I just bought a used Lexus RX from Salem Mansoir at Ion Cars in Jack London Square, Oakland, CA. Excellent, fantastic experience start to finish! I had been looking for a couple of months for a Lexus RX. I found his ad in the morning before he opened, he answered the call anyways, he texted me photos upon arriving to work, and tested the electric trunk with me on the phone. He agreed for me to test drive it that am to my trusted mechanic (Jimmy at Precision Auto in San Leandro). Jimmy said he was impressed with the attention to detail and part choices for upgrades that Salem did to place it on the market. Said it was very clean, safe, reliable, and an excellent purchase choice! Jimmy also said the price was great, and so did Carfax. I immediately went to the bank and bought the vehicle! Salem was super organized and efficient and quick with the paperwork when I brought the cashier's check. The vehicle is for a nonprofit and Salem knew how to do all of the DMV paperwork appropriately! The first few days of owning the vehicle, I drove it over 1k miles, even off roaded it, and there were zero issues. I highly recommend Salem's super clean vehicles and excellent customer service! read more

Ion Cars - Salem's cars won't fail you! Off roaded and 1k miles driven the first few days after purchasing, and zero issues! - Car Dealers Near Me - Oakland, California

Salem and crew at Ion were so wonderful. They made it fun and easy for us to purchase a car, and were very clear during the paperwork process. Thanks! read more

Ion Cars - My daughter's first car - Car Dealers Near Me - Oakland, California

Salem is really accommodating and frank. He's flexible and makes purchasing a car an enjoyable tailored experience

"Buy it in Sac" "Have your Dad on speaker phone when you settle on a car" "Just bring a guy with you." ... this was some of the advice I was given when I set out to buy a car after 7 years of the transit/carshare hustle. But being the stubborn engineer that I am, I was determined to buy this car by myself. But visiting a dealership after dealership was an exhausting and demeaning experience. Ion had a car I was interested in, accessible by transit, and 5 stars in Yelp!? As soon as I met Salem, I knew why. He impressed me with his customer service and treated me with respect. No tomfoolery. He answered my many questions, was amiable to getting the car looked over by a dealership mechanic of my choice before I purchased. He even got me better financing than my credit union. and now this 2013 Honda Civic Coupe EX aka "Mochi" is mine! I waited 6 months to post this review, truly made this car buying experience a great. I reccemend anyone looking for a car to check Ion out. Even if they don't have what you're looking for that day, keep checking because the experience is worth it. read more

Ion Cars - Meet Mochi, my 2013 Honda Civic - Car Dealers Near Me - Oakland, California

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another update: had to replace my entire AC compressor for $1800, then a month later my transmission line went out while driving. it's in the shop now with another pricey fix. only had the car since May and already put in thousands of repairs. still have yet to recieve proof that they had done the timing belt/water pump work even though he just gave me a random belt at signing stating it was the old belt. he could've just plucked a belt from any old car as he has a few getting work done actually in his dealership/shop. just beware and maybe bring the car to a mechanic for a full inspection before buying. save yourself the hassle. read more

Salem is the most humane, passionate and determined car man I've ever met. I was in a tricky financial situation and he found a way for me to get a car. He spent so much time figuring out not only what I really wanted but also used his expertise to help figure out what I needed and what was realistic for me to buy; he wasn't just trying to sell me the most expensive car. Salem is a car salesman but he uses this as a front to make friends, find resources for those in need and to make people's days generally better. I like him and trust him and recommend him to people all the time! read more

Ion Cars - My OG 2002 Prius - Car Dealers Near Me - Oakland, California

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The owner is very honest and i bought 3 cars from there and had no problems. if you are in the market for used car check it out and you won't regret it. read more

I had the best experience buying a car from ion cars. High quality cars, honest pricing. Bought a car from them 4 years ago, best purchase ever. Highly recommended read more

