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http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/020807/200208071314000667_1.html
Meade
The car has been delivering better mileage than its rating - most of my other cars were a little under (except a couple of Neons, which were also good, but not this good).
- Anthony
23,000 mills average 65 gml shows in the computer display, 80% hway,
and $5700 tax brake for a price $21000 including tax and 6 years warranty I paid cash.
It can go easy to 100 ml/h and I can pass 800 mills with one tank.
It all depend how you are driving and how you are shifting and using the battery.
This is the best thing ever happen to me.
Barleytea - Buying an older Golf is no different than any other car - find a good VW mechanic to take it to. You want to make sure whatever you're considering has been well maintained. The only way to do that is to take it to a good VW mechanic and have it checked out. They may charge you $100 or so to do it, but it's well worth it.
Huberty - I'd go to your nearest VW dealer and see how you're treated. If they want your business they will deal with you. Spec out a GL Golf here at Edmunds and take the invoice and MSRP prices with you. Negotiate using the printout - that's what I did and it worked great. No dealer is going to hand you a good deal - you have to negotiate. Also check out the VW website (www.vw.com)and it's payment calculator - VW is offering lease rate specials and 0.9% financing right now. I'm helping a friend buy a Golf - she should pick it up tomorrow.
http://www.trendmotors.com
Reason why I got the TDI over the Insight?
1. The insight is a two seater, not very practical
2. Godaweful gearing...though great for fuel economy...
3. Mainly not practical enough as a commuter car, especially carpooling.
Prius/ Insight
1. Golf is much more fun to drive than the Prius and Insight
2. Features for the money.
Haven't regretted my decision yet, except for the $47 fuel filter at the dealership.
The only things they didn't like was the slow-to-warm cabin (hello, heated seats!), and the dirty emissions (it is a diesel!).
I drove an Echo as well, but it doesn't come close to the feeling of the Golf on the road.
I actually considered an Echo also....you can see my choice.
The Passat is also top-ranked, by a slim margin to the Camry.
We have a 2001 4 door Golf automatic (the basic model, not the turbo or bigger engine). At around 10,000 miles we took it in because it had gotten louder (not extremely, but noticable). We were told that there was a defect in the transmission and they replaced it for free (under warranty).
Now, at about 18,000 mile, we again noticed some subtle problems (occasionally shifting at wrong time), and brought it in to a different dealer. They have just told us that there is a problem with the transmission and that they will replace it!
This is the *second* time that our transmission is being replaced! At no cost to us, but still... The car is less than 2 yrs old, with only 18k on it. Has anyone else had to have their tranny replaced?
Do we have a lemon?
We otherwise love the car..
Thanks for your comments,
Dan
Sounds to me like VWOA has a grip on customer service at last. Enjoy the Golf.
You don't have to pay VW's exhorbitant prices for the 40k service, it's just checking things and minor maintenance, like check/replace spark plugs and replace brake fluid (at least it is on my Passat.) 'Course, I don't know about a TDI, if you have that motor. A good indie can do that kind of work for half what VW will charge. An indie will do the brakes a good bit cheaper than VW too. Bet you can get it all done <$400, probably a lot less.
Yes, I know it's not a "VW certified technician" and all that sales stuff. No, in my case it's a professional who's been in the business 25 years. At the VW dealer the "technician" working on your car will be lucky to have completed his certification. We're talking brakes and spark plugs here - nothing too complex.
FWIW, the rear brakes on my Passat are wearing faster than the front. % remaining on my pads now, at 45k miles, are 60/40 (fr/rr.)
Good luck - let us know what you find out.
It's a good car, but VW service drives people out of their own market.
Good luck, dude.
$470 for a brake job that only uses $100 in parts! Ripoff!
I have an 02 Golf that's been fantastic - I only take it to the dealer for warranty repairs of which it hasn't had any. It hasn't seen the dealer since I drove it off the lot :-)
I seem to experience the same problems as what enthu has been having.
I bought a Golf GLS 2000 and here is the problems history I have been having :
1. 1st year : O2 sensor broke so the engine light is ON .
2. 2nd year :mass airflow meter broke so the engine light is ON again.
3. Now in the 3rd year :the temperature gauge is oscillating between 0 and 190 degree all time (on freeway or city street )
Note the 2 first failures , the was no charge by the VW dealer because it fell w/in the 2 year warranty limit but I am afraid that they are going to try to rip me off for fixing (properly?) the temp gauge .
If anyone can give any suggestions to deal w/ the temperature gauge issue , please do.
Thanks.
Toto
Not bad at all...
I've owned a bunch of VW's and have always found them to be very reliable.
Were you able to find out that the temperature gauge failure was connected to engine light tripping in anyway .
I recall that there is a message in this forum saying that temperature gauge is not used for engine management .
Did you have your temp gauge replaced or did you do it yourself and could you tell me how ?
Thanks,
toto
How can these things have happened when these dates haven't even come up yet????
A sentence from your post says:
"After a screw up with replacing the starter, they put new tires on the car and call it "VW Certified" and we get the car back on 09/25/02. On 09/27/02 the same thing happens and it goes back to the dealership. Returned to us on 09/28 with another new starter and dies again that evening."
Today is 9/25/2002
I'm just busting on you I really thought I was losing my mind when I read the post. I had to go look at the calendar and check my computers for the correct date.
Seriously though, about your Golf. Does the dealer try to start the car several times before giving it back to you? After you got it back, how many times will the car start before it won't start at all? Does it turn over, or is it just dead? If it were the starter, and I don't think it sounds like it is, you should at least hear the car trying to start. If there is a short, then it may cut off the ignition, hence the alarm possibility. Are you sure there wasn't an after market alarm installed? It makes a big difference once the after market guys start hacking away at the starter wires. I had a starter problem on a different vehicle, but I knew when it was starting to go from the noise it would make. Starters usually don't just break like they are claiming.
You've had the car less then a week and the dealer won't look past the starter to fix the car. Maybe you should take it back and get a refund. What's the warranty on it?
It was nice of you to get the car for your son, but has he driven it yet?
Good luck
My boyfriend is going to be getting something else to drive besides his '98 Wrangler. He really wants a Grand Cherokee, but he has thought about the Golf.
I keep telling him that the Jeep GC isn't a great solution to saving on gas, but I don't really know how bad the gas mileage is on them either.
Each day he drives about 40 miles one way to work. He drives about 80-90 mph on the Highways, but he gets really poor gas mileage with the Jeep Wrangler. I think he fills up his tank about every 1 and a half to two trips. About 200 miles per tank. I believe it's a 15 gallon tank. So that's only 13-14 mpg.
He doesn't want to give up 4WD, so he will only get the Golf if he keeps his Jeep. I really think he will love the Golf and forget about having a 4WD vehicle.
The Golf is a lot cheaper then a Jeep GC. I also feel that the residual value is a lot better on the Golf. Also, he will probably be putting at least 20-25,000 miles on it each year.
Anyone have 50k or more on a Golf in 2 yrs.? Any major problems? How's the gas mileage at high speeds? Can it handle high speeds (80-100mph)?
Thanks for any input
I would start with the sensor as it is cheap $5.00 and $1.00 for the gasket vs $??? for the gauge. As for the how to, try some other more "technical" web sites for a good explanation.
Good luck.