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Comments
Jared
'00 GTI GLX
If it could do 0 to 60 in 7 seconds, how much time would that cut off your commute? 30 seconds?
It has a top speed of 115 mph. That's fast enough for me!
please comment... send me an email at trouphaz@hotmail.com if you are having similar problems.
Jared
'00 GTI GLX
The upgrade to a GLS gets you 2 more doors, power windows, cruise control and velour fabric.
About the only options left after engine choice (both can get TDI - only GLS can have 1.8T) are auto transmission, sunroof, designer wheels and cd player/changer.
For a V6 and leather you have to go for a GTI.
The car was leased and the "owner" is going to buy out the lease and resell it for (she says) $200. over the buy-out price. She says it probably needs new tires soon and may need new break pads, so the price she is asking is taking all of that into account. She has all the service records and has no problem with me taking it to a mechanic to have it checked out. Assuming that there are no mechanical problems other than tires or breaks, I am interested in the car, but am concerned that:
1. If/when I try to resell it, I will get less because of the scratches and burn holes.
2. Maybe these damages are indications that the car wasn't cared for as well as it could have been.
3. Is she taking the time to sell it rather than trading it in (she says she is buying a new VW golf) because the dealer would charge her a lot for the cosmetic damages?
4. Since I can afford to pay a bit more, would it be better to try to find a car with less miles/wear and tear which will hold it's value better AND which I will feel better about driving?
5. Am I being too demanding of a 4 year old car -- maybe most cars will have similar wear and tear??
I'm also considering a 1996 GTI automatic with 25k mi. for $10,000 -- but I haven't seen it yet. I prefer the 4 doors, but hear the GTI is more fun to drive.
Advice highly appreciated!
The saleperson told me that he believes that due to the scarcity and predicted popularity of the 1.8T in the Golfs, that I may have to pay MSRP. (His sales manager wasn't in, so he couldn't say for sure).
Does this sound legitimate to you?
I would think, that since the Golfs are such poor sellers in the US that they would be willing to sell the Golf 1.8T's with slightly more than invoice, and profiting from the more bountiful Jetta, and Passat (and even Beetle) sales. Am I wrong in thinking that? Any advice would be appreciated.
That's almost exactly the car I'm hoping to buy (sans cold weather package since I live in CA) but I'm having a terrible time finding them in the Bay Area...even to test drive. Did you get to test drive the 1.8T? If so manual or automatic?
I just drove a friend's manual 2.0 GLS and wasn't extremely impressed with the engine, so I'm hoping for an improvement with the 1.8T.
Any suggestions/experiences would be appreciated
Oh, how long is it going to take for your car to come in?
I was told that I can expect my new car in 3-8 weeks. I'm assuming 3 months max.
it is a great car. I have one minor problem and I was wondering if anyone else has run into the same problem. When slowing down on neighborhood streets ( usually 3rd gear, a bit below 25 mph or so ), as the tachometer falls to about 1800 rpm a rattling noise develops and continues until 1400 rpm. At that point the rattle abruptly stops. This noise also happens during acceleration but seems to be less noticeable, perhaps because I go through that engine speed range more quickly.
I took the car into the dealership and the mechanic took a ride with me. I was able to demonstrate the noise and he took a look under the hood. He also put the car up on the rack, removed the shield below the engine and inspected all sorts of things from that angle. He could not find any loose hoses or anything else that looked like it would cause a rattle.
To my ears, it sounds as though the rattle comes from the front of the car. I can't tell if it is coming from the engine compartment or somewhere under the dashboard.
Has anyone else run into this or a similar problem? If so, what did it take to fix it?
Thanks!
i am interested in any horror stories or good-news tales.
also, how hard is it to install the changer yourself? (instead of taking to the dealer)
thanks.
Have recently acquired a 94 GolfIII GL.
I've read that A/C is std. on this model, yet mine does not have it. (?) I must be missing something somewhere. Am I? Or is it an option?
I'd love to hear some feedback.
Finally we hope (fingers crossed!) we've found a dealer that has found one with the factory installed 6 CD changer and they're going to give it to us for 3% over invoice. All of the dealers in the San Francisco Bay Area wanted to gouge me for the car - one guy (the VW dealer in Vacaville) wasn't going to go under $19,900 OTD for the car - one that he didn't even have.
Why aren't there any Golfs here? Why is VW doing this to us? We want to buy one of their cars and they are making it difficult. I am frustrated.
Now I'm wondering - even though we're not using the car to commute - it's just a city car - should we try to get the 1.8T?
Glad to hear there are others in the same boat as me.
I've had my 98 (not K2 pkg, just a GL) since 10/97 and I love it!! I just passed 24K miles and now have no warranty (makes me nervous - but I enjoyed all the free service during those 2 years!).
The only problem I've had is the passenger visor fell off. It was replaced free of charge. It runs great, very easy on gas, peppy (5 spd.), pretty good stero, very cheap tires (had to replace one due to a nail) compared to my husbands truck! I have nothing but good things to say so far.
I am actually surprised that I like it so much. I sold a 95 Maxima SE to buy the Golf (period of personal downsizing!). But it's a great car to not have to worry about. I've also been amazed at the junk I can fit into the back.
It gets rave reviews from me. Good luck!
carlady/host
If you're in Northern California and you're looking for a Golf GLS Automatic with no luxury package or anything (which doesn't mean much since the car is so loaded as-is!) try Fresno - Michael Motors I think is the dealer? I will say no more but lets say my car buying experience was very cutthroat. I don't want to do this again for a long long long time. So I got the extended warranty on the car.
I've done all the research, now it's just a matter of getting out there and test driving and deciding on which Golf I want. Thanks for any advice.
