Michael's Toyota

04/23/2008 Posted by Lyndal

I have bought many cars over the years and have always been an advocate for Toyotas. So when I was ready to buy a new car I chose Michael's Toyota in Bellevue - huge mistake. I have never had such a bad experience buying anything, much less a car. The negotiation process took 2 days, yes, 2 days. Apparently, telling them what you are willing and able to pay for a car is not enough - they like to ask you to leave, call you a gazillion times and then act like they are doing you a favor. I got over it and we put the deal together. I go to leave the check engine light comes on in the car I have just purchased. I turn off the engine, go to the salesperson and am told that I can bring the car back to the service department, they will give me a loaner car and they will fix my car. I have now owned the car for 17 days, it has been in their shop for 10 of those days. I was informed by the service department yesterday (when I called because no one had called me to tell me what the status of my car was) that the repairs on the car are about $2600 and they want me to pay half. If I am not willing to pay for half the repairs they can try to find another car that I can buy (they do not have the same make and model on their lot). During negotiation I was shown a receipt for when they took the vehicle in as a trade that showed that they replaced the spark plugs and changed the oil. The first time I took it to their service department I was told on that visit that they just then changed the spark plugs and it not been done before. When I found out the status of the car yesterday I asked for them to give me back the car I traded in and they could keep theirs - I was told this was not an option as my car was gone. My car is on their lot at this moment and listed on their website for sale (did they think I wouldn't notice?). Overall, they have a slimy sales staff and no high aspirations for their reputation, integrity level or future. Buy somewhere else.

Cons: Dishonest staff, no service

12/20/2007 Posted by bellevue123

I've been going for service here for 23 years. Last time, they checked off they washed the vehicle but didn't. We were concerned because they said they had. What else was checked off but wasn't done? But 23 years is a long time. This time we took the car in for it's 30k tune up. They did wash it. They just didn't put enough antifreeze back in it. Overheated car on I-90 in the dark and rain? Do they care. No. Had to take it back the next day. Missed more work. They added antifreeze to the water I already put in. That's it. It's sad to see how low they have sunk. I've owned toyotas since 1984. Next time I'll try somewhere else that wants a good reputation and satisifed clients. Free coffee mugs are nice, but don't so you much good stuck on the highway.

Pros: Free coffee mug

Cons: You may die on the way home from their service department.

11/29/2007 Posted by johnh445

Went in with CASH to pay for a new Toyota. Nearly 5 hours later we got our car. The haggling didn't take too long (except they low-balled us on our trade-in), but they kept coming back every 20 minutes telling us it shouldn't be too much longer. We don't know why it took so long. Even though we paid cash they had us sign a Power of Attorney stating this was a routine procedure (we have an excellent credit score anyway). When we got in our car to leave, they said they couldn't give us our remotes that remotely lock and unlock the car. They said their safe had mysteriously locked because their computers were all down and they wouldn't be able to get in it for a few days. So we were given our keys only. The next day we called to find out where our remotes were and the receptionist told us their safe was fine and there wasn't (or hadn't been) any problems with it. So we stopped by to pick up the remotes. Someone went to look for them. In the meantime, we wandered back to the service area and happened to overhear someone (it turned out to be a manager) say they needed some remotes made because our remotes hadn't been delivered to their dealership. So the story they told us appeared to be fabricated. The salesperson told us he was just telling us what he was told (yeah right). He said it would take a few minutes to get the remotes. When we stopped by a couple of days later to get them, the service person said they had to hook our car up to their computer and run something for about an hour! I found our salesrep who went to talk to them about this, and low and behold, it only took a few minutes. What is with this dealership? They are the most dishonest people around. Will never go there again.

