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Comments
The red 'water temp' light has repeatedly flashed on my car since 1998. At first, I took it to a German car specialist, who replaced the thermostat. That was fine until 6 months ago, when the light began flashing again. I took it to a local mechanic, who claimed it was the thermostat. So, I bought an after market thermostat and had it installed. Lo and behold, the indicator light is flashing once again...Frustrated, I put anti-freeze/coolant into the reservoir to see what happens...It worked, for about 48 hours, when the light began flashing again.
I'm at my wit's end...I've had numerous electrical problems with this car and am suspicious the warning light is a faulty sensor. But then again, I don't want to overheat my engine and/or cause major problems.
Has anyone else had this problem or have any ideas what I can do to solve it, other than take it to a dealership and hope they get it right (which has not happened in my experience)?
First stop: Colonial VW in Westboro. Completely useless dealership. A highschool flunky approached me immediately, asked me what I was looking for, etc. I described exactly what I wanted, and we went out to the lot to see if it was there. Nothing. Came back into the showroom, and he asked his sales manager. As soon as the sales manager started talking to me, he left and found another customer. Nice.
The sales manager said it was virtually impossible to get the configuration I wanted at this point (GLS, 1.8, 5 speed, Leather, Lux, Monsoon, Homelink). He then tried to convince me into getting a GLX. I said I wanted a 1.8 and I don't like some of the GLX options. Then tried to or a GLS with 2.8. Again, I want the 1.8! And then tried to convince me that the auto with tiptronic is "just about the same" as the 5-speed. He even went so far as to say "I can take a tiptronic from 120mph down to 10mph without touching the brakes." Gee, I think ANY car can do that.
He then said the only way to get what I want was to place an order for a 2003, which would arrive in 4-5 months. Buh Bye.
Went a few miles down the road to Bernardi VW/Audi/Honda in Natick. While the sales rep was still a highschool flunky, they found what I wanted (sans HomeLink - no biggie) right on the lot (700 miles), and 3 more coming in (still on the water). I choose the best color out of the 3 on the water (Indigo Blue/Black Leather). Other choices were Black on Black or Fresco Green on Black (girlie color).
They agreed to Edmunds TMV, I put down $500 (refundable), and it should be here in 2-4 weeks.
Simple. As it should be.
Now if they gave me a reasonable offer for my trade, it would have been a perfect transaction.
Anyone want to buy a '96 Honda Accord EX Auto?
-Craig
ps...the car is going full time to the wife and future baby so the pull is a major concern...im off to buy an Infiniti G35 this week for myself...thanks again
I like the contrast that the grey-on-black interiors as compared to the black-on-black interiors. The beige VW offers is too 'yellowish'!
My second choice(s) would be (a close tie) between black exterior/grey interior and silvestone grey exterior/grey interior.
Do any of you have a Pearl Anthracite Blue and black/grey combination. Thoughts, feedback from anyone?
Thanks.
Just my $.02
I am having some trouble finding the 2002 GLX Pearl Anthracite Blue/Grey (in NJ and vicinity). Most dealers I have spoken to do not have it in their stock or in their current shipments. Ofcourse, I will check with a few more places over the next couple of days.
I would appreciate if anyone could share their information on this matter.
/vb
Went down the street a few miles to a different dealership. They had one on the lot (700 miles on it), and 3 more coming in. Perfectly configured for me (although my first color choice of blue anthracite was unavailable). Ended up reserving an Indigo Blue/Black Leather due at the dealership in 2-4 weeks (still on the water).
Luckily, there are 9 VW dealerships within 20 miles of my house. I was able to shop around.
-Craig
I can see how some non-metro area owners may be forced because there aren't (m)any dealers to choose from, but I am lucky that I don't have that problem in NJ. Hey, but we pay such insane insurances..
Also, regarding extended warranty, I guess one could buy that anytime before the manufacturer warranty expires, isn't it? My thought is that there would not be any compulsion to buy extended warranty at the time of purchase because it can be purchased later on. On the same point, is there any cost benefit in purchasing extended warranty at the time of initial purchase as opposed to later on?
Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer these questions and share the information.
/vb
In English this means if you get an oil change at a Ford dealer, you get a receipt and show the receipt should you need to make a claim. All of this may not make you popular -- and personally I would at least consider the value of "popularity" -- but you will get service.
