VW Dealers

[Damn True]

Wow. Bay Area VW dealers are smoking the sticky-icky!

They are asking for a $5000 markup on TDI jetta wagons ABOVE MSRP?

They are currently getting a 2% holdback from VW on top of their other incentives as well.

Its raining out, dealerships are closing left and right, sales on those cars were down 14% in Dec and 9% in Nov, unemployment is well over 10% in Nor-Cal they have the same cars on their lot that they had last weekend and 6-8 sales guys standing around smoking and NOT selling cars and they are trying to get OVER MSRP?

Anyone know a VW dealer who wants to make a little money instead of no money?

[b-man]

Did you tell them that you won't pay that 5K markup?

The last new car deal I did was done entirely through the internet. I never even spoke with the salesperson until the day I picked up the car. I did all my negotiating via email, and got the price I wanted. I waited for a car in the color and the transmission type that I wanted, I didn't choose one from their inventory.

I test drove the car I wanted at a local dealer, but ended up buying one from another dealer that was further away but was willing to deal.

[jocko124]

I usually email the internet managers of a bunch of dealers telling them exactly what I want and ask for a quote. The ones that reply get on my second round list. The ones that don't obviously don't need my money!!

[Damn True]

Did you tell them that you won't pay that 5K markup?

The last new car deal I did was done entirely through the internet. I never even spoke with the salesperson until the day I picked up the car. I did all my negotiating via email, and got the price I wanted. I waited for a car in the color and the transmission type that I wanted, I didn't choose one from their inventory.

I test drove the car I wanted at a local dealer, but ended up buying one from another dealer that was further away but was willing to deal.

Yes.

I offered them about $800 over invoice. Cash.

[dadto2jays]

Yes.

I offered them about $800 over invoice. Cash.

The issue is supply in demand we always do the same in our dealerships specially when the new model that everyone wants and we only get one or two for the first 90 days and you cant even order them. The term "CASH" for us in the business really has no meaning as we get our money within 24 hours from the bank that buys the loan. if you wanted bad enough you just pay the premium or wait till we have more in stock.

[Damn True]

Three local dealers. Each with 6-7 in stock. The same cars they had last week and nobody on the lot looking.

They chose today to make no money instead of some money.

I understand perfectly the concept of supply and demand. If there were a line out the door for those cars it would be a justifiable position. But as I said earlier, their sales guys were standing around watching football and smoking. We were the only customers in the joint. They have supply, and lack demand.

[megaladon6]

is that $5k over the $2-3k extra they already cost--compared to an equivalent gasser?
i will say this--tdi's are great cars!

[Damn True]

yes

[TnBlkC230WZ]

They are selling for retail in Memphis, TN.

[brans72]

Our next car will probably be a TDI but I do have a connection for mine. Best of luck!
Are you looking at the wagon?

[5Mcamaro]

I test drove a 2010 tdi and was not impressed. Thier new and improved low emissions engine is no more than a particulate trap in the exhaust that gets cleaned out by dumping fuel in it. They wanted $2000 above msrp. I purchased a Honda Civic si instead at below invoice and I love it.

[SRTOutlaw]

The new Audi A3 TDI was looking pretty good to me. But I found out that there is no quattro version for the TDI and that kinda kills it for me.

[megaladon6]

so? you have a car that gets a proven 40+mpg (i don't know what the new ones get, but you can ask Getmore what his is so far), has been officially rated as cleaner than a prius, is much more reliable, more powerfull, and doesn't have a huge non-recyclable battery that has destroyed how many square miles of cananda? oh, and doesn't need a $5-10,000 battery every 5yrs.
plus it's more than a DPF, though that is a huge part of it. it's also the computer control and the EXTREMELY precise control of the injection timing, pulses, and quantity.

[SRTOutlaw]

My sister has one of those new Jeep Grand Cherokee diesels. That thing is a total sweat heart! They only made then for '07-'08 and they have the 3.0 liter Mercedes blue tech engine. They're awesome so don't over look one if you cross its path. They are expensive though!

