Enthusiast Auto Sales

Smooth, problem free car purchase

Great customer service, They help me with everything. any questions I had was answered and they even let me check if there was codes on the vehicle.

For your awareness:

I had a pretty bad experience trying to buy a 1995 E36 Eurospec 3.0 liter Alpine White M3 (78,000 km) from Terry Ratchev this weekend. He owns EnthusiastAutoSales in Etobicoke.

The car was for sale last year (2020), and then pulled, and this year it was put back up for sale and I reached out to Terry and made a deposit in good faith - if everything was as described, I would take it.
It was described in the ad as:

-9.5/10 Condition
-No Mechanical Issues
-Original Paint, no accidents
I was verbally told:
-No Rust
-No Dings
-Original Bosch headlights

I met him and his brother and they showed me the car on Thursday night on a hoist in their garage. Terry's brother knew more about the car (but both are not BMW E36 enthusiasts IMO because they didn't know the nuances of the car). I was given a chance to look under it and around. We turned it on (started fine), but I did not drive it. For the most part things were as advertised, but here is what I discovered during a brief look at night.

-Two dents (possibly more if I could check it in the sunlight)
-Rust under the trunk seal in the infamous spot (see picture), but no rust anywhere else
-Clear Coat spot peeled off a nickel-sized spot on the hood.
-Dual Mass Flywheel was fluttering when you turned off the car with clutch engaged - they clearly didn't know the sound.
-InPro glass headlights, not Bosch
-Oil leak coming from the Steering reservoir
-It was wet between the driveshaft and transmission
-Driver door wasn't shutting normally.
-No manuals included or any other history about the car.
-Fuel filter covering was ripped off and the bottom of the car had a minor scrape in that area from running over something.
-B pillars were really worn out/dirty with a white film on them.
-Door Sills had the rubber parts missing from the ends
-Glove Box had a hard time opening.

Other things that hurt the value are the missing stock radio. The HiFi system should be included but I saw no indication of it. There may have also been an indication that the whole front-bumper was re-sprayed because it lacked stone chips whereas the nose panel had touch-up paint on the stone chips. There was also signs of masking/painting near the lip of the bumper, but now I will never get to verify.
I was fine with this, and we made a deal for $1000 less than originally advertised, and I felt I was overpaying still, but I wanted to be a good customer and get the deal done. I still wanted it. I told him there were a couple things I wanted to verify after talking to my friends, but otherwise we have a deal. I spent all Friday running around getting the money, and doing my final research when I hit a problem. I was reviewing the VIN decoder and I realized the car should have come with a rear spoiler. I then looked at the picture (see attached) and noticed the trunk is a different color white than the rest of the body. You might think I should have known from VIN labels, but these JDM vehicles don't come with VIN stickers on the body panels - so there's no way to check for accidents and such, and I didn't see the color differences in person because it was at night and in a garage on a hoist.

Today I was suppose to pay for the car in full, so I made a drive to his used car dealership and I told him what I found. It raised a lot of questions for me. Frankly, if the trunk isn't original to the car, it kills the collectability. It's not all original, nor is the paint. The car was advertised as 9.5/10 (concours essentially), but now it is on it's way to a Frankenstein. I originally trusted their claim about the car, but now I felt I needed to do my own due diligence. So I mentioned I just wanted to look at the car in the daylight and make sure I take it around the block. Terry wasn't super ecstatic, and he showed me other offers he was getting from people that wanted to pay more than we already agreed to. After finding out about the trunk, I felt it took at least 5K off the value of the car, but none the less I was again going to go forward with the deal after looking at it once more. I don't think it is unreasonable to ask to look at a very expensive classic car in daylight and a chance to drive it for 1 minute. He agreed that tomorrow morning I could show up at 10:30am and I could do my final review and buy it. He said if there was a problem, he would keep a couple hundred of my deposit for the hassles, which I thought was unfair and bad business because he originally said if I could find anything that was misrepresented, he would refund me in full. I found a LOT that was not described, and I hadn't even thoroughly inspected the car, or drove it.
Then just a couple of hours later, I got a text saying deal is off, and he would refund my total deposit. He "had a change of heart" and they would delist it - probably because he decided to try the other buyer and get more money for it, but I can't prove that.

