1. Willis Automotive

    1. Willis Automotive

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    Des Moines, IA

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    Willis Automotive

    2.8 (92 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Services - Willis Automotive

    Auto general diagnosis

    Auto HVAC repair

    Auto light repair

    Willis Automotive Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Willis Automotive

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    Reviews With Photos

    Grease

    My wife and I got a newer vehicle and we chose Willis auto because they have a good selection and a great salesman Ryan Gilmore and also Marvin in the service department is great, BUT ...their mechanics have a lack of respect for the customers they service just look at these pictures this is what their mechanics did to my 2021 volvo xc90 .this is the third vehicle we purchased at Willis if it wasn't for what these employees sabotaging Willis reputation I would give them 5 stars.i hope management see and understand that they shouldn't have employees doing this garbage for work

    Old.
    Dan T.

    This was my first experience with Willis and I experienced both some good and bad aspects during my visit. My car was starting to nickel and dime me to death and I didn't consider it as reliable as it could be anymore as my only car. My first contact with Willis was through one of their internet assistants (Lisa). Lisa was very helpful. We exchanged several E-mails, spoke on the phone, and she referred me to my salesperson. Robin was my salesperson. She was wonderful. Very willing to work with me and very personable. She bent over backwards to align me with the right car (for me). A 2018 Buick Encore Sport Touring with 21,000 miles. I test drove several vehicles. During the process with Robin she took my car over to have it evaluated as a trade-in. They offered me $240. This was one of my disappointments with Willis. It was a rough trade-in...I know that. It was a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser (Limited, alloy wheels, sun roof, two keys and fobs, 130,000 miles) with some minor rust and faded clear coat. NADA rough trade-in value is $900. I had a replacement wheel and hub cap in the back seat. This alone was worth $116. The head gaskets had been replaced at 100,000 (by Westside Auto). Brake pads, etc. done by Firestone a few months back were guaranteed for life. Recent work had been done to both the exhaust and suspension systems. I didn't feel like fighting over it and Robin said she didn't feel they would raise their offer. I live about 18 blocks from Willis and drive Hickman and 100th several times a day in my daily driving. A few days later I saw my car being driven on 100th. I mentioned it to Robin on one of our follow-up calls and she said she thought one of their mechanics may have bought it. She knew one of them already drove a PT Cruiser too. I really think they didn't treat me fair on the trade-in. This was definitely a black mark on my experience as I see older cars (PTs) with more miles on autotempest, cars dot com, autotrader etc. retailing at $2K+. I should have just cleaned it up and sold it privately. I don't blame Robin on this. She was kind of stuck in the middle. Financing and accessories. I was pitched several add-ons for the car. Ceramic protective coating, tint, etc. I declined several offers, but front tint sounded good. I showed up to have the tint applied. They were also installing a front license plate bracket, and doing some detail work. The previous owner of the vehicle I purchased had a dog and some hair had been missed... Anyway... Back to the tint. I was told on arrival that any tint over factory is illegal on the front windows in Iowa. I assumed there was probably a percentage of light that could be blocked, but didn't realize ANY tint was considered illegal. I passed on this. They issued a credit on it and I received a check a day later in the mail. The accessories rep should probably mention this if pitching front tint... Financing is always a pain. I'd been working on my credit and had it up to about 745ish across all three CUs (Experian, Equifax, and Transunion). It's higher now. Willis was the only ones I went to on April 1st and for some reason I am showing two hard pulls on the same day. One from Willis and one from another lender. If you don't know anything over two hard pulls in a year affects your credit. This put me at three which reduced my score slightly after the transaction. We agreed on a 4% loan and given the market and my score I was hoping for a little better. This was probably fair, but I would have liked to have seen what the actual rates the lenders provided Willis to ensure no percentages were added on to increase profit on the car. I get adding a point, every business needs to make money, but I'd also like to know I was treated fairly. Just because something is acceptable doesn't necessarily mean it was fair. He didn't seem pleased when I passed on the extended warranty options etc. I wanted to check with other sources before committing. As he put it.... "Why would you want to buy an auto warranty from a credit union [or someplace else]?" I wanted to make sure it was a fair price I guess? The gentleman who handed the keys over to me and showed me all the options the car had was stellar. He even helped me pair my phone to the blue-tooth options and explained a lot of the electronics. Being an IT guy I'd have figured it out from the owner's manual, but I'm a visual learner so his quick lesson was much appreciated. I hear Willis is family owned and it's a local Clive business. Since I've lived in Clive myself for 14 years or so I try to support our Clive businesses as much as possible. I haven't bought a car from a big dealer since 2001 or so. All in all I have been happy with my Willis experience so far...especially with Robin. However I think, as noted, there are some ways it could have been better. As time passes maybe this review will be revised to 5 stars.

