Kastner Honda

Reluctantly, it was time to give up my 2005 Dodge Magnum hemi — — we were both aging not so gracefully. Did lots of research, asked advice of friends and family and decided that the Honda CRV would be the best choice for my needs. Not my need for speed — but again, the aging issue — — Over the last year I had been debating the switch, I saw many small SUV’s on the road and it was always the Honda that I preferred in the looks department, the car magazine, consumer reports reviews and actual owner feedback pretty much made the decision for me to visit my local Honda dealership. This is the second car I have purchased at Kastner — the last was in ’95 or ’96, so I had no doubt about the quality of service I would receive there.
Benny V. was outside as I arrived on a Wednesday afternoon and since I knew what I wanted he steered me to the row of CRV’s and with a few questions as to what I wanted in the way of features, he opened up a CRV EX-​L to show the many features available, everything I requested and many more than I expected. He was not pushy or hard-​sell; just full of information and knowledge abut the car and its workings. We took it out for a test drive and knowing my dread of stepping down from my powerful hemi to a 4-​cylinder suggested we go out to a nearby highway bridge that has a grade that would show the pick-​up and speed of the car. I then asked if we could extend our drive to test the route I normally take home from work and it was not a problem. Once we arrived back at the dealership he asked how I liked it and I was honest and told him I was not ready to buy right then, that I wanted to check out another SUV brand on Saturday, he made me feel that it was okay to walk away — he did not make me feel like the deal was not going to be there if I didn’t act now — he said sure — you go see and then you will know Honda is the right choice.
I ultimately decided to NOT go see the other vehicle and Benny called Saturday at noon to see if I had shopped the other car and I told him I was coming back to see him later in the day — which I did — he had brought the vehicle that I wanted in the color choice to the front lot from the rear yard and the only «but» was that this was an AWD and I only wanted a front wheel drive. He explained the benefits of the AWD and then as he had to excuse himself to speak to another customer, I made a quick call to my brother in law who said the exact thing that Benny had just said — it is a bonus and a safety benefit. So although Benny said that he could have a FWD vehicle there in 2 hours, I decided on the AWD. Then the bargaining began — I went in with a price in mind and it went over that because of the added AWD feature. They did come down from the original price and gave me a fair price for the trade-​in so I did not have to pay out of pocket as much as I had anticipated in order to have decent payments — at 0.9% interest.
Overall, I never felt pressured, patronized or like I was being taken advantage of because of my age or gender — all the things that people dread about going to a dealership. I don’t consider myself a hard-​bargainer but I am not in the financial position to just pay what they proposed and they came back with an offer that I felt comfortable with and I drove away happy. Sad to see my other car driven off to the back lot, but very pleased with the fun new technology that comes standard on the Honda CRV.
I can recommend Kastner Honda wholeheartedly and Benny treated me very well — just like we were long time friends although by the luck of the draw he was the salesperson available at the moment I drove in — Mike in finance was also nice to work with.
They are moving out of their out-​dated showroom down the road to a nice new facility in a few weeks, which I look forward to visiting for my first FREE oil change — which the car tells me when it is needed — no more «every 3,000 miles».
Of course they sell every type of Honda there is and they had a good selection of used vehicles as well. Worth a look-​see if you are car shopping.

