Grand Subaru

I purchased way overpriced extended warranty in Grand Subaru. I cancelled the warranty right after the purchase; however the entire cancellation process was convoluted and frustrating. Office management was deceiving, unsupportive and dismissive. They didn’t follow up on the cancellation progress and they procrastinated with processing the warranty refund. It took me a lot of effort and the intervention of BBB to resolve the matter.

I stopped by after work past Monday (3pm) and had a bad experience there– after sitting around for 20 minutes without even being asked if I was helped (the «busy» salesmen walking around avoid eye contact at all costs to avoid hassle of fetching someone available), I finally approached the cashier and she told me the internet specialist Glenn is out to lunch. There is no front desk and few salesmen «profiling» who is a potential buyer or not since they don’t want to be stuck with a browser I suppose. The other sales guy who was not tending to any customers (with heavy Polish accent) immediately attended to a couple who walked in 15 minutes after me. They don’t have a front desk and things are not organized. How they do things there is a foreshadowing of things to come and I’ve read similar reviews on Unilocal.I confirm that it’s true.
I made my purchase at Gerald Subaru in Naperville today where they gave me excellent service and great pricing– sad way to lose easy business from local buyer.
It would’ve been one star but the extra star is for Glen, who really did attempt to help via email correspondence. He should bring this up at a meeting (if such even exist at that location) since this doesn’t seem like a new problem according to multiple reviews. Set up some simple protocols for the staff (not that hard) and earn my business!

Always helpful and expedite things as needed. Haven’t had an issue. service department is stellar. Clean, relaxing place. Plus the scenery is good

This is by far the best Subaru dealership when it comes to service. I cannot speak for the sales side as I got my car from Gerald Naperville back in 05, which is one of the worse dealership of all time, IMO. Read my review on them if you want the whole story. Anyway, I got a letter in the mail from Subaru about an airbag recall on my 05 STi back in April. The letter states that they do not have the parts yet, but will send out another letter if they do in fact get a hold of the parts. Who knows how long this could take right? Long story short, I was talking to Anthony, who said he will find out if they have the parts in stock and will contact me back as soon as he finds out. He notified me the next day and told me he has the part to do my recall and was able to squeeze me in the next day! I went there and he took care of me from beginning to end. I just want to say thank you Anthony for making my experience at this dealership so wonderful. You guys are by far the best Subaru dealership in town hands down.
PS. These guys replaced my tranny under warranty back then without a single hassle. Gerald Subaru in Naperville on the other hand tried to say it was my clutch and that they would not cover it under warranty… Really Gerald? Get your shit together… its no wonder why everyone comes to Grand.

Purchased a new 2014 Forester in 2013.
I am an analytical car shopper, I look at every possible piece of data. I turned over every possible stone for the best price for a specific model. I shopped locally and got their best deal. Then I discovered Grand Subaru on a blog site and never looked back. Grand was $ 2500 cheaper than the next best deal I could find. Well worth the 3.5-hour drive.
Of course, they gave the mandatory hard sell on the extended warranty, which I politely declined.
I have no relationship with this dealership at all, and in general do not like car dealers, yet I found this to be a very easy and gratifying experience. Never thought I would say such a thing. Contact Melissa for online sales.

The worst dealership in my opinion. I took my gf to browse the Foresters and XVs. Nobody greeted us, the internet sales guy fired up the keyless entry chirp several times, on the car I was looking at. We decided to leave. They will never get my gf’s business.

Bought a Subaru Forrester via TrueCar in 2013 (I’m new to Unilocal and catching up on ratings) Salesperson Chris Czaja who does Internet sales, was great. He came to the airport to pick us up and made the process seamless. Went back for 1^st service (we live 100 miles away; two local Subaru dealers were NOT helpful in the buying process: the one in Merrillville took 20 minutes to quote the Forrester we wanted and then was $ 1,000 over the
price); Grand Subaru was the best price.

Bought a used car. Had a few problems. People were great at grand Subaru. Solved our problems very professionally!

I recently purchased a Forester for my wife. Matt Drwal was professional and very helpful. We ordered a 2016 and it came in on time and as promised with all of the extras we wanted.
I was impressed with the service and the car. I highly recommend this dealership.

This dealership is awesome!
We ordered a new 2016 and are thrilled! Our salesperson Sandy Cuttone made it a pleasant transaction! We have the car we wanted and ordered, great price that no other dealer could beat, great financing deal and the car is fabulous!
I’m surprised how painless it all was, and we had a toddler in tow, entertained in the waiting room with books and toys. Best dealership we’ve ever dealt with! Going to buy Forester #2 here!

