Downtown Mazda

[Speedy2008]

Just wanted to advise everyone to stay away from Downtown Mazda located at 259 Lakeshore Blvd. East in Toronto. Had a very bad experience buying my first car from them. Decided to finance a 2008 Mazda because of the recent "more the merrier event" promotion that offered 0% financing and a $500 Future Shop gift card. After I signed my vehicle purchase agreement, the General Manager at this dealership refused to provide me with a my gift card because the claimed that a representative amount was already factored into my contract. I never agreed to do this. After I agreed to a fixed monthly payment, they manipulated various numbers throughout my contact to make it look as though I was applying the $500 Future Shop gift card towards my financing agreement. I laughed when I heard this because I paid MSRP (the exact payment shown for 60 months when using the finance calculator on the Mazda.ca website). When I asked them about this, they even had the nerve to ask me to pay $250 in order to receive it. To summarize my VERY BAD experience at Downtown Mazda, I must inform everyone that they employ suspect sales tactics while refusing to honour promotions explicitly outlined on the Mazda.ca website. Mazda Canada is also ignoring my concerns for whatever reason. Got a great car but from a terrible dealership. Please stay away from this place.

[mansonNtwiggyREUNITED]

Hi there! That is not good to hear. What kinda car did yu get? Will yu ever visit DownTown Mazda again for service on yur car? I thought most dealerships make money on servicing the vehicle over the years- why do they do these things to piss yu off??

[Speedy2008]

You know exactly what I mean. I live and work downtown. It wouldn't have taken much for me to be loyal to them but I will not go there for service ever again. I'll go somewhere else. I picked up a Mazdaspeed 3. Amazing car. No regrets on the model selection just wish I could take back the unsatisfactory dealership experience.

[BangHatch]

^^ totally agree... I could walk to downtown mazda from where i live, yet i go to mississauga mazda for service...

Downtown mazda is just shady...

[Speedy2008]

I wish I knew before I made my purchase. I didn't know about this website until after the fact. It seems like I'm one of the few people on this site that went there.

[Swerny]

I went there for warranty service last week and they were very good.

My first time there but I came away impressed

[Speedy2008]

I went there for warranty service last week and they were very good.

My first time there but I came away impressed

That's good to hear. I had a chance to speak with the guy in the parts dept. because I received a "brand new" key fob that was defective. The metal key was pitted on the tip of both sides and it had a slight bend in it. Clearly it was a manufacturing defect. I could only open it by flicking it with my wrist with great force. I tried inserting it into the ignition once but there was unnatural resistance due to the bend in the metal. The parts guy said that they would take care of it. So I don't think they're all bad but some of the decision makers within seem to be. This issue was not the original source of my discontent. This was more of a minor inconvenience. On the other hand, the 86km odometer reading upon delivery added to my initial dissatisfaction. Fair warning.

[iconicrocket]

I go there for service, since they're the closest to me. And it seems that their staff turnover rate is really high. There seems to be two people in there that seems to be a fixture, it's the finance manager and the woman sales manager. Every other position seems to rotate on an annual basis.

[Speedy2008]

I go there for service, since they're the closest to me. And it seems that their staff turnover rate is really high. There seems to be two people in there that seems to be a fixture, it's the finance manager and the woman sales manager. Every other position seems to rotate on an annual basis.

That's an interesting comment b/c I dealt with the general manager who said that he was new. On the job for about 2 months.

[tanlineinspector]

I just bought a mazda 3 from downtown mazda and I wasn't satisfied with the serivce too. It was a used one however the guy promised me full tank of gas, 2 free oil changes, there were some minor scratches on the back of the car which weren't fixed even though it was promised its gonna be done when I pick it up. So when I picked up the car guy was saying he couldn't do that no more what a cheater , liar. DONT TRUST MARC BURNS. No way in hell i'm going back to downtown mazda.

[iconicrocket]

That's an interesting comment b/c I dealt with the general manager who said that he was new. On the job for about 2 months.

General manager seems to be a commodity there, traded on a monthly basis. lol.

But I said finance manager, he's the asian guy that has the office next to the service manager.

[M3!]

Bought my car from them last year, went back for 1st service. Horrible experience. Will never go back there again. A few things happened that made the experience bad, would explain but too much to type. Agree with Speedy, stay away from this dealership.

[Speedy2008]

General manager seems to be a commodity there, traded on a monthly basis. lol.

But I said finance manager, he's the asian guy that has the office next to the service manager.

I know what you mean. I was focusing on your comment about high staff turnover because it's generally an indication of unrest. In fact, I actually had to deal with the finance manager as well b/c I'm a working man after all-can't afford to pay cash. His name is Andrew Poon. I was beginning to think that I was the only one on this site that bought something from them but now tanlineinspector & M3! come along with similar experiences. I really wish I knew about this site before I walked through their doors. After reading various posts, I probably would have went to MOT even though it's so far from where I live. I'm sorry to hear that they upset you guys. I hope this thread will prevent others from feeling like this:flaming

[M3!]