Now, not everything was bad. Terry offered to buy a new battery for the car, and the car had new tires, it already got new tie rods, and they said the ITB rubber boots were new. It also had a sweet front OEM E36 GT Strut bar and rear E36 AC Schnitzer Stabilizer bar with rare Gold Formula F1 BBS Rims, and sick Alcantara Vaders. It was a slick top too, and of course the low mileage was great. They didn't seem to knowingly lie to me about anything, but I find it hard to believe that they owned it for two years and no one ever told them the trunk is definitely a different color white, or that the rear spoiler was missing. I also found that Terry posted in the MaxBimmer forums in 2019 decoding the VIN and the response told him the rarest part of the car is the spoiler. I showed him his post today and he said he remembered posting this, but he didn't say anything else. He should have disclosed this in the ad.

Still, this is really poor customer service, and bad business. The car is not as advertised, and I had my deal cancelled on me for unknown reasons. Frankly I was disappointed it was only a 3.0 liter, not the 3.2, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise.

VIN: WBSBF91030JF81400

Thanks for reading.

Just purchased my second car (Subaru Forester XT) from EAS and same great experience as always. Thanks, see you for our next car!

PLEASE be very cautious doing business with Enthusiast Auto!!!!

My husband and I brought a BMW of Erik midway through last year, to which we were told was in excellent condition. Upon receiving the car we had issues immediately, including warning lights that would not clear. We have documented proof of Erik and Terry reassuring us that these issues were non-existent and nothing to be concerned about.

8 months later when getting a service for something unrelated we found these issues have caused $3,500+ worth of work done to be considered in a safe and drivable condition.

Terry of course is denying all of this.

Thankfully Erik no longer works there but PLEASE do your homework and get any car thoroughly tested INDEPENDENTLY before buying from there! They are NOT TO BE TRUSTED!

On Thursday January 24, 2019 my son and I made an appointment with Terry at Enthusiasts Auto Sales Inc. to view a certified 2006 BMW X5 with 94000km.
We looked over the vehicle, and found it to be in excellent condition! (exactly as advertised on enthusiastauto.ca)
On the road test, the truck ran and felt like new.
We were very impressed with Terry’s professionalism, honesty and knowledge while taking the time to answer all my inquiries. He showed us the CarProof and we were pleased to find that the vehicle only had one owner.
We decided to make the deal.
Terry set up the paper work and everything for the final inspection, He delivered on all his promises, he even changed the oil, replaced a wiper blad and topped up the windshield washer himself.
He was truly awesome!
Being an older vehicle I decided to purchase a Automotive Protection warranty after talking with Erik about the benefits and peace of mind it would provide. I drove away a happy customer!
Two months after the purchase, I called Terry about a small mechanical issue.
He offered his assistance and had the problem solved very fast which was great!
I was extremely pleased the way everything was handled, right from the beginning and will purchase another car from Enthusiast Auto Sales Inc. in the future.
I’d like to give a shout out to Rocky, he too was honest and professional.
My sincere thanks to all the guys.
Jim P.

Writing this a few months later, as it is deserved but will be long.
I'd been car shopping for weeks, one stretcher of truth after another. As an apprentice mechanic, I know my way around a vehicle mechanically, however I do always play that I do not in order to see how far I can get someone to misrepresent their cars.
Well, after weeks, I finally found a place that did not make false claims or sugar coat the reality.
Looking at a Bmw on the lot, I was given the keys and I asked to get some time with the car to look it over (last thing I wanted was more nonsense being said to me).

He agreed and told me to take the time i need and to call him back when i need him, while he went off and actually met with other clients in the office.

After about 15 minutes I had spotted a few things that would need attention prior to being certified, whoch I totally expected, however the rest of the car looked well looked after and was represented (I had inquired over the phone first about condition) fairly objectively.