Cons: Dishonest dealership

11/16/2007 Posted by sambillyjr

I have 2 Toyota Priuses and I live about 2 miles from this dealership. Every time I have been to Michael's for service I have questioned their honesty. Each time I have gone to them for an oil change they attempt to sell me an air filter and a cabin filter. The first time I took my new Prius for its first oil change at 3,000 miles I asked them to call me on my cell when it was ready. I immediately went for walk and before I could get out of their car lot I received a call on my cell phone saying I needed a new air filter and a new cabin filter because they were both covered with large rodent feces. I was very puzzled as the service rep kept repeating that he would not keep these filters in use on his car. I told him to change the filters and that I wanted to see the old ones. When I returned they could only produce one of the filters and it contained ONE very small grass seed. I told the service rep that this was not from a rodent and that it was a seed. He told me he had never seen rodent feces and did not know what they looked like. Once I brought in my Toyota for warranty work. They had to drain the gas tank on my Prius. When I came to pick up my car I was told I did not owe anything for parts and labor but I did owe $10 for gas. As soon as I drove the car off the lot and on to the street the "add fuel" light came on. When I called to tell the service rep what happened he seemed puzzled and said he put in the gas himself. When I filled the tank it took 10 gallons. I have since driven to Seattle and Edmonds for all car services and have been happy. One last point is that Michael's seldom washes my car after service even when I request a wash. Other dealers wash my cars even if I made no request.

Pros: Beautiful building and free soft drinks

Cons: no confidence in their service and in their recommendations

05/03/2007 Posted by lauratho

I just bought a new Prius at Toyota of Bellevue a week ago and I still can't get over how great the whole experience was! I told the salesman exactly what I wanted, and he found just that. He gave me options and I never felt pressured once. It was my first time buying a car on my own, and everyone that helped me was sure to explain everything clearly so that I knew just what I was doing! I drove my Prius to Eugene the day after I got it and everything was perfect! I couldn't be happier with my experience and I know that I will always go to Toyota of Bellevue for cars in the future. If you haven't gone there yet, you should check it out! The building is gorgeous and all the employees were great!

Pros: Experienced staff, quick service, amazing cars!

Cons: There were too many great cars to choose from!

01/21/2007 Posted by frontierguy

I drive a Toyota truck, have always done my own oil changes, decided to go to the new dealership for what I thought might be a "we want your business" decent experience. Drove into the shiny clean massive service bay, was 'greeted' by a woman who could not find the vin # of my truck. I asked for an oil change, was given a beeper not unlike what you get at The OutBack....50 minutes later I saw my truck being driven through the parking lot and parked, another 10 minutes and I approached the service bay and asked. He said, "oh yeah" we're sorta busy here. What I didn't know (and they didn't say) was that you get oil / synthetic BLEND oil, MUCH more expensive and with out option UNLESS you already knew they were going to do that and expressly requested regular oil for your oil change. Thankfully I spoke with another associate and discovered that you can go back to regular oil after such an event. I won't be back to Michael's Toyota.

Pros: the service bay is cleaner than my apartment

Cons: their profit is all that matters....they will deceive you.

11/29/2006 Posted by mikadogirl

Oh- be prepared. No matter what facts you bring from the internet, they will say those numbers are lies. They will try to force you to buy the car you test drive. Then they play the "good cop" (your sales guy) "bad cop" (the manager- a short rude man). They actually won't deal with you because "don't you think your salesman deserves to be paid?" Unreal. You just shouldn't enter here- go somewhere else. Unless you want to witness their by the book attempts to make you pay the most money. I don't even understand their tactics in this day and age. They use computer screens to show you how "in demand" your car is- and how you will just have to pay it or leave. When I finally got a bit of a deal, the car they said would be in shortly wasn't in for weeks!! But they kept my deposit all that time. Just go somewhere else to buy. It is a bad experience. I don't know how the rating of 8.4 is up there- how does that happen? Both these reviews are negative. Since they moved to the new location, they are greedy. I'd like to see some reviews on whether the service department has gone done along with the sales people.

Pros: Nice facility

Cons: You pay for the lovely building by not having a chance to make a deal

05/13/2006 Posted by triplettt

I went shopping in sweats, had been painting. Fist the sales staff all stood chatting with each other and ignored me. When I finally asked for help the saleman was totally condescending, treated me like I was a bum (I'm a successful business owner), then left to make a phone call nd didn't return. I found a second guy and he was just as bad, acted like I was an interference to his important business. I left, and bought a Honda in Seattle instead.

Pros: good cars

Cons: rude, condescending, unhelpful