Rancho Santa Margarita Honda

I bought my car one month ago. I found a charge on my contract for $379.80 for accessories. When I returned to the dealership to ask what items the charge... was for I was sent from one Department to the next with each department representative really not knowing what the charge was for but still offering some sort of conjured up guess. It was suggested on three different occasions perhaps the charge was for wheel locks. My car has hubcaps! That must be their go to answer when they're discovered deceptively slipping in extra charges that aren't part of a negotiated deal. I've returned to the dealership four times within the last 30 days just to be routed from the service department to finance to my salesman to a sales manager. My salesman gave me a ridiculous explanation after speaking to a sales manager off the sales floor, saying they had to put something on that line for accounting purposes. Really? Well, if that was the case they could have put $1 not $379.80. The finance manager explained the charge wasn't from the finance department and I should ask my salesman. Why would I talk to my salesman again when he clearly doesn't have the authority to do anything about it and he gave me the lamest explanation to date? I went back a week later and spoke with a sales manager who took my name and number but never investigated or called me back. My guess... He promptly wadded up the paper with my contact information and tossed it in the circular bin. All parties I spoke with acted as if this accessory charge was some kind of enigma and they weren't empowered to rectify the problem or give a refund. Why the run around? I believe they were hoping I would just tire of their antics and drop my quest for a valid explanation of the charges. Finally, today I spoke with a new sales manager. He pulled up my deal on his computer and within five minutes the mystery was solved. He showed me on his computer screen I was charged for a cargo tray which was negotiated and included in the price of the car. I find it Mighty peculiar that none of the employees on my previous visits could tell me what that pesky charge was for. Apparently, this new sales manager missed the meeting when RSM Honda discussed how to mislead and bamboozle their customers. Oddly, not one employee I have dealt with regarding this matter has the authority to refund the sneaky overcharge, all claiming I need to talk to yet another person who always, coincidentally, has the day off. My overall experience with Rancho Santa Margarita Honda has left me with the foul taste of dishonesty, deviousness and unethical conduct in my mouth.

BEWARE. They will immediately agree to a price via phone, internet email and even in person...until ya sign the papers..then the invoice trick is pulled... out where it’s a whoops we made some errors as we just can’t do this price because of x y z. The main manager is a disgrace and uses sleazy tactics to try to bully you. Just walk away. The next dealer gladly took our money without the insults. Try dealers further north. Tip-dude Anthony who claims to be general manager/partner is reeally snake like with his tactics and just downright unethical. Don’t play that game. How does this place stay in business?!

The deal was completed online thru the Internet Sales team, with a very favorable price for the car we were looking for. When we went to the dealership... to drive the car, we were given a written price offer The car was the right color, all of the features we wanted and with the savings on the price, we were able to buy the extended warranty, enabled the security system and purchase the paint preservation system. We also financed the car with Honda finance and saved even more compared to my credit union financing.

I turned from a proud customer to very disappointed customer in last 2 years. It is all started 18 months back when my friend Karthikeya Rajamani bought... his odyssey from RSM Honda. He moved to RSM few months back and he bought his odyssey there and happily referred RSM Honda dealership to all our friends. from that point onwards, I personally accompanied my friends and bought 5 different cars from the same dealer. Worked with Anthony directly. Highlight was that my own brother came from Walnut creek, CA to RSM Honda and bought CR-V because my strong recommendations. But my last 2 transactions with RSM Honda (especially with Anthony) were merely disgraceful. Pattern is, one of the internet sales guy \ manager promises a deal thru email. when we went to the dealership in person, they made us spent 3 hours by collecting all personal info, pull credit, show the car and explain about all features., Anthony comes in to picture to finalize the deal and he finds clerical mistakes and invalidate entire deal and start everything from beginning. for example, in our last deal RSM honda manager Matt promised us 2018 Honday EX-L package for 357 incl tax per month for 36 month lease with 2k down. But last minute Anthony said, that is for 72 month lease (I never heard anyone took 72 month lease in my 10years in California). So the best he can offer is 529 incl tax a month. What a change. When questioned, Anthony started raising his voice and started using all sort of tactics to make us angry. We totally spent 5 hours on the dealership and came home empty handed. We lost our time, personal credit was pulled, Anthony insulted me and my friend to the core. I felt really bad for my two friends who lost their time and respect only because of my recommendation to this dealership. I strongly recommend avoiding this dealership, because all deals must go thru Anthony in the end. I repeat again, Anthony was doing great and sold 5 cars to me and my friends earlier but his last two transactions were completely wrong with me and my friends. Not sure what changed.

