The Good dealer: my GLI buying experience

"PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power" (petarvn)
08/13/2014 at 18:35 • Filed to: car buying

As you all know, I recently purchased a Certified Pre-Owned 2012 VW Jetta GLI. Unlike some horror stories that I have heard of people having an awful time at a dealership, my experience was very easy and painless. This experience lead to me actually purchasing my car.

Now I should point out, I am a 16 year who went with his mom and sister to buy his first car. The dealership I went to was the one that was most local to me, and that is Volkswagen of Kirkland, in Kirkland, WA. I honestly wasn't expecting to buy that car that day, but I'm a sucker for GLI's, so...

Anyway, we walk in the dealership, and are greeted by a really friendly guy named Shane Chase. I tell him that I am there to look at a specific car they had in stock (the GLI I bought) and he happily goes and grabs a dealer plate and the Keys so we can go and Test-Drive it. The test drive was about 10 minutes long, but in those 10 minutes, he let me put the GLI through it's paces. this includes getting it up to 90 on an empty road, an emergency stop, and a quick 0-60 run. he even told me where to go to get the best feel for the car. He was also very informative about the car's features, like the Automatic climate control, the touchscreen sound system, and the sunroof the car has.

After the test drive, Shane took us in to the dealership to talk price. he says that he can knock $1000 right off the bat, which caught me off guard. In the end, he worked us out a deal that is very acceptable.

Overall, my dealership experience was great. All the staff, from the salesman to the manager to the service department I got to meet were friendly and helpful. also, they were knowledgeable about their products, and seemed to have a genuine like for Volkswagens. They let me not only drive the GLI, but after making the deal, they let me spend some time in a brand new Mk7 Golf SEL, just because I said I liked how it looked.

This is how all dealerships should behave towards their customers, and I really appreciated that they treated me like a grown man, and not a 16 year old teen.

DISCUSSION (30)

For Sweden > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/13/2014 at 18:41

Forgive my ignorance, but what does it mean to pay in bulk?

dogisbadob > For Sweden
08/13/2014 at 18:43

It's like when you buy 5 cars at a time at Costco :p

AM3R > For Sweden
08/13/2014 at 18:44

I'm assuming it means paying a large downpayment, then a few months later paying off another chunk of the car and refinancing.

dogisbadob > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/13/2014 at 18:45

Hopefully the car will be as good as the dealership experience was!

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > For Sweden
08/13/2014 at 18:51

paying for the whole car on the spot. no financing plans etc.

For Sweden > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/13/2014 at 18:53

...that's a horrible business plan.

You're more understanding than me; I would have walked out.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > For Sweden
08/13/2014 at 18:54

I know, and I don't really car :P
I had the cash on hand, so that's how I went with it

GTI MkVII > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/13/2014 at 19:25

Congrats on the car and welcome to the VW family! I'm a fairly new member myself in my Mk7 GTI. Have always loved the GLI too. Did you get the HID lighting and all of that?

And definitely agree on the new Golf. Fantastic looking car. If it was out a few months ago I would have had a tough choice between one and the GTI haha.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/13/2014 at 19:32

How much did you spend on the car?

PushToStart > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/13/2014 at 19:32

Like For Sweden said, if they didn't let me pay the way I wanted to, I would've walked right out. It's my money, I'm either going to spend it the way I want, or not at all.

BJ > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/13/2014 at 20:49

One of my grest uncles apparently went to buy a new BMW and said "put it on my Visa." (You could say he had very good credit.) The dealer flat-out refused, so he walked.

Three days later they called and had him come back in to buy the car. Never be afraid to walk from a big purchase when the seller doesn't seem to want to take your money.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/14/2014 at 01:56

$23,507.27 to be exact

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/14/2014 at 01:57

How'd you afford that at 16? How much do you pay a month? I'm looking at leasing a car as my first.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > GTI MkVII
08/14/2014 at 02:00

I got everything possible but the Nav and the HID's. It ha enough for me :P
And I'm not new to the VW/VAG family! We've had at least 2 at a time since 1991!
Right now, we've got a Mk6 GTI Wolfsberg, a Mk6 Jetta 2.5SE and now a Mk6 GLI Autobahn!
My family also owns: 2001 Audi A3 TDI 3-door, 1990 VW Golf MK2 Diesel, 1987 Golf Mk2 GTD, 1995 VW Vento 1.9TDI, and a2003 VW polo TDI 5-door!

