Howdy Honda
Categories: Auto Repair, Car Dealers [Edit]
Neighborhood: Southeast Austin5519 E Ben White Blvd
Austin, TX 78741 (512) 443-3101
10 Reviews for Howdy Honda
We just came home with our new 2008 Honda CR-V and had a fantastic experience at Howdy Honda. Kevin (whom I was going to ask for after reading everyone's review) actually was there opening the door to greet us. We didn't have much time so we got right to the point and down to business. Kevin listened to our needs and after a bit of discussion recommended the perfect car for us right now. He was very informative and made sure we were aware of useful options, but never pushed anything on us at all. Kevin was also super friendly and understanding when our child got a little rumbly. The place has wi-fi, tons of free drinks, toys for the kiddos, lots of tvs, is brand new and uber-comfortable.
It was the best car buying experience I've ever had and I'm so glad I don't have to be embarrassed of my circa 1996 Dodge Increpid anymore!
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My Accord came from Classic Honda in Round Rock two years ago. It was a good experience, but when I decided it was too much car for me, I took to checking out Howdy based on all the great things I've heard for years.
I hate to be the voice of dissent (that's such a lie...), but my experience at Howdy was not that stellar. I wanted to go check out the Civic that has a lot of the options of my Accord, but at a lower price.
From the moment I was greeted by my salesman (not Kevin, wished I had read that before I went), I felt that I was being given the whole standard song-and-dance. They did everything from playing the good cop/bad cop routine (salesman, good, his boss, evil) to treating me like a moron when I told them that their offer was not even remotely appealing to me.
In the end, they wasted over two hours of my time, trying to beat me down, using every trick in the book to keep me in the dealership thinking I'd just wear down. Which is really funny because it's pretty obvious I'm stubborn as a mule, as well as being pretty freakin' smart, so playing me like a dumb broad was NOT the way to go for these people.
2 stars for a beautiful dealership and good stock. Minus three stars for obviously thinking "skirt", a condescending finance guy, and a sales guy and manager who tried, so transparently, to play me.
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I've bought three (an Element, then a Pilot, now a RIdgeline) from this dealership over the last 5 years. To me, 3 starts means "met my expectations" but Kevin and the staff at Howdy get an unprecedented FIVE STARS. He's honest and real and doesn't try to sell me things I don't need. I like getting to the bottom line quickly and I hate the sales game. That is what keeps me going back to Howdy Honda and back to Kevin. It helps that Honda makes a darn good automobile, too! I've had two friends buy Hondas from Kevin!
As for the service staff, they're awesome, too! I get in and out and they remember me so I don't have to dig for my rewards card everytime I go in.
The new location is amazing! It's clean and smells good, and there's tons of inventory on hand at any given time (unless of course, you're trying to get a Civic Hybrid, in which case you should call Kevin to get you on the waiting list!)
All three times, the finance guy (and I don't like finance guys) were great....They explained the fine print in detail and answered all of my "what if" scenarios.
For service, cleanliness, condition of car at time of delivery, sales experience, and professionalism, Howdy Honda (and especially Kevin) gets FIVE STARS!!!!
(I hope if Howdy Honda is reading this, that they'll say yes when I ask for a free roof rack and towing package when the new Ridgeline comes out!)
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I used to drive a Toyota Sequoia. It was big and pretty, and at 15 mpg, it made me the one of the largest contributors to Exxon-Mobile's record-breaking profits in the third quarter. "Dances with Asphalt" (the car's name) and I had to part ways.
Howdy Honda was a wet dream and then some. The facility is huge and beautiful. The dorky shirts that everyone has to wear are only semi-dorky (at least they are not embroidered denim button-downs, really the worst thing ever). Their snacks and beverages totally made me wish I was more of the hoarding type. Most importantly, their sales reps were friendly, patient, and not too pushy. Though we all know Honda's sell themselves anyway.
I looked into both used and new cars for my trade-in and settled on a new galaxy gray Civic Ex. I got less on my trade-in than I was hoping for, but as the 5 different car dealers I went to all told me, "you have the least desirable car on the market right now," fair enough.
I cannot recommend the two sales people that helped me enough: Terry in used cars, and Kevin in new. Terry is a fountain of sincerity and Kevin, a fountain of information and spunk (don't be gross). Those guys totally rock! They made my experience so incredibly pleasant, I will definitely be going to Howdy Honda for maintenance and all that other crap.
I'm so happy to have "Anderson Cooper: the Silver Fox" (my new car) in my life.
*I should also note that I visited First Texas Honda as well, and it was one of the worst experiences of my life, but that's a whole other review.*
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I've never been to Howdy Honda to buy a car yet, but I probably would if I didn't think the new 4-door Accords weren't so hideous in the back. I usually go there for my oil changes and there are a couple reasons why I go here over some other oil lube places:
1. the new place on ben white is real nice
2. i help myself to like 5 krispy-kreme donuts
3. i like to try a new kind of tea or coffee and pop it in the expensive Keurig machine
4. free wi-fi so i can bring my laptop and do my work while i'm not at the office
5. they wash my car for free
6. an oil change on my 02 civic is like 30 bucks. I went around on oltorf and they charged 30 bucks too for an oil change! i'd rather take it to a honda dealer.
