1-Star Review – Don't buy Used Vehicle if No Trade In or - MileageMayVary_BuyerBewareTO
1-Star Review – Don't buy Used Vehicle if No Trade In or Financing, Beware of the Fine Print as they will fully take advantage!
I had a frustrating experience with Clarington Toyota and want to caution others. I purchased an Ontario safety certified used vehicle (not Toyota Certified), a detail the dealership failed to explain clearly. The car looked great on the surface, but after purchase, I discovered it hadn’t had any basic maintenance done — no fluid changes (brake, transmission, coolant), no air or cabin filter replacements, not even a cheap hybrid filter change ($10 cost, 2 minutes to replace).
When I questioned this, I was told, “It’s not required for Ontario safety certification.” Technically true, but it’s a poor excuse for skipping essential upkeep. I contacted over 20 Toyota dealerships across the GTA, and all of them said they do these services on Ontario-certified cars, just not on "As-IS" sold ones, which is understandable. Clarington Toyota appears to be the only one cutting corners like this, hiding behind the bare minimum standards to maximize profits.
Once you’ve signed, forget about getting help — they’ll just point to the safety cert and shrug off any concerns.
To be fair, I should’ve asked for fluid/filter changes in writing before signing. I assumed it would be done because every other dealer I’ve dealt with in the past included it by default, even prior to putting up for sale. Lesson learned. In this case, car was masked with 10 other issues that I forgot to ask about it.
At the end of the day, buying from a big-name dealer doesn’t mean better treatment — it’s all about the margins. And if you’re not financing or trading in a car, good luck negotiating on a high-demand model. You’ll just be stuck with whatever they give you, good luck with the rest.
Go elsewhere if you want transparency, real prep work, and a dealer that actually stands behind their used vehicles.
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