By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
As for salesmen...argh. I've accepted that 90% of them don't knoe jack about the cars they're selling. I took a CTS for a drive a few weeks back and the salesguy didn't know a thing about the car (and he's worked for Caddy for 8 years!). As for the competition, he knew zilch. That's the usual experience as most dealers toss their salesguys onto the lot with no training and it seems most of the salesmen are not car buffs. Best dealer service I've experienced thus far (most knowledgeable, friendly, easy-going, helpful staff): Infiniti. Most impressive knowledge of their own products: BMW. Worst service: too hard to pick one.
BTW, while car shopping I love seeing how often a salesperson will contradict me or the person I'm helping. I can't count how many salesmen insist I should buy an auto as they're worth more on resale. How much more? They usually say 700-800 more. Well gosh, spend an extra 1000-1200 on the car for it outfitted in a manner I don't want and I can only lose $200-500 on the deal? Sweet, sign me up. The CTS salesguy said he didn't even understand why Caddy made the car with a manual.
Why don't they make cars with real bumpers any more?
When I start my 2002 Jetta 1.8T in the morning and put it into reverse before the RPM's are steady the engine sounds and feels like it is going to stall. Is this normal and do I have to wait for the RPM's to drop to 1k before I put my car into reverse?
and "lay off the crack" - what exactly does that mean?
And it's NEVER a good idea to buy a car from a salesperson who is A) unresponsive to the customer's needs
He said 23,500 plus tax, title and license - that's way overpriced. A 1.8T with monsoon, leather, lux, sport and CA emissions has an invoice price of 21,589. So a fair price on said car is about 21,800 before TTL.
Lay off the crack...a response to someone suggesting a Jetta's interior can match any luxury car's appointments.
sure, it would suck to give a sales person the commission, but it sounds like the car wasn't there anyway, so that won't happen anyway.
i guess you guys give salespeople more credit than they deserve. i steamroll sales people everytime i buy a car. they aren't there for me to listen to. there is a reason they are selling cars....i could never let someone selling something upset me. just think about how bad their life must be, and then you feel much better. the worse they act, the more stupid they are, the more you get to just sit back and laugh
as far as crack goes, i would much rather be a partaker of the rocks than a bunch of guys that do nothing but whine and cry about something that is so completely unnecessary....:)
My car did the same thing as yours one time too, felt like it was going to stall because I shifted into Drive before it dropped below 1000 rpms. That would cure your problem.
Is that a bad profession? Seems that a good salesperson with a nice demeanor and head full of knowledge could make a killing. And what if they LOVE cars as some VW/BMW salesguys do? They're working among that which they enjoy...gotta respect people who are happy at their jobs. They're in the minority.
>>..i could never let someone selling something upset me.<<
Right, you strike me as the guy who makes a request to see a certain product and when the salesperson brings you the wrong thing you're totally cool with that. Come on, Justin, nobody likes to get jerked around.
>> just think about how bad their life must be, and then you feel much better.<<
I get called elitist often, but man, that takes the cake. Their life is bad because they're selling cars? How unbelievably arrogant.
>> the worse they act, the more stupid they are, the more you get to just sit back and laugh
Or lament that someone unqualified is selling a product that deserves far more respect.
Why don't they make cars with real bumpers any more?
It's called physics. :^)
It's so the car absorbs the kinetic energy of the impact instead of transmitting it to you.
but, listen here, you might learn something:
people that are miserable, that complain and whine, that aren't smart, that are rude and insulting, well, those people have no worth. they contribute nothing, and they are nothing. and, believe me, deep down, they know it. so let some idiot continue to be an idiot. what does it matter to you? you are BUYING something (meaning, you have the $$$ and job and credit to do so), they are attempting to sell something. they have got to be feeling bad about their situation. and when people act like that to me, i just smile. sometimes i mention that i am sorry for the way their life turned out. then i look at my life, and appreciate my loved ones and my limited money and my small amount of sanity that much more!
if more people had my attitude, people could be so much more laid back and happy.