Two weeks after buying my car, the guy who sold it to me moved to Montreal. Then the manager leaves a month after that. I haven't been back there but I wouldn't be surprised if there are a ton of staff changes.

[Dragazn]

Sigh, I have so many problems with this dealership that I have spent 8000 dollars in repairs to only NOT have the problem fixed but to have them tell me that it wasn't the source of the problem. Then to tell me that my warranty wouldn't cover the cost and this is after I have bought 3 mazdas from them.

Then I called mazda canada, they laid the smack down and transferred or fired the general manager which was Marc Burns. Switched the staff around, guess it didn't help.

Currently in process (2 years already) in suing the installer which was supposedly the cause of the problems to compensate for the repair damages.

THIS IS AFTER MARKHAM MAZDA TRIED TO SCREW ME!!!

But that is another dealership experience and they already have their anti-fan base already so I won't comment on that.

[tanlineinspector]

go get em dragazn, ya he is still there, now he calls himself the general manager of the whole place but he isnt he is full of shit like the rest of the place.

[Speedy2008]

I think the general manager now is Paul Laframboise. At least that's what he told me.

[Fobio]

OK...so I walked into this place late in January, talked to James...i didn't even need to go for a test drive...I asked him straight up, what's bottom dollar on the price of the 2008 MS3 on the 0% financing. this guy obviously sells more mazda 5 and 6's but was well enough to try and sell me one of the 2006 and 2007 RX8's...it was late so I took a couple of pics and left to show the gf.

Came back in a few days and he obviously thought I wanted one of the RX8's so he was kinda pissed when he asked me "What do you want?!" At which point I took it upon myself to be as Chinese as he was being and raised my voice and replied "I don't want an RX8. I want a deal on the MS3." The look on his face was like I cleaned out his mahjong drawer...for those who...for those who don't, he looked a little deflated but upped the ante by asking me where I get my numbers from. To which I said I've been shopping around...anyway, long story short, they did manage to match the best price I've found (somewhere out in brampton or woodbridge...forgot) and since these guys are so close to me and my work, I decided it was alright...car came delivered, 86km "from Erin Mills" WITHOUT one single freebie...did have the mats and the oil cap...OTD $35200, 0% financing.

Went back today to get first oil change, ~$45 and change...and did the cowl chatter...here's my original thread:

"OK..got this done at Downtown Mazda (I'll review the dealership shortly, if needed) along w/ first oil change...

1. They did not know about it until I brought them the TSB.
2. When I showed it to them 2 days prior (so they'll have the part read), they acknowledged someone else mentioned it.
3. Still needed to "find it" this morning.
4. Fixed it (now it's very sturdy, no movement if you play with it yourself)
5. Afterwards, cautioned me, that if there are further "dash" rattles, that my "heavily modified" (I have the OEM Japanparts dash box w/ Navi installed) will have to be brough back to "manufacturer's spec".

hmm...

sometimes, my barber suggests I get a different cut...in the back of my mind, I'm telling him to STFU and just cut my hair..."

The more "senior" service manager (I don't want to name names here) is a real prick...when he was introduced to me when I first picked up the car at purchase, he had the balls to say with a smile, "We look forward to taking our money..." I didn't know whether to laugh or give him the salute...now I know...

Anyway, the junior guy is more attentive...prolly less cynical due to less yrs and critical customers...but again.."service" manager should mean something, esp nowadays...

I don't think I will be going back either...

Oh yeah...they had time in the middle of the day to change the sales manger's tires...I'd figure a well-operated shop would have enough customers to fill their schedule...

[Fobio]

I actually, I had a lot to bitch about this dealership, but I didn't want to waste anymore time on them...

Going forward, if you read this thread and agree, please kindly recommend a decent dealership in downtown area that can competently deal with the car's undercarriage deflector. Thanks.

[Speedy2008]

What's wrong w/ your undercarriage deflector? I am going for my first oil change on Wed. Even though I live so close to this dealership, I decided to schedule my appointment w/ Gyro Mazda b/c it's the next closest dealership near me. I'll let everyone know how it goes in the appropriate thread.

[Darkleaf]

Well I live just a couple of blocks from Downtown Mazda and I would never bring my car there ever...

I go to MOT. No problems so far but they are kind of slow in regards to service, then again it is usually busy.
Long drive up there.. but if you drive a Speed3, well there is no such thing as a long drive.

[whiteomega]

i bought my mazdaspeed short shifter from Downtown Mazda before i knew of MoT. Despite the fact that they called me to tell me the shifter was in, and that i told them then (a couple of days in advance) that i would be down to pick it up, it still took them close to 15 minutes to find the box... :loco

and that was just their parts dept. no idea what the rest of the experience with them would be like.