Delica Dealer / Importer Ratings and Feedback

[JMK]

This is a tough one. For example, it's my understanding that Outback, that had a great record, has recently changed hands. THat could change the landscape. Anyway, here's a partial list of dealers to help put the scope of this project into perspective:

Tyee Imports, Campbell River
Five Star Auto, Coombs
VI Custom Cars, Coombs
The GLobal Garage, Parksville
Enviro Imports, Victoria
Maximum Overdrive, Richmond
Rising Sun Imports, Surrey
JDM Wholesale, Delta
Terra2 Imports, Vernon
Redline Imports, Edmonton
JDM Depot, Edmonton
JDM Connection, near Edmonton
Luxury Imports, Calgary (now Ontario?)
JNS Imports, Calgary
Import Concern, Calgary
Outback Imports, Yukon
ONI JDM Imports, Toronto
JDM Skyline, Montreal
JDM Imports (Now in New Zealand under another name).

[ericmgt]

Can anyone give a "rating" for J Auto Imports in Courtenay?

I'm a lurker here, but have seriously considered getting a Deli. I'd prefer to buy local and have local service available ... hence wondering about this dealership. One of the only negatives in my mind is the limited availability of parts and service. I realize CCautos is just an hour down the road from where I live, but that would still be an expensive tow!

great thread by the way!

[Profister]

Silk Road Autos. I give them negative rating. Ask me if you want the details, too much to talk about.

[delicat]

Terra2Imports... Not recommended:

+Good and very active website so lot's of vehicles (still in Japan) exposure.
+They got me a very nice and clean truck (it was auction 4/BB) and came with some extra that I didn't expect.
+They have a decent customer service and respond to email and try their best to answer your question, BUT
-They are expensive, very expensive and after the New Year their price has increase by almost $2000 for same vehicle! So way overpriced.
-They can't and don't guarantee the quality of the vehicle once it arrives, don't guarantee the rating from the auction, say they can offer an inspection and pictures before the auction ends but often the vehicle is being auctioned the same day so no time for such. (2 little wimpy pictures is usually what you get). Same goes for damages (before, during of after shipping), they aren't responsible...
-They don't guarantee the landed cost they provide as it's only an estimate. I think (and it'd be nice to have other T2 customer confirm) that they probably under estimate to make it more tempting... Mine came a full $900 more then what I was quoted, not cool!
-It takes over 4 months to get your truck. (by that time your 2 little pictures are driving you crazy!). They don't guarantee shipping time neither.
-I wasn't impressed with their attitude and felt they tried to make a quick $ pass on a few occasions but I'll explain.
We all know that the extra VIN charge (used to be $24 or so?) is no longer required. It had been that way for months but they tried to charge me for it (they actually charged me and refunded me once I got my van). No excuses, they imports tons of vehicles so they knew but still tried. That's a big no no in my book.
They also tried to charge me for the soil inspection although mine didn't get inspected. I even confirmed with Custom that no fees are taken if the inspection doesn't occur. They argued a little and finally sent me a cheque weeks after I got my truck. Again, big no no!
-Once you get your truck, it's good bye and good luck. Sorry, got to go to sell more cars...

So you get it, I definitely wouldn't recommend them. I'm glad with the truck I got but I know I paid too much, that's my problem not theirs. If only I knew as much as I do now it would be a different story. (it actually is as I just bought 2 other vans... told you it was addictive!)

David

[The Pinkfingers]

This is a tough one. For example, it's my understanding that Outback, that had a great record, has recently changed hands.

But Outback - at least until this point - does not import or sell Delicas, so it won't be an issue for this forum. I originally wanted to get one through them, but they don't import them.

[Taynton]

I Bought OPTIMUS PRIME from terra 2 importers. I would rate my experience as neutral-negative
ill give you each side.
Postitive.
+ van was in good shape ( had nothing to do with them )
+ I think it was a fair price (just under 9 after everything)
+ Paper work was organized
+ they had a shop that busted their ass to get my van done in 1 day (ill tell you why they had to in the next section)
Negative.
heres the story.
I live in kelowna and planned on driving to vancover, pick up my delica then take it to a shop (compliance fluids etc.) and go to whistler for 2-3 days untill the work is done then drive my delica home from vancover. I get an email from them telling me my van has arrived and is clearing customs and I can pick it up. I head to vancover, when I get there I find out that they already had my van towed to the shop. Fine, great, no problem. I head to whistler, call the shop the next day and they didnt have my van. I then called terra 2 and asked them about it, they said it should have been there and they would call the towing company. I called the shop later that day...still no van so i have to call THEM(terra2) back. they have lost my van! they dont know where it is and they cant get any answers out of the towing company. 3 days later after calls and emails and sweat my van arrives at the shop. ( I get the call from the mechanic not terra 2 they never found it it just showed up ). Now its thursday about 2:00 which leaves 1 and a half days until i have to wait till monday to get my van(i have already been in whistler for 4 days an added expense besides the missed work and the TOOL concert I missed GRR!. So I beg and plead with the mechanic to get it done in time he says its possible but barely. Anyway the last thing I need is the paperwork for my van from terra 2 so I can register, insure, and drive it home. The insurance place closes at 4:00 on friday. After having 5 days to drop off the paperwork (because they lost my van.) Terra 2 guy doesn't show up untill 5:45. bottom line... now I have to go to superstore get temporary insurance and then drive back to kelowna and insure my van tomorrow. I don't leave vancover until 8:30pm...a crappy end to an expensive and stressful 6 days.
-they took a long time giving me money they owed me
-they were tough to get ahold of while my van was MIA !

