I made the trek to Community Kia in Baytown from across town after receiving a good internet sales quote from Shana on a Kia Optima. The test drive went well and my saleperson Traci was very nice to work with. It wasn't until I started talking numbers when it all went south (doesn't it always).
The Sales Manager started off with a decent quote but he was adamant that the price only was valid for a 3 year lease, limited miles, and a balloon payment at the end of the lease. I contradicted that I was not interested in leasing and he rebutted that it was not a lease by throwing out terms like balloon payment, residual value, etc. - A LEASE! The encounter turned around when he offered to let me take the car home for the weekend to test drive and make a decision which I was more than happy to do. Obviously at that point the car had been test driven numerous times or loaned out as it had 675 miles on the odometer. I drove the car for the weekend fully expecting to return to purchase it on Monday as it is a nice vehicle.
The price negotiation began again when I returned with a different General Manager, this time straying away from the original price quote because I wanted to finance the car without the lease. All of the sudden the price jumped another $500.
To wrap up this review, I thought we had agreed upon a price that was satisfactory to me, the numbers were configured to exceed my price request for a drive out total (drive out = total price of the car inc. all taxes, title, doc. fee, minus rebates; obviously not to this dealership, it means a financed price plus a TTL down payment), and I canceled the deal after going round and round with the General Manager about how I had been mislead.
All of the headaches from shopping at Community Kia along with the numerous drives I had to make out made this car buying experience the worst I have EVER had! Good riddance and good luck to the person who buys the car with 900 miles already on it.
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