Phoenix Arizona metro-area dealers

[jMoMo]

Today I test-drove the Honda dealerships in the greater Phoenix Arizona metro area, including Mesa, Tempe, Avondale, Scottsdale, etcetera.

No, I don't mean that I test-drove vehicles. I test-drove the dealerships. This allows me to figure out which dealers I want to do business with and which ones I want to steer clear from. If I'm going to blow $40K on a vehicle, I don't want to do it at some sleazy dealership where I'm going to have to really worry about that 30 pages of small print that I sign.

Back in 2005 I bought a new Mazda car -- one of the first 2006 models to be delivered in state. To get the vehicle that I wanted, with the right features, I had to deal with Earnhardt of Tempe. In my opinion, as well as what I have heard from others, Earnhardt dealerships are a bunch of terribly aggressive, nasty, scum-sucking bastards.

Currently, I'm looking for a Honda Ridgeline, and I did not want to repeat what I had to go through to get the deal that I wanted on my Mazda.

One of the few possible up-sides to dealing with an aggressive dealership is that you can treat them to equally sleazy tactics and don't have to feel bad about it. However, this is reserved for those willing and able to pull sales negotiations. Unfortunately, their systems are usually well-stacked against you, so this isn't easy to pull off. The sales persons may be young/stupid/sleazy, but managers are usually there to prevent them from giving too good a deal.

There are a couple of common, reoccurring, themes or factors that I see in aggressive/sleazy dealerships. They include young sales staff, sales staff/sharks waiting outside the dealership ready to "attack" potential buyers, the paper to jot down your personal info is whipped out within the first fifteen minutes (without asking for a test drive of finance lookup), sales staff too busy talking to listen to their customers, and other offences listed here; http://www.carbuyingtips.com/carintro.html

One might argue that a single or even a few bad sales staff should not reflect upon the dealership, but it's not a matter that they should be let go, so much as they were hired in the first place. The staff employed are a reflection of the over-all service, ethos, and quality that can be expected from the dealership in all regards.

Disclaimer: These are my personal opinions and should not be taken as fact or the end-all for your decision making about which dealerships to visit. These opinions were gathered from a single day of car shopping, so only provide a small window of opportunity to fully judge each dealership.

Below are my results. My test drive occurred on a mid-September Saturday.

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Showcase Honda

I was not terribly impressed with their lot size, selection, nor sales person behavior. A number of the common sleaze quotes came out, and they did everything they could to sell me a vehicle that very same day, though I said I was just checking inventory and making up my mind on options and colors.
Sleaze Meter = 6/10. Could have been worse.

Earnhardt Honda

True to their name, the sales guy couldn't shut his yapper for anything. He was so busy talking smack about other vehicles and manufactures that he didn't stop for a second to actually ask what I was looking for. He was very ignorant about the Ridgeline, but kept making things up anyway. The crap that came out of this guy's mouth was an amazing display of flying fecal fireworks. While he went off to check inventory, I was asked "Is someone helping you?" by three other sales staffers in less than two minutes. Tried to get my personal info. The entire dealership was covered in buttered fingerprints, due to their popcorn machine near the front door -- probably not as great an idea as someone had thought. Greasy goes with sleazy. Earnhardt is the kind of place where I would be concerned with them suing me for just stating my opinion.
Sleaze Meter = 9/10. Avoid anything Earnhardt. Go north to Arrowhead.

Right Honda

Initially, I had a bad feeling about Right Honda, but then that turned around. I was able to browse the lot without trouble and then when I asked for help, I was promptly greeted by a zero-pressure gentlemen who was very knowledgable about the Ridgelines and showed me exactly what I wanted to see without a ounce of weasel-wording. They didn't have a large selection of Ridgelines, but they had what I was looking for.
Sleaze Meter = 2/10.

Tempe Honda

I was offered assistance from an employee who was transversing the parking lot. That is, they didn't set specifically to speak with me while I was browsing. When I requested a little bit of information from another employee, I was told what I wanted to know and they didn't try to push me any further. I was able to inspect their inventory, take notes, and then continue on my way.
Sleaze Meter = 2/10.

Honda Of Superstition Springs

Again, I was offered assistance from an employee who just happened to be on the lot, but who didn't go there specifically for me and wasn't waiting for someone to pounce on. He answered a few brief questions, was polite and knowledgable, and allowed me to continue my note-taking and to browse their inventory without hassle.
Sleaze Meter = 2/10.

