Tamiami Ford

Reviews 3

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Charmayne Luckey

I was looking for a pre-owned Ford Escape. I wanted an SUV with low mileage and in excellent condition. It was also very important to me that I have a strong, local dealership with an excellent REPUTATION, rather than a great showroom. I am not wealthy, and, therefore, must make solid decisions that I can live with for a long time. I looked at several Ford dealerships in the area, asked around about their reputation, was not pleased with what I heard from my mechanic, as well as another past customer of a different dealership about his experience on a BRAND NEW VEHICLE, and so I decided to check out Tamiami Ford in Naples, FL, instead of one of the others that was a little closer to me. The website for viewing pre-owned vehicles was very easy to navigate through (I am 51 yrs. old and not as good on a computer as some of the younger people are). I could see many pictures of your inventory, as well as a video tour of it. I picked up the phone, dialed your LOCAL NUMBER, and the phone was answered by one of your Sales staff. Brian was very low pressure, answered my basic questions, and I told him I would come down the next morning to take a look at the 2 vehicles I was interested in. I asked him if he could have the CARFAX report printed for each one when I got there, b/c I didnt want to spend all day at a car dealership. When I got there the next morning, he was laid back and friendly, which I really liked because I am old enough to not be SOLD to, I know what I am looking for, and can make the decision all on my own when I am comfortable with doing so- i.e. I dont like high pressure sales. He had the CARFAX reports printed out for me. I told him, "I need to take the vehicle to my mechanic, whos in Estero (about 50 mile round trip from the dealership), and he said, "no problem, I just have to ride along with you". I asked him to have my trade in looked over by the service dept. while we drove to my mechanic, and off we went. My long time mechanic checked out the vehicle and gave me a great report on it. When we got back to the dealership, Brian got my ins. co. on the phone, had the insurance switched over, went over the paperwork, etc. I asked him if I could go across the street and get some lunch while he got the vehicle all ready to go and thats what I did. Within 45 minutes of that time I was driving off in my beautiful, like "brand new" 2012 Ford Escape! She is loaded! Power everything - leather, sunroof, satellite radio, you name it - she does everything but take me back to the barn like a horse would! I am very pleased with my buying experience, and you MAY use my letter, with or without my name, if you want to. I believe a product is only as good as the company that stands behind it, and I feel like a car dealership who has been under the same ownership since the late 70s really says a lot about who your dealing with. Thanks again, Charmayne Luckey Bonita Springs, FL

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Keith

This is a service review. My folks are older and live in Naples and I wanted to get their car serviced and a front end noise checked while I was visiting from another state. I called and scheduled an appt with Tamiami Ford 2 weeks before my visit. The morning of my appt I called and confirmed my 1pm appt with Ruth in service and shuttle availability. I arrived at 12:45 and found Karen in service (Was only helpful person in the service dept). Karen reviewed my appt and sent my car to the service que. I waited 35 minutes for a ride as the employees werent able to locate the shuttle driver even tho the shuttle vehicle was parked right out front. Finally they pulled an employee from parts to give me a 10 minute ride back. Prior to leaving -I reviewed the vehicle service needs with Ruth who had returned from her break. I explained to Ruth that I was only in town 3 days and needed the car serviced before I left as my parents are in their 80s and arent able to bring the vehicle in for service as easily as I could. Ruth said shed call before 4 and provide an update. I called at 4:30 and left a vm. I then left a vm for Karen also. Ruth called me back at 5 pm to tell me she had no update on the car. The next morning- Ruth called me at 9:30 and said the vehicle needed parts for a fairly minor repair in the front end (Lower control arm) and that they could have parts the following day but it couldnt be repaired until the following afternoon, (I have 3 days total - not 4 to work with). So today I took uber up and picked up the car a brought it back unrepaired. They didnt even CHANGE THE OIL. Had the car nearly (24) hours and hadnt even done standard service. TF wanted to charge me for diagnostics but Karen saw what I went thru and waived it. Karen wanted me to talk to the manager but whats the point Im out of time now? Im flying back tomorrow afternoon and when I come back next month I wont be getting the vehicle serviced at Tamiami Ford. Whats the purpose of calling ahead, making appointment, confirming appointment and advising of my particular time constraints when it means nothing to the dealer? Maybe I would have gotten better service if I had purchased my Ford product there. Guess we ll never know cause Ill never go back.

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Bill Branscum

Ive bought 20+ cars from George Tracy over the years ... mostly new ones. My grown children have bought several vehicles from him too ... we have probably bought about 30 vehicles over all. Although he now manages their used car office, he can sell new ones too. We all particularly like Louis Panebianco, the salesman who actually handles the transactions, since George is a manager now. Ive been dealing with George close to thirty years. As he has moved from one dealership to another, Ive bought cars from him. Ive been a detective all my adult life, and I have no patience with the nonsense most car salesman want to put you through. Apparently, George and Louis flunked out of Car Salesman BS 101. If you have ever bought cars from a dealer, Im sure you know what I mean. I just cannot stand the silly games. I rarely have problems after a sale, but I have had a few. Sales and service are NOT unrelated ... a sales manager, or a well established salesman who wants to, can intervene if you have a service issue. George and Louis will definitely get involved and do what they can if there is a legitimate problem. When my oldest son (in the military) tried to buy a Ford truck while stationed in Washington State, George confirmed my suspicion that they were taking advantage of him. George wrote out a deal on an identical truck he was going to ship to him ... the Washington State dealer matched it and my son saved several thousand dollars - who does that for you? When my father, who lives on our family farm in KY wanted to buy a new F150, he priced it at the local dealer he has done business with for years. It didnt look like a good deal to me - George and Louis sold us the same truck about $5K cheaper. Ive got to say, that Super Crew short bed F150 with the Eco Boost engine is a dream to drive. Im sure there are good guys, and bad guys at every dealership in the Country. All I can say is, these particular guys have served my family wonderfully well for generations.