Apparently, Buying a Car is Difficult...

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
The last time I bought a car from a dealership was 19 years ago. I walked in, said "I want that one," and sat down with the salesman to work out the details. I had a complete piece of shit 1994 Ford Exploder to trade. I told the salesman how much I was prepared to pay, I didn't care how much I got on the trade-in, and stood up to walk twice. "How many payments do you want to make?" he asked me. "One." I ended up driving away in the car I wanted for the price I wanted and unloaded that God-awful Exploder. I feel like it was a good outcome. These days I'm not a fan of buying new cars on principle, preferring instead to string along aging Rovers. Some day that may change.
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
The last time I bought a car from a dealership was 19 years ago. I walked in, said "I want that one," and sat down with the salesman to work out the details. I had a complete piece of shit 1994 Ford Exploder to trade. I told the salesman how much I was prepared to pay, I didn't care how much I got on the trade-in, and stood up to walk twice. "How many payments do you want to make?" he asked me. "One." I ended up driving away in the car I wanted for the price I wanted and unloaded that God-awful Exploder. I feel like it was a good outcome. These days I'm not a fan of buying new cars on principle, preferring instead to string along aging Rovers. Some day that may change.

Yeah, I don't have anything at this time that a dealership really needs on a lot, unfortunately.

It won't be this way for too long with me, I hope; though I may decide to keep something new around in general.

I'm hoping I won't have to worry about it soon. I didn't really want to buy a car. If I don't, however, I can't get stuff out of my way. I just needed something that I don't have to worry about for the next few years. I'm not even sure how long I will keep it, but it's going to do the job without wasting too much money.

I'm just too bogged down at the moment, and I need to clear the driveway of nonsense. I'm tired of just watching things rot while I recover.

Hey, if you'd have swapped the steering wheel on that Explorer, you could have had a Jurassic Park replica. Imagine a world in which people might pay good money for one of those things. It might just happen eventually. You never know what's going to catch on. :ROFLMAO:

Cheers,

Kennith
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
Hey, if you'd have swapped the steering wheel on that Explorer, you could have had a Jurassic Park replica. Imagine a world in which people might pay good money for one of those things. It might just happen eventually.

I was ready to pay good money to those slick guys at the dealership to take that nightmare off my hands. I have a pretty vivid imagination but I struggle to picture a world in which a 1994 Explorer is desirable. I can't believe that was what I bought when I returned to the States after driving a 75-series Land Cruiser in South Africa. Colossal disappointment.
 

mjbrox

Well-known member
Jun 30, 2008
1,812
48
Golden CO
I never hear any good stories about VW or Audi. in the past 5 years my brother has owned two GTIs and an Audi.

He brought the audi in once with less than 100k miles and they said that it needed spark plugs. He agreed. They charged him something stupid, like six hours for the job and he was at the dealership waiting for less than six hours.

Anyway, long story short. You are their worst nightmare because you pay attention.

Have you considered using an auto broker? I have heard they make everything so much easier
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
Have you considered using an auto broker? I have heard they make everything so much easier

I've been in procurement since I was six years old. My own mother still tells stories about the days she used to bring me into her salon, and I'd be quietly listening in on conversations around me; showing up with what someone wanted in one hand, with the other outstretched awaiting a tip. :ROFLMAO:

To this day, if you need something, I'll generally be able to get it.

I just wanted to go through the process, honestly. If I want to keep up with the times, I've got to endure the experience. In the end I just got something off a lot.

It does seem VW has a fair share of problems, but I don't have any reason to keep this specific car if it gives me headaches. In the meantime, that's what the warranty is for. I've noticed a lot of complaints on other forums, and I was careful to specify a relatively simple model just in case. Doesn't stop the engine from having problems but again, it's under warranty.

Ha! I'm loving that part of this experience. What if it breaks? Fuck it! Warranty. Fix my shit, home slice. :cool:

Cheers,

Kennith
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
It's amazing how VW put this thing together, once you dig into all the problems people have with them.

I've never even heard of this level of integration outside of space exploration.

There's no mystery in regard to the production in Mexico for the North American market. They'd never be able to sell the car at this price otherwise; something I heard the project manager say in a review, and something I certainly believe, at this point.

What on Earth did they think they were up to? It seems to me they have been gearing up for that Golf R for quite some time now; as there's no way the conventional GTI needs any of that nonsense.

I'll bet VW has a supercar up their sleeve; or they think they do. Wouldn't be the first time they went nuts in development for years and then pussed out.

This whole thing reads like a test platform and proof of concept.

Adaptive suspension, DSG, dynamic chassis control, computer-controlled headlights, an engine that knows what oil you've used and adjusts accordingly... On a car less than $30,000 that won't get much North American exposure?

Obviously I didn't get any of that, but it's available. None of it adds up. I'm not seeing how that benefits them at all. They're tapping the hell out of Porsche, for some reason. The recipe reads like a modern 928 project. Perhaps Porsche is using the Golf to test new technologies for a Cayman replacement, or even another GT to get under Ferrari's skin.

Either way, apparently these are somewhat unreliable. Whatever. 6 year warranty, bitches. 2020 and up is only four years. :)

Cheers,

Kennith
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
The Golf GTI community is fucking strange...

Looks like 1 ned a stage3 w/LEd LP n 4tips 2b win on tha streedt. :ROFLMAO:

Cheers,

Kennith
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
Well, transport is arranged. I'll insure it properly tomorrow while they're doing whatever they need to do.

Now it's time to wait.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
Enjoy. I’ve had a good time in all of the many VWs owned over the decades.

I hope I do. Ride quality is most concerning, but that can be improved by moving down to 17" wheels.

Following that is the stupid collision assist nonsense I was stuck with. Apparently dealers didn't order many (or any) without that option for cars on the lot. I could have, but the time was wasted. There's supposed to be a way to turn that crap off in the infotainment system, though. We'll see how clever I have to get. I've seen that stuff activate prematurely far too many times to be comfortable around it; especially in a relatively cheap car.

It seems I might find out on Wednesday. That's when it's supposed to show up; so long as nothing goes wrong, obviously.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

ukoffroad

Well-known member
Jan 13, 2010
2,125
168
Lynchburg, Va
I had a friend in 85 whose family owned the VW dealership in town, and he got a Scirocco for graduation. I loved that car. We have had a few VWs over the year with no issues. The wife had a Tiguan I hated but it drove to her liking. I had a gold that I beat the crap out of.
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
Agreed. Very glad none of my vehicles have it.

Hopefully it's easy to turn off. That's a complicated little car.

It will be interesting to see if all that wizardry has made it a compromise that could not otherwise have been reached. The adaptive suspension I didn't get may have been the key to the whole thing. We'll see. I went for the base suspension.

Obviously this isn't the end game, but I needed to do something relatively quickly, and I knew I probably wouldn't end up keeping it overly long. That seemed to be the best combination of everything on paper, with just enough quirkiness to keep me interested. Nothing else I find even mildly interesting hit the price I was willing to pay for this relatively temporary decision.

I'll lose more on the GTI than I would on some other cars, but they feel as cheap as they are. It's worth the hit for a nicer interior.

Delivery seems to have been delayed until Thursday sometime.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
You never know! Look forward to first impressions.

Hopefully I'll have some today. I really want to spend a little quality time on the other vehicles.

The new driver is supposed to pick up and deliver the vehicle today, but that can always change.

Cheers,

Kennith