Give me a 1968 Ford Galaxie with modern seatbelts and maybe even airbags, and put it against a Jetta.
I'd like to see what happens.
Say what you will about old cars, they were not designed with crumple zones (in fact such a concept was really only for MB and a a few other forward thinking companies). A galaxie in that situation would have suffered major damage and my friend and I would have been hospitalized no doubt. I'll take a bumper that falls apart instantly over a car that can't absorb or deflect the force of the collision.
Justin:
>>they are attempting to sell something. they have got to be feeling bad about their situation. and when people act like that to me, i just smile. sometimes i mention that i am sorry for the way their life turned out. <<
One word for you: patronizing.
Come on man, there is no way that if a SUV hits you head on while in your Jetta that you will have minor damage and drive away. If you want that you will have a to by a BIGGER SUV, simple physics indeed.
Justin: You crack me up, I am sorry if my post was a little confusing, I wrote it in two parts off the top of my head. Here is the gist: He wants $24940 for a GLS 1.8t w/ Lthr, Spt Lux pkg and Monsoon or he wants $23503 for GLS TDI w/Lthr, Monsoon and Lux Pkg. Both these prices are out the door. I feel that those are pretty high, considering the following: A)He didn't even have either one in a stick.
Overall, I wasn't really shocked, it was an upscale dealership where they sell Porsche and Nissan and Audi as well. The people who go in there more than likely aren't the informed shopper, they are the shopper who just wants a beautiful prestige vehicle. It is the Aristocratic Dealership and the only reason that I went there is because someone at work who has a VW said they had the best service of the 3 in the area.
Why don't they build cars with frames/bumpers any more? Those SUV's continue to drive away from accidents, leaving the Jetta owners out in the world with an insurance number and a pile of scrap.
i would take Vocus' advice and hit the internet sales places. much much friendlier, and even if they are not the smartest people, you don't have to talk to them too much, so it doesn't feel so gross when you are done with the whole thing
good luck!
Capistrano VW in the LA area has the following:
Available cars (all are Jetta GLS Automatics) and their MSRP/SALE cost:
(2) galactic blue/grey velour ....$22,175/$18,175
galactic blue/black velour ........$22,175/$18,175
black/grey leather...................$23,075/$19,075
white/beige velour...................$21,110/$17,110
white/black velour...................$22,175/$18,175
I live in the Midwest and do not need a third TDI so I posted this for those who may be seeking a good value on a Jetta TDI. I certainly could not find any deals like this when I was buying.
One of my favorite "real" videos came from Germany...some guy in a 90's MB SL came around a corner at over 100+ MPH and the camera on the autobahn caught his subsequent multiple roll over, loss of the aluminum hardtop and upside down slide. When the car finally came to a stop, top side up, the driver staggered out of the scrap-heap-bound convertible and plopped down on the road's shoulder. He sat for a moment, then stood, and kicked at the car as if it had somehow erred. Great testament to MB's engineering.
Whatever you do, don't follow Vocus' suggestion and bring it to the dealer. You'll drive out with more rattles than you bargained for. And your dash lights won't work either. Either fix them yourself or forget them!!
i imagine the tdi would sound more "strained"...
Seals, i love the idea of the insurance company buying me a car every few years. Man, Detroit must be pricey, as I live in no-fault southern California and I only pay 800 a YEAR for my 1.8T.
I was just wondering about that......
AS
About the engine, I guess they keep it because they figure the Gen V will be out soon, and they will just design a new engine for it. That would be my guess, to save money basically.
I have a friend who is a supervisor at Geico, and he said they just haven't gotten around to checking my driving record yet, and they don't do that for every insured every time renewal comes up. I am sure they will get me sooner or later though, it's just a question of when.
Automan, they continue to produce the 2.slow because it sells. Why fix it if sales are through the roof even with the bad press?