I went back into the office and Terry was available. I asked if the car needed anything or if i could just drive it off as i needed a car by tomorrow (not true at all), just to test what he would say. Immediately, apologetically He stated that unfortunately I'd need to wait a day or two as some work would need to be completed before he could let it go off the lot and certify it. He apologized again saying that they certify cars at time of sale and stated that unfortunately I'd likely have to go elsewhere if i needed a car by tomorrow, however he'd do his best to give me a one day turn around should i proceed with the car.

I asked what was needed, to my surpise he listed all the things that I was able to spot based on a visual, as well as 1 other suspension component which I of course couldn't. I appreciated the honesty and asked to go back to the car and discuss some more.
I began asking questions about features, options, trims, packages... Terry is like a text book for BMW's, however the once or twice he wasn't sure, he'd admit that he'd have to double check, in fact he searched something up on his phone and gave me the answer on the spot. he is a true car guy, i could already tell! Enthusiasm was definitely there.

I thanked and left asking to sleep on it. Less than 2 hours I called back and put a deposit on it, conditionally that all issues would be addressed, and I'd get a long test drive prior to driving off the lot. I was told, no issues.

The car went into the mechanic the next morning, by late afternoon i was called and told I'd be able to pick up later that evening, they'd stay after hours to accommodate me getting the car as it would be ready only at the end of the day. I was excited and thankful.

I showed up, money in hand when it was dark and cold outside, car was plated and ready for my test drive. He asked to accompany me and I agreed. I was able to take it down the road, onto the HWY and back tot he dealer. I was happy with the way it drove. since i trust no one, I asked to see the receipts for repairs, surely terry obliged and shared them with me, everything done as promised. I paid and drove off a happy camper. I cannot ask for a better experience and honest approach then what i received for a low to mid teens purchase. I can only hope any future dealings any others have with these guys are even half as good as mine.
Kudos
Ty

Thank you for your honesty and great service.
everything promised was done and car was ready for pick up faster than normal because we had to give our rental back and that saved us money on rental fee!

Thinking of a NEW to you fine automobile, look no further.
Great selection, great service, great all around experience and great prices and HONEST service and just super amazed how Terry is a true auto person and I will never look elsewhere.

I hade to share my great experience with Terry @ Enthusiast Auto.
I was looking for not only a great deal , but a truly reliable BMW which will last for years as I live up in North-Bay and the roads are rough and auto's rust before they die...It is the environment.
Well I have had my NEW to me X3 for 2 months now and wow, everyday I am so darn pleased with my purchase. I had been looking for a few months and found many used sales people very pushy and yet not completely ready to give all the details of the BMW X3's they had in stock. Looks are not always everything. They were 300.00 less than Terry's X3 and he said he would match the price if I was interested in his X3 - over the phone and still very honest. A RARE BREED !!

Terry was up front and honest and said it is a used NOT new vehicle so it may require some items as she was sitting for a bit. I was super happy and when I test drove and heard some unusual noises , Terry advised that the X3 would come fully certified and due to the fact that I was driving her up North wanted to make sure any mechanical concerns were addressed. I was not disapointed. He even went out of his way to replace the BMW badges that were faded ( cosmetic ) and he even gave me the list of what was replaced and I was more than impressed and the cost was the same as what was advertised and I even got the extended warranty for peace of mind ( extra but worth it)
I just can't believe wow great it was, so much so that I took extra business cards and distributed them as I am sure he treats every customer like they are #1 and goes beyond which is so rare nowadays.

Most just want the vehicle gone A.S.A.P. and get their $$ and done deal.
He provided more than service and peace of mind but a TRUE HONEST EXPERIENCE without any hassles and everything was done and promised before the date required, WOW now that is service.

So for your next vehicle deal with the specialist Terry, who not only loves real automobiles but an honest and no bull car purchase.

Well I can say all my NEW to me next BMW's will be from Terry as well as anyone else I know who needs a fine, driving experience I will first recommend they check out the outstanding inventory.

thank you again Terry and I look forward to dealing with you again.
You have made me feel good about buying a used BMW !!

