SoCal FRS/BRZ dealers to Avoid and buy from

[Giccin]

We have a review's list of dealers to avoid according to the General FRS/BRZ forums but we don't have an organized list of which dealers to visit and which ones to buy from with reasons.

So to make it easier on those who are seeking to purchase the vehicle and want to find out who to talk with and what that dealership is rated at. I'm sure it will also help other buyers too.

To break down dealers I'll add their address and categories that we can choose from. From the name of the dealer to general ratings of the entire dealership. For the dealers we'll go by these ratings: helpfulness, knowledge of vehicle, "willing to go out of the way," personality, level of shady-ness, scumbag level (meaning if they threw in a +<insert stupid amount of mark-up>, and level of how much they keep in contact with you.

As for general dealership this involves how their general manager deals with you in person (if applicable), if they're community oriented, informed, overall helpful-ness, service, pricing on their vehicles and overall rating of how they treat you (from the front desk, to the finance guy, to the dealers and other workers).

Levels are graded on a 1-6 scale. 1 being the least and 6 being the most. A 7 will be given if they are absolutely flipping amazing.

Other categories will be rated in:
(1) - Fking Horrible
(2) - Poor
(3) - unsatisfactory
(4) - Ok-ish
(5) - Good
(6) - Great
(7) - Fking Amazing

Scumbag and Shady-ness ratings:
(1) Fking Scumbag/Fking Shady
(2) Scumbag/Shady
(3) Not a scumbag/shady

Multiple reviews of one place will be averaged and to prevent some dealers who are sneaky I'm going to only count reviews from members who have at least 30 post counts. Legitimate post counts--and when they joined the forum. Of course there are some other factors in there too.

(Use Ctrl+F to help ease your search)

For Subaru

South Coast Subaru
2925 A Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa,CA 92626
714-689-2103

*Dealers* [Post Reference 1
Eddie Minjarez
Helpfulness: 1
Knowledge of Vehicle: 1
"Willing to go out of the way": 1
Personality: 1
Level of Shady-ness: 1
Scumbag Level: 1
Keeping you informed (contact) Level: 1

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness: 1
Community Oriented: 1
Informed: 1
Overall Helpfulness: 1
Service: 1
Pricing on their Vehicle: 1
Overall treatment: 1


Renick Subaru
1100 S Euclid St
Fullerton,CA 92832
714-871-9300

*Dealers*

<Name>
Helpfulness:
Knowledge of Vehicle:
"Willing to go out of the way":
Personality:
Level of Shady-ness:
Scumbag Level:
Keeping you informed (contact) Level:

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness:
Community Oriented:
Informed:
Overall Helpfulness:
Service:
Pricing on their Vehicle:
Overall treatment:

Timmons Subaru
3940 Cherry Ave
Long Beach,CA 90807
562-595-4601

*Dealers*

<Name>
Helpfulness:
Knowledge of Vehicle:
"Willing to go out of the way":
Personality:
Level of Shady-ness:
Scumbag Level:
Keeping you informed (contact) Level:

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness:
Community Oriented:
Informed:
Overall Helpfulness:
Service:
Pricing on their Vehicle:
Overall treatment:

Puente Hills Subaru
17801 E Gale Ave
City of Industry,CA 91748
626-626-4800

*Dealers*

<Name>
Helpfulness:
Knowledge of Vehicle:
"Willing to go out of the way":
Personality:
Level of Shady-ness:
Scumbag Level:
Keeping you informed (contact) Level:

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness:
Community Oriented:
Informed:
Overall Helpfulness:
Service:
Pricing on their Vehicle:
Overall treatment:

Irvine Subaru
23663 Rockfield Blvd
Lake Forest,CA 92630
949-837-3500
*Dealers* [Post Reference: 1 2

Gene Mavis
Helpfulness: 5
Knowledge of Vehicle: 6
"Willing to go out of the way": 5
Personality: 6
Level of Shady-ness: Not Shady
Scumbag Level: Not a Scumbag
Keeping you informed (contact) Level: 5

Richard Thomton
Helpfulness: 5
Knowledge of Vehicle: 6
"Willing to go out of the way": 5
Personality: 6
Level of Shady-ness: 2
Scumbag Level: 3
Keeping you informed (contact) Level: 6

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness:
Community Oriented:
Informed:
Overall Helpfulness:
Service:
Pricing on their Vehicle:
Overall treatment:

