Bought a Jetta TDI W/Nav package

[roadkoan]

I had a 1978 Rabbit Diesel. Absolutely no power. You could pretty much put a brick on the gas pedal on the highway for cruise control. Max speed about 80.

Yep, the original 1.5 naturally-aspirated, probably with a 4 speed manual? Best money I ever spent on my Dub was when I went to the 5 speed.
VW went to the 1.6 in '81, added the turbo in '85ish, and finally in the early '90's Canada and Europe started getting a 1.9td ,still with the same bolt pattern, that can be tuned up to 280 horses!

Course you sacrifice a little gas millage, But that would be almost as much fun as the Hayabussa-Smart car!

smart car with Hayabusa engine at 200mph

And you'd still get better gas mileage than 3/4 of the cages on the road!

[booger]

The last time I was this pumped was when I got my 14 brand spanking new, if this car provides half as many smiles it'll be a keeper for sure

I had a 01 Jetta VR6.  Great performance, but had it in the shop all of the time.  Car wasn't dependable until about 90Kmiles.  Just about replaced the whole damn thing by that time.  Drove it until it was 11 years old and 160k miles.  The last 70K were real enjoyable, but it was the shts before that.

I've always wanted one with the TDI.  Have a friend that bought one a few years ago and he has had nothing but pure bliss from it.

[Scaffolder]

I love your intro into Freds TDI page. Tires and oil. lol.
PR3s of course was a great response.

[Son of Pappy]

I love your intro into Freds TDI page. Tires and oil. lol.
PR3s of course was a great response.

They are quite a bit more timid over there, I'm kinda watching to see how they operate with a bonifide smart ass.  I think I may lose a few followers once I post up picks with my "Drill baby drill" sticker and an "I love Glen Beck"

[AZBiker]

They are quite a bit more timid over there, I'm kinda watching to see how they operate with a bonifide smart ass.  I think I may lose a few followers once I post up picks with my "Drill baby drill" sticker and an "I love Glen Beck"

You might also want to steal my avatar pic...

[roadkoan]

  I think I may lose a few followers once I post up picks with my "Drill baby drill" sticker and an "I love Glen Beck"

Yea, I suspect the only Beck they listen to has "2 turntables and a microphone" 

[Conrad]

Hey Chet, does that Jetta come with a factory installed electric engine heater?

[Son of Pappy]

Hey Chet, does that Jetta come with a factory installed electric engine heater?

I'll have to look, it is something I will need once I live on the dry side of the state

[Son of Pappy]

Nope, no block heater, non even mentioned in the manual.  I'm really liking this car, filled up 260 miles ago, she just dropped to 5/8 of a tank, showing an average of 43.8.  Most of the miles have been back country, maybe a third has been freeway.  Still learning all the functions and features.  I will be making a complaint, I found/heard a small screw rolling around in the glove box, yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gPink]

Would a big screw be better?

[Son of Pappy]

Would a big screw be better?

Uh, no, well, I guess it's all a matter of perspective   We talking about the act or actor?

[Conrad]

Chet,

I'm about to take the plunge and talk to a dealer about buying a TDI Sportwagen. I was wondering about your buying experience/strategy. I know that you took advantage of the 0% financing (it's still available till the end of the year). Were you able to get them to come down off the list price while still being able to get the 0%? In the past when buying a new car I always came prepared with financing from my credit union along with the invoice price for the car and all the options that I wanted. I just gave the salesman my list and told him how much over the invoice price I was willing to pay. If the salesman gave me crap about the invoice price not being right, or for any other reason, I turned around and walked out and went to another dealer. The 0% would be great but not if they're gonna make me pay the sticker price to get it.

[Caffeinated]

Chet,

I'm about to take the plunge and talk to a dealer about buying a TDI Sportwagen. I was wondering about your buying experience/strategy. I know that you took advantage of the 0% financing (it's still available till the end of the year). We're you able to get them to come down off the list price while still being able to get the 0%? In the past when buying a new car I always came prepared with financing from my credit union along with the invoice price for the car and all the options that I wanted. I just gave the salesman my list and told him how much over the invoice price I was willing to pay. If the salesman gave me crap about the invoice price not being right, or for any other reason, I turned around and walked out and went to another dealer. The 0% would be great but not if they're gonna make me pay the sticker price to get it.

Be sure to check Truecar.com before talking to a dealer. It gives you all the sales data in your area, so you know what cars have been selling for. You can also get quotes from multiple dealer.

[Conrad]

Be sure to check Truecar.com before talking to a dealer. It gives you all the sales data in your area, so you know what cars have been selling for. You can also get quotes from multiple dealer.

Thanks Chris, you can't have too much info! There's a VW dealer fairly close to me but they don't have any Sportwagens on the lot. I'm fine with ordering and waiting to get what I want but I at least want to be able to test drive one first. Closer to Chicago there are lots of dealers with Sportwagens on the lot but none of them seem to have the exact combo of colors and options that I want.

I went to truecar as you suggested. I found three dealers somewhat near me who will sell me the car for, what the site claims, dealer invoice.

[Son of Pappy]

I paid under invoice, went through the 'net.  My experience was really quite nice, I was prepared to do battle but I never needed to.  I went the route of the extended warranty because I felt it was the right thing to do, for me and the dealer.  If not for the %0 I would have stayed with the standard warranty and skipped the extra xzyline and tinted windows.  My bottom line is really simple, would I refer the saleslady to anyone?  Yes, her name is CindyLu at the Tacoma Look Larson dealer.  I'll gladly share her number if anyone is interested.

So, I hit 300 miles before the gauge registered half.  I should hit 600 before I need to fill er up, and very little of that was highway miles.  The book shows something like a thousand miles before she is broke in.  I think I will really realize the best economy once I get 3 tanks of diesel through her.  Something neat I noticed today, each fob logs it's own economy data, I think I'll challenge my wife to see who does better