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Carsmith Motors
Category: Automotive Car Dealers Car Dealers [Edit]
48995 Milmont Dr(at Kato Rd)
Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 770-9790
- $50 for $75 promotion lasts for 1 year from date of purchase. After that period, your Certificate is redeemable for the amount you paid. Not valid with other certificates or offers. Valid only for in-stock items. Must use in a single visit. Only 3 certificate(s) can be purchased for own use. Subject to the Yelp Deals General Terms.
- Reg. Price $75
- Discount 33%
- Savings $25
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 7 pm
Sun 11 am - 5 pm
42 reviews for Carsmith Motors
42 reviews in English
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Review from Blas H.
San Francisco, CA
9/9/2011
This is a review a long time over due! My wife and I were looking for a new car in December 2007 and decided on a Mini Cooper. I was searching the usual places for a used car (http://Craigslist.org / http://autotrader.com / http://cars.com and the sort) and Carsmith was popping up in a few different places and always seemed to have a good selection and price on Mini Coopers.
We had started a relationship with Jeff and have been totally converted to buying from a broker! Jeff not only was able to keep his word and hold a particular Mini Cooper S for me and my wife to test drive, but it was a total NO HASSLE experience. We walked in he took a photo copy of our Drivers licenses and gave us the keys and said bring it back when you're ready. I test drove the car, my wife did the same and as a 3rd opinion my sister in law also drove the car (she was suppose to make sure we didn't get sucked into buying something we'd regret).
Paperwork was also HASSLE FREE. We came ready with a letter from our credit union, but their bank was able to cut the loan rate by 1.5%. The in house DMV paper work was also flawless and very nice! We did buy an extended warranty from as we did with our last car and it proved to definitely be worth while with the Jeep as we came out ahead of the extended warranty cost. All was good and dandy, of no fault to Carsmith I ended up canceling my extended warranty because Mini of San Francisco Blacklisted my VIN number as I have modified the vehicle beyond their comfort zone. I received a prompt refund check from Carsmith for the amount due to me for canceling my policy.
Our experience with Carsmith was unparallelled with excellent service and Jeff is an awesome guy. I was able to get a great deal (under KBB) for a low mileage 2006 Mini Cooper S that had the VERY hard to find steptronic/paddle shift transmission at the time. The cars on their property were immaculate and I could have mistaken the lot for a NEW car dealer. They seem to have a thing for Mini Cooper's, BMW's, Audi's, Infinite's, Range Rovers, Prius's, they even had a Corvette and a few Cadillac's when we were there last. They also offer services like tinting, lojack, stripes and the sort under dealer pricing.
Would I go back there from San Francisco for our next car YOU BET CHA! It was the best car buying experience I've ever had and it only took the hassle of buying a car 4 times to convert us to the services that they provide here at Carsmith. -
Review from Mitch T.
Newark, CA
2/8/2012
My truck was getting up there in miles and my wife wanted a certain vehicle in a certain color. After browsing the internet, I stumbled upon Carsmith Motors, which not only were they located in Fremont, but they had the exact model/color my wife wanted.
After emailing Sean a few times, he got me pre-approved and went in with my trade in Monday and was out of there in less than 2 hours. I hate the car buying process, but Sean's easy going nature made it bearable. Thanks Sean and Dave! -
Review from Alicia N.
Denver, CO
Updated - 10/15/2011
Our car died a sad death in a crash here in Denver. We decided we wanted a MINI Cooper, and although we looked for months, couldn't find what we wanted - so we turned to Carsmith Motors, our favourite dealer in California. They found exactly what we wanted, worked within our price range, and voila, we are now happy campers. We arranged for a friend to drive the car to Colorado, and Carsmith Motors helped with all the necessary paper work. I am a committed customer, as Carsmith always goes above and beyond to help. No hassle, no oversell, just selling you the car you want - with incredible service. BIG thumbs up!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/29/2008
Carsmith Motors offers a no BS /hassle free approach to buying a car. Tell them what you want, and… Read more »
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Review from Sheryl Y.
San Francisco, CA
3/25/2011
Kevin is the owner of Carsmithmotors Motors. He is an honest businessman and is extremely knowledgeable of his cars. He did not try to force a sale on me, and gave my family and I a lot of space and time to discuss my purchase.
Carsmith Motors only sell near-perfect condition (these cars look practically brand new!) vehicles at extremely fair prices.
I would not hesitate to return to Carsmith for my next car. I highly recommend this auto broker!
Overall, great customer service, great cars, and great prices. What more can you ask for?Comment from Dave M. of Carsmith Motors 8/9/2011
We do pride ourselves on hand selecting each vehicle, thanks… More » -
Review from Harish I.
