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
I'm new to this board, bought a new '06 Passat 3.6 Lux2 package 4 Motion three months ago and and becomming dissatisfied with "quality" despite good efforts from the selling dealer. It's tough when major systems don't work as they should and it takes time to get them fixed......
First, the navigation system, right from the start, would only come up and work some of the time. Took it in, showed problem, diagnosed, dealer sent navigation DVD back to the vendor to check problems. Two weeks later, dealer gets back navigation DVD, exact same part number and update date as before, no report from vendor as to problems or not. They install it, it works, drive home. And the intermittent failure to come up and work recommences immediately. Took it in, showed problem ( I had to wait for failure and drive directly to dealer to show it happening, they tried and couldn't get it to not work ). Acknowledged broken again, diagnosed, ordered new system ( the in dash head unit ). A week later, parts in, installed, no problems since. But I was without reliable navigation for several weeks.
Second, while on trip, driver's seat apparently broke. The tilt up in the front, under my thighs, went away and the whole seat is lower. Power adjustments still work, just in a lower range. I'm tall so driving became pretty uncomfortable.
Took it in, diagnosed, ordered parts ( new seat motors etc. ). Parts in a week later, took it in, installed parts, still not fixed and the service advisor called to tell me that up front ( very honest and considerate! ). Offered to let me keep loaner while additional parts ( seat cushions ) ordered per "tech line", I wanted car back.
My mistake, took it back in the next week, advised I feel the entire seat is broken, cushions are not a real fix, please rediagnose and advise. Now they have ordered new seat frame and other parts, have to wait one to two weeks as coming from Germany. Driving dealer loaner, decent ( '05 Passat SW ) but not my car.
The navigation mess took way too long to get taken care of. If the vendor is slow, the dealer and / or VW should work with them to speed things up. It felt to me like diagnosing the DVD was at best a guess which remains unconfirmed as apparently the vendor never advised whether it was defective or not. Why not borrow another DVD from another new '06 Passat and check that way? Well, that's hindsight now.
The seat is upsetting because after the replacement motors didn't fix the problem, I thought VW should have just ordered and installed a new seat. Hey, it's a new $40M car, only 3K miles, the partial repairs didn't work, darnit, fix it. Instead, apparently, "tech line" told the dealer to order more parts ( new seat cushions ) and try repairs which had little or no chance of solving the problem. Until I brought it back and insisted on rediagnosing and, finally, hopefully, the right parts are ordered. Although, again, they should just replace the entire seat and done with it IMHO.
Like some other posters here, I have noticed that from a standing start, the throttle tip in is either very slow or somewhat abrupt if you put in more throttle to get going. Or maybe it's the transmission programming? The dealer says performing as designed and "normal". It's a relatively crude performance in an otherwise sterling drive train.
I also don't like the cruise control stalk just under the turn signal but, hey, I knew that very well when I bought it, this is just a preference in a car which otherwise has relatively nice controls. Maybe VW could test drive a Honda or Acura some time.........
Despite the above, I still really like and enjoy the car. It's a class act, a pleasure to drive.
Again, the dealer has good attitude, generous with loaner vehicle ( I know, part of the warranty but it's not a cheaper model econobox like most loaners ). I'm just frustrated with big things breaking like this and all of the time it takes to make things right.
Saulster
http://www.vw.com/passat/compare.html
click Start, then choose Value Edition, then compare against another VW - specifically "2006 Passat 2.0T".
Or view this PDF
http://www.vw.com/vwcom/content/objects/pdf/vw_passat_specs.pdf
which lists side-by-side model features
In retrospect, I suppose I should have insisted on the iPod wire as part of the deal, but it didn’t sound like a big deal. But that umbrella thing is just annoying.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2665998&page=2
Standard Chimpanzee
Randomly, I received a VW-branded umbrella in the mail about a week ago. VW sent it to me out of the blue, no idea why. Cool, I guess.
Now if they would just send me the iPod connector....
