Sonic Automotive Reviews

Former Employee – worked at Sonic Automotive full-time for more than a year

Pros – Great people and excellent training program. Direct Managers genuinely cares about you and your success.

Cons – Many to list. We'll start with its a very Top-Down company. What ever executives say goes and most or all managers will not get in their way or they'll lose their job. It's very sales and performance driven and it's always about today and not what you accomplished yesterday. Company isn't going anywhere and they let go a lot of good people!

Advice to Senior Management – You guys are soo worried about money and chasing profits that employee welfare is last on your list. Some high performing reps aren't alway ethical and if you run your company with savages, ready to kill for a promotion or profit, then the company is no better than a zoo!

Former Employee – worked at Sonic Automotive full-time for less than a year

Pros – My direct boss was very professional. Had been in the car business for years and was willing to share his knowledge.

Cons – Very bureaucratic and disorganized place to work. There are a lot of rules that are poorly implemented. You had to wear the company shirt, but there were only very large sizes left. You must use the Sonic ipad, but those were on back order too, etc.

Also: if you are a sales professional, bear in mind, Sonic has recently transitioned to a "True Price" no haggle way of selling cars, which means you'll be making minis ($200) on almost every deal.

it was so disorganized that I had no one to hand my resignation to-- they were all on vacation or out sick.

Advice to Senior Management – Be more organized! How do you expect your salespeople to do their jobs if they literally aren't even given the proper tools.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Sonic Automotive full-time for more than 8 years

Pros – I learned a lot from other techs,service advisers,managers and i was promoted 3 times.

Cons – Iv worked there 8 years and have seen 8 different gm's and service managers.

Advice to Senior Management – Let the employees be them selfs so they don't have to put up a front. To all the managers, gm's, and to corporate "be real" stop being so fake

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at Sonic Automotive full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Decent wages and a great GM at the dealership.

Cons – Upper management did not have a clue. They are so focused on bottom line they neglect their most important asset.......the employees!! Micromanagement would be an understatement. If they would trust the GM and allow them to do their job Sonic would be a greater attraction to top rate employees.
Employee turnover is over the top for the very reasons I have stated, Local managers are nothing more than "yes men". Sonic has dealerships all over the country, but think they can all be run the same. That is why they need to allow local GMs to manage the dealerhip in a way to blend with the local invironment.

Advice to Senior Management – Allow the local store management to manage!

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Sonic Automotive full-time for more than a year

Pros – The company has a nice focus on using the latest technologies to improve efficiency. 401k employer matching (50% company match for the first 5% of employee contributions).

Cons – Sales staff is underpaid and unappreciated. While interviewing, management grossly inflated the dealership's average monthly pay for salespeople, which led to unrealistic expectations. Annual all-inclusive corporate meetings are a huge expense to the company and are of absolutely no benefit to the average employee.

Advice to Senior Management – To corporate management: Stop trying to be CarMax! To dealership management: be more upfront when interviewing and never tell your staff that they are expendable.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Sonic Automotive full-time for more than a year

Pros – some awesome co-workers.. A couple managers even!

Cons – Sales managers are overworked and underpaid as are the sales people. No Appreciation. Cheap GM that has slashed the payplan. Every car is a $200 mini with weak bonus'. Sell ten cars and you will make $2k before taxes/insurance. Sonic is implementing "true pricing" where every car is non-negotiable, meaning commission will stay around $200 for every car...decent place to learn the business and move on. Not the place for a seasoned pro.

Advice to Senior Management – Some great managers, but are just sonic puppets that have zero power to make changes

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Sonic Automotive full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Good Structure ! Policies and guidelines are good until the GM or The GSM follows it! Not fakes it in the eye of RVPs and Upper Management!

Cons – Most of The dealerships are run by the GM and GSM and upper management has no clue what's going on in the dealerships! Their main force that produce for sonic are the sales people and they get treated like slaves, servents ,Low class people!!! Management blames them
For everything! As if the Managers are perfect! Human being!! Who don't do mistakes at all!!

Advice to Senior Management – Get close to the people who produce for you! Make them happy! You company will go far higher then where it is now!
Need help get in touch with me and take some ideas!
Zalevohan@gmail.com

Current Employee – been working at Sonic Automotive full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – NONE...well maybe if you want to make good living. That means you have to live at the dealership. I have my own refrigerator and microwave in my office. No kidding....70 hours a week. I am in sales.

Cons – Underpaid for what we do. Overpaid for ALL managers!! They do not care about the employee at all. Promote from within??? In 4 years, they promoted 1 guy to manager while they hired from outside 5 managers!! Did I mention no body care about the lowly employee? Low morale and very defensive employees because every hate their job but no one want to leave for fear of no job.

Advice to Senior Management – Get a clue to how the dealer is being run. They sit in their nice office at corporate and don't have the slightest idea how a dealership is being run and how unhappy the employees are.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Sonic Automotive

Pros – Good money for lube tech.

Cons – Over 60 hours a week and only make 30 hours of pay.

Advice to Senior Management – Treat your employees better.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Sonic Automotive

Pros – Fun culture, Managers are understanding about work/life balance and stable industry(used)

Cons – Political at upper levels has trickle down effect if you are a "nice Guy" you may not succedd in managment here.

Advice to Senior Management – Work in the trenches atleast once a month before passing judgement.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend