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Comments
I am in the process of buying a 2000 jetta gls, I wanted to see if anyone could give me some info or experience they have had with this car. I want to have an idea of what I am getting into and if I am making a good investment. I am going from a Ford Explorer to a WV Jetta so it is a big change for me. Has anyone had any serious problems with the jetta, it only has 16,000 miles on and the price almost sounds too good to be true.
nothing in life works out that well. don't get burned! a dirt cheap two year old Jetta with low miles is extremely suspect. there simply has to be a "catch", ya know what i mean? my 2001 Civic had $6000 worth of front end damage, but since it wasn't totalled, CARMAX will never know about it. But someone out there is getting a typical Honda lemon, with the added bonus of peeling paint and collision damage.
If you take the car, you have to take it to a body shop - let them put it up and look at it. They can spot body/frame work right away. If there is any, then proceed at your own risk.
Also, when you are in an accident, your VIN# is taken to the car, and it's put on the car's record. I think it's done when a police report is filled out or something. But come to think of it, I checked my car's Carfax (the Protege), and it never said the car was in an accident.
1. Refinance your current loan:
$25,000 at 6.29% for 60 months PMT=$486.70
BTW, which bank would let you refinance for $5K more than the car's value.
2. Buy another Jetta for $26,000. You can borrow $27,153 at 2.9% for 60 months so that the payments are the same $486.70 as above. (That's where the $27K came from).
You need to come up with $3,847 to put down in order to do that. But then does it make sense to do it?
P.S. Taking bets on when vocus gets another new car:
1. In two months.
2. He buys the anti-sway bar, gets it installed and then gets another new car.
i am going with choice # 2.
vocus -
me? wrong? think again. never happened in my life!
seriously, Carmax was going to buy my 2001 wrecked Honda Civic. They knew right away that it was in an accident. Of course, they can tell right away that it was damaged by looking at paint and frame rails. But, they do buy it anyway, and sell it on the same lot. And you can bet, since it is not required by law, and doesn't show up on Carfax, they don't have to, and definitely DO NOT, disclose anything. It is up to the consumer to take the car to a body shop to get checked out. Which is exactly what I said in my previous post to the potential buyer of the low milaege cheap Jetta.. There might not be anything to report to anywhere. Was not flood damaged, not totaled and bought by an insurance company, was not bought back from a mfgr as a lemon. Accidents don't get reported. Carfax is working on buying information from insurance companies on claim information, but not sure where they are with that. I know - I, very unfortunately, worked at Carfax for about a month. Yuck. This buyer should beware is what I am saying. A clean Carfax report is not a green light in such a suspect situation.
Seriously, did I miss something? Please explain...
Seriously, I was trying to work this out the best way I could. I don't want another new car, and would buy another Jetta anyway if I did get one because I like my car alot. The reason I said about buying another car was because I could get the really low rate (2.9 vs. 6.29) and pay about the same amount, but for a newer car. Even if I put down $2000, I would pay about the same from the payments I would save. I do not plan to get another car, like I said, so you all can stop betting in front of my face.
When do you think VW will offer 2.9% for 60 months on 2003 models?
Answer: Around this time next year. DUH!
P.S. You can dump additional money on a new car every year to make the payments the same, but it's not the "same".
When calculating how much a month you save by refinancing, it's not correct to use $486.70 ($25K 2.9% for 60 months) and your current payment amount (probably $589). You've already made 6 payments on the current loan and "only" have 54 more to go. Your new monthly payment is $532.77 in order to pay it off in 54 months instead of 60.
P.P.S. Most people pay off one 60-month loan in 5 years. Vocus pays off FIVE or more 60-month loans in 5 years.
Also, does Jetta still make the Wolfsburg edition or is this basically the new GLI? And did Wolfsburg every come in automatic?
Thanks,
Carrie
I am trying to figure out if it would be a better deal to refinance or get a new car with the lower rate. I know the 03s won't have 2.9, but maybe I will luck out. The 02s have had 2.9 for awhile though.