"Would you buy a used car from this man?" Absolutely! My partner and I were in the market for a used Mini Cooper and found one for sale at Ion. Salem, the owner, spent a great deal of time with us showing a car he had on offer. He was knowledgable, down to earth, honest and a lot of fun. He gave us good deal on the car and put absolutely no pressure on us to buy it. In fact, he was quite patient in answering all of our questions and dealing with our indecisiveness. After a several months, a couple of problems showed up on the car and I mentioned them to Salem after a repair shop wanted to charge us a lot of money to tend to them. Salem and his mechanic fixed them for free! My experience at Ion makes me want to buy more cars from Salem. In this climate where we one has to be so weary of being ripped off in so many ways, it was so refreshing to find a trustworthy business, one where you feel better for having patronized it. read more

Couldn't be a better experience in buying a car in the Bay Area than at Ion Cars. I got the best deal on a used Hyundai Accent. Salem has lots of option in terms of make and model of cars and I felt assured that I was getting the best deal. This is not your usual car dealership. There are no sales guys trying to pressurize you into something substandard and rip you off on the interest. Salem was very upfront about the issues with the car I was interested and did not hide anything and it made the decision making easier. Once I decided to buy the car, the paperwork went very smoothly and I was out with a fine car on the same day. I was proud of supporting a local business. Next time I need a car, I am DEFINITELY going back to Ion Cars. read more

I wish i can give this place more stars since 5 stars isn't enough credit to this place! First off, i'm from san jose and since i going to get a car toward Oakland i was very skeptical about this place. To my surprise, it was easy to find, when i walked in i was nervous about buying a first since this would be the first time for me. Don't be fooled though, this place was worth the trip! Salem was the manager of the place and was very helpful when it came to buying my car. When it came to customer service, he was on top of his game! letting me know the details of the car insuring me that this car wasn't in bad condition. Salem is the type of person who takes customer service very seriously. He does his best to try and make everything as comfortable and smooth as possible. When i got my car, I waited a couple of week before i wanted to write a review. Usually you can tell a car is bad within the first few weeks so I went to my usually mechanic to get my car checked. It was in excellent condition. Nothing was wrong with this car. So for all those who are doubting this place, TRUST ME. I had the same doubts but now i don't! For those of you trying to find a car, this is the place to go! Salem is very understanding, fun to have a small chat with and tries to help the customer as much as he can with the best of his abilities. I would not have gone any other place! Thank you Salem for making a princesses dream come true by selling me my unicorn(Scion)! read more

The SWEET SPOT. I am a first time car buyer. VERY new to the whole experience, but Salem was patient and thorough in explaining everything to me. I was very picky about what I wanted, and without hesitation he efficiently found me exactly what I was looking for. He had no qualms about rushing down to the auction in So Cal to snatch up my ride! I would start with Salem and Ion Cars when you start thinking about buying a new or pre owned car. read more

I looked up Ion Cars (and other dealerships) online when looking for a new or used car. I read all of the 5-star reviews on Yelp, so I had high expectations, but "it's a car dealership," so I was still prepared to be put through the paces of sales psychology. But that never happened. Instead, it was an enjoyable, customer-focused experience from start to finish. When the technology becomes available, I hope we can clone Salem, the owner of Ion Cars. He is awesome. I shopped around for a gently used Prius for weeks. I did my research, talked to friends, learned the Blue Book and Edmond's values, looked up the TCO of new vs. used vs. other makes and models, and I learned about interest rates and loan timelines of used cars (as well as new cars). I researched and compared cars online, visited multiple dealerships, took test drives and met with multiple sales people. Ion was hands-down the dealership that had the best price for the most well maintained used car with low miles, and Salem is a great guy. Ion is his business and his reputation, and he takes great pride in his service. I absolutely recommend getting down to Ion and, if he has what you're looking for, consider buying your car from him. Seriously, all high-dollar sales transactions should be that honest, easy, and stress free. *And* Salem stayed late and made multiple calls to banks in order to get me the best rate... all with no pressure, a positive and professional manner and a down-to-Earth sense of humor. Thank you, Salem & Ion. Five stars. HIGHLY recommended. PS: I couldn't figure out my bluetooth connection and I had warranty detail questions, and Salem was great even after the purchase. Excellent support, even after the sale. read more

