Sonnen Motorcars | 877-450-0202 | 740 Francisco Blvd. West, San Rafael, CA 94901 serving San Francisco
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Vehicle serviced for
Repair
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Accurate estimated wait time
Yes
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Would You Recommend this Dealership
No
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Vehicle year
2007
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Vehicle make
Audi RS4
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Service Technician
My Sonnen Audi Volkswagen reviewA RIP-OFF!!! Be aware! I traveled 2hrs to see this car, a pushy salesman I expect even some hidden truth but selling a lemon at a sticker price over $50,000! I was returning a leased 2008 S4, trying to upgrade to an RS4. I thought I found what I wanted. Car had covered up fender damage from a previous non reported incident. I suspected it and questioned the salesman about it; he denied showing me a skeptical very vague car report. I only found out because it was missing parts for the windshield washer fluid reservoir alerting me via a sensor. They agreed to pay the repairs, half fast. They promised me a full tank of gas; never saw it even after two round trips over 120 miles! I later took the car to a true Audi dealer (Stevens Creek) and paid $623 for repairs Sonnen Motors had already done? Does Sonnen service and inspect their cars before putting them on the lot for sale? This car was for sale for a month until I came by and got hooked! I buy Audi for its superb service, performance, and luxury, Sonnen has none of those. Audi needs to audit its franchise stores to insure they upkeep to the Audi name.:mad:
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Pressure from salesperson to "Buy Now"
High
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How did you first contact the Dealership
Walk-In
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Did you purchase from the Dealership
Yes
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Would you Recommend this Dealership
No
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Name of Your Salesperson
My Sonnen Audi Volkswagen reviewA RIP-OFF!!! Be aware! I traveled 2hrs to see this car, a pushy salesman I expect even some hidden truth but selling a lemon at a sticker price over $50,000! I was returning a leased 2008 S4, trying to upgrade to an RS4. I thought I found what I wanted. Car had covered up fender damage from a previous non reported incident. I suspected it and questioned the salesman about it; he denied showing me a skeptical very vague car report. I only found out because it was missing parts for the windshield washer fluid reservoir alerting me via a sensor. They agreed to pay the repairs, half fast. They promised me a full tank of gas; never saw it even after two round trips over 120 miles! I later took the car to a true Audi dealer (Stevens Creek) and paid $623 for repairs Sonnen Motors had already done? Does Sonnen service and inspect their cars before putting them on the lot for sale? This car was for sale for a month until I came by and got hooked! I buy Audi for its superb service, performance, and luxury, Sonnen has none of those. Audi needs to audit its franchise stores to insure they upkeep to the Audi name.:mad:
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Vehicle serviced for
Repair
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Accurate estimated wait time
None Given
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Would You Recommend this Dealership
No
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Vehicle year
2002
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Vehicle make
Porsche Boxster
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Service Technician
Richard/Gary
My Sonnen Audi Volkswagen reviewMy review on Sonnen Porsche of 900 Redwood Hwy, Mill Valley, CA. I will give you the picture and will let you judge. My daughter went to Dominican University of California at San Rafael, on 65% scholarship (of the total cost). She was to study pre-med. As a gift for her success, we let her use my Porsche Boxster (2002). After returning to school from a home visit towards the end of November 2008, she called me and told me that the car was showing some engine problems, hesitation. So, I went up the next Saturday to take care of the issue. We drove the Boxster (please keep in mind the word “drove”) to Sonnen Porsche. Gary Wright was present that Saturday and was nice to us and took the car in for service/repair and the charges would be US $ 180. I told Gary that we were not in any hurry as I was from San Diego. After a week Gary called me and told me that the automatic transmission was “completely” shot … they found that there was NO transmission fluid in the transmission!! To fix the transmission, it would take $ 11K. I told him that I was not prepared for such expense at that time and that I would be making a trip back to the bay area towards the end of January 2009 and would pick up (tow) the car. Gary talked to his boss “Richard R.”, the service manager, and got back to me and told me that it was okay … as no harm was done. I was late by a week and I went along with my daughter to Sonnen Porsche on first Saturday of February 2009. The service was closed and the sales were open. The wonderful people from sales force at Sonnen Porsche started to laugh at us (my daughter and me) and told us that “Richard”, the service manager had auctioned of my car at a DMV lien sale , about 10 days ago (from the day we stopped by to pick up the car). Supposedly, Richard has sent us notice of lien sale via US mail, something that we never received!! The car is worth far more than $180 (the service inspection cost). My daughter was present when I was talking to the sales associates. Upon hearing the news from the Sonnen Porsche sales people, she had a mental break down. She had to drop out during second semester at Dominican University. She also lost her scholarship, etc. For the next 6 to 8 months, our family had to go through mental turmoil from medically treating (psychiatric and counseling) our daughter, which is still continuing. I called Sonnen Porsche and left several messages for Peter Sonnen (owner) to return my calls. I never received any return courtesy call(s). The Verizon (cell phone) and Cox telephone (home phone) record will show calls from me and none from Sonnen Porsche.