Honda Cars Of Mesa

I actually had trouble getting help here, and then the sales person had to hurry off to help a customer that they had already been working with. They might have been understaffed. Their lot looked anemic, and these downtown Mesa dealers are not in a prime location as they were 20+ years ago. They probably deal with mostly used vehicles and trade-ins anyway. However, I was looking for a Honda Ridgeline and I did notice at least two modified Ridgelines in their parking areas, with custom grills, rims, and other accessories. Smaller dealership. They are not in a prime location, so I think business might be a little tougher for them. I had mixed feelings but not much to go on.
Sleaze Meter = 3/10. They didn't have any inventory to sell me anyway.

Bell Honda

I had a bad feeling about this one from the moment I pulled into their lot. They have a sort of welcome/security(hostage) booth in the middle of the entry area, which is an immediate bad sign (Earnhardt also employs these at some of their dealerships). After parking, I was assaulted by two sales sharks immediately upon exiting my vehicle. I bolted for the door within five minutes, probably more like three minutes. Let's check off the list of offences;
Assaulted immediately upon exiting my vehicle? Check.
Double-teamed by two sales guys? Check.
First-person-presumptuous, arrogant, tell-you-what-you-want attitudes? Check.
Didn't actually listen to anything I said? Check.
Treated like a piece of meat? Check.
Sweaty, fat, sleazy, 20-something with cheeto-fingers? Check. (Disclaimer: I'm in my 20s.)
Tried to get my address and phone number within the first five minutes for a credit check and finance lookup? Check.
Tried to chase me down before I could leave the parking lot? Check.
Sleaze Meter = 10/10!!! Whoo-hoo! Avoid this place unless you're desperate.

Arrowhead Honda

I was able to browse their lot without much trouble. Then, I was offered some help by a sales associate. He snuck up behind me, so I'm not sure if he came out to help me or if he was already there. There was an older couple checking out a couple of CRVs next to me and he may have been working with them. He was knowledgable, helpful, and walked around the lot with me after asking what I was looking for. He successfully identified what kind of buyer I was and then adjusted his behavior appropriately. I was looking for a Black Ridgeline, but despite a decent inventory on the front lot, they had no blacks at all. So, he checked their computer and they had a black 2007 exactly like what I was looking for in their back lot, but it also had the navigation system, which I wasn't looking for. He used this as a sales pitch opportunity; "I'll let you have this one with Navi for the same price as one without." I didn't bite, but that's a intelligent smooth-move right there. Though I wasn't going to buy anything today, he gets bonus points for being creative without putting pressure on me. Looks like a good dealership. Close to the freeway, easy to find, decent lot size with a good selection of vehicles.
Sleaze Meter = 2/10.

Summary;

• Showcase Honda = Mixed bag
• Earnhardt Honda = Plague. Run away
• Right Honda = No problem
• Tempe Honda = No problem
• Honda Of Superstition Springs = No problem
• Honda Cars Of Mesa = Almost no inventory. Looked like it was ready to shut down or something
• Bell Honda = Satan owns this joint. You're not leaving till they have your money. Now bend over!
• Arrowhead Honda = No problems

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Arizona Honda Dealerships
Information compiled from honda.com

Showcase Honda
1500 E Camelback Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85014
(866)658-4924

Tempe Honda
8030 S Autoplex Loop
Tempe, AZ 85284
(480)421-4800

Honda Cars Of Mesa
1320 W Broadway
Mesa, AZ 85202
(866)211-0581

Bell Honda
701 W Bell Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85023
(602)298-2004

Earnhardt Honda
10151 W Papago Fwy
Avondale, AZ 85323
(623)463-4456

Right Honda
7875 E Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(480)778-2440

Honda Service Center Of Gilbert
1625 W Sunrise Blvd
Gilbert, AZ 85233
(480)813-5883

Arrowhead Honda
8380 W Bell Rd
Peoria, AZ 85382
(623)815-2080

Honda Of Superstition Springs
6229 E Auto Park Dr
Mesa, AZ 85206
(480)355-6900

Prescott Honda
1240 W Iron Springs Rd
Prescott, AZ 86305
(800)711-1515

Dobbs Honda
810 W Wetmore Rd
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520)292-0790

Chapman Honda
4646 E 22nd St
Tucson, AZ 85711
(520)748-1000

Flagstaff Honda
1160 W Route 66
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928)774-7200

Brent Dana's Country Club Honda
1000 E 32nd St
Yuma, AZ 85365
(928)344-1000

Findlay-Nolte Honda
3800 Stockton Hill Rd
Kingman, AZ 86409
(928)681-4041

[mrquattro]

Make an appointment with me and I will help you out. I work at the anemic looking Honda Cars of Mesa. BTW, in the process of relocating to San Tan Honda, we have moved most of our new hondas to the back of the building. There are about 45-50 ridgelines in stock as of Saturday. We are privately owned and operated and have been for 30+ years. We do have a selection of ridglelines as this can be verified through our website. San Tan Honda will be open in December and we will relocate the inventory around Thanksgiving.