Cons:
1. they don't do back massages
2. they don't do manicures
bastards.
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My first experience with the service department was very positive -- I brought my car in for an oil change and a minor warranty-covered repair (that First Texas Honda had refused to do), and didn't even have a chance to sample the array of free hot beverages I saw in the waiting area, as I was immediately picked up by the dealership van and shuttled to my workplace.
When I picked up my car when it was ready, the service technician came out to the other side of the windowed-in office to talk to me and explain my bill, which was a nice personal touch. I also noticed that the interior of my car had been protected during servicing with a paper mat on the floor and a plastic sheet over the seat. Awesome! I've never had my upholstery protected in a shop before.
I also noticed something else about my car -- something... different.
That's right -- they WASHED MY CAR.
Wow.
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I first visited First Texas Honda, and they didn't seem to want my business (even though I was buying the Civic outright, with cash). They were cold, and unpleasant.
By contrast, the salesman at Howdy Honda was friendly, helpful, and actually seemed disappointed that I didn't want to test drive the car (I'd already owned a Honda, I knew it would drive fine). They had the model I wanted, with the options I wanted, in the color I wanted, and drew up the paperwork for me right away.
They lose a star for two reasons: They took my old car as a trade in, but didn't, apparently, transfer the title like they should have, so I got a call about the car from a dealership 2 years later. Also, their service dept., while friendly, once had my car for an entire weekend, and even though I dated a Honda mechanic for 8 years, they don't listen to me.
Example: "Hey, there's a scraping sound coming from the wheels in the front end of my car, I think it's the brakes." Two hours later, "Ma'am, we can't hear the noise..." "Yeah, it only happens when braking, I think it's the brakes." Two hours later, "Ma'am, we think your brakes need to be fixed..." Umm, yeah.
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Howdy Honda has always been good to me. Actually, they've been really good to the front bumper of my beloved Honda. When I moved to Austin from a state that didn't require front plates, they very kindly drilled holes in my bumper (for free! Well, I had to buy the hardware. But still.) so that I could attach my plate holder.
A couple months later, someone backed into the front of my car, severely disfiguring the plate and plate holder. I kept putting off fixing it. A couple months after that, I noticed that the plate and holder were entirely back to normal. I seriously felt like I was living in the Twilight Zone. Did some kind-hearted individual take pity on me? Did I have a particularly helpful secret admirer? Was I suffering from amnesia?
After a few hours of scratching my head and interrogating everyone I knew, a friend reminded me that I'd had my car serviced a few weeks before, and suggested that perhaps the dealership had fixed it for me. Initially, I scoffed. Most car dealerships would charge for that, right? I called Howdy Honda, and the extremely helpful person from the service department said "Oh, that sounds like something one of our guys would do."
The staff at Howdy Honda are friendly and professional, and clearly willing to go the extra mile. Their excellent service is no secret, so an appointment is necessary, even for routine maintenance on weekdays. If you have Honda in Austin, Howdy is the place to go.
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My wife and I went to Howdy Honda to look at 2007 Civic's, and Elements. We met a gentleman named Kevin, who was uber nice, uber patient, and uber helpful.
First of all the new location is immaculate - it is like a huge shrine to honda. There are refrigerators full of free drinks, a Kuerig coffee/tea maker. There is a children's play area. The bathrooms have potpourri in bowels, flat screens everywhere.
While we were there, Kevin let us test drive a 2007 Honda Fit. It was the only one they had on the lot. We sort of drove it as a lark, but it was so much fun we ended up buying one. Unfortunately, the only one Howdy Honda had was a manual, and my wife wanted an Automatic.
Both Howdy Honda and First Texas Honda were not going to get any more in until September. You basically have to order one. Turned out San Marcos honda had one in both the color we wanted and the package we wanted.
I took one star off, because they didn't refer us to Honda San Marcos. I can understand why they don't do that, but still I am taking one star off.
Kevin was absolutely amazing, no pressure, all information. He is a self described car geek, who loves making a living working with cars. I honestly recommend him for your honda needs.
I updated the address - because the new location is east of 35 on Ben White - no longer at the Santiago address. I also uploaded a picture of our new honda Fit!
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When we were in the market for a new car after my wife graduated from college, we weren't looking for anything lavish. The service we received at Howdy Honda, however, was on par with any luxury car dealership I have ever walked into. In it's humble old building (a new lot is currently under construction), everyone is sure to be hospitable. We asked for a particular salesman based on a referral from a friend, and the gentleman who greeted us at the door immediately offered a cold drink and proceeded to walk the lot until he was able to locate the guy we were looking for.
We test drove a couple of cars and my wife described the exact model she was looking for (there are only so many options on Civics) to our salesman. He told us that he would try to locate it for us and give us a call. Fifteen minutes later we received a call from him, saying that coincidentally they had just received one that was in detail, preparing for the lot.
We had done our research on the vehicle, and just as a first shot asked him what his offer would be if we turned around and signed the papers immediately. Without hesitating he offered us $500 more than anyone else for our trade, and $500 less on the sale price OVER THE PHONE. The deal was done in less than an hour.
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