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Comments
Is VW going to have 3 years bump-bumper warranty in 2002 ?
guessing the Passat Plus will for sure, but not
so convinced about the rest of the product line...
it for you on Tues. You will not find such a
car on the ground anywhere.
car built for you and delivered to your Louisville dealer...Happy New Year...PS
Since you seem to have extra cash laying around to throw at dealers, would you be willing to pay extra for a car built to MY specs? (Money is a bit tighter for me...)
Patience is a virtue my friend. Customer impatience will drive up prices for all of us.
Because VW is rolling out a new model, there are very few of the old model left. It will be difficult to find an exact fit in a 2001. Perhaps you can wait for the 2001.5s? At that point you will have a much wider selection--and it will not be necessary to overpay.
don't have any info yet, but I just wanted to ask you to clarify about
post #204. Do you think that ALL the 2001.5 Passat's will have a
3 yr b2b warranty? Do you think this is because of the pressure
they have received due to it's warranties criticism?
Thanks in advance,
A Potential Passat Owner
w/ cold weather, luxury (alloy wheels) and monsoon packages
(no tip, no woodgrain, no 4MO).
I get 15K miles/year.
Also incl. Masterguard 39mo/39,000 warranty.
I put $200 down (got out of a 1999 Honda Civic EX lease one year early)
I pay $399/mo (first payment due Feb. 11)
I compared this to a Volvo S40, comparably equiped - best could do $500 down, $409/mo
Volvo seemed too small, barely larger than my Civic but better safety record.
I think I got a good deal...any comments?
To clarify, I'd be willing to bet that any dealer who read your posts saw dollar signs. Since you are looking for something specific, I suggest waiting until the 2001.5s arrive. At that point, many more dealers will have vehicles with the specs you are looking for, and it should be easier to get what you want for a reasonable price.
Given your interest in a 325Xi, have you looked at the A4 Avant? Audi offers even more choices, with their system of interior "atmospheres."
Yes, there is a lot of pressure to change the
warranty package, but that is not a real simple
thing to do; there are several considerations...
Extend the B to B, shorten the Powertrain. Eliminate Trip Interruption Protection and add a
year of Scheduled Maintenance. These are all
really big trade offs.
I don't know how it will all come together. What I
supect will happen is basically what I said in #204...The Passat Plus, do in November, with the
W8 & 4Motion will probably get a more conventional
warranty...3/36, etc. Not that I necessarily think
that is a better warranty. I guess the pressure to
change the warranty comes from Americans compulsion to buy new cars every 3 to 4 years...
they don't keep their cars for 10 years; so the
10/100 powertrain that we currently have doesn't
hold a lot of weight...to me it does because that
is the way to buy a car...pay off your loan and
drive without a payment for 5-7 years.
Bottom line...you'll know when I know...
Just my thoughts.
of The Initial Warranty are being reviewed. I have
posted before the fact that the existing warranty
package has been in place since the 95/96 model
year...Needless to say, a great deal has taken place since then...The overwhelming response to
the New Passat, The New Beetle, and the continued
popularity of the New Jetta have, I believe, been
a bittersweet experience for most Dealers. A lack
of experienced Techs, an insufficient number of
Service bays has created a bottleneck at a number
of stores and a great deal of stress secondary to that.
With the pending introduction of Three new products in the next 12 months, and the reintroduction of
The New Passat this month there is going to be
even more pressure on Dealer Principles to make
the necessary structural & personnel changes to
meet the challenge, or they will fall by the wayside.
VWOA has been raising the bar for required Sales
and Service Satisfaction for the past two years, and
will continue to do so this coming year as well.
There is a substantial loss of money at stake
for those dealers that do not meet these standards, and so it should be.
Rick, I would recommend that you call the Service Manager at the Dealership that you find the most
convenient and explain your frustration and promise him/her a *Halo* if the next time you bring your car in for service they *do it right*.
I hope this will help. Remember, Independents do
not get Factory updates with the same speed that
the Dealer does, and in fact, may miss some altogether.
Happy New Year!!! PS
same...
that something is wrong? For all of the runaway
testosterone here about getting the best deal on
a car purchase, when the deal is done...well.
If you don't complain; how is anyone to know that
something has to be fixed?
I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to hear people complain here, but they have not called the
Service Manager on it, or the Owner...or written
letters complaining of bad service to the Owner.
If a Dealer doesn't know that something is wrong;
he cannot fix it. NO ONE wants an unhappy customer
NO ONE...believe me...make some noise and you will be heard...A Service Manager can be fired,
just like anyone else, and if that SM is not getting things done properly; that will be the
result...these folks are not Federal Judges. PLEASE COMPLAIN...