I just finished buying a 2016 Honda Odyssey Touring Minivan from Adam Kane at Kastner Honda and this auto shopping experience went a lot better than what I expected and all because of the treatment and upfront pricing that I received from Adam. After doing research online and trying to navigate through a confusing process of compering models and quotes, I was definitely not looking forward into going to a dealership and fighting to get the best offer from a salesperson (after hearing horror stories from other family members who had had bad purchasing experiences at other dealerships).
Immediately after entering information in
, I started receiving emails and calls from different internet sales reps including Adam but surprising Adam’s communications were friendly, polite and reassuring. They just didn’t seem aggressive or scripted like others. I was very pleased to meet Adam who was very knowledgeable about the Honda Odyssey EX-​L that I was initially looking at. He answered all my questions, explained all the features and buttons on the Odyssey and allowed me to take it for a test drive that really allowed me to fall in love with the EX-​L model. He also explained the other models but was not pushy in trying to sell me a higher model.
I asked him to give me a basic quote for the model that I was looking and then a separate one with a few added accessories, so that I could really compare the price difference and Adam happily agreed to do so and did so in writing – not just verbally (including a last minute quote for the higher model – the Touring). I kind of wanted to prove to my husband that the higher models were going to be too expensive for us to consider but surprisingly the difference was not substantial and made it a viable contender. Adam explained the financing options they had and help me visualize what my monthly payment would be at different rates, so I found this extremely helpful, especially when everything was in writing; nothing hidden or sneaky.
I was upfront with Adam and told him that I would not be buying a minivan that day as I was still researching makes and models, yet this did not make him change his attitude towards me. He was still friendly, informative and genuine. I walked out of his office feeling really happy and pleased with the offers I received. I immediately felt comfortable with Adam and new that I would certainly consider coming back to do business with him. Ironically by the next day, I did exactly that after having visited 4 other local dealerships where my initially sentiments about car dealerships and salesmen were confirmed.
Kastner/​Adam was able to match and beat the competitor’s price and I got the Touring Odyssey for less than the original price they had given me at the start but with a few added accessories that really made the difference. I definitely felt like I got an excellent deal and all my interactions with all the staff at Kastner were nice and pleasant.
Kudos, too, to the sales manager, Solomon Wilson, who was willing to work his magic to make sure the numbers exactly matched the text quote that I got from Adam and who gave us good and honest advice on the trade-​in value of my 2000 Ford Expedition. He couldn’t give us what we wanted for our trade-​in SUV, so he recommended we try selling it on Craigslist and if not successful within 2 weeks, we could still bring it back and get his trade-​in offer. I was impressed with this offer as I don’t think many sales managers would have done this.
The financing piece was probably my least favorite part of this long process but not because I got bad service; it’s just because you know you’re signing your life into a very long-​term commitment and this was very scary for me. Mike B (the finance manager), was also very friendly and extremely patient with me after I got last minute jitters before signing on the red line. He gave me time to make some last minute calls, so that I could feel at ease and worked with me in explaining everything.
I am truly grateful that I ended up working with an amazing salesperson, Adam Kane, and I will, without a doubt, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend Adam and Kastner Honda to any of my friends and colleagues! When my husband is ready to give up his old truck, we know for sure that we can come to Kastner for the best deal!
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I purchased a 2013 Honda Civic from Kastler Honda in 2013. The car has been super compared to the 2001 Civic I had previously. I traded in my Dodge Ram 1500 which I totally regretted but at the time gas was expensive. Including gas + car payment I was saving $ 150 to $ 225 a month compared to my truck.
Their service department was a bit of a concern. My daughter feed the middle seatbelt some food and it stopped working. Danise took a look at it and worked out the food (or so I thought) during one of the many oil changes they did on the car. I was out of town visiting my sister and her kids piled into the back seat, and they couldn’t get the seat belt to latch. I did it but it was a pain.
I called up Kstner and talked to Danise. She said I should work it over more, the food just needs to be worked out. I asked to speak to her supervisor. I got his voice mail and left a rather detailed message about the importance of safety and I asked twice to have the belt replace only to be told no.
Jim called me back and asked for me to bring the car by so he could inspect it. I showed up a couple of hours late but he was friendly and professional. He worked the middle seat belt with ease. I thought to myself that I must be losing it. He suggested my daughter try and work it, and she couldn’t get it to latch at all. We went over to a new car and my daughter had no issues with the new car’s seat belt. He said that Honda does not cover seatbelt issues, but Kastner Honda would pay for it as he could see it was a legitimate safety issue.
My other issue with my civic is that I do not vacuum it out often enough. Somehow I had worn a hold in my driver side floor mat and a hole through the carpet exposing the metal under it. I showed Jeff my issue, he said that there was nothing Kastner could do, as it was my fault. I explained that his staff was in/​out of my Civic since I purchased it 4+ times doing oil changes, if they had brought the mat wearing low to my attention I would have been happy to purchase a new mat, but because they said nothing now I’m out a mat and a driver side carpet kit (not cheap). So he said he would make an exception and cover the cost of replacing the carpet kit and the floor mat.
Needless to say I was really humbled by the level of customer service they provided me and my family. We are looking to get a 8 passenger vehicle and I know where I will go to get it come August.
Thank you Solomon, Danise and Jim for everything you have done for me and my family.