San Jose, CA
8/25/2010
Already done with my car purchase and have wide ranging experience from various dealers in the bay area. This review is for the worst experience I encountered. I did end of buying an Infiniti and they have quite a few for price that seems good upfront.
Went to check out couple of the cars that seemed interesting and even test drove. Seems very unprofessional, impatient and not helpful or informative at all. After we test drove 2, it was as if we were asking for a unicorn when we wanted to test drive a 3rd. Also for some reason the whole time it seemed the assumption was that we were there to not buy a car or we were not going to buy an Infiniti (which we just did). Final nail in the coffin was the treatment for making the guy stay back beyond his 7 PM store closing time. No follow up calls even after we test drove 3 cars.
Their high reviews seem to suggest this could be down to individuals and also a combination of them selling used Infinitis at lower prices than dealers. But special mention of Sean who made our experience very different from the average rating -
Review from Sonia F.
San Jose, CA
4/29/2010
I bought my Lexus very recently from Carsmith Motors. It was a great experience!!! It is definitely hassle free, and they are willing to help in any way they can. In fact, they went above and beyond to get me what I wanted. It was also very nice and convenient that they reply to e-mails in a timely manner, which I really appreciate! Carsmith Motors really impressed me with their service and how easy the process was. I specifically went through the buying process with Sean Barton, he was always very nice and answered all the questions I had.
I recommend this dealership if you are looking to find a good quality luxury car, and at a very competitive price! My past car buying experience has been less than desirable, and I was so glad that this was stress free for me. The reason I decided to go to Carsmith wasn't only because they had the car that I was looking for, but it was also due to all the good reviews in yelp... I hope my review helps people to make the same decision :-) -
Review from Randy H.
Castro Valley, CA
4/11/2010
THE BEST CAR BUYING EXPERIENCE EVER
If you are in the market for a new or used car - I would highly suggest that you include the Carsmith Motors team as part of your car buying process. Go - shop around at a few dealers - take some test drives - review and negotiate prices - STOP - and give the Carsmith team a call - they can do better!
My wife and I recently purchased a car from Carsmith - we shopped around and found what we wanted. I negotiated a price with the dealer, researched on the internet and then gave Carsmith a call. Within a few days, they found a comparable car at a much better price than what I would have been able to get at the dealer or the prices I saw on the internet. We arrived at the conveniently located Carsmith office and we picked up our car after spending about 10 minutes on the paperwork. How many times have you waited for hours at the dealership to complete the paperwork on your car? Not at Carsmith - instead, you order your car - get a great price - show-up and spend a few minutes on the paperwork and then drive off.
Easy - really nice salespeople - save a lot of money & time.
I highly recommend Carsmith Motors and could not be happier with the experience. -
Review from Eugene F.
Campbell, CA
3/19/2009
Just a warning. This is going to be an epic review. Short and sweet: Carsmith Motors is GREAT, and I would definitely use them for a future car purchase. No haggling. No pressure AND great service.
On to the review ...
After multiple visits to multiple Audi dealerships in the Bay Area, the quest for *the* choice of finding a newer model manual transmission Audi would be one of huge difficulty. Apparently, they are of a rare breed and often are purchased really quickly before they spend too much time on a lot. (Even in these difficult economic times.)
I found Carsmith Motors from using a http://autotrader.com's alert feature that searches newly added cars and sends an email alert when something that meets your criteria is added into their system. Last Friday morning, it appeared: a newer model, manual transmission Audi from Carsmith Motors.
I knew that I would have to call them pretty quickly to check things out and get more details about the newly listed car. Of interest, as well, was the fact that on top of their ad they said "check out our reviews on Yelp". Um. That gets a lot of points in my books, and from the reviews that I saw, it looked like they were a reputable business with happy customers.
I spoke with Jeff that morning, and he was surprised to find that I had already found the ad for the car since he had just placed it the night before. He apparently had just purchased the car in an auction in Southern California, and the car hadn't arrived, but anticipated it's arrival within the next few days. He took my number, and said he would give me a call when it arrived.
To my surprise, he called me Saturday morning, and let me know that the car had just arrived and it would be available to view that afternoon. We agreed that we would head-in to check the car out.
We arrived at a nondescript office park in Fremont with a few cars parked in the front of the business away from the entrance to their offices. There was an Audi that was parked out front that met the description of the car that we were supposed to look at, but was a little disappointed because it looked like it needed some work done on it before it would be available to be sold.
With some disappointment we parked our car, and headed into their office. It's not your traditional car dealership with all the glitz and glamor; they're a small operation that acts as a broker to purchase you a car based on your specifications. In our case, though, they had a new car coming in for sale that met what we were looking for.
When Jeff came out to meet us, he led us back through a door that led to a garage. It was promising. The car parked out front wasn't the car that we were going to look at. We walked to the entrance of the garage and parked there was a pristine-looking, newly detailed Audi that was leaps and bounds better than any other car that we had seen in the area. Angels started singing, and I think that the quest was over.