What is the process for complaining directly to VW about a dealers's service department? I wouldn't have a problem with doing that - I think I'd approach it as constructive criticism.
I understand from a co-worker that another VW dealer I've taken my car to has cleaned house in the service department. He has glowing reviews for their service department now so maybe I'll give them a try again. This dealerships main problem was they sold Audi, VW, Subaru and Mazda all from the same location and the service department was all jumbled together which created mayhem. Apparently they've remodeled and split it all up now so it's greatly improved .
I really like my Passat, I could not be more pleased with my decision to purchase this car. It has performed flawlessly in the year that I've owned it. I don't normally take my cars to the dealership after the warranty expires so my decision to take the Passat to the independent mechanic that services my 98 A6 Avant was no big deal. The Audi has never needed a warranty repair by the way - just normal maintenance in over 65k miles (now out of warranty obviously) - I expect this Passat will be a similar experience.
Considering how much effort VW took to make such excellent cars, I'm sure they will take the time to whip their dealers service departments into shape as well, their continued success depends on it.
This would significantly affect my enjoyment of Passat, so responses are appreciated.
AS FOLLOWS:
3B54X9 GLS WAGON/TIP/ 1.8T 170HP INV.21315.00
B4B4/YX CANDY WHITE / GREY LEATHER PACK 1325.00
RMA MONSOON SOUND 287
DEST. 525.
MUD FLAPS (4) 149
DEALER PREP.BS,BS. 192
INVOICE WITH ABOVE CHARGES: 32744.00 PLUS 149.(FLAPS)
MY DEAL 500 OVER DEALER COST 2389+500 24393.00
ADD TAX, TTL, LIC. GRAND TOTAL 25,871.34
WAIT TIME: IF THEY DELIVER IT AS SCHEDULED IN JUNE, 1 YEAR. i HAVE BEEN TOLD THE CAR WILL BE BUILT IN AROUND WEEKS 12 TO 14, 2001.
THERE ARE PHOTOS OF PASSAT PLUS IN NEW ENGLAND FRESH OFF THE BOAT AT vwvortex.com
Thanks
What you have ordered is NOT a "Passat Plus." You have ordered a re-skinned 2001.5 Passat. The name "Passat Plus" refers to the W8 + 4motion equipped, top-of-the-line Passat.
winter,
I haven't heard anything about the W8 in a Wagon. I would say at least a year since the W8 Sedan is still a good 4-6 months out.
vwguild,
Count me too as someone who would rather have an extra year of b2b warranty and lose the "free" services. I also prefer my trusted, up-to-date, full competent and highly trained Euro-mechanic to the dealership that can barely manage to change my oil correctly. He'll be doing my 40k service soon.
I had to travel to a VW-Audi dealer over an hour away to get good service during my "free" stuff since my local VW/Chewy/Ponti-yak/Oldsmobile/Cadillac dealer is thoroughly incompetent. And yes, I complained, politely but firmly, and was told that they are just "too busy" and "over worked... sorry." VW, that's not my problem. :-(
bow-- 38k trouble-free (though not hassle-free) miles on my 99 Passat GLS Turbo. :-)
The Electronic Differential Locking (EDL) system and Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) system are standard on a Passat GLS. As I read it someplace, the ASR will work on getting maximum traction at low speeds and EDL will do the same at higher speeds. Combined, the ASR/EDL offers traction control at all speeds.
How is 4MOTION different from the above combo ? What extra features does 4MO give me ?
I am having a tough time finding *just* a 4MOTION Passat without any optional packages installed. If ASR/EDL gives me anything close to what a 4MOTION does when driving in adverse weather conditions, I'd rather expand my choices by going in for a non-4MOTION Passat !! Any thoughts ??
Thanks!
Ajeet.
Power goes independently to each wheel unless
the computer recognizes a loss of traction to any
given wheel or wheels and shifts torque to those
wheels with traction.
Power is typically 25%X4 or 75% to the front and 25% to the back or the other way around depending
on the above.
ASR & EDL are the poor man's version of the above.
drive train, etc.
Granted that the 4MO can beat the ASR/EDL version but I wanted to know how this "poor man's version" functions so that I can make my choice of Passat GLS. To get 4MO, I have to go up to a GLS V6 Auto for $26K while a GLS 1.8T keeps me around $21K. So, Any of you have experiences with ASR/EDL when driving under rain/snow/icy conditions ? How safe does the car feel, Does it hold traction properly etc ?
Thanks !
Ajeet.
thanks in advance:)
First of all, 4motion is really identical with the Quattro system used by their sister company. It is a very good system with very few, if any, faults.
