I'm looking to buy an Element in the next couple weeks and am trying to find a reason to buy from a local dealer. The issue that sticks most with me is that a dealer I bought from might be more agreeable in the (inevitable?) event of replacing my windshield.

So, has anyone who bought from a dealer around here actually had a positive experience replacing the windshield? At least, as positive as can be expected. I know that Howdy honda brags about all the awards it's won, but does that mean anything?

Thanks much!

-Dave

Hopefully I will soon be able to go to an Austin meetup!

No experience with Howdy, but STAY AWAY FROM CLASSIC in Round Rock!!! Their service SUCKS!!!

Thanks for the reply Yaqui! I am close to purchasing from First Honda, but still haggling a bit. I may just bite the bullet and go down to Gillman in San Antonio. So, anyone buy from First Honda??

Thanks
-Dave

[quote:988b882b98=" "]The issue that sticks most with me is that a dealer I bought from might be more agreeable in the (inevitable?) event of replacing my windshield.[/quote:988b882b98]

Why inevitable?

[quote:ec6090ae60=" "]Why inevitable?[/quote:ec6090ae60]

Well, at a minimum, it's not going to survive the sun exploding in another 5-10 billion years...

-brendan

I don't know much about Honda dealers, but my friend bought his Accord from some Honda dealer in San Marcos. It is on I-35 close to the outlet malls. I wish I could remember the name of it...apparently they gave him a good price, but I don't know about service.

I haven't heard anything bad about Howdy Honda. This is the place on Koenig by McCallum High School, right?

[quote:f48d428ac8=" "]No experience with Howdy, but STAY AWAY FROM CLASSIC in Round Rock!!! Their service SUCKS!!![/quote:f48d428ac8]

Yikes! Hope that isn't completely true! I just finished up a wonderful buying experience from them where they even met my rediculous offers. At the end I was taken into the service area / garage and introduced to everyone.

This is bad, bad news... :(

I had the same intro. The warm-fuzzy was fun, while it lasted. I ran into some known issues, specifically the dashboard rattle. I went back-and-forth with these folks. I took all the info from the board, and they refused to follow any of the advice, because they didn't feel this rattle fit into any of these categories. After the fourth drop-off, with no resolution, I finally asked them to do the work mentioned in the numerous posts...period. They had to check with the regional service manager, blah..blah..blah….and still came back saying that they wouldn't do the work. Bottom line, my car still rattles, and I regret the day I bought a car from those folks. I don't even get my oil changed there any more! I go to the Nissan dealer, across the highway!!
I really should've walked out prior to buying. I negotited my price, and went in to the "finance manager", to have him try and sell me more stuff!! They conveniently included my extended warranty, without asking, whcih raised my cost severl thousand dollars. When I realized this, I asked him to remove it. He got irritated, aske me why, and then still was outwardly dipleased! Once we got the paper work revised, he had to go out and check the mileage on my trade-in. He left the door open, and never closed it for the remainder of the deal. I thought that was odd. I guess I didn't deserve anymore privacy, since he couldn't up-sell me. I'm still kicking myself over that.
Maybe you'll have better luck.

Damn, that really sucks! Well I MAY have one thing going for me in my favor that you don't... I am leasing the car from them.

Hopefully, since they will be getting it back, they will care about this kind of stuff. If not, I am not the type of person to let my "toys" opperate at a sub-par level (minus my G5 PowerMac with the squeeky fan). I will just have to find another dealer who will appriciate my business.

As much as I will hate to have to go all the way out south, perhaps Howdy Honda is that dealership.

What is getting under my skin now is that when I asked about stuff like this before signing the papers (the windshield cracking issue, squeeky dash, etc) my sales guy and finance guy both said that none of that would be a problem and just bring it in and they will fix it.

Let's hope that they have stepped up to the plate since your dealings with them and will now honor their word.

On a side note: are there any gathings or such in the Austin area ever?

If you dont mind the drive to San Antonio. Try Gunn Honda. One simple price, no haggle. I have always had excellent experiences with them and their service is good.

www.gunnhonda.com

and you you buy, tell them I sent you over there so I can get the $50 kickback they give for referals. :wink: