How would you rate/rank these houston dealerships?

3,747 Views | 22 Replies | Last: 9 yr ago by Wife is an Aggie
jakeaggie84
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tomball ford
Tommie Vaughn ford
Legacy ford in Rosenberg
Automation katy or gulf freeway
Lone star ford


I know most here are big Tommie Vaughn fans, but how do the others compare?

Thanks.
03_Aggie
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For what? Sales, service or overall?
jakeaggie84
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Overall i guess. General reputation. Looking at buying a new car and just wanted some input on which i should visit or skip.
Corps_Ag12
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quote:
Overall i guess. General reputation. Looking at buying a new car and just wanted some input on which i should visit or skip.


Email 1ags, that's how you buy a new ford
03_Aggie
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I'm not familiar with all of them and tommy Vaughn is liked because of the connection that cuts a good, no hassle deal.

Generally speaking, smaller dealers will be more customer service oriented but you'll most likely pay a little more. If you enjoy back and forth then you can probably score your best deal at a larger, volume driven dealership (tomball and Autonation) but if will definitely take haggling.
aggiedent
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Tomball Ford (which has a bad rep on this board) also has an Aggie connection. It, along with Tomball Dodge, is part of Keating Automotive Group, owned by Ben Keating 94'.

I'll be very frank about my experience there. At the document signing, they tried to change the agreed upon number as well as tried to sneak in $1500 worth of additional charges. I went ballistic. Very disappointed an Ag would conduct his business like that, especially knowing you have a ton of Aggie customers.
EMY92
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It's been a long time since I was in Houston, but from reading this board for a long time, I recall that Autonation is thought of about as highly of as catching the clap.
dubi
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My son used the TV connection to get a Mustang. It was incredibly easy and he was in good hands for his 1st adult car purchase. So many dealers play games and I'm happy he avoided all that.
1agswitchin4lanes
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Tomball Ford Owned by Keating Auto Group
Tommie Vaughn Ford Family Owned
Legacy Ford in Rosenberg Part of the Legacy Auto Network
Automation katy or gulf freeway Part of the Giant AN group
Lone star ford owned by sonic auto group

Before AN Katy was AN Katy, it was Champion Katy, and before that, Texan Ford, which I knew the owner at the time. I bought exclusively from them and they took care of me and friends I sent over. When AN bought them out, things went bad.

The sales manager ended up at Lone Star but he wasnt cutting me deals like before. Thats when I started going to TV. Later the sales mgr at Lone Star got busted doing shady stuff and was fired. He ended up selling used cars at West Houston Infiniti but has crawled his way back into the management arena....
jakeaggie84
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Good info, 1ags. I'm planning on meeting your guy at TV this week. Just wanted to do my due diligence.
LeftyAg89
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Jake,
I've bought my last two new Fords from AutoNation Katy... a 2013 Edge Limited and a 2014 Fusion Titanium.

I didn't have trade-ins so maybe that made the difference, but I would 100% recommend AN Katy and in particular the Internet Sales Manager/Leasing Mgr I bought from both times. Both deals were done with two emails, then I show up, paperwork is ready and bammn I'm outta there, no hassle. The only extra time I had to spend there was listening to the extended warranty pitch, about 10 minutes.

I showed my driveout price to the TV contact on both deals and asked if TV could match or get close, both times they said no way. They couldn't get get within $1500 on the Edge and $2000 on the Fusion. The TV person said "If that really is your driveout price, go for it."

AN Katy gets bashed here a lot and many people go to TV and I assume spend $1500-$2000 more on their vehicle. I guess that's ok for them, maybe they need extra hand-holding I don't know. I'd rather just spend 4 minutes on 2 emails and have the extra $3500 cash in my pocket. Once I leave the dealership, I'm done with them. Who knows, maybe I just got lucky with the pricing, but I've sent a couple of buddies over to AN Katy and they had similar experiences.

If you want my guy's contact info at AN Katy, email me at: morrishicks99@gmail.com

Oh, I did have one issue... they forgot to put the front license plate bracket on my Fusion, no worries I like it better that way anyway..

dubi
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Jake,
I've bought my last two new Fords from AutoNation Katy... a 2013 Edge Limited and a 2014 Fusion Titanium.

I didn't have trade-ins so maybe that made the difference, but I would 100% recommend AN Katy and in particular the Internet Sales Manager/Leasing Mgr I bought from both times. Both deals were done with two emails, then I show up, paperwork is ready and bammn I'm outta there, no hassle. The only extra time I had to spend there was listening to the extended warranty pitch, about 10 minutes.

I showed my driveout price to the TV contact on both deals and asked if TV could match or get close, both times they said no way. They couldn't get get within $1500 on the Edge and $2000 on the Fusion. The TV person said "If that really is your driveout price, go for it."

