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Comments
a bargain(compared to BMW convertibles and all of their reported problems)and have fallen in love
with the car, and will keep it always !
Now why doesn't VW make a cover for the dern
thang ????
Thanks for an answer.
jodi
VW had finally agreed to buy my car back (thanks to my lawyer). My car has clearly had some more issues than other people on this board, so I think that it is a lemon and that other Cabrios are better. To give you a sense of the problems, they include the check engine light going off 5 times, the coolant light twice, the temp. light twice, the seat belt was replaced four times, and so forth (Oh, Peggy, my case was in California, and for paint scratches I'm not sure that there is much that you can do).
Now, I have the factory CD changer as well as the Cabrio brackets for sale. The CD changer is about three months old because they replaced the whole sound system a few months ago. I also have the bracket for the Cabario. The set retails for $480 ($400 for the stereo and $80 for the bracket). I'm selling this for $250. IF anyone wants it feel free to email me at beth@mailops.com.
Thanks!
Beth
1. WARPED HEAD AT 10,000MILES CAR IN SHOP OVER 1 MONTH
2.hAD CAR 2 DAYS LEAKING FLUID REPLACED GASKETS
3.ON BOARD COMPUTER FAILURE PRESENTLY IN SHOP
4.PEELING DOOR HANDLES(REPLACED )
IS THIS JUST A FREAK THING . aNY IDEAS AS TO WHAT I SHOULD DO?
Shopping around: are you looking at the cloth top when you see them balloon? I have never seen the top ballooning. When you saw this, was the top down? There is a boot to cover the top and it is very tight and secure. My top is only two years old and doesn't have wear so I can't tell you how they wear. I have compared the top with my friends nissan convertible and mustang convertible. They all admit cabrio top looks best; doesn't show all the ribs underneath.
I would say document everything (save everything the dealer gives you) like Sharrel said.
Lemon laws are automobile consumer protection laws that in most states are very powerful. Thirty days in the shop is the magic number in most states. With this many days in the shop under 18,000 to 24,000 miles you can get most of your money back. I had 20,000 miles on my car, sued VW and got 95% of my money back. My attoney fees were only $500. If you live in California, we could talk about your options. I'm happy to give you the name of my lawyer too. You can email me at beth@mailops.com. I'm pleased to help
If you don't live in California, not to worry. Your state has a lemon law too. Here is a link that summarizes every state's lemon law http://autopedia.com/html/HotLinks_Lemon2.html
This process is not as horrible as it sounds and at the end you get to go buy a new trouble free car. Or you can get another cabrio.
Hope this helps. Hang in there.
Cheers,
Beth
Responding to the recent question about the Cabrio top: Be wary of Cabrios' with a tan vinyl top. Mine literally disintegrated. It became sticky in places, attracting dirt, and then started to develop holes. I called VOA and complained. Even though the vehicle had 45,000 miles on it they paid for the parts for a new fabric top. My cost was only for labor. The new top is a VW replacement top and is perfect and does not balloon on the highway. When researching the tops I find that some of the aftermarket tops will balloon.
He also advised that this was the last year VW was making the Cabrio, that they were coming out with both a Beetle and Jetta rag top and would no longer be making the Cabrio. Anyone else hear this?
Would appreciate recommendations on the following:
1. Buying new or used (If used, what year)
2. For 2002, recommendations for GLS Vs GLX
3. Is the new 4 year warranty sufficient or is an extended warranty needed.
4. Have any 2002 purchasers had problems that I should know about?
Please post comments to the board or email them to me at maddog-210@charter.net
02 is the last year for the Cabrio, so if you want to order one, you need to do it before they stop making them. It is being replaced with a Beetle convertible sometime in the spring of 03. I think the Cabrio is a nicely tailored well thought out convertible with an amazing amount of room considering its small size. Its only main downside is the slow acceleration. Definitely get this car with a 5 speed. I wish VW had put the turbo engine in as standard a long time ago.
It is also available in a limited palette of 6 colors.
As far as I know it will continue for a while alongside the NBC until there is no longer any inmterest in it. It will be available as a 2003.
I'm so glad my friend referred me to this site, so I can find others wrestling with similar issues. I have had a host of problems (lots that people have mentioned -- engine light, airbag light, peeling door handles, radio in safe mode, and window rolling up when i push down) on my 2000 Cabrio but I haven't had enough repetitions of ONE problem or a severe safety problem to qualify for the lemon law (Thanks for all the help though Beth!). Currently I am proceeding with requesting an extension on my warranty because I refuse to pay for problems that I believe are inherent design flaws. The other thought that has been entering my mind is forming a group to make a legal case against Volkswagon. This latter method feels like it would be too much work. But wish me luck with the warranty extension request!
