2,434 reviews
AI reviews summary
The overall sentiment for John Hughes Car Sales is overwhelmingly positive, primarily driven by high praise for individual sales consultants. Customers frequently highlight a "non-pushy" atmosphere and a seamless purchasing process that accommodates specific needs, such as regional travel or anxiety. However, a significant divide exists between the sales experience and after-sales support; while the frontline staff are lauded for their professionalism, recurring reports of unresolved mechanical defects, poor service communication, and difficulties with deposit refunds suggest systemic issues in post-purchase care.
Pros
- Exceptional Sales Staff: Consultants including Matt Allegretto, Han Gao, Julian Montes De Oca, and Marshall Walker are repeatedly praised for being professional, patient, and genuinely helpful without using high-pressure tactics.
- Efficient Purchasing Process: Multiple customers noted the speed of transactions, with several being able to test drive, finance, and drive away in a vehicle on the same day.
- Stress-Free Environment: Reviewers, particularly those with anxiety or specific needs, reported feeling comfortable and respected throughout the buying journey.
- Knowledgeable Guidance: Staff are frequently commended for their deep product knowledge and ability to match customers with vehicles that suit their specific budgets and requirements.
Cons
- Poor After-Sales Service: A significant number of negative reviews focus on the inability to resolve mechanical faults under warranty, with some customers waiting months for parts or repairs that never materialise.
- Communication Failures in Service: Recurring complaints highlight a lack of responsiveness from the service and management departments, including ignored phone calls and emails regarding vehicle issues or refunds.
- Trade-in and Pricing Disputes: Some users reported receiving trade-in offers significantly lower than market value and experienced pushy behaviour or hidden fees in the finance and add-on departments.
- Pre-Delivery Oversight: Multiple reports mention vehicles being delivered with faults (e.g., tyre issues, expired registration, or missing service history) that were either missed or ignored prior to handover.
Verdict
John Hughes Car Sales is a strong choice for consumers seeking a friendly, low-pressure buying experience with a wide range of stock and efficient sales staff. However, potential buyers should be cautious regarding after-sales support and are advised to thoroughly inspect vehicle history and registration details before finalising a purchase.
Matt provided exceptional service as we have become custom too with his service (has now done my mums and myself car) and would recommend to anyone! Great bloke and ideal sales rep embodying John’s motto!
I Bought an MG 5 from JOHN HUGHES, VICTORIA PARK, PHIL LICASTRO was our salesman was very friendly not pushy, with exellent communication skills and was very respectful, helped me find perfect car , was very knowledgable with car i liked, took me for drive to feel car, wonderful experience. and answered all my questions, he made me feel… Read more
very much at ease, with car. he was very patient and understanding, PHIL organized my car insurance with my preferred insurance company, so i could drive home, fantastic service, also arranged window tinting, car cleaning and polishing. highly recommend him as salesman
I recently purchased my Kia Sorento through Matt Allegretto at John Hughes, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From the moment I walked in, Matt was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely focused on helping me find the right vehicle rather than simply making a sale. He took the time to answer all my questions, explained everything… Read more
clearly, and made the entire process smooth and stress-free.
Matt's communication was excellent throughout, and his attention to detail ensured that every aspect of the purchase was handled efficiently. I never felt pressured, and I appreciated his honest and friendly approach. The Kia Sorento is everything I was hoping for, and Matt played a huge part in making the buying experience such a positive one. If you're looking for exceptional customer service and a salesperson who truly cares about his customers, I highly recommend Matt Allegretto at John Hughes.
Thank you, Matt, for making what can often be a daunting process an enjoyable and memorable experience. Five stars!
Reviews with attachments
Great Experience at John Hughes – For the first time dealing with the friendly staff at John Hughes Car sales, I was really impressed with the professionalism and understanding of Marshall Walker when I picked up my used vehicle, the vehicle was presented very well and the whole process seemed seamless...
Incredible service and the car of my dreams! – Jason and Aimee at John Hughes did an extraordinary job of helping me get my first new car! From start to finish they both had excellent professionalism but also made the whole process feel personalised. Jason listened to my needs and wants with a car and they both made sure everything was clear the whole way through! They gave me options but… Read more
didn't try to force or push anything that I didn't want, they made me feel like they cared about me more then just getting a sale, like part of the john hughes family. Every question I had they answered, and Jason checks in to make sure you are happy with the everything. I can't recommend these guys enough for all your car needs. Extremely grateful to them for making sure I have the best experience buying a new car for the first time!
