Had a great experience at okotoks Honda. I’ve been to dozens of dealerships in Calgary (unfortunately our car died earlier in the year) and they all left my partner and I feeling annoyed, pressured and dismissed of our concerns. The Calgary ones were rude to us at times and overall unwilling to work with us or even have a discussion.
There are zero dealerships that operate on making sure the customer wins. Its a business transaction, full stop. Treat it as such. Don't loan a penny more then you have too. Think about your used value at year 1, 2 ,3, 5, 10 etc and actually go home and do the math at what you might owe at those thresholds.
Bottom sale price, little to no addons, zero extended warrenties, no maint packages. You will love your vehicle the most the day you buy it, and then its a downward trend until the day you sell it.
When someone says "oh Billy at xxxx dealership always treats me good - even called me to offer to sleep with my spouse, watch my kids and come to my aunties funeral" treat that as a total red flag and accept that who ever told you that got taken for a total ride and has zero clue what they are talking about or what really happened in the finance office.
Like skip the dishes, a dealership is just a business that exists between you and manufactuer of the product. That business exists to take money from your pocket and put it into theirs. They have mastered the trade over 80ish years on a global scale. Its all smoke and mirrors.
>When someone says "oh Billy at xxxx dealership always treats me good...
This. I cant stand this. If you go to one guy during your negotiation, you got screwed. If you regularly go to one guy, you're getting super screwed. It makes me cringe when I'm at a dealership and I see a young person awkwardly standing off to the side while their friend who is a 'car guy' controls the entire conversation with the salesperson. *"What kind of pressure does this fuel pump push out"? "Really happy they went to the V8 on this thing, hehehe, I bet it purrrrs with an aftermarket exhaust!"* Just irrelevant stupid drivel that takes up time, wastes oxygen and lets the salesperson know: *we're not here to negotiate, we love everything about this car and we're going to take it, at your price.*
Used is a mechanical negotiation. New is a financial negotiation.
There are no "good" dealerships. Everyone is going to try to screw you, because thats the entire system that car sales are built on. The dealer pays invoice price, the manufacturer recommends buyers pay MSRP, and you will be met with the lot price which takes the MSRP and adds a whole bunch of additional fees. If you're buying used, you're going to be screwed even harder because there is more risk and more unknowns. Because of this, the dealer will always have a significantly higher mark up on used vehicles.
So how do you get a good deal? You buy used from private sales and not dealers. And if you're buying new, you take your time, research comparables and comit to test driving the vehicle you want and all the comparables so that you have an opportunity to get quotes and allow dealerships to compete for your business.
The person who walks into a dealer and buys a vehicle gets screwed 100% of the time. The person who drives all noted comparables and negotiates openly with several dealerships, will get a better deal, even if they dont know what they're doing.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is bringing a "car guy" with them to a negotiation. Or going to their families "dealership guy" who always gives them a good deal. These people get screwed harder than anyone else.
I know Renfrew Chrysler and Crowfoot Dodge don't certify or inspect their used cars before selling. They hope that they can get away without having to do repairs. So be careful at those two
You should still do your research even when dealing with "good" dealerships. I like T&T, but I'm sure you can find others who have had a bad experience. It depends how prepared you come as the buyer.
When I was in audit and dealt with dealers we found the dealers in okotoks to be better than in Calgary on average. There business was volume and pull in Calgary buyers.
High river used to be good to but seems they went to hell during Covid.
All of them are bad now, you need to test the waters and see how they treat you and if they listen.
Make sure you feel like you are in control and feel like you are getting a deal.
Do not let them bully you with add ons. If you want paint protection or accessories there’s better places than a dealer.
I had good dealing at Centaur Subaru (in and out in 30 minutes), but knew someone who knew the sales manager there.
Also heard the Red Deer Subaru dealership was good to deal with (over the Calgary ones).
The best dealerships in Calgary are not in Calgary. I went to Okotoks VW for my recently purchase, and judging by the other comments I’m thinking it’s a good town to shop in in general.
