Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

breld

Speaking of GTIs (well, at least I am), did anyone see the 2018 updates?

There's the usual facelifted lights and bumpers, but now the leatherette is optional on the SE model, which comes with nice features like blind spot, sunroof, etc.

Actually, sounds like the perfect trim for @stickguy!

stickguy

yes it does. I love the Wolfsburg edition on the regular golf. Pretty cheap, and includes the key stuff. I really don't need to move up to a GTI of course. But hey, worth looking.

when do the 18s come out? Cloth checked seats would really make my day!

OK, add it to the list. Big difference in concept between a Maxima and a GTI. I know which one my wife would prefer. But not her car!

stickguy

another interesting tidbit. Nice. Plus apparently fancy new dash and infotainment screen, like in an A4.

The GTI SE picks up full LED headlights with red striping, as well as the brakes from the Golf R and a limited-slip differential

breld

That 2018 SE does seem to be the perfect trim with the plaid seats and all. Sort of replaces the Sport trim (which apparently was a 2017 stop-gap only), but with many more cool features.

I'd be half-tempted to wait, except the SE is about $3k higher for 2017, and I assume, at best, will stay the same, and likely go up a bit in price for the extra equipment.

stickguy

it does sound good. Have to see the full equipment list and pricing of course! So many options.

my experience though is when I get all excited about a certain car, it turns out they leave out at least 1 key option to sink the whole deal. Some stuff I can work around, but especially if laying out the cash for a new one, I am not compromising on what I really want.

28firefighter

I believe 2018 models also have the virtual cockpit from Audi available as an option. 

Looks very promising. 

breld

Have to say, and this is probably little surprise to anyone who has owned or currently owns a GTI, I don't think I'll miss the drive of the 4-series at all. I'll miss the gorgeous profile of it, but purely from a driving experience, this current GTI is impressive.

Getting back into a stick shift is a lot of it too.

Michaell

I've been out all evening, so when I came home to find 28 new messages on this thread, the last of them by @breld, I figured he pulled the trigger on the GTI.

Imagine my surprise to learn that he didn't - yet.

We're supposed to meet for lunch on Friday - it's still possible he'll have a new ride by then.

And, for the record, I agree with @breld - for someone who loves the down and dirty of the negotiations at the dealer, working with a broker seems antiseptic, by comparison.

Though he did suggest that both he and I get jobs there - seems low pressure.

28firefighter

I've helped 4 or 5 people buy cars in the last 2 months. They're family or friends mostly and I was happy to do it. 

Our friends replaced their totaled Murano with a '17 Forester XT Touring with EyeSight, this weekend - equipped exactly with the same options we would have selected had we gone with the Forester.

 He sent me a note asking what he should pay because he was at the dealer. I gave him a target range and apparently they laughed. We spoke after and I offered to shop it around. Within 15 minutes I had a deal lined up for him on an identical car at another store in the target price range.  They went out the next day to pick up the car without any surprises. 

He suggested after that I should start charging for my services. A flat $200-$250 or so was his suggestion. His feeling was even paying a $250 fee, I had saved him more than that and avoiding the hassle was worth the money. 

It's an interesting idea. But, it seems like a hassle and I'd feel weird charging someone.  I do it because I enjoy the chase and it helps me to temporarily live the CCBA dream vicariously. 

tifighter

My entire office wants to run their deals past me all the time. Careful, it's a slippery slope.

$500 sounds reasonable...

tbirdmarco

@stickguy go for it! truck sounds good change it up an bit! sum thing to think about! lol lol

tbirdmarco

@breld no you will have an new car real soon lol lol. see what the broker does say today if he can beat the deal from the dealer if not go to the dealer and go for it.

qbrozen

Problem is you wind up being consulted for used cars, too, and that is far far tougher and takes up way more time. I also always fear that something will go wrong with any car I suggest and now am to blame. Its one thing for family and friends, but when you start charging for it, you are technically somewhat liable from a legal standpoint, I would think.

stickguy

I am also the go to guy for a few people. Especially my SIL and people she knows. I normally only give advice though, not negotiate deals. I did help with one a while back (I think I contact some dealers up on long island for her) and got a nice bottle of Beefeaters gin out of the deal!