The vw website show's the cost at $17,400, but Edmunds, and the VW dealer shows it at $17,900.
Why the discrepency?
negotiated $18,806 (2% over invoice). Then he says his total was $16,217. What gives? Am I missing something here? $16,217 is way below invoice. Did you mean $19,217? Please clarify, as I'm about to negotiate a price for the same car as soon as I finish my homework on $$.
Thanks. Also, did you get any indication on
delivery time?
We were told to expect the car in 3-6 weeks.
AS YOU WANT. I HAVE HEARD GOOD AND BAD REPORTS ON THESE CARS. THIS IS MY 3RD VW IN A ROW. HAD A 84 JETTA WITH PROBLEMS, BUT THE ENGINE WAS FINE. BUILT LIKE A ROCK, STARTED UP EVERY TIME. TRADED IT FOR A 86 JETTA GLI, SAME THING, ENGINE STRONG.
TRADED IT FOR THE GTI I HAVE NOW. I LIKE THE WAY THE 99 AND 2000 GOLF'S ARE BIGGER, HOW DO THEY HANDLE? HOW DO THEY FEEL? HOW ABOUT SOME FEED BACK.
BROWN64
Broadway Volkswagen in Oakland wouldn't work with me on getting the 1.8 liter engine Golf that they had in stock - wanted over $21K before tax for it! They wouldn't deal. I felt bad for the salesperson I was dealing with because apparently she came in on her day off to do the deal.
Ron Price I've heard good things about but they just didn't have the car.
McNevin in Berkeley seemed good (and are the Auto-By-Tel people) - but they didn't have the car - and Dirito Bros in Walnut creek were nice but also didn't have the car.
The Redwood City dealer didn't have the car so I just couldn't deal with them. Also the San Francisco dealer I've heard nothing but bad things about, and they didn't have the car either. And didn't call me back about my interest in one of their used cars.
Mission Volkswagen in Daly City - they were nice - a little high pressure - said they could get the car but tried to really sell us on the Beetle which we really didn't want.
Well, that's my lowdown on San Francisco are dealers...like I said in my earlier post - if you want the GLS Hatchback, check with the Fresno dealer - you'll travel a little farther, but they were getting the car in so you'd probably have good luck there.
Sorry for the long post!
But as for feedback - we LOVE the car. It's awesome. So comfortable and drives excellent.
I'd go in there and scream bloody murder at the GM until you get your money refunded. If they balk (and they may very well do so) go to the owner, then to VWoA! This kind of crap shouldn't be tolerated.
-kc-
winter - Nokian Hakkapeliitta ($495). I drove 32000 km's this past year.
I got nicked driving on the mass purnike all loaded up with three windsurfer a mountain bike on top and related gear inside at 92 miles/hr that in the mountains. The car handles great. Pretty good for 118 hp. (gas this year $1450) All $ Canada fx about $1cad=$.69US
IT IS A SILVER METTALIC AND BLACK INTERIOR
GLS 2.0L AUTO WITH LUXURY PACKAGE AND
I NOW HAVE 16,000 MILES ON IT. HERE ARE THE
FEW GRIPES I BLOWN REAR BULB AND 1 BURNT INTERIOR LIGHT(REPLACED BY DEALER). ALSO MY GAS GAGE IS
WAY OFF FOR SOME REASON(DEALER WORKING ON PROBLEM
OTHER THEN THAT GREAT CAR) GETTIN 30MPG ON HIGHWAY
NOW THAT ENGINE BROKEN IN.
I took it to get inspected by a mechanic and they found what they said was a lot wrong with it, but the dealer explained to me that he was willing to fix everything, and that it's all stuff that was ready to be replaced anyway (two torn CV boots, very bad back brakes, front brakes 50% left but will need new rotors when replaced, low coolant and possibly coolant leak, scorched transmission fluid are the main things). Body looks good has minor scratches and one small dent on driver's side very low (not even on door, don't know what that part is called sort of like a fender).
One thing that made me trust the dealer (who is small, and never claimed anything about the car, since he had just gotten it a week ago) was that the mechanic said the transmission pan was scraped up as if the car had been "bottomed out" i.e. dragged along the bottom. The dealer showed me how what they thought was the pan was really a steel cover that protects the pan, which rides low and is somewhat scraped up (which means it did it's job)!
I also have other reasons to doubt the mechanic's total expertise, but I go to them b/c they are women-owned.
Anyway, it comes with a 30-day 50% warranty and he offered me a longer one, showing that he is willing to stand by the car. He also told me it was a VW owned lease car --so obviously the lessee just did not take care of it at all (what a shame).
One peice of info that I cannot resolve that the mechanic gave me was that the blue book value for the 95 GL 4-door is about 3k-4k different depending on whether the car is in fair or good condition. It's only 2k something for fair condition, but 5k something for good condition. The 2-door GL and the GTI for 1995 do not reflect such a gap. She suggested that this means something was wrong with the 4-doors for 1995.
Does anybody have any opinions on whether I should buy this car? I'm partly committed to it b/c it's an automatic and it's hard to find automatic Golfs. Also, it looks really good. It also feels pretty good, but I cannot judge well b/c I'm used to driving my 1998 Honda Civic Hatchback, which is a darling to drive, and which has spoiled me. The only reason I'm giving it up is to give to my mother. The Golf does seem to accelerate so easily that I am not really aware that I'm zipping down the street....
Anyway, my question is about the 1995 4-door model. Any tips or info would be appreciated.
hb
carlady/host
Volkswagens are, IMO, as reliable as Toyotas nowadays. In fact, VW and Toyota are forming a partnership and sharing some of their engine technology, such as Toyota making use of VW's super-efficient direct injection engines. Although I think their partnership grew out of a defense against their common enemy, Honda. lol