[megaladon6]

i really don't understand why they don't have the AWD in the US. they have it in europe and the gassers have it here.

[megaladon6]

I would really like a the overseas version of the 3.0 liter diesel Toyota
yeah, i want the 3L VW or BMW v6 diesels. IIRC about 250hp and 300+tq at 45mph!

[buickfunnycar.com]

Prolly doing you a favor True...avoid the VW.

[TnBlkC230WZ]

I have a 3.0 turbo desiel Mercedes ML320CDI. I love that truck. It gets 26 - 28 MPG if I keep it at 75MPH. Drops to 25.5 at 80 and 85 MPH. It's never gotten less than 20.5 in heavy city driving, typical is 22.5. It will keep up with most V-8 trucks and toes 7200 lbs. It is a fantastic motor. I love to figure out the electronics and put one in a Nova. Just imagine. I hear the 2011 3.0 will have over 550 lbs of torque and 325 HP.

I have a rental a FWD Rav 4 a while back. My ML was hit by a tornado (while I was in it). I renamed the Rav 4 an anemic, gas guzzeling 4 cylinder.

I can't figure out why people are so into hybrids. :dunno::dunno::dunno: They ultimately polute more than a gas or desiel vehicle. I bet my Nova has less impact on the environment than a Prius. Top that off with terribly high maintenance cost and it really is the fool's choice. I can't imagine trying to sell one that is 8 - 10 years old. It will be cheaper to through it away.

[XLexusTech]

Prolly doing you a favor True...avoid the VW.
Couldn't disagree more! I have on 03 TDI Jetta. It is by far the best Daily driver I have ever had. 130k miles on it. The only thing I have done on it so far are brakes (rears 2 sets) Fronts need replacing now at 130K miles and a timing belt I did as preventative Maint.

As for the price is it the same for the coup? If so then I cant explain it but if its just the wagon then I get it.... it anont right but I get why.

[Damn True]

Prolly doing you a favor True...avoid the VW.

Is that based on anything empirical?

I mean, have you gotten a bunch of '09 TDI's on trade-in's at the Ford dealership you work at because people weren't happy with them?

I've done a ton of research on these things. There were a few high pressure fuel pump problems (very few) on the early production '09s but VW seems to have addressed the issue. Reliability numbers according to CR are quite good.


BTW, I am really impressed with what Mullaly has done with the Ford brand in the last few years. They just don't offer what we are looking for right now. (mid-size wagon) The flex is nice, but the mpg is too low and the style does not appeal to either of us.

[buickfunnycar.com]

Is that based on anything empirical?

I mean, have you gotten a bunch of '09 TDI's on trade-in's at the Ford dealership you work at because people weren't happy with them?

I've done a ton of research on these things. There were a few high pressure fuel pump problems (very few) on the early production '09s but VW seems to have addressed the issue. Reliability numbers according to CR are quite good.


BTW, I am really impressed with what Mullaly has done with the Ford brand in the last few years. They just don't offer what we are looking for right now. (mid-size wagon) The flex is nice, but the mpg is too low and the style does not appeal to either of us.

Ford's got some stellar euro products in the pipeline heading our way but sadly no small turbo diesel's on the horizon...

[69LT1Nova]

My only beef with VWs is their electrical systems go on the fritz (pun intended). A great car otherwise.

[megaladon6]

actually musclecarjohn does have a point. GAS VW's have had constant problems, and as a matter of fact the 09/10 TDi's are having trans problems--with the regular automatic (which is normal for vw) the DSG had some issues which are easily fixed and i think are only on the early ones.
and the diesel can feel a little weird when it goes into it's regen cycle.
but find me a car that hasn't had some sort of issue!
i will never buy a gas vw again, but unless i win the lotto, i'll always have a vw diesel.