The reason I am writing such a detailed review is to save other buyers like me from the ordeal of stress, and disappointment from dealing with this dealership.... RSMHonda misused my personal information, and didn’t honor their committed price. The dealership originally quoted and confirmed a lease price for 2018 Oddysey EXL via email, phone and in-person; then jacked up the price owing to “manual error”, after getting my personal details (address, salary, etc.) and after checking my credit score. As a customer, I did my diligence and confirmed the car and deal nearly 6 times - in writing, over the phone, and in person. The deal has been reviewed by three different people (Internet Sales Manager, Internet Sales Consultant, and Sales Manager) – two of them are managers. Considering all this, it is difficult to believe this was a genuine mistake. It seems like a sales tactics to get the customer into the dealership and apply high pressure sales tactics to sell them at a different price. I am also disappointed that they found the price mistake, immediately after taking down my personal details (Salary info) and running my credit check (4 hours after I reached the dealership) in person. I strongly believe they customize the deal based on the customer’s salary and credit rating, which is against fair and transparent pricing for all customers. Now I am left with a hard inquiry that will stay in my credit history for 2 years and lower my credit score by a few points. The dealership used high-pressure sales strategy, aggressive provoking language and negotiation to lead me into a sale on the new price. My suggestions for fellow car buyers: • Avoid this dealership. I am not concluding other dealerships are better, but this one is not. • If you really have to go to this dealership, go with friends and do not take family. It is a highly male-dominated not family salesman, who are acting and strategizing to extract the most money from you. • Do your research and go equipped with facts. Do not walk in hoping to get honest details (For example, they said they will throw in Gap insurance which would otherwise be $800 at other Honda dealers. Later I understand it is a standard in all Honda dealership). • Do not expect fair pricing. Be ready negotiate.

I prefer someone that is a native English speaker. Sales guy didn't know much about the car we were looking at. Didn't try to sell us on anything else....

I had an appt with Hamid but he was out, so talked with Hassan. Hassan was very polite & helpful. I told him I'd call back on Friday & was ready to buy.... I wanted a 2016 & he had me drive a 2016 & 2017. He gave me three quotes & my friend & I left. Friday morning, I called Hamid. I shared with him what transpired when I talked with Hassan. I had three quotes, not on a contract, but wasn't there to sign that night, so that was fine. Hamid said he'd get the info from Hassan & get back with me. He didn't call back. Bottom line Hassan probably gave me a better deal than Hamid would have. The manager eventually called me back & I believe it was he who said "we had a special going (that weekend) & about 45 people came in on Sat & 35 on Sunday & that's probably why no one called you back. We were really busy." Really!! I used this dealership because I went through the Costco program & they were the closest dealership. In fairness to Hamid, my friend & I thought the prices included a navigation system, but Hamid did not have that on his estimate & I realized that later. That was my mistake, but Hassan could have addressed that issue. I finally told him I wouldn't buy from them after that kind of treatment. I didn't give them the satisfaction of losing my temper. I have purchased a 2017 from another dealership & I'm very happy with the purchase.

Lance Curtis was very patience and nice in helping us to purchase a 2016 new Honda Civic EX on 11/25/2016. Although the final out-of-door price was slightly... higher than we expected, but glad to get the dream car with the perfect ext/int color for my wonderful son!

Everyone at this dealership was nice, professional and very helpful. They bent over backwords to help me find the right car for my needs and help me with... price and financing. I really couldn't have had a better experience than I had here. Lance was the internet sales manager who really made it a very pleasant experience. I would highly recommend this dealership to anyone looking to buy a Honda. The facility is beautiful.

Had a nice, fair car buying experience, everything went smoothly and felt comfortable throughout the process. Ron Munday was very helpful and all our questions... were answered.