Overall, I'd rate my experience with Toyota of El Centro a 3 out of 5. I ended up getting the truck…read moreI wanted, but the process and communication could have been much better.
I initially reached out for a trade in quote and had very little follow up. Compared to out of town dealerships, communication and effort just were not there. It was not until I met Jasmine at the fair that things started moving. She helped get the process going, but even then, follow up was delayed.
At the dealership, the process took about five to six hours. Negotiations felt typical, starting low on my trade despite a higher initial quote. After going back and forth, they did come up significantly, but I felt like I had to push harder than expected. I was also on a time crunch, which did not help.
Financing moved quickly, which can be good, but it felt rushed. The process was done in Spanish without asking my preference, which I should have spoken up about. A few details were not clearly explained before signing, which left me with some frustration afterward.
Post sale support also fell short. I reached out about swapping or removing the running boards, and while they offered help, it came off more transactional than supportive, especially after just completing a deal with them.
At the end of the day, I got the truck, but the experience did not match the level of service I have seen at other dealerships. My advice is to shop around, get quotes from other areas, and use that as leverage if you plan to buy local.
Toyota of El Centro has the potential, but improving communication and customer care would go a long way.