AN Katy gets bashed here a lot and many people go to TV and I assume spend $1500-$2000 more on their vehicle. I guess that's ok for them, maybe they need extra hand-holding I don't know. I'd rather just spend 4 minutes on 2 emails and have the extra $3500 cash in my pocket. Once I leave the dealership, I'm done with them. Who knows, maybe I just got lucky with the pricing, but I've sent a couple of buddies over to AN Katy and they had similar experiences.

If you want my guy's contact info at AN Katy, email me at: morrishicks99@gmail.com

Oh, I did have one issue... they forgot to put the front license plate bracket on my Fusion, no worries I like it better that way anyway..




I am a bit curious about Autonation Katy. If they are this fantastic, why are you the only 1 who has received a great deal? You have been promoting them for many months, but we don't see others post about their savings.

To be fair others have had a dealership beat TV, but that seems to be the exception.
03_Aggie
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It really shouldn't be shocking. As I said above, bigger dealers can usually offer better deals because of the volume they do. TV is smaller and can't afford to go toe to toe with the autonations of the world. But chances are you're going to get better service and less of a hassle at a TV because that is how they have to differentiate themselves.

To some, the bottom dollar is what matters most and they are willing to battle to get it. Others appreciate a good price without a hassle.
NCNJ1217
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We bought used at AN Katy and had a good experience.

However we had a horrible experience with their service department (or the wife did). Seemed like that was routine for them and we will never go back there for service.
LeftyAg89
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dubi,
haha I'm not the only one. I guess most people are scared off by all the doomsayers. No skin off I my back. Someone on this site asks for recommendations, I give mine based on my experience, this isn't commie land. I don't BS. All I can tell you is my experience at AN Katy vs TV vs Planet Ford.

If TV or Planet Ford Humble would have gotten within $200-300 of the price I would have gone with them, much much closer to my home, but the fact is, $2000 is $2000.

When I car shop I do my due diligence and know what I want (color, options). Find the best price for the car I want and take the best price. No hassle, no problem.
aggiepaintrain
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I wouldn't buy soap from Keating, much less a car or truck.
mm98
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I wouldn't buy soap from Keating, much less a car or truck.


He used to recruit for sales guys through ATM when I was there. Offered me a job. Sales office just felt a bit sleazy.

kubiak03
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I know I might get flamed but I had a good experience with planet ford spring. However, my neighbor knows/worked with the sales manager there and told him to take care of me. Best price on my 2015 F150.

TV said they would match but being in sales i felt the planet guy did a good job for me and the leg work.

Have great experience with TV as well in the past.

I can say that I have been very happy with planets service department.
BrazosDog02
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Autonation - Id rank them 10th in your list.
MrJonMan
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TV fan boy checking in!
maverick12
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quote:
I am a bit curious about Autonation Katy. If they are this fantastic, why are you the only 1 who has received a great deal?

We got a great deal on my daughter's truck at Autonation Katy so he's not the only one. We shopped it around and I did get a quote from TV too. From my experience, it is very tough to beat the volume dealers on price. It might not be the best buying experience, but I guess it depends how much you value the buying experience. Of course, I wouldn't step a foot back in there for service, or anything else. I bought my own truck from Mac Haik several years ago. Had maybe the best car buying experience I have ever had. My sales guy moved up though and I found them very non-responsive when I was looking for my daughter, so I moved on to the next dealer.
jja79
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quote:
Tomball Ford (which has a bad rep on this board) also has an Aggie connection. It, along with Tomball Dodge, is part of Keating Automotive Group, owned by Ben Keating 94'.

I'll be very frank about my experience there. At the document signing, they tried to change the agreed upon number as well as tried to sneak in $1500 worth of additional charges. I went ballistic. Very disappointed an Ag would conduct his business like that, especially knowing you have a ton of Aggie customers.


They lost this 2 time Aggie customer's business. Tomball Ford is a POS.
maverick2076
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Autonation is garbage. My wife bought a truck there for me while I was deployed. They made a mistake on some of the paperwork, called and asked her to come in and sign again. She told them she had to work all week, but would be in on Saturday (this was on a Tuesday). Instead, when she got home from work they had a salesman (not hers) sitting in our driveway at 9 at night waiting for her with paperwork that they expected her to sign.

I lost my **** when I found out, and told her she should have given them the truck back. She had bought it as a surprise for me right before I came home, so she didn't want to not have it for me.

I will never do business with them, and I won't let my friends do so either.
Wife is an Aggie
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Curious about Lonestar Ford as I live near it and actually know one of the previous owners... I have never bought a vehicle from them but will potentially be in the market in a couple years or less.
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