used cars, yes, that is a major hassle. Thankfully I normally do not get asked for help there.

kyfdx

I had to tell my wife to stop giving out my email address to everyone she knows, that is looking for a car. Unless it's a friend, who I can tell to get their head out of their ---, then I'm just not up to it. It's why I never wanted to sell cars.

fintail

I don't go any further than answering "do you think I should buy this?", and even then it can be risky if the car ends up being troublesome. Getting involved with price opinions can cause drama, especially if someone asks what I think about their deal.

graphicguy

New car negotiation? Easy-Peazy! I'm still amazed at the gyrations people put themselves through when buying a new car. It's not that tough, especially with all of the information that's available these days.

Used cars? Different ball game entirely. Is it certified? Warranty? Local trade in? Wrecked (and then fixed)? Good color? Bad color? Odd ball option list? Is it at a "branded" store (buying a BMW and a BMW place, for example) where the history is known? Etc!

Lots of variables when it comes to used.

Q....you were a big help in putting a number on the Mustang when I bought it. I don't have access to auction data. You did! It helped tremendously that I knew the history of the car and had, over a short period of time, became acquainted with the previous owner to find out how the car was cared for.

All that goes into an offer for a used car.

New? Find incentives. See stock levels. Willing to walk into dealer to make an offer. And, you're done.

Not so much anymore, but I remember a time here at Edmunds where people would go to all sorts of twists and turns to buy a car.....email multiple dealers for a price (and become disappointed when none emailed back or gave a price that didn't really exist, or email MSRP.

Go from dealer, to dealer, to dealer, to dealer going through the same dance for hours and days on end.

Crazy!

Find a dealer you like, with the new car you like, make an offer. Shouldn't take more than 5 to 10 minutes to strike a good deal.

suydam

Funny, but I feel just the opposite. Used car sales seem simpler to me and there's so much less $$ on the line.

rayainsw

2018 GTI info -

http://media.vw.com/release/1364/

ab348

Thanks, Ray. Those changes for 2018 sound and look good except for the stop/start, which I despise on any car. The Golf R remains ridiculously understated - they don't even give it the red-accent headlights that the GTI receives.

rayainsw

'except for the stop/start'
That feature is "permanently defeat-able" on some vehicles -
my 340i, for example.
[ turned off by 'genius' before I signed the paperwork ! ]
- Ray
Driving .....

stickguy

Just buy a stick the way god intended a GTI to be and you don't get stop start at all

Mr_Shiftright

stickguy said:

Just buy a stick the way god intended a GTI to be and you don't get stop start at all

Well you do if you're a lousy stick shift driver

kyfdx

No more Sport model?

carnaught

I'm sure you car buying "advisors" experienced what I have, on occasion. Even though they know better, sometimes a friend or acquaintance buys or leases a car then asks me, when it is too late, if they did well on the deal. Even though they invariably did not do well, I've had to couch my reply in giving a vague response. I just don't want to rain on their parade and say they should have asked me about the deal before taking delivery. I end up usually saying something like, "great car, you'll enjoy it".

breld

kyfdx said:

No more Sport model?

I imagine allowing buyers of the SE model to opt for the plaid seats fills that desire now, though it "requires" you to take on the additional SE options and price. Or maybe the additional features added to the S model brings it in line. This one model year only Sport model still seems like a real sweet spot (which is why I'll likely end up with one).

qbrozen

Even worse is when someone takes up your time and then ignores your suggestions anyway. Of course, then I get to say "I told you not to buy an out of warranty Audi!"

Mr_Shiftright

qbrozen said:

Even worse is when someone takes up your time and then ignores your suggestions anyway. Of course, then I get to say "I told you not to buy an out of warranty Audi!"

To acquire a reputation for wisdom, all you have to do is figure out beforehand what the person wants to do, and then tell them to do that.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

Even worse is when someone takes up your time and then ignores your suggestions anyway. Of course, then I get to say "I told you not to buy an out of warranty Audi!"

Hey, wait a minute. You're not talking about anyone HERE, are you?

stickguy

I don't mind getting asked, because it gives me an excuse to go take do e test drives!

ab348

Mr_Shiftright said:

stickguy said:

Just buy a stick the way god intended a GTI to be and you don't get stop start at all

Well you do if you're a lousy stick shift driver

Or have a bad left knee due to be replaced...

