SWMBO is looking hard at one of these, she knows what she wants and we're off to the Dealer tomorrow. She has seen a particular car - are they as bad as I fear ? (from reading bits on here), will she be disappointed after her totally reliable MINI ? Is Service as bad as people make out in VW Dealers ? BMW dealers' experience is pretty good and we've used three for both cars - the cars are always fixed properly, never had to go back other than for routine problems, the costs have been predictable. She intends to buy new. Having been trawling VW websites for the last few weeks it seems that their residues are reasonable.......HELP !.
The MINI will be sold privately and she's going cash in hand - are they any good at discounts ? SWMBO got a wedge off my 535 and my 530....she's good at things like that. Are VW Dealers easily frightened ???
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Dave Pologirl Smokie please boot over to Discussion !
{Kick - DD}
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Internet brokers only offer around £700-£900 off, so that's probably the most you could expect. (I hope you prove me wrong :) )
I can only offer my own experiences from my Passat days......dreadful!
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I've had an 06 Golf since July, and, as much as I'm still grieving for Polo, I do love him.
You take your chance with the dealer - my supplying (and more local) one is awful, but Breeze in Southampton are fantastic. The only thing it's been back for in that time is the gear knob that I picked off through fiddling with it (replaced on warranty) and it's got a stereo recall outstanding that I haven't got round to booking it in for yet, but I can't say I've noticed any faults.
No rattles, squeaks or mechanical problems... my only gripe is that a couple of colleagues are getting better deals that I did because they've ordered Golf Matches. I just wish it was a bit more exciting (an extra 40 pounds per month would have got me the GTTdi) !
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Not to worried about the supplying dealer (the car she's spotted is 80 odd - very odd - miles away and we are spoilt for choice around here for servicing dealers 1 within 10 miles and 5 within 30 miles).
Ah well I'll just sit back and watch a master at work tomorrow, she's even timed the visit to within an hour of kick off of the Rugby. So far so good with telephone contact, they phoned back when they promised too.....
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What's Mrs PU's annual mileage? If you do a lot, a GTI will pay a lot more visits to a petrol station that a GT TDI 170, which might also be worth considering.
Personally I think VAG cars are fine - you just need to find a good dealer who will do a proper PDI and servicing, and will put right any faults once and for all. As I've said before, dealer service is largely why Skodas, with much the same oily bits, fare so much better in the satisfaction surveys than VWs.
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Deal done, she now owns a brand new 3 door Gti. Cut a good deal in the end with the sales chap making many trips to see his boss. Worth doing the research here (and other places but mainly here) she pulled a good deal in the end pulling in at quid under 20k. Now to sell the MINI - seriously its sold within the family - if anyone wants to hire a tough negotiator though, she has a way of getting stuff.
She didn't want a diesel. She prefers petrol - don't ask. ;-) (Her annual mileage is high)
BTW - excellent service from a local VW Dealer. Part of her tactic was to arrive late for the appointment, Test drive limited only by a lack of fuel in a demo car (the guy did offer to refuel), no pressure at all (on her !) - in fairness he didn't realise he was dealing with an accountant, that paid off. Hope the thing works now !
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I'm puzzled because If its the straight GTI 3-door then they're only about £17.5k OTR from brokers. The list is a little over £20k.
If its the Edition 30, on the other hand, then you've got it at a good price - they're about £2k more.
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She got 18" Alloys (about 400 quid) and reverse sensors (£275).
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I am insanely jealous... tell me it's not white or I may have to stamp my feet and throw a tantrum.
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it's not white. It's Diamond Black. White was on the agenda, the demo was white.
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Ahhh...the same colour as Gunther! I thoroughly recommend Autoglym Deep Shine for that. Now the small matter of the white spots is sorted, he looks gorgeous, and it lasts for ages.
(The GTI is achingly beautiful in white though...)
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I agree - it reminded me of the original in many ways, I did quip that a nice mK1 would be nice, but I got the laser look of death.
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I like white too - but for years it's been the kiss of death for resale values. GTIs do look great in white - I still can't imagine a white A4 or A6 though.
White is the new black - now there's a good slogan.
I've had three silver cars in a row - the current one because I had to have one from stock to get the low-interest finance deal. I can't face another one.
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It's funny how the Police have gone the other way as in SIlver is the new white. The VAG white seems almost ivory in colour and an iconic colour for me anyway of the MK1. Still fwd though ;-)
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Regulars know how I've been seriously let down by three Golfs on the trot and am very happy with my Saab 93. Despite this I still desperately yearn for a GTi - I just can't bring myself to buy one as I vowed never to touch VW after the last Mk 4 disaster. Therefore, pugugly, please keep us posted about the wife's GTi. Does it go wrong? Can the dealer fix it if it does etc.
I might, just might yet return to the fold. God that would be hypercritical!!!
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PU, have you or Mrs PU considered an A3 Sportback 2.0 TFSi, same engine, based on the same chassis though some how more classy than a GTI, I was looking a PCP deals the other day and the A3 is good VFM. The A3 2.0 TFSi is perhaps to the GTi what the S40 T5 is to the Focus ST, the A3 and Volvo are understated where the ST and GTi are just a bit boy racer ish.
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Yes - she initially craved an A3. We looked at several "nearly new" cars at dealers, she was disappointed by attitudes at the the four dealers we went to (me two steps behind and if they did speak to us at all it was to me they addressed themselves). She had a look at some cars but was disappointed by the way they seemed to be wearing paint wise and interior wise. She saw a Golf in the metal and wanted one. I have to say I had some influence....
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She had a look at some cars but was disappointed by the way they seemed to be wearing paint wise and interior wise. >>
Exactly. I was very surprised at the state of audi "approved" cars. Appalling state unless very new- (6-12 months old)
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Learnt one thing - when buying a new car have a look at a couple of 12 - 24 month old ones and see how they've worn....
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Do you mean by hypercritical, that you will become very critical, or did you intend to type "hypocritical" which has a quite different meaning. Either could make sense I suppose.
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He meant hypocritical obviously. Enjoy the GTi PU, should be great on those North Wales roads!
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Congratulations to you and Mrs Pug (I;ll leave the ugly bit out where the missus is concerned in case you come round and sort me out).
Seriously please keep us up to date - with her high mileage this will be a good car to follow.
I hope she enjoys it as much as I think I might enjoy a GTI (They are definielty back to iconic status with this model).
I imagine the black looks great especially with the subtle red piping around the grill etc.
Please also let me know what the ride is like on the 18" wheels.
All the best with it.
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I have to confess the harsh ride was discussed (albeit on smooth roads) - doesn't seem to concern her, the wheels she has specc'd are the Monzas and are sort of a dark alloy.
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Cheers - as I say keep us posted.
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I did mean "hypocritical" i.e. to go back to VW after being hyper-critical of them in the past
I'm sure you all knew what I meant.
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I have been very happy with my Golf GTI DSG gear box. Only had couple of warantee claims, one was a misting up back light cluster and the other was the passenger door seal came unstuck (A common fault) how ever the dealer fixed them both very quickly and with regards the seals changed all the door seals in the car with uprated ones?
Been very pleased with dealer service as well.
Cheers
Jlo
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