I just wanted some opinions/help with the situation. Thanks. But the only way I will get a new car is if the payment is about the same with little or no money down, vs. refinancing my current loan.
Then you can forget about it (unless you're talking about getting a "lesser" car), but your definition of "about the same" and "little" may be different from mine.
P.S. If VW offers 2.9% on 2003 sooner than "normal", how do you think it'll affect the values on used 2002s?
I have to refinance my current car anyway, it's a Driver's Option and I wanna keep the car. Might as well refinance sooner than later and save interest payments.
1. One of his buddies with a 5-sp Jetta let him learn how to drive a slick and he loved it. He couldn't believe how much fun he's been missing all those years. It cost less, was more fun and consumed less gas. He went out to buy a new Jetta 5-sp to save money.
2. He listened to the "regular" stereo on the Jetta and was surprised to detect no less fidelity compared to his Monsoon. He went out to buy a new Jetta with no Monsoon to save money.
3. He drove yet another Jetta from another buddy. It was a TDI. He couldn't believe how peppy it was. He could save a ton of money on fuel. He went out to buy a Jetta TDI.
P.S. The above three events do not necessarily represent the reasoning behind the purchase of a single Jetta (Jetta 5-sp TDI with no Monsoon). In fact, quite possibly EACH event represents one purchase for a total of three.
I actually drove every variation of Jetta before buying mine. The (old) VR6, the 2.0, the TDI, and the 1.8T (all automatic). I wanted the 1.8T, and don't mind that it uses more gas than the TDI because it has alot more power. I am not learning to drive stick shift (drive in too much traffic), and I hate the regular stereo (had it in a loaner, and have it in the Beetle I am driving as a loaner now). So that kills your whole observation.
Also, most of my friends don't like Jettas, they say they are too expensive. My mother was right about them, they have no class.
P.S. The new prediction does not invalidate the earlier ones. It's in addition to.
are the 2.9% rates for 60 month loans thru VW? if so, sign me up too!
Even if I did get another Jetta for the cheaper financing, it would definitely be the 1.8T Jetta.
And VW has been running 2.9 (or is it 3.9?) for 60 months for awhile now. Check out their site.
Most likely 2005 (2004 in Europe). You can expect to see the next Jetta/Golf at the 2003 Frankfurt IAA.
TDI, it has low-end torque you need, though I don't know off the top of my head what (or even if it can) it can tow.
rejacob:
TDI or 1.8T. The TDI gets the best fuel economy & diesel motors in general are built to last. The 1.8T would be more fun to drive (fun stops around 7000 rpm instead of 4000 rpm for the TDI). The 1.8T has an available 5-speed automatic also (where the TDI & 2.0L get a 4-speed).
Actually, I drove a 1.8T. The fun stops a lot sooner than 7000 rpm.
If you're making short trips and you're looking for fun, the 1.8T is the way to go. If you're a long distance guy and mileage is your bag, TDI.
A co-worker of mine, has the exact same problem on her 2001 1.8T. Is there anyway to remedy this problem?
Others have used silicone sprays with some success.
Buy either one. If the one you buy doesn't work out. Trade it in and get the other one. Repeat if necessary. It can't really be any more simple than that.
Disclaimer: The above is definitely not my opinion.
also, i meant the 1.8T engine, not the TDI. At this point, the TDI seems fairly dated....
a three year old TL/Accord with 27k miles is supposed to be a pretty solid buy though. i would say to you what i say to everyone else comparing the two cars:
buy the Acura. in the end, you will "rest easier" at night. most americans assume the quality of a Honda/Acura is going to be top notch, and it gives them piece of mind. nothing wrong with that in these stressful times. i say get "security" wherever you can find it!
"The turbocharger also helps at high altitudes, where the air is less dense. Normal engines will experience reduced power at high altitudes because for each stroke of the piston, the engine will get a smaller mass of air. "
Found that on a site. I also recall reading an article about racing in the mountains and how all the cars were using turbos...they're more efficient in high altitude situations.
On humid days and rainy days my car feels quite sluggish while it flat out zips on those gorgeous clear crisp nights.