Seller profile

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  ⭐ San Diego ECARS – Where Promises Go to Die I bought a 2014 Audi RS7 from ECARS San Diego for over $40 000. It was late, I was far from home, and I trusted the salesman, Peter, who assured me, “You can bring the car back — but only if it’s something crazy.” That promise gave me the confidence to move forward. Within hours of driving home to Los Angeles, the check-engine light came on — clearly cleared before sale. Soon after, problems piled up: clunking suspension, unstable ride, low headlights, squealing brakes, steering vibration, and windshield washers that didn’t spray. A radiator hose later exploded while I was driving, leaving me stranded. Even worse, every driver-assist feature that relies on the front camera — adaptive cruise, collision prevention, and similar systems — was inoperative from day one. Those issues alone were bad enough, but the engine quickly became the biggest concern. The oil level showed “min” the night I got home, and after repeated top-offs and a full inspection, my mechanic confirmed the engine was burning roughly a quart every 150–200 miles — a clear sign of internal failure. When I reported this, Peter tried to push the problem toward the third-party warranty I’d purchased, ignoring ECARS’s own 30-day powertrain warranty that covers engine damage. He asked for my mechanic’s contact info and never called. Instead, he arranged for my local Audi dealer to perform what he called an “unbiased inspection.” I agreed purely as a courtesy, since the issues were already documented. At Audi of Beverly Hills, the advisor smelled burning oil and told Peter the car needed major internal testing. Peter declined. I told him the car was unsafe and we agreed that ECARS would take it back. ECARS even arranged transport to retrieve it from Los Angeles. Once the car reached their lot, everything changed. Instead of honoring the refund, ECARS sent it to their local Audi dealership hundreds of miles away for a cheaper, less-comprehensive oil-consumption test — one requiring the car to be driven about 700 miles under their control, worsening its condition and giving them complete influence over the results. While it was at Audi San Diego, the service center produced a $20 000 repair estimate — half the price of the car. ECARS never told me. I later obtained it directly from the dealership’s GM after proving ownership. That hidden document showed they knew the vehicle’s true condition. Even more alarming, the $20 000 estimate didn’t include any engine work, meaning the real cost could climb much higher. During that same visit, technicians found the engine computer had been tuned and needed to be detuned before testing. I was never told the car was modified. The record proved the tune would void the $5 000 third-party warranty ECARS sold me. Peter later admitted by text that they had detuned the car before sale to pass California smog — an act of emissions tampering and concealment. After the detune, ECARS ran their shortened oil-consumption test, claimed the car “passed,” and canceled the refund. They then treated the entire situation as an inconvenience, even threatening a lien sale if I didn’t retrieve the vehicle immediately. They backed out of their promise to return it via transport, forcing me to pay for towing from San Diego myself. When I inspected the car afterward, I even found a headlight assembly so loose I could move it by hand — proof the vehicle was still unsafe. The Bureau of Automotive Repair later confirmed that ECARS refused to cooperate with their investigation, continuing the same pattern of stonewalling I experienced. The DMV’s ongoing review will likely dig deeper into ECARS’s sales and emissions practices. For anyone considering buying from ECARS San Diego, take this as a serious warning. Their polished photos and glowing reviews mask how they treat real customers once problems arise. ECARS didn’t just sell me a bad car — they sold me false confidence. My experience was costly, frustrating, and deeply dishonest. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

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  I flew down from the Bay Area just to do business with Peter at SD eCARS. I had a number of less than exceptional experiences (and some vehicles just in horrible shape) before talking to Peter about the car I was interested in. We set up time to view the car through video chat where he walked me through it. I asked entirely too many questions because I was wary of going through a dealer so far away. He was patient and helpful through and through. They were flexible and up front about their pricing and never tried to pull a fast one with GAP insurance or accessories when signing the financial paperwork. They even offered to ship it for a very reasonable price considering other dealerships and websites, but I wanted to test drive and inspect in person. At the end of the day I bought this car through SD eCARS because of my experience with Peter, and that is saying a lot for the attention and professionalism on display here. Thanks again, the car is amazing.

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  I bought a 2020 Audi SQ5 from Peter and had it shipped, and the entire experience was flawless. Buying a car from a distance can feel stressful, but Peter made it simple and completely worry-free. He was upfront, transparent, and quick to answer every question. The car arrived exactly as described—better than expected—and the process couldn’t have been smoother. Peter went above and beyond to make sure everything was handled with care, and his professionalism really stood out. It’s rare to find someone this trustworthy in the car business, and I couldn’t be happier with my new SQ5. If you’re considering buying from Peter—even if you’re not local—don’t hesitate. He’s the real deal and will make sure you’re taken care of every step of the way.

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