Bobby Rahal Toyota of State College — Local services in Derry Township

We are a Toyota loving family and have been for years. We were in search of a Highlander and I convinced my husband to go look at a vehicle at Bobby Rahal in Lewistown (an hour away) because years before I had good experiences with their service department. With hesitation, he said yes. We ended up purchasing a Toyota certified used Highlander so we had piece of mind knowing it was safe for our kids and it was like new. Needless to say we will not be returning to Bobby Rahal in Lewistown for any future car purchases. After driving our newly purchased vehicle off the lot we realized the windshield had a crack. We called and they asked us to return back to the dealership to check it. They apologized and assumed it happened in the past day or so. They set up an appointment later that week for me to drive another two hours back to Lewistown to see an auto glass repair shop. Guess what they said… the damage was already there and someone tried to fix it. Hmm… strange. I called Bobby Rahal and they apologized they didn’t see it and would replace my windshield. They set up another appointment for a later date to drive two hours again to get my windshield replaced. When I was leaving the auto glass shop on the day of replacement, they told me to stop by the dealer so they could replace my inspection stickers. I stopped in and they wouldn’t do it! They made me set up another appointment to come back in a few days to get the stickers replaced. ANOTHER trip of two hours back to Lewistown to get inspection stickers on a car I purchased from them, that they should have inspected anyways.

As a result of their negligence in preparing a vehicle with Toyota certified used status, I have had to drive an additional six hours (time and mileage) for a repair that should have been made before I drove off the lot and I missed three days of work. None of their staff has shown any true remorse or empathy on behalf of a mistake they made. Needless to say, my husband was right and we should have stuck with dealers we already trusted. I was truly disappointed in our experience at Bobby Rahal in Lewistown. The only reason I am providing a rating of 2/5 is because our initial saleswoman, Jessica, was very kind and we love our vehicle, especially now that it is fixed as it should have been when we...

RE: George Strand Jr. I left this dealership completely disgusted today. I arrived in my cut off jeans and a tee shirt (FYI I’m covered in tattoos) with my two young children along with the motivational and financial means of purchasing any vehicle on that lot. Unfortunately the only two model of vehicles I was interested in were sold. Since I made the trip I figured I would at least look at them in person and speak to a salesman to start the process. I have purchased and leased many vehicles from the Bobby Rahal family of dealerships in the past and had very positive experiences. Sadly that is not even close to what happened today. I first pulled into the lot by the dealership to look at the vehicle by the road. I looked for a few moments and no one came out. I then drove to the upper lot to look at the other vehicle. As I am standing there LOOKING at the vehicle a salesman I now know as George Strand Jr. comes walking toward me at a brisk pace. I thought oh good, I can ask him some questions about the vehicle. Instead, without giving me a chance to speak, he begins accosting me about how I am to stay away from the vehicle. He began to accuse me of touching it and that it is sold, and I have no business being near it or looking at it. My daughter and son (who has autism and is very sensitive) immediately began getting upset and afraid with how George was talking to me. As I witnessed my children getting visibly upset I got very defensive and made it clear to him I have every right to look at the vehicles and I will be speaking to the manager. He yelled go ahead as he was walking away and gave me the name of Ken Mintz. I proceeded to go to the dealership to speak to Ken. Ken was extremely helpful and respectful and seemed to be sympathetic and empathetic of what I experienced with George Strand Jr. I’m sure this is not George Strand Jr’s first outburst of unprofessionalism. Thank you Ken for your professionalism and treating me with respect. Unfortunately I had to answer questions all the way home about why that man was so mean to us for no reason. I would love a personal apology from George Strand Jr., particularly to my children, for his disrespectful, unprofessional and irrational behavior. I have higher standards for you...

I have taken my cars to Rahal in Mechanicburgs for years and always had stellar service so I assumed when moving to the Lewistown area I would have the same service at the Lewistown Rahal. Boy, oh boy, was I wrong.

Took my 2011 civic (which is regularly serviced) to this location to have my AC unit that went bad fixed. After having my car from close of business Friday to close of business Tuesday (due to weekend and parts), I got my car back 300$ later only to find absolutely nothing was fixed. My husband called the service department to explain the situation (he’s way nicer and more polite than me) only to be told he’d have to contact honda corporation because lewistown Rahal couldn't assist any further. When questioning the 300$ paid he was basically told ‘yeah, well, sorry about that.’ Really?! Good thing I know this business is shady so when I buy a car at year end I don’t go there. Definitely done and will make the ‘hike’ to Mechanicburg Rahal.

*update: I think it is important to update this review ... while I did have to take my car to Mechanicburg anyway, Lewistown Rahal has contacted me in hopes to right the issue I had with them. While the service I received from some employees may not have been the top line, the management (GM included) does seem to hold their standards higher. So while my initial experience with their service was not great, I do believe the management does NOT wish to have their customers encounter this time of experience. In saying that, if there is an issue, reach out to their management. This definitely improves my opinion of them. And I do not think one or two apples...