Jeff let us know that there were a few things that he was going to take care of the car before he would sell it: a full inspection by an Audi dealership, remove some dings that were on the passenger door, and an oil change. The price he offered was a fair offer, as well, and below the KBB price--and we didn't even have to haggle. They also provide all DMV services in-house, so no hassle there, either!
Needless to say, an offer was made on the car, and a certain someone is going to pick it up today. The car isn't even for me, but the experience of dealing with Carsmith Motors let me know that some used car dealers aren't all necessarily bad. Carsmith was a pleasure to deal with, and when I'm in the market for a new/used car, I'd definitely consider using them! -
Review from Dennis C.
Los Angeles, CA
9/12/2009
I just bought my 2006 s2000 from these guys. I came from Los Angeles just to buy from these guys, because thats how good they are.
Here's my background. I've worked 3 years in automotive, specifically as a product planner and factory driver. I test and design cars for all sorts of brands. I'm also a motorhead. everything there is to know about cars, i know. everything that you will need to know about cars in the future, i know.
its both a gift and a curse. the gift is, i got to do the dream job of every man out there. i drive a different car every week for free... in fact, i get paid to do it.
the curse is that i am VERY particular in my cars. it just so happened that i got rid of my old car, and will be buying a 2010 JCW mini next year (the 2010 is the refreshed model that will have the new interior design). So i needed a car to fill the void between now, up until the new mini comes out, which is about 14-16 months.
so theres no sense in buying a brand new car. I had the dream job, but it doesnt quite pay that much.
so after searching norcal, LA, OC, SD, vegas, AZ, and even TX for used 2006+ s2000s, here is what i found. (I used craigslist and autotrader)
norcal: best conditions, but almost no choice but silverstone silver color. I wanted either white or sebring silver.
LA: every car has banged up wheels, and prices are generally higher than everywhere else.
OC: every car has a messed up interior. what the hell is wrong with these people?
vegas: poor paint condition
AZ: hit or miss.. but mostly bad paint condition.
TX: lowest prices, most color choices, but just too far to buy a car away from home.
and this is where I found Carsmith. they had listed a sebring silver 2006 s2000 on autotrader, and I called in and asked to see it. They told me to drop on by, which means me flying out to norcal to see this car. thank god i was going back up there anyway (i go back every other weekend for family and business).
when i got there at 10am on a friday, they had told me they JUST sold the car, and i was literally about to cry because the car they had was cheaper than almost everywhere ive seen, was in perfect condition, and LOW miles. but this is when Dave Marcus offered his services.
I told Dave what I wanted SPECIFICALLY. I actually felt sorry for him because im so picky. I had a pretty hard list of "must not haves".
So over the course of about 2 months, Dave would email me every 2-3 days about cars he found, the condition of each automobile, pros/cons. Carsmith gives you the power of CHOICE.
so to give everyone the cliff notes on my experience with these great guys (Kevin is great too!):
* CHEAP prices
* EXCELLENT service
* They stand by what the sell
* The power of CHOICE
I would never put these guys in the same category as a used car dealership, because they really arent. If they dont have something you want, just tell them and they'll hunt the perfect car for you.
I'm a "car guy".. i would know. but for those who arent too knowledgable about cars, I dont know understand why you wouldnt use these guys if you were to buy a used car.
the traditional way a person goes about buying a used car these days are:
* Used car dealerships (ripoff artists, douchebags)
* Craigslist (lots of liars and scammers)
* Autotrader (same as craigslist)
If you go with Carsmith, you at least have them inspect the car for you. Carfax alone isnt enough. My old car was in 3 accidents, and carfax doesnt show one single thing on the report. These guys will tell you if a body panel was ever repainted or changed... this is so important! Ive known so many people who buy used cars that had trouble right after... crap like broken waterpumps, cracked hoses, cracked block, compression loss.... the average person would never know how to look for these things.
That's also why i never believed in buying used cars at all. because there are people like me out there that can hide these things from your average consumer.
Trust me. if youre buying a used car, just try these guys first and see what they can do for you. it beats buying a timebomb from autotrader/craigslist.
in my experience, what i paid out the door was still cheaper than all the dealerships ive gone to the past 6 months. And lemme tell you, i know the ins and outs of dealerships, so i know how to bargain.
Dave and Kevin, THANK YOU FOR MY NEW RIDE! -
Review from Cindy M.
San Francisco, CA
8/29/2008
I ultimately had a good experience buying a used Subaru Outback here. The transaction was very easy, even though I went into it suspicious because of really bad experiences with traditional dealers. I had a minor problem with the car after purchasing it, and Kevin and Jeff made it right. They really went above and beyond to make sure I was a satisfied customer. It meant a lot to me.