In the past I posted my displeasure on Sonnen Porsche at www.yelp.com . Richard R., the service manager, sent me a threatening e-mail via Yelp, stating “If you do not remove your post with my name in it I will begin to post what I found in the car and why your daughter had a nervous break down.”
I will leave it up to you to judge the character of people at Sonnen Porsche and if they have scruples. I visited the Marin County Superior Court website and performed a quick search on “Sonnen” as the defendant, for the time frame starting from mid 2001 through February 2010. The county record displayed 54 (fifty-four) individual law suits with judgments against Sonnen Motor, Peter Sonnen (owner) and other individuals with Sonnen ownership, etc. Thanks for listening and please watch with whom you do business
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Pressure from salesperson to "Buy Now"
Normal
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How did you first contact the Dealership
Internet
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Did you purchase from the Dealership
Yes
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Would you Recommend this Dealership
Yes
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Name of Your Salesperson
Jay Vaswani
My Sonnen Audi Volkswagen reviewI had a very good experience with Sonnen and with Jay. It’s unfortunate that others seem to have had a different experience, but that is not what I had.
I was pleased with the way I was treated, the deal that I negotiated, and with the pre- and post-sales service. For me, Jay was in fact the deciding factor in doing business with Sonnen. Based on my experience, I would recommend him and Sonnen to anyone.
A bit more background. I was in the market for a very specific A4 avant configuration. I extensively researched the dealer inventory, did my test driving, and then contacted every dealership in the Bay Area. Some dealers were helpful and polite, while certain others were not attentive to their email. Some were either abrupt or too slick over the phone. It was easy to decide not to work with them.
Jay at Sonnen was much better. He had a car that fit my requirements. He was specific about the options. Although he didn’t give me a quote via email, he was very open about the negotiation process and recommended bringing in other quotes and Edmunds valuations. He assured me that we could make it work. So while not 100% confident, I felt comfortable enough with his style to make an appointment.
When I arrived, we wasted no time. Test drive the vehicle, run through the options to verify. Straight to negotiations. Little back and forth. Just name my price, and he did the work with management to get it for me. Financing was great. They found me an even better deal than what I had lined up, and got me in at a lower rate than I thought I could get. Both Jay and Mike, the guy running finance, were friendly, business-like and no-nonsense. Just how I like it.
After sales service and follow up was great too. Jay checked in, and followed up on two extra post-sales items within a week.
I would recommend these guys to anyone who has done their homework and knows what they want, and doesn’t want to waste time. I would buy from them again.
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Pressure from salesperson to "Buy Now"
Normal
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How did you first contact the Dealership
Internet
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Did you purchase from the Dealership
Yes
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Would you Recommend this Dealership
No
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Name of Your Salesperson
Jay Vaswani
My Sonnen Audi Volkswagen reviewI purchased a 2009 Audi S5 VIN: WAURV78TX9A016694 on 11/15/08 from Sonnen Motorcars of San Rafael, CA. I had the vehicle shipped to my residence in Coeur d’Alene, ID. As I never physically inspected the car before purchase, I was completely at the mercy of the dealer, in terms of trusting that the product would arrive as advertised. To try and protect myself, I emailed my salesman, Jay Vaswani, multiple times to confirm the options on the vehicle. He responded back by saying “David, You are 100% correct on the options on this S5. You can release your anxiety about any other possible mishaps that may occur.”
I have saved all emails and voicemails from all parties involved with Sonnen Motorcars to corroborate my allegation with solid evidence.
Unfortunately, Jay Vaswani was incorrect, or lying, more accurately, about the actual options this vehicle had. The Audi S5 arrived without an $850 optional sound system, the Bang & Olufsen.
Due to Sonnen Motorcars’s unprofessional conduct, literally yelling at me on the phone, I have since terminated dealing with them directly.