Best Service & Stress Free – Guy & Jason from John Hughes Mitsubishi in Victoria Park, were excellent with the purchase of my brand new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. They were very knowledgeable and they weren't pushy sales people. I highly recommend if you are looking at buying a Mitsubishi, to visit either of these 2 guys. John Hughes himself should be very happy having them… Read more
as part of the team.
When I picked up the car, it was very smooth, and really didn't have to check that additional items had been done/completed. The car was ready when they said it would be.
My 2 year old daughter (at the time) normally never likes talking to people she doesn't know, but they were so easy going and friendly that my daughter was happy to have a good chat with them and also have a photo.
Keep up the great work guys, and will definetly be back again for my next purchases.
Love that car – Was so excited. Awsome to drive. Love the color. So happy. Could not wait to drive away.
I would have given 10Stars!!!! – Excellent dealership and great service....have bought 5 cars there already....whole family...always a great experience. THANK YOU with my most heartfelt appreciation to John Hughes, Kirsty, Lawrence n Mason.
- +1
I recently bought a vehicle from John Hughes and the experience has been extremely disappointing. A third‑party pre‑purchase inspection clearly identified rodent activity in the engine bay, including debris under the battery cover. I raised this before purchase and was assured it would be properly cleaned and inspected. It wasn’t. When I… Read more
collected the vehicle, the engine bay still showed obvious signs of rodent activity, proving the promised inspection never happened. This is a basic safety issue — rodent damage can affect wiring, sensors, and electrical systems — and should have been taken seriously.
Instead, I received excuses from a senior salesperson, including:
“We weren’t known to lift that cover.” “If your mechanic had told us to lift the cover, we would’ve cleaned it.” “If the car starts first time, there’s no reason to check the battery.As far as us checking a vehicle for its quality, if a vehicle starts first time every time there is no reason to engage extra time checking a battery that is not faulting.”
“So there was no cause or reason for any mechanical inspection our workshop did to lift that case open"
This is unacceptable from a licensed dealer. Once notified of rodent activity in the engine bay, it is the dealership’s responsibility to inspect the affected area properly — not wait for a customer to instruct them on how to do their job. There is prima facie evidence that vehicles are being sold with undisclosed defects, making it the customer’s problem instead of the dealer’s responsibility.
I did receive a generic apology after escalating the issue, but the fact remains: the vehicle was delivered without the promised inspection, despite a known safety concern.
I am now waiting for a proper third‑party assessment to determine whether any wiring or components have been damaged. This entire situation has seriously undermined my confidence in the dealership’s quality control and pre‑delivery standards.
A big thank you to Mashall Walker for assisting use with the buying of our GWM Cannon dual cab utility vehicle. He made the process an exciting and memorable experience for us. Good on you mate.
Great friendly service & no pressure at all. Paul Hadda was fantastic to deal with as was Trevor in the finance Dept
I had the pleasure of meeting Julian here at john Hughes Victoria Park. He instantly made me feel so welcomed and was very thorough to ensure i understood everything he was saying. He was not pushy or arrogant towards a sale, he was extremely honest, kind and understanding. He made my first big purchase one to remember :))
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Had an outstanding experience with Han. From the moment i arrived, Han made me feel at ease and comfortable with his friendly nature and Great Service. I would highly recommend Han and John Hughes to anyone who is looking to to buy a car. Thanks again
My wife and I visited this dealership last Saturday to look for a used car. To be honest, we did not plan to buy anything here because we had seen cheaper options online. However, we stopped by because of their excellent reputation. From the start, the first salesman, Julian Montes De Oca, was very welcoming. He showed us several cars and was… Read more
not pushy at all.
We actually decided to leave, but once we got back to our car, we talked about how professional and kind he was. Because of his great service, we went back inside and looked at newer models. He gave us a great deal and kept all his promises. We ended up buying an almost brand-new car over our original budget because we trusted him so much! I really recommend him he is great person.
Unfortunately, the experience changed when we went to the add-on department for window tinting. The salesman there was very rude, loud, and pushy. At one point, he told us, "I have other people waiting for me, take it or leave it." He was so unfriendly that we decided not to get the window tinting there. It is a shame because we really wanted to add it, but we chose to go to a different shop instead. If the first salesman, Julian Montes De Oca, had handled this part of the sale, we 100% would have bought it. The first salesman was fantastic, but the service in the add-on department was very disappointing.
We had a great experience with Han. He was very helpful and provided outstanding service while assisting us in finding the right car for our needs. Highly recommended!
A huge thanks to John Hughes himself, who has been so kind and helpful to me, and also to his team for my newly purchased 2016 Mazda CX-5. The team was very welcoming throughout the whole process. I especially want to highlight Matt Allegretto for his knowledge about the specific car that I wanted and also his patience in answering all of my… Read more
questions. Matt was so approachable and friendly and dealt professionally with me throughout the process. He took the time to explain every detail clearly and helped me navigate without any pressure. Matt is an excellent asset to John Hughes’ company!