As for insurance, try having to insure a leased Jetta in New jersey(highest ins. rates) while being 17-18 and male. I'm paying 3k a year and that is with no tickets, just probational points you get automatically when getting your license.
Rattles-My rear left door lock, cupholders, and dash rattle.
SUV's safer? And speaking of Benz safety...take alook at the pic of the benz http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-limutt0612.story?coll=ny%2Dtop%2Dheadlines
what was the jist of post 5629?
The Passat drove quite nicely, with respectable acceleration and good road manners, and the 1.8T and tiptronic combo is its greatest asset. What I didn't like was that the cruise control was on the turn signal stalk, like early '80s cars, unless you get leather. Also a little apprehensive about VW reliability.
The Jetta was a similarly nice drive. It felt quicker than the Passat, even though the published 0-60 times from VW are about identical. Still like the 1.8T and tiptronic. However the Jetta was less comfortable even from the driver's seat, and my VW reliability apprehension is even stronger with the Mexican built Jetta, vs the German built Passat.
Haven't driven the Accord yet. Honda reliablity and my greater comfort with Japanese ergonomics are the likely plusses. On the down side is that leather is standard in the EX V6 coupe, and there's no manu-matic capability.
What even handed advice can you offer on reliability and such? Any other considerations you think I should be aware of in this buying decision?
Basically, I'd recommend you go with the VW only if you really like it better and feel like you might be able to use its handling edge over the Accord. If it is a toss up and the Accord seems like it will do the job for you, then go for the Accord.
- Mark
Meade
P.S. Here in Virginia things stay on your record for FIVE years. :-(
By the way, what was so bad about 5629, I see it but it is just blueguydotcom saying something about it disappearing.
I can't live with this rattle and I looked around to find it. I already called another dealer and they will provide a loaner. I am waiting on them to call when loaners are available.
I.
Sorry to hear of your trouble. This is rather rare, but it does happen. The bushings for the rear axle beam are pretty beefy, but it's possible that they were not fully aligned from the facory, or the car has seen unusual stress to the rear end (towing,excessive loads in trunk, ......).
In answer to your questions of do I have the parts, tools, or instructions; No. These would be a dealer specific item. I wish I could be
of more help to you.
As far as other recommendations, please reply with your street address, and I will get one of our catalogs sent to you at no charge.
II.
hello, the axle beam bushings are not hard to replace, the old ones can be pressed out or knocked out with an air chisel, the new ones can be pressed into place with a homemade tool fashioned out of a long bolt or stud several large washers and the rest can be improvised, however I have never seen rear beam bushings go bad even on a car with 300,000 miles but environmental conditions or worn suspension could deteriorate them.
go for the Accord. wait until the new one comes out this fall though. the current one is a really nice car, but rather bland.
mseals -
i have ridden in a few tdi's. never driven one. it didn't sound that loud, but the girl also wasn't actually making the car get anywhere fast.
From 2000 to 4000 rpm, I noticed that's where I get the best accleration. Most people just add a rear sway bar to improve its handling, instead of going to springs first.
The 17" wheels, many dealerships will offer you the 17" rims for the sticker price, if you buy it with the car ($450).
The sport suspension consists of the VW/Eibach springs (available from VW Driver's gear) and the rims.
At 80 mph, it's spinning at still less than 3000 rpms (about 2700) and you'll be get fuel economy (5-speed manual) in the upper 40's range.
I urge you to swing by http://www.tdiclub.com because they are some members there that either given up the 1.8T for the TDI or own both. You could run a search, or ask them how they feel about it.
I can't imagine how harsh anything larger than maybe 15 inch would ride.
Is this mostly in the name of fashion, or what?
I find 195/60R14 (195/55R14 right now) ride rough enough.
Then, on top of that, people overinflate their tires????
Did you get the Jetta back? Everything fixed now?
Meade
Meade