    Traded in two vehicles and made a deal on two newer ones. Nit stressful, and 100 percent happy
    Jason M.

    My wife and I traded in two used vehicles, then purchased a new (used) vehicle and leased a new mini cooper at the same time. We did it all in one afternoon, and really enjoyed the experience. Working with Jon in sales and Chris / Jarod in finance, we never once felt pressured. The sales team were waiting with several vehicles lined up to show us when we arrived for our appointment. They listened far more than they talked. No fast talking, fair pricing and a great trade in value for our older vehicles. We have heard great things about their service, but you should experience it yourself if you get a chance. We are more than 100 percent satisfied.

    Thumbs up!

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    1 year ago

    Best customer service in the market. Trustworthy team. Have purchased and leased multiple vehicles here.

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    Anthony in pre owned helped us to find a car we liked and sent us on our way to the Waukee store very professional and responsive

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    Fair price, friendly employees, easy to deal with. Everything you want in a deal ship.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Willis Automotive

    Review Highlights - Willis Automotive

    Michael Jach(I apologize for incorrect spelling) remembers me every time I bring my car into Willis.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    I purchased a new car from Toyota of Des Moines. They went above-and-beyond to find the exact…read moreSequoia I wanted. They gave me a good deal on it, had it ready for me exactly when I wanted to pick it up, answered all my questions at the time, and are still available to support me after the purchase. I shopped at three other dealership before contacting this dealership. I can honestly say their customer service is WAY beyond what any other dealership offered, and their price was lower. I'd highly recommend shopping for a car here. And that is from a woman who HATES the entire car buying process.

    My wife and I had an outstanding experience with Toyota of Des Moines, and I want to give special…read morerecognition to Steve Henigan. Steve came highly recommended by our friends, Jim and Darcey Widmann, and now we know why. After shopping all over Des Moines for a truck, we encountered dealerships that either patronized us, hassled us, or made us feel like we didn't know what we were talking about. Some even tried to convince us that we couldn't get what we wanted. But when we walked into Toyota of Des Moines, it was a completely different experience. From the moment we were greeted, we felt welcomed and respected. Steve allowed us to choose the vehicle we wanted without any hassle. Every incentive was explained upfront, and the level of transparency was refreshing. What truly set them apart was their willingness to meet our needs on the trade-in. We were told by a Ford dealer (who originally sold us the Bronco) that we could never get the trade-in value we wanted, but Toyota gave us exactly what we asked for--no questions asked. Steve and the entire team at Toyota of Des Moines worked with urgency, respect, and professionalism to finalize the deal in a way that left us completely satisfied. This level of customer care and attention to our needs is what made us feel valued. Toyota of Des Moines embodies what it means to be a true car dealership. We are now proud Toyota brand loyalists and look forward to a lifetime of Toyota ownership, provided the company continues to deliver on its promise of quality in both manufacturing and sales. If you're out there shopping for a vehicle and struggling to find a dealership that truly listens and puts the customer first, look no further than Toyota of Des Moines. Thank you, Steve Henigan, and the entire team--you have earned our loyalty!

