I normally don't leave negative reviews, but after multiple experiences trying to purchase a Tundra…read morefrom Toyota Santa Maria, I feel like other potential buyers should know what my experience was.
I was a serious, cash-ready buyer and genuinely wanted to purchase a truck from this dealership. I live about an hour away, so dealing with this dealership meant taking time away from work and making the drive to Santa Maria.
My first experience was with a 2007 Tundra. I had an appointment to come see the truck and made plans around going down there, only for the truck to be sold before I got there. I understand vehicles can sell quickly and that an appointment doesn't necessarily mean a vehicle is being held, but it was still frustrating.
Despite that, I gave Toyota Santa Maria another opportunity when a 2021 Tundra Limited became available.
This is where my experience became especially frustrating.
I took HALF A DAY OFF WORK and drove about an hour to Santa Maria specifically to see this truck. When I arrived, the truck wasn't actually ready. It still needed to be diagnosed and go through their inspection/reconditioning process.
From there, I kept being told it should be ready "tomorrow." Tomorrow came and it still wasn't ready. Then it became another tomorrow, and so on.
I waited SIX DAYS because I was genuinely interested in buying this truck.
Six days later, Toyota Santa Maria called me wanting to TALK NUMBERS over the phone on the 2021 Tundra.
My response was basically: when is the truck actually going to be ready?
At that point, discussing numbers wasn't my main concern. I had already taken time off work and driven an hour to see a truck that wasn't ready, then spent almost a week being told it should be ready soon. Before negotiating anything, I wanted to know when I could actually see and purchase the finished, inspected truck.
Then, the VERY NEXT MORNING, I was told the truck was actually not going to be sold at all. Apparently, enough problems had come up during their inspection that they decided to wholesale the truck instead.
To be clear, I'm glad they ultimately didn't sell me a truck they didn't feel comfortable retailing. I would much rather find that out beforehand than buy a problem. My issue is how the entire process was handled.
I took half a day off work, lost income, drove an hour each way, showed up to a truck that wasn't ready, waited six days while repeatedly being told it should be ready "tomorrow," and then received a phone call asking me to start talking numbers BEFORE they had even determined whether the truck was going to be retail-ready.
Then the very next morning, suddenly the truck wasn't for sale at all.
After all of that, they offered me a cleaner 2019 Tundra Limited 4x4 with around 69k miles for $45,995.
I was STILL willing to give Toyota Santa Maria another opportunity if they could make the numbers make sense considering everything I had already gone through. I made an offer I felt comfortable with. Instead, I was told they were firm because they already had other interest in the truck and ultimately they were only willing to offer $1,000 off.
At that point, I was done.
And to be clear, this review isn't simply because they wouldn't accept my offer. They have every right to ask whatever they want for their vehicles, just like I have every right to spend my money somewhere else.
It's about the overall customer experience.
I came to Toyota Santa Maria READY TO BUY. I took time away from my business, lost half a day of work, drove an hour each way, waited nearly a week for a truck while repeatedly being told it would be ready soon, and then was asked to discuss numbers on a vehicle that they apparently hadn't even determined was suitable to sell yet.
After giving this dealership multiple opportunities to earn my business, I've decided I'll be taking my money elsewhere.
If Toyota Santa Maria genuinely made an effort to make this situation right and offered me the right truck at a price that made sense after everything I've gone through, I'd be willing to reconsider my opinion and update this review accordingly.
But based on my experience as it stands today, I personally would not recommend Toyota Santa Maria.
If you're considering buying here--especially if you're driving in from out of town--I'd strongly recommend confirming that the vehicle has COMPLETED its inspection and is actually READY FOR SALE before taking time off work or making the drive.