Subaru Pacific
2775 Pacific Coast Hwy
Hermosa Beach,CA 90254
424-634-7740

*Dealers*

<Name>
Helpfulness:
Knowledge of Vehicle:
"Willing to go out of the way":
Personality:
Level of Shady-ness:
Scumbag Level:
Keeping you informed (contact) Level:

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness:
Community Oriented:
Informed:
Overall Helpfulness:
Service:
Pricing on their Vehicle:
Overall treatment:

Kearny Mesa Subaru
4797 Convoy St
San Diego,CA 92111
858-278-7100

*Dealers*

<Name>
Helpfulness:
Knowledge of Vehicle:
"Willing to go out of the way":
Personality:
Level of Shady-ness:
Scumbag Level:
Keeping you informed (contact) Level:

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness:
Community Oriented:
Informed:
Overall Helpfulness:
Service:
Pricing on their Vehicle:
Overall treatment:

Frank Subaru
2940 National City Blvd.
National City,CA 91950
619-470-5600

*Dealers*

<Name>
Helpfulness:
Knowledge of Vehicle:
"Willing to go out of the way":
Personality:
Level of Shady-ness:
Scumbag Level:
Keeping you informed (contact) Level:

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness:
Community Oriented:
Informed:
Overall Helpfulness:
Service:
Pricing on their Vehicle:
Overall treatment:

Subaru El Cajon
900 Arnele Ave
El Cajon,CA 92020
619-440-0404

*Dealers*

<Name>
Helpfulness:
Knowledge of Vehicle:
"Willing to go out of the way":
Personality:
Level of Shady-ness:
Scumbag Level:
Keeping you informed (contact) Level:

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness:
Community Oriented:
Informed:
Overall Helpfulness:
Service:
Pricing on their Vehicle:
Overall treatment:

Bob Baker Subaru
5500 Paseo Del Norte
Carlsbad,CA 92008
760-438-2200

*Dealers*

<Name>
Helpfulness:
Knowledge of Vehicle:
"Willing to go out of the way":
Personality:
Level of Shady-ness:
Scumbag Level:
Keeping you informed (contact) Level:

*Overall Dealership*

General Manager's helpfulness:
Community Oriented:
Informed:
Overall Helpfulness:
Service:
Pricing on their Vehicle:
Overall treatment:

Scion
There's a million locations so if anyone who has phenomenal experience or have a place they would NOT recommend just post it up and I'll find the address.

Irvine Power Toyota/Scion
9101 Research Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
949-287-8766
*Dealers* [Post Reference: 1 2

Cindy Langlois (Fleet Manager)
Helpfulness: 4
Knowledge of Vehicle: 2
"Willing to go out of the way": 3
Personality: 5
Level of Shady-ness: 2
Scumbag Level: 3 ; Management : 4
Keeping you informed (contact) Level: 2

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness: 1
Community Oriented: 4
Informed: 3
Overall Helpfulness: 3
Service: n/a
Pricing on their Vehicle: 3
Overall treatment: 4


Kearny Mesa Scion
4910 Kearny Mesa Rd.
San Diego, CA 92111
888-689-9292
*Dealers* [Post Reference: 1

Richmond(Rich) Manas
Helpfulness: 6
Knowledge of Vehicle: 6
"Willing to go out of the way": 5
Personality: 4
Level of Shady-ness: 1
Scumbag Level: 1
Keeping you informed (contact) Level: 4


*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness: n/a
Community Oriented: 5
Informed: 5
Overall Helpfulness: 4
Service: n/a
Pricing on their Vehicle: 5
Overall treatment: 5

NORWALK Toyota/Scion
11404 Imperial Highway
Norwalk, CA 90650
(562) 868-0035
*Dealers* [Post Reference: 1

Jerry "Mr. Scion" Rodriguez (Sales Manager)
Helpfulness: 3
Knowledge of Vehicle: 2
"Willing to go out of the way": 4
Personality: 4
Level of Shady-ness: 2
Scumbag Level: 3
Management : 1
Keeping you informed (contact) Level: 4

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness: 1
Community Oriented: 1
Informed: 1
Overall Helpfulness: 1
Service: n/a
Pricing on their Vehicle: 1
Overall treatment: 2

Scion Thousand Oaks
2401 Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
(866) 283-3193
*Dealers* [Post Reference: 1