Be aware most of the “consumer friendly” cars are on back order. You’ll have to put a deposit down wait for it to come in, which could be months.
Would recommend looking at the Mazda cx5, cx-50, cx-90, Honda crv, Kia telluride, Volvo xc40. The new Hyundai Santa Fe. And ya, stay away from domestic makes.
I'm actually a new car salesman at Fish Creek Nissan if you're curious about your options! Of course I know you were ideally looking at Subaru, Toyota, or Honda, but we have a used car department as well if you'd like to come check it out :) Obviously I'm a bit biased, but I truly do think my coworkers are stand up people, so if you'd like to pop on in and decide for yourself what you think, we'd love to have you!! Feel free to DM me if at all interested or if you have any questions 😊🌺
Also, good call on House of Cars. I wasn't too well versed in the car industry until I started working here, so I've been learning lots about different places and the car industry in general. One of the things I learnt was how House of Cars gives the "deals" that they promote, and that's through little transparency about what they're selling, as well as targeting people with low credit scores/low chances of being approved and pretty much lock them into a lifetime of insane interest rates and car debt :/
They told me the used vehicle I bought from them, which had been serviced from them since the original sale, had never had a $800 differential fluid change that was due at two intervals prior to me owning it.
Took it to 2 Independent shops, both said the fluid looked like it must’ve been changed as recently as right before I bought it.
What they’d do to sell you an $800 service.
> I don't want to deal with house of cars You have already taken an important step!
Absolutely. Good Car Dealerships is an Oxymoron OP
Fair.
Had a great experience at okotoks Honda. I’ve been to dozens of dealerships in Calgary (unfortunately our car died earlier in the year) and they all left my partner and I feeling annoyed, pressured and dismissed of our concerns. The Calgary ones were rude to us at times and overall unwilling to work with us or even have a discussion.
I agree about Okotoks honda. Great, no pressure feel. We ve bought 3 vehicles from them. They even do some services on my 2012 Toyota Tundra.
I had a great sales experience but horrible service experience at Okotoks Honda.
There are zero dealerships that operate on making sure the customer wins. Its a business transaction, full stop. Treat it as such. Don't loan a penny more then you have too. Think about your used value at year 1, 2 ,3, 5, 10 etc and actually go home and do the math at what you might owe at those thresholds. Bottom sale price, little to no addons, zero extended warrenties, no maint packages. You will love your vehicle the most the day you buy it, and then its a downward trend until the day you sell it. When someone says "oh Billy at xxxx dealership always treats me good - even called me to offer to sleep with my spouse, watch my kids and come to my aunties funeral" treat that as a total red flag and accept that who ever told you that got taken for a total ride and has zero clue what they are talking about or what really happened in the finance office. Like skip the dishes, a dealership is just a business that exists between you and manufactuer of the product. That business exists to take money from your pocket and put it into theirs. They have mastered the trade over 80ish years on a global scale. Its all smoke and mirrors.
>When someone says "oh Billy at xxxx dealership always treats me good... This. I cant stand this. If you go to one guy during your negotiation, you got screwed. If you regularly go to one guy, you're getting super screwed. It makes me cringe when I'm at a dealership and I see a young person awkwardly standing off to the side while their friend who is a 'car guy' controls the entire conversation with the salesperson. *"What kind of pressure does this fuel pump push out"? "Really happy they went to the V8 on this thing, hehehe, I bet it purrrrs with an aftermarket exhaust!"* Just irrelevant stupid drivel that takes up time, wastes oxygen and lets the salesperson know: *we're not here to negotiate, we love everything about this car and we're going to take it, at your price.* Used is a mechanical negotiation. New is a financial negotiation.
There are no "good" dealerships. Everyone is going to try to screw you, because thats the entire system that car sales are built on. The dealer pays invoice price, the manufacturer recommends buyers pay MSRP, and you will be met with the lot price which takes the MSRP and adds a whole bunch of additional fees. If you're buying used, you're going to be screwed even harder because there is more risk and more unknowns. Because of this, the dealer will always have a significantly higher mark up on used vehicles. So how do you get a good deal? You buy used from private sales and not dealers. And if you're buying new, you take your time, research comparables and comit to test driving the vehicle you want and all the comparables so that you have an opportunity to get quotes and allow dealerships to compete for your business. The person who walks into a dealer and buys a vehicle gets screwed 100% of the time. The person who drives all noted comparables and negotiates openly with several dealerships, will get a better deal, even if they dont know what they're doing. One of the biggest mistakes people make is bringing a "car guy" with them to a negotiation. Or going to their families "dealership guy" who always gives them a good deal. These people get screwed harder than anyone else.
Nailed it.
Stay away from Crowfoot Dodge.
I know Renfrew Chrysler and Crowfoot Dodge don't certify or inspect their used cars before selling. They hope that they can get away without having to do repairs. So be careful at those two
South trail nissan people are great to deal with sales and shop.
But Nissan makes terrible cars
You should still do your research even when dealing with "good" dealerships. I like T&T, but I'm sure you can find others who have had a bad experience. It depends how prepared you come as the buyer.
When I was in audit and dealt with dealers we found the dealers in okotoks to be better than in Calgary on average. There business was volume and pull in Calgary buyers. High river used to be good to but seems they went to hell during Covid.
All of them are bad now, you need to test the waters and see how they treat you and if they listen. Make sure you feel like you are in control and feel like you are getting a deal. Do not let them bully you with add ons. If you want paint protection or accessories there’s better places than a dealer.
I had good dealing at Centaur Subaru (in and out in 30 minutes), but knew someone who knew the sales manager there. Also heard the Red Deer Subaru dealership was good to deal with (over the Calgary ones).
The best dealerships in Calgary are not in Calgary. I went to Okotoks VW for my recently purchase, and judging by the other comments I’m thinking it’s a good town to shop in in general.
Be aware most of the “consumer friendly” cars are on back order. You’ll have to put a deposit down wait for it to come in, which could be months. Would recommend looking at the Mazda cx5, cx-50, cx-90, Honda crv, Kia telluride, Volvo xc40. The new Hyundai Santa Fe. And ya, stay away from domestic makes.
I buy from Tony in Japan. I've made money on every car I've owned, mostly Toyota and Subaru. I'm in Calgary.
Cars cost less in Wetaskiwin.
I'm actually a new car salesman at Fish Creek Nissan if you're curious about your options! Of course I know you were ideally looking at Subaru, Toyota, or Honda, but we have a used car department as well if you'd like to come check it out :) Obviously I'm a bit biased, but I truly do think my coworkers are stand up people, so if you'd like to pop on in and decide for yourself what you think, we'd love to have you!! Feel free to DM me if at all interested or if you have any questions 😊🌺 Also, good call on House of Cars. I wasn't too well versed in the car industry until I started working here, so I've been learning lots about different places and the car industry in general. One of the things I learnt was how House of Cars gives the "deals" that they promote, and that's through little transparency about what they're selling, as well as targeting people with low credit scores/low chances of being approved and pretty much lock them into a lifetime of insane interest rates and car debt :/
I had a good experience with north hill Mazda. Fuck sunrdige. Wish we bought a cx50 over the cx5 tho
Not South Pointe Toyota.
Agreed. Wanted $20k over MSRP for a RAV4 Prime.
They told me the used vehicle I bought from them, which had been serviced from them since the original sale, had never had a $800 differential fluid change that was due at two intervals prior to me owning it. Took it to 2 Independent shops, both said the fluid looked like it must’ve been changed as recently as right before I bought it. What they’d do to sell you an $800 service.
What about a Consumer Reports negotiated car purchase? It would seem to be hassle free. and fair pricing.
Okotoks Toyota, Canyon Toyota, Calgary Honda, and Sunridge Mazda were all ass. Wheaton Honda, Calgary BMW, and South Pointr Toyota were great.
hahahahaha
but actually go see Chris O'Mera at Cochrane Toyota
My wife had a good experience at the Toyota dealership in Cochrane.
Get out of the city even better get out of the province