No, I did not get my car serviced there. That would be blasphemous and I have a jealous mistress over in Clarksburg that is vindictive! I hadn't driven my car in about a week and a half so I decided to go check out Criswell's new shop in Germantown last night. Here are my first impressions:

1) The place is HUGE. It is on a hillside with much of the building exposed when looking from the back. You can't see the scale from the front. A substantial amount of investment was thrown into that site.

2) The service bay area (I ducked my head in) is immaculately clean (since they haven't got much going on yet) and is about 30 - 40% larger than JCH. Each service bay/lift appears to be a little closer together. Sales area looks to be typical. They have a few S2000s there probably because of Honda's generous allotment to new dealers. The area where they take your car in for service is also very, very slick.

3) They have a paid car wash there!!! It is open 24 hours; I think it as an absolutely brilliant idea! However, it is not one of the touchless car washes that are popping up in the area, so I won't be bringing the car there. I believe that dealers will do more of this to make their shops more of a "destination". Herson's attempt at selling performance parts was also a step in this direction. If JCH were to combine a car wash/detail area AND an aftermarket parts section then I feel they would truly attain cult status. Done properly, it could also significantly improve the bottom line. There are some people who never step foot into their car shop excpet if something is wrong. However, there are others (when treated properly) who actually enjoy going to the dealership and will continue to spend money there. This represents an evolution in thinking and I believe that certains dealers are beginning to catch a clue.

No - I am not considering taking my car there for service. We've got a good thing going over at JCH and I don't see myself going anywhere else. I did not want to post this in the dealership section because I think that should be reserved for actual sales/service experiences.

 

WOW you traitor...... Criswell sure is big but they don't have the services we have. For S2000, I'm sure they have couple of them in stock because they are brand spanking new. We will see what happen and I guess we have another enemy.......

 

Don't worry Jackie - I'm still loyal!!! Just wanted to report on my findings.

 

I am VERY disappointed in Criswell Honda.

Today I went in to purchase a new 2002 Berlina Black/Black and to make a long story short, we came to a price of:

$32400
+ 460 - Destination
+ 935 - 3 % VA Sales Tax
+ 60 - Plates
+ 25 - Processing Fee

38960

Basically I only had a loan for $33000. I told them I could not go any higher. Now granted it is a good price (38960), but I could not afford it...So I left.

What pissed me off is the fact the salesman called me back and told me he would sell me the Red/Black for the $33000...WHAT THE HELL!?!? SAME CAR, NO OPTIONS ON EITHER and same mileage, both 2002's...both w/ 5 miles on odometer....

Has a color difference ever determined the price in anyone's purchase...with black or red?!? I could understand White, or Blue but wtf?!


So anyways...f that...I couldn't beleive that...the reason they gave me was...they had someone else on a list for the black and not the red...that is BS for color!?!

Oh well...I guess I'll keep looking...sorry had to vent...

blk2k2

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by blks2k2
[B]I am VERY disappointed in Criswell Honda.

Today I went in to purchase a new 2002 Berlina Black/Black and to make a long story short, we came to a price of:

$32400
+ 460 - Destination
+ 935 - 3 % VA Sales Tax
+

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by blks2k2
[B]I am VERY disappointed in Criswell Honda.

Today I went in to purchase a new 2002 Berlina Black/Black and to make a long story short, we came to a price of:

$32400
+ 460 - Destination
+ 935 - 3 % VA Sales Tax
+

 

I went to Criswell a few months ago too. I test drove a used S there and did a deal for MSRP. They couldn't get a yellow one in for me so -- to make a long story short -- helped me to find one at another dealer where I purchased the car for MSRP. I found them to be very helpful and they worked with me. Indeed, I spent a lot of time on the phone with them while I was on vacation in June and we arranged the whole deal by telephone. I got back and the car was waiting for me on that day. Talk to one of the sales managers -- Ron Wagner -- and tell him I sent you. It is a new dealership and they are having a few startup problems. I can't say that they are perfect -- the service dept pissed me off when they did the spark plug replacement. But, they did make good on it and apologized profusely. They are trying real hard. I'm still going to give them a shot at my business because I told them I would in exchange for all they did to arrange the deal in the first place.

 

From Hiro's decription of the place, Criswell seems like a potential killa against Herson's Honda in the near future. god i hate hersons....

marclw, was that you I saw on 270S this morning?
Also saw another silver 00 or 01 on the way up to work.

 

Nope! I was telecommuting today I'll be back on 270 tomorrow AM Perhaps we'll see each other!!