Shipo or Mark wrote the subject over and over. You should look back several pages on this very forum. In short - YES, you need to use premium fuel due to engine requirements: most turbos use premium (all high compression turbos do). All high compression-ration engines use premium (including domestics like corvette). 2.0T is BOTH!
Plus money "saved" on lower grade will likely be lost in lower fuel economy, as engine will not run in its optimal environment. It will likely to be "fine", but using lower grade is probably a false economy at current price level. If the prices dropped to $1/gall, you may actually save something, not at $3/gal.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I went back to my dealer to get the XM radio setup (it was pouring rain when I picked the car up). When I walked in my salesperson said “I have something for you”, and he gave me a VW umbrella. So maybe they read this forum, in which case, free gas would be nice.
It’s been a couple of weeks and the car is great – no issues and it’s probably the best driving car I’ve owned. Some of the instruments are a little hard to see during the day with sunglasses on, but the nighttime display is awesome. Were I a VW engineer I would add a big digital or heads up speedometer, or at least only extend the current instrument to say . . . 120 MPH . . . because I probably won’t be driving any faster than that and the areas I’m most likely to get a ticket in are 25 and 35 MPH zones where it’s a little hard to read the MPH accurately.
Standard Chimp
Wait for other owners to reply.
My 2003 1.8T with 5000 mile OCI does not need any additional oil.
Krzys
1) insert key but do not start car
2) wait for all the information lights to cycle normaly, about 30 seconds.
3) Push the gas pedal all the way to the floor, hold it for about 5 seconds.
4) release gas pedal slowly.
5) Start the car (you must do this for the reset to take effect).
I personally don't notice the delay anymore. good luck.
If so, anyone recommend a dealer in the east coast? I live in N.C. and would travel within reason to get the best price...
Thanks
If you haven't yet, go to the top level of the Passat board - click here to get there - and click on Track this Group so you won't miss any new Passat discussions.
You may not pay more.
You should pay less if you lease or use VW credit.
The dealer, for the sake of an example with made up numbers:
Asks $10,000 for the car.
The car cost the dealer $8,000.
The dealer and you settle on $9,000 for the car.
No matter what method of payment you choose, the dealer gets $9,000. It makes the dealer no difference since the dealer gets the $9,000 before the car is escorted out the door.
Now, however, if the dealer arranges the financing of the car -- even from the most unlikely of sources a local bank, he receives perhaps a quarter point revenue for the act of getting the loan. Sometimes the dealer may even have spiffs for financing or leasing from VW Credit.
If you pay cash the dealer may lose hundreds of dollars of revenue he would have otherwise been eligible to receive as a result of your decision to pay cash.
You may note the dealer during the sales process will normally find out how you're planning to pay -- you may get a deal that you like, but if the dealer knows the opportunity for additional dealer revenue will be denied, he may attempt to limit the off MSRP discount.
I would expect those who pay cash may pay more unless they play it awfully close to the vest.
The information the dealer will want to get from you include 1. are you trading and/or 2. how are you financing this transaction.
This information eventually must be revealed, the earlier it is shared the earlier the dealer may know how much off the car he is willing to go.
Should you keep this information completely confidential until the deal is "done" so to speak, perhaps the dealer will hold back a bit of the discount he might otherwise have been willing to give.
Are interest rates really a deal breaker these days?
If you want the best deal, you may find this will work -- it worked for a friend:
Buy the car and finance it the way the dealer wants in exchange for the rock bottom payment (which will be directly attributable to the retail price you pay.) Assuming there is no prepayment penalty, pay the note off at your earliest convenience -- in my friend's case, I think he had to wait 90 or 180 days to avoid a prepayment penalty. The rate was low, the price afforded him was lower because he financed and he paid the nominal interest for the minimum time he had to. The dealer got his spiff, the customer got the lower price -- everybody won.
In these days of subvented financing, why pay cash?
If they are willing to let you pay for the car for 72 months interest free (and I know VW is NOT), why oh why pay it off any sooner? Free is a very nice word.
