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Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Volkswagen Passat Prices Paid and Buying Experience
3257 messages, Last post on Aug 20, 2008 at 8:59 PM
You are in the Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum. Your Hosts are car_man & kyfdx
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On Saturday, December 16, I e-mailed three dealerships requesting quotes on a 2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS Sedan and a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS. I stated that I'd already driven both vehicles and would only visit the dealership if we agreed on a price ahead of time. The dealerships I e-mailed were National VW in Jacksonville, Joe Pecheles VW in Greenville, and Southern States VW in Raleigh. Monday morning, Southern States called. The sales rep called me from his cell phone while on the lot. He started to read every sticker on each Jetta and Passat on the lot. I told him to e-mail me quotes on what I specifically requested. He said he didn't know how to use e-mail and that he would fax me the quote. I never heard from him again. As of Monday afternoon, I had not heard from the other dealerships. I faxed a copy of the e-mail to National VW, Joe Pecheles, and Bob King VW in Wilmington. National VW immediately called, but to make a long story short, said that could not give me a quote unless I physically visited the lot. The call was quite humorous. Bob King VW called to verify my request. Within ten minutes the rep e-mailed a reasonable quote on both vehicles. After two e-mail exchanges, we reached a deal. I told the guy to have the car ready for me by noon the next day. The guy was very professional and didn't give me a bunch of b.s. On Tuesday, I picked up the car and was in and out of the dealership within thirty minutes. I dealt with Jay Gertz. BTW, Joe Pecheles called three days later. The Bob King VW quote on the Jetta GLS with CD player was $17,247 (tornado red or black). I feel I got a good deal at $20,679 on the Passat considering: MSRP $21,975 plus $335 for in-dash CD ($22,310) Edmunds TMV $20,512 (12/7/00) + 525 dest. + CD If you need more info., let me know. |
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A little over a week ago, I bought a Passat Wagon GAS V6 with automatic transmission. I'm pleased with the car, and I negotiated a good price. Thanks to all who answered my sometimes ignorant questions over the past several weeks. For the benefit of potential passat buyers, here are some things I learned: 1. At least in the Wash. DC area (though I suspect elsewhere, too), the 2001 Passat wagons are disappearing. Dealers say that they don't expect new shipments until March and they're referring to the 2001.5, which probably will sell much closer to MSRP at first. 2. My dealer was unwilling to swap a '01 wagon for another one that had the interior color I initially wanted. People who want to buy an '01 at a decent price may not be able to get exactly what they want. 3. Salesmen at up-scale dealerships may not engage in high-pressure tactics, but they may be just as dishonest as sales people at less tony establishments. I was naive to think otherwise. My salesman told me during negotiations that VW doesn't pay holdbacks. When I showed him evidence to the contrary (specifically re Passats), he made the irrelevant point that his compensation is based on sales price above invoice. 4. Like the Edmunds buyer's guide says, carefully inspect your car at delivery. I found a tiny crack in the rear windshield. The dealership said they'd replace the windshield, but I question the care with which they detailed the car prior to my driving it off the lot (it was dark at the time). If I were a cynic, I'd say that they knew about the crack and hoped I wouldn't find it. |
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| I'm going shopping for a loaded GLX w/w/o 4 motion when I get up this a.m. (it's already 2:00 a.m. here). The local (45 miles away) dealer has 3 GLX's in stock, 1 sedan, 1 sedan 4motion, 1 wagon 4motion. Will dealer be anxious to sell being only 3 business days till 2001? I'm hoping to get anyone of these cars for 28-29k. Is this a reasonable starting point? | |
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Snurple, I see your point a little better now, but I still don't wholly agree with it. The 36K car might be able to take 4 grand off because of higher profit margins, but does that neccesarily make it a better unit? Personally, I've driven a couple of "higher end cars", and I don't see the quality difference warranted by the price difference. Well, the Mercedes, and the Beamer were pretty nice.  But as far as Saab, Volvo, Acura, Infiniti, etc... I'm not seeing the higher quality levels people talk about. Tell me, how would you feel if the entire car industry were Saturn-ized (my dream situation)? No negotiation, just select your car by your budget and specifications wanted. I think the American people would breathe a collective sigh of relief! Jason |
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It depends on many factors. If this is a very small dealership, with only a small inventory of VWs, it will be more difficult to acheive your goals. And the fact that they have only 1 of each of these cars, and they won't be getting any more until the 2001.5s arrive also has to be considered. You might even have to look at how much snow you get in your area about those 4-motions! Most dealerships are quite intent on selling cars right now, but its not really the end of the year, just the end of what has been an extremely slow month. I will tell you one thing, you're better off buying now than next week! Good luck Jason |
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Trailer without Brakes=1540# Trailer with Brakes=2000# Tongue Load=165# For additional inf. email a fax # I will send instructions...PS |
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ffxvw, are the higher end cars actually "$4K to $6K better" ? YES, they are better in a number of ways. Saabs come with a 4yr/50k bumper to bumper warranty with 3 years of free scheduled maintenance. Saab, Audi, Volvo, Lexus, Infiniti, Acura DO have a higher level of overall refinement. And, all of these vehicles have greater "prestige." These factors place such vehicles in a higher class, and justify their higher price. IF today's Passat only cost $10,000, then it would be an insanely terrific value and the aforementioned "snooty-snobby autos" would appear to be hopelessly overpriced indulgences. But, the fact is that the Passat is $25-30K--it is no bargain (that's a ton of dough!). If dealers ask for sticker, people will not be satisfied with what the Passat has to offer, especially when compared to the "entry-level luxury models"...and they will give their business to the competition. Which is why you guys had better start slashing prices--may I suggest "50% off" ; ) |
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I think the refinement level on these cars compared to a Passat is more a different approach than anything else. The only ones I know in depth are the Volvos (we have a split showroom), and they drive like you're sitting in your easy chair in the living room. Not that that is bad, but its definitely different than a Passat. As far as prestige goes, that's just perception. I have heard people say, "How can they charge this much for a Volkswagen?". Is their objection based on anything real, or is it just the nameplate on the front? Jason P.S. I think most dealers will wait to see if people don't buy the cars before adopting your 50% off idea...
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On Dec. 5th VWOA reported our best November sales in 27 years...8.7% increase year over year 99/00. 328,614 new cars in the US alone, up 12.7% from 1999 11 month total...surpassing total 12 month sales for 1999 of 315,563. Volkswagen continues to be America's Best Selling European Car Brand... |
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We'll see what the new year brings. 40% off--but that's the best I can do... |
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