PM me if you want contact info, etc.

[Ahab]

I don't cruise car lots unless it's Sunday with nobody around and then it's only to check out some external features at my leisure. Last year when I wanted to purchase a new Civic EX for my wife I went on line and contacted 7 Honda dealers within a 120mi radius. All responded, all but 2 wanted me to come in and talk, the others would not quote an out the door price price. Of the 2 that quoted a price (which was the same) I chose the one who threw in an accessory package. (I was dealing with the Assistant Fleet Sales Manager.) I called him to verify the OTDP and told him I would be coming in the next day with a cashiers check. My neighbor drove me in and after a test drive it took less than 10 minutes to sign the papers. Took a bit longer for the check to clear but the AFSM gave us a $20 and said go have lunch on me. You should be good to go when you get back....: I was.

[meanmachine19]

Do internet/fleet sales.

I was quoted a few weeks ago from Tempe Honda for a new RL at $29,5K with nav. I deleted the email because I chose not to look at another RL for now.

Mike Stanley is who I dealt with. Nice guy. Tell him Kevin sent you.

If you get your RL in time, make the Phoenix meet!

[rovertk]

I got my Ridgeline RTL with NAV from Honda Of Superstition Springs. ask for
Mike Poirier Internet/Fleet Director he will treat you better than family and you should get a great deal, I did.

[jMoMo]

Originally Posted by mrquattro

Make an appointment with me and I will help you out. I work at the anemic looking Honda Cars of Mesa. BTW, in the process of relocating to San Tan Honda, we have moved most of our new hondas to the back of the building. There are about 45-50 ridgelines in stock as of Saturday. We are privately owned and operated and have been for 30+ years. We do have a selection of ridglelines as this can be verified through our website. San Tan Honda will be open in December and we will relocate the inventory around Thanksgiving.

PM me if you want contact info, etc.

That's a +1 good right there. Thanks for responding!

I'll take a look and get in contact with you when I'm ready. I'm going on vacation out of state in a couple of weeks and won't be buying until I get back. I don't want to buy a new truck and then have it sit there for a week while I'm not around!

I did like seeing those modified Ridgelines hanging around. I just couldn't see your inventory.

Take it easy

[jMoMo]

Originally Posted by meanmachine19

Do internet/fleet sales.

I was quoted a few weeks ago from Tempe Honda for a new RL at $29,5K with nav. I deleted the email because I chose not to look at another RL for now.

Mike Stanley is who I dealt with. Nice guy. Tell him Kevin sent you.

If you get your RL in time, make the Phoenix meet!

Didn't know there was going to be one. I'll look that up. Thanks!

[jMoMo]

Originally Posted by rovertk

I got my Ridgeline RTL with NAV from Honda Of Superstition Springs. ask for
Mike Poirier Internet/Fleet Director he will treat you better than family and you should get a great deal, I did.

I appreciate the advice. I'll give them a chance.

[dlg_az]

Originally Posted by jMoMo

I appreciate the advice. I'll give them a chance.

Definitely do so. I got my Ridgeline from there, and happened to point rovertk there, too. It's a great experience. Beat all other dealerships I went to. My worst experience was with Honda Cars of Mesa. My next worst experience was Tempe Honda. Others I won't bother wasting my typing on. Superstition Springs Fleet dept is the way to go, with Mike Porier (prounounced poor-ee-er). Great guy, no hard sell, listens to all you have to say. Knows how to treat a woman buying a car (= not like a flaming, clueless idiot). Honda Cars of Mesa could use reams of pointers from them. ;-)

[notoriousmr]

I've never defended a dealer before but I must here. Now its only my opinion and of course its subjective. The only reason I'm even bothering is because jmomo felt it necessary to trash almost every dealer in PHX. I've had good luck with earnhardt and I WOULD buy another ridge from them. Just my 2 cents.