It is a false economy, it costs more, the engines in these cars are designed to deliver optimal performance with Premium.
I'll revisit this again a few months from now, for sure as I live and breathe, someone will buy another Passat (their first, perhaps) and wonder if they REALLY need Premium.
They really do.
And, I don't care what the salesperson tells you -- Premium Fuel is not a suggestion.
The big key is to do your homework. Know what the car is really worth when you walk in the door. My brother, the former car salesman, told me that if you can afford to buy a car outright, you should walk into the showroom, stand in the middle of the room, hold your checkbook (or whatever you plan to pay with) over your head and in a very loud voice say, "I'm prepared to write a check in the amount of $XXXXX for stock #12345." He says you'll have salesmen break their necks trying to get to you.
Personally I think it sounds like a plan I'd love to try. So if 30 of you guys and ladies out there will send me a grand each I'll drive to the VW dealer in Jackson tomorrow and give it a try.
Actually the Passat "board" is at this link: Volkswagen Passat. This conversation is one of the discussions on the Passat board. If you haven't, go ahead and click on that link to see what I mean. And while you're there, click on Track this Group if you didn't do it when I suggested it earlier.
That way you won't miss a thing!
A dealer, typically, will, based on factors that we all know, never not sell a car for a profit.
Of course, the dealer wishes to maximize that profit, is all I am saying.
Dealers are typically unimpressed with cash sales, since all sales, in terms of their income statements ARE cash sales essentially.
advantage I have to get the best price is what I will pursue.
I was under the same belief as jeffery where If I wave my
checkbook around, they will come like ants to a anthill...but your points made lots of sense...
Thanks again...
Bill.
I actually did pay cash for my 2006 Passat and it was a very interesting experience. I showed up with a bank check for exactly the amount I wanted to spend. This is how we also purchased my husband's Nissan last year. Nissan was 100 % on board with taking the check no problem and other then about a minute of trying to get us to try and finance from them everything went off smoothly.
Volkswagon on the other hand tried every trick in the book to get me to finance through them. They even had the audacity to claim it could take up to 3 weeks for them to allow me to take pocession of the car. At which point I stood up and said Nissan has no problem with bank checks I think I will just go thru them again. I showed up with the check in hand it was 3400 off the MSRP I wasn't sure if they would accept that but the did. I just kept firm with this is the amount I want to spend and the 2007 would be coming out soon so wouldn't they want to unload a 2006 today? The dealership I went to is huge and had hundreds of 2006 to unload. I tried this same tactic at a smaller VW dealership and they wouldn't take the deal. So my advice to you is if you are going to pay cash go to a larger dealership that is just looking to move cars.
Thanks
It is clear, the dealer is very motivated to discount the car when the financing is in the equation. And, to the gentleman's point, it is also not impossible to take the check in and get the deal.
The unknown, and possibly unknowable, is if the deal would have been even better, if financed and then paid off early.
To be a contrarian, I would submit he left money on the table.
But to repeat -- if he is happy, who the hell cares what the rest of us think?
About a year ago we were going to buy my Wife's Town & Country for cash, but in order to get all the rebates, we financed through Chrysler and paid off the car within a month. When I was in the Finance Managers office, I asked when I could pay off the van and he said to wait at least 3 months. I thought that was odd, so I call Chrysler directly and they said the van could be paid off immediately. They said dealers make more money from the manufacturer if the loan is open for more than 3 months, but no penalty is incurred otherwise.
I say that as a loyal, long term buyer -- 27 cars in a row from the same dealer, almost all from the same sales rep.
I would want to help my dealer and the sales rep, were I to think I might want to be a repeater.
I trust you'll explain ...
Just my $.02.
The customer should not care at all about what the salesman makes. And you know what? The sales manager doesn't really care about what the salesman makes, either.
I go out of my way to find internet sales situations where commissions are paid on volume because the "traditional" model irritates me so much.
