Buying advice (JSW TDI)

[JantzenRX-8]

Hi all,

My wife and i have been looking at JSW's for quite a while now but have had a hard time finding one we want to pull the trigger on. It's been difficult finding one with the options package we want (TDI, Pano sunroof, manual transmission) in the color combo (just no silver/brown/gold or black on black) which is not an arm and a leg. We're pretty open to flying across the country to make a trip out of it but its still be a pretty difficult car to purchase.

Ideally we wanted one with 20-30k miles on it but one has come up with 52k miles on it for $22.5k. It's cheaper than the 20-30k cars for sure but it's not THAT much cheaper. What would be a reasonable offer?

It's at a VW dealership but its not a CPO car. Can a non-CPO car be converted into a CPO car? Or does this car fail to meet their CPO requirements in some way which is why its offered as "used"? I'm going to ask the dealership this very question tomorrow but i would like the opinion of some real human beings as well.

Anyway, i would appreciate some feedback and any other buying advice you can offer. We're looking forward to be VW owners but im beginning to thing im crazy for choosing to own three cars with 100% different power plants. Rotary, gasoline V8 (BMW) and turbo diesel.

[oscillat0r]

It's at a VW dealership but its not a CPO car. Can a non-CPO car be converted into a CPO car? Or does this car fail to meet their CPO requirements in some way which is why its offered as "used"? I'm going to ask the dealership this very question tomorrow but i would like the opinion of some real human beings as well.

When I bought my xterra used from a nissan dealer I had them certify it to close the deal. The salesman surely didn't care and it was obvious they just rubber stamped it but I was going to buy anyway and now if something does go wrong I'm covered.

A salesman is a salesman and repairs won't come out of his commission so I don't see why a VW salesman wouldn't certify it unless the thing was a POS.

You should get a carfax though. In my experience, if a VW is going to have problems it will do it right out of the gate. If this one has gone 50k with only routine maintenance then I'd feel comfortable it would go another 50k w/o issue (ideally much more).

Good luck!

[intanetfreak]

In my experience, if a VW is going to have problems it will do it right out of the gate. If this one has gone 50k with only routine maintenance then I'd feel comfortable it would go another 50k w/o issue (ideally much more).

Agreed. My mom's golf had a coolant leak that we discovered about two weeks in. Otherwise, nothing but happy miles on her.

[JantzenRX-8]

Well, pretty soon we're going to be JSW owners! They weren't as flexible as i was hoping on the price but we still ended up ok. $22k out the door, certified pre-owned warranty, 2 small dents removed by PDR, fuel filter replaced and a full tank of diesel. I was hoping to get it in the 21's but they wouldn't budge. Its still slightly below kbb and has a CPO warranty so we're happy. Picking it up on Saturday

[intanetfreak]

Enjoy! And post some pics!

[oscillat0r]

Congrats! I'm jealous you found a pano roof and stick shift.

What color combo?

[JantzenRX-8]

Eight hour drive and about $400 out of pocket for gas, food, hotel and we walked away with no sportwagen

We loved the car. It was the first time driving the exact car we're looking for but in the end you could tell the previous owner did not love the car and baby it like we're going to do.

Turn signal light was broken and missing, roof spoiler was dented and scuffed, roof liner had a few stains and tears, There were some random scratches in the paint which were questionable. Worst of all there was this area on the driver's side rear door where the paint had been chipped and repaired with touch up paint. It looked awful.

We're sad and the hunt continues but we're happy we didn't end up with this one.

[O'doyle]

Eight hour drive and about $400 out of pocket for gas, food, hotel and we walked away with no sportwagen

We loved the car. It was the first time driving the exact car we're looking for but in the end you could tell the previous owner did not love the car and baby it like we're going to do.

Turn signal light was broken and missing, roof spoiler was dented and scuffed, roof liner had a few stains and tears, There were some random scratches in the paint which were questionable. Worst of all there was this area on the driver's side rear door where the paint had been chipped and repaired with touch up paint. It looked awful.

We're sad and the hunt continues but we're happy we didn't end up with this one.

It takes a lot to walk away from a car when traveling that far, pat yourself on the back for doing the righty thing.

X...

[stonebobbo]

Keep looking ... we just FINALLY found one. Spent several months looking. Make sure you talk to the Internet/fleet person at EVERY dealer within your maximum range so they can get a hold of you when one comes in. Worked for me ... just got a 2011 TDI with 6spd manual and panoramic roof. Came back to dealer who originally sold it (traded in on a new R) who called me at 9:30pm with the news. 22K miles for $24K. No CPO, but got an extended warrantee taking our bumper-to-bumper out to 82K miles which is actually better coverage. A week into it and we're loving it more than we thought.

Definitely wait for the one you want, but be ready to jump ASAP because these things are hot hot hot.