyone that works there. It truly was the easiest car buying experience I’ve ever had and truly the best customer service. I would definitely recommend Toyota of Poway to anyone looking to buy a car!!!

OMG… one of the worst service rep. I have ever worked with…
I almost gave up going here to get my car serviced… I called and called and called and
some one picked up the phone and gave me attitude… and would forget to call me back several times… Trevor S. wow, not good to work with at all… OMG…
Will not be back here… OMG.

Had a impossible time finding a Tacoma 4×4 TRD sport with a manual transmission, but Toyota of Poway worked really hard and got me the truck I wanted. Ruben Tiosejo was a true professional and made the process painless. Told them exactly what I needed to make this deal work and they worked very hard to meet all my needs. I worked with alot of dealers to try to find my truck, but Toyota of Poway was the only one that could make the deal happen. I got a fair trade in value, great rate on my financing, and a fair price on the truck. I would definitely buy from Toyota of Poway again. Was referred via USAA car buying service.

TERRIBLE. AWFUL. STAY AWAY.
First off, I refuse to call these people service reps. They are SALES reps. Sleazy sales reps who will up sell anything and everything. This is a very shady business. I would definitely NOT recommend any one coming here. I’ve come here a few times but this last time, I was told over the phone that they would give a me a free inspection on my car and when I brought it in for the «free» inspection, it turned out it wasn’t free. The idiot sales rep at Toyota said it was a free «visual» inspection but them bringing the car in to inspect wasn’t free. Wow, you think you could’ve clarified this to start? Wasted $ 50 plus dollars just for them to tell me some things I already knew. Oh and don’t buy their stupid Unilocal or Groupon vouchers too, you’re not saving any money, just wasting your time having to deal with their incompetent sales reps when you go in. This place will scam every penny they can out of you.
Gross.

Worst car dealership me and my family have ever delt with. I don’t recommend them for anyone because honestly they’re all about the money and not about the service. It’s Bullshit. I should have listened to other friends and family when they told me about this place. It’s just unbelievable how unprofessional they are. Only one individual acknowledged us and he was cleaning the windows but goes to show you that in a department full of «professionals» they have a lot to work on. Tired of this place. Please believe me when I tell you that it’s a mile of cars. Go elsewhere where they will treat you better.

Judging from what others have said, I had a feeling that this dealership tries to sell you on services that are not urgently needed. Then there’s the aggressive sales calls (while I’m at work no less) asking to buy your car or make the next appointment. It’s tacky and seems totally off a script that I have made the decision to avoid this dealership.
Yes there’s complimentary car washes, donuts and coffee (other dealerships don’t have that) but now I can see who actually pays for it anyway.

Typical dealer service: trying to sell you unneeded service.
Took my 2005 RAV4 to have the Airbag Recall work done. Also had them do an oil change and inspection of the car. They tried to sell me two services that I did not need.
1. Service told me I needed induction cleaning. No proof. Not on the list of maintenance items. The car runs great. One of the typical upsells by car dealers.
2. Told me I need new tires and wheel alignment. I agreed with him about the tires. I told him I would buy the tires at Discount Tires. He told me that Discount Tires does not do alignments so I should get it done there. I told him I would get alignment after new tires. I asked the Discount Tire sales person if I needed an alignment. He told me that my tires had perfectly uniform wear patterns indicating that no alignment was necessary.
I will never use a Toyota dealer for service again other than recall work.

I would like to start off by stating that my experience at Toyota Poway was amazing; amazing to the point that it has influenced me to take part in my first Unilocal review.
For about a month and a half I had been doing my research on hunting down a 2016 Toyota Tacoma 4×4 TRD Sport w/​the tech package. I visited other places to find out the model had been sold (even though it was still posted online), others (Toyota of Anaheim) made my fiancé and I feel discriminated against due to our sexuality.
Finally, we stumbled upon Mike Wilson, Internet Manager at Poway. He was able to get me a great price on my Tacoma. Mike was very approachable and was genuine about wanting to do everything possible to get me a great deal. He was in constant communication with me over the phone to ensure we were on the same page. He even came in on his day off, late in the evening in order to make sure I was taken care of. In comparison to my other Toyota dealership visits, I knew right away I was in the right hands. Once I was satisfied with my deal, I moved on to the Finance department. Last, level before being home free with my new truck.
In my previous purchase, I did not have a good experience with the Finance Manager; rude, pushy, and not willing to take time to address questions I had as I was reviewing paperwork. Well, Finance Manager at Poway, Steve Retter, was great! Even though I was the last customer of the night, he made sure to take time and answer any questions, but the best part was that he went above and beyond to get me the best APR. He followed up with me the following day to only inform me that he found me a much lower rate that would save me around $ 4000!
I love my truck, Victoria. :) Definitely a head turner for sure!

