St. Johnsbury GMC — Local services in Saint Johnsbury

I do not recommend this dealer as trustworthy. While buying a used car is always an inherent risk, one would hope that a reputable dealer would make every effort to sell you a reliable car.

My recent purchase was a 2011 Chevy Cruze Eco. I purchased said car on December 2nd, 2016. I would point out that I bought this car through Littleton Imports, but it physically came from St J Auto. I would also point out that the purchasing portion was done completely online and or over the phone. It was painless and very convenient. They actually delivered the car to my door, however, I had never seen the car. They delivered it in the evening. Imagine my surprise when I saw said car in the daylight with a chip in the windshield which would later form a crack 3/4s of the way across. Yes, I had to replace it.

Approximately one and a half months later I was stranded on the side of the road with a blown head gasket. It turns out there is a known issue with this year of Chevy Cruzes that was covered under a special warranty. This problem is in no way the fault of the dealer, however, while it was being repaired there was little communication unless I called to ask myself, and I was without a car for a week, no rental etc.

Most recently I had the car inspected and I asked them to look into the burning oil smell which I assumed was something left over from the warranty repair. I had noticed the same smell when I first bought the car, but again assumed it was most likely some spilled oil during an oil change as it was faint. After the head gasket repair I noted it was stronger so I asked them to look into it during inspection. Imagine my delight went when, after having to bring it back to St J auto to be looked at, it was discovered that both transmission coolant lines were leaking, to which I was quoted $500 for repairs on top of a half an hour's labor for them looking at it for just under $50.

Now, I am certainly not a mechanic, and as I stated in the beginning, there is always a risk when buying a used vehicle. I would like to think however, that after performing a warranty repair on the engine that you test drive it to make sure it runs correctly. According to the paperwork I received they did perform a test drive, so I find it hard to believe that no one else smelled burning oil when I smelled it after driving the car...

Let us paint a picture together. You enter an environment, one you rarely find yourself in, surrounded by new, brilliant cars. You have a plan, a map, numbers - you've read the blogs and advice and asked the important questions.

But here, you are but a traveler. You do not dwell in this domain. You are not the master of this realm.

You encounter your first Dealer-Dweller. They seem friendly, harmless, cute even. Somehow, you want to believe they are on your side. The map fades, the numbers become a little more aqueous. You wonder, "what are numbers? Are they embodiments of reality? Or images I can manipulate as this Dealer-Dweller tells me?" Your map is telling you to turn, run, flee, but you find yourself laughing, the Dealer-Dweller both reassuring and pushing. It's as if a slightly heated rod were being pressed upon your back - you know that it's too much heat, but somehow it feels good, thrilling, exciting even.

And then, the Dealer-Dweller vanishes! Who is this man, this Financier as he calls himself? The numbers you so carefully crafted are gone, and the ones flying from his mouth are vacuous, swallowing all that you hold dear and the reality you thought yourself grounded to. Where are the kind words of the Dealer-Dweller, those reassurances of ownership and happiness? "Oh," says the Financier, "Do not fret. You will have what you want, it's just math." 'But what is math?' you find yourself asking. You thought you knew, the classes in college and high school, but these things he's telling you, they aren't the math you knew. "Am I in some new reality? Was my life just a dream?"

The Financier would like to to believe it is, that the rest of the world is a dream, that this transaction is the only real thing you need in your life. The numbers don't match, but those are from outside Dealeria.

Somehow, you regain your sense. The blogs, the maps, the math, they come rushing back and you run. The numbers are real, you find yourself screaming, they're real they're real they're real.

But am I real? Are you real? What is real in Dealeria?

Beware, my friends. The Dealer-Dwellers are real, and they are not...

This is long winded but I feel knowing the whole picture is important here. I was hit by an uninsured motorist in early October 2022 and my vehicle was completely totaled. In November 2022 I was hoping to have things finalized with insurance to move forward and purchase a new vehicle. I had the time and opportunity to go to St Johnsbury Buick GMC to test drive a couple vehicles. Dean, our sales consultant, was extremely accommodating. He pulled up both vehicles I was curious about, didn’t try to convince me of anything extra (in cost or in vehicle), and understood what I was in need of and looking for. He and I had the discussion of why I was in the market for a new vehicle, and the sheer amount of support from St Johnsbury Buick GMC was astounding; even to go as far as giving me documentation to help with the ongoing insurance process. Dean did his due diligence and followed up with me (as all car salesmen do) and when I told him that I still was in the market but was waiting on the insurance to pay out for the total loss, he was more than understanding and told me to reach out any time. A few months went by, and finally life came to the point where we had time to get back to St Johnsbury Buick GMC. I called the dealership and asked to speak with Dean, and Alan said he was with someone but would let him know we were on our way. Both types of vehicles I had looked at previously were warm, running, and had dealer plates on when we pulled up. Taking another quick test drive to reaffirm which was the better fit with three kids and husband in tow, we completed our paperwork and we left only a few hours later with our brand new 2023 GMC Acadia. The process was seamless with zero pressure from sales or finance staff to add anything exuberant to the deal, we were well taken care of and we will definitely be utilizing them in the future for maintenance and services after this transaction. We couldn’t be happier with the overall experience. Definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a low pressure, seamless sales experience where you don’t feel like you are getting nickel and dimed or taken advantage of by...