Update on Dilemma: Grass is Greener

"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
12/13/2016 at 09:24 • Filed to: None

My wife really started to get onboard with my idea about !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that I posted about last week, so I started doing a bit more research than trolling AutoTrader and Cars.com and took both a DSG and manual GTI for a ride on Saturday at my local dealer.

First, the cars are great, they really are. They feel quicker than my modified BRZ, largely due to the torque from that wonderful little engine. Interior materials are better, utility is better. All around, it’s a better car than my BRZ for sure. Frankly, the only things my BRZ has on it are looks (subjective) and handling. After driving, I figured I’d move forward on my diligence, and called up the folks at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

As with most things that seem too good to be true, they usually are. In the fine print under their prices, I didn’t necessarily completely understand their verbiage, which reads (bolding the part that threw me for emphasis):

Price plus tax, tags, processing fee of $685 VA, freight ($820-$910) and manufacturers installed items. All prices are inclusive of all incentives that every customer will qualify for. Some prices are inclusive of the $1000 VW Loyalty Incentive and therefor will require proper ownership documentation. All prices are exclusive internet prices only and may either require financing and or leasing through dealer choice rates subject to credit approval. A $300 transfer fee will be added to the price of all NEW vehicles transferred in from other locations. Some manufacturer bonuses and incentives are not compatible with special manufacturer finance offers. Manufacturer bonuses and incentives are valid during the time period set by the manufacturer and are subject to change without notice. Additional manufacturer bonuses and incentives may apply to those who qualify and may lower the sales price. See dealer for details. *Images and options shown are examples, only, and may not reflect exact vehicle color, trim, options, pricing or other specifications. Please verify exact vehicle, options and color prior to sale with the dealer.

I mean, when you write “all prices are inclusive of all incentives that every customer will qualify for” that leads me to believe that the price includes incentives that everybody gets, not incentives that some people get as well as incentives that others don’t get.

They also advertise 1.9% promotional financing, but also build the discount that you can take instead of the financing into the price. However, if you take that incentive, you then take the financing the dealer arranges, which will invariably be a higher rate than you could get elsewhere.

So, your $24,875 + freight + tax, tag, etc GTI SE quickly becomes over $27,000 + freight + tax, tag, etc. Clearly no longer such an amazing deal.

That said, it’s still a pretty substantial discount from MSRP for anybody in the market, but as fodder to make me get rid of a perfectly good, if flawed, car, it no longer really applies.

DISCUSSION (26)

random001 > Arrivederci
12/13/2016 at 09:29

WRX!

Arrivederci > random001
12/13/2016 at 09:31

That may be an eventuality as it fulfills a lot of the same requirements. But one thing WRXs are not, is cheap. I was hoping to stay around the same debt/payment/term in the move to a really cheap GTI, but that wasn’t the case. When the BRZ is paid for, the WRX or STI may be a logical step at that time.

random001 > Arrivederci
12/13/2016 at 09:36

Well, to be fair, the enthusiast WRX comes in at $26k. Base model, no sunroof (the only way to get rid of that 200 lbs up high) manual trans. I drove that, and the limited, and so much preferred the base. I would budget in a few hundys for a leather seat conversion (redoing upholstery is stupid easy), maybe add in heated seats, and away we go.

I would have 100% been in a WRX if not for being too tall to drive it with a rear facing car seat behind me. When the older kid switches over, I may head back that way. That car has all the funs.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Arrivederci
12/13/2016 at 09:36

What about going full-Oppo with a FiST or FoST?

Tripper > Arrivederci
12/13/2016 at 09:49

Did you go to the dealer? I’ve never paid Sticker + tax, tags, delivery fee (new or used)... If nothing else I have been able to negotiate my way out the door for just the sticker price (no fees etc).

Arrivederci > Tripper
12/13/2016 at 10:17

Sticker on the SE as like $32k and $29k on the Sport, so each one was still $4-5k off. Given their online pricing, it seems like they would’ve been closer to $7k off. They’re still good deals for someone in the market, but for someone like me who doesn’t need to be, then it’s no longer worthwhile, in my opinion.

Arrivederci > random001
12/13/2016 at 10:19

How tall are you? My wife isn’t preggers or anything, but having something that can fit a rear-facing seat is certainly on my mind.

Arrivederci > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
12/13/2016 at 10:21

Those two really haven’t ever spoken to me. I know they’re both a heap of fun to drive, but I don’t really consider either an upgrade over the twin. Now a FoRS is a different story, but $$$$.

random001 > Arrivederci
12/13/2016 at 10:22

Tall. Over 6'4" but not quite 6'5". If it were 1 car seat, no problem, but we’re getting old, so we had to go in for 2 pretty quickly. Wife drives a Crosstrek, which is the same interior size as the WRX. I can do short trips in that, but the seat is nearly vertical and I couldn’t shift effectively if it were a manual.

random001 > Arrivederci
12/13/2016 at 10:23

But seriously, I had more fun in the WRX than almost anything else, including the BRZ.