If your looking for a friendly, no pressure, buying experience, then Kastner Honda is the place to purchase or lease your new vehicle.
I can’t thank Adam Kane enough for all he did for me, very friendly and knowledgeable. I will definitely referring other prospective Honda buyers to Adam & Kastner Honda in Napa.

Kastler Honda has fully helped us find the perfect car. Especially, our salesman (Rick Hernandez) was extremely helpful and understanding and worked hard to get the color we wanted. Therefore, we ended up with the 2016 Honda Civic Touring in Burgundy Night Pearl. Extremely happy with the purchase and everyone was friendly and displayed professionalism in all aspects. Was friendly and explained everything that was being done to help us understand in detail of the process. The salesman was very helpful and helped us feel secure in our decisions. On the day when we came to pick up our car, he even came on his day off to ensure customer satisfaction. We really appreciate that! Little things like this make the customers feel important and give us an overall feeling of satisfaction. Thank you everyone at the Kastler Honda!

By far the best experience with a dealership that I’ve ever had. I traded in a vehicle and purchased a Honda Odyssey. Earlier in the day I stopped by Steve Hopkins Honda in Fairfield and had the opposite experience. Kastner Honda gave me a fair price on my trade in and a fair price on my Odyssey. Steve Hopkins’ offer on my trade in was $ 3500 less and their Odyssey price was $ 3000 more than Kastner Honda. Additionally there was no cloak and dagger sales going on. Everything was upfront and professional. I would definitely come back here for any future vehicle purchase.

To quote the famous Han Solo of Star Wars, «IT’S TRUE. ALL OF IT.»
I was contacted by Kastner Honda after requesting a quote for a spedific new Honda CRV on
or one of those websites. I had about 7 offers from all over the SF Bay Area. I had 6 responses telling me they had a different CR-​V model in a different color and 1 response from a dealer in the East Bay offering a JEEP. WHAAAAT?! REALLY?! Did they read what I wanted?
And then I got a response from Kastner Honda via e-​mail. Adam K. was the first to e-​mail and give me a quote. I asked for an out-​the-​door price. He gave it to me. NO questions asked. No hard sell. They did not have the color I wanted but said they could get it from another dealer, no extra charge. Other dealers that did not have it would have charged me. Then Mike B. walked me through the financing paperwork, which was the same quote originally provided by Adam K — no extra hidden charges. Mike B. didn’t push when I said I wasn’t interested in extending a warranty at the time of signing. If I do decide to extend, I would sign with Mike.
They were genuinely real in their courtesy without the weird «slimy after taste» you get when you deal with obnoxious sales people at car dealerships. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE. I could have easily bought from a dealer near me (there are lots of them), but BECAUSE THEY WERE STRAIGHTFORWARD, I wanted them to have my business even if it meant that I drove an hour away. I would do it again.

I live in the East Bay and I have recently bought a SUV from Kastner Honda dealer in Napa (86 miles round trips). Everybody I know has advised me to buy from local dealers only because that would make the maintenance and repair service much easier down the road. Needless to say, I was concerned at first. After dealing with the Sale person (Enrique Martinez), the General Manager (Dana Perez), the Finance Manger (Mike Bray), I know I have come to the right place to purchase my car. It was such a pleasant experience. No pressure! No hassle! They told me I have to bring my car in for the first oil change and after that I can bring it to any Honda dealer. That’s not too bad… only one oil change, I told myself. The next day, I had to bring the car back for a minor adjustment; the director of Service and Parts, Jim Fox, couldn’t be more helpful. He was very reassuring and straight forward with all the questions and concerns I have. I know I will bring my car back to Kastner for service in many years to come. Their professionalism and honesty worth the drive, plus I will get to visit Napa whenever I bring my car in for service. Oh, one more thing, one of the employees shuttled us to the nearby restaurant while waiting to have the car being checked out; he was also very polite, happy and pleasant… This is a good indication that Kastner dealer is a family owned business where people, whether its employees or customers, come first.
If there were six stars, I would have given them eight. (it’s not that I don’t know how to do my math, it’s just that they deserve that much appreciation and respect from me). I strongly recommend this dealer.