We live in Connecticut and the Passat is my wifes car. She expressed concern about safety. I will say this, we just had a foot of snow and I really don't know how much better a 4motion car would be, but our V6 5-speed was outstanding.
My recommendation, get a V6, but save the loot on the 4motion system.
Unless you live up a long, steep, dirt road in snow country, save your money. My FWD Passat GLS 1.8T stick on stock tires was just fine last winter here in VT.
Save your money, get the CAR you want and spend $400 on a set of steel wheels with dedicated snow tires from TireRack.com for winter. With snows, ASL and EDL, you will run out of ground clearance long before you run out of traction.
Remember, 4motion doesnt help you brake, and it doesn't help you turn... but snow tires do.
enough about the overall driving experience...
Cornering, shifting, overall performance characteristics are superb...and this is in Monterey County, Calif. Point of reference here...
I also have a '72 MBZ and really like the heavier
feel of the V6 Passat, and this not to say that I
don't appreciate the more agile feel of the 1.8T;
that is my bride's Passat Wagon...It is simply a
matter of personal preference.
To all of my customers I say, "Drive both; you pick whichever one you feels the best to you".
For additional CD magazines that do not cost $50
go to VW.COM and order direct for $26.95, a little
less than an Alpine 3D Shuttle magazine.
Happy New Year to all!!!PS
This Car & Driver article compares 2wd and AWD versions of the same cars with snow tires and without.
They summed it up with this:
quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"Four-wheel drive helps get cars going. When it comes time to brake or change direction on low-traction surfaces, the extra mass of the driveline becomes more of a detriment. Folks who live in hilly places that get snow may need the climbing capability of four-wheel drive. If it snows a lot in those hilly places, they should probably invest in winter tires, too. Even flat-landers who happen to have steep driveways may wish to consider a four-wheel-driver.
Almost everyone else will most likely be better served by using winter tires. Acceleration takes longer, but in an emergency, the handling behavior and improved lateral grip of two-wheel drive and winter tires--in the slippery stuff--are the safer bets."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Since VW ony offers 4motion in it's heavies cars with the V6 and no manual transmission, I just don't see it as a "sporting" option from VW. A "foul weather" option, fine, but at that weight, with that 10-sec. 0-60 time, the VW Passat 4motion is hardly "sporting."
If I wanted or need AWD, and wanted a sporty car, I'd get an A4/Turbo/Quattro/Manual or a Subaru Impreza RS Manual.
Jim
Thanks a lot for your input regarding this matter. Looked up the C&D link and few other related ones on the Net. I think I am leaning towards getting a GLS 1.8T and pocket the $5K I save !! :-) Looking at the official complete specs from vw.com the only differences I found were :
GLS 1.8T Auto GLS 2.8 V6 4MOAuto
HorsePower@RPM 150@5700 190@6000
Torque@RPM 155@1750-4600 206@3200
Ground Clearance 4.3 inches 4.9 inches
Curb weight 3149 lb 3473 lb
Fuel Economy 20 / 29 mpg 17/ 24 mpg
MRSP $21450 $26875
I don't see the justification of extra cost (but, that's just me!) I have already test-driven a GLS V6 4MO Passat, and I am off to test drive a GLS 1.8T - Thanks again!
I have a 2001 GLS 1.8 with a sun roof. I love the car but it has one annoying flaw. There seems to be a rattling noise coming from the head liner right above the drivers sun visor. Has anyone else expirenced the problem, if so what was the fix?
Thanks
1) Is anyone aware of any manufacturer to dealer incentives, or other incentives, that may currently exist (or will exist in the near future) to help dealers clear out the 2001 models? In the Northern NJ area here there seems to be planty of 2001 stock to still choose from.
2) Other than the front grill, taillights, center armrest storage, and the infamous current cupholders, does the 2001.5 bring anything else significant to the table?
3) I thought I had reaclled reading somewhere(?) that the 2001.5 would have increased HP on the 1.8T 4 Cyl engine. Is this correct?
4) More generically, I've seen a lot of feedback on the 1.8T 4 Cyl married with the 5 speed manual trans, but not much info on it married with the 5 speed auto tiptronic which I'd prefer (Hey, I work in Northern NJ and the traffic is miserable!). Does anyone have any feedback on this combo? How about the gas mileage on this combo?
Appreciate any feedback. Thanks
Believe me, this is not an area that you want someone going into to try and find a few "ghosts". Good luck, let me know how you make out!
*All Star* award. February 2001, page 85.
go to VW.COM and click on the 4Motion icon...this
should answer most every question...