Because of the excellent service I experienced from these guys, I can’t recommend John Hughes enough if you’re thinking about buying a car!
Purchased a 2019 used Pajero. Not wrong when they advertise as Quality used vehicles . We are so happy Immaculate condition and only 43K on clock. We opted for Paint Protection, 5 yr warranty and Window Tinting and no mucking around it was ready in record tme. Excellent after sales service that i only needed due to my stupidity - no issues at all with the vehicle. Many Thanks again Heather Morgan
2nd time round purchasing a vehicle and just like the first it was quick and easy. They made the process so much easier again. Would recommend 100%. Thank you Paul and Trevor
Latest follow-ups
Philip Licastro @ John Hughes Victoria Park – “I highly recommend Philip Licastro and the team at John Hughes Victoria Park Car Sales to anyone looking to buy a car. Their professionalism and customer service is top-notch!!! "I recently had the pleasure of purchasing a car from John Hughes… Read more
Victoria Park Car Sales,(Ford building) and I wanted to share my wonderful experience. I was assisted by Philip Licastro who made the entire process seamless and enjoyable. From the moment I walked in, Philip greeted me with a warm smile and a friendly attitude. He took the time to understand my needs and preferences, which made me feel valued as a customer.
Philip was extremely knowledgeable about the car I wanted and provided me with all the information I needed to make an informed decision. He was patient and answered all my questions without any pressure. Thanks to Philip I found the perfect car that fits my budget and requirements. The purchase process was smooth and hassle-free.
I am truly grateful for Philip’s exceptional service and dedication. It made my car-buying experience one of the best I’ve ever had. I highly recommend Philip Licastro and the team at John Hughes Victoria Park Car Sales to anyone looking to buy a car. Their professionalism and customer service are top-notch.
Thank you once again for the outstanding service,and the free coffee!!!
Follow-up · Shouldn’t of paid top warranty as it’s a waste of money and the free service yearly is very interesting…have to hire a car to use from them on the day and I got told the drive belt is fraying and the struts on all four wheels need replacing and all these other things.. from what they said it felt like they sold me a lemon I did say these things… Read more
Purchased a used Pajero from this depot last week. The salesman, Scott, had amazing patience. I don’t think we were easy customers, but Scott remained patient and helpful throughout the entire day, and we take almost the entire day to find a car we… Read more
were happy with. It was a good experience to deal with a car salesperson who didn’t try talk us into a car we didn’t want. Instead Scott moved on to find another car for us to test drive. He was helpful, but never pushy. A good car buying experience l.
Follow-up · We have a three month written guarantee for anything mechanical that goes wrong. The car is in excellent condition. We’ve polished it up and it looks like new. I think it may have been new into the yard when we purchased it, so I don’t think they’d had time to detail it. No problems with any paperwork. They were very efficient to deal with, and… Read more
I spoke with Han and made an early appointment for the following morning. He was well prepared with the vehicle information and very easy to have a meaniful conversation with. He happily sorted out our post sale requests and payment plan. I have happily recommended Han to a friend who is looking for another vehicle. Thanks Phil & Karen
Follow-up · * Replacing a faulty battery and obtaining the tools to fit the jack. * Vehicle is great. * Yes - we did not use a payment plan.
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In-depth reviews
I wanted a small, town runabout car. I phoned John Hughes Victoria Park used cars. I have had dealings with John Hughes before and was impressed by the company. I spoke to the salesperson, Matthew Allegretto about a used manual Suzuki Jimny. I went to view and test drive the car. I liked the vehicle but was not sure that a manual was for me.… Read more
Matthew offered to take me out in an automatic Jimny for comparison. I was still not sure. It was a more capable car than I needed and did I need 4WD around town ? I was about to leave and think about it, when I turned and literally bumped into a sweet Fiat 500. I liked it and it was exactly what I needed. Small cheap to run, insure and licence. Matthew took me out for a drive once again and I said I would take the car. It was a late model, with low kilometres and the automatic transmission. I decided to buy it and take it home right away. I organised Insurance within half an hour and drove away. Job done.
I am grateful to Matthew. He was never pushy, very patient and spent a lot of time with me to help me get the right car at the best price.
This is the second car I have bought from John hughes. I traded a car previously and sold one outright to their buying dept. I have always found them to have good cars at fair prices and offer the best price when buying my cars. If you want to buy a car from a dealer, I can recommend John Hughes.