    Porsche Des Moines

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    Service like the "old days"! Porsche of Des Moines opened like a month ago. Gorgeous everything!…read more I am in Illinois and was looking for a new Cayman GTS 4.0. Closest one to me (and the only in the country spec'd like this) was 300 miles away at this new dealer. Called Kenneth Rice, the Brand Ambassador, and he told me I could have it for sticker, no ADM. There was no crap installed on the car that I was forced to buy which is the normal practice if you get something with no additional markup. He offered to ship it to me but I covered the nose in blue painters tape and drove it home. If I would've had time, I would've had his PPF guy cover the front end. His work looks top notch. Kenneth is a great guy that loves what he does. More importantly, he does everything that he promises, which is very unusual today. He sent me to see Carla Gillotti in finance. She's very nice and low pressure, again, unusual. It was such a great experience. I wanted to help them out, so I agreed to a couple years of prepaid maintenance, stuff that I was gonna pay for anyway at my local Porsche dealer. (I figured I saved at least 10k with the zero mark up) Overall, a fantastic experience, and I cannot recommend them higher. As an old guy, I have purchased approximately 50 cars over my lifetime and I can honestly say this was the best and smoothest transaction I have experienced.

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    Stew Hansen Dodge Ram Chrysler Jeep FIAT

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    I bought a 2023 Jeep grand Cherokee and I dislike it to the most , it isn't comfortable to sit or…read moredrive . I wish I would've kept my wrangler and since my ex talked me into it, there's no trading it in or getting rid of it because of having multiple surgeries in the last year and not working I can't and we are no longer together so I'm stuck with it

    Disappointing Experience with Service and Communication I…read moredon't normally write reviews, but my experience was so bad that I feel like I should warn others. I took my 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee to Stew Hansen's in Urbandale after a diagnostic for air suspension issues. They charged a $230 diagnostic fee, I was told that the diagnostic fee would apply toward repairs, but I later learned this was not the case. They quoted around $3,000 for a compressor replacement. Wanting to save money, I opted for an aftermarket compressor + valve block set (my responsibility for choosing non-OEM parts). A third-party shop installed the compressor but couldn't handle the valve block, so I brought the vehicle to Stew Hansen's for that portion. I left a message and waited 1-2 days for a callback. They agreed to install the valve block. I dropped it off after being told it would take an afternoon to install. Communication quickly became a major issue, multiple calls went to voicemail with delayed or no responses over several days. They eventually reported the aftermarket valve block wasn't communicating properly with the compressor. I asked for error codes, scanner details (to try and troubleshoot), and a quote for OEM parts, but follow-up was slow, a total of 3-4 days slow (After calling a total of 6 times including 1 to the service manager to have Jose give me a call back) After several days and more unreturned calls, they quoted an additional ~$800 for an OEM valve block. Frustrated by the poor communication, I decided to pick up the vehicle. I was charged $90 for the attempted valve block installation. Despite being told the vehicle would be ready, I waited over 1.5 hours for minimal notes on the invoice (1 sentence) -- and no error codes. They promised to text the codes later, but days passed without them. I had to take time off work again just to get the codes pulled in person because as it turns out their technician never printed/wrote them down. While I acknowledge my choice of aftermarket parts contributed to the complications (and they could have declined service upfront), the repeated lack of communication, unfulfilled promises on timelines and information, and overall service left me very disappointed. I expected better from a dealership, especially after the initial diagnostic fee. I strongly advise looking somewhere else if your vehicle needs servicing.

    CarMax

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    I have to start this by saying the local staff at the Carmax in Des Moines was great to work with,…read morethey tried. But Carmax financial in Carol Stream Illinois, was of no help at all. I'll try to make this brief. I went to Carmax to sell my 2020 LT1 Camaro but we ran into an issue. An individual bought the car from Carmax in 2021 they say he still owes $30k on it. He apparantly abandoned the vehicle at a repair shop and walked away from the repair shop bill and the loan. The repair shop went through the process to legally acquire the car and get it titled. They sold it to a dealership (who I spoke with), who sold it to the person I bought it from. Carmax Financial is telling me I have to go back to the repair shop (No clue what the shop is) and get them to figure it out, even though they went through the legal process in Tennessee to get the title. In a nutshell, some lowlife in Tennessee owes Carmax money and Carmax is making it my problem.

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    Willis Automotive - car_dealers - Updated July 2026

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