Brooks Biddle Automotive

Sold my car to them before a move when I didn’t have time or bandwidth to seek a higher price through a private sale. Was treated courteously, fairly and honestly. Not at all the creepy used car experience one dreads (and too often encounters elsewhere). If I return to the area and am in the buying market I’ll definitely try them!

Wow, I’m really surprised by the reviews I see on here concerning Brooks Biddle. I have only experienced the Service side of BB, and I am pleased with the result. Dave and Chris are nothing but professional and honest. I’ve had all of my Chevy Trailblazer regular service done here, and have been pleased every time. I usually wait for 5−7K miles on my truck before having an oil change, and every time I feel confident that the work has been done competently and professionally. They know me by name and car when I call to schedule an apt.
I can only hope that the sales side of BB is just as reputable and respectable. Based on the reviews I probably wouldn’t buy a car from them, but hey, you never know.
BB…make me an offer!
Sincerely,
A Davis
Seattle, WA

Yes… I know. 5 stars for a used car dealership? Here’s the thing: my wife and I got exactly what we wanted. We got a darn good car at roughly $ 1800 under book.
(NOTE: Although he had the opposite experience of us, Gabe M.‘s review here is super helpful. Thank you, Gabe!)
We were never in the market for a comfortable car buying experience. Our expectations going in were low. It was nothing against Brooks Biddle. It’s just that such is the nature of used car dealerships (scorpion and the frog, ay?). All things considered, our experience was pretty decent.
We did a bunch of data-​driven research beforehand: Car Gurus (which pointed us to Brooks Biddle in the first place), reading reviews on the car model, Unilocal reviews, visiting other dealerships (and reading their reviews too), etc. We had Scott M. help us. He was far less pushy than other car salesman we’ve interacted with. We appreciated how he gave us our space and let us discuss things.
We took our new purchase to a mechanic to have it independently inspected — all was good. We got what we came for. Simple as that.
If we are in the market for another car, we would consider Books Biddle again if they had the model we wanted.

TL/​DR: In my opinion these people are jackals who only want your money and are willing to go to any length to get it even if it means harming you and your family’s financial or physical well being. Drug dealers have more honor and integrity
— Always have an independent mechanic do a thorough inspection, NEVER take a dealerships word for anything and make sure they put it on a lift. Also good idea to take it to a body shop and have them look at it from their perspective.
— NEVER sign anything until the mechanic you trust gives you a green light (ask them for their opinion on the value of the car too.)
— Carfax is worth barely more than the paper it’s printed on, take everything with a grain of salt. Carafe & Autocheck are good to tell you what’s been done but it won’t show you the dogs that don’t bark. Sheet metal doesn’t lie, people do. Always get it checked by a reputable mechanic YOU trust. This is your money, your safety, your quality of life, treat yourself with the respect and care you deserve.
— Compare pricing from at least following sources KBB (what the dealer wants you to go by, it’s published by the dealership’s trade organization and incredibly biased with inflated prices), Edmunds (Your best friend, they give a rolling weighted average of what the car you’re looking at is actually selling for in your area), NADA aka Black Book (used by a lot of insurance companies), and spend the $ 6.95 to subscribe to Consumer Reports online and get their opinion. They’re going to give you a ‘don’t buy above this price’ and let you know potential problems to look for as well as unbiased information. They crunch data. They’re there to advocate for you the buyer.
Found an SUV I’d been looking for for a while. Listed as no accidents, clear carfax, excellent condition, low miles, hybrid.
First red flag: Lot is asking $ 3000 over book
Went up to take a look at i. I’m an insurance adjuster BTW so I like to think I know cars fairly well, especially damage. I give the car a thorough once over, tires are new and matching, all the glass is marked from the factory, no curb rash on wheels, no corrosion, wipers good, lights, gauges, switches, everything checks out. Take it for a quick test drive, so far so good, brakes are taut, car shifts wonderfully, no weird sounds.
Tell them I want it pending check out by a mechanic of my choosing. Start talking price.
2^nd red flag: Ignoring or undermining credibility of the book values.
I send them information from the above mentioned sources saying their price doesn’t reflect the value of the vehicle in question for this market. Even given the apparent good condition of the car it’s still way overpriced. They come down to a more reasonable amount but still on the high end of book. Now remember, book value is on a car in good or excellent condition. Not a wrecked car. On the surface car looks immaculate other than a couple superficial scratches.
3^rd Red Flag: Sales person starts undermining taking it to a shop to get checked out.
First they say their car has been checked by 132 point ASE inspection. For all i know they had guy named Ace point at the truck 132 times and after having done so everyone agreed that it was in fact, still a truck.
Next they didn’t want to take the truck to the shop I found nearby to inspect the truck. BTW thank you to Doc’s Automotive in Bothell for saving my bacon. Highest regards and I found them on Unilocal.I live 60 miles away. If you want me to buy your car, you’re gonna take it to a shop I picked out that was 10 mins away from them. Then the guy balks about he’s not sure if they can legally do it, why don’t I use his shop. Nope, my shop or no sale.
Then they say they’re going to sell the car to another buyer if I don’t take it or at least put money down. Fine, I put ½ the down payment down on my card and they take it over to the shop.
Lo and behold the mechanic finds a laundry list of problems including:
— leak where water can and has gotten into battery compartment
— car had been in a serious rear end collision also in and around hybrid area, they found damage underneath car that instead of being fixed had been freshly painted over to hide corrosion from where it hadn’t been properly repaired implying that the lot KNEW about the problems and were still advertising the car as otherwise but with just enough plausible deniability to get away with it legally.
— Host of other issues, shop said don’t buy it. No problem, pulled the deal.
So, if the car had been inspected why wasn’t the damage noted, actually repaired and the price reflective of that? Since someone had taken the time to cover up the damage instead of properly fix it, someone had to have known. And if you really didn’t know, you lied about the inspection. So either way shame on you and your whole organization. I hope everyone reading this boycotts you. Predatory organization like you can go to hell.
Btw, still haven’t gotten refund of deposit because excuses.