Salem is exceptional and his cars are outstanding.....friendly, honest, professional and knows his business inside out. Extremely helpful navigating the bank politics applying for a loan....its so refreshing to find and deal with someone who is completely upfront and honest! read more

My husband and I love Salem at Ion cars! No pressure whatsoever, and amazing prices on his cars. We got a great deal on our 2012 ford focus; it was exactly what we were looking for! He had so many other great cars that it was difficult to make a decision, and we spent a few hours with him test driving three cars and going back and forth. He was super patient and just an all around great guy. Thank you Salem, we will refer everyone we know that needs a new used car to you!!! read more

Ion Cars - Our new 2012 Ford Focus SEL from Ion cars - Car Dealers Near Me - Oakland, California

You know all those things you hate about buying a used car from a dealer? NONE of them apply at Ion Cars. Salem exceeded my expectations several times over. The pricing was more than fair, the negotiation was honest and easy, my car is in excellent shape and it runs like a top (2010 Mazda 3). I had to pick up the car the day after I bought it, and without my asking, he had touched up a small scrape on the body and replaced the battery in one of the remote entry keys. My financing situation was a little complicated, and he had great ideas on how to make it work, patiently talked me through them, and stayed for with me for 2 hours after closing to finish everything up. Although the car had a clean CARFAX and he had had it checked out by a mechanic, I wanted to make sure by having another mechanic take a look. My schedule was really busy on the day I was to pick up the car, and Salem actually offered to take the car in to a mechanic of my choice to get it checked out. I would highly recommend Ion Cars to anyone. read more

Salem at Ion was such a pleasure to work with. After researching and finding the perfect car for me (a 2010 Prius), I went in to test drive and met with Salem. He was incredibly friendly and helpful throughout the entire process. He got me a good rate for my loan (beating my credit union) and getting the car only took a short time. The whole process was really painless and Salem worked with me and was accommodating the entire way. A little while after getting the car, the original 12V battery died because it was at the end of it's normal life. Even though it was out of warranty and I could have just been out of luck having bad timing for a normal wear and tear part, Salem paid for the replacement. He's definitely gone above and beyond and I would recommend Ion to anyone. read more

I visited Ion Cars because they had the car I wanted (a Mini Cooper) in the price range I was looking for. Salem was very open and honest about the car and its maintenance history, which made me feel better about buying a 12-year old car. It's been a few weeks now and everything is great! I love, love, love my car. read more

I'll start by saying that we reviewed many dealerships in the area and noticed that one in particular consistently rated 5 stars, ION Cars. I am truly impressed with ION Cars, in Oakland. The GM, Salem Mansoir, is exceptionally open, honest and straightforward. He treated my son [who is 18 and has done a ton of research on the car he wanted] with respect and never once condescended to him or my husband. They must have spent close to 2 hours checking the car out and asking a million questions, and in the end, this dealership wins hands down. His cars are kept indoors, in a large garage space and his inventory is very selective. He won't deal with junkers and he knows his product from A to Z. Price point is also comfortable. I don't think I spent more than 25 minutes closing the deal, which is remarkable. I recommend ION cars without hesitation. read more

Wow - best car purchase experience I've ever had. Thanks Salem! He has his cars priced well and he acts like a professional rather than a sales guy. He never pushed for a sale and when I was hesitant about a potential issue, he was patient, honest and easy to work with. As a result, I did not even want to haggle on price because it would have been an insult. I am looking forward to buying another car from him someday. NOTE: He has only received 5 star reviews on Yelp and he did not ask for a Yelp review either. When people have to ask, then you know they are unprofessional. read more