John Hughes advertises that “his reputation is your guarantee”, that “his dealerships have a reputation for integrity”, and that they provide the “best after sales service”. Unfortunately, my experience has been the complete opposite. In July 2020, I purchased a Volkswagen Touareg from John Hughes VW specifically to tow a lightweight caravan. I… Read more
made this requirement very clear before purchase and was assured by the salesperson that the vehicle, rated to tow 3500kg, would easily meet my needs.
On only the second towing trip, in November 2020, the radar system failed, disabling multiple important safety features.
More than five years later, after extensive dealings with the Service Manager, Dealer Principal, Group Customer Experience Manager, and even a direct phone call with John Hughes, the vehicle remains faulty. Despite repeated repair attempts, the issue has never been resolved.
They weighed my caravan and confirmed that it was well within the published VW specifications. They also collected diagnostic data on multiple occasions, which consistently confirmed the fault, and were provided with photographs of the dashboard displaying the fault condition. Despite this evidence, and after exhausting every other excuse for failing to comply with their obligations under Australian Consumer Law, the Dealer Principal’s final position was that they had not personally experienced the fault themselves. This response speaks volumes about the “integrity” they publicly claim to uphold.
I have since lodged a complaint with the Department of Consumer Protection, who supported my position and advised that the matter could constitute a major failure under Australian Consumer Law because: • the vehicle is substantially unfit for its intended and advertised towing purpose; • it is unfit for the specific purpose disclosed at the time of purchase; • the defect has persisted despite multiple repair attempts over an unreasonable period; and • a reasonable consumer may not have purchased the vehicle had the defect been known.
Consumer Protection advised me to obtain legal representation which is an option I investigated but unfortunately as a retiree in my 70’s, pursuing lengthy legal action against a large corporation is not financially viable.
What concerns me most is that many of my dealings were not simply at dealership level, but at senior management level within the wider John Hughes Group. In my view, this reflects broader issues with accountability and customer support rather than an isolated dealership problem.
John Hughes advertises that you should “Choose your dealer before you choose your car.” I agree with that advice completely. Based on my experience, I would strongly recommend not choosing any John Hughes dealership for your next car purchase.
I have always had anxiety about dealing with anything to do with cars so when it came time to bite the bullet and get a new one... my ADHD went crazy and I put it off... I don't know why I did as my experience at John Hughes was nothing to fear and was an amazing calming experience. Hans was so amazing and I felt at ease from the get go, he made… Read more
me feel calm and relaxed and had a genuine level of care, knowledge and professionalism that I was so grateful for. Hans was so genuine and I'm so thankful he was the one to help me on finding my perfect car. Geoff the finance guy was also great; no fuss and just another genuine bloke who knows what he's talking about - he explained my credit score and I felt informed about my financials on what I could afford and how it would fit into my budget etc. - The whole experience at John Hughes Vic Park was so wonderful! Like I said I suffer from anxiety and ADHD and I was anxious about just enquiring about a car thinking I'm going to get calls left right and centre form sales people trying to just sell me anything! NOT THE CASE HERE! I wish I just went down sooner. I Honestly can't thanks Hans enough! I thank him for his honesty, genuine personality, professionalism and really for making me feel at ease and comfortable the whole time. even when he needed to call me I felt at ease knowing I was speaking to Hans. If your thinking of John Hughes and your someone like me with anxiety and know nothing about cars then ask for HANS! he's the most genuine and caring guy and really shows you that exceptional humans exist today!! Do yourself a favour and see Hans ! Im still shocked by the positive experience I had like it was some random dream where everything just was amazing. haha . It now makes sense why John Hughes is so successful with people while Geoff and Hans it's no wonder!
thanks Sean
Recent reviews
Great experience with salesman Matt Allegretto. And this company. Genuine, knowledgeable, professional and focussed on finding me exactly the right vehicle. He was easy to deal with and ensured everything ran smoothly. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking for a used car. Thanks Matt - love my ute!
I am very happy with the service I received from Julian he was very helpful even after I had picked up the car, Julian was very easy to talk to regarding my new car and the staff were all great very knowledgeable and just a friendly bunch of guys thank you for your service
Julian Montes De Oca has been a fantastic sales person to deal with at John Hughes. He was friendly, very helpful and knowledgeable without being pushy. His service was great, followed up on everything needed and worked within my timeline. I love my new car!
The customer Service provided by Matt Allegretto was outstanding. I really felt he went above and beyond my expectations. Was friendly, professional and not pushy. I will definitely be referring him to friends and going to see him when I buying a car next time!
We recently just arrived in Perth and were looking to buy a car ASAP. We enquired about a car with John Hughes, and Marshall dealt with us promptly. He even came in on his day off to sort us out at our own convenience.
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