Back in the summer of 2003, I was interested in purchasing the new 2004 RX330. (Not a VW, but please bear with me!) I was disappointed with the local dealer's pricing, and so I requested price quotes from dealers in southern California, about 300-350 miles away. About 4 dealerships returned price quotes a full $1500-$2000 lower! I forwarded one of these quotes to my local dealer. I told him I wanted to be loyal to him -- my local dealer -- and I offered to pay him $500 above that price quote for a similar model. After a few hours, he got back to me and said he couldn't do it. He claimed the local supply was too low to justify the discount. Hence, I purchased from a dealer in California. No regrets. We picked it up after a brief vacation nearby. Saved some additional money on Doc Fees, as well.
By the way, I still received great service at the local dealer for warrany/maint issues.
I'm all for loyalty, but it has to go both directions.
1. Picked car
2. Tried to pay for car
3. Couldn't pay cash -- or better was urged to finance
4. Found out that there was no prepayment penalty but that the dealer and or sales rep would receive a less commission if the prepay was in 1 month rather than 3.
The problem with text only posts is sometimes exacerbated (by me, for one) when the spirit of what I wanted to communicate was suggested but perhaps with less detail and more of a sardonic tone that I meant.
After buying cars from "the owner" of my local dealer for about 25 years, my wife and I developed a relationship that transcended customer vendor.
In the chicken and egg world, I often wonder if the disdain many customers have for car dealers and salespeople isn't at least in some small way their own fault. Our own fault.
I have experienced what can happen to the costs of cars if one is a repeat buyer and if one realizes there can be benefits to being a good customer just as there can be benefits to being a good dealer.
The vendor (the dealer) certainly bears, in my opinion, the main burden for creating an "inviting" atmosphere in which to buy. And, my owner dealer friend says he and his salespeople know who are tire kickers, time wasters, low margin and high maintenance customers.
A combination that seems to work against the customer is to be simultaneously low margin and high maintenance.
This ONE example, that I commented on, may have nothing to do with this buyer's desire to buy again from the same dealer. Moreover, it may not be literally held against my fellow edmunds poster. I would hope, at least, that it will be bygones in the larger scheme of things.
My point was, if possible, to work with the dealer as much as possible (and it does, indeed, seem that was the case in this instance.)
This line of thinking and discussion started with a question about "paying cash" for a car and wondering or thinking if/it should be able to negotiate a lower price for "waving a check" at the salesrep.
My initial counter was, perhaps, counter-intuitive since the original question did not factor in the potential additional revenue that could accrue to the dealer for providing retail financing or leasing.
Further, I offered up a suggestion that apparently did translate -- buy the car with the financing offered assuming there is little or no prepayment penalty in exchange for the "temporary" loan -- get the lower price and then ASAP pay off the note. Further I would add that prepaying off a zero or below rate of return loan makes no sense, since the subventing is using OPM (other people's money.)
Let me request that the spirit of doing -- within reason -- what it takes to be a good customer will "pay off," still stands. Perhaps my comment was too hasty, too flip and too sarcastic.
I am not a dealer, never have been -- also not a car salesman -- but I do see it from the dealer's side.
Sorry for the ill thought out post.
This, in fact, was part of what I was trying to convey.
So many people assume the dealer is their adversary and eventually this will not have the desired effect, even if it gets, at the moment, a slightly lower price.
There are non direct benefits that can accrue to the buyer in a bi-directional loyalty arrangement.
I also agree with cotmc's comment that loyalty should be bi-directional. When we purchased our last vehicle 18 months ago, I received 3 quotes from 3 different dealers via Internet. One quote came in very reasonable, and was significantly lower than the other two quotes. I did my homework and knew a good price when I saw one, so I purchased the vehicle from this salesperson without further negotiating on price. In fact, one of the other dealers came back and offered to beat his price, but I declined -- because I want to reward the first salesperson with my business for his straight forward approach and honest dealing. That was where my last post came from.
I definitely will buy from the same salesperson/dealership again -- that is, when I will buy the same make.