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Comments
I also would like to know...
what the "transponder lll ignition" is?
what the " 4 wheel AMS" does? (is it worth $)
what the "Homelink w/ sun visor extension" is?
why or why not invest in 17" wheels.
THANKS FOR THE HELP! I am a 1st time buyer.
leather(includes heated seats)
monsoon stereo
ESP (stabilization program)
tiptronic transmission (manu matic)
homelink ( garage door opener on the sunshade)
I got the auto/monsoon/leather/ESP and that's all I wanted...other wise the car is loaded with lots o goodiesI don't know what those others you listed are......
IMO, get the leather for sure.....the esp may be good if you live in wet/snow type climate......the homelink can turn on/off the light in your house/garage also/ but somewhat difficult to program...I don't have a garage so.............
17" wheels are not an "investment". They can look good, but provide very few benefits and will almost certainly make sure you need to change to winter tires/wheels if you get snow where you live. They can also make your ride harsher. The quality of your tires is more important than whether you have 16" or 17" wheels.
- D
Thanks
Kev
My mileage remains in the 32-33 mpg range for a mix of mainly Hwy and in the 28-29 mpg when I throw in more city driving. I have always used the 89 octane fuel, occasionally using 91 when I go to Costco. With prices hovering around $2 per gallon now, I have tried 87 octane with no apparent negative consequences.
The slight turbo lag has never bothered me and the exhilaration of the turbo when the tach gets above 4000 is a true pleasure (150hp version).
I want a wagon and have decided to go with an automatic (ugh) because I recently moved to a larger city (SF Bay Area) with more traffic and the convenience of not having to shift constantly is looking awfully good to me - and don't think I would like the 1.8T coupled to an automatic.
I agree with the folks who espouse leather over velour......easier to clean, more comfortable, and, I would imagine, holds up better over the years.
I have not even had to replace the brake pads yet (possibly due to my long distance driving & downshifting). I am on only my second set of tires: OEM Contis lasted 61,000 miles and the Michelin MX4's I have now have 1/4" tread left after 51,000. I mention this because my wife's Volvos chew up Michelins every 28-29,000 miles (2001 V70 and previously a '95 960 wagon).
My question: does anyone think the GLX version is truly preferable to the GLS V6??
Thanks in advance!
-Ian
We actually tried to purchase a five speed several months ago and had no luck finding one, it had to be ordered at the time which is why I was so surprised that a dealer actually had one on the lot. Good luck
5 Speed Manual Passat/Jetta Wagons are available,
but require your patience because if you are looking for something specific an order will be necessary...and a wait of 60-90 days. If you are
very open to colors and trim levels you can do a search, on line, through www.vw.com
The problem with vw.com, as far as I can tell, is transmissions are not indicated under new car inventories. I am searching under "Find a Dealer." Is there a way to do a more advanced search, including how to look for a manual transmission?
Revka
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Hatchbacks & Wagons Boards
Also, anyone have all there radio presets unexplicably clear? It's only happened once, so I'm curious if it's just a fluke.
That just puts me back where I started -- relying on the dealers to supply the information. None of them (Columbus OH area), by the way, offered an answer by email -- they all insist on a call. Seems to defeat the whole purpose of internet shopping. I prefer email so I don't get sucked into the sales pitch right away, plus have time to think about my response.
I've had success in getting responses by email. Try putting a note in the "additional comments" letting them know that your are serious buyer, but only want to communicate by email at this point, because you're are looking for something specific....
Others here may have more to add. Good luck.
Revka
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Hatchbacks & Wagons Boards
99% of the 1st contact email I receive requests information about a specific model car do not include options, colors, interior requirements...
Leather or cloth, and often even when they are included there can be accidental/typo input errors...
And because I have been doing this for so long, I am well aware of the fact that my inquiry is probably one of 4 or 5 or more sent out by the customer. As a matter of fact, of late I have found that customers are sending out so many that they cannot keep them straight. Additionally, I have learned that although our target response time is from 2-12 hours, often times people don't check their email for days.
It is very important for customers to bear in mind that the only salaried employees at an Automobile Dealership are those that work in the Business Office and Parts & Service. Everyone else is on some sort of commission or bonus program. Time is Money.
Actual, Real Time communication allows the customer to determine if they like the Dealership, to explain their needs and to learn more about the car they are looking for.
If the customer feels that they know everything available about the car, it's Warranty, and the Dealership, then a better email format would be
to request availability on a very specific car and what they are prepared to pay and how and when. This would allow the Dealer to answer in the same succinct way...We have the car, we will meet the price, and we can offer this rate & term.