And I love my car.
Cindy -
Review from Wes L.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/23/2009
Breaking the stereotype for a car buying experience...
Ever been to a car dealership,...?
ever been hassled as soon as you step foot on the lot,...?
ever been pushed to purchase options that have no meaning...?
Carsmith Motors is an Auto Broker, rather than a dealer, you'll never be pushed to purchase anything here.
I'd personally never heard of an Auto Broker until I my wife and I wanted to buy a Prius. We found Carsmith Motors through their postings on Craigslist. It was a very good deal.
It had a new drive train factory installed (est val $5000).
I loved the laid-back attitude of the service personnel and the simplicity of the layout of the building. They let us test drive the vehicle without needing to sit with us.
It's better if you have the cash available to purchase, as they do not have their own finance department. But if you need financial help, they will try to find a loan for you.
Total Experience change for me. I will definitely look to Carsmith the next time I want to purchase a car (user or new). -
Review from Mrs M.
Solano, CA
11/30/2010
Took a trip down there and test drove three cars, and I was amazed that they did not harass me like other dealerships.
I left my information with Gus, then I called them and they never called me back. Guess they didn't want my service. -
Review from Corrie C.
Hayward, CA
2/10/2010
What can I say; the previous reviews say it all. These guys make the car buying experience stress free, hassles free, exciting and painless (for you and your wallet). Who even knew that was possible???
Carsmith Motors makes your car buying experience pleasant. The customer service is better than that of a dealership where you would be paying far more for the same vehicle. I have dealt with Kevin, Dave and Mike for over 8 years and would NEVER go elsewhere for a vehicle.
Great job guys! Keep it up :-)Comment from Dave M. of Carsmith Motors 2/24/2010
Thanks for your loyalty to Carsmith, you were one of our… More » -
Review from Jeremy K.
San Martin, CA
3/7/2009
This was the best experience I've had buying a car. No pressure and no BS. We had the options of checking out the car ourself and at our own pace. If they didn't have what you were looking for, gosh darn it, they would do there best in getting what you wanted.
After the purchase, they took care of all our paper work, no DMV shiet we have to deal with. Even after the purchase, there were a few scratches we knew about, but he took the liberty to repaint the whole bumper at no additional charge. The FX 35 Purrrrss like a tiger!!! Fully loaded, sport package and tech package. I just can't take long enough routes on trips to get enough of it. Great job Carsmith. Would highly recommend to friends, family and strangers who want a great deal without the pushy dealer sales rep mentality. -
Review from Ben K.
San Francisco, CA
3/23/2010
BURNT!
These guys come across as nice guys, but you can't trust them. I had a verbal agreement with the owner on a car. He was away sick for 2days and when I was coming to him with the check for a car on day 3, he told me his partner had sold the car the night before.
I was in constant contact via text messages and phone leading up to this. I can't believe these guys can run a business like this.
THESE GUYS MIGHT SEEM NICE. BUT YOU CAN NOT TRUST THEM.Comment from Dave M. of Carsmith Motors 3/23/2010
We strive to be fair in all customer interactions.Our… More » -
Review from Jon Y.
Sunnyvale, CA
5/22/2008
One of the best car buying experiences I've had thus far...and I've purchased many, many cars in my life.
I purchased my current daily driver (06 audi a4 s-line) from these guys after a referral from my close buddies on the Porsche forums.
Being brokers, they really take all the work out of buying the exact car you want. In fact, you can simply tell them the specifics of what you're looking for and they'll hunt it down and even buy it for you so you don't have to deal with the dealer selling your dream car (this is what good brokers do BTW).
They didn't try to "pwn me up" like your regular dealership would for your trade-in. They even have a DMV person in-house to handle all the paperwork, plate, fees, etc.
Great experience and I'll definitely see these guys when I get bored again. :)
See Marat or Jeff.Listed in: For the automotive enthusiast
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Review from Mason K.
San Jose, CA
7/14/2008
I was in the market for a Toyota Prius which is very popular right now due to rising gas prices. Every dealership I talked to had a 6-8 week waiting list.
Dave Marcus at Carsmith Motors helped me to find the exact color and package that I was looking for, and in less time than if I had gone through the local dealerships. He was able to locate the car at a dealership in Jackson, CA, one I would not have spoken to. The car was driven to Carsmith in Fremont, so even picking up the car was easy.
Dave also helped me to sell my old car. Overall a very smooth experience. -
Review from H W.