The engine light problem is very quickly and easily fixed by letting VW replace the faulty
relay(this is probably in a service bulletin by now, as VW knows that alot of it's cars went out
with faulty relays)It takes 15 minutes to replace.
Regarding any other VW Cabrio convertible complaints...check out the literally thousands
of complaints(of a more serious nature) on the
BMW convertibles !!!!! Then be happy that you
didn't pay for one of those headaches !!!!
VW Cabrio problems amount to next to nothing
if you start reading the BMW bulletin boards/
Town Hall comments.
Peeling door handles ? Please !!!
Other problem.....the steering wheel makes a terrible noise when it turns. It has done this since day one and the dealer has said nothing is wrong...although they said they replaced the steering pump to appease me. It still makes the noise. Has anyone else had this problem?
Had problem with steering wheel making noise after dealership replaced ignition switch. Took car back and complained. Mechanic forgot to put lubricant between two pieces of metal. They lubricated the steering column and no more problem.
Incidentally, I'm on my second set of door handles (2000) and noticed that the driver's handle is peeling again. Since I usually keep my cars in excellent condition, I DO find this irritating as assume I will have to argue with VW that they should replace them again...I assume this would effect the vehicle's resell value VW needs to find a different material for the door handles.
Incidentally, I don't consider problems that require multiple trips to the dealership, time off work, towing (three times in two years) and the expense of renting a car minor. At least with the bmw, my friend gets provided a vehicle and they get her out of the dealership fast! The vw dealership is always crowded and I've seen them turn people without an appointment away....even when they had an extended vw warranty. Not all mechanical problems allow for the luxury of making an appointment.
customer complaints about BMW convertibles that
far outweigh anything that I've seen about the
VW Cabrio.
IMHO,If you don't buy a totally Japanese vehicle,
then you are going to have to deal with at least a few
reliability, quality, and/or repair issues with
one of the other maker's autos.
Anyways, VW is offering to extend my warranty, but not for the duration of my original request. I am debating on whether to accept the offer or not.
Also, a comment on the remote keyless entry - I had that problem too. I had vw replace the alarm control unit -- and now it works w/o a hitch. It did take some extra persuading (couple trips and a letter), but it was well worth it.
I have come by this board for the last few months just to check out 'real life' pros and cons about the cabby. As of Monday I will be the proud owner of a new 2002 Reflex silver/gray cloth top/gray leather interior GLX. I am turning 30 in April and this is my Birthday gift from my husband. He is keeping his 2000 Toyota Truck and company vehicle, so this will be my 'run around car' (we live in florida) I have loved the look of the Cabrio since Can't Buy Me Love but I just never looked at them when it came time to buy a new car. Last April we purchased a new home and two months later the home two doors down sold and much to my dismay what should appear in the driveway?? YES! The Green/Tan top Tan leather interior....(the one I wanted originally)..so the husband pulls up in a new SUV and there is his ALSO childless wife *same as myself* zooming in MY CAR! ARRRRGHH! but, needless to say it worked out GREAT! she has the 2000, we became fast friends and she let me test drive her Cabrio instead of at the dealer, she also taught me how to put the top down and the boot on and just showed me around the car so that when going to the dealer we could simply haggle and purchase...also by seeing her green machine parked there every day I slowly changed my mind about owning that color...although I still pant when I cruise by her driveway, the green just does not do it for me anymore, so in that respect I am so glad she had "my car" first...becuz I may have purchased it and gotten tired of the green.??!! who knows well anyway, I am glad that i found this board and i have read every post here, thank you all for the information both good and bad...so anyway I pick up 'Co-Co' on monday!!!! I have a constant smile plastered to my face, wish me luck and now the countdown begins! only 20 hours left till I am topless! whoo hoo!
if possible . :-)
thanks Halogen...I'll post one asap!
fox
What I am reading here is that the automatic lacks
some punch. I drive a '94 Jetta with an automatic
and the 2.0 engine and my car flies. Is there any reason why this is? Maybe different gear ratios or something? I really do prefer the automatic with all the traffic in San Diego. Can anyone help me?
I want to purchase an '02 GLX with CD changer, cloth top, and the automatic for $25,000 out the door. does this sound reasonable
I just got the 2002 GLX in reflex silver...I can not understand why everyone keeps saying that the cabrio lacks power..or dont pull out in front of people...my car has quite a little zip to it....I feel quite comfortable pulling out into traffic and in front of cars,,* I mean reasonably* of course!!