Working with Salem to purchase a Pruis in excellent condition was a smooth, honest, and fun, experience! I highly recommend working with him in getting your next vehicle that's a good fit for your needs and budget. He really works with you to make sure you're excited and feel good about what you are purchasing. Thanks Salem!! read more

Salem was very helpful and honest through out the entire car buying process. I was shopping for a used Prius and he had 3 in stock. Initially I was a little skeptical because I had found his shop thru an ad on craigslist. The price listed seemed too good to be true, but I stopped by to check it out anyways. I was blown away by the condition of the car, it was a 2010 model but it looked brand new. Then he told me he had a 2011 model as well with less miles, and it only cost a little bit more. I liked that one even more because it was the color I wanted. He had just got it in recently so he didn't even get a chance to list it on his website or craigslist yet. I was a little concerned because it looked like the rear bumper had been repainted, but the carfax shows no accident in the history. It was actually Salem who pointed out a slight chip in the paint on the bumper, he also explained the bumper might have been repainted but it is not too uncommon to repaint bumpers due to minor parking accidents, etc... When we went in his office to talk money, there was not a lot of negotiating. I think he prices his cars low enough where the customer would have little concern with paying the sticker price. I tried anyway, but he did not budge. However, he said he noticed he priced the car lower than he should have by accident, but he would honor the price since I was already there. In the end, I walked out of there with a 2011 Prius with 18k miles and paid below blue book. Only thing I would complain about is that Salem only got had one key so I have to buy a second set elsewhere. read more

After researching for a car which I sorely was looking for, I came across Ion Cars in Oakland. They were offering a great deal on a 2013 Camry, the best I had seen in the east bay. I went that weekend to meet Salem, and the rest is history. Salem was super helpful, professional, and courteous along the whole process. This is now 2 months later and the car is working great, no issues whatsoever. Even when we realized something was amiss (missing floor mats), Salem was so kind as to purchase the missing floor mats and provided them to me after the sale was finalized. The guy is a class act! I would highly recommend taking a look into Ion Cars if you are in the search for a new vehicle, as it has proved useful for myself. read more

Salem, the owner of Ion Cars, made selling my car an easy, painless, fast, and fair process. He came to me, kicked the tires for a few minutes, quoted me a reasonable price (much higher than the dealership offered to buy it back), and gave me the space to think about it. When I decided later that day to sell, Salem returned and wrote me a check on the spot. He was sincere and immediately earned my trust. He took care of transferring title, so I had nothing to do but deposit his check. I dreaded selling my car to a dealer and getting ripped off, or trying my luck with the general public and having to haggle. So when I found Ion Cars on Yelp and read all the positive reviews about Salem, I had to look into it. I am so glad I did. Thank you, Salem! read more

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to purchase a car here due to out-of-state co-signs and being a ghost (no credit). However the experience and the conversations that we were able to have with Salem, was very educational. He was extremely laidback and understanding nor did he rush any of my decisions to buy a car. He is very upfront and doesn't hide facts. Salem tried his very best to get me in a car, even tried calling friends in the financial services. Overall the experience was amazing from what I saw, even though I wasn't able to purchase a car from this business. To note all the cars did in fact look clean and nice when I did a walkthrough, with majority of the cars there at low mileage. read more

Hands down the BEST car buying experience I've ever had! Salem kept it straight with me, told me what my obstacles would be and what I'd need to qualify. He stepped up for me with my financing bank and really went above and beyond to make sure I walked away with the car I wanted. I can't recommend ion cars enough , or Salem. I've already sent some friends his way and will probably not buy a used car from anyone else again. He's got my loyalty. read more

Quick and easy. Never thought of selling a car will be that easy. In and out within 20mins and everything is done. Very reasonable price, much better than the dealer offer. If I ever need to sell a car again will definitely come back. read more

I bought a car from Salem. He was transparent throughout the process, never tried to upsell me, and sold the car at a very fair price. Highly recommend Salem and Ion Cars for anyone looking to buy a used car. read more