As an "older fart" (51) I can tell you that there is value in being known at your dealership -- why not buy from the dealer who will service you? And, unless the dealer or the product turn out to be unsatisfactory, why not buy "forever" from the same place? The treatment you will receive is beyond excellent -- and it is hard to place a $ value on very special treatment and service.
My wife and I have purchased over two dozen cars from the same dealership since calendar 1977 (model year 78). The sales, service and parts people know us by name, treat us almost with "affection" and when SH** happens, they clean it up without hassle. Result? I never shop the price when I buy, and I "always" get a better price than the "negotiator" -- and as mentioned, the service borders on spectacular. I have a dealer account and there has not been any "bad taste" issue -- ever.
On the extended warranty issue -- some extended warranties require purchase at or before "X" miles. If the "factory" offers an extended warranty, there is a difference. I owned a Passat and an Audi 80 and I bought extended warranties. One was from the vendor, one from another after market insurer. When the master cylinder went belly up, the non vendor warranty paid for a brand new AFTERMARKET part -- which was, I hope, OK. When the steering rack went out on the other one, I got a brand new factory replacement part from the vendor's extended warranty.
The price was the same, but the vendor's warranty pooped out at 75K and the aftermarket went to 100K. Big deal. I'd rather have a real poncho, than a Sears poncho (Frank Zappa [sic]).
$.02 worth.
I am closer than ever to drive out on a 2002 Passat GLX. I actually just returned from visiting a dealer. Honestly, I was curious to find out if he was really going to honor the online quote he offered. It was quite surprising when he quoted $300 above invoice + taxes and DMV fees because I had been getting online quotes in the range of $600-700 over invoice + taxes and DMV fees. (These included the destination charges (550), port fees (25), floor plan (92) and the remainder being adv fees).
I had a couple of questions. Using edmunds.com, I calculated the following 'extended' invoice price.
27,187 - Invoice
550 - Destination charges
25 - port fees
92 - Floor plan
---------
27,854 = 'extended' invoice
+ ad fees + taxes + DMV
A couple of dealers raised this to 27,954 + taxes + DMV. I am assuming that they are including $100 as advertising fees and from the earlier postings I have read, I am comfortable with those advertising fees. Or am I making an error in my calculation by omitting/missing some charge()?
When I visited this dealer who was quoting 28,250 + taxes + DMV, I was curious to find out if the car had 4 wheels and doors :-) because it was a good $300-400 below quotes from other dealers I received over the last 2 days. Well, as it turns out, the price is real and so is the car - with all the 4 wheels and doors !!
I asked the dealer to provide me the final costs and he gave me printout that included the following. I wanted to check if the following were fair.
Documentation fee - $75
DMV registration fee - $140
The documentation fee is what troubles me. Is that customary? If so, is that a reasonable charge?
Also, I had mentioned that I would be financing part of the total cost. The printout shows a finance charge of $160. I have never financed a car before - for that matter, this is my first new car ! - and hence I am not sure of this. Again, is this customary? Is it based on the amount I choose to finance? Maybe someone with experience in financing a car can share their knowledge and understanding with me.
I guess I should have asked the dealer these questions, but somehow, I have grown to trust the people in this forum more than dealers. However, I will check with the dealer too... mostly to verify that he is correct against what I learn from here
Another point the dealer mentioned that I find worth sharing is the 0.9%/24 financing. Although the current deadline is 03/01, he mentioned that if he got the paperwork submitted to the 'right place' by 04/10, the rate will be honored. He also mentioned that though we would not definitively know until an announcement in early April, the 0.9%/24 rate would probably get extended. Also, if it got lowered and one had not taken the delivery of the car (but had ordered it and had been approved for credit at the current 0.9%/24 rate) one would automatically get the new lower rate. Further, if the rate increased for any reason, then one would STILL get the 0.9% rate. In short, as a customer, one would not lose anything.. it is 0.9%/24 or better. Maybe these are the basic rules of the game, but as I said earlier, I am new to the game and whatever I find interesting, I find myself obligated to share.
My apologies for this lengthy email... I am looking to order the car this weekend since my choice of Pearl Anthracite Blue/Gray is/was not available. Thank you all once again for sharing your suggestions and opinions.