Finally, let me say that during the past six years that I have been an E-Commerce Manager for Volkswagen, I have seen some not so subtle changes in the process.
In the late 90s people would contact me for information and to open a dialogue. In 2000-2001
people would contact me looking for hard to obtain VWs. In both of these cases communication was open and warm and easy. But beginning last year and continuing into this year the focus has been primarily on price. And I mean at the expense of real knowledge about the products. I cannot tell you how many times I have quoted an
agreed upon price only to discover at the time of delivery that the customer had a very limited knowledge of all of the features and benefits of the car, the Warranty, or all of the safety features.
Doesn't make much sense to me...it seems that the entire purchase process has been turned around backwards...Get a price and then learn about what you just bought...It used to be the other way around...
I guess my point is that if the online inventory was more detailed (including options, warranties etc), emails could be for prices about specific vehicles and with knowledge of that vehicle already in hand. This may not work for all buyers, but it would certainly work for me (and I'm guessing I'm not unique!)
These are the in-house Dealership software programs in common use today. They do not provide
detailed descriptions of each car; just the bare bone basics.
When I load Inventory by hand, it is necessary to point and click on each and every item...from
*Premium Sound* to *ABS*...Very, Very time consuming and BORING...which is why I have always just put a a cross section of the more unusual...We will be doing batch loads soon
courtesy of a a new "Nitra 2.0" from Cobalt.
Thanks
All Sales People carry a "key" that allows for the bypass of this system..
NEW sALESMAN...!!!
Does the dealership normally remove this System upon delivery of the car?
Thanks
it is like the Safe-T-Key does not exist...
Umm, I didn't catch the meaning in your last post.
...*Blockers*...net, net,
it is like the Safe-T-Key does not exist...
Does this mean that the dealers don't remove the "Safe-T-Key" device? Can the device be removed by the purchaser? I'm a little nervous about the reliability of the chip - it looks easy to remove - without it, the car doesn't go anywhere, as proven to me with two "immobilized" vehicles on the dealer's lot. Certainly, it seems like a proven technology, but whom does it benefit after the vehicle is sold?
Thanks
Your call...I am sure that it would not be a problem...I would have no difficulty in asking for it to be removed.
I am seriously considering buying a new Passat GLS Wagon but will wait if a new version is just around the corner. Also, does anyone know if the GLS Wagon will be available in 4 Motion?
Interested in any comments.
How many icy/snowy days do you get? How well and how fast are your streets cleared? For the FWD version you may need to (or really should) change to winter tires. With the AWD you probably can get by with all seasons (although you may still want to change for super traction). I would say, if you don't like having your tires changed every winter, go with the AWD. On the other hand, a FWD car with winter tires and traction control does very well except for the most slippery conditions, or if you have lots of steep hills/ narrow trails/ long driveways.
If you like spirited driving, AWD also improves handling on dry and wet roads. It feels like you are driving on rails, and it has more neutral handling (less understeer). However, you are unlikely to feel the difference if you are a very conservative driver. Definitely get ESP, it works very well and is quite an inexpensive option.
- D.
The FWD Passat is an excellent handler for its class, the AWD does not really improve on this.
If I lived in hilly northern NH, I'd certainly prefer AWD. Here in flat Boston, I don't need it and, as dudleyr points out, AWD does bring a penalty both on the sticker and at the gas pump.
You'll have to decide whether the advantages of AWD outweigh the disadvantages, based on the climate and terrain where you live (and your ability to say "the heck with it, I'm staying home from work today because of the snow."
Now- is $500 below invoice reasonable to offer (with 2% dealer holdback and some current marketing spiffs being offerred to dealers?)
VWs are not exactly distress merchandise...Better tact would be Invoice or $250 over(depending on Color) coupled with VCI financing at 1.9%.
Krzys
If it makes you feel any better, the snow fall around the Boston area this winter totaled close to 71". Of course, that amount makes those in upper state New York probably envious.
It is called ground clearance.
Your options are:
tank with a winch
hoovercraft
motorized sled
Krzys
I was only responding to what you actually said. Besides, as krzyss has already pointed out, a car with less than 5" of ground clearance is not going to get you through a 22" snowfall regardless of whether it has AWD or not.
A FWD Passat with a good set of dedicated snow tires will probably be more than enough to get you through a typical Philly winter. Now if AWD will satisfy a want that you have, well that's fine too. Just be aware of trade-offs it will present in terms of fuel economy and certain aspects of performance.