[Boatmark]

I guess I have had contrary luck with the gas VW. My mom is still driving my old commuter 05-1/2 Jetta 2.5. I drove it 40k per year the first two and a half years and never spent a dime on it other than one set of Michelins that are still on it at 125k. Had a glitch with the electric trunk release the first month fixed under warranty.

I drove it the other day and it feels as tight and rattle free to drive as the day it came off the lot. I wish my much more expensive Chevy truck felt that good!

As for the price gouging, that is just the way it is on a new vehicle. Some moron will have to have it now and pay his 5k mark-up. Even if he sits on it for another month and pays the two points on the floorplan money he is still money ahead when the moron pays. Just wait a few months.

As for paying cash, its no incentive to the dealer. You finance the car and he makes money on the back end, and is funded in 24 hours. He would rather you finance it.

[megaladon6]

here's a question for ya'. if you check the door tag, was it made in germany or mexico?
i used to track the country of origin. the german ones pretty much never broke, whereas the mexican ones had common issues.
'though my tdi is both. the engine+trans were made in germany and the body in mexico.

[Damn True]

All jettas are assembled in Mex

[megaladon6]

that's not exactly true, they have plants everywhere assembling the jetta/vento/bora/whatever name this month/country.
plus the problems aren't restricted to the jetta.
but soon the passat/replacement will be made in tennessee!

[6'9"Witha69]

I know a few people who have bought VWs recently and they have spent as much time in the service dept as they have in the driveway. Funnniest thing to me is one of these people is one of my direct reports, the loaner from the VW dealership was a Toyota Corolla!

[megaladon6]

but were they diesels or gassers? :)

[MrQuick]

Anyone know a VW dealer who wants to make a little money instead of no money?


supply and demand buddy. its vat da ppl wants

the wife knows someone at Sonnen VW if you don't mind driving to Marin.

vince

[TonyHuntimer]

Bob Lewis really screwed us back in '01. Now it's Capitol VW.

Bought our '03 Passat in '02 from Stevens Creek VW. Their service department screwed us and treated me like I was some ignorant country-boy when trying to explain what they did to our car (and overcharged us). Didn't fix the problem and told me to read the manual on how to program the heater and A/C. Took it to Capitol Service and they fixed the problem. It was a bad sensor in the A/C head unit. Nobody tells me that I don't know when something is broken and tell me to "Read the F'n Manual". So now Capitol does our service.

The Passat has gone through 3 sets of rear brakes already at 80K. Come to find out...the car was designed with more brake bias to make it feel more like a luxury car that doesn't dip hard in the front when you hit the brakes. VW failed to make the rear brake pads any larger than normal. The rear pads are about a quarter of the size of the front brakes. Behind the scenes, I found out this is a very common feature (problem) with the Passat.

Overall the Passat is great, but have had a serp belt tensioner failed 5K, failed fuel pump at 10K, drivers seat heater failed/recalled at 20K (which forced us to replace the lower seat cushion and heater-not to mention burning my wife's butt pretty good), moon roof limit switch failed at 22K, A/C interior thermostat failed at 45K, deck lid hinges (not the shocks) failed 50K, intake gasket leak at 63K, and water pump failed at 78K. This doesn't include our 1 set of front brakes and 3 sets of rear brakes.

I'm sure you've done research on the integrity of the Jetta. VW's are decent cars (especially the Jetta's and Passat's), but be careful.

This was years ago, but when we talked to a dealer in Bakersfield...they were much more willing to work closer to the MSRP ($500 over -and all cash) than the ones in San Jose were. Who knows, maybe that's even more true now...if the VW dealerships are even open down there. Maybe call the dealers in hard hit areas like Bakersfield and Fresno and see if they're willing to work closer to the MSRP. Just make sure you get it all in writing or buy it over the net. Getting the OK over the phone isn't worth "jack" once they have you in traveling to their dealership and try to "work you over" for add-ons. You're a smart guy.