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Comments
Come on take the plunge!!!
BTW, is there Xeon blub replacement for the Jetta?
Can I just replace it without any mod?
- Allen
I was worried today when I scanned Carmax's website and saw a 2000 GLX 5-speed with only 6K on it for $21,000. The car retails for about $24,000 and lost $3000 already in 6K. What does that say for resale???
I have the 1.8T stick, just about to turn 5K, loving it. BUT, if I had to drive in rush hour traffic, I probably would've gone with the auto. Fortunately, I rarely have to and most of my driving is highway driving so its not a problem shifting.
And the multi-function steering wheel is only available with the leather package on the Jetta. Of course, the Golf is $1000 less than the Jetta is and you can put more into the Golf. Plus, it has a rear wiper, which I always wanted.
I have to start driving into SE near Anacostia and the Navy Yard about twice a month soon. One good thing about having a Hyundai.....no one will want to steal it....:)
Also - new VW's have some of the best resale values out there... i should know since I sold mine....:(
1.8T vs. VR6: The VR6 is said to be smoother and a little quicker than the 1.8T is, but it uses more gas as well. Of course, the 1.8T demands premium where the VR6 doesn't. So it's about the same. BUT the VR6 makes the front end of the Jetta heavier, and therefore makes it feel floatier from what I've read. The turbo engine doesn't do that. And, the turbo is about $1000 or more CHEAPER than the VR6 is. But that's your decision.
Liz, good luck on your car buying experience. It will be a good one if you take into account the advice I just posted above. And, of course, go into the "new car" section of Edmunds' home page to do all the research. Very helpful.
Once you do that, come back here and post your thoughts, we'll go from there. Strategy wise, though, you should research pricing on the internet. What part of the country do you live in?
Also, I will go with the one that has the best price when I decide to finally purchase my new car. I want either an Indigo Blue Golf GLS 1.8T or a (don't know what color yet) Jetta GLS 1.8T. We shall see what happens.
The Golf GTS is the 4-door, isn't it? I think it looks pretty sharp, and on the right day, I'm sure you can get a good deal.
Anyway, I have already decided on the trim, etc. I want black/beige leather and the "luxury sport" package that has the 17" wheels and sport suspension (I plan on taking the car to my Driver's Education events on the track). Assuming that I like the feel of the test drive, I want _that_ car or I will not buy a car at this time. period. So I am hoping that the emotional thing has been handled.
I plan on financing my car through my credit union, so I hope to walk in there pre-approved. If not, I was considering the "drivers-option" offered by VW, which is sort of a balloon-loan. (I find the monthly payment thing annoying--isn't APR more important?) My father bought his Pathfinder that way and was very pleased.
I am looking to get prices on the VW, b/c I have a guy in my car club that says he can get me a good price--so I want to shop a bit before I present to him for an offer. I am willing to wait for the car I want as well.
Can you tell me more about your car club? I've always wanted to take a driving course on a track. Is yours a VW club?
About the auto club, I belong to the Riesentotter (sp) region of the Porsche Club of America--I'm in the metro philadelphia area. My father has a 1994 carrera 4 widebody, and I'm his associate member. We have 4 high-speed driver education events a year at various tracks. I drive dad's car on the track--we get an instructor for the weekend and basically learn how/why to slide curves, downshift--the whole deal. Our club generally lets other car guys into the events. I've seen Civics, BMW M3s, Corrados, Miata, Supra, Mustang... You just have to get your car "tech-ed" (a special safety inspection) and have a helmet. However, driving a porsche is nothing like driving my own car around (front wheel drive, front engine, etc). I'd like to put my Jetta on the track 1x or 2x a year, to feel how it performs nearer to its limits. That's why I want the sport package, stick, and the big wheels.
TO change the subject: does anyone belong to a VW club. I plan on joining in my area (if I get a Jetta)--I was wondering what they were like. The Porsche club I belong to is very active/friendly--although we have 1300 members and I see the same 60 people all of the time.
Thanks for the club info. I used to race MGB's on grad-prix tracks. In southwest Ohio, I'm sure most tracks are oval, but I'll search for clubs.
