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DH and I are still going back and forth over what type of car I am going to get next. I am considering everything at this point, from wagons to SUVs to crossovers to....minivans.
So I think I am going to have to test drive quite a few things. I would like to know any wonderful experiences you ladies have had at any area dealerships, and also which ones to avoid if possible. Thank you.
Re: Car dealership recs
ugh - I am so sorry you have to go car shopping and especially w/ a broad range of options. I'm totally dreading having to shop for cars.
This. My aunt got her Toyota Corrolla there a few years ago. DH got his Honda from Honda City in Glen Burnie. I actually bought my Honda at Honda Dealership in Ellicott City (Can't remember the name). And we got the Pilot at the Honda Dealership in Parkville (Mile One). Good Luck!
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We just got our Sienna at Carmax in White Marsh and had a very good experience there.
We went to several dealers and did a lot of price shopping bc we were so convinced that Carmax was overpriced, but in the end it actually wasn't for what we wanted. We just got bad vibes from all of the dealers - I can't describe it. There wasn't one that made me feel like they actually wanted my business (we went to two in Bel Air, one in Reisterstown, one in Catonsville, and one in dundalk, and it was the same thing at all of them.) Carmax had the best service.
Yeah and I'm not sure how we are going to go car shopping with two small kids. Get a babysitter? I think not. we'll prob have to take the day off and go while they are in daycare. or else I go by myself, yuck.
yeah - the kids don't help either!
When we were looking last year (or year before), we were lookign for me, so I drove by dealerships a few afternoons and just looked at the cars/sat in the models in the showroom to narrow it for myself down to 2 or 3 options and then had my mom watch E for a few hours while we both test drove, etc.
We have used Valley Motors Volkswagen/Subaru in Hunt Valley for our last 3 cars. I highly recommend John, he is a retired pastor and he is very upfront about what they can/cannot do.
We went to the dealership with the intention to buy a Tiguan (VW's smaller SUV). John suggested that we look at the Passat, because it had a lot more leg room in the back. (ie more room for carseats.) The Passat he showed us was several thousand dollars LESS than the SUV we looked at.
We ended up getting the fully loaded Passat for almost exactly what we would have paid for the base model SUV. DH loves his new car, which is great. He wasn't happy about having to trade in his sporty CC, but it wouldn't fit 2 car seats.
Good Luck no matter what you decide!
I second this dealership, although I forget the name of our salesmen since we used different ones on both of the days we were there. We test drove a Subaru Impreza Hatchback, I think, and it felt like a toy car to me, even coming from a Honda Civic. When I test drove the VW Jetta, I fell in love... down to the sound of the door closing in the showroom. I would have loved a Tiguan but it wasn't in the budget. Since we were buying on the last day of the year, we got a next-level Jetta at base price. So that is also a plug for VW in addition to this dealer :-)
GL in your search. When DH and I were shopping, we divided and conquered. We each checked out a dealer or two individually and then compared notes and narrowed it down to where we should go together.
Bob bell in glen burnie sucks. We have had a horrible time there with the 2 vehicles we have bought there.
Jones in bel air - they are getting better. We have bought our new sonata there and a used dodge ram. Good service. Just need to stay on top of them.
Wilkens subaru - love them. Super nice and the best dealership I have worked with.
Carmax white marsh - we bought my BMW x3 there last year. I feel like I cheated there and I'm not sure I would buy from them again??? They do have really good prices but I would make I get a warranty next time. Thank goodness for the BMW warranty otherwise I would have lost a lot of money.
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I had terrible experiences at Russell Toyota in Catonsville and Toyota Carmax in Laurel. Russell made us wait 20 minutes to see a sales person who they said would be "right out". We said we would just come back later. We ended up leaving after 20 minutes. The salesman at the Laurel Toyota/Carmax REFUSED to speak directly to me or even look at me despite the fact that *I* was purchasing the car for me. All comments/questions were directed to my husband.
ETA: Fitzgerald was the best. They had the lowest price, but I needed a car ASAP and I would have needed to wait a week for a car. We took their price to Antwerpen and got a price match.
We bought our used Volvo wagon from Annapolis Volvo. Same ownership as Annapolis Suburu. John was our sales guy and was super nice- he calls us every year on the anniversary of us buying the car (I am expecting the call in the next week or so!) which is a nice touch. Also they have a kids' room which was greatwhen we were under the maintenance plan there and I would go back w/ DD.
I have a feeling we will end up buying a new car around this time next year and I can see DH going back and looking @ Volvo sedans.