Mr_Shiftright

Hopefully under warranty

28firefighter

I don't think I will do it and luckily my name has not been distributed widely; I'd hate to ruin something I enjoy as a hobby.

As far as recommendations, I will make suggestions of new/used vehicles one could or should look at, but ultimately do not involve myself in their decision making process. I tell everyone the same thing - call me when you know what you want and what your budget is.

If I were going to do some sort of consulting, I'd limit to new cars only and possibly only to leasing, since that seems to be the area in which I'm most successful.

qbrozen

xwesx said:

qbrozen said:

Even worse is when someone takes up your time and then ignores your suggestions anyway. Of course, then I get to say "I told you not to buy an out of warranty Audi!"

Hey, wait a minute. You're not talking about anyone HERE, are you?

Any resemblance to anyone on Edmunds.com is unintentional.

28firefighter

Did anyone else see the VW is going to be offering the Atlas with a 6 year/72,000 mile Bumper-to-Bumper warranty? It is also fully transferable to the next owner.

Not that anyone in here would keep a car that long, but that bests the Korean manufacturers by a year.

corvette

They will probably offer the long warranty the first model year or two and then drop it. The branding people won't like having a VW with a better standard warranty than Audi! 

tifighter

corvette said:

They will probably offer the long warranty the first model year or two and then drop it. The branding people won't like having a VW with a better standard warranty than Audi! 

Great point...

tbirdmarco

@qbrozen did pay to have an websight done back in 2013 have an name and everything was worth an shot no luck leaste I did try the name of my sight was Derect choice auto finders.com

tbirdmarco

only help out close family or frends. peapol are going to do what they want to do no matter what you do tell them.

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9Nzp2pPVfpQ

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fdCHqZ7NNxY

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uS_EMT8S8yQ

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z5s-Ds5FIYY

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HrjWJDNdoFs

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zmXlhW1IsEs

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ov9KO_pBCm0

andres3

breld said:

Hard to know what the right price is on these new GTIs.

So the Sport model I'd want stickers for $29,235, dealer invoice of $28,275.

One dealer advertises a price of $24,720, which is what got me interested in the first place. My broker comes back with pricing of $500 under invoice, plus the $1,000 loyalty rebate, for a price of $26,775. The same dealership he is working with has an advertised price online of $25,830, which I pointed out to him, and he's looking into it.

If it wasn't for the healthy trade option he came up with, I'd be more regretful of going through him (not that I'm committed or anything). The "broker" dealers are a nice way to have all makes and models available to you, and nice to have someone else do the legwork...except I like the legwork.

VW tried to do the same thing when I told them Alltracks were being advertised for $4,000 off MSRP. They claimed the dealer advertising it was playing smoke and mirror games. The only way to verify that is to go and see if 2 hours at the deaelership isn't enough to get the advertised price, and walk out. The dealer I was at chose to make a deal

andres3

stickguy said:

if you are savvy with buying and working with dealers (as Breld obviously is), it really should make no sense to use a broker. It just can't save money if you are introducing another middleman that needs a cut of the pie. You are paying for a convenience service. Might be different if you are a babe in the woods and terrified of being in front of a salesman.

I suppose he could have some magic access to reselling (I assume he would not be retailing the trade in), but if it is going to a wholesaler or dealer, Breld could just do that himself. Or trade it in and get tax credit (if Colorado does that too).

Me, if I really wanted the GTI, having the baseline numbers, I would just show up with the car, and drop a Bobst on them, and tell them if it is a go, start writing it up.

I think Costco is your best "broker" bet. But I'm basing that on a very small sample size, and a few things I've read.

tbirdmarco

did hear good things about cosco but like said above small sampaling size. don't mind going to dealers or dealing with them over the phone to get things done for around the price I want

stickguy

actually, I got a killer deal on my sonata lease, well under what I expected, but using the Edmunds app and getting the Edmunds Price Promise deal from the dealer I bought from. super quick and painless too. Quick hit on the phone app, a call and email, and price in hand. just had to show up and take the car.