BTW, I visited one Philly area VW dealer and wasn't impressed. DC is only 3 hrs away and there are some good ones there. At any rate, a good dealer should be willing to scrub the areas inventory, and go get the car you want for no added charge.
The VW guys on the Main Line are kinda jerks--everything is like thousands over list because people want the cars and will throw money away.
My next nice car will have black leather again though. Beige looked rich, but got dirty often.
Happy Motoring. ;-)
Pocahontas,
Edmunds.com/Roving Host
However, I disagree with her comments on the clutch pedal and brakes. I think the clutch is relatively light compared to other cars. And once used to the brakes, they work awesomely, allowing for smooth yet powerful stops. These brakes are leading the class!
Before starting to compare this vastly different entities I advise you to make an appointment with your spiritual adviser (request an explanation of the role of "yin and yang" in the modern car world).
engine power by 50 hp. Does anyone here have
had any experience with it ? Where do you buy
it and get it installed and how much does it cost ? Thanks for your responses.
5 Speed or an Automatic, on the color, and the
availabilty of that particular Jetta in your area.
PS
family, new baby and lots of stuff to carry, child
safety seat, etc. And your budget, you are not that far away from a GLS 1.8T Passat. Check out the review of the Passat here under Test Drives &
Comparisons, and The Honda. Safety tests for both are also available here, and there are volumes
posted here about the Passat, both pro & con. And
make sure that you drive both and check out variances in warranty and safety features. There
is still a difference between a good price and a
good value. Both are great cars, no doubt about that...the differences are both subjective and objective, and only you, the check writer, knows
whats best for you and yours...PS
Just leased a 2001 1.8T here in So Cal, auto trans, leather, luxury, monsoon w/CD changer...the dealers here are definitely NOT dealing with these cars...expect to get 300-400 off MSRP at the most! Silver and black are the high demand colors here...
I have a friend who paid cash...same deal...
JWINK1 -
congrats on the new purchase!! Don't worry - SAAB does not have any more prestige than VW. MB and BMW, yes, but SAAB/GM? Not a chance....:)
I'd be able to consider such claims as having some amount of veracity if they were posted in something more than a pidgin form of the language.
Perhaps this person feels that he has gotten a sub-standard vehicle, and must try to make the rest of us feel as miserable as he. Rather than try to reach up to our level, he attempts to bring us down to his. He is deserving of pity far more than wrath. I offer my services as a professional educator should the poster wish to engage me as a language tutor.
My favorite feature - dual front one-touch down AND up power windows (does ANY other than VW offer that?)
Wish I had - another trip odometer. As an anal driver, I like to keep one trip-O set to gas consumption, and have a second one to clock random distances around town.
My favorite feature was the interior. How well put together it was. And how nice the beige leather looked against the black door sills and dash. Feature wise, I LOVED that the vents lit up in red at night...NO other car except Audi and VW that I have been in does that....Also loved the chrome gear shifter and accents. The steering wheel bezel was a nice touch. Some cars that cost more still have plain old steering wheels...
The thing that I really wish could be improved is rear seat room. The cupholders don't matter to me...I suppose the middle armrest for front passengers was kind of flimsy feeling as well, though I never had any probs with it.
I wish it had a "miles 'till empty" on the computer, and I don't like that I have to press the remote twice to open the back doors. I'm going to tear my arm off someday!
What is the word on performance chips??
I wish for two more inches in wheelbase - all between the front seat backs and rear seat cushions!
I hated the delay in the transmission when you would shift from drive to reverse or vice versa. I love my manual tranny now - I don't miss the automatic fuzzy logic stuff.
That leads me to the negative. Hopefully one of you out there knows how to correct this but when I throw a CD into my player, it does not start playing automatically, I have to hit the CD button on the radio. What the heck is up with that??? Why would I put a CD in if I wasn't intending to listen to it right away??? Anyone know how to get around this???
Taking my 1.8T Manual in for the 5K service tomorrow, so far its still a gem and the ladies still love the interior (as do I).