By far BEST BEST BEST Honda Dealership!
JIM, SCOTT, DANA and MIKE you guys are such awesome, down to earth, funny guys! I was helped from the second I got there and they were not pushy at all! I highly recommend if your looking for a Honda to come see these guys they will explain every detail of your car and get you the best deal they can! Best customer service!!!

I have been going to Kastner for repairs for years and I can highly recommend their service dept. I used to only use dealer service departments for warranty work because their prices are typically a ripoff, but Kastner’s prices are reasonable on non-​warranty work and they do excellent work! I can also now recommend Kastner as a dealer as well. I had a horrible experience at another dealer and came to Kastner for help… although at the end of the day I had to buy the car I wanted at another dealer (because they wouldn’t trade with Kastner), It was the manager at Kastner that helped me get the car I wanted, even though he didn’t get a penny out the deal. True professionalism and honesty! Not something you normally associate with car dealerships.

Do yourself a BIG favor and head for Kastner Honda if you are looking for a car.
I have heard horror stories from friends about several dealerships in Sonoma/​Napa, (with high pressure salesmanship, gauging interest rates). Such is NOT the case with Kastner Honda. These folks are wonderful. Honest, professional, completely service-​oriented. Both my sister and I purchased cars at Kastner Honda within 8 months of each other. We were so impressed by how we were treated… and that we got such incredibly affordable deals!
Our friendly salesman, Al Shehab, made us feel immediately comfortable, never pressured us, and patiently explained all features in detail. He was able to give straight answers to every one of our questions and concerns. Mike, the finance manager was great to work with as well. Even the owner and his son greeted me.
Purchasing a car can be a nail-​biting experience, with so much at stake, but both my sister and I felt we were in trustworthy hands. AND… how quickly everything was handled, from walking in the door to the key placed in my hands!!! They washed and gassed my car up, it was beautiful.
I could not have asked for a better experience and would give them 6 stars if I could. My sister loves her new Civic. I am thrilled with my new 2016 CR-​V EX! Can’t wait to get up in the morning, get in and drive it.
Also: Our salesman said there is a new «green, state-​of the art» storeroom being built as the new Kastner headquarters. I look forward to visiting there in the future.

It occurred to me that spending over $ 3000 in repairs on a 13 year old car might not be the wisest decision, but in this case the car is my beloved ‘Si’ so there really was no other option. The real question was, having recently moved to the North Bay, who would I trust with this job?
Now, despite my wallet being significantly lighter, I’m happy to report that my trust was well placed in Darrel and my tech ‘KU’ at Kastner Honda – the Si came back to me like new and driving better than I remember in a long, long time.
Darrel really earned my business. He responded promptly to my initial email inquiry, even though it was near the end of the business day and he was heading out. When it came to talking about the job at hand, Darrel was informative and laid out all the info I needed to make an informed decision, even mentioning that he was willing to do some research on my 13 year old car to get more info for me if I wanted. I never felt pressured to make a decision. I asked if I could drop off the car at 7am before I start work, and although the service department doesn’t open until 730am, Darrel was there as promised and got me started with all the paperwork. While the car was in the shop he kept me updated with the progress, and the best part was I could reach him directly and get a prompt response. He really seemed to understand my attitude toward my car (run it ‘forever’) and proposed maintenance items that would be advantageous to get done while the car was apart, saving me money and trouble in the long run. Oh, almost forgot to mention, but he also set me up with a courtesy vehicle which was great considering I also have the duty of driving the child and mother around throughout the week.
Delivery? Well the car was cleaned inside and out! I can’t remember the last time the Alcantara looked so fresh (keep in mind I am the father of a young toddler that frequently accompanies me on my journeys). No more cookie crumbs! Not to mention it was all done A DAY EARLIER than scheduled!
To sum it up I really feel the guys at Kastner and especially Darrel and team put the same kind of care into my car that I would. And that’s what you really want from a shop – dealer or not.

