Russell & Smith Ford

I waited about two weeks before writing this review. I wanted to give myself some time to cool off and be more objective about it. This review is somewhat lengthy, but I want to tell the whole story and give both sides of it. I will start out by saying I will NEVER deal with Russell and Smith Ford again. I found the salesmen to be untruthful and unreliable. I only wish, I had read some of the reviews posted on the dealership before I started dealing with them. It has been my experience, buying a car is a stressful and agonizing procedure. When a woman walks into a dealership by herself, the price automatically goes up. So, when I decided to by one, I held out hope it wouldn’t be as bad as I had anticipated. No such luck having dealt with Russell and Smith Ford! I located a used 2017 Sonata at Russell and Smith Ford I was interested in, low mileage, no accidents or damage reported on the car. (Based on the carfax) Emailed the dealership through the car search website I was using. Received a reply with a work-up on the car in a timely manner. The base price offer sent to me was $16,891.00, which I felt was a good price. So, I called them up and said I would be there the next day to test drive the car and try to make a deal on it. Arriving at the dealership I was greeted by friendly sales reps, offered refreshments and a nice place to wait while they brought the car up for me to test drive. I made my wishes very clear, I did not want to haggle about prices. Not having seen the car, I assumed the car I test drove was the one I had made the inquiry about. I didn’t realize it was a different car until after I had purchased the one I bought. The one I test drove was a dark gray Sonata, the one I bought was a silver Sonata. But, I am getting ahead of myself. The actual purchasing of the car was a very stressful and unpleasant ordeal. First, I was expecting to pay around $18,200 based on the price sent to me. The work-up and pricing presented to me the day of the test drive was way over $19,200. When I inquired about the cost, showing the salesman the info sent to me, he gave me excuses about that cost was based on a new car, a computer glitch, and several others that made no sense. Told the salesman, I was not prepared to pay the cost he was asking and thanked him, and got up to leave. He asked me what I was willing to offer and I replied $18,200 based on the price sent to me. Of course, he said he couldn’t accept an offer like that. I thanked him for his time, left and made my way to my truck. Another salesman chased me down as I was backing out, trying to leave the parking lot. Claimed he was the floor manager, and would really like to sell me the car, wanting to know what it would take to make a deal. I let him know, I was not going to haggle about a price in the middle of the parking lot. He could text or email me the price he was willing to sell me the car. After exchanging texts for several days, we finally agreed on a price, $18,400 drive out and the dealership would deliver the car to me. I sent all the info requested so they could get started on the contracts and I wouldn’t have to wait a lengthy time before signing the papers. I arrived at the dealership about three hours later after the final text, prepared to sign the papers. Upon arrival, I was informed they had not received my email. I pulled it, on my phone, to show it had been sent and received. So I had to wait for three hours or more while they completed the paperwork for me to sign. That was on December 31 and I made arrangements to have the car delivered to me January 4, because of the holiday and several rainy days of weather following Jan. 1. I did not get the car delivered as promised. After several texts and phone conversations, which consisted of lies and excuses, the car was delivered to me a day and half late. I immediately noticed the difference in the color of the car. But it was the 2.0 turbo Sonata I had located on line. I didn’t drive the car for a couple of days, once I did, I notice road noise coming in on the passenger side, that had not been present on the car I had test drove. I had my mechanic/bodyman look the car over, and immediately he noticed the passenger door had been painted and upon further inspection the passenger side of the car had been damaged and repaired, a poor job of repair. A fact not made known to me through the Carfax or other paperwork or communications from the dealership. I had to pay him to make the necessary repairs on the car, so it would not have road noise and the door would close properly. Just some of the repairs included, gluing the rubber seal around the door, adjusting the door level and other repairs in order to make the car ready to drive. I had to order some minor parts for the outside of the car in order for it to obtain its original look. So, to sum up my experience with Russell & Smith Ford. • They were not honest about the cost of the car. • Did not present the correct car for a test drive. • Lied during the procedure of purchasing the car and delivery • Withheld truthful information about the car being damaged. So I end my review, saying once again, I found the salesmen and dealership to be dishonest and not forth coming with the truth. I would not deal or buy another car from Russell and Smith Ford.