Buying a new car... specifically...

[Agamemnon]

Hey all,

I'm planning on buying a new VW GTI. Any great ideas on how to go about doing this? I know exactly what I want (Red, Leather/Moon roof options, basically every major option except auto transmission).

What's my best course of action here? I called both SouthCentre and Northland and neither even had a GTI for test driving, so I've a feeling its the type of car that they're not exactly eager to discount.

Can you get the dealership to move on this car? How would you go about doing it?

(Also, I'm a recent grad so I think that's $500 off. The online price of the model/options I selected is $32,500).

[White Doors]

32k for a golf? I love VW's - (My first car was a VW Fox), but that is alot for a Golf no?
How much are Jetta's?

You could almost get a Impala SS for that price with a small block V8.

[Looger]

the only real advice i have, is the more dealerships you deal with, the better. out of town if you have to.

that car is in high demand so it may not matter as much... and cars that aren't on the lot, unfortunately, rarely go for MSRP.

you can always factory order for 6+ months, if the waiting lists aren't too long, or check in with the cross-border brokers.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by White Doors

32k for a golf? I love VW's - (My first car was a VW Fox), but that is alot for a Golf no?
How much are Jetta's?

You could almost get a Impala SS for that price with a small block V8.

Hmmm... Chevy Impala or VW GTI...

I think I'm happy with my choice. Believe it or not, a V8 is not a selling feature to me in the least.

32k for a Golf GTI with all the options. I believe a base GTI is 28k, no idea what a base Golf starts at... considerably less I'd imagine.

[Bobblehead]

Wait until July!!!!
Unless you want to pay the extra 1% GST.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Wait until July!!!!
Unless you want to pay the extra 1% GST.

I think every car company is giving that 1% off right now...

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

I think every car company is giving that 1% off right now...

Since the GST doesn't affect a car company in any way (they collect it for the gov't), I would think that if they can offer to eat 1% right now, they should be able to lower your price 1% later.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Since the GST doesn't affect a car company in any way (they collect it for the gov't), I would think that if they can offer to eat 1% right now, they should be able to lower your price 1% later.

Hmmm... well, while I hear your logic, I doubt the car companies do. The only reason they're offering the 1% off is so sales don't decline until GST officially changes. Basically they're eating the 1% so sales don't go down... but I definitely get what you're saying... doubt the car company will.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Hmmm... Chevy Impala or VW GTI...

I think I'm happy with my choice. Believe it or not, a V8 is not a selling feature to me in the least.

I hear ya, I never really understood the notion that bigger/more power is better. Driving smaller, nimbler cars to me has always been way more enjoyable to me. They are handle great, are responsive, and just pure fun.
Driving an Impalla to me would be like trying to drive a couch....ugh.

As a past Golf owner, be advised that VW customer service in this city is REALLY crappy. I'm not sure why VW feels like they don't have to treat customers right, but they are extremely poor. And considering how many times you'll probalby have to take it in to for service, you better get used to it.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I hear ya, I never really understood the notion that bigger/more power is better. Driving smaller, nimbler cars to me has always been way more enjoyable to me. They are handle great, are responsive, and just pure fun.
Driving an Impalla to me would be like trying to drive a couch....ugh.

I'm thinking it is a power/weight thing. My wife had a Neon, but she preferred driving my Grand-Am because the V6 would accelerate much better; as a result found driving and merging much more enjoyable.

A small car with good power and good handling would be a lot of fun to drive, so I know what you mean.

[calf]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Since the GST doesn't affect a car company in any way (they collect it for the gov't), I would think that if they can offer to eat 1% right now, they should be able to lower your price 1% later.

it will still affect the car company since the government will be collecting the 7% on items paid/payable up until July 1...you can't go back and re-buy it to get that 1% off in July.

The purchase of real property is the only thing eligible to use 6% remittance right now.

[Looger]

not that i'd be one to screw with a new-car powertrain warranty, but horsepower is far and away the easiest thing to change on a vehicle.

handling, balance, driving position, feel, etc. is not so easy, an impala will still handle with the weight and sloppiness of an impala even after you upgrade the major chassis components (struts etc.), it's still going to push to the outside of a hard corner where the vw would zip right through.

for people that actually drive their cars, the ability to handle the speed it can generate is better than more immediate speed that cannot be used for anything but stoplight racing.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I hear ya, I never really understood the notion that bigger/more power is better. Driving smaller, nimbler cars to me has always been way more enjoyable to me. They are handle great, are responsive, and just pure fun.
Driving an Impalla to me would be like trying to drive a couch....ugh.

I'll vouch for that. I've embarrased Mustang GTs (and used to drive one myself), T/A's, Grand Ams, Grand Prix, Thunderbirds, Impala SS's, Subarus etc. with my little MINI. All that with 1.6 liters and a whole lot of fun.

Agamemnon, you may want to rethink the auto transmission in that GTI. If I'm not mistaken, that is an electronically shifted box (like an F1 car), which will be quicker than you could ever hope by shifting yourself.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

A small car with good power and good handling would be a lot of fun to drive, so I know what you mean.

thats' the thing, a Golf for it's size has quite a lot of power. It has some really awesome pickup, especially if you get the stick. So you get the best of both worlds....power AND mobility. plus you can actually park the sucker, unlike many huge behemoths.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Agamemnon, you may want to rethink the auto transmission in that GTI. If I'm not mistaken, that is an electronically shifted box (like an F1 car), which will be quicker than you could ever hope by shifting yourself.

Agreed. The DSG is faster than the manual model. I've driven a chipped Mk V GTI with the 6 speed, very fun car. Tonnes of low end power with the chip.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Table 5

thats' the thing, a Golf for it's size has quite a lot of power. It has some really awesome pickup, especially if you get the stick. So you get the best of both worlds....power AND mobility. plus you can actually park the sucker, unlike many huge behemoths.

Its actually very heavy for its size... a common VW trait. Lots of safety features though, so in my opinion its worth the extra weight. The auto in the GTI is faster than the stick though. They use their DSG system in this car wich has gears 1,3,5 on one clutch and 2,4,6 on another so the car can almost instantaneously switch gears as the next gear is already engaged and just needs one clutch disengaged and the other clutch engaged. Its super fast.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Agamemnon, you may want to rethink the auto transmission in that GTI. If I'm not mistaken, that is an electronically shifted box (like an F1 car), which will be quicker than you could ever hope by shifting yourself.

I hear ya. I'm old-school though, and would love a stick. Plus thats the one option I figure I can easily do without, considering the $1500 or so it costs. I've driven a stick for years, and my Dad's first car was a red '86 GTI stick, I'm actually sort of being nostalgic in buying the (far) newer version, with the same/similar options.

I guess I just like the stick

[Table 5]

who cares if the automatic is .2 second or whatever faster to 100k. Nothing will ever beat the fun of driving a stick.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Its actually very heavy for its size... a common VW trait. Lots of safety features though, so in my opinion its worth the extra weight. .

it's true, they arent light cars, but they dont feel heavy to me. They still handle great in turns, and you can throw em around quite easily.

[ricosuave]

post on clubveedub.com or newveedub.com

there are some members here who are salesmen and can likely help