Instead, I have contacted Audi Corporate–Audi Customer Care– about this false advertisement on my delivered vehicle. In turn, Audi Corporate has contacted Sonnen Motorcars, and has tried to persuade them to compensate me for this misrepresentation. Unfortunately, Sonnen Motorcars is refusing to “own up” to their mistake/false advertisement, as well as refusing to compensate me for the missing option.
Also, throughout the financing portion of the deal, Sonnen Motorcars has told me that I am to conduct a phone interview with a lending institution, in order to secure the loan. During this interview, Sonnen Motorcars repeatedly told me that I had to tell the lending official that I physically traveled down to the San Rafael showroom, and signed all documents relating to the vehicle in front and in witness of their finance staff. I told Sonnen that I refused to lie to a lending institution.
In Sonnen Motorcars’s angered response, they threatened me that if I refused to do a phone interview and not lie about being present at their California dealership, that they would continue to keep applying for credit, from coast-to-coast, and that I wouldn’t even recognize my credit score when they were done, due to the repeated “hard inquiry” credit applications, and the corresponding 5 point a piece deductions.
Sonnen Motorcars is not only dishonest with their customers, but also with the lending institutions they utilize for financing. Their inappropriate, unprofessional conduct with customers is the last nail in the coffin.
Aside from the BBB litigating a positive resolution, I have no where else to turn except a well known California contract law attorney.
I will give you the picture and let you judge. My daughter went to Dominican University of California at San Rafael, on 65% scholarship (of the total cost). She was to study pre-med. As a gift for her success, we let her use my Porsche Boxster (2002). After returning to school from a home visit towards the end of November 2008, she called me and told me that the car was showing some engine problems, hesitation. So, I went up the next Saturday to take care of the issue. We drove the Boxster (please keep in mind the word “drove”) to Sonnen Porsche. Gary Wright was present that Saturday and was nice to us and took the car in for service/repair and the charges would be US $ 180. I told Gary that we were not in any hurry as I was from San Diego. After a week Gary called me and told me that the automatic transmission was “completely” shot … they found that there was NO transmission fluid in the transmission!! To fix the transmission, it would take $ 11K. I told him that I was not prepared for such expense at that time and that I would be making a trip back to the bay area towards the end of January 2009 and would pick up (tow) the car. Gary talked to his boss “Richard R. Runk”, the service manager, and got back to me and told me that it was okay … as no harm was done. I was late by a week and I went along with my daughter to Sonnen Porsche on first Saturday of February 2009. The service was closed and the sales were open. The wonderful people from sales force at Sonnen Porsche started to laugh at us (my daughter and me) and told us that “Richard”, the service manager had auctioned of my car at a DMV lien sale , about 10 days ago (from the day we stopped by to pick up the car). Supposedly, Richard has sent us notice of lien sale via US mail, something that we never received!! The car is worth far more than $180 (the service inspection cost). My daughter was present when I was talking to the sales associates. Upon hearing the news from the Sonnen Porsche sales people, she had a mental break down. She had to drop out during second semester at Dominican University. She also lost her scholarship, etc. For the next 6 to 8 months, our family had to go through mental turmoil from medically treating (psychiatric and counseling) our daughter, which is still continuing. I called Sonnen Porsche and left several messages for Peter Sonnen (owner) to return my calls. I never received any return courtesy call(s). The Verizon (cell phone) and Cox telephone (home phone) record will show calls from me and none from Sonnen Porsche.
In the past I posted my displeasure on Sonnen Porsche at www.yelp.com . Richard Runk, the service manager, sent me a threatening e-mail via Yelp with fictitious findings, stating “If you do not remove your post with my name in it I will begin to post what I found in the car and why your daughter had a nervous break down.”
If any body out there in Marin County (Ca.) know of a contract law attorney … please have him or her contact me. Many thanks in advance.
I feel your pain.
I posted the first review about the horrific S5 purchase experience. And, I too am fully aware of what Sonnen’s employees will do and say, in reaction to posting negative reviews such as these.
Due to my negative postings–I posted on other sites, as Edmunds.com–I received 3 separate voicemails, all describing how they were going to kill me. I’m not joking here; I mean they really threatened to kill me over the bad publicity I was spreading. I have all three voicemails saved, each left approximately 30 days apart–a span of 3 months!
One of the messages, in particular, describes how they were going to disembowel me, put a bullet through my head, and blow up my business. These people are absolutely despicable.