Keeping up with car maintenance is never fun, but Toyota of Poway makes it a breeze with their convenient location, lounge area, and not to mention their awesome deals! My only negative is that it takes an hour and some change for an oil change with appointment BUT they do provide a free service to drive you wherever you need to go while your car is worked on.
After you pull your car forward, you meet with your service writer who takes care of all of your needs. So far I’ve worked with J and Mike, and both gentlemen have been extremely helpful.
FREE services:
+ Car wash with service
+ Alignment check
+ Tire pressure
They do have a 3 oil change package, and for synthetic oil package it’s around $ 135. One synthetic oil change from here is $ 70, so this package of 3 really is a great deal. I recommend going on their website and perusing their service deals because there have also been 3 regular oil changes for $ 60, one oil change for $ 29.95 (upcharge of $ 25 for synthetic). Their alignment is $ 90, which is one of the few services at Poway Toyota that are pricier than other places I’ve gone to.
Overall Toyota of Poway stands out from any other Toyota because of their great deals. Their lounge area is spacious and they even have a children’s play room! Often times they have some complementary snacks and drinks. Bring your Toyota here!

This is my local dealership for my car. People are nice and they greet you. They are friendly and honest. But i removed 1 star because of waiting time. Usually My average waiting time is about an hour or two. Well, i guess they are so busy everyday.
I suggested make an appointment for fast service.
Overall, im satisfied how they handle clients.
Definitely, I would recommend it.
Btw, check out their weekly coupon deals via e mail.

Final update. If you’ve read the first review, it’s obvious that my first experience was not all puppies and rainbows, but this crew has redeemed themselves to no end, and most of this is due to the impeccable customer service provided by William Obannon. Words cannot begin to explain how fantastic of an individual this man is. When my car arrived (it was a dealer trade), William was so thorough going over the features of my car and his excitement was so infectious! If you’re shopping for a new vehicle, there’s no point in even trying to visit Mossy, Kearny Mesa, El Cajon or any other competitors. In fact, when I was car shopping, I was told to come back to another dealer and he promised to beat any offer… and I STILL finished this transaction with Poway.
There were some amazing key players who took this experience to another level for me: William who stayed in touch with me for an entire month before I was ready to purchase, Jodi who reached out to me immediately after my first trip to Poway in November, Patrick, Brian and Bernard who assisted me primarily with financing, Susan who really went above and beyond to ensure I walked away with my car, and Joseph who is also in finance, who made spending $ 42K actually seem super cool.
I’m absolutely thrilled by this team and so confident of this purchase, from someone who has been driving German cars for years, I can say with full certainty that they’ve converted me over to Toyota and I am in LOVE with my purchase!
Let this review remind you that there are solid businesses who invest in their customers and are willing to redeem themselves after a terrible customer service experience – which I might add, the reason why I gave such a low scoring the first review was mostly due to the salesman, but I learned that he was fired so it reiterated to me that they’re aware of their opportunities and take action to correct their weaknesses.

My red Jeep had seen it’s best day. My wonderful parents bought «The Chief» for me when I was fifteen years old. I learned to drive in it and have amazing memories in that car but it was time for me to get a new one. Something in my price range that’s reliable and still has the features I wanted. It was my first time car shopping! I was so excited. I was looking into the reliable names we all know: Honda, Toyota and Subaru.
I liked a particular car from each dealer. I narrowed it down to the Honda Accord ex-​l and the Toyota Camry xse. The experience I had at each dealership was drastically different.
We went to Toyota of Poway to test drive and talk pricing. We browsed the lot for a while, then went and tracked someone down to help us. The test drive went well, though Jorge didn’t tell us anything about the car, but that’s okay, we read the window tag. We went inside to see what kind of pricing we could get on the car I had just driven.
Here’s where it got hairy. I made sure to be clear with Jorge that I just wanted to hear what kind of pricing I could get from Toyota, then I would continue onto Honda to hear their pricing and make a decision at the end after I’ve heard all my options. Jorge was extremely aggressive, interrupting both my mother, who was kind enough to come with me in case I needed a cosign, and I. We were very polite to Jorge even though he wouldn’t answer my questions and kept telling me «you’re not understanding what I’m saying.» Yes Jorge, I did. It was you who couldn’t grasp the concept that I would dare to shop around at the neighboring Honda dealer no matter what you offered, in the rudest way. He then went on to mumble «Don’t talk to me that way, don’t be disrespectful,» to my mother, who was being nothing but polite and giving him words of encouragement in good humor.
Jorge walked away and came back with the manager to help him with what we were looking for. After mentioning Jorge’s awful behavior to the manager, Brian looked at his employee and said «wait what happened?» Jorge said «nothing.» The manager said nothing else.
Brian was also condescending and frankly, kind of smelly. We walked out, I even left my registration and didn’t bother going back for it. Those people had lost my business and it didn’t matter what they offered me. They treat their customers and their mothers (usually a joke, but so literal) like garbage and are completely disrespectful. I even dare to say that I will never own a Toyota, they will never have my business, because the taste of my first visit was so terrible.
I went on to purchase a new Honda EX-​L about two hours later without a fuss. Their salesman Stacey put the Toyota employees to shame with their wonderful personalities and more than reasonable pricing.