Also, about that price you want to pay,,,The MSRP on the cabrios here in Florida were 24,725.00 that was automatic loaded,,,we paid 2.3 percent above INVOICE...my husband and I did alot of research and went to a few dealers and started OUT at 3 percent above invoice,,,nothing NEAR MSRP!!! then we went to another place and they said they could do 2.5....then we went back and they did 2.3 we didnt even go anywhere after that, cuz we ended up with a carpayment of 345.00 with only $500.00 down..no trade in, no nothing! the finance manager had to go ask the salesman if the numbers were right on the papers, cuz he said he had never seen one let go for so little...Also, we bought some software that had everything we needed to know right in front of us when we went in..we took our laptop and the printouts of all the information that I had printed out. We went in knowing quite abit and I do think that it helped us out. They were super nice and even gave us a demo 2002 GLX to drive since mine was in transit...The only thing that I didnt get was the cd changer, cuz I wanted a cd/mp3 player in the dash, but even if you get that,,,you should NOT pay $25,000.00. trust me, you can get it ALOT cheaper,,,just find out the true dealer invoice and go in and tell them you know what it is from Edmunds and say you are willing to pay 2 to 3 % above that,,,they are still making cash and you are saving alot!
GOOD LUCK!
ps...THE car is fun to drive and gets alot of attention!!!
As far as the price is concerned, if I get the car for $25,000 out the door I am paying roughly $22,700 before taxes, licensing, and the C.D. changer. Is this anywhere near your price? The sticker price is $23,850.
I am definitely interested in a new 2002 GLX Cabrio. My final test drive and decision will be tomorrow night. I have read with much interest the article by Foxysox ref her purchase price. My local VW dealer has offered me a new car at invoice ($22,400) plus Tax, Tag, and Title. In order to get my payments down to a modest $345.00, I have to plunk down some $4500. This is with the 4.9% rate at 60 months. How on earth did she get the same deal for only $500 down? Please let me know who the delearship is and I will drive there myself to save $4000. I salute your arbitration skills. Want to be my broker for an afternoon?
Dan
Just over a month ago I purchased a new GLX for $22,400. It was on the show room with 53 miles on the odometer. It had been at the dealership for several months so they wanted to move it before the floor planning costs became excessive (or so I was told.) For what it's worth, list was $23,725.
It does not have the CD player but I plan on putting one in myself. Anyone have suggestions on brand name and model?
I also have a question concerning gas mileage. It has the automatic and does not seem to be getting anywhere close to the advertised 22 mpg in city driving. I'm open to suggestions.
I too have had an engine light experience at 400 miles. This was corrected by replacing a heat sensor. Was a bit disappointed to have to have warranty work done with only 400 miles on the clock.
That's my 2 cents for today.
As a former Toyota 4-Runner owner, I can predict more problems with a VW than a toyota. However, the Toyota Solara convertible was more expensive and didn't have all the safety features that I wanted. On a sunny day with the top down, I'm still not sorry that I bought the car. It is fun to drive and responsive. And I feel safe in it! And with the extended warranty and a great mechanic I don't have to worry about car problems for another 61,000 miles (my extended warranty).
foxysox
If you get this car get an extended warranty!
I took my 2001 in today for the 30k mile.
The car is only 18 months old I do a lot of traveling.
They wanted $55 for oil change and tire rotation.
I wish that they had told me that on the phone.
Jiffy lube costs $19 for the same service.
(Topping off all fluids also)
They wanted 1 hour labor for replacing peeling door handle that cost $8.
They wanted $120 to "diagnose" the reason why the passenger door will not open from the inside after being opened with the power lock. It used to take a couple of tries with the power lock and then it would work. Now it will not allow the passenger out at all. The door does open using the outside door handle.
Whether you believe it or not this car comes with an indelible, dealer only visible, sticker on it that says "SUCKER".
When I had my issue with the oil running out I was told to just bring it on in and they would top it off! That was so nice of them. They had no answer for what the heck I was supposed to do while out of town on the weekend or holiday. And don't even suggest that you could run it dry until they were open because that blows the warranty and is your fault that you didn't add any oil to your new car with less than 5k miles!
I am greatful that the oil problem has passed. Nobody knows why but I suspect an issue with the first and second PCV valve! (Only $70 at your local dealership!)
OK enough of the ranting.
You can draw your own conclusions about your purchase while standing in line. I am not mad at anyone but myself. I bought the car when I should have listened to others. I only let down because I feel betrayed about the quality of this product.
Good luck to anyone who buys one of these cars.
You have the facts, make your choice and live with it.
Later Cabbers!
Thanks,
Dan
Wow, nice to see your handle! hope all is well!
pdono, it's a crap shoot, might get a good one or not. If your huspand hasn't bought it GTI yet, have him look at the Benz c230. I looked at both, I loved the MB. MB does better than VWs on relability too.