Mitch Hoen(?)
Helpfulness: 6
Knowledge of Vehicle: 5
"Willing to go out of the way": 7
Personality: 6
Level of Shady-ness: 3(Not Shady)
Scumbag Level: 3 (Not Scumbag)
Keeping you informed (contact) Level: 4

Hamer Scion
11041 Sepulveda Blvd
Mission Hills, CA 91345
Phone: (877) 274-0653
*Dealers* [Post Reference: 1

Helpfulness: 1
Knowledge of Vehicle: 1
"Willing to go out of the way": 1
Personality: 1
Level of Shady-ness: 1
Scumbag Level: 1
Keeping you informed (contact) Level: 1

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness: 1
Community Oriented: 1
Informed: 1
Overall Helpfulness: 1
Service: 1
Pricing on their Vehicle: 1
Overall treatment: 1

Northridge Scion/Toyota
19550 Nordhoff St., Northridge CA 91324
800-278-9975
*Dealers* [Post Reference: 1

Helpfulness: 6
Knowledge of Vehicle:4
"Willing to go out of the way": 3
Personality: 3
Level of Shady-ness: 2
Scumbag Level: 3
Keeping you informed (contact) Level:n/a

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness: 2
Community Oriented:n/a
Informed: 3
Overall Helpfulness: 4
Service: 4
Pricing on their Vehicle: 5
Overall treatment: 3

DCH Toyota of Torrance
2955 Pacific Coast Highway
Torrance, CA 90505
888-307-1188
*Dealers* [Post Reference: 1

Edwin Fuentes (Internet Sales Manager)
Helpfulness: 3
Knowledge of Vehicle: 5
"Willing to go out of the way": 4
Personality: 3
Level of Shady-ness: 4
Scumbag Level: 3
Keeping you informed (contact) Level: 2


*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness: 2
Community Oriented: 2
Informed: 1
Overall Helpfulness: 1
Service: N/A
Pricing on their Vehicle: 4
Overall treatment: 1

[r4m3n]

Irvine Power Toyota/Scion
9101 Research Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
949-287-8766
*Dealers*

Cindy Langlois (Fleet Manager)
Helpfulness: 3
Knowledge of Vehicle: 1
"Willing to go out of the way": 2
Personality: 4
Level of Shady-ness: 2
Scumbag Level: 2**; Management 4
Keeping you informed (contact) Level: 2

**NOTE: Cindy is actually very easy to talk to and work with but the Management team has decided to add $4000 worth of upgrades in the form of nondescript "upgraded spoiler and wheels", to bring the price of the FR-S up, making the overall dealership questionable in practice.


*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness: 1
Community Oriented: 1
Informed: 1
Overall Helpfulness: 1
Service: n/a
Pricing on their Vehicle: 1
Overall treatment: 2

[r4m3n]

Kearny Mesa Scion
4910 Kearny Mesa Rd.
San Diego, CA 92111
888-689-9292
*Dealers*

Richmond(Rich) Manas
Helpfulness: 6
Knowledge of Vehicle: 6
"Willing to go out of the way": 5
Personality: 4
Level of Shady-ness: 1
Scumbag Level: 1
Keeping you informed (contact) Level: 4


*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness: n/a
Community Oriented: 5
Informed: 5
Overall Helpfulness: 4
Service: n/a
Pricing on their Vehicle: 5
Overall treatment: 5

Rich is an amazing guy and he earned my business within a few minutes on the phone. He's active on this forum so he is knows and understands the customer and what we want. Very helpful and answered all my questions. Doesn't BS and gives it to you straight and honest. I put my initial deposit down with him. Also working to get JDM/Import parts for the FR-S so he is truly plugged in and knows his stuff.

[Giccin]

Thank you Ramen.

