Big Star Honda

My husband and I bought new 2015 Honda CR-V LX at Big Star Honda today, and we had the worst buying experience ever. This was our second CR-V purchase (from somewhere else), so we knew how the whole process was going to be. We got several competitive out-the-door quotes from different places, but I decided to go to Big Star Honda because I had a good interaction with Mr. Zafar Ali Khan via e-mail/phone, who is very nice and honest, and because he said he will either match or beat the offer I got from another dealership. But the following is our experience: 1. NEGOTIATING PRICE As I was told that he can at least match, if not beat, the drive-out offer I got from another dealership, I expected that to happen. I was pretty open about the price, so Mr. Zafar already knew what price I wanted. When we walked in he told us that his manager will not allow him to match the price I brought from another dealership (although it was just $200 lower that what he quoted me). Secondly, the managers claimed that we have to pay extra $698 ($299 for identity theft protection + $399 for something unnecessary that I don't remember what exactly it was) because this car comes with these two options. At first, his manager and general manager told us that these options cannot be taken off from the car and that we HAVE TO pay for them. After we told them that we're going somewhere else because we do not want to pay for these extra fees, then they finally negotiated to take off these options and honor the quote they offered at first, but they said there will be no price-matching. We knew the managers lied to us about this car already having the two options on them that could not be taken out, but we decided to buy the car only because Mr. Zafar was trying to help us to get what he initially promised us. We were not 100% satisfied with the price of the car because it is not what was promised via e-mail, but it was okay because things got MUCH worsen afterwards!! Continue reading. 2. FINANCING THROUGH BIG STAR HONDA We walked into the financing manager named Tuyen Tran, who made our experience the worst dealership experience ever! First, the only reason we wanted to finance through Honda dealership was that they advertised to give 0.9% APR for 60 months for 2015 Honda CR-V's. I even screen-captured this on my phone as a proof. Tuyen said that they cannot to 0.9% APR on 2015 CR-V's. Oh, Really? Then why do you guys false-advertise on your website? This "deal" was on their website for at least the past two weeks, and he said that there is no such deal even if the website says so. Now, both my husband and I knew our credit score was pretty good (A or A- grade depending on credit company), but Tuyen said "your credit score is bad, so we cannot give you a good financing rate." The first offer he gave us is 5.99%. When we asked him if there is any way to lower the interest rate, he said he cannot because it is based on our credit. So we decided to go to two other banks where both banks offered us VERY competitive interest rates. The lowest interest rates we got was 1.86% for 60 months, so we were planning to finance through Chase. On the same day, Tuyen called me and told me that he can try to match that rate I got from other bank, so we thought we should give it a try because he called us and promised to us. We went back to Big Star Honda, and the first word came out of Tuyen's mouth was, "We can only give you 2.49%, and you must finance through us to buy this car. That is the rule." REALLY? IS THAT REALLY WHAT HE SAID? We gave him a chance to make up, but he is [non-permissible content removed]. He promised us to match the low interest we got from Chase, but when we came in he said we either go with 2.49% interest with them (Honda) or bring the car back. I was so upset that I came out of that office and told Mr. Zafar that I will return the car because that is what the financing manager wants. This is not the end; Tuyen told my husband that 1). he can lower the interest rate to 2.14% but he will have to increase the car price, 2). if not increase the price, then we will have to add GAP for this rate, and 3) bring the car back if you don't want to accept these. After I came back into the office with Mr. Zafar, then Tuyen told Mr. Zafar that he will take care of it and we will be satisfied. "Satisfied? No, I am not satisfied with this," I said. Then the manager asked me what I want. I told him exactly what I told him over the phone which was that we will get the rate we got from Chase. Finally, he gave us the rate we wanted with attitude, and I will never ever ever want to work with this kind of despicable person. SUMMARY Go to Big Star Honda only if: - you don't mind their dishonesty and "bad" surprises with hidden fees - you are used to at getting treated like the way I was treated by the financing manager (bunch of lies, false-advertisement, false-promising, and lies!!!!) Note: I did not mean to say anything bad about Mr. Zafar Ali Khan because he is very nice and helpful. However, this dealership and financing manager are just awful.