There's a reason Ion Cars has such a phenomenal rating on Yelp. Salem and his team are the best at what they do, and working with them makes you feel like family. Salem helped guide me through the process of selling my used car, and made sure I got the maximum value in return. He truly understands the value of customer service, and it shows. It's a relief to connect with a dealer who is honest and open. When it comes time to get my next car, it's nice to be able to call on someone you can trust. read more

Ion Cars is a breath of fresh air. I'd been all around town at dealerships, with sales reps who didn't listen to my priorities - Salem zeroed right in on what I wanted and gave me a rundown of his offerings, complete with pros AND CONS (!!) of the vehicles - and not only when it suited the bottom line. I got a killer deal that I never would have gotten at the manufacturer-affiliated dealer, they can't touch what Ion can offer due to how they buy (a friend who used to sell cars explained this to me, and also I price-shopped pretty hard, went to other dealers with the ballpark and they couldn't match it). Salem was incredibly helpful, proactive about finding solutions (I wanted an add-on that wasn't included), and above all, patient. I never felt rushed or pressured, or talked down to, which unfortunately was all too often my experience elsewhere. I LOVE my Prius, so happy with my choice. Seriously. Buy a car from Ion! read more

Last month I had an auto transaction here that was a great experience and I highly recommend Salem!

I just want to write a review on Ion Cars in Oakland. They are a car dealership but a very unique one. I bought my car from here after months of searching and let me just say that Ion Cars is the place to look if you want great cars and great customer service. Salem, the owner, is knowledgeable, honest and very nice. Willie, the hands on specialist, is just the guy you want to handle all of your cars details and mechanics. With a limited but wide range of top quality vehicles, Ion Cars provides luxory at reasonably affordable prices. They take care of you thought the entire process and even follow up to make sure you are satisfied. If you're in the car market make sure you check out Ion Cars on 4th and Broadway in Oakland, CA read more

Short version: ION cars: 5+ stars for being true to their slogan, being a clean & well-maintained establishment that is easily accessible, taking care of the cars they buy & sell, having a variety of cars on hand, and not being a slimy used car dealership. Salem: 5+ stars for being a salesman with integrity, honesty, humility, enthusiasm, knowledge, pride in what he does, ability to keep it real, for being a fantastic representative for the company, and for not being a slimy used car sales person. Someone give this man a raise! Long version (though you don't need it, just go there & you'll not be unhappy): This past June, we were informed that the work that was needed on our previous car was going to cost us at least it's worth. Sadness & woe. I hate used car dealerships (the stereotype usually fits), but had had my eyeball on ION for a couple of years, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to call them to see what they had to say. I spoke to Salem, asked if there was anything he could do for us. I was first taken aback by his enthusiasm, his openness to the possibility that we could work something out. Is this guy for real? Well, he was. We met him the following weekend, worked out a fair price for the Subaru, and left with a Mazda Protege. He was not secretive about all of the work that ION had had done on the Mazda after he bought it. He allowed my husband & I to take it for a long test drive. He also found someone to help us finance it, on a Saturday, as we truly had no money to buy it outright. They had put a lot of money into this car, replacing the engine with a newer one (w/60k on it), to name just one, and it was a powerful drive. This is what we were looking for. Never once did we feel pressured to purchase. The whole selling/buying process was quick and easy with Salem, and we drove our new used car away happily. Salem asked that we call him to let him know how everything was going, once we had the car a while. Fast forward 6 weeks or so, and I had been noticing white smoke coming from the muffler when starting the engine. Because we didn't purchase a warranty, I felt awkward calling Salem to inform him, so I took it to a mechanic I trust in Lafayette. He diagnosed the problem. It was a very expensive problem having to do with the engine. I contacted Salem to let him know about it at this point, b/c this engine was recently replaced. He was apologetic, and insisted we bring it in so he could take care of it for us. This he did not have to do, and we were impressed with his honest reaction and his desire to make it all right. Long story short, the company who he purchased the engine from had not tested it the way they say they did (he is no longer buying parts from them). He ended up replacing that engine with a still younger one, also replacing the water pump, AND loaned us one of their used cars (at no charge) to hold us over for the 3 week duration we were without our Mazda!l Where did this guy come from? Where did ION cars come from? Have I mentioned that all of this was done at NO CHARGE to us. When we got our car back, it ran even better & with more power then it did when we bought it, and we were beyond pleased! This is unheard of in the used car world, and we were overcome with gratitude for the lengths that Salem went to make this car & this whole transaction one that was full of integrity and candor. He really is top-notch, and we sadly lack the words to fully express our gratitude to him. read more