I had a real good experience with Scott M. I test drove a car on a Wednesday, negotiated the deal via text messaging on Saturday. Good thing I did that in the comfort of my own home, because the wait for completing the deal was very lengthy. I know it’s part of the experience of buying a car, so I dealt with it. 3.5 hours from walk in to walk out. A long time that didn’t include the negotiating. David L. was nice and sent follow up emails, but I only worked with him at the end of the process. This is my second car from BB. They have been there for a long time so they must be doing something right.

I didn’t end up buying a car here but Scott was the most amazing car salesman I’ve ever met. He didn’t pressure me at all. He was very honest and helpful. When I am ready to buy, I’m going back to Brooks Biddle first. Scott is the best!

So I bought a car there this week (without looking at Unilocal first, my bad). It was the right car for the right price, and I assume it will work out just fine. Yes, there was the normal soul-​cringing experience of dealing with used-​car salesmen (yes, literally all men). Condescending and smarmy and long high-​pressure sales pitches about expensive warranties we don’t want. I could probably live with that… not really sure who does it much better.
But…
While waiting for financing to go through, the salesmen were sitting at their desks, about five feet away from my 7-​year-​old daughter and me.
One of the salesmen loudly goes off: Who does Obama think he is! I mean, is this guy Prince Obama, or King Obama, or Dictator Obama?!
My daughter looks up at me, confused: President Obama?
Salesman, continuing rant: I’d say it’s more like Hitler Obama!
Now I could point out how it would make more sense to say ‘Adolf Obama,’ or ‘Barack HItler,” but I think these kinds of details are probably lost on people who’s best way of articulating their [favorite radio talk show host’s manufactured] political views is to compare someone to Hitler.
At any rate, this was awkward, but it only got worse.
Salesman: And all the Muslims are just like Hitler too!
Perhaps a shift in company policy where comparing followers of major world religions to leaders of genocidal regimes is limited to the bar after work? Or just the break room?

STAY AWAY!!! 1 star is a stretch. This is probably the least trustworthy dealership I have every had the experience of working with in 50 years of car buying. The used car I bought was on the showroom floor. My visual inspection of the car was not what it should have been. The test drive was short and uneventful. The salesman claimed to know much about the vehicle as it had been sold at Brooks Biddle previously. Everything seemed to go very smoothly. By the time I got the car home, a 200 mile trip, I had such a headache from the smoke residue and smell in the car that I was sick. I tried everything to get rid of the smell to no avail. I contacted the Brooks Biddle to see if they had a 72 hr buy back program. They do not but suggested I spray Ozium and put dryer sheets under the seats. My fault I guess for not really inspecting the car thoroughly, but the car was actually filthy inside. I don’t think they had done any detailing at all. They probably just shook out the floormats and called it good. The change oil light came on on my second day of ownership. Either they didn’t change the oil or they don’t know how to reset the sensor. I have been waiting over a month for the WA title to get mailed to the Oregon DMV so I can get the car registered. I still cant drive it for over 15 minutes because of the smoke smell. I cant sell it on the private market because of the smoke smell, and I dont have a title. I can see why Brooks Biddle lost their Chevrolet brand name.

