Bill Kolb Jr Subaru

08/20/08

Good selection, but downhill from there.

by mattnadler

Wouldn't go back there for a used car. Prices are about average, but many of their cars are higher mileage and they don't really bother cleaning them up. The cars were really dirty on the inside. Some of the cars had dents, and a couple had old paint chips that had started rusting. That in itself is poor salesmanship, but it's also signal that they're not paying to much attention to the details like other dealers seem to.

The main thing that annoyed me was their claim that none of the cars they sell used have the remote key fob for the alarms and doors. Instead, they demand $91 for a "replacement." Of course I think they are just selling the fobs that came with the car in the first place. I've met with other dealers who buy cars at auction like Kolb does, and they have all the usual accessories.

Now, it's possible that some cars come in missing some parts, but to claim ALL of the cars have this same exact problem, and use that as an excuse to charge more.... well that doesn't inspire confidence or trust. And frankly, they are a dealer. They charge more for their cars than a private sale, so they should make sure everything is included. What else would I have to pay for after the sale that they didn't take care of (like worn out brakes, wheels, who knows).

So I went to another dealer who turns out had better prices, very clean and polished cars, and all the accessories. This dealer actually bothered to take out little dents and touch up the cars to make them seem as new as possible. And yes, they buy their cars at auction and somehow don't lose the key fobs.

Kolb might be right for some, but not for me.

• Pros: Good selection of used Subarus
• Cons: Car care and sales tactics make it harder to trust them.