08/24/09

Never again!

by OUCH

I purchased what I thought to be a reliable vehicle, a 33000 mile 2004 Toyota Corolla from them. I also purchased an extended warranty along with the vehicle. From the very beginning, the car began shutting off at random moments while driving. When sent to the dealer, they would always refer me to the Toyota dealer, who would not be able to find the problem. When something finally was found (which ended up not being the fix anyway), it was never covered under my extended warranty. After trying to cancel my useless warranty, I was told that my extended warranty was not able to be cancelled, so I was stuck with paying for it. Now I am $2700 upside-down in a car that I cannot rely on to get me anywhere. Not once has the dealer offered to pay for rentals while the car was in the shop for weeks of diagnosis, nor was so much as one attempt made on their part to "make it right" with me. This is a shameful, shady way to do business.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Poor vehicle, lack of knowledgable staff, no cust. service

06/05/08

The opposite of a good dealership.. seriously

by ErinHodkins

For all of you Boulder folks trying to decide where to buy your next vehicle, I strongly urge you to stay far away from Valley Dodge. While the salesmen might be nice, you'll be in for a treat if you actually end up purchasing something from these crooks. The fun starts once you read the small print. If you want to be called back in the dealership the next day, because they forgot to collect the $500 handling fee, then have at it. I chose not to accept the new paperwork, so they offered me some sort of discount and forgot about the whole thing. Also, don't even consider actually have your car repaired here.. they can't get it diagnosed properly, but have fun replacing major components over and over. To make a long story short, take your business elsewhere, either Pollard, Boulder Toyota, or Flatirons if you want to be happy with your purchase.

• Pros: Convenient location
• Cons: Low Credibility, they won't stand behind their word.

03/27/08

Do your homework before you buy

by jmnash

My husband and I recently purchased a '97 Acura RL from Valley Dodge. The price was more than we initially intended to spend, but we took into consideration the reputation of the car itself, and the assurance that every car that comes into Valley Dodge goes through a 28-point inspection and detailing before being placed on the lot for sale. According to our salesman, if the car does not pass their inspection, it goes to auction. For this, the dealership charges $493. After negotiating the price of the car, that amount is then added. We were not thrilled to pay nearly $500 more than the actual price of the car, but rationalized that we could buy with more confidence because Valley Dodge had looked the car over carefully and deemed it in good mechanical condition and safe to drive. Unfortunately, that wasn't entirely the case. After buying the car, we found that the tire pressure was uneven in all four tires, the windshield wipers had to be replaced as the driver's side was unusable, and the upper arm bushings on the suspension need replacing. We also later discovered that the pinion seal on the front differential is leaking. We thought Valley Dodge would have noted those things and considered them to be a mechanical problem. A fuel line leak also developed shortly after purchase. It turned out that this was likely not preexisting, and Valley Dodge diagnosed the cause of the leak at no charge. They quoted a cost $137 for the repair. I took the car to Flatiron Acura for a second opinion, which they also provided at no charge. They then performed the repair for $110, had it done the next day, and gave me a 2008 Acura RDX as a loaner at no charge. Valley Dodge should be taking notes - that's class. I would do at least two things differently next time: 1) Don't take the dealer's word as to the condition of the car (no-brainer, I guess), and 2) Don't pay $500 for an inspection you can get during an oil change for $18.99. Also, buy at Flatiron Acura.