Not very impressed. Overpriced cars and commission greedy sales reps. I will never buy a vehicle from this company.

If the car wasn’t for such a great deal and in the condition it was in. We would have left!!!
They need help with customer service interactions for one. David needs to retire. He seemed uninterested being there and they take forever to help!
We got a call from Blaine telling us my dad and I have been approved but really it was my mom and dad. Which made it inconvenient for us because now the wrong people are here to sign papers! They all suck and aren’t a friendly bunch. Unless they’re pmsing right now and we just came during the wrong time of the month! Boo this place! Wish I could post a negative star rating and didn’t have to at least rate this place a one for my review to be posted!

I have to say, I would have expected a lot more from a company that’s, to quote «been around 60 years». I didn’t think I could have this awful of an experience. I purchased a vehicle from them on 1÷25÷14 through Mike. When I was looking at the car I noticed a cracked windshield and a check engine light on. With the promise that those things would be fixed (in writing I might add), I went back to pick up the car the next day. Things go downhill from here. On the drive home the check engine light went back on. I didn’t think much of it right away because I was told it was just low voltage from an old battery (which they had replaced) but I thought I’d look into it anyway. Turns out the codes were not voltage related at all, more about the exhaust and possible issues. I ask around and with a friend who is more knowledgeable with cars than me, we figure out it’s most likely because the vehicle was modified (I had specifically asked if the car had been modified when I bought the car, and was told it was not). After he took it on the freeway and lost power at 60 mph (incredibly dangerous!!!) We decided to take it back to Brooks Biddle. They couldn’t get the car in for over a week and I was promised a rental. Turns out they had a rental available THAT EVENING ONLY and would have to return it that night. After musing it over, I decided I couldn’t stand their lies anymore and want them to take the car back (upon buying the car I had asked if the check engine light was bad of they would take the car back and they said yes). I mean, to be fair I’ve had this car for almost a month, am about to make a payment on it and have not gotten to drive it at all!!! I sit down to talk to the sales manager Jim who of course wants to talk me out of it. Going as far as to tell me that his wife’s car looses power on the freeway and they don’t know why. Well Jim, that sounds like a problem and you might need to get your wife a different car. I’m hoping I don’t have to get the attorney general involved but I’m just so done with these people. If you want a reliable car with great service… Stay away!!!

THEY ARE ONE HIT WONDER!
I stopped by today to purchase a new vehicle thinking i am a life long customer.NOT.
i GUESS one year later every reviewer on this site that gave them less than two stars are correct and i have to EAT my words… Sorry UnilocalERS for steering you wrong. And Trust me my little heart is aching writing wonderous things and having to eat it today. REPEAT Customers like their website said… A Big FAT b.s. is all i can say…
Oh Oh Have a Nice Day for you too… I think one of your salesteam will know… shaking his hands with me while not even bothering looking in my eyes…
30+ years… hehehehehh Your just a ROOKIE WITH 30+ YEARS OF b.s.

*Disclaimer: review of buying process only, ended up buying another car.*
I dealt with Tanner Stein over e-​mail on purchasing a new car.
He was straightforward, very responsive and tried to get me the best deal
(pricing ended up being highly competitive for the new model I was considering).
I worked with many dealers, and he ranks up at the very top. The only reason I ended up not buying from him was because we got a recent used deal, same car higher trim, we could not pass up.

I had a great buying experience here. It was like 4 years ago, and I don’t remember the sales guy’s name, but the vibe was totally relaxed and very little pressure like you might expect. I bought someone else’s trade-​in, at 92K miles, and while I’m always nervous about buying used cars, especially from dealers, I’m really glad I made this purchase. Other than routine maintenance, the car was trouble-​free. I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t have my mechanic inspect it before buying it. The sales guy said they don’t buy trade-​ins without a thorough inspection themselves, and I trusted him, and in the end it worked out fine. I drove it about 30 K in 3 years or so, with little trouble. I sold it last year, upgrading to something better. That truck has a special place in my heart, as it was a great stepping stone vehicle for my landscaping business.

