Car recommendations, under $25K

[billandopus]

This is what I would do being a practical and reasonable guy.

I have a 99.5 Jetta GL and it's great. At that point the upcharge for the vr6 was way too high and the 1.8t hadn't been released yet (darn!).

I would pick up the 1.8t (GLS model for 19,725 approx) OR the 1.9l diesel (GLS model 19,225 approx amazing gas mileage and great torque) and tweak it but not the vr6 (GLS 20,475 approx), save the money and use it to:

- add a cd changer and decent amp to your system. Maybe 450-500 bucks US including install and taxes.
- add a winter package of 4 steel wheels and some VW hubcaps and 4 Blizzaks/Artic Alpin/Observes/Guardex/whatever snow tires. Around 600 bucks.
- upgrade your wheels to the alloy versions. Around 600 bucks or so.
- tint your windows. I don't know ... maybe 100 bucks for a decent job maybe?
- or a combo of these.

You also have to determine what kind of deal you will get due to vehicle demand. I'm sure that the 1.8t engine are quite popular I suppose and thus you will have a harder time getting a better price than sticker.

Another option is to get the regular 2.0l GL Jetta for 17,225 and then when you get home swap the wheels for a custom setup (if that's your thing) and then use the steel wheels and hubcabs with snow tires to be your custom winter setup. Then you can tweak to your hearts delight and get that 2.0l engine purring and/or suspension tricked out(again, if that's your thing).

Just some thoughts ...

 

[Valhalla1]

psst.. imports suck

 

[SVTPower]

psst.. imports suck

LOL totally, What is the big fad with VW and Audi anyhow? I noticed the drivers all all the same yuppie type older Gen X people too.. All the SAME people with a few wiskers under their chin and side burns.

 

[Thorn]

<< psst.. imports suck >>


Not as much as domestics...

But hey, it's not for me. He can choose what he wants.

 

[Hoeboy]

get 2 KIAs and use the leftover money to take a trip around the world

 

[Thorn]

Hoeboy, you must be kidding... KIA? *shudder*

BTW, I think he's got his mind settled on a Jetta GLS VR6... Blue Lagoon, Grey cloth interior, Luxury Sport package, Winter Weather package (he drives up to NJ and PA quite a bit this time of year). If he had it chipped it would increase the hp to @200 w/ 210lb-ft of torque (pretty hefty for that size car), combine that with a nice K&amp;N intake kit and he's pretty much set.

There's even an aftermarket supercharger in the works for this mutha (pushing it to 280hp and 292lb-ft of torque) :Q. Of course, then he could say bye bye to any form of decent gas mileage.

Anyway, he's going down to test drive one today and maybe put one on order (they said it would be 8-12 weeks for delivery).

 

[Doggiedog]

Good choice.

Its a nice car.

 

[cyclistca]

psst.. imports suck ............ gas

Well of course they do silly. Thay are also much better then domestics .

 

[novon]

get a acura or audi

 

[Thorn]

Audi... VW... same thing.

No Acura, European only.

 

[Doggiedog]

Audi + VW = Porsche?

 

[vi edit]

Audi + VW = Porsche? = ????

 

[vi edit]

Thorn, are you pretty sure about the mods for the VR6? When I was looking around, a lot of places were saying that it is very hard to get any more out of that engine without a lot of very expensive mods. Unlike the 1.8t that has mods galore for under $1,000. I think for about $500 or so, you can bump up the base 150HP to about 190 or so without affecting gas milage too much.

Just curious because at one point I was looking at a GTI and trying to figure out whether to go w/ the 1.8t or the VR6. If I had bought the vehicle, I would have gone w/ the 1.8t because of the abundant aftermarket mods for it, and the ease of install of them. Even the $500 chip to get the 1.8t and the VR6 at even HP, still makes the 1.8t a grand or two cheaper than the V6.

 

[Doggiedog]

How are the new GTIs?

I haven't driven one since my '86 8V GTI gave out. That car was a blast.

 

[Thorn]

The problem with modding the 1.8T is that you void your warranty, same goes for mods to the VR6 (except for the K&amp;N intake kit which is VW approved). If he got the VR6 he could drive and enjoy the power of the V6 until the warranty expired then he could chip mod it and get the hp boost (although it is more expensive and tougher to install, or so I've heard). Plus there's the bonus of the more durable V6.

The price difference between the 1.8T and VR6 is $750.

Jetta GLS 1.8T engine $19200
Destination Charge
$525
Cold Weather Package
$150
Sport Luxury Package
$2025
Total:
$21900


Jetta GLS 2.8L engine $19950
Destination Charge
$525
Cold Weather Package
$150
Sport Luxury Package
$2025
Total:
$22650

Plus right now the VW dealer said he'd get $1000 cash back (or add to down payment) further knocking the price down to $21,650. There's also the 2.9% APR financing (which he should qualify for). Nice deal all the way around.

He should be calling me in a bit to let me know how it went with the test drive.

 

[vi edit]

You'll only get the rebate or the interest, not both. I'd say that he'd be better off going with the financing given how high interest rates are right now.

I was thinking the price diff between the two was greater than $750 because it was somewhere around $1500 in the GTI's to bump up to the VR6 from the 1.8t.

 

[atomicbomberman]

yes, and Audi is probably your best bet, but well, I personally would go for the A4 1.8T Quattro.. yes, must have all wheel drive! But I'm not sure if that's in your cousin's price range. Other wise, get a Passat 4 motion or well, for a Sport Sedan, a Jetta VR6 or 1.8T is nice. I own a 96 Jetta VR6, but I test drove the 1.8T, and it feels quicker, even though it's not.. its' the Turbo man! =)

If you can afford it, try a slightly used BMW 322I or something of that sort, like a 97-98 year or something. They're great car too.

 

[Gunbuster]

Get a Mazda Protege, looks like the A4 but for less money

 

[loup garou]

<< Get a Mazda Protege, looks like the A4 but for less money >>




what?

 

[cyclistca]

I think the Mazda looks more like one of the older 3 series BMW's. To bad it does not come with 4 wheel discs (At least not in Canada).

 

[Thorn]

<< You'll only get the rebate or the interest, not both. I'd say that he'd be better off going with the financing given how high interest rates are right now. >>


Well, he ordered his on Friday and they gave him both the $1,000 and the 2.9%. :Q They seem to be really hurting for sales and were willing to bend over backwards to get him to buy. Would appear that it's a good time to buy a VW.

He was really impressed with the test drive, and he drove both the 1.8T and the VR6... he said the VR6 was noticably quicker. *shrug* Personally I have no idea as I've never driven a newer VW.

Thanks for the input guys!

 

[sparkle]

VW GTI or Jetta
PT Cruiser
certified-pre-owned 323i