- #3550 of 3757
-
Re: Call from The Owner of the Dealership [redvw]
by jogousa
-
Nov 03, 2009 (2:47 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: redvw (Nov 02, 2009 2:06 pm)
What I would do is write them both, VW cust. svce dept and the dealership. What you want to have is a "paper trail" down the line, just in case there is really a problem. You should get a written response from both.
I once had a similar problem with Range Rover because I may be what they consider "tinkerer" as I do a lot of work on my cars myself, under warranty or not. Many items that you do yourself will not void warranty as long as you keep meticulous records. You can also get reimbursed, depending on manufacturer's policy, for parts, etc.
You have many choices to find another dealership in the area where you live.
|
- #3551 of 3757
-
Re: Call from The Owner of the Dealership [jogousa]
by sebring95
-
Nov 03, 2009 (5:26 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: jogousa (Nov 03, 2009 2:47 am)
I'm still considering a 2010 and besides the fact the nearest dealers all want sticker....I've already decided I will have nothing to do with their "free service". I did 90% of the work on my '00 TDI through 200k miles and the couple run-ins I had with a couple different dealer service departments....all sent my blood pressure up. VW and Toyota dealers are absolutely horrid in my area. The good news is I've so far never needed them on my Tundra. I absolutely love the 2010 Jetta TDI but it's not great enough to be bent over on the sale and any future trips to the dealer.
|
- #3552 of 3757
-
Re: Call from The Owner of the Dealership [sebring95]
by jogousa
-
Nov 03, 2009 (5:41 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: sebring95 (Nov 03, 2009 5:26 am)
Unfortunately, there is no way around "free service" nor any discount if you chose to do it yourself. Actually, you should not mention it when negotiating the price. Dealers usually bill VW regions for this work and if you don't come there for "free" service it's a lost revenue for them.
What they "want" is one thing but once you walk in and start negotiations (if you have time and patience) not that many dealers would leave you walking out without some kind of a deal! If you have more than one dealer in town, I would work one against another one hoping the same owner doesn't own both franchises.
Ask them, when you walk in, how much they want to make on that car (rather than telling them what do you want to pay or them telling you what they want for the car). Once they give you a figure, do your homework on Edmunds website and you come up with the price that you want to pay. You should not pay more than 300 to 500 over the "invoice".
|
- #3553 of 3757
-
Re: Call from The Owner of the Dealership [jogousa]
by sebring95
-
Nov 03, 2009 (6:32 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: jogousa (Nov 03, 2009 5:41 am)
I've bought enough vehicles to know how to work the process (bought 20+ so far this year for my company.....). My nearest VW dealer is 45 minutes away in a major metro where I would prefer to buy and maybe have it serviced. They're a HUGE dealer (by VW standards....) but during a brief discussion they were quite clear they weren't budging from sticker. I'm not one to EVER sit for hours negotiating a car purchase. My time is more valuable than that and if they don't want to deal I just walk. They have never called me back. I have dealt in the past with a dealer about six hours away and they have offered me an invoice deal over the phone and will locate the vehicle exactly how I want it. My preference however would be to buy at the "local" dealer where it would be convenient to get warranty work performed. I know from past experience this nearest dealer is very snobby about repairing a car you didn't buy from them. Oh they'll fix it (maybe right, maybe not) but don't expect them to do it in a timely fashion. It's not really about the money for me, I just refuse to overpay for something. And if that's what it comes down to, I just don't buy.
|
- #3554 of 3757
-
Re: Call from The Owner of the Dealership [redvw]
by altair4
-
Nov 03, 2009 (7:39 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: redvw (Nov 02, 2009 2:06 pm)
I would send a "confirming" letter to that person at the dealership with a copy to VW's Cutomer Care people. I would document each of the dealer's accusations and each of your replies. The bridge is already burned...you won't want to take your car there no matter how this all works out. And, yeah, I'd send a copy to the Better Business Bureau, as well, if for no other reason than to tweak the dealer.
Every time I read how many cars VW wants to sell in the States in the near future it seems that I run across a story like yours that illustrates how muh of a challenge VW is facing.
|
- #3555 of 3757
-
Re: Call from The Owner of the Dealership [bpeebles]
by colloquor
-
Nov 03, 2009 (9:08 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: bpeebles (Nov 02, 2009 6:29 pm)
Unfortunately, there are more dealers like this than there should be. A good example is our local dealer, they refuse to use the factory specified ATF. Rather, they push a synthetic "equivalent" that really doesn't meet the factory spec. I don't know how they continue to get by with it, but they do.
I've come to the firm conclusion that when it comes to vehicle maintenance, the vast majority of owners are totally uniformed sheep. Those who participate in these forums, however, are not.
|
- #3556 of 3757
-
Re: tjburkejr [bpeebles]
by tjburkejr
-
Nov 03, 2009 (7:17 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: bpeebles (Nov 02, 2009 6:23 pm)
Well, it's time to eat a little crow. I took the 2009 Jetta TDI into the dealer to look at the airbag fault light glowing. The tech called back mid-afternoon to tell me that an airbag sensor mounted in the front bumper had in fact failed. There were no replacements in the state, so he is sending to "the coast" (which one I don't know) for the part.
This is all interesting, but I'm getting a little tired of dragging what is still a new car back to the dealer for nits and gnats. A rear passenger side window kit, a new screen over the pollen filter (original was badly warped), a recall to reflash the DSG transmission's computer chip, and now a bad airbag sensor. These are all small things, to be sure, but my Honda-owning friends are starting to rib me a little.
|
- #3557 of 3757
-
Re: Set of Winter TIres on cheap steel rims [elias]
by farmertull
-
Nov 03, 2009 (8:00 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: elias (Nov 02, 2009 6:22 am)
Where, exactly, do you cover with electrical tape?
|
- #3558 of 3757
-
Re: Set of Winter TIres on cheap steel rims [farmertull]
by jogousa
-
Nov 04, 2009 (3:31 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: farmertull (Nov 03, 2009 8:00 pm)
TPMS - tire pressure monitoring sensor - is usually mounted on the wheel/rim close or next to the tire valve stem.
|
- #3559 of 3757
-
Re: Set of Winter TIres on cheap steel rims [farmertull]
by elias
-
Nov 04, 2009 (6:31 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: farmertull (Nov 03, 2009 8:00 pm)
farmertull, i put the black electrical tape on the instrument panel plastic 'window' so it occludes the flashing/solid TPMS indicator, to my eyes. I do the same for the DRL indicator in both my cars. Also I block an annoying MPH/KPH light on my other car's panel similarly.
ps - I've noticed that the mechanics who do the state inspection each year remove the tape.
|
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans 