/vb
PS:
Pending the answers to the above questions, I am unable to conclusively judge if the final price is any different from what I would have seen if I visited a dealer quoting $500-700 over invoice + taxes + DMV. Hence I am being unbiased about this and leaving the judgement to the readers.
The dealer is Gensinger Motors in Clifton, NJ and the person I spoke to is Jim Coiley, Sales Manager. Jim is a pleasant person to do business with - non confrontational, helpful and respectful. Jim did mention that he will honor the 28250 price + taxes + DMV fees (+ doc fee) to anyone who walks into his dealership enquiring about a 2002 Passat GLX w/o 4Motion.
I will surely post again after my weekend meeting with him to share my experience with Jim and the dealership.. as also other places that I may visit.
But is there a VW-backed extended warranty available? Not a third-party one like Warranty Gold, but one that VW and its dealerships offer?
If there is one, how long does it last (e.g. does it go to 7 years/100k miles like many do)? And can one get a pro-rated refund based on the portion not used (as warranties from some companies do)?
Thanks in advance!
this is pretty typical of German cars. There are couple of things I wish VW would address on the
Passat GLS model. One, the 15 inchers on the GLS is just too small for me, I wish 16s were the
standard. Two, self dimming mirrors were important to me and it was not offered as an option
unless you upgrade to GLX. I can do without rain sensor, climate control and all the other
extras but small wheels and no dimming mirrors are somewhat disappointing for an otherwise
near perfect car. Does anyone know when the 03 passat come out? And what revisions will be
made to the car or upgrades such as new wheel design and size increase? Has anyone purchased this car in black with black leather? I really like the black on black set up but also
really like the silver with black leather, any opinions?
You probably not going to find one, so order it your 2003 now and get to the front of the line!
Isn't ESP an additional option on GLS?
Congrats.
-Craig
that you are seeking is actually quite fair...
Secondly, you have no order...Schedule for opening
this process has not been determined yet...
Third...MY 2003 build schedule Starts in June, no
deliveries to Ports...East Coast(July)& West Coast(August); this is not to say that they will be released then. 2003 cars will Not be released until the Ports are empty of 2002s.
What this Dealer has done is *low ball* you...
Given you a price that no one will even consider
meeting, and thus taking you, as a customer, out
of the market...This Dealer will not meet the price either, by the way, *My Boss won't do it*,
*Can't find the car*, they will think of something...
Don't ask why but the last 2 times I refueled, I've gone a little longer with the fuel light on and a little further below empty. Last time I drove 41 miles after the fuel light came on and the needle was well beyond both red lines and just past the final white line and after filling it up to the brim, it still only took 14.9 gallons. What gives? The manual say I have a 16.4 gallon tank. Did I really have 1.5 gallons in the tank when I thought I was on fumes?
FYI, I have a 2001 Passat w/ 1.8T and since I switched over to premium I've been getting just over 27 mpg on about 50% highway driving. These numbers suggest that the fuel light comes on when there is 3 gallons left in the tank although I've only had the nerve to use another 1.5 gallon before refilling. Does this sound right to anyone in the know? If true, I should be able to drive even further past that last white line.
Anyone out there dumber than me care to admit they actually ran out of gas in their Passat trying this? Come on admit it, we won't tell anyone else. FYI, if your in Massachusetts on Rt 128 and see someone running up the breakdown lane towards a green Passat holding a gas can, give me a toot.
in 10.6 gallons - of course I was putting gas in the fill tube so there was still some gas left.
The owners manual may say how much fuel is left when the light comes on. I think it is 2.5 gallons in my Integra - or 60 to 100 miles depending on speed.
signed,
Thirsty for gas
How do they compare to say Lexus leather? Some car company uses real thin and hard
leather...I think BMW uses some of the best leather out there? Comments welcome
Can anybody recommend a good VW dealer in the Sacramento area? We want the 1.8T GLS.
Thanks.
Veedub-The ASR-off button is for performance freaks who want to burn out and get quicker acceleration(my uncle comes to mind, he owns a 2000 Passat GLS).
Tom
I had an Acura TL ('99) that had a TCS button (turns traction on and off). I turned it off to do just that. And it worked.
-Craig
Thanks..