I just purchased a 2016 HRV!!! I love the car but this dealership stands out in excellent customer service.
People are very professional and honest.
What a great experience!!! Thank you again

I purchased my new 2016 Civic back in December. So far I love the car, there’s a few things I would change but that is more of a Honda engineering issue. Benny assisted me since day 1, he was very professional, kind, and patient. When I finally picked up my car it was rainy and cloudy so I didn’t inspect my car thoroughly which was a mistake, after I got home I found a few cosmetic issues (minor scrapes/​scratches, one on each side of the front bumper) which i wish were NOT there. Other than that the buying experience was great.
Still waiting on them to confirm my purchase to my employer however.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE My New 2016 Accord Coupe!!! Scott & Dana & the rest of the team @ Kastner Honda did an Excellent and speedy job getting me into my dream car.
I wanted the (elusive) 6-​speed Manual in black, boom they found & had it delivered promptly!
I wanted all the Honda Factory Performance (HFP) accessories and other bells and whistles installed, they turned a wonderfully great car into the Bold, Eye-​catching, 1 of-​a-​kind Dream Car that it currently is.
I wanted all around great service and pricing & they delivered! And although I plan to keep my beautiful new car for many many quality years, I will certainly return to Kastner Honda in the future and will be recommending them to friends & family in the meantime.
–Thanks again Guys!

I almost couldn’t wait to get home to write my review about this dealership. First, I HATE, HATE, HATE buying a new car. It should be a fun and rewarding time, but my past experiences have been a nightmare. So when my wife and I decided to buy a new CR-​V I wanted to skip all the salesman pressure. We went to
…they gave me 3 dealerships that had the car I was looking for… I got a call straight off from Adam at Kastner… he said he had a CR-​V there for around 22,500…so I said that with tax and license if I could get OUT THE DOOR at $ 25,000 I would be in in the morning and buy the car. He said…“See ya in the morning.” but he added that it was his day off and I was to ask for Leslie the other internet salesperson and she would assist us.
We show up at 10 AM… Leslie greets us… sets us up… gets us an even BETTER deal with financing…(I had originally arraigned 2.99% she got us 0.99%…Took my wife out so she could test drive the vehicle… got her an UPGRADED CR-​V for only $ 500. more… and then took us in to see Mike the Finance guy…
So Mike shows us all the warranty’s available, security devices, clear coat protectant… ya know all the EXTRAS… but NO PRESSURE… he just lets us know what our options are… we did get the clear coat and protective floor mats… but the guy was so nice to us… I know… I know… They are ALL like that they are just trying to sell you stuff! NO! This was not like that! Almost everybody in the dealership came by and said hi… everyone was just very professional…
So…we buy the car… Now … who do we meet next… ADAM! He is here ON HIS DAY OFF… introduces himself to us… then sits in the car and explains how everything in the car works… Think its no big deal??? drive your new car and then it starts raining and you can’t find the wipers because they are not in the same place as they were in your old car… So Adam takes us through the whole car… sets up my wife’s blue tooth…(cause God knows we couldn’t have)…and in 2 ½ hours, the deal is done lock stock and barrel!
Bottom line… BEST…BEST…BEST experience WE have EVER had in purchasing a car!
Many many thanks to Leslie… Mike…and Adam… and everyone at Kasner…
P. S. We like the car too…

You would think we could get through a quickie 3-​night trip in Napa with no incidents, right? But no. We found ourselves looking for the Parts Dept. at the local Honda dealership.
My car is so smart… it sent me a love note via my dashboard display that I needed to replace the battery in my key fob. Since the alternative was not having a functional remote entry (you mean I have to turn a key, oh no) and a keyless starter button that works by sensing the key, it was pretty much a no-​brainer. It probably could be done, but… that would mean I would have to read the owner’s manual. Not gonna happen.
This appears to be a small dealership. Small does not necessarily equate with miniscule service or mindset. In fact, we were given extraordinary customer service. The two guys I encountered in service and parts were great ambassadors. They were friendly, helpful, and immediate in response to my presence. Mr. Parts’ Guy (sorry I don’t recall your name) cheerfully disassembled my key, showed me how to do it next time, replaced my battery, and I got out the door for about $ 5.
I left with a genuine smile on my face, and a secret wish that all dealerships came from the same mold. Kastner Honda, thanks!