I cannot believe it has taken me almost two months to write this review--it is not for lack of being obsessed with Salem! I have never written a yelp review, but the greatness of Ion Cars MUST be known. My experience at Ion Cars was seamless, informative, and so enjoyable! My car was stolen in May, and I survived while traveling during the summer without a vehicle. However, by the end of July I was back in Oakland and needed to buy a car in a tight timeframe. With my parents across the country and my boyfriend out of town, I needed to make my first big purchase on my own! I shopped around and when I finally arrived at Ion Cars, I knew it was the place to be. Salem made the experience stress-free and really encouraged me to shop around and figure out what I needed and wanted. Aside from a great deal on a car that I love, he also helped me shop around for car insurance (we literally called multiple agencies together and he wouldn't let me accept a deal until we believed it was my best option), answered all of my questions (no matter how dumb--and trust me, they were), and even spent an hour listening to my friend give her start-up pitch to him! I know you aren't supposed to trust a car salesman, but then Salem is not your typical car salesman. read more

Salem, the owner of Ion Cars, works with you directly. How it works: 1. Make an appointment with him (he is very flexible and gets back to you ASAP) 2. Salem comes to your home 3. Salem evaluates the car in about 15 minutes or less 4. Salem gives you a fair price for the car 5. Salem writes you a check for the agreed upon price and leads you through brief paperwork for transaction (takes less than 5 minutes) 6. Salem drives off with car immediately thereafter Can it get easier than this in selling your car? All done in the comfort of your own home. As a plus, Salem is one of the good guys: fair, friendly, responsible, with a sense of humor. I would definitely do business with him again. read more

We went to Ion cars because of the 5 star reviews on Yelp and google. We know now why Ion cars is so well rated. Salem was extremely helpful with every aspect of buying our car. He took us on 3 test drives. At no point was he too pushy, he gave us great HONEST advice. We ended up buying a car from him and we're so glad we did. He gave us a great price and even advised with purchasing insurance. I left this review until we have had the car a couple of months. If I ever have to purchase a car again I'd go straight to Ion Cars. I've recommended Salem to many friends who are in the market for a new car. He has a great selection and a fantastic attitude towards his customers. If you need a car go here! read more

Great place! Got an amazing deal for a car in amazing shape. He keeps all his cars very clean and only has the best of the best used cars. Salem is the best!! read more

Five stars just isn't enough! Salem is the best car dealer EVER! He is patient, kind, honest, and helpful. He always has great cars and good deals. If you are looking for a used car in good condition and want to do service with a credible and knowledgeable dealer, please visit Ion Cars. You will definitely be glad you did. read more

I highly recommend shopping for a new car with Salem! He is honest, kind and got me a wonderful deal. I managed to sell my old car to him and get a new one for a decent price. I didn't feel like he was trying to trick me or take advantage of me. He listened to my concerns and I was in a new car within a day of meeting him! He is a problem solver! read more

Very unexpected good experience. I love this dealership! Great selection of used cars but many nearly new. Large range of prices as low 5,000. I sold my car here and was in and out in a jiffy. Salem the sales rep was great to work with, friendly and helpful. Didn't do much haggling which was refreshing. Would come here again. read more