-Craig
Check out www.tirerack.com. They have several high-quality after-market aluminum wheels. If you keep the size of the wheel to 15" (to match your tires), you'll see several options under $100.
Another option is via eBay. I've heard of great deals on original VW aluminums. (You can also use this to sell your original steels if you replace them with aluminums.)
I think the last post must have been for me... it says vb14 maybe you typed it incorrectly instead of vbi4.
Anyway, that is a great price. Are you anywhere near the north-east? What were the other charges? doc. fee, etc.? I have seen many dealers in this area low-ball customers on the cost/cost over invoice and 'make up' for it on other things like doc fees and even a whole $50 markup on DMV fees !! I would appreciate if you could share that little extra information.
Thanks once again.. and enjoy your car...happy and safe driving...
/vb
I think the last post must have been for me... it says vb14 maybe you typed it incorrectly instead of vbi4.
Anyway, that is a great price. Are you anywhere near the north-east? What were the other charges? doc. fee, etc.? I have seen many dealers in this area low-ball customers on the cost/cost over invoice and 'make up' for it on other things like doc fees and even a whole $50 markup on DMV fees !! I would appreciate if you could share that little extra information.
Thanks once again.. and enjoy your car...happy and safe driving...
/vb
I am now better prepared... if only I could get the Pearl Anthracite Blue/Grey GLX !!
/vb
Was the extended warranty offered a VW warranty, or a third party one? Just curious, thanks!
My first car was a Civic and now I drive an Accord. My 2001 Accord EX had a faulty chip that had to be replaced a few months after buying it. Needed 3 trips to 2 dealers before they figured out what it was. Other than that, they've proven to be very reliable.
Both my wife and I think that it has really bad ergonomics for tall people (we're both architects and know a thing or two about it). The lumbar support is too low, and the steering wheel isn't telescopic. It kinda forces you to drive with a slouch. There's also wind noise and tire noise inside the cabin. The Accord is not suited for long trips or commute for tall people (5'-8 up).
We do a lot of road trips, and our search for a new car within our budget led us to the Passat. It's much more quiet inside and the seats appear to have better support for taller people.
We have accepted the fact the it probably won't be as reliable as our Hondas, but what good is reliability when you always get back pains, a noisy drive, and overall not very comfortable.
They also don't seem to make Hondas like they used to.
Toyotas are better comfort wise but like edmunds puts it, they are "mousetraps." They make you pay an arm and a leg for options that are standard on most other cars.
I just bought "Car and Driver", 2002 New Car Guide and as usual I went straight to the Passat write-up. I don't know if they have their facts straight but they are talking about the V6 being a 3.0L 220 h.p.. They also mention a 5-Speed manumatis tranny.
That would be the same as the bigger Audi A4 V6 and the base Audi A6 engine wouldn't it?
You think the 2003's will have that engine and with a 5-speed Manumatic as they say. That would be sweet. Smooth, quiet engine with more oompf too!
I can't afford the W8 but it might be worth waiting on this bigger V6.
Anyone else know more about this?
Thanks, Dave ;^)
Great ride. Only 3,500 miles but problems:
1. Rear right speaker dead. Back to dealer to have loose wiring fixed. Dealer says he sees the problem every so often.
2. Dash MIL light went on and dealer says he needs to reset something, even if light went on because gas cap wasn't screwed on all the way. Sounded fishy but VW customer care confirmed this. Strange, but this means that each time the gas cap isn't screwed all the way on and the MIL light goes on I need to visit my dealer. Does anyone understand this?
3. A generic Passat manual comes with the car but nothing about the wagon in particular. Not fun trying to figure out how to turn on back wiper for the first time.
Finally, overall experience at dealer was not great. He had the exact car I wanted on the lot and I bought it but when I went to pick it up it was scratched all over. At first he tried the "I don't see any scratches" approach, but when it became impossible to deny he acknowledged them and that the guy who prepped it used a dirty rag instead of the buffer and scratched it up. To his credit, he found me the same car within 7 days. The dealership originally registered the scratched car in my name and there was a mix-up with the registration, so in a roundabout way (receiving a parking ticket via mail from a city I haven't visited in 10 years) I learned that the dealer was able to unload the scratched on some blissfully farsighted buyer.
Like the car but at 33k I'm starting to think I should have dropped a few more k and gone for the BMW wagon.