San Leandro, CA
1/27/2009
I'm writing 4 stars in the meantime because I haven't purchased a vehicle from them yet, so consider this an incomplete review (I know, lame). Long story short, I found them on Yelp, asked about some G35 sedans, and they went right to work for a few hours to help me find one. Unfortunately, while I was out car shopping this afternoon, I got the call from my friend that he wasn't going to buy my car and bailed out at the last minute. Sean was helping me find a G35 and I really commend his efforts. With that said, his thorough approach with helping me find the exact car I want, if not very close to what I want for the price I want was very helpful. I feel bad for telling him the bad news that I can't make a purchase at the moment. I hope Sean reads this because I think I forgot to apologize since I spent the hour prior being a little bummed I didn't sell my car today.
All in all. When I'm ready to buy again, possibly in a few months when I can save up a bit more money and the time constraints to purchase the new vehicle wasn't so tight. I'll give Carsmith Motors a call and ask for Sean. This time I'll make sure I can give them plenty of time to find me my next ride. I feel a lot better now about not selling my car. LOL. -
Review from Thomas M.
Oakland, CA
4/4/2009
I got a really good deal on a 2005 Mercedes Benz c230 Kompressor. I found there business from browsing through http://www.Craigslist.org and also is a member of the Yelp community!! (Kudos). Jeff, who has been working on my case has to be the most honest dealer, thus I've met so far. No BS!
After doing research as for a first-time buyer, I knew I was getting a real competitive deal. I slammed Jeff with so many questions, yet he delivered legit answers. I am certainly affectionated to the Yelp community, seeing that it is a 5 star rating company, I've already fond my trust within the business, therefore I chose Carsmith Motors. Especially while I am active duty, I am currently not in the area. Jeff has made my purchasing experience as much convenience as possible, although I had a friend around that area to physically check the vehicle for me, and he told me great news. (He is an car expert). So I knew for sure Carsmith would be a great company to purchase a vehicle from.
I highly recommend Carsmith Motors to anyone, especially first-time buyers. As for the paperwork process goes, it is simply easy. They actually take care of the DMV paper work for you! I am not able to physically be there, and yet purchasing a vehicle from a distance is fast and simple. I am expecting the vehicle here shortly, (They get great deals for car transportation companies, so what Jeff is telling me). So I will write an update once I receive my new car!
In conclusion of this review, No BS as I mentioned, GREAT customer service obviously in response to mark.m's review, as Carsmith said in qoute, "I look forward to speaking with you and resolving this situation to your satisfaction (even if it means buying the car back from you)." Now that is a 10!
Thank you Yelp and Carsmith Motors! -
Review from Stephanie R.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 4/15/2009
So a minor addition to the fab service.
I bought my car with the license plate bracket missing on the front... i didn't notice but SFPD noticed two times, thanks for the tickets (sarcasm). I emailed Kevin and he offered to put the bracket on for me free of charge and also were immediately responsive to my email.
My boyfriend has now decided to buy his company cars from them next year when they purchase Mercedes' for him and his business partners... AGAIN I cannot tell you how amazing these guys are!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/12/2008
Wow can I just say.. I hated buying cars before but after my experience this week, its changed me!
I… Read more »
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Review from Tiffany P.
San Jose, CA
6/9/2009
After seeing reviews on http://Yelp.com for Carsmith Motors I was compelled to stop by in search of a Prius with HOV stickers. Low and behold I found the service to be very comfortable with no pressure. i immediatly felt i could trust Sean and that he had my best interest at heart. He even allowed me to take the car home before I had given him all of my deposit due to a new job.
I will definately go through Carsmith Motors for my next vehicle! -
Review from Steve M.
Sacramento, CA
1/5/2010
2007 Lexus IS 250 (purchased Nov. 2009)
Gus, thank you again for being a great salesman. Your honest feedback, the experience in the luxury vehicle business, professionalism, patience and dedication blew my expectation. Shopping for a luxury vehicle has never been easier before.
Two things I have gained from doing business with Carsmith Motors and the first, the beautiful and near mint condition 2007 Lexus 250 at an awesome price and second, a new friend. My wife and I really appreciate your time and business. We will definitely pass the word on to our family and friends of our positive experience we had with you and Carsmith Motors. -
Review from Yum Y u m.
Emeryville, CA
Updated - 9/24/2010
update review why? Because, not only are they great during the buying process, but Kevin is AMAZING - AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PURCHASED (6 MONTH AFTER!!) Kevin informed me that he stands behind the cars - new/used - that you buy from him. When BMW/dealership/services pointed out something to me about my baby that I was unaware of before the purchase. And Kevin stood behind his words & the car 100% & got the new part & labor fixed for me without asking me for a single penny. I am very thankful to be doing business with CarSmith. I don't know how old Kevin is, but I hope he's going to be around for a long time!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/23/2010
This review is long overdue for CarSmith Motors. I would write a short story about my experience and… Read more »
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Review from Kenny L.