I found a truck I liked on their website. By the way, their website is great and their mobile site is the best in the Seattle area (that I could find anyway).
Anyway, I got hooked up with Jack, one of their salesmen, and he was awesome to work with. I have next to no time in my schedule for this type of thing and Jack made the whole thing easy! We were able to work out almost all the details via email due to Jack being so sharp, flexible, and responsive. For instance, I wanted to upgrade my wheels and sent Jack a little snippet of some wheels I liked. He went so far as to find those very wheels and get them installed on my truck!
He also noticed that there was an issue with the radio … and ordered a new one without me having to notice or ask.
Overall, if you want a quality used car for a fair price I recommend Biddle and Jack in particular.

I went here because I saw a car online for a great price that met my needs and budget. Jeff the sales guy was pretty nice, but then I got handed over to the finance guy (can’t remember his name) but he was a complete Jerk, was extremely rude to me and was trying to get me to buy the car for more than the price advertised online.
I wound up buying the car and getting the internet sale price which was lower than kelly blue book and anywhere I looked, but dealing with the finance guy was completely horrible!!!
After buying the car we went on vacation the next week and the finance guy called me telling me he needed some refrences right now! I told him we were out of town and I would get them to him when I got home, well he showed up at my neighbors house and told them all my personal info about my credit and what I bought the car for and everything!!! plus told them he would take the car back if I didnt get him the refrences right away.
When I got home we had only been home for a couple of hours and he showed up and was yelling at my wife and I, so I told him to leave my property and I would bring him the refrences within a hour or too… he refused to leave until I gave them to him!!!
I was just amazed at how crazy this guy got when it was him that forgot to get the refrences in the first place, he messed up and went crazy on us for it! Not only that but I saw on the attorney general’s website this dealership has Sold over 20 «lemon» cars with out telling the buyer the car had a «lemon» title!
I absolutely reccommend going anywhere but this place!!!

Have had multiple dealings with this dealership, non satisfactory.
First, we called ahead to verify availability on a used car we wanted to check out and possibly buy. They said it’s here, come look. We came, the sales manager had the car out for personal use all day so it had never actually been available, let alone on the lot.
Then we tried to purchase a TrailBlazer SS. They told us there was no way they could get financing done at the down payment and monthly rate we needed. Told us they got immediate denials and needed more down payment. We couldn’t make that work, so went to another dealership a month later and bought a TrailBlazer SS at a great rate through a local credit union without any such issues.
Most recently I took that TrailBlazer SS in for service, as Biddle is the nearest place and actually rated well for some reason. I gave them a list of issues, including priority. They told me the 2 main issues they couldn’t duplicate (and I have since verified they are not fixed), and instead spent 2 days focusing on unauthorized repairs to a minor issue they still didn’t manage to fix. After being threatened with over a thousand dollars in labor charges if the warranty didn’t cover it, I decided to tell them to stop and just give me back my truck.
After picking up my truck I discovered a dime sized door ding scratched down to bare metal. They said it wasn’t their fault, it must have happened on the lot, and that’s just like getting a door ding in any parking lot.
I will never bother trying to use any of their services again, and cannot recommend them for a car or service.
They also never respond to email. They even sent me a survey in email that asked if I was satisfied. Obviously I am not, but they never responded to that one either.

We strolled in to look for a car on a Sunday afternoon. I was enjoying the fact that the sales guys weren’t all over me like a Vulchers. One guy who was busy with another customer pointed us down to the shack. The internet sales guy couldn’t be bothered with us and said a salesmen was on his way. 18 minutes later the sales guy drove up. We picked out a nice truck that had just arrived on the lot to test drive. After the ride the sales guy cajoled us to come inside and see if we could make a deal. I presented a low ball offer which was still well above book value for their truck. They came back with 6k over book for their car and 900 less than wholesale for my car. YEA we decided to play games too… We sent offers back and forth then we were out of there.
One week later I called the sales guy after seeing the same truck on their website for less than their final offer. I called the sales guy and he had no recollection of who I was. But he wanted me to come down and make a deal. BLA BLA BLA. Same old dealership games.

Hmmmm… just a couple weeks after we bought this truck we had a serious thumping issue with a rear tire. Despite having the tire attended to the issue has not resolved. (By the way, the mechanical inspection report for this truck noted the same noise but was «resolved» upon rotating the tires.)
In addition, we have had the check engine light come on and had a $ 500 repair as a result.
We’ve owned this 2007 truck three months. I suppose my common sense should have kicked in when we bought it.
Not so sure I trust these folks anymore.