Island Subaru

I am not satisfied with the level of service that I received at Island Subaru. In fact, I would go out of my way to avoid this service location. I initially went in to get my brakes checked. They were squealing at every opportunity and I was legitimately scared of driving. The advisor acknowledged the problem and even recommended fixing it - at a cost of over $300. The car is under a year old and still under warranty. I was told that I do need the front brake pads changed but the warranty will not cover it. They lied and said that I had over 3mm left.

However, I went to another dealership to get a second opinion and what do you know - the brake pads actually have under 1mm left and the replacement of the brake pads is not recommended, but required and will of course be covered under warranty. I understand trying to make a buck by not honoring a warranty on the leased car, but this is the last think I would expect from an official Subaru service department.

Instead of fixing the brakes, I was pressured into buying two new filters for almost $200. If it wasn't for the other dealership, I would simply avoid Subaru for my future cars and service needs. Avoid Island Subaru at all costs as you will have to pay out-of-pocket for all warranty covered repairs and will be pressured into spending hundreds before getting your car back.

I did hours of research, test drove different makes & models (at three different dealerships!) And definitely shopped around. This was the only dealership on Staten island that felt comfortable as a female by myself, and the difference was day and night. There was no pressure and it really felt like I was buying, not being sold to. Danny was an incredible! He was Knowledgeable about the options for each model, knew about comparable cars from other makes and above all was honest.

The finance manager was also knowledgeable, he knew how to help us register the car and pay tax for a different state (we're military, he saved us a couple hours of work for our next orders). He was meticulous in getting the details right.

To top off the experience, they gave us a great deal. Over in NJ they pull a bait and switch with prices, look up the reviews. This place cares about their reputation, and they should, it's something to be proud of.

UPDATED REVIEW
My initial experience with this dealership was very poor. Not sure if it was because of some mis-communication issues or maybe just the salespeople I was dealing with were having a bad day. After lots of frustration, I left a not so flattering review here and vowed to never go back.

A few days after posting that review I got a call from the dealership. They were apologetic and wanted to rectify the situation and change my perception. I give them another chance. After a couple of days of careful negotiation and full price disclosure via e-mail and phone, I went back to the dealership. This time my experience was completely different.

The car I wanted was ready for me to to review, the pricing was straightforward and clear and most importantly, we felt like we were not being tricked or pushed into a bad deal. I knew what the right price for the car was and I knew what the options cost. Getting hit with fees and misrepresentation wasn't in the cards. In the end, the dealership made money on the car, I asked for and got a fair price and the experience was very good from end-to-end.

A sincere thank you to the Subaru Sales Manager Anthony Piancoklein for reaching-out and turning this situation around and to our salesperson, Sal Mazella for spending LOTS of time with us to make our second attempt at car buying here a pleasant one.

How I wish i could express how grateful i am that they treated me with respect and they were no pressure. They offered coffee and lots of information. They helped me make the right decision and i got a good deal as well.. i will never go anywhere else. These guys are fantastic

I walked in and met with Mat, he was new and very nice. His Manager was nice enough to help him sell his first car. It was a joy to be part of that. Marcus the Mnager was a gentleman and a great leader. I hope Subaru knows how lucky they are to have such good people working for them. I will never go anywhere else. Thanks Guys