And Sheryl is right, on a nice day, the Cabrio is awesome.
One thing that I noticed is that when there was a lot of complaints posted out here they killed this discussion group in their website. I don't imagine that VW appreciated the bad references from someone they pay to advertise for them.
So anyway, I sent a complaint email to VW of America Friday and received 30 email confirmations since that time. I haven't heard back from VW but their server is appearantly thrilled that I have filed a complaint. I don't imagine that they are like the Maytag repairman.
Anyway, I was reading the VW owners manual.
Read this book. It says to check your oil every tank fill-up. If says that the car will comsume more oil than normal for the first 3,000 miles. It tells about the consumer advocate program that VW has in place it has customer numbers to call. It has everything. The only thing that I read about that car was how to use the gismos. There should have been a "read me first" booklet with this car. There is also a couple of numbers for ordering a repair book. I haven't had any luck with the Bentley books and they have no idea when they will publish a book for our cars. They have a CD for $100 but that is hard to look at anywhere but a PC.
Also, when I asked the salesman about the extended warranty I should have gotten ahold of his manager when he told me that I didn't need one with a VW.
Well, Cabbers it was a little too cool at times this weekend for top down weather.
Just an FYI, I have seen about 6 of these cars in Boise 4 of which are around where I live. One is like a couple of streets from my house. Those folks have the Desert Wind and "DADADA" on the license plate! Too funny! THere is a green one that I see off and on again. There is another green one (Laurie) but I don't see too often. She sells those great wind stops. I have met her and I'll tell you those are one clever item that she has. Easy to install and work really well! There is also a black one down the road somewhere that I haven't seen in a while it looked like a dad had bought for a young girl. So it is probably wrecked already. And a red one.
Don't get me wrong, I like the car but my expectations were a little high with the folks that I have to deal with down at VW. I noticed that they ship the Lexus cars in cover trailers and that they pay a little more attention to their "high end" clients. Too bad their money seems greener than mine.
Have fun Cabbers!
Mike
I have a 3-week old Cabrio GLX which I adore. The one thing that irks me is the cupholder situation. For one thing, it doesn't hold any cup that I know of. It seems just perfect for cans, but what's a non-soda drinker to do? It's surprising to me that a car so obviously designed to be enjoyed in sunny weather wouldn't have a place for a bottle of water, not to mention that the smallest size cup of 7-Eleven coffee has to tilt to stay partially in place in the tiny holder. When I was a wee lass we had removable cupholders that could be inserted in the place into which the windows rolled down in our station wagon. Must I resort to such tacky-looking add-ons of questionable quality, or does anyone have suggestions? I was excited to see in the VW "stuff" catalogue a smallish-looking aluminum cup (with lid) "guaranteed to fit all Volkswagen models". I bought two only to return them immediately when they came nowhere close to fitting. What's up with that? What have other Cabrio drivers done with their portable beverages of choice?
I drink ALOT of H2O....most of the time in a neat little healthfood store bottle...but too big to fit in the holders!!
BUT!!! I can use the holder that is in the backseat, which is easy to reach at a stop light...So far so good with my cabby, she has 300 and some odd miles now,,,and I have gotten shout outs at stop lights, parking lots, even ladies driving up next to me just to get a look at my little CoCo...!!! All my clients see her parked out in front of my work and they come in and want a tour around her,,,now 3 of my clients who were going to get other types of vehicles..Honda, or Toyota, even a Mini,,,well, now one wants a Jetta, one IS GETTING a Passat and the other is going tomorrrow to pick up her brand new Cabrio! in Black with tan...VW was so nice, they gave me a coupon book and I handed my clients the coupons and low and behold I have recvd' $100.00 in the mail from them! two fifty dollar checks and TWO phone calls from my salesman!just to say "thanks"
I was so worried about not getting good service and now I am pleasently pleased! LOKEY is the best in south Florida!!! Bert Smith did not NOT treat us like they even wanted our business! Reeves Auto import was also nice, it was just SO far away from us! but they too were VERY accomadating,,,just info for you floridians! also, we took her in to get the spare key pad working, it didnt work from day one, and the service dept. took us right in and reprogrammed it and we were on our way with the top down! Oh and I love my new CD/MP3 player my husband bought me for her, I never thought I would need a remote control in a car,,,but it comes in handy, my hands stay close to the wheel and my eyes on the road,,,i have memorized where all the buttons are!!! only problem i have had with my cabrio is my husband always "having to run to the store".....hmmmmmmm,,,he never went to the store before,,,and wait , he never comes home with groceries!!!!!
')