[Symbiont]

Irvine Subaru
23663 Rockfield Blvd
Lake Forest,CA 92630
949-837-3500

*Dealers*

Gene Mavis
Helpfulness: 5
Knowledge of Vehicle: 6
"Willing to go out of the way": 5
Personality: 6
Level of Shady-ness: 3
Scumbag Level: 3
Keeping you informed (contact) Level: 5

[hapa_kcm]

Put South Coast Subaru to the bottom because they just surprised a person with a 5k markup when they were going to pickup their preorder, when a couple of weeks ago, it was verified that they would pay MSRP. Also they posted that same car for sale on craigslist and another forum the day before informing the person who ordered the car that it was ready

South Coast Subaru
2925 A Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa,CA 92626
714-689-2103

*Dealers*

Helpfulness:Fking Horrible
Knowledge of Vehicle:Fking Horrible
"Willing to go out of the way":Fking Horrible
Personality:Fking Horrible
Level of Shady-ness:Fking Horrible
Scumbag Level: Fking Horrible
Keeping you informed (contact) Level:Fking Horrible

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness:Fking Horrible
Community Oriented:Fking Horrible
Informed:Fking Horrible
Overall Helpfulness:Fking Horrible
Service:Fking Horrible
Pricing on their Vehicle:Fking Horrible
Overall treatment:Fking Horrible

[Symbiont]

Originally Posted by Symbiont

Irvine Subaru
23663 Rockfield Blvd
Lake Forest,CA 92630
949-837-3500

*Dealers*

Gene Mavis
Helpfulness: 5
Knowledge of Vehicle: 6
"Willing to go out of the way": 5
Personality: 6
Level of Shady-ness: 1
Scumbag Level: 1
Keeping you informed (contact) Level: 5

Btw, I wasn't sure about how to rate the 'shady-ness' and 'scumbag level'. I put low numbers to indicate that he was awesome, but I'm not sure if that follows the ratings above

[Giccin]

Originally Posted by hapa_kcm

Put South Coast Subaru to the bottom because they just surprised a person with a 5k markup when they were going to pickup their preorder, when a couple of weeks ago, it was verified that they would pay MSRP. Also they posted that same car for sale on craigslist and another forum the day before informing the person who ordered the car that it was ready

South Coast Subaru
2925 A Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa,CA 92626
714-689-2103

*Dealers*

Helpfulness:Fking Horrible
Knowledge of Vehicle:Fking Horrible
"Willing to go out of the way":Fking Horrible
Personality:Fking Horrible
Level of Shady-ness:Fking Horrible
Scumbag Level: Fking Horrible
Keeping you informed (contact) Level:Fking Horrible

*Overall Dealership*
General Manager's helpfulness:Fking Horrible
Community Oriented:Fking Horrible
Informed:Fking Horrible
Overall Helpfulness:Fking Horrible
Service:Fking Horrible
Pricing on their Vehicle:Fking Horrible
Overall treatment:Fking Horrible

Is there a particular dealer that you talked with?

[Giccin]

Originally Posted by Symbiont

Btw, I wasn't sure about how to rate the 'shady-ness' and 'scumbag level'. I put low numbers to indicate that he was awesome, but I'm not sure if that follows the ratings above

Low numbers = bad.

High numbers = good.

[hapa_kcm]

Originally Posted by Giccin

Is there a particular dealer that you talked with?

Eddie Minjarez is the name and phone number on all the ads

just got an email from him
"No there is a mark up on these cars just like every other dealer. Fortunately we have the lowest mark up in the area the price for this car is 32,459. Is this somthing you would like to check out?"

my response
"Actually the dealer I ordered from has no markup and second this is the largest markup in the area yet. Renick no markup. Timmons $2000 markup. Puente Hills $3000 markup. MSRP w/ delivery $26,265. So this is a +$6000 markup. Is this tax, registration, all fees, and 0% APR then?"

[MF_DEUCE]

Originally Posted by hapa_kcm

Eddie Minjarez is the name and phone number on all the ads

just got an email from him
"No there is a mark up on these cars just like every other dealer. Fortunately we have the lowest mark up in the area the price for this car is 32,459. Is this somthing you would like to check out?"

I've been hearing this from some dealerships. They actually call one another to find out how much that dealership is marking it up to set some kind of standard around their area.

[86design]

I actually like South Coast Subaru! I know the part manager...but when he told me about mark up prices I was suprise...thats why i'm going with Irvine subaru....sad but South Coast is ripping people off now...

[Giccin]

I'm going to edit the scumbag and shadyness level to... 3 levels

Fking Scumbag, Scumbag, Not a scumbag.

Same with Shady-ness.

Fking Shady, shady and not shady. lol

[Symbiont]

Originally Posted by Giccin

I'm going to edit the scumbag and shadyness level to... 3 levels

Fking Scumbag, Scumbag, Not a scumbag.

Same with Shady-ness.

Fking Shady, shady and not shady. lol

Please edit my rating of Gene at Irvine Subaru to 3s for both, please.