San Francisco, CA
6/25/2008
I was approaching the end of my warranty on my 05 RR and was shocked to find that land Rover recently increased their extended warranty costs by an astronomical mile so I did some research and found Carsmith. I worked through Mike Velasco who provided me with some options and wasn't pushy or aggressive. I ended up purchasing an extended warranty through him and would recommend working with Mike and Carsmith.
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Review from Jason M.
San Francisco, CA
3/3/2010
Just purchased a 2007 Audi A3 at Carsmith about 3 hours ago. It's unusual (very) that I'm this compelled to write a review for anything, especially the day of at midnight. But I really must say, hands down a great experience. The place is not your standard 'car lot'; ' think suburbia office park with high end cars stored in a warehouse...... do *NOT* think balloons, ribbons or sales people sporting gold chains. In addition, add a no BS and knowledgeable down to earth approach to selling cars... they shoot from the hip and give the facts on the car history (they shared everything and more than Carfax had). The place is in Fremont, but well worth the drive if you're not local (Live in SF). I came for the A3, but all the cars they had in the showroom were tiptop.
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Review from Michelle A.
Santa Clara, CA
3/21/2010
Disappointing! We had heard great things about Carsmith and we were looking forward to purchasing from them. Well, we visited a few times looking for an FX35 and we were thrown around from associate to associate, finally Sean helped us out. We were told they could help us find the car we wanted and they could bring it in for us, we went home and never heard from them again. We kept checking craigslist and finally a white 2009 FX35 was available at Carsmith. I contacted Sean and placed an offer on the car, without having seen it but trusting in Carsmith, he told me what they could do. After a chat with my hubby, we agreed that this was a reasonable price and we headed to the East Bay from the South Bay, during rush hour mind you, to purchase. Almost there, I get a call from Sean who tells me the owner or whomever had taken the car for the night and it was not available but it would be there the following day. Bothered, we drove back home thinking this was kind of odd. The following day(Thursday), we are driving back over when I call Sean, he tells me that their accountant had the car because his car was being serviced through Carsmith....WTF??? I thought to myself, the insult didn't end there, something was said as if I had not let "them" know we were interested and to check back the following day...Ummm....I was livid. I am at home with a nine month old son, without a car because some guy was getting his car serviced. There was no way for me to get the car I had inquired about and had the cash to pay for, on the spot. So, I quickly got over it since at this point I need a car and that car was exactly what I wanted. I called back this morning (Sunday) and was told the car was SOLD!!
Incredibly disappointed and I will never recommend them! -
Review from Richard V.
Union City, CA
9/23/2009
Enjoyable? I can't believe that I'm saying this about buying a car. Absolutely no pressure... "here's the keys take all the time you want!" " "let me put more gas in it for you... so you can take it out some more." WTF? Am I at a car dealer? WOW! WinnVW Please take notes!
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Review from Brandy G.
Fremont, CA
3/7/2009
We got a really good deal here on a 2001 PT Cruiser. The car was nicely detailed - it looks brand new! The price was very fair - below KBB's recommended price from a dealership. The staff was friendly & easy to deal with. It was nothing like an experience you would find at a normal car dealership - no pressure to buy.
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Review from Joe P.
San Ramon, CA
3/4/2010
After talking to 3 mainstream auto dealers (Diablo Mazda, Toyota Dublin, etc.) who would not budge on price for the particular used car I was shopping for, I was shocked to find a listing at a dealership for the actual bluebook price.
I came in, drove it, and bought it in under an hour for the fair price these guys had listed. Shawn (Sean?) was great.Comment from Dave M. of Carsmith Motors 3/26/2010
Your salesman was Sean Barton. Glad to hear you had such a… More » -
Review from Ken W.
Honokaa, HI
1/10/2010
I have bought a lot of cars in my day and never found a place quite like this. I give them the best rating you can give. I found a car on craigislist. The ad let me to Carsmith. The car was as described and the value was excellent. If you want a new approach to buying a car this is the place to go. I will go back to them for every car from now on.
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Review from Brad T.
Oakland, CA
5/22/2010
So I must admit that when it comes to car dealers its pretty hard to impress me, and rare (if ever) that I have written a positive review or any review on a dealer. Since I was in the car biz for 5 years in all aspects I usually have a bias slant against the dealer because I know all the games and tricks.
As most of the other posts state, these guys are VERY different (in a good way of course). Found that they had 2 manual G35 sedans fully loaded and even more without Nav. I thought this must be a joke at first because none of the local Infiniti dealers had any.
I decided to stop by and was met with a professional sales atmosphere where you feel as if you are buying a luxury quality product from honest professional people.
After letting me take the car for a test drive, the negotiation of my trade-in and car prices took about 20 minutes and a second trip for paperwork took another 20-30 minutes.