Bottom line besides the fact they pissed me off and lost my van, I expected to have some troubles anyway and big picture I love my van and it has been great and i think i got it at a good price.

I think the next van I buy will probably be through Mardy but if terra 2 had a nice van for a good price again.. maybe.

[Jonny5ive]

2 questions...

Does anyone have a rating or feedback on VI customs? I didn't see any in...

And does Mardy have a website? Where is he from, everybody seems to love Mardy... I even think I love Mardy, but I don't know anything about him...?

Cheers.

[jessef]

Where is he from, everybody seems to love Mardy... I even think I love Mardy, but I don't know anything about him...?

I almost spit out my coffee laughing so hard !

He's a great guy, honest salesperson and a wealth of Delica/Pajero resources.

[kb&2dogs]

We bought the bushbunny from VI Custom in Coombs -- I'd have to say it had both positive and negative aspects.

The van was sold to us as a 1991, but it was actually a 1989. Oops! we made a mistake! So Sorry!! - nothing we can do about it, but now that's sorted out.

We were told it had some work done that obviously was not, such as oil and filter change and detailing (unless detailing means cleaning the windows).

Took it back just before the month was up with a list of concerns and to have her given a general once over, dropped it off on Friday night, as agreed, called Saturday at 1 to find out what was up, they didn't seem to know why I'd dropped it off. The list I'd put on the dash had been taken out, (apparently because my concerns were nothing to be concerned about, according to the saleperson). After some back and forthing, they changed the oil and put together a list of things to be done, and we arranged to go back in the next couple weeks for ANOTHER day of service/ANOTHER trip from Victoria to Coombs.

They addressed most of the concerns on the list, at their cost, and did some additional work that we requested. We did have a mini-disaster with the valve cover gasket that wasn't fixed until much later and not by them, although they did cover the cost eventually.

If you are buying a van on the island, I'd strongly suggest talking to Glen at CC, he seems to know where the goods ones are and who has them.

Would I buy another vehicle from them?? - probably not
Would I take my vehicle to them for any additional service - definately not!!

[josh]

I'll give Silk Road Autos a positive rating.

Josh

[Kuan]

Amazing Auto Imports - Mardy
10/10

Great service, straight forward, and honest. Excellent support, experience and advice.

Highly recommended.

[MardyDelica]

Hi, Jenny,
like to introduce myself (Mardy), I am a filipino Canadian, iwas one of the first one who owns a delica in B.C. so with our admistrator MARK on this forum.
we were the first 2 owner of delica in B.C. or Canada i believe. me & mark meet each other thinking we can form a club like this as nobody has delica that time about 4 yrs ago. & it grows igger & bigger now.
i study thing what to do the preventive maintenace & service that we need to do on this delica & Pajero. i work on delica & pajero, if any problem occurs .
i came from the phils about 18 yrs ago, emigrated here in canada.its nice to live in Canada. i work as a shop supervisor back home in the phils.
so i do learn & have extensive experience with diesel like delica & other japanese diesel, as we the phils are the no. 1 importer of used car from japan for ver 30 yrs now. we like japanese car over there easy to maintance & cheap to run.
as pre my web site. i am working on it, so soon i will introduce it here in our delica.ca club.
anyway, Jenny its nice to know you.
welcome to our club.
cheers;
Mardy

[andre66]

I bought my Delica at Maximum Overdrive in Richmond and i had a positive experience with them. They seem to have all their mechanical work done at CVI which i think is a plus.
I would recommend them without reservation to anyone looking to purchase a Delica.
Andre

[The Pinkfingers]

As the thread grows, let's try to keep this thread on topic to customer feedback and relevant responses about the issue at hand (saves reading time). If you want to put a plug in your feedback that's great (in fact, that's what recommendations do), but perhaps dealers can put a plug in for themselves in the for sale section. Thanks...

[swilliams]

Bought our new Deli from Mardy and it's been nothing but a positive experience; no question unanswered, honest, received in amazing shape and has been easy to get a hold of for support. Highly recommend for those first time buyers who are afraid of the unknown!

Shawna Williams