Frank.

few weeks later now and pretty happy with my car and the experience at this dealer. I went to a few places to look at Audi's and was turned off by some of the pushy sales tactics and misleading lies from the sales people.
Here I got honest answers, he did not make up lies and delivered exactly what promised me. Good deal, good car, fast turn around. Love my manual Quattro!

I recently bought a BMW e90 wagon from Terry at EAS. I found the entire process to be easy and pleasant. I requested that I take the car to my indy for an inspection and Terry was more than happy to accommodate - he charges $100 to take the car for an inspection to cover his time and deducts the $100 off the sale price if you buy the car. Very fair.

I bought a used car so its safe to expect that there will be some issues. I found that Terry never promised the car to be flawless and was fine with my doing my due diligence to determine the items needing repair. Once my indy reviewed the car, Terry and I were able to work out a price and closed the deal.

A few thoughts based on reading negative comments:

1) A car passing safety does not mean that there are no issues. Not sure why people think that Terry sells flawless used cars at used car prices?? I bought a BMW e90 for $15k. Of course there are going to be issues to resolve or marks on the car. If he only sold flawless used cars, they would be 2-3x the price. Passing safety is a specific set of requirements.

2) Taking a car for an inspection at an indy shop is intended for the buyer to determine if they are interested in moving forward and to what if any of the items the seller will address. It seems that people take a car sometimes for a PPI and then want the seller to pay to fix the entire list. Again, these are used cars. They will have issues. If you want a perfect car, then keep searching but don't expect the seller to be obligated to cover the cost of every item on the defect list.

i purchased a vehicle sight unseen and shipped it to the east coast. Terry was helpful and accommodating. happy to report that the car was exactly in the shape and as capable as described. i turned the key and drove 1500km.
i was looking for a specific car and found it at enthusiast auto. i was a little apprehensive about making a distance deal , you hear nightmare stories. but everything was transparent and honest. good business!
thanks

I recently purchased a vw golf from EAS.. I was very pleased with the service and prompt replies. When negotiating the price they were very fair and we were able to come to an agreement in a swift manor.. afer a week of owning the vehicle the engine light came on.. at first I was very worried. I did the diagnostic and found out it was a thermostat sensor which is a very common issue with these cars and not overly expensive to fix. I contacted EAS about this issue to
See if there was any warranty, unfortunately there was no warranty and I was stuck with the cost, however they offered to pay for the parts and I
Pay the labor which I thought was a very nice gesture considering they didn’t have to do that.

Overall a very good experience and I am very happy with my car. I would recommend checking them out if you are in the market for a new car.

Car's ad was misleading and much rougher shape than he let on. The car was also priced as if it was in perfect condition. I came with a mechanic and he was hesitant to let us go to a shop to check it out but realized there was no chance of a sale otherwise. Mechanic found major issues with the car, and Lambri did not seem surprised at all.

Typically I do not take the time to review used car dealerships as these kind of shady characters seem to be the norm, however there seems to be many fake reviews here and I wanted to warn anyone else against wasting their time and potentially their money.

Terry is a rare gem.

This is the kind of business owner and dealer who will treat you with honesty and respect, which is not common today. He makes the car-buying process stress and hassle free, an enjoyable time, free of any pressure or deceit.

But the thing that sets him apart isn't what happens before you drive the car off the lot, it's what happens after you do and you need help. Terry went above and beyond with the car I bought from him when I ran into mechanical issues that needed sorting out. They were issues that would have ideally been dealt with prior to the sale, but many car salesmen would not honour those repairs, or take the time to listen, understand and take responsibility. Many would dodge and weave to avoid taking the time and financial hit it requires to address a customer's concerns. But Terry did not.

And for this, Terry has my business for life. He deals in exotic, special and rare cars, like him.

Buy from Terry with confidence that you will be treated with dignity.

