San Diego's Balboa Subaru (Balboa Auto Center)- San Diego, CA

[Longitude]

Let me be the first to place an anti-Balboa Auto Center thread here in our new evaluation forum.

I'm a bit lazy, so here is one of the main links to my experiences as well as others' at this sleazy dealership..sales and service wise.

http://i-club.com/forums/showthread....oa+Auto+Center

--Long

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[Porsche914boxer4]

I agree with Long.....this place SUCKS! GO somewhere else! The sales staff are idiots and treat customers the same way. Don't even bother...

[totoherbs]

I dont whats up with them there general manager is very nice ive talked to him on the phone once or twice, but when i go to the dealer and tell them im a college student looking for a WRX or a 2.5 they wouldnt even talk to me about subarus they tried to show me thoes things that are like hondas but they realy arnt? i walked left as fast as i could.

anyone know a good dealer subaru dealer around here?

[Longitude]

If you MUST deal with Balboa for sales, contact Zack Hoffman, fleet sales manager (his office is in the Isuzu building beside the Subaru one). He's the no-BS kind of guy, if there is such a person, at Balboa. I got my 2000 RS for invoice+options thru him. Too bad for him that he always had to hear my sob stories whenever I needed anything done [right] at the shameless service department. I hate having to drag a SALES guy into a SERVICE issue, but gotta do whatever it takes once you're there.

I would suggest a drive to Irvine Subaru. I would've purchased my car there if I had known about the dealership before. I'm going to Irvine for all future Subaru needs.

--Long
**Don't get stuck with a Hyundai Accent from Balboa**

[Albert]

Stay away!!

The service department is the worst I have ever encountered since "1978" when I was old enough to drive and purchased my first car.

And the service manager doesn't give a hoot about how bad they rate; he get a check no matter what!!

edit- its apparent they need to clean house and start anew.
------>Quality Control and Customer Service

[makka]

hey long,
sorry, but could u please post the link again? only this time, delete the first "h" in http, because the board abbreviates the links so they don't work.
thanks!
MAK

NEVERMIND! i'm an idiot.... i got it to work.... read your story.... just makes me more bitter, since i had a very wasteful experience with Stevens Creek Subaru, and now i move down here, thinking i will now be able to deal with a better service dept to help me out, only to see that there is no escape! arg! if u want my story is the extra long one under the Stevens Creek dealer evaluation. well, all i can say is, they'll all get what they deserve in the end, i guess.

[technix]

hrmm i just bought a used rs from them and i SWEAR they took out the factory alarm so they wouldn't have to get a remote for me. i'm going to have to call soa to see what factory options it had, btw i bought the car w/ a bunch of little scratches and they didn't even offer to give me touch up paint. the sale person was pretty cool, he was all like don't buy stuff from here cause it's way too expensive.

[Albert]

The RS does not come with a factory alarm. It is however installed at the port of entry as an "optional" item.

It's a used car, and it seems you purchased it "as is" unless you negotiated, and had them promise in writing to correct specific items. The factory alarm sucked anyway; you can find better aftermarket, the best part was the fob to open the doors.

Be thankful the body and drivetrain are sound

Now, don't make the experience any worse, stay away from the service department!

[technix]

damn i guess i have a worthless status indicator/valet button then

[Albert]

Yea, it sounds like someone yanked the system.
Better setups can be had for $200-$350 with hood and trunk pins. At least you should still have the door solenoids inplace for the lock/alarm interface.

PS..maybe they'll even throw in a free tint with an alarm purchase

[MGS'sWRX]

Ya I would agree that dealership really sucks. Try Bob Baker in El Cajon. Or I hear Irvine, Or Renick are good if you dont mind the drive.

[racerrex]

I bought my wrx here because I didn't know any better. The actual sale wasn't bad, as I got the deal I wanted. The delivery process was non existent (cause the salesguy wanted to go get another one!). Although he was helpful during the sale.

The thing that scares me is the parts and service depts. I will never let these guys touch my wrx with so much as a paper floor mat. The appearance of the dealership is crusty, 70's used car dealer dilapitated. For god sakes, let's get with the times. The parts dept. is an opening in the waiting room that is pitiful to begin with.

Make sure you take a tour of your prospective dealer before buying! I wish I had. I would have bought somewhere else that I felt more comfortable with as far as service after the sale.