I ordered a brand new 2016 WRX while I was deployed and had outstanding service. I researched multiple dealers in the area and go the best deal and service working with Chris at Grand Subaru. I got held longer than anticipated while I was deployed and Chris made sure to keep in touch with me and kept the car waiting for me until I got back. As soon as I got to the dealership everyone was incredibly friendly Chris took great care of me and the whole staff was very accommodating. I also received many thank yous for my service, it was nice to see a business that is friendly towards service members. I will absolutely do business with them in the future.

I recently bought a brand new WRX from Grand Subaru. The whole process was no pressure and actually enjoyable!
I dealt with Mike Slotwinski of Internet Sales who was awesome! Always attentive and answered all of my questions and even when I asked about adding an option after my car arrived at the dealership… I got a great price on my car and am very happy! I can’t comment on the service department yet because I haven’t utilized their services yet. He even called the following day to ask how the car is and if I have any questions to give him a call any time… This is the way car buying should be!
A+…Thanks again Mike! You deserve a raise

Grand Subaru service is excellent, second to none. Quickly diagnose problems with extremely experienced mechanics. I cant recommend any other dealer for repairs. I will be purchasing my next Subaru from them without a doubt.

First lets start with the positives. You guys have a wide selection of WRX and STI which I was really happy about, and that Wendy was willing to work with my father and I even though we walked in and out of the door about 5 times.
The negatives however far out weigh the positives. Lets start with the process of getting a car to look at. I placed a $ 500 deposit to insure that the 15′ STI that I wanted wouldn’t be sold to anyone else. I then received a call from Wendy making sure that I was coming in that day because the used car manager had left that car at his house and they (Grand Subaru) wanted to make sure that I’d be coming in before they went through the hassle of getting that car in that I already put a deposit on. Once we did arrive we found something on the car that concerned us. We we brought that up to Wendy and she said that was a normal thing. My father jokingly asked her if she was the one that drove this car and then she began to argue with my father to the point in which she brought out the used car sales manager. He began to yell at my father that he had some 600 horsepower car sitting in your (Grand Subaru’s) garage bay and that he know’s how to drive stick shift. That comment was uncalled for and had nothing to do with the issue we found with the STI. The final thing that sealed the deal with my relationship with Grand Subaru was when I walked back in I asked Wendy to show my father a 16′ WRX. She got the keys and walked us over to the back of the lot where they were. After my father got a good look at the cars and was ready to leave she told me «you better order it through me after all this hassle.» That comment was my last straw with Grand Subaru.

I contacted Grand via there web site to get a price quote on a 2015 Outback. After researching on the web I came up with a price of $ 29,602.
I shared this with Mike Slotwinski Internet Sales Manager.
Copy of emails start here.
Invoice is $ 31,220 hold back is $ 600.
$ 30,603.00 then 0.0% APR plus $ 500 loyalty and $ 500 Memorial Day bonus cash
Bottom line
$ 29,603.00
Thanks, Joe
Then he sends
Joe,
I wish I could, but I can’t do that. With the availability it is my managers are not blowing these vehicles out.
If you can wait, I can Order a new 2016 for that price, but it will not be here until August.
Very Best,
Mike Slotwinski
Internet Sales Manager
Grand Subaru
I had also been talking to Sandy Cuttone, and this is the price she sent me.
Joe,
Check it Out… Grand Subaru’s Internet Pricing for the Educated Online Consumer!
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited
Model Code: GDF
Option Code: 22 (Moonroof Package + Keyless Access & Start + Navigation)
CVT (Automatic Transmission)
MSRP $ 33,040
Invoice $ 30,786
Selling Price $ 29,798 (Price Quote is only VALID at Grand Subaru)
**DESTINATION AND DELIVERY INCLUDED IN PRICE QUOTE**
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Very Best Regards,
Sandy Cuttone
Internet Sales Manager
Grand Subaru
Then Mike sends me an email
Joe,
Subaru doesn’t have a $ 500 Memorial Day savings or Loyalty cash.
$ 30,603 is what I can do.
Very Best,
Mike Slotwinski
Internet Sales Manager
Grand Subaru