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/14/2014 at 02:03

My grandma (who is slightly insane) decided I should be gifted a HUGE amount of money for my 16th Birthday, which allowed for me to go in and pay for the car in one sitting. So I'm paying $0 a month!

Leasing is.... eh...

Personally, I hate, hate, hate leasing anything, and think it's a dumb idea. My recommendation? Finance something less expensive that you'd be happy with. I know it sound stupid from a 16YO who dropped $23K on a Car, but trust me, Financing a $15,000 car is much better than leasing a $20,000 car, since you'll be able to keep it when you pay it off, whereas with a lease you gotta give it back, which is annoying, since you are forced in to a cycle where you lose out on more money

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/14/2014 at 02:06

I'm looking at the Focus or Fiesta SE. I know ST but they're a lot cheaper and the monthly payments would be cheaper.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/14/2014 at 02:14

Hmm...
I drove the FiST, and a Focus Titanium when I went to the dealer. personally, the Fiesta as a car feels perfectly sized, and I felt comfortable in it on the road.
The focus is really nice, and I got lucky and scored a 5speed titanium (that never happens!!!) It drove really well! tight steering and sure-footedness made me confident that it was a real nice driver if pushed. I'd recommend the Focus, because the Fiesta just seems a bit lackluster in non-ST trim.

As a VW guy, I feel obligated to point out that for the price of an SE focus, you could get a base MK7 golf. I feel the golf, with it's 1.8T engine, and Germanic roots is a much better car then the focus, and it does start at $17,995, which you could talk down in to a real good deal

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/14/2014 at 02:19

I was looking there but I couldn't find the configurator on the vw site so I couldn't really see how much it'd be to finance one. The Fords I've "built" all have the 5spd because it's $1,000 cheaper and I've put maybe $1,000 in options but really only heated seats because NY winters are cold. Other than that almost no options.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/14/2014 at 02:24

yeah, you'd have to upgrade to an SE golf for seat Heaters, and that car is $23K

Considered going the CPO route like me by chance?

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/14/2014 at 02:30

Yeah, I want the hatchback Focus or Fiesta and the nearest Ford dealer I don't think they have any of those. I'll look at the nearest VW dealer though. Kind of want to buy American even though they're both technically Ford Europe cars.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/14/2014 at 02:37

if you're dead set on American, I would recommend a dart. it is THE best US made car I have EVER experienced (for the money) it is amazingly good.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/14/2014 at 02:39

Really it's between the two Fords and the Dart, I've sat in the Chevy Cruze and Sonic and they aren't that great, typical plasticy GM interior. I want a hatchback but the Dart would work.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/14/2014 at 02:43

I found the Dart to be an amazing car! I wanted a hatch too, but I got a Sedan....
I'd suggest it!

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/14/2014 at 02:48

I'll see what happens once I get a job so I can make the payments. I'm not exactly set on either I want to be able to test drive them first, but before all I have to get my licence. Once I do that, after I've saved for the down payment, car shopping it is. I'd probably be the only person is school who bought their first car new (or CPO) and is is making payments on it.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/14/2014 at 02:56

probably! I know I'm the only one in my school who has dropped $23K of his own money on a car! There are kids driving 80K Range rovers, and a kid who's got a Bentley Continental GT ( I live in a REALLY rich town...) but those are daddy's boys and girls!

Buying your own car makes you feel good about yourself! It works for me! :)

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/14/2014 at 03:01

Yeah, there are a few people I can see getting cars from there parents. I've already seen one girl get a Mercedes albeit a early 2000's one. I'd rather make payments on a car than have been given a 30k+ car that wouldn't really be mine. I worked for my ability to pay for this car and I pay for it every month. I hope I'll be able to get something cool in a couple months. But for now, I'll continue to configure them and try and find the right price. ~$250/mo is what I'd want, preferably closer to $200/mo but no more than $250/mo.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/14/2014 at 03:16

oh man... for that much per month, I think you'll have to lease to get a good deal...
try finding a dealer with a seriously good deal then.
good luck to you, both in your car search and passing your test! :D

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/14/2014 at 03:22

Well I can get a new Focus SE with $3,000 down after $1,500 off in rebates for $235/mo. I can get it down to almost $200/mo for 5 down. That's for 72 months (6yrs). A lease would be down to $145/mo at $3k down. If I could pay $90/mo more and get to keep the car I think that'd be worth it.

wrblue11 > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/14/2014 at 13:23

O really you walked into a dealership with 24k and they didn't give you a hard time, who woulda thought. Congrats on the car

Shane > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/15/2014 at 13:17

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!