EAS was referred to me by a colleague. I've always bought new cars but needed a car for my daughter who's going back to school and her budget was limited. We settled on a 07 VW Golf that was on the lot. We spoke to Teri about it and he was up front about what the car needed for safety (it had been inspected by his mechanic). We test drove it and signed the bill of sale ready to purchase it, pending the work was complete prior us taking delivery.
On the day of picking it up, I was supposed to go with my daughter to pick it up but had a work emergency and could not make it last minute. I was uneasy about sending my daughter and her boyfriend to pick up the car unsupervised, but I had no choice.

I was extremely happy to see the car was exactly as promised, freshly cleaned, and he even found an extra key for it! 2 weeks of traveling to school everyday and the Golf has been great. Thank you Teri, keep up the good work.

Thumbs way up for Terry. Honest, informative and keeps his word. Would visit again if I need to.

Have bought 2 cars now from Enthusiast Auto and impressed with the selection, quality and service. Terry is so great to work with and made sure we got exactly what we wanted and even went above and beyond when it came to customer service. Have since strongly recommended to friends and family.

When I first went to Terry I was a bit skeptical as I am with all Car Salesman. After talking to Terry, inspecting the car and a test drive I was comfortable with my decision to buy the car. When I went back to EAS I picked up my car fully plated and drove it home. I had a few hiccups with the car, where I took it back to Terry and he helped me sort everything out. Unfortunately my car was in an accident where Terry helped me yet again by informing insurance of the value of my car. I am very grateful for his service and would recommend anyone in the market for a car. I am hoping to go back to him for my next car.

Called to inquire about a trade in they had just listed for cheap! I am a couple of hours away otherwise would have shown up to see it! Asked some more info, Terry was very helpful and honest throughout the whole process. Put a deposit down and went to pick it up a few days later. As described, no surprises, temp plates on and ready to go! Veyr happy! Thumbs up!

I purchased my car from Terry and took it for a test drive and a ride to a mechanic shop to inspect the car myself. Happy with everything, I put $500 down on the car for registration and all, which would go toward the overall price! The front turn signal was cracked, although he had a replacement part on the way. A week later my airbag light went on. I went back to Terry who had a replacement turn signal for me, ran diagnostics on my car to find out the airbag light was a soft fault, and while we were at it he sat with me for almost an hour coding all the lights on my car! Comfortable who I bought my car from and would be happy to go back in the future!

I have to say I was impressed with the knowledge about European Cars. Like an encyclopedia! Really friendly and helpful. Even arranged winter tires for me as I dont know much about that.
keep up the good work

Took a little longer to post my review for others as I read the past reviews and based on the positive vibe I decided to go and check oout an 09 Audi on the lot. I hope this helps anyone else looking for any of the cars here.
First I always call ahead to find out basic info before driving out (busy shift schedule) to view the car in person. After getting off the phone with them I found them to be straight forward about condition and history of the car and decided to go and see it in person as it was attractively priced and sounded good on the phone. I was pleasantly suprised to find out that most of the flaws were mentioned on the phone and there was no lies about the Caproof of the car (something that I have experienced other dealers lie about).
I needed a car urgently and after a thorough inspection (I have some knowledge) and a test drive the car felt solid and I proceeded to discuss price. I knew it was priced well to begin with but was able to negotiate slightly more which made me happy (hey a tank or two of gas goes a long way!).
I stressed that I needed the car urgently and it needed to be picked up a certain date and time . Everything went well. Car was ready for pick up as promised. 2 mths now and we are extremely happy. Will definitely visit them again in the future when needed.
keep it up!

Bought a 2001 BMW 325i and I love it. The owner gave me a super cheap price and the car drives like a dream. I highly recommend this dealership. Super friendly and very professional. Without a doubt, my next car is coming from Enthusiast Auto Sales.

Couldn't recommend Teri more! Straight up, went above and beyond for me, I ran into issues selling my car and he referred me a customer to look at buying my car.
My 08 BMW I purchased has been a dream, everything for the safety and etest was done without a glitch. He even did an alignment just because I had a feeling there was a slight pulling to the left which turned out to be a low air in a tire. We need more dealerships like this! Keep up the good work my man and you will continue to succeed! Will send anyone looking for a car your way!

5 stars

Timmo