Then Sandy, twice

1.
Joe,
Here is the pricing on the 2016 model with the options you requested.
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited
Model Code: GDF
Option Code: 22 (Moonroof Package + Keyless Access & Start + Navigation)
CVT (Automatic Transmission)
Factory Installed Options
Popular Package #5
Selling Price $ 30,232 (Price Quote is only VALID at Grand Subaru)
**DESTINATION AND DELIVERY INCLUDED IN PRICE QUOTE**
Very Best Regards,
Sandy Cuttone
2.
Joe,
Here you are Joe.
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited
Model Code: GDF
Option Code: 22 (Moonroof Package + Keyless Access & Start + Navigation)
CVT (Automatic Transmission)
Factory Installed Options
Popular Package #5
Selling Price $ 29,820 (Price Quote is only VALID at Grand Subaru)
Sandy Cuttone
I go back and forth a few times with Mike and Sandy letting them know I still want a new car. On 6÷9÷2015 I call Sandy to tell her that I am ready to put my money down, no response I send emails to Mike and Sandy. Whoever gets back to me first gets the sale. Mike wins. I call him, tell him I am ready and remind him of the price he had given me in the email. He said «I cant do that» I told him I understand and that Sandy had given me a good price and if he wanted the sale he could sell it to me for that price. He said that price is around $ 400 too low, I said its of no matter to me that was the price quoted. He said that he would not do it and if Sandy wants to take the heat for it she could and I would have to talk to her.
This was the next email I got.
Hi Joe,
I heard about your interaction with Mike yesterday. I do apologize but at this time, I do not think Grand is a dealership for you. We are no longer interested in working with you.
I do wish you the best in your car search.
Sandy
The next day I bought a new Toyota RAV4.

When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Well that is not the case at Grand Subaru.
I just purchased a 2015 Forester and could not be happier.
I received the same vehicle that Melissa promised to me, and at the price she promised to me– which was an amazing price! Every other dealer I spoke to told me they were unable to match Grand Subaru’s price! I love my new car– and I am so glad I purchased it through Grand Subaru in Bensenville.
The team was so willing to work with us. Ryan, Joe and Melissa were all a pleasure to work with.

Recently purchased a 2015 Outback from Joe D’Andrea and his team — they are the best. Hands down. Seriously, the best.
No gimmicks or tricks. Nothing slick like we experienced at other dealerships. His first price was the lowest out of the 14 other dealerships we contacted. Got the exact car we wanted and the entire process could not have been easier. Knowledgeable, honest, and down to earth people all around here at this dealership.
Bought an ’08 Forester back in ’07 from Joe and Grand Subaru and still take it here for service. Joe Bednarek in the service department is outstanding.
There are not a lot of things in life I would give an unconditional recommendation for … it’s just who I am. However, Joe and the entire Grand Subaru team are the real deal and I would not hesitate to recommend friends, family, or Internet strangers reading Unilocal to check them out.

Overall I had a good experience with Grand Subaru. I worked with Mark Hoen and he was fantastic. The car was posted on
before it was even in the shop, and I put a hold on it since it’s a hard to find car. Once the 2008 Legacy GT Limited got in the shop Mark personally took pictures with his cell phone and got them out to me. He was great.
I had to drive to Chicago from Minneapolis to pick up the car. I ended up negotiating what I thought was a fair price, but they made me drive the car off the lot with a nearly empty tank of gas. I asked multiple times during the purchase of the car for them to fill it, but I was told it was the dealerships policy to not fill them up. I’m pretty sure they didn’t care since they knew I needed the car to get back home, there was nothing I could do.
Getting nickel-​and-​dimed over a $ 40 tank of gas after spending nearly $ 20k on a car is just petty and cheap. I’m happy with the car, but if they’re this cheap I can only wonder where else they cut corners. It’s my new policy to not buy any cars from them and to recommend others to go elsewhere as well.
Update: I emailed the Business Manager who responded to my message and he never got back to me.

Do not buy a car from these people! They sold my father a van that needs repairs. They told my father that it was safe to drive and that it went through a 20 point inspection. All lies! My father took it to get an inspection with his own mechanic and the side motor mounts need to be fixed. My father provided the paperwork to this dealership and they ignored him and have been very unresponsive. I called to speak to the manager, he advised me to email the paperwork with the promise that I would get call back yesterday. Well it’s Friday, and once again they lied! A bunch of crooks! I’m making a complaint with the BBB. Don’t buy from them. We work hard for our money, don’t give your hard earned money to these guys. If I could give you zero stars I would.

My husband and I first visited Grand Subaru about three months ago. We met with Matt Drwal and he was great! I was pretty indecisive but Matt was really patient and helpful. He let me take my time and he wasn’t pushy at all.
After making up my mind, we ordered the exact car we wanted. We went to pick it up yesterday but we weren’t able to get to the dealership until late in the afternoon. That meant Matt and the finance manager had to stay wayy late on a Saturday to help us. Even so they were super friendly which I really appreciated.
One more thing: My overall impression of the dealership, not just Matt, was great! The entire staff was friendly and positive. Another salesman John helped us pry the rusted-​on licence plates off my trade in. I know that might not seem like a big deal but we weren’t his customers, he wasn’t getting commission off us, and he definitely didn’t have to get his hands dirty helping us out.
Thanks Grand Subaru for the great experience and especially thanks for the great car!