Arrivederci > random001
12/13/2016 at 10:24

Aye - tall indeed. I’m only 5'11" and don’t lean my seat like a gangster, so I’d hope I could wrangle one behind me if need be.

random001 > Arrivederci
12/13/2016 at 10:29

You could, I’m confident of that.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Arrivederci
12/13/2016 at 10:44

@fourvalleys sure seems to enjoy his FiST more than his BRZ, but then again he’s kinda a weird dude. :) haha

Yeah, I’ve thought a LOT about what I’d replace the FR-S with. I think the most sensible answer is a smaller truck or SUV and a cheap track/autox car (read: Miata)

Arrivederci > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
12/13/2016 at 10:45

Yeah, I’ve thought a LOT about what I’d replace the FR-S with. I think the most sensible answer is a smaller truck or SUV and a cheap track/autox car (read: Miata)

I’m really starting to think that’s the sweet spot. Of course, now, that cheap track/autox car may end up being my BRZ. I’ll just get something to DD once it’s paid for and have both.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Arrivederci
12/13/2016 at 10:48

That’s the route I’m thinking too. Just deal with the FR-S until it’s paid off, I’ve got about 2 1/2 years to go (halfway there!), and then pick up a new daily (read: 4Runner/Tacoma or diesel Colorado) and make the FR-S full time track/autox.

ToyotaFamily > Arrivederci
12/13/2016 at 11:14

hmm, I see you’re local to the NoVa area. Did you try Lindsay VW? I’ve heard nothing but great things about them.

Arrivederci > ToyotaFamily
12/13/2016 at 12:38

I hadn’t - but reviewing their website, they have similar prices, but the exact same disclaimer.

Chrandallkri > Arrivederci
12/21/2016 at 11:41

I can second Lindsay - my TDI Passat was bought there - soon to be returned there too...

And $685 for processing is RIDICULOUS! I get that it’s not actually required by law, but to pay that much extra just so they do their job is nuts. (I’ve seen $299 and been pissed but still sucked it up)

MrH4242 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
12/21/2016 at 13:23

Yep, that’s what I did. Had a BRZ as my only car. Jumped around to a couple of different cars as a DD (a Honda Element, a Hyundai Genesis R-spec sedan) before settling on a new Toyota 4Runner. Sold the BRZ, bought an S2000 for less money.

Steve in Manhattan > Arrivederci
12/21/2016 at 13:59

Maybe one that’s about a year old from a private party?

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Arrivederci
12/21/2016 at 15:19

What do you think about the Fiat 500 Abarth? They just dropped MSRP on the 2017s to $19,995. Add in $895 for auto climate control and heated seats (package deal along with SiriusXM) and $995 for delivery + destination, and you have a very fun hot hatch for $21,885 plus tax.

TheSchrat > Arrivederci
12/21/2016 at 17:06

I got my mid-tier WRX for 27k from Brown’s Subaru in Manassas (live in Alexandria. Tried to play ball with Stohlman’s and Sheehy but they treated me like a child, so I went elsewhere). That’s a couple grand off-the-top of the MSRP, and brings it pretty close in range to the GTI.

Sorry to raise this thread from the dead: you linked to it from another article.

jeff4066 > Arrivederci
12/21/2016 at 18:11

Good read. In my case, I had a family member who knew someone in the regional office. There are incentives that even good dealers may not tell you about. If you don’t know, the money goes to the dealer anyway.

My Wife got together a package that included $1,000 dealer incentive, $1,500 Carolina incentive, and $2,000 regional, all valid one just a couple of days. Add in the $500 Military, and the $1,000 loyalty, and we got a $21,000 car for $16,000.

It was kind of a once-in-a-lifetime thing. That hasn’t happened again in the last decade.

Sir Halffast > Arrivederci
12/21/2016 at 22:06

Also, don’t know if you’re still looking at this, but I bought my Subaru from Sheehy in Springfield, and they were great (and open to negotiation). Maybe consider their VW outlet as well, also in Springfield?

Dana > Tripper
12/22/2016 at 08:19

I have never paid sticker + anything. Always well below sticker even with the tax, tags, title and ubiquitous-yet-vague delivery tacked on to the sale price.

Dana > Arrivederci
12/22/2016 at 08:22

I ran into that at one Ford dealer when we were buying our F150 back in 2013. By the time they removed the incentives for which I did not qualify and tacked on the extra fees the truck was back up to almost sticker price. We told them to take a flying leap then went to another dealer and bought the same truck for much, much less.