After looking for several months for a clean, well-maintained Audi TT, a Craigslist ad pointed me to Auto Connections Seattle. I visited their shop in Ballard and was welcomed by John Casey. I should emphasize "welcomed." Everyone there treated me like I was entering their home, not the typical used car dealership welcome. I was impressed by their selection of clean, used European automobiles.
John handed me the keys and, after looking at the gas gauge, also handed me a credit card so I could put more gas in if needed. I was able to thoroughly test the car in city and highway driving. Upon my return, John showed me the receipts for the work that they had done to the car. He also showed me the Carfax that indicated that the car had two owners and had always been registered in Western Washington. The car also came with a large stack of Audi literature including the owner's manual, and documentation that showed it was sold to the second owner as an Audi Certified pre-owned car.
I asked about any service history, particularly the timing belt because it is a rather expensive job. John looked at the documents he had available and told it appears that it will need to be serviced in 3000 miles.
I purchased the car and when I came to pick it up John insisted he have it washed and the tank filled up. He handed me a gift card for the coffee shop two doors down, "Java Jahn." It turns out that Auto Connections owner Jim Jahn is related to the owner of Java Jahn. It looks like the gift of hospitality runs in the family.
When I returned the car was ready and Jim was happy to tell me that they had been told by the local Audi dealer that, in fact, the timing belt has been replaced. They did not have any written info but would try to get the dealer to provide it. I thought to myself, "If this is true I got a good deal, because the price was negotiated with the knowledge that a major service bill was around the corner." Also I'm thinking, "Without any written proof, I'm going to have to have it replaced anyway, because after all, I am talking to a used car dealer - how can I trust anything they say."
After getting the car home, I called the two local Audi dealers and one was able to confirm that indeed, what the folks at Auto Connections told me was true. The timing belt had been serviced (early) and all the Audi recommended service was up to date.
To sum up the experience, clean well-maintained cars, great people, honest. I'm still having trouble using the work honest in a review about a used car dealer but, for my purchase, I never received any misleading info about the car. read more