The wife and I were in the market for a new car since we never liked our previous car, an overrated Hyundai Elantra Limited that we grew wary of. I say wary because they tried to up the mpg by removing the spare tire, but even after doing that the car nowhere got close to the 28 city /​38 highway mpg claimed. I guess that is what I get for being a sucker and trusting my shady ass people.
So… we decided to get a Japanese car because even with the recalls and sticky accelerator issues, they still make the best cars (our other car is a Toyota Highlander and it has never had a single issue). Since we already had a full-​sized SUV we were looking for a mid-​size SUV.
Because we are Toyota fans, we went to the Livermore dealership. Despite the awesome customer service from Victor, after checking out the RAV-​4, we left unimpressed with the specs, the handle, and the price. So we focused on Honda.
We found out that starting in 2015, Honda had released the HR-​V, a more affordable mid-​size SUV. Unfortunately, not enough of these vehicles were made so most dealerships in the East Bay had only one or two. In fact, we checked with Dublin that had 0, Livermore that had 1, and Fairfield that had 1. So I emailed Kastner Honda and Solomon instantly replied that he had 1 and several on the way. Since we had just left Fairfield we figured, fuck it, let’s check it out.
25 minutes later, we arrived in Napa and met Solomon. We were immediately impressed with how jovial he was and how he did not try to pressure us. He showed us the HR-​V that he had on the lot, which was an LX, but we did not really dig it. It really felt lacking… kind of like Dr. Dre’s latest (and thankfully last) album.
Therefore, we asked him if he could get his hands on any EX models. So we went back to his office and he attempted to trade the LX with other dealerships in the area. However, due to the high demand and low supply, no one wanted to play ball.
That is when we noticed the CR-​V, you know, just hanging out around the corner of our eyes saying, «Hello morons, I am the 2015 Motor Trend SUV of the Year and here you are looking at my loser sibling?» Perhaps it was destiny that there were no other HR-​Vs in the lot because when we saw the CR-​V EX, we instantly knew we had to have it.
The whole «Eureka!» scenario was akin to trying to get permission to marry the fugly sister and getting a reboot to marry the hotter one without offending the family. And seriously, the CRV is fucking HOTTTT! I mean, this car has more features than I can list in this review, so I will not.
Throughout the process, Solomon literally «kept calm and carried on» without ever pressuring us. So, that is why we ended up driving away with one. He really went above and beyond to get us a great deal. Solomon even introduced us to a local handyman that we really needed since we just relocated to the East Bay and just purchased a house that needs some work.
Seriously, Solomon felt like «those helpful Honda guys» from the commercials!
All in all, based on our firsthand experience, if you are shopping for a Honda or any car for that matter, definitely check out Solomon and Kastner Honda. I mean, after you get your new Honda, you can check out the Oxbow Public Market down the street or even go wine tasting! And you definitely can’t do that shit in Oakland!
* While their dealership is really old, in April 2016 they will be moving across the street to a spanking new facility.

**NOTE: The dealership is no longer «Kastner GM-​Honda.»
It is officially under «Kastner Honda,» and is no longer affiliated with GMC.
Kastner Honda —
(Full review in progress; will post under Kastner Honda)
— Big Aloha, DJ

This place has 5 stars and they are very well deserved.
My review is for the Sales aspect of the dealership only, not the service department as I only came to this dealership to buy my car.
I originally sent an email through their website to get a quote on a 2015 Honda Accord Touring. Solomon Wilson, who is their Internet Sales Consultant courteously replied. He sent me a quote with a way better deal than I had seen from other dealerships, and I had been getting quotes from every Honda dealership in the Bay Area! I hoped that once we got there, he wouldn’t pull a stunt like the horrible experience I had at another dealership (see previous review).
Solomon honored the price he had quoted via email. Mike in the financing dept was not pushy about warranties or products. I informed them of the bad experience that we had, and they were super nice. We didn’t feel pressured into buying anything. We got a fair amount for our trade in. We weren’t in there for hours.
It was a very pleasant experience and I highly recommend them when you are in the market to purchase a vehicle!