Dave and the team really take pride in buying the right cars, pricing them right, and are very good at it. They prices were spot on with the wholesale dealer only information I still had access to.
Anyways I highly recommend these guys if you are buying a used luxury vehicle (especially an Infiniti!). They had even beat the interest rate I had received with our own financing. Email me with any questions or give these guys a chance. We love our 07 Infiniti G35 S Sedan Manual with Nav, Premium, Tech, and so on . . . -
Review from Anna S.
Las Vegas, NV
6/1/2009
Best car buying experience EVER!
I purchased my G35 from Sean a month ago. Where else can you buy a car, get financed, trade in your old car that you still owe on, AND take your 11 month old baby, your fiance, and still expect to get to work on time??
I have had my fair share of dealership sit downs, number crunching, one day only deals...well the norm at any car dealership. I have never used a broker before but Carsmith had the exact car I was looking for at the right price-no haggling required!
I am in sales, and my boyfriend has worked at a dealership before also. We know the difference between a sales person and a sales professional: Sean was patient, not pushy at all, and did all the work for me. I didn't have to sit down in an office and talk to a finance guy. I didn't have to talk to a sales manager to get the price I wanted.
I went in for a test drive, my license was copied and I had the keys in my hand ready to take it out for a spin-no sales guy asking me questions distracting me from the test drive.
I did not have the time or the paperwork to get the car that day, so Sean called me and gave me a list of everything I needed to get. I was in and out a few days later in probably under an HOUR.
AMAZING!!
A few weeks later, I sent an email to him asking him a question about the car, and he got back to me that day with the answer I needed. I just recieved my thank you card a few days ago. I feel like I should be the one sending one!
This is the only place to buy a car from, Sean is the only person to buy a car from, and I will never waste my time going anywhere else! -
Review from Calvin T.
San Francisco, CA
5/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
Great place to buy a used car, very friendly on the most part.
(For the most part is because i came around closing time and they seemed slightly rushed to get out of there, but i came back the next day and had great service)
I purchased my Infiniti G35 coupe from them in Feb 2009 and I had a great experience in buying my car. Although at first glance they weren't much of a car dealership, once you step into their inventory garage you'll be amazed with the quality of the cars they have in stock.
They offer test drives easily and quickly, so don't hesitate to ever ask. Staff was friendly and thorough to explain which cars had what and the different prices. I felt like a kid in a candy shop where I'm saying, "Hmm, I'd like to test drive that one that one and....THAT one" and sure enough, they'd weren't bothered at your request. They were busy at times where when i returned after the test drive I couldn't find anyone to return the keys to, but after all, keep in mind that I'm reviewing an experience from over a year ago, although I wouldn't think that their service would get worse.
As for pricing, it's slightly on the high side. i admit that they fully service the car (new tires, new brakes, whatever is necessary, etc) before the keys are handed to you with absolutely no blemishes on the cars, but the price is nonnegotiable. (at least when i bought my car) Price is determined on popularity of the car, including color, mileage and a few other things. But a black g35 with 48k miles and a blue/silver one with 20k miles both in the same condition and accessories cost exactly the same.
After a year of driving on the car there is nothing wrong with it that Infiniti factory warranty couldn't cover except for the premature wear on my clutch, but that's probably my fault for slightly aggressive driving style.
They do have slightly limited selections on the makes of cars as a huge portion of cars at the dealer was Infinitis and Audis, but i would definitely go back to buying a car from them again. -
Review from Pinkaa G.
Union City, CA
6/23/2010
We just bought our 2006 FX35 from Carsmith, what's a great experience! The car is great, super clean and smell like brand new! we LOVE it! very nice and great service!
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Review from Mark G.
San Mateo, CA
10/1/2008
These guys are a small scale dealer. They just own one garage and a few parking spots outside an office complex. The line up is a bunch of used, up-market cars like BMW, Audi, Prius, etc.
Great experience from start to finish. I found their add on craigslist for a car that I wanted. (BMW Z4 manual tranny) Went there once to check it out, came back a few days later. I shopped around a bit, and saw that the deal could not be matched for the car I wanted anywhere else. There was absolutely no pressure from the sales guy. I dealt with Marat the whole time.
When I went to get the car, the salesman picked me up from BART stop. Now that's service. They do the plates and smog stuff for you too, so that you do not have to stand in line at DMV. The plates came 6 weeks after the purchase, as promised.
Reason for withholding the last star is the trade in. They tried to lowball me on my car. Offered me $3700 (fair value by KBB for a car that was never in an accident and was in flawless condition). That was the only upsetting part, and why I continued to shop around for the car I was buying. I managed to sell it on craigslist for 2k more (KBB excellent condition price) just a week later. Dealers around town were selling the same car for 4k higher than the offered value. So no 5 star for you, Carsmith.