My only advice is document all correspondences thoroughly, and spread the word. Continue to write reviews, such as on cardealercheck.com, file a complaint with the BBB, State Attorney General, and take the time to write Audi of North America a letter describing the incident(s). If enough people voice their experience of abuse from Sonnen Motorcars, there will be some punishment imposed.
Dude, you need to call the cops, this is a felony in CA and you need to get it on record before you end up in a body bag.
California Criminal Threats Law:
“Section 422 of the California Penal Code makes it illegal to make criminal threats (formerly called “terrorist threats”). A criminal threat under California law is a threat of immediate harm made to another person when the defendant intends to, and does, cause fear in the person threatened.
The punishment or penalty for criminal threats in California is up to three years state prison. Criminal threats is also now considered a strike under California’s three strikes law.”
David,
You are really a Moron to buy an Audi to start with! No one believes anything you have said in any of your posted reviews. If you were not happy with the car upon arrival, you should have given it back to the driver. Audi payed your first payment to make up for the missing audio system. There is no one at the BBB or the state attorney general’s office that will believe anything you have to say. They don’t like the words of drug addicts and insomniacs who don’t have a life other than posting internet reviews. Maybe you rammed your head TOO hard into screwdrivers at your hardware store. In anycase, I hope you can one day accept what you have. At this point, it’s a $58000 car that is worth $22,500. There is your Truth in Engineering! Have a nice day ( nice night since you’re up for all of it Ahole)!!!
Jay
David,
You are really a Moron to buy an Audi to start with! No one believes anything you have said in any of your posted reviews. If you were not happy with the car upon arrival, you should have given it back to the driver. Audi payed your first payment to make up for the missing audio system. There is no one at the BBB or the state attorney general’s office that will believe anything you have to say. They don’t like the words of drug addicts and insomniacs who don’t have a life other than posting internet reviews. Maybe you rammed your head TOO hard into screwdrivers at your hardware store. In anycase, I hope you can one day accept what you have. At this point, it’s a $58000 car that is worth $22,500. There is your Truth in Engineering! Have a nice day ( nice night since you’re up for all of it Ahole)!!!
Jay:devil(
David,
You are really a Moron to buy an Audi to start with! No one believes anything you have said in any of your posted reviews. If you were not happy with the car upon arrival, you should have given it back to the driver. Audi payed your first payment to make up for the missing audio system. There is no one at the BBB or the state attorney general’s office that will believe anything you have to say. They don’t like the words of drug addicts and insomniacs who don’t have a life other than posting internet reviews. Maybe you rammed your head TOO hard into screwdrivers at your hardware store. In anycase, I hope you can one day accept what you have. At this point, it’s a $58000 car that is worth $22,500. There is your Truth in Engineering! Have a nice day ( nice night since you’re up for all of it Ahole)!!!
Jay:devil(
Hi Jay,
Wow, you truly are a hateful, troubled individual. You seem to have a bit of confusion about me as well. I’ve never used illegal drugs, and certainly don’t ever plan to. As far as insomnia, no, that issue is completely remedied; I sleep like a baby now.
As for my reviews, well, they’re entirely factual, right down to the smallest of details–I’m sure you remember how particular I am about details.
Not to worry Jay, I sold the S5 over a year ago to a gentleman in Bellevue. Oh, and I got $56,000 of it, so I didn’t get hurt too bad. Of course, you don’t really care about my health, what with 3 separate death threats–I’ve still got them saved on voicemail–do you? I dare you, why don’t you make just one more–that’s all Idaho State Police claims they need to proceed with an intra-state warrant for an interrogation. God only knows why 3 of them aren’t enough, but if 4’s the charm, then go for it.
Thanks for being so classy Jay.
Take Care,
David Montandon
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Pressure from salesperson to "Buy Now"
Low
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How did you first contact the Dealership
Walk-In
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Did you purchase from the Dealership
Yes
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Would you Recommend this Dealership
Yes
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Name of Your Salesperson
My Sonnen Audi Volkswagen reviewThere could not have been a lovelier offer on the love bug than this. The cute Volkswagen beetle is available for a song with this dealer of both Volkswagen and Audi cars in San Rafael.
Sonnen, the friendly dealer for Volkswagen and Audi has some deadly offers on these cars. This dealer also has some fabulous offers on other models of the Volkswagen, such as the Cash-back offer. So, just check out on these and drive back satisfied, like I did.