Other than that, I will be back when I get sick of my new baby. -
Review from Travis R.
Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA
2/1/2009
I bought an Infiniti FX and had a great experience doing so. I dealt with Kevin and there was no pressure on anything. The transaction was quick and painless and they took care of everything. They are pretty much just like a normal dealer without the dealer sales tactics. Would definitely recommend them.
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Review from Rahul B.
Los Altos, CA
9/29/2009
After dealing with Dave Marcus, it's easy to see why Carsmith is rated 5 stars by almost everyone on Yelp. He was a pleasure to work with: honest, frank, very responsive and obviously knows his cars (also a great selection of Infinitis).
I tried to get a car through Dave off an Infiniti auction: he was upfront about the time it would take to find a car, estimated pricing, and any fees I might have to pay. He went out of his way to tell me everything upfront to ensure I did not get surprised later. He was also very patient with my questions,and extremely responsive to all my calls & emails (got back in a couple of hours or less). There was no pressure at all at any time, and he was very friendly and relaxed.
Even when I asked Dave about a car in his competitor's inventory, he offered to look into it's history for me, advised me honestly, and really helped me out.
The next time I need to buy a car, Dave is definitely the FIRST person I will call!!
I also plan to proactively recommend him to any of my friends & colleagues looking for a car, and highly recommend him to anyone on Yelp looking for a honest, upfront person to work with, to acquire a great car at a good price.
Thanks a lot
RB -
Review from Slava L.
Berkeley, CA
9/30/2008
Marat (a dealer we worked with) let us test drive several cars by ourselves. We felt ZERO selling pressure. He was not trying to steer us to a particular car and was helpful and curious overall. Big plus!
Basically everything was stellar till it came to the question of price. Then things took a turn for the worst.
Like in most other dealerships the original asking price was much higher (a $1000 higher) than the one we ended up agreeing upon. That's a minus, since it shows that Carsmith will take advantage of less knowledgeable customers, just like most other dealers.
Marat said that he would take nothing less than a $1000 over what Carsmith paid for the car. That came out to over %3.5 profit for him (while 3% is usually considered a good deal for both a dealer and a customer). The final price was $500 higher than Edmund's True Market Value. Big minus, since it means that Carsmith's price was $500 higher than average price for a similar car in this area. Carsmith is used car dealership (not a big franchised one), thus their overhead should be lower and they should not even ask for full retail price, let alone go above it.
On a plus side there was little haggling. Marat showed us what Carsmith supposedly paid for the car, added $1000 on top of it, and did not budge from that price.
At the end we purchased loaded 2006 FX35 with 25K miles on it for 28K + tax and fees. -
Review from Scott S.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 4/9/2009
To kandFAuto K. -
If what you say is true, then the converse would be that they - and this is across the board for anyone that sells used cars - would give more for your trade-in. They go together. If Edmunds trade-in is so much further lower than what the wholesale market is supporting, then I should be able to look at the Edmunds trade-in value and ADD $2k (instead of subtracting $2k). I suppose I may be wrong, but their overstocked inventory certainly doesn't suggest so.
The holy grail is in Hayward - Wednesday nights.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/6/2009
CarSmith Motors: "We have 12 Infiniti G35s to Choose From This weekend!" because your cars are… Read more »
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Review from M K.
San Mateo, CA
11/20/2009
Ditto in reviews about Sean. Best car buying experience EVER! You walk in the door, get greeted by Sean and he asks you what you are looking for. I showed him the print outs of the cars I'm interested (I've done my research) and he says ok. Walks over to find the keys..leads us to the lot where there was a bunch of clean emaculate looking cars (unlike ELITE MOTORS - see reviews for them..horrible) and walks away with a our drivers license to make a copy. Comes back with a license plate and says..ok - you guys have fun driving around. 2 car keys, no questioned asked!
Then we go back in and hands him the keys. He says to us at the get-go, the first car you looked at is priced to sell, however, the second car has no wiggle room. Then I sat down and ask him to crunch numbers for me. To give me a ballbark figure of monthly payments in which I trade in my car. He does that, without saying "O..gotta to look at your car first to make any assumptions (i.e. Elite Motors)", which in my experience, is just laziness of the salesperson.
After a number crunch, he told me frankly, that if I can put some money down, I will get to my ballbark figure. So we do that in front of Sean. He then says.."O, you want me to get out of the room while you guys discuss this?". I was like..OMG..how considerate of him and knew right then and there, that I trusted him as he had my best interest in heart.
I finished the deal in less than 3 hours. Came back on Monday for an extra key fob in which Carsmith Motors gave to me for free! Talk about service!
In the end..all they requested from me is to give a review on yelp..where I found them in the first place. I told the owner, no